Under the baobab: Obama Presidential Center is a testament to those who created our democracy
“You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We the People.’ ‘We shall overcome.’ ‘Yes we can.’ That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.” – Barack Obama 2015, inscription on Obama Presidential Center
I grew up on the Southside of Chicago where the Obamas recently opened their Presidential Center in Jackson Park, where I used to ride my bike. I swam in the lake from the 57th Street beach. The Museum of Science and Industry was one of our local hangouts. It was a different world then. Segregation and racial discrimination were still the law. Women could vote, but they did not have full citizenship rights. White supremacists were still lynching people. Gay citizens were prosecuted and jailed for being gay. Basketball players were primarily white on a college and professional level.
The Obama Presidential Center is a monument not to that past world. Rather it is a testament to those who created our democracy. As the first Black President, Obama surfed into office on the waves of the Civil Rights Movement. He was elected and reelected by a rainbow coalition of Americans who regarded the content of his character over the complexion of his skin. We as a nation were better because they did.
As Barack and Michelle reminded us, we are a good people who have built a good country based on good principles. In these difficult times, I believe we will not only survive but learn to thrive.
Around town
This year marks the seventh year that Juneteenth will be celebrated in State College. This year’s theme is, “Roots, Rhythm, and Resilience: Celebrating Our Legacy.” Hosted by the Borough of State College, the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the block party celebration takes place in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Fraser Street on Saturday, June 20. One of the organizers, Leslie Laing said, “The 2026 headliner will be Maya Azucena, a multi-award-winning, world-traveled, recording artist and humanitarian. She is, what one might call an inspirational diva.”
The State College Spikes opened their home stand with a rousing come from behind victory over the Canadian Junior National Team. The home stand ends on Saturday with a 6:35 p.m. game against Trenton.
Trevor Foley won the 2026 Happy Valley Ironman 70.3 competition with a combined time of 3 hrs and 42 minutes. Paula Findlay was the top woman finisher at 4 hours, 14 minutes. Over 1,700 athletes participated this year.
On Flag Day, the Centre County Historical Society sponsored a presentation, “Abraham Lincoln, Charles E. Troutman, and the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania,” with teacher/historians Anthony Stem and Josh Tonkel. They discussed a letter Abraham Lincoln wrote to Troutman, a Farmers High School (PSU), student on the occasion of the future President being granted an honorary membership to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Literary Society in 1860.
And the resistance continues: On Flag Day, the local chapter of Keystone Indivisible sponsored a “We the People means All the People,” demonstration on the Toftrees U.S. Route 322 overpass. About 30 people displayed flags and signs. Thompson Tuesdays continues at U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson’s Bellefonte office from 4:30-5:30 p.m. “Stand with Ukraine” will take place on Saturday, June 27 in the MLK Plaza from 2-3 p.m. Lighting Candles for Peace is at the Allen Street Gate on Mondays from 5-5:30 p.m.
You are seen. You are not alone. We are stronger together.
Charles Dumas is a lifelong political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Congress in 2012. He is a Lions Paw honoree. He lives in State College with his wife and partner of over 50 years.