Obama's Legacy

As the new year crept upon us, the end of an era also approaches. The end of Barack Obama’s eighth year tenure as the first black president of the United States came to a conclusion on Jan.20 with the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump. Now, we look back at President Obama’s most memorable moments and the legacy he has left.

One of his most recognizable achievements throughout his presidency occurred early on in his first term with the passing of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Famously known as Obamacare, it was the first law to come close to the universal health care that Democrats since FDR have been trying to pass. With the implementation of Obamacare, tens of millions of uninsured people have access to affordable insurance through Medicaid expansion, employers, and the health insurance marketplace. While the cause of many criticism, the bill also receives many praise for its achievements. “Although it has it’s flaws, I believe it’s the first step to something that this country should have had long ago," said Aziza Farah.

Another one of his lasting legacies is his support of the LGBTQ community. Obama became the first president to publicly declare his support for the gay community when he expressed his belief that same-sex couples should be able to get married in May 9, 2012. The impact this had would be long term as the country showed progress to become more open to the LGBTQ, eventually leading to the Supreme Court’s decision on Obergefell v. Hodges in which the Court held in a five-four decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.