If you’re willing to believe the sage predictions of cartoon shows, Oprah already has 2020 on lock. In 2006, “The Boondocks” ran an episode that features a future where Oprah is president — in exactly 2020.
“President Oprah” jokes have been around for a while, but this reference gets really interesting when you look at its context. The Oprah scene appears in Season 1, Episode 9 of the series, called “Return of the King.” It’s an alternate reality look at what would have happened if Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t assassinated.
It’s far from a roses-and-rainbows revision of history and in fact, features a closing scene that seems to show widespread social unrest in the unspecified future.
“The White House and congress are receiving an unprecedented amount of calls from irate African-Americans,” a newscaster says in the ending montage of the episode, over images of black crowds protesting outside the White House.
“And the revolution finally came,” a voice narrates, as police fire into the crowd.
Finally, the scene fades to the newspaper announcement of Oprah’s presidential victory.
“It’s fun to dream,” the voice concludes.