As the Obamas wave us all goodbye as they prepare to leave the White House, we’re getting even more intimate looks into the past eight years of their lives. Most recently, Barack and Michelle have been revealed to be on the cover of October’s issue of Essence Magazine.

The first couple took the opportunity to speak on their legacy and the impact they’ve made on America, especially its youth. 

“I think when it comes to Black kids, it means something for them to have spent most of their life seeing the family in the White House look like them,” Mrs. Obama said. “It matters. All the future work that Barack talked about, I think over these last few years, we’ve kind of knocked the ceiling of limitation off the roofs of many young kids; imaginations of what’s possible for them. And as a mother, I wouldn’t underestimate how important that is, having that vision that you can really do anything—not because somebody told you, but because you’ve seen and experienced it. I think that will be a lasting impact on our kids.”

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As far as how he’s done as president, Barack feels that America is clearly better off now than it was when he came into office.

“I can unequivocally say that America is better off now than we were when we came into office. By almost every economic measure, we’re better off,” President Obama said. “But having said that, we still have a lot of work to do.”

Seeing an unapologetically Black couple in the highest seats of leadership in this country is still inspiring no matter how one may feel about the President’s accomplishments in office. And, Michelle’s grace in these past eight years (even when people did everything they could to tear her down) is phenomenal.

They’re not gone just yet! So let’s appreciate the first family while we still can.

Photo Credit: Twitter