Barack Obama: Crash Course Black American History #50

Barack Obama was the first Black man elected President in the United States in 2008. In this episode, Clint Smith will explore the early life, political career, presidential campaign, and legislative milestones of Barack Obama.
Clint's book, How the Word is Passed, is available now! bookshop.org/b...
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[@keyascott2800]

My grandpa told me once “one day there will be a black president. Me and your grandma won’t live to see it but you will” my grandpa died in 2006 three years before but my grandma who is still alive lived to see it. When he was elected that conversation came back to me. I said grandpa you said it and I know your smiling.

[@abrahamel-gothamy6472]

That was a beautiful memory. ❤ i definitely teared up 😢

[@Hojotoho.Yall504]

When they say “divisive,” they mean, “ this is true but it makes me feel uncomfortable.”

[@markfrank5937]

💯

[@Sabertooth1000000000]

You should do an episode on Obama's foreign policy, especially in the Middle East.

[@businessghost3008]

Totally glances over it! Pretty much Bush 2.0 but with more drones!

[@abrahamel-gothamy6472]

I know he could have been more balanced, highlighting Obama’s failures - drone program, Lybia, ISIS resurgence.

[@ivarrtullitt1235]

As a British person, whose never been the the USA, I find it bizarre how Americans refer the Obama as 'black'. Over here many seen him as mixed-race. Not to step on his accomplishment as being the first person of colour to become president, but it does show devide when he and many others see him as a black man instead of a man with both black and white ancestry. Obama being a product of people from both sides, I would have thought it would have created more unity, not more divide. I am mixed-race and the only time I'm reffered to as black is by people who don't know better, and I'm very quick to correct them on their terminology. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I sit in the clouds, but he wasn't black, he wasn't white. He was both and neither

[@santorasampson3430]

Deep, and technically right. But in the USA, if you have so much as one drop of blood from a black person, you're black. It came from many years of prejudice. We have a long way to go to get away from that idea.

[@AnthonyD-yy2in]

He is neither black or white. He is brown. I saw him when he came to London in 2009 for a quick visit. Yes in America there are a lot of issues regarding race and I don't fit into a nice little neat box, so I know first hand how it feels when people try to label you. We all have to remember that people will see you the way they want to see you regardless of race.

[@KeCzajkowski]

It really blows me away how much Republicans hated that man. They still hate him too.

[@master-gg3zn]

as a non American, it seems he promised alot and delivered little. He was to willing to compromise, he had little experience to get things done in Washington. Alot of things mentioned in this video he did, he did not . Torture remained at black sites or on navy ships, Guantanamo bay still open, drone war expanded, troop escalation in Afghanistan. Recovery act, he wanted 3 trillion, got 800 billion. Obama care had to be wated down, he did some good things domestically in the first 2 years, what about the other 6. Americans thought they would get a FDR or LBJ to radically change america, instead they got clinton 2.0

[@Gangxisiyu]

Yes, I do have many issues with Obama's presidency, but you cannot deny the historic nature of his election, and that feeling when it happened.

[@jave.8944]

Obama changed politics forever. We seeing the aftermath of a Black President still in 2022. That’s why this vote is important

[@sir_ventt8142]

I'll start by saying, growing up in Utah. At first I thought this was the end to racism. Thst he could do it. It was finally gonna happen. But I didn't understand race in middle school. In high school, I was so shocked. That he wasn't American, thst police officers were going missing looking into him, he was gonna take our guns away!!! I lived in a world where raido men wouldn't lie to me, that adults knew what they were talking about, and good people were always my neighbors and leaders. What a small world I lived in. I'm glad I know better now, I'm glad I escaped those kinds of people in my life. I hope this trend will oneday continue. We need more men like him in leadership.

[@culwin]

Sort of off-topic, but since you mention Utah and trusting people, it reminds me of Evermore Park. I just watched a new video about that, and it seems to show how some people are blindly trusting. (Not trying to promote, and I have no affiliation).

[@p382742937423y4]

I do wonder if that kind of life still exists. It does feel save and calm.

[@diegobravo641]

It is sadly uncommon to see content with such amazing quality. It is worthy of respect how you take your time to explain history and not rush through it like many content creators do. Especially considering you do not put obnoxious music over such serious topics. I also believe that you did great in adding contrasting opinions as it showcases not only how much you have researched but also how you want the viewer to actually learn the whole story. Thank you so much for providing such a service for free. Cheers from Uruguay.

[@redsparks2025]

"damned if you do and damned if you don't". such is the game of politics.

[@sweetlolitaChii]

I remember Obama's 2008 win like it was yesterday. I was 13 and living in Alabama at the time, and I got tired of waiting for the results, so I went upstairs to go on the family computer. Suddenly, I heard my mom screaming from downstairs. Running up the stairs to where I was, she joyfully yelled "OBAMA'S GONNA BE THE PRESIDENT" and we both started dancing and jumping for joy. After years of Bush and having a brother-in-law in Iraq and Afghanistan, we were so excited about a smart, kind black man finally getting his chance at the white house

[@speedythunder1995]

The thing with Obama himself, Black Americans got happen base one the fact he was Black but he didn’t have any attention on fixing up the Black community in my opinion, he made life much harder.

[@christopherstefanatos7197]

Are we just not gonna talk about Kunduz hospital? And the escalation in the war on terror. And the drone strikes personally approved by Obama which lead to the deaths of at least 324 civilians.

[@atirclark3350]

No cus den we need to go an talk about all the bad stuff all the other presidents did no president is perfect it is wtf it is dont try to discredit the fact that he was the first black president this video ain’t bout dat keep it pushing

[@Thunderwalker87]

I have been watching six episodes of this a day to catch up. This series has been enlightening to watch.

[@stalkerwithapinkhat2788]

Only six? I’ve been watching like 15 a day

[@hipacrocadog]

War criminal

[@UmQasaann]

Every US president since in 1789.

[@gjhgvfxcghg9409]

Or is it too ist or phobic of me to ask why he bombed my people?

[@alisaurus4224]

While it’s wonderful and historic that Obama was the first Black man to be President, we must not overlook his greatest crime: that one time he wore a tan suit

[@caiden3396]

As someone who missed out on a lot of history and had a misinformed upbringing, I'm happy you're making these.🙂

[@EvanHBogle]

To those who don't already know, keep in mind Obama was born 3 whole years before the the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Yes he was toddler at the time, but it's still a little crazy crazy to think about. Imagine telling someone in 1961 that the first black president will be born that year.

[@johnhendrickson1806]

This intro brought me to tears. Thanks for this.

[@rickwyant]

First half black.

[@Googledeservestodie]

When Barack Obama won the presidency my mother's political science professor, a black man, was so astounded that he actually cried in class when he announced who won to everyone. Too bad Obama's chummy relationship with weapons manufacturing and continued financing of wars in the Middle East turned that political science professor into a libertarian by the time I came to college lmao

[@bradmetcalf5333]

I’m a 40 year old conservative white American. I’m not ashamed to say that. I’m also not ashamed to say that my generation elected Obama president. Despite disagreeing with almost all of his political views, i was still proud of what our country did electing him. I have really enjoyed this series and have enjoyed telling my young children about the things i have learned. I can try to be as “ least racist” as possible but this series helped me understand that I will never understand what it is like to be a black man in America.

[@KiloDeltaOneSierra]

And then we got Trump in my opinion the complete antithesis of Obama when it came to competence, intelligence etc.

[@mariuszel759]

Barack O'Bomba.

[@LikelyToBeEatenByAGrue]

I was excited about Obama. It was the first campaign I did anything other than vote for, canvassing and the digital equivalent of envelope stuffing mainly. He was a good president and he did his best for us but, despite the radical hope he inspired, there's only so much one man can do. Even if that man is the president.

[@In_TheMoonlight]

I appreciate finally learning what the TEA Party actually was. That whole situation happened when I was a little kid, so I had heard about it but never understood what was going on.

[@JK-gu3tl]

Do your own research.

[@williamkarbala5718]

It would be hard to imagine that if you grew up in Alabama or Mississippi, if your grand dad lived in any other part of the country meh not so much. Hell most people thought Colon Powell would have been Americas first Black President and he was a Republican.

[@LA12901]

This is a great video, I always learn so much from these. It’s worth noting also that Obama did also allow for the continued mistreatment of some prisoners despite the laws he passed against it, notably the detention of Chelsea Manning, but also others. Overall, he did a lot of good, but it’s never a cut and dry situation. History is always messy.

[@desmondstallworth2934]

I’m only 33 and my dad thought that he would never see a black president

[@willmallory9085]

Excellent video. Same for my 105 year old Grandpa who was born in Tennessee.

[@StephanieDeBootler]

Hey Minster Mallory!

[@p382742937423y4]

Wow, that's really old. Still in good shape?

[@TheGrinningViking]

Isn't he more Hawaiian American from exclusively wealthy parents, raised by wealthy grandparents? He looked the part though, I'll give him that.

[@StephySon]

He he wasn’t born or raised wealthy. He was pretty middle class but I’m those days middle class was like upper middle class today

[@synone4013]

As a white registered republican...I can tell you that I loved President Obama and pray that we get another president one day that has his empathy, intelligence, humor and wisdom.

[@phillipgrier4150]

I absolutely love these videos, your work is phenomenal!!

[@herecomesthatboy1961]

Scary to think this is already history. I still remember being in a restaurant for dinner on holiday as an 8 year old and my dad trying to explain to me the significance of a black man becoming president over there when he was elected.

[@PancracioProductions]

Not a word about Obama's foreign policy. Funny.

[@ld7599]

"I thought I voted for Suge Knight, but I got Urkel"

[@isaacwade7381]

Is there a way I can like this video harder to make the next one come out sooner?

[@patclearly]

The Boondocks episode about the election was really excellent, showing the generational opinions of Obama

[@JaimeNyx15]

I have a lot of mixed feelings about the Obama years, but I can't deny in retrospect that they were some of the best years of my life. When he was president, anything seemed possible, even when there were difficulties. The Bush years for me were all about the War on Terror, and the Trump/Biden years have been about partisan unraveling, but even though the partisanship began getting into high gear during the Obama years, he always seemed above it all in a way that I miss.

[@georgejones5019]

Partisan unravelling really picked up with Obama.

[@edfagan4251]

Last night, met a woman who thought the former president's name is 'Baracko Bama'

[@Arosukir6]

I love this series so much! However, I do wish there was more nuance to this episode, in the same way there was with Jesse Jackson. The fact that Pres Obama's international policy allowed for the death of so many civilians abroad by drones. That he didn't support gay marriage at first, and other ways in which he was unable to escape Assimilationist thinking when it came to criminal justice reform. Intersectionality and nuance alway have to be at the forefront, so that we can continue improving as we move forward, learning from our past missteps. President Obama must always be remembered for the barriers he broke and the hard work he did, but imo we have to avoid looking at his presidency through rose-tinted glasses.

[@culwin]

Some people being killed by drones is an odd thing to pick out to criticize. Under every leader that any country has ever had, there will be many, many injustices. So you would be fine if they weren't killed by drones? Very strange.

[@StephySon]

I concur

[@StephanieDeBootler]

I was in AF basics training when heard Obama won. I was shiny the metal in the doorway when a girl read off the news in disgust...I just smiled.

[@p382742937423y4]

I find it a bit harsh that blm-people are so critical of him.

[@dischannelomine260]

I'd just like to take a moment here to say; Thanks Obizzy.

[@blexaarron]

Bailed out the Banks, Expanded the War, Wemt after whistle blowers….

[@pongop]

Thank you for another excellent, well-balanced lesson!

[@froze525]

A couple of tidbits missing from this video that I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt was due to time restraints. 1. The death of Trevon Martin and the BLM uprisings of 2014 and 2015 were a pretty clear result of the militarization of police through the "1033 Program". This was a program started under Pres Clinton to give cops the hand me downs of the US military. This was a fairly small trickle until Obama became president, with him opening the floodgates of all the surplus equipment from the post-Surge occupation of Iraq. It took those two uprisings to force the Obama admin to issue of "review" of the 1033 Program. The program is still ongoing. 2. The Dodd-Frank and Obamacare bills were more political and policy half-measures that were more focused on staving off the total collapse of the banking and healthcare systems, respectively, than actually making life all that much better for people. These acts were meant to quiet movements to break up the banks (and bring criminal charges to the bankers who's criminal negligence caused the mess) and finally drag the US into the civilized world of people being able to get healthcare without turning into a debt slave for the rest of your life. The Obamacare bill especially is an absolutely monstrous example of "public-private partnerships" just being that Trailer Park Boys bit about paying someone to fuck off. Instead of challenging the Health Insurance industry, the Obama admin just took Mitt Romney's idea of heavily subsidizing (paying off) health insurance companies in order to make poor people profitable for these companies. The rest of a universally hated system was kept mostly as is.

[@culwin]

Obamacare is definitely not great and not ideal, but it's the best that anyone could get. You call it "monstrous", but it's better than if it didn't exist. Still, you are right that it is a half(or less) measure that doesn't solve the problems. If the system was "universally hated" then it would already be gone. If there were no Republicans in Congress, the system would be gone.

[@DuperSquadMaxman]

4:37 is it supposed to say Great Recession instead of Great Depression? Might be confusing for some.

[@johnnyboy7117]

Did Obama really improve the lives of black inner city people, the answer is no.

[@stephenfarmer7280]

The last president that you'd actually feel like you're meeting the president.

[@sicemdawgs47]

Don't forget he holds the record for most drone strikes of any president. Quite the accomplishment!

[@shurbrrt]

what about the hospital thing

[@late_arvie]

Was Obama-care a success after all? As a European I only heard criticism about it. Why was it ended?

[@reconstructingblackfacts2041]

I love how you gathered both perspectives of Black opinion about Barack Obama. Love this series!

[@TB.167]

I find it weird how important race is Obama isn't just a black man he was a man with many ideas who just happened to be black one thing I never hear about is barrack ideas or how he worked hard how he basically aged 10 years in 3 he looked so worn out just in 3 years

[@lightwishatnight]

As a latin-american, I am disappointed that this video did not address the president's extreme aggression towards latin-american immigrants, especially those who had no proper documentation.

[@BPD1586]

I might have missed it; but what aggression was shown towards Latin-American immigrants? How did you expect him to act towards those with no proper documentation?

[@elisareyes6391]

😢Just listening your narrative makes me cry! As a Mexican-American I understand what you’re saying!

[@whatever4464]

Mmm a war criminal!!

[@Jerovision]

Though you inform, educate, enlighten and empower you also INSPIRE. Thanks Mr. Smith...yes I had to put RESPECT on your name !!! Though you mentioned 50 episodes at the start of this journey, I TRULY WISH for 50 more !!! Thanks again for your wonderful work my brother...best wishes with all that your future holds !!!

[@syxxpoppin8830]

I live in Mississippi Jackson to be exact 🎉

[@bramhelsing2697]

What a powerful intro. I’ve never been more drawn in to a video than I have for this one

[@mostlyvoid.partiallystars]

I miss President Obama so much.

[@tekuaniaakab2050]

Whatever you think of Obama politically, his impact on the country’s history cannot be denied. Great video

[@justinkimble4654]

Agree 💯

[@travisjbye1]

I love how these videos are educational and explain the differing opinions along with the facts. Very well done

[@nmoney6655]

Crazy cause I was only 6 when Obama got elected and I remember sitting on the floor next my parents watching TV and my father saying how I was living in history

[@naturalistmind]

A sacrifice for the algorithm

[@zunairavlogsfun]

Very informative video

[@Dayglodaydreams]

Seems like we are rounding to the end.

[@KristofDE]

Thank you for the series, it really helped me organize the stuff I already knew and allowed me to better understand a perspective on US history that I wouldn't otherwise have access to.

[@zbs8334]

Was able to see him give a speech in Milwaukee a few days ago. He was the last great president in my eyes so far.

[@letymunguia5649]

He impacted it for all the negative reasons. His race had nothing to do w it.

[@modomohamed1074]

A war criminal. It is whatever tho

[@asprywrites]

Thank you, Clint. And thanks to all the nice people.

[@charlesibe7407]

A lot to think about. 🤔

[@SomegirlTV]

Thank you

[@N.J.C95]

Smh, very disappointed in this video. You should have pointed out all the horrible things he's done as well as the positive.

[@williambilyeu9801]

Some of the things Clint Smith mentioned as positive were really negative and he covered up a lot of other things.

[@atirclark3350]

This video ain’t about that y’all always try to deflect racist af

[@atirclark3350]

Like who cares if u disappointed 😂

[@miasubrahmanyam7097]

this series had been so insightful and intelligent so far!! hats off to everyone involved

[@EasyMathsRK]

Excellent

[@patriciabarrientos7969]

Very helpful for a second grade school homework. Thanks for this video.

[@rohitdohare9531]

nice video

[@dciking]

Obama was the first president I got to vote for when I turned 18 in 2008. I think he did a lot of great things, including pushing through the ACA, but did not do as much for the LGBTQ+ community despite the promises he made while campaigning. Overall, a solid ‘B’ president, which for a US president is S-tier. Perhaps no one in the last 60 years has been as good of a president.

[@cocacolacat]

first comment, Obama out

[@BobbyOfTheNite]

First

[@kovidmanohar719]

It is ironic how Indians who migrated to the USA have benefitted from the civil right movement in the USA but continues to discriminate against their fellow citizen in India with varna ashrama dharma a so-called divine sanctioned rigid caste system perpetuating the most heinous and inhuman form of discrimination for centuries and what's obnoxious it continues till date with same insanity.

[@p382742937423y4]

Is that gonna change or relax a little in India you think? From an outside perspective it seems like a caste system is not the way forward in the 21th century.

[@KilogramHours]

obamna 🥺👿 ... SODA 🥤‼️😅😁🥶

[@NicoleSudhoff]

CLINT!! So glad you are partnering with the Greens on Crash Course to reach more folks than those of us who know and love you from Pod Save the People and other media. Yay!

[@seaparty1236]

bro who is gonna say first

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Love these so much!

[@MichaelTurner856]

Same

[@beefresh5648]

I was born in 1969, but I was also astounded. Some a moment I felt maybe the human race will not destroy itself with hatred. The way the country is headed now, backwards, I am ashamed for having such hope.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

Never be ashamed of having hope. Just do your best to making them reality 💞

[@Just2gofoods]

Love this video!

[@aliud9904]

Love this

[@DanielSMatthews]

I look forward to chapter two where he buys a huge mansion by the sea, even though he told everyone that the sea was rising and would flood properties near the sea.

[@StephySon]

I mean he’s from Hawaii so technically any property he buys there is near the sea

[@kevindevlin7276]

Wait I thought Colin Powell ran in 96 and 00 also?

[@stevecooper1824]

He campaigned for Republican candidates in 1995, and was put forth as a candidate several times, but he never actually ran.

[@theyear9076]

Isn't this guy who engineered isis? Asking for a friend

[@joshuacarre06]

Let's hope that far right crazy people ain't in the comments of this video

[@cometmoon4485]

I was hoping you would talk about the relentless drone strikes, tortures and atrocities committed by the US military under Obama's leadership.

[@StephySon]

It was a 14 minute video on his election and some of his accomplishments. Not an hour long documentary

[@suleiman1520]

Once in a lifetime political talent but didn’t live up to it unfortunately. Honestly for all his faults Joe has done a better job from a policy perspective. Obama’s lack of fulfilled promises directly led to the election of Trump.

[@sonnycook5346]

Great video!