The Best Post-Presidency
Social justice in the United States is at a crossroad depending on whose opinion one seeks. We have seen people stand up for their rights, get accosted for defending their rights, and we are still coming to grips of understanding of race in this country. As a nation we still have deep roots in prejudice thinking but that thinking has always evolved versus being eliminated. The conversations of race is so prevalent in this country because Americans still feel a systematic wave of hatred. It does not help when the two candidates to lead the future of this nation ignite some sort of hatred on both sides All these unique and tragic moments have happened under the President that broke the ultimate glass ceiling and of course there is plenty of debate of how the current President handled the crises for all Americans.
Beyond that let us look to the future of President Obama and one of the brightest points to his post presidency life is: time. It is astonishing that the President will only be 55 years old when he watches the new President take the oath of office. That is something to ponder upon for a man who has arguably accomplished the pinnacle of success for his political career. What now? He is too “young” to just go home and do some recreational activities or he can follow the route of President Clinton and establish an organization. All some valid activities for a man who started out as a community organizer.
There have been many publications that have cited President Obama’s post-presidency to revolve around teaching and his continued interest to help the youth of America. The President will get offers from all universities, but especially the hometown ones (GWU, Georgetown, Howard etc) since he will be staying in DC for a couple of years. But lets think bigger for a second , what if , just what if, the President decided to teach at one of the low-income public high schools in DC?
What would that signal to so many social issues that are plaguing this country at the moment. A successful black man giving back to the community that also happened to be the most powerful man on Earth. How would that action be deemed by all low-income American youth knowing that a former President is back at the roots. This action will transcend the racial implications it will have but touch the nerve of Americans that share the same low income bracket, a bracket that does not discriminate basis on race alone. We have not even touched the policy changing that could come about by this act, a radical understanding of public school policy.
We can all agree to some point that President Obama has some sort of cool factor within him, just like President Clinton. The advantage President Obama has is his youth and a closer understanding to the social and economic divide that has befallen this nation.
How would the nation react to a former president giving back to the portion of the population that needs it most? How would this gesture look upon the school system or better yet the lucky students who are fortunate to attend his class. I think it would be pretty cool for students in the inner city of D.C. and would be a hell of statement to all of Americans: that our future truly lies with the youth.