John Legend:
Americans ‘Already Missing the Way Obamas Conducted Themselves in Office’
by Jerome Hudson 28 Nov 2016
Singer John Legend
is apparently already feeling nostalgic about Barack
Obama’s presidency, portraying the last eight years as a
“scandal-free” era the American people will surely miss.
“I think people are already missing the way the Obamas
conducted themselves in office,” the “Darkness and Light” singer said
in an interview for the winter cover story of Jocks & Nerds.
“Particularly when you compare them, especially with
Trump and how tawdry so much of the campaign has been,” Legend continued. “I
think people are appreciating how scandal-free his Presidency has been.”
The Grammy-winning artist says the Obama years have been
a boon for families who’ve seen their incomes rise.
“Combine that with the fact the economy is doing much
better than it was before he came into office,” he said. “Unemployment’s down,
incomes are rising. I think all in all, people are realising he did a pretty
great job.”
Of course, the nation’s unemployment rate only tells
a fraction of the story of its overall economic health, and can often be
misleading. As Breitbart News has reported, Obama’s presidency has
yielded record
low growth.
Asked about his thoughts on Black Lives Matter, Legend,
who is an avid
supporter of the social justice group, said, “It’s
been a challenge for Obama, because he represents the State, and he represents
law enforcement, and he represents the Justice Department, so the folks that
are protesting are protesting that apparatus. But I think he understands where
those protests are coming from. But he still has to represent the Government.”
Apart from singing and social activism, Legend has spent
the last few years expanding his role in Hollywood. He produced this year’s
film Southside With You, a biopic about Barack and Michelle
Obama’s first date in Chicago,
which opened to critical acclaim but middling
box office.
“I think now was a great time [for Southside With You]
because a lot of people are feeling pretty nostalgic about the first couple and
how historically significant they are given that he was the first black
President, she was the first black First Lady, but also how graceful and
elegant and strong they have been as leaders of the country over the last eight
years,” Legend said
about the film, which was produced by his Get Lifted Film Company.
Legend also holds a producer credit for the critically
acclaimed slave drama TV series Underground.
The 37-year-old singer says he’s interested in making
films that focus on “issues I care about politically.”
“I’d gotten involved with a lot of films as songwriter
but when I started my company it was a process that involved finding the right
directors, finding the right cast, telling the right stories,” he said.
“And I think a lot of that comes from my own political sensibilities. A lot of
the work we’ve been doing reflects a lot of the issues I care about
politically. But also there’s simply my love of great storytelling and my love
of great music in relation to telling those stories.”
John Legend
John
Legend is a director at Harlem
Village Academies, a performer in the Yes
We Can video, judged the advertisement competition for Obama in 30 Seconds, and a performer in the We Are One Inaugural Celebration.
Note: Jane Och is a
director at the Harlem Village Academies,
and married to Daniel S. Och.
Daniel S. Och is
married to Jane Och, and a director
at the Robin Hood Foundation.
Robin Hood
Foundation was a funder for the Harlem
Village Academies.
Foundation
to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).
George
Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society, and a contributor for MoveOn.org.
Obama in 30
Seconds was an advertisement for MoveOn.org.
Barack
Obama is featured in Yes We Can
video, the president for the Barack
Obama administration, and was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.
2009
Barack Obama inauguration was the first inauguration for the Barack Obama administration.
We
Are One Inaugural Celebration is the opening concert for the 2009 Barack Obama inauguration.
Michelle Obama
was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
R. Eden Martin is
counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and
the president of the Commercial Club of
Chicago.
Newton N. Minow is
a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP,
and a member of the Commercial Club of
Chicago.
Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past
Research)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
James S.
Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the vice
chairman for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Lester Crown
is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime
trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Katie
Couric is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director
at the Harlem Village Academies, and
a friend of Jonathan Klein.
Robin Hood
Foundation was a funder for the Harlem
Village Academies.
Jeff
Zucker is a director emeritus for the Robin
Hood Foundation, and the president of CNN
Worldwide.
CNN Worldwide
is a division of CNN.
Jonathan Klein was
the president of CNN, and a friend
of Katie Couric.
Walter Isaacson
was the chairman & CEO for CNN,
and is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Katie
Couric is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director
at the Harlem Village Academies, and
a friend of Jonathan Klein.
Robin Hood
Foundation was a funder for the Harlem
Village Academies.
John
Legend is a director at Harlem
Village Academies, a performer in the Yes
We Can video, judged the advertisement competition for Obama in 30 Seconds, a performer in the We Are One Inaugural Celebration, and a director at the Teach for America.
Walter Isaacson is
the chairman emeritus for Teach for
America, the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank),
and was the chairman & CEO for CNN.
Katie
Couric is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director
at the Harlem Village Academies, and
a friend of Jonathan Klein.
Robin Hood
Foundation was a funder for the Harlem
Village Academies.
Jonathan Klein was
the president of CNN, and a friend
of Katie Couric.
