NMAAHC: Role Models

The exhibit on Former President Barack Obama included a wall that had a few paragraphs summarizing his tenure, a few pictures, and a two minute video.
The exhibit on Former President Barack Obama included a wall that had a few paragraphs summarizing his tenure, a few pictures, and a two minute video.
Courtesy of Claire Kuwana

The single moment that had the most impact on me during our field trip to The National Museum of African American History and Culture had to be the exhibit on Former President Barack Obama. At first glance it could look somewhat underwhelming; it was simply a wall that had a few paragraphs summarizing his tenure, a few pictures and a small screen showing a two minute video. However, after watching that video for the first time, seeing President Obama walk on stage with his wife and daughters after accepting the 2008 Democratic nomination, I felt an incredible sense of pride. Featured in the video were the remarks he made regarding the killing of Trayvon Martin. The sincerity and elegance with which he spoke made me realize how lucky I am to have grown up with such a role model in the Oval Office. Clips of his African American supporters played on the screen with a fitting and inspiring song. However,  people weren’t just celebrating Obama’s victory, they were celebrating their own. I must have watched the short video at least three times before moving on. As I was leaving, though, I felt a sense of regret that I couldn’t have been older when such a historic and inspiring man was president. In 2020, however, I’ll be able to vote, and I can only hope that I will have the opportunity to cast my vote for a man or woman of the same caliber.

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