Barack Obama spoke candidly about becoming the first Black president in U.S. history.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Obama spoke about the meaning of his presidency.
”Obviously, there’s a symbolism to the day I got elected,” Obama said. “I had always said to Michelle and friends that I hoped that if I did get elected, that would change how kids thought about themselves.
“I hoped that suddenly girls started feeling like, “Okay, whatever limits people seem to have set, whatever the precedents are, I think I can do something.” I wanted Asian American kids or Hispanic American kids to feel that same way, that we didn’t have barriers,” Obama continued.
Obama made sure to comment that one historic presidency doesn’t make up for hundreds of years of racist oppression in America.
“I think that we did accomplish that. It was never realistic to think that because of one election, one president, somehow 400 years of history suddenly goes away,” Obama explained. “But I think there are kids who, growing up under my presidency, said, “Yeah, of course you can have a Black president. Why not?”
”And I’m confident that when we get a female president, which we will get sometime soon in my lifetime, it’ll become normalized. “And that’s what we want,” Obama added.
THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF OBAMA’S PRESIDENCY
Michelle said that Barack’s presidency had a universal appeal that cannot be denied.
“The symbolism of his presidency wasn’t just about race. It was also about the way you show up as a leader, a man, a father, and a husband,” Michelle said.
“I think that what Barack offered this country was a mature president, a highly intelligent president, a selfless president. And I think that those characteristics are as important as race,” Michelle continued. “I think he made this country proud in a very unique way.”