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There was a time when Barack Obama, the ex-president, made a stop at one of the top barbershops in Chicago where he used to get his hair cut quite a lot; the encounter was somewhat of a chance event but it turned out to be very pleasant and cozy with the public. The video reveals a relaxed Obama conversing with his barber Zariff on the topic of urban projects and health-conscious practices among the locals and thus he is the same guy with his hometown and his roots tied to him.
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After all, Obama can be seen in the recording as a relaxed man, fully dressed in a quarter-zip sweater, with a drink in his hand. He exchanges quite familiar words with the barbershop personnel, inquiring about the area and sharing his plans about the Obama Presidential Center that will come with the community features like children’s playground, Michelle’s garden, and a restaurant. The mood changes from being casual to being familiar when Obama is inquired how he managed stress back in the White House. He mentions body training in the mornings and mindful eating as his ways but admits that sleeping was the toughest part to handle. The scene gets comical when a staff lady, Mercedes, questions him “What’s your sign?” and Obama cheekily replies “I’m a Leo.”
The message that came with the post “Couldn’t depart Chicago without visiting the old barber Zariff for a hair cut!” was a big wooing of the community’s nostalgia. The reaction has pointed out that there is an overall craving for Obama’s personality.
A participant put it just right by saying, “Did anyone else have a big smile on their face the whole time watching this???” This lightweight question got an overwhelming amount of positive responses, with one person saying they were “smiling while crying, I miss he and his family in the White House so much.” The sentiment was not merely the yearning for the good old days, but a purposeful declaring of the existing political context as a contrast. “He didn’t say a nasty or condescending word to ANYONE!?!? I’ve forgotten what that’s like! True class,” was the comment made. The point in the comment was corroborated by many others, with some even claiming that he most likely “tipped generously.”
The trip also demonstrated the fact that Obama still has the public’s love for him as an unpretentious person. He is just a regular guy, the same way one commentator put it, “That is why people love him, he does not treat any one as inferior.” The characteristic of the effortless cool was general. “The swag is just….ahhh I am so thankful we have social media and can see him still,” commented one observer, while another referred to him as “the most coolest President ever,” a statement that was followed by some friendly grammar correction in the conversation thread. The moment when he was asked his zodiac sign by Mercedes was particularly remarkable. “Mercedes asked President Obama what his sign is. Protect Mercedes at all costs,” one took to humorously while others were not far behind in saying that he “gives BIG LEO ENERGY.”
The humor and the whole cool atmosphere are however concealing a great loss felt by many. A user made an accurate remark, “We really had a good thing didn’t we?” This statement opened up a users’ stream of thoughts, with one saying, “we did and unfortunately, everyone took it for granted.” Another user bitterly wished, “Just please post more. This really brings me joy. For this moment, I forget that you are not the president.”
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The visit to the barbershop was a routine procedure of having a haircut that went beyond. It was a powerful jolt of the one and only public face of Barack Obama—a mix of awesomeness, tranquility, friendly and sometimes even playful—that continues to seal his post-presidency legacy. Obama did it in a matter of a few minutes of conversation to reassert why he remains a singular figure in American culture, bringing smiles, causing nostalgia, and perhaps even making people wish for that particular coolness in presidential style to come back. This event is reminiscent of his visit to read to Chicago students, which also sparked an emotional wave. Recently, he also made a surprise visit to Pod Save America with a hopeful message. His ongoing work includes a new mentorship program for young men of color. In a less positive light, a former associate, Grammy winner Pras Michel, was sentenced for a campaign finance scheme.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
