As the end of Black History Month draws near, we thought it fitting to showcase 10 liberating quotes from President Barack Obama.  We will remember these quotes throughout history and use them to inspire generations to come.

10 Liberating Quotes from President Barack Obama that Will Go Down in Black History

In this article:

1. Quotes from the beginning of his journey as president
2. Inspiration during challenging times
3. Quotes for our community

It is also fitting to celebrate the “end” of the first African American Presidential reign with these quotes. It has been a wonderful and historic eight years. I witnessed eight years of the first African American president of the United States of America. Though I am saddened by its end, I am pleased to have witnessed his eight years of service. I hope you are inspired.

Quotes from the beginning

1. This quote comes from the beginning.

From the Audacity of Hope, the written by then Illinois senator Barack Obama.

Hope — Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.

2. We chanted the slogan “CHANGE” from coast to coast when the president was campaigning for the first time. I felt that a quote that summarizes change and what it meant to him was appropriate to round out this list of the top ten quotes from President Barack Obama that will go down in Black History…

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

3. In writing this article, I wanted a quote from the President that reminded us of the famous Martin Luther King “I have a dream speech. That speech spoke so much on a dream for equality. I also wanted a quote that came directly from the inauguration, as that moment will be one we should never forget.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non­believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth? and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass, that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve, that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself, and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

Inspiration during challenging times

4. One of the most pressing issues that came up in the 2nd term of the Obama administration was the police violence that led to the deaths of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray. These events transformed into the BlackLivesMatter movement. This quote came in the aftermath of the events in Baltimore, MD.

And it is incumbent upon all of us as Americans, regardless of race, region, faith, that we recognize this is an American problem and not just a black problem or a brown problem or a native American problem, this is an American problem, when anybody in this country is not being treated under the law that’s a problem and it’s my job as president to help solve it.

5. On the subject of inequality, we have come far as a race and a people. However, still today for women of all races, inequality is still a big injustice. This quote looks at the future and the past of the ongoing women’s movement.

We must carry forward the work of the women who came before us and ensure our daughters have no limits on their dreams, no obstacles to their achievements, and no remaining ceilings to shatter.

6.  I chose this quote as it summarizes how the path of all things are never easy, as it shouldn’t be.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short­cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint­hearted, for those that prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk­takers, the doers, the makers of things ­­ some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor ­­ who have carried us up the long rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

Quotes for our community

7. President Obama spoke this quote to the Congressional Black Caucus before his second election. This quote is something that we should never forget to do. Get up, live in the spirit of our ancestors that came before us, and let our voice be heard!

Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes,’ he said, his voice rising as applause and cheers mounted. ‘Shake it off. Stop complaining’. Stop grumblin’. Stop cryin’. We are going to press on. We have work to do.

8. Read this quote daily in our schools and weekly in our churches.

The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.

9. I saw the first two sentences when I first read this quote, and personally felt it was relevant as a business owner.  It is great for us to want to make money for ourselves and families, but when you help a cause greater than yourself, all of your goals will be met.

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.

8. We know our president has swag, so he kept it short and sweet with this quote, but yet it says so much.

If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.

 

BMWK, What is one of your favorite quotes from President Barack Obama?

Up Next: 28 Black History Lessons for Both You and Your Kids

Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on February 10, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.