Washington, May 28: Former US President Barack Obama has congratulated Jacob Philadelphia, the boy who had touched Obama’s head in 2009, on his high school graduation.
Son of then-National Security Council staffer Carlton Philadelphia, the 5-year-old Jacob had asked Obama, “Is your hair like mine” The President then bent down and told the boy to touch his head.
“Yeah, that’s pretty much what I’ve got,” Obama recalled Philadelphia saying.
According to CNN, the moment was captured by White House photographer Pete Souza, and the photo, which Souza later named “Hair Like Mine,” was celebrated for highlighting the importance of representation.
Obama reconnected with him on the now-teenager’s graduation day on Friday.
“I think the White House visit clearly inspired you, I hope,” Obama said in the video.
“Yes. It really has,” Philadelphia replied.
Taking to Instagram, Obama reflected on the 2009 iconic image and said, “I think this picture embodied one of the hopes that I’d had when I first started running for office.
I remember telling Michelle and some of my staff, you know, I think that if I were to win, the day I was sworn into office, young people, particularly African American people, people of color, outsiders, folks who maybe didn’t always feel like they belonged, they’d look at themselves differently.
“To see a person who looked like them in the Oval Office. It would speak to Black kids and Latino kids and gay kids and young girls — how they could see the world open up for them.”
Meanwhile, Philadelphia recalled the day, “When I was younger, I just thought the President was just my dad’s boss. I didn’t know how powerful he was. I was a little shy and I kind of remember touching his hair and him towering over me.
“That was a pretty big highlight of my life. It is very wonderful to see representation in the government because if I get to see another Black man be at the top, be at that pinnacle, then I want to follow that lead.”
(UNI)
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