Black History Month 2025 - February 17th - Barack Obama

This year, as a 60-turning-61 white man, I am going to highlight African Americans that have had some kind of influence in my life. Some are famous, some are friends, and others are just people. #blackhistorymonth

February 17th - Barack Obama

In 2012, I was laid off of my job. I got a job consulting for a few weeks. The pay was amazing, but the job stability was much less than working a tech job as a full-time employee. I also thought about starting my own company.

The only thing stopping me from doing either of these things long term was health insurance. After I was let go, I was paying my previous company COBRA to keep health insurance for me and my family. COBRA only lasts for 18 months, so I wanted to get private insurance to cover me and my family past that deadline.

When I called around, I was told that I could not buy individual health insurance for myself, because I was overweight, and that was a pre-existing condition that disqualified me. So I asked that if I lost weight to get under the threshold, could I get a policy. They said I could not apply again for the next two years. When I said that I would call other companies, they told me that they shared this with all of the other companies, and I would not be able to use them either. I asked them what my alternatives were. They told me I could get a job where the employer paid for the insurance, or I could get the Texas high-risk plan for over $10000/month.

I got a job where the insurance was covered soon after that, but I would have probably started a business if I had been able to get insurance.

Barack Obama, during his second term, worked with a Democratic congress to pass the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. I could get an insurance policy for myself now. For that alone, he is one of my favorite presidents.

But it’s not just that. The man is obviously off-the-charts smart, having been president of the Harvard Law Review, and a teacher of constitutional law at the University of Chicago. 

But this man was compassionate and relatable as well.

At the funeral of State Senator Reverend Clementa Pinckney, a victim of a mass shooting in South Carolina at an historically black church, he delivered the eulogy, and during that he sang Amazing Grace. He had the rhythm and the cadence of a preacher. His voice was strong. His eulogy was moving.

I also love the picture of the little black boy staring unbelievingly at Obama in the White House, and the picture of the same little boy feeling Obama’s hair.

I love the fact that he loved to play basketball, and would play with anybody who would play with him. He neither gave anybody quarter, nor had patience with those who would not play hard.

But my favorite thing about his presidency is that were no scandals, and no allegations of corruption. From all indications, he was an honest man, who surrounded himself with honest people.

I miss this President.