The Black History Month part 4: The First Black President of the U.S.

Ok, let's travel to the 21st century. On November 4th, 2008, the whole nation and the whole world were very surprised at the result of the 2008 election. For the first time in history, Barack Hussein Obama, an African American, became the 44th president of the United States of America. He defeated his opponent, the Late Senator John McCain (may he rest in peace and thank you for what he has done for the United States of America). A little backstory. I was eight years old when the election was out. My mom watched the morning news, which had a breaking news section. I walked into the living room, and I saw my mom watching so carefully. I asked her what had happened. She told me that Barack Obama won the election in the U.S. I had no idea who Barack Obama was. My mom said to me that he was the first African American president in the history of the U.S. and she was very proud. I looked at the TV screen, and a black man was holding his daughter’s hand, and next to him was a black lady holding another daughter’s hands. Together, they were waving at people in the crowd. People were cheering, screaming in happiness. Then he began to give a speech. I didn’t understand what he said at that time, to be honest, but I was really impressed by the way he delivered the sermon. He was so persuasive and so powerful, and I thought at that time that he would be very important and have an impact on people. That was what an 8-year-old boy thought at that time. Surprised continued in 2012, once again, Barack Hussein Obama was re-elected to the United States of America president. A victory that had changed the history of the U.S. and, of course, upset the Republicans so much. No doubt. But when Barack Obama was the president, not so many people liked him and found all the ways to say bad things about him and his family even the most minor things.

Source: The White House Barack Obama

Raise your hand if you think Fox News had attacked Obama all the way from the very first days of his presidency to the day he left the White House or even after he left the White House. Fox News with a bunch of liars and racists (except Chris Wallace because I put much respect for him that he has turned down all the anchors who had no idea what they were talking about and did not care if it hurt someone else) had gone against everything that President Obama said. Sean Hannity, a very famous Fox News anchor, and the most talking person, criticized Obama’s administration for everything he was doing. Sean also went after Obama when he went to the restaurant, ordered a hamburger, and asked for Dijon mustard. Also, Fox News criticized Obama when he went on vacation or went out on a date. Excuse me, can you count how many times Donald Trump plays golf and spends his time at Mar-A-Largo? Seriously, you can criticize a black president, but you protect Donald Trump and his family. The most disturbing thing that Donald Trump has done to Barack Obama is doubting Obama’s birth certificate. They seemed to believe that Barack Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. and the media was on fire when this topic was being discussed at that time. A white president was never doubted for his birthplace, but when a black man went to the White House, woah, slow down, this can’t be true, something’s wrong. That’s so funny and disturbing too.

Not only, Barack Obama, but Michelle Obama was also the target. You know you will meet many people when you are a first lady. From celebrities to leaders around the world or you will attend many events. So the outfit must be significant. That is very easy to understand. Looking back to all the first ladies in history, I can see how gorgeous they were, how beautiful they were, how glamorous they were in those dresses which were designed only for them.

Former first lady, Jackie Kennedy, was a fashionista when she appeared in front of people. What she was wearing could show that you are the first lady, she must always be beautiful in the eyes of everyone and of course, fittable. Michelle Obama is not an exception. She was the first lady, and she absolutely had the right to wear those beautiful outfits. But no. In the eyes of some people, her outfits during her husband’s presidency were unacceptable they were all expensive, and she did not care about other people. What the hell? How can we live to satisfy the people’s will? Maybe never. I feel so sad for her. After I read her memoir, I even loved her more. What she had been through, what she had suffered, how she overcame every challenge to be who she is right now and the love story between her and Barack. Michelle Obama is a great person. On the other hand, Fox News seemed to protect Melania Trump. Oh they praised her outfit all the time, they loved her, they obsessed with her and I think they worship her like they worship her husband. Tell you what Melania Trump stole the speech of Michelle Obama and adjusted a little bit. What ashamed!

Of course that no one is perfect in this world; no one can live without making any mistakes in life. I must admit that Obama’s administration sometimes made mistakes and bad choices. But I could see that even when he did not mention or bring up anything that did not relate to politics, people around would use it to criticize him for not caring about this country. When he was with ordinary people around him, they attacked him for laziness. When he asked for mustard, they charged him for being fancy. When he left the White House, they mocked his legacies. If there is another black president in the U.S., I believe that people around incredibly aggressive white people will treat him exactly like they treat the Obamas.

Today I have brought up two stories that I believe are very important. One story is about the justice system and how people around look at African American when they get involved in a crime. They were being treated so badly and wrongfully. Police shut them up, and the media changed the stories from black to white in just a second. No one considered the case carefully. They are black, arrest them. One story is about the first black president in U.S. history whose family and himself were watched in very little detail. Not including the ways he led the country. We can see that America has not been ready to open arms to welcome African American or immigrants. They just want to create a society in that white people only rule. But they should know that in a long history, the first race on this island before Christopher Columbus discovered this continent was the Indians. And white people came and stole everything they got, making them slaves. Then black people in Africa were also being sold to become slaves.

Remember, meanwhile, all the white people were playing, slaves built this country; while white people were thinking about the Constitution, slaves helped to feed their mouths. And they have no respect at all. I am unfortunate. In the book Caste written by Isabel Wilkerson in chapter 6, she wrote, “Any action or institution that mocks, harms, assumes or attaches inferiority or stereotype based on the social construct of race be considered racism… Any action or structure that seeks to limit, hold back, or put someone in a defined ranking, seeks to keep someone in their place by elevating or denigrating that person based on their perceived category can be seen as casteism.” Woah, I always love that quote. That means a lot to me and maybe to you too.