Former President Barack Obama surprised a group of schoolchildren on the South Side on Tuesday, making a stop at the Bessie Coleman branch of the Chicago Public Library in Woodlawn during his Chicago visit to tour the nearly finished Obama Presidential Center.
A group of two dozen Burke Elementary School students, between kindergarten and second grade, were doing a story time and coloring activity at the library when Obama arrived, wearing a red Santa hat, according to a pool report from the event. (The Obama Foundation allowed only a pool reporter, Shia Kapos of Politico, along with a Chicago Tribune photographer and CBS television camera person to cover the event.)
“Everybody seems to be working hard,” Obama said, according to the pool report. “I thought we were gonna have a little Christmas party, and everybody’s doing their homework. What’s happening?”
The students, who had just learned about Black heroes, including the president, shouted “Barack Obama” as the former president entered. When he asked if the students liked to read, several raised their hands.
As the children sat on the floor, Obama read them “Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight” by Karyn Parsons, which chronicles the story of the first African American female pilot. A new mural on the library by the artist Kari Blak, who lives in Woodlawn, includes a drawing of Coleman.
The former president walked the students through words like “unfurl,” “triumphant” and “segregation,” and explained concepts raised in the book about flying a plane, the pool report said.
At the end of the visit, students received winter hats, gloves and a book to take home. Obama also greeted library staff and community members before departing.
The former president seeks to highlight the ongoing role of public libraries as accessible, democratic community spaces through this event, according to the Obama Foundation.
Obama announced last week that his presidential center, which has been underconstruction since 2021, is set to open in June.
The presidential center in Jackson Park will feature a Chicago Public Library branch. It will also include a auditorium, NBA-regulation basketball court, gardens, parkland and will be centered around a 225-foot museum tower.
An athletic facility called Home Court, which Obama also checked out during his visit to Chicago, became the first Obama Presidential Center building to reach completion last week.
At the library, Obama invited the children to share what they wanted to be when they grew up. The children offered a variety of answers, ranging from doctor and veterinarian to firefighter, dancer and even president.
“You’ve got a long way to go, but I think you could be a president … it’s possible,” Obama responded, according to the pool report.
Contributing: Shia Kapos, Politico