‘Reminding us who we are’: Obama Presidential Center offers hope in a time of political turmoil

[0:01] Oh, after 10 years in the making, the Obama Presidential Center officially opened its doors [0:06] to the public yesterday. The Juneteenth opening saw scores of people from all over the country [0:11] coming together to celebrate the life and legacy of the Obamas and offered a sense of hope as we [0:18] live through a dark political time in our country. I run a mentor organization for girls and I feel [0:24] like when they come to see this space, they know that it's hope for us. I'm only 23 years old, so [0:30] every day I come outside, I have a direct replication of Obama and all the work he put in [0:35] for America and for my people every single day. You can't miss it when you come outside the door. [0:40] It's just amazing. We're only 250 years old, so I'm hoping that in the long run, we're going to look [0:46] back and say that hope is alive because that's what America was built on. The first 100 visitors [0:53] got a big surprise when they were personally greeted by the former president and former first lady. [0:59] In an exclusive interview with our colleague, Michelle Norris, Michelle Obama expanded on what [1:05] she ultimately hopes visitors will take away from their experience at the new presidential center [1:10] located where she grew up and they started their family, the south side of Chicago. [1:15] What will resonate for people of all backgrounds is they will see themselves in these floors. [1:22] America will see itself. And I'm saying all of America, regardless of political party, [1:30] regardless of whether you voted for us or like us or have nasty things to say about us or not or love [1:38] us, you will walk through these halls and you will feel seen here. [1:43] Former President Obama also sat down with Michelle and discussed what American values mean to him [1:52] as the current White House paints a very different picture of our nation's history and legacy. [1:57] What's striking is right now we've got a president in the White House who seems to have embraced and [2:06] embodied in a way we haven't seen in a very long time, this other story. I am glad that we are [2:12] planting a flag, that we are hopefully creating a repository, a vessel through which people can be [2:22] reminded of this better story. Maybe a way to think about the presidential center and what at least we [2:28] tried to create is some touchstones, some markers, some tools for people to just be reminded of, oh, yeah, [2:41] this is what our democracy is. This is who we are. [2:47] You're the only one of us that was actually there on Thursday. You're the only one of us that's been [2:52] to the actual center and walked through that. As someone who has covered the Obama administration, [2:59] someone who understands deeply what it meant and what it means to this country, what does the center [3:04] mean to you? The center is really incredible. The president gets to it in those remarks. But when we [3:11] think about this, this is the 250th anniversary of this country. And as we're going to talk with [3:16] Eddie Glaude in the next hour, the country tends to, in these big anniversaries, erase or ignore the [3:24] contributions of African Americans. And this center, the Obama Presidential Center, rising out of [3:31] Jackson, Jackson Square Park there in the south side of Chicago, 19.3 acres. This is not just, it's not a [3:40] library. It's not just a museum. It's a whole community center type thing. It will be a permanent [3:48] reminder to the country that, yes, there was a former president, but that former president and first [3:55] lady and that family were black. And here are the contributions that they made to this country. And more [4:01] importantly, and this is what's so important about, oh my God, that's so sweet. More importantly, [4:06] when you go to this center, only three of the floors of the museum requires a paid ticket. And that's [4:15] where you see the exhibits. Everything else is free and open to the public. And when you go into those [4:21] exhibits, comparatively speaking, very little is spent on talking about his administration in terms of [4:30] just square footage. He talks about the accomplishments, the things they didn't get [4:34] done. But I would say half, if not maybe slightly more than half of the exhibition space is reminding [4:41] us of who we are, how we got here as a country, their piece of it, and then where we need to go. [4:49] The center is where we could go. And the center is all about moving forward, training the next [4:56] generation of leaders, not just in this country, but around the world to fulfill a vision that the [5:02] Obamas have. But I also think a vision that we all have of what a happy, inclusive, generous, warm, [5:13] welcoming world is like. And for this to be happening at a time when in this country, [5:18] there's such a culture of meanness and vindictiveness, not just from our elected [5:26] officials, but from our government. Being on that plaza on Thursday was just, it was a reminder of [5:34] who we were and who we can still be. There was an atmosphere of joy. It was like a giant family [5:42] reunion. People were just happy to see each other again. And I hope that's, I hope that spirit [5:49] continues. Yeah. What was the highlight? [5:55] The highlight, actually, one of the highlights, well, several, but getting to shake hands with [6:01] Dave Chappelle. And, and because I, he's one of my, I love him as a comic. I sat behind [6:07] Tyler Perry and got to take a selfie with him, but I forgot to ask him about beauty in black and [6:14] when the next season is coming out, because my mother wants to know. [6:18] But you have to call the man. I say that, um, I think it reminded us that it is a choice to be [6:23] hopeful. It is a choice to change the country. And this is also a choice to allow things to happen [6:28] to the country. But you can check out the MS Now special, Hope Comes Home inside the Obama [6:33] Presidential Center tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern. Of course, that is Michelle Norris with the two [6:38] Obamas.