I have shed my last tear over President Obama, now I’m mad.

I was getting annoyed watching his farewell address. Not at him – at Black people. The departure of our only Black president and everyone seemed okay with it. Where was our anger? Our rage? We have burned down cities for less. For the first time a Black leader wasn’t taken from us by an assassin’s bullet, so I think it confused us.

People in the crowd were crying and waving goodbye, but I was fuming. It felt like when I was a kid and my mom told me daddy was leaving and we weren’t going to see him for a long time — only worse. At least daddy had weekend visitation.

Who knows when we’re going to see Obama again? I hope he finds a spot on a beach and gets fat. Not too fat (Michelle ain’t having that). Maybe just chubby, like Luther Vandross during the “Here and Now” years. He has earned the right to pack on a few pounds after carrying the weight of our hope and expectations for eight years. So in retirement if a brother wants ice cream for breakfast, let him have some ice cream, Michelle.

I went to turn off the address but then Obama said something that had me shook.

He said, “Black people we have got to start a revolution!”

Yes! Revolution! Yes! Rebellion! It got me thinking, “How do we start a revolution? Do I need to wear a dashiki? Where can I buy a musket?”

Okay, that’s not exactly what he said. His words were a touch more elegant and much more powerful.

He said, “I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.”

He was talking about us. We need to find another Black president. Obama should just be the first of many. I want a dynasty of Black presidents and I don’t feel bad about it. The rich, old, White guys who have run this country for 200 years never once said, “maybe we should give someone else a chance.”

Why should we give up the White House so easily? We are natural leaders. We just need to shift our focus. From the moment our kids enter school we should be pushing them into student government. We need an AAU program for Black student leaders to shape and mold them into future presidents. I was on student council. In junior high school I was elected on the power of a dope campaign slogan – “To Get More, Vote Moore.” I even had a button.

terrence-moore-button

Obviously, I didn’t become president, but maybe I would have had I known a Black man becoming President of the United States was an option. Only the current generation has known it was an option. Some of them dream of being president and we have to put them in a position to achieve that dream. We have to let them know if they work hard, stay the course, they too can change the world and become president one day.

Unfortunately, that timetable doesn’t work for me. It may be 40 years before they run and while I’m not that old, I’m not making plans that far in advance. I don’t want the next Black presidential candidate I vote for to be the last presidential election I am alive for.

You may be our next President. Yeah, you. He said us, that means you, too. We get caught up in presidential races when in fact local government has the greatest impact on our daily lives. Ask the people of Flint or Chicago. I suspect you have read, witnessed or been a victim of these atrocities. I also suspect you have an idea how to fix them. Well, no one is going through your Twitter feed looking for suggestions.

It’s time to put your ideas into action as a councilperson or even mayor. Every year some redneck from a small town, driving a pick up truck joins a state legislature, so why not you? And don’t say you don’t know anything about being a councilperson/mayor/congressperson. Have you seen/heard/saw the President-elect? Does he seem like he knows what he’s doing?

Between our children learning government and your political activism, our Black presidential dynasty has a chance. But again, that’s not going to be soon enough for me. I need a Black president now. And I suspect in four years we are going to need someone to get our house in order. Daddy will have been gone awhile, so our house will probably be a mess. We’re going to need someone to whip our American family into shape. We’re going to need a Black female president.

I cannot wait to vote for President Shontay. That’s right. When I dream of the first Black female President, her name is Shontay. Make fun of me if you want, but I bet you never thought you would have a President named Barack Hussein Obama.

President Shontay will show the world what most Black people already know – Black women are perfectly equipped to run this country.

A broken economy? Who have you ever seen do more with less than a Black woman?

Tough on crime? Did your mother ever catch you stealing?

Even if it’s not Shontay, there are plenty women of color capable of becoming Commander in Chief. Barack didn’t wait his turn, so why should Ilhan Omar, Catherine Cortez Masto or my favorite, Kamala Harris. You don’t know Kamala Harris? Google her, then get on her bandwagon quick, I’m driving, and seats are going to go fast.

You got me, Obama. I too believe in our power to bring about change. You know who just got a taste of our power? Democrats. Our low voter turnout kind of served as a market correction. We will no longer be told whom we should support. It’s time we bring our own date to the party (pun intended).

And now we have a plan (you’re welcome) to fill the void of true leadership our country desperately needs. Possibly, the greatest gift President Obama gave Black people is the knowledge that if anyone questions if a black person can run this country the answer undoubtedly is, “yes, we can.”


Terrence L. Moore is a writer and director, which basically means he enjoys making stuff and telling people what to do. Creator of the award winning comedy web series “Q’s One Night Stands”, find more of his angry, comedic ramblings on Twitter @TMooreDAJ.