President Obama is one of the most significant figures in American history, let alone African American history.
And he's still among us.
So, why don't we hear from him more?
These are challenging times we're living in.
We could sure benefit from his clear, steady voice.
So again, why aren't we?
Two reasons I think.
One, it's a long standing tradition that when former presidents cede power, they step into the background to allow the newly elected president to lead the country with one voice.
That seems wise to me.
Otherwise, you'd have a choir of former presidents constantly critiquing and second guessing the new leader in the same way the news media often does.
We see this code being adhered to by President Clinton, President Bush and President Carter. They speak very rarely, if at all, on what they think about the current president and his policies.
So that's the first reason we don't hear more from President Obama.
What's the second?
President Obama is focused on the next generation of leadership.
He understands that the future of this nation lies in the hands of the young.
And so, we have the Obama Foundation Scholars program which is focused on training the next generation of leaders and activists.
In 25 years most of the current leadership and their rabid base will be gone.
Mitch McConnell is 78.
Donald Trump is 73.
The average Fox News viewer is 68.
You get the picture.
So, President Obama is playing the long game... and a smart game.
We should do the same.
Which brings me to the video below.
In it, you will see an example of the ruckus young Black Americans can make if we simply give them a platform on which to speak their truth.
Some of them are really smart... and really woke as well.
Check it out... then go make your own ruckus.
