By Gary  Johnson – Founder & Publisher (Black Men In America.com)

June 18, 2026

Today I watched television coverage of the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, and it was a stark reminder of what leadership can look like at its best.

As the nation celebrates the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, Americans are being offered something that seems increasingly rare in today’s political climate: a reminder of hope.

Watching the coverage of the Center reminded me of my own time at The White House as a young 23-year-old staffer working in the West Wing. It was a time when millions of Americans believed that our differences could be bridged, that public service still mattered, and that the highest office in the land could inspire rather than divide.

Michelle Obama’s speech brought tears to my eyes. She never mentioned Donald Trump by name, but her message resonated with many Americans who recognize the growing contrast between a politics rooted in service and one increasingly driven by division, grievance, and personal loyalty.

Whether you agreed with every policy of President Obama or not, there was something undeniably powerful about the spirit surrounding his presidency. His message centered on unity, inclusion, civic engagement, and the belief that ordinary citizens could help shape a better future. His famous campaign slogan, “Yes We Can,” was not simply a political slogan. It became a national mindset.

The opening of the Obama Presidential Center naturally invites us to compare that era with the one we are experiencing today.

As I reflect on the two presidencies, I am reminded that leadership is about far more than policy. It is about character. It is about temperament. It is about how leaders treat people, how they speak to the nation, how they treat the media, and what values they encourage in others.

For many Americans, especially young people, the Obama presidency represented optimism and possibility. My sense is that people felt seen. They felt validated and heard. They felt that their government was attempting to bring people together rather than pit Americans against one another.

President Obama frequently reminded Americans that we have more in common than what divides us. He often spoke about building bridges, finding common ground, and treating political opponents with dignity and respect. Even many of his critics acknowledged his intelligence, discipline, and commitment to the office he held.

The Obama family also provided a visible example of stability, professionalism, and personal integrity. During eight years in the White House, there were no criminal indictments involving the President, First Lady, or their children. The administration certainly faced policy disputes and political opposition—as every administration does—but the public was largely spared the daily chaos, scandals, and personal controversies that have become common features of modern politics.

Having worked in and around government for much of my professional life, I understand that no administration is perfect. Every president makes mistakes. Every administration faces criticism. But there remains a significant difference between leaders who seek to unite the country despite its differences and leaders who benefit politically from keeping Americans angry, fearful, and divided. The Obama Presidential Center reminded me of that distinction.

The contrast between the Obama era and the current political environment could not be more striking.

Today, our nation finds itself consumed by division, anger, and grievance. Political opponents are routinely portrayed as enemies. Public servants are attacked for doing their jobs. Institutions once respected by both parties are increasingly questioned whenever they produce outcomes that some political leaders dislike.

Donald Trump remains one of the most polarizing figures in modern American history. He became the first former president convicted of felony crimes. His public rhetoric has often been characterized by personal attacks, insults, and efforts to divide Americans along political, racial, and cultural lines. Former administration officials, military leaders, and longtime Republican allies have repeatedly raised concerns about his temperament, leadership style, and commitment to democratic norms.

Numerous former senior officials who served in his administration have publicly criticized his conduct after leaving office. Multiple military leaders have expressed concerns about his approach to leadership. Reports from journalists and former staff members have documented allegations that he referred to fallen service members and military veterans in deeply disrespectful terms—allegations he has denied but which have been supported by multiple individuals who served in his administration.

Critics of the current administration argue that recent policies and executive actions have weakened civil rights protections, marginalized vulnerable communities, attempted to erase important elements of Black history, separated families, and elevated political loyalty over independent judgment and expertise. Whether one agrees with those criticisms or not, they have become central concerns in the national debate.

What makes this comparison so important is not simply policy. Americans can disagree about taxes, immigration, healthcare, foreign policy, or regulation. Democracy depends on those debates.

The deeper question is what kind of nation we aspire to be.

Here are four questions we must answer as a country:

1. What kind of nation do we aspire to be?
2. Do we want leaders who appeal to our highest values or our lowest instincts?
3. Do we want leaders who build coalitions or enemies lists?
4. Do we want leaders who view public service as a sacred responsibility or as a vehicle for personal power and enrichment?

The Obama Presidential Center serves as a reminder that public service can still be rooted in community. The Center’s mission focuses on leadership development, civic participation, education, and empowering future generations to become active participants in democracy.

That vision stands in sharp contrast to the growing cynicism many Americans feel today.

Reasonable people can disagree about Barack Obama. They can debate his policies. They can critique decisions made during his administration. That is healthy and necessary in a democracy.

What is much harder to dispute is the spirit that his presidency represented for millions of Americans: hope over fear, inclusion over exclusion, service over self-interest, and unity over division.

Barack Obama’s speech gave me hope that this country can recover from the divisions that currently define much of our political landscape. Recovery will take time. Rebuilding trust will take time. Restoring respect for democratic institutions will take time. But history has shown that America has repeatedly found ways to correct its course when challenged.

As I watched the ceremony, I was also reminded that America’s story is larger than any one political figure or party. The Obama Presidential Center stands as evidence that leadership grounded in service, civic engagement, and community empowerment still matters. It reminds the world that many Americans continue to believe in those values.

I also noticed that while several major networks covered the opening ceremonies, FOX News chose not to provide similar coverage. That editorial decision speaks volumes about the media silos that increasingly shape how Americans experience major civic moments and national conversations.

The Obama Presidential Center is more than a monument to one man. It is a reminder of a leadership philosophy rooted in service, inclusion, civic engagement, and hope.

In an era defined by outrage, grievance, and division, that reminder is both timely and necessary. A few days ago, President Trump referred to President Obama as a “stupid son of a bitch.” A president who routinely behaves this way in public is not worthy of the Office of the President. Taunting Barack Obama, by using his middle name Hussein, is a page from the juvenile Donald Trump playbook. Remember when Trump started the campaign that questioned whether President Obama was a U.S. citizen?

Barack Obama lives “rent free” in Trump’s head. Trump is proud that he and his administration rolled back Obama’s legislation, revoked his foreign-policy deals, and illustrated his pettiness by moving President Obama’s official White House portrait to a much less prominent location in The White House.

Barack Obama reminds us that leadership is not about dominating others. It is about serving them.

He reminds us that the presidency is not a throne. It is public trust.

And perhaps most importantly, Barack Obama reminds us that hope is still a powerful force in American life.

The question before us now is whether we as Americans still have the courage to choose it.

About The Author

Gary Johnson is the Founder and Publisher of BlackMenInAmerica.com, a nationally recognized online platform focused on news, culture, leadership, and issues affecting Black America. He is also the founder of Gary Johnson Media, LLC, producer of the Calculations Talk Show, The Thought Brothers, and Seeking Truth and Justice podcasts. A former White House staff member, intelligence analyst, and corporate leadership development coach and trainer, Johnson is an author, media strategist, podcast producer, and community advocate committed to informing, inspiring, and empowering communities through storytelling and civic engagement.