The Barack Obama Presidential Center's grand opening weekend in Chicago was marked by a peculiar sequence of events that sparked both ridicule and commentary. The center's opening ceremony began with a 'land acknowledgment', a nod to the political far left's belief that the United States was built on 'stolen land'. This acknowledgment, delivered by Valerie Jarrett, the former senior advisor to Obama and current CEO of the Obama Foundation, was followed by a traditional Native American dance show performed by the Black Hawk Performance Company, a troupe based in the Chicago area. The dance show, held in John Lewis Plaza, featured a drum circle, traditional dances, and songs, including one honoring a Native American flag. The performance lasted about an hour and involved many of the hundreds of people who watched in the plaza.
However, the 'land acknowledgment' itself was met with criticism and ridicule. Some X users noted the irony of the center acknowledging that it rests on 'stolen land' while continuing to occupy it. Conservative commentator Glenn Beck criticized the Obama Foundation's hypocrisy, suggesting that if they genuinely believe they're holding stolen property, they should either give it back or shut up. Town hall senior strategist Siraj Hashmi added to the criticism with a playful reference to the Chicago rapper Chief Keef, suggesting that the center should acknowledge the current tribe leader of the South Side of Chicago.
The center also features a placard recognizing that the land belongs to 'Indigenous peoples' and acknowledges the broken treaties and lost lands of Native Americans. This acknowledgment, while well-intentioned, has sparked debate and raised questions about the sincerity of such gestures. The Native American dance show, while culturally significant, has also been seen as a performative gesture, adding to the complex and often contradictory nature of the center's opening weekend.
