Barack and Michelle

Far too many people remain susceptible to misinformation, especially when it targets prominent Black figures like the Obamas. It’s astonishing how easily falsehoods spread and are accepted as truth without scrutiny. I know an otherwise intelligent woman who sincerely believed that Barack and Michelle Obama were getting a divorce... simply because she saw it online. These kinds of baseless rumors aren't new; they’re part of a long and deliberate pattern.

Both Malcolm X and Dr. King warned us decades ago about the manipulative power of the press... how it can shape public opinion, distort truth, and turn heroes into villains. What we face now is even more dangerous: a digital age where social media has replaced traditional journalism for many, despite having no editorial standards, accountability, or ethical guardrails. Anyone with a platform can broadcast lies disguised as truth, and far too many people consume that content without question.

This isn’t just about the Obamas. It’s about how quickly misinformation becomes a weapon in the hands of those eager to discredit, divide, and derail progress. Until we develop a stronger collective skepticism and a deeper media literacy, we will continue to fall victim to the same traps our leaders warned us about... only now, amplified by algorithms and echo chambers masquerading as truth.

The Obamas gave this country eight years of dedicated, dignified service in the White House. Barack Obama represented the United States on the global stage with intellect, integrity, and composure... qualities rare in modern politics. His presidency stands among the most respectable in American history, rivaled perhaps only by John F. Kennedy in terms of inspirational leadership and global appeal. Michelle Obama, in turn, redefined the role of First Lady. She brought not only elegance and grace but a sharp political awareness and educational prowess that set a new standard. While Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis embodied charm and refinement, Michelle Obama added a depth of intellect and activism that extended far beyond ceremonial duties... this is no slight to Jackie O., but an acknowledgment of how Michelle elevated the position through substance and purpose.

In the chaos of today’s political landscape, under the dark shadow of Donald Trump’s second term, there is a growing cry from many (especially among those once critical of the Obamas) for their return to the political arena. But why, after all they gave, would Barack or Michelle willingly subject themselves to another cycle of vilification, scapegoating, and manufactured outrage? Do we expect them to once again shoulder the impossible burden of saving a nation still unwilling to confront its own reflection?

Calls for their return are less about hope and more about desperation. It's as though America is looking for familiar heroes to rescue it from the very forces it allowed to rise. But history has shown us what happens when Black excellence is placed in the crosshairs of white grievance and political opportunism. We saw it in the relentless obstruction of Barack's presidency. We saw it in the coded attacks on Michelle’s character. And should they return, we would likely see it again... this time, with even more venom.

The sobering truth is this: if America is indeed on the brink of its own imperial unraveling, mirroring the fall of Rome, the blame does not lie with the Obamas. It lies with a nation too proud to change and too fragile to face the truth.