Letter to our Former President

Dear President Obama,

It’s hard to finally accept the fact that you’re gone. Growing up with you has been an honor and a privilege. I was in middle school when the news started circulating that there was an African American man running for president – this was something I had never seen before. I was immediately inspired because all I learned about in school were White presidents. I went to an all-white, Catholic school growing up and everyone there wasn’t exactly taking the news of this up and coming BLACK senator trying to become President of the Unites States. During the night of election I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but my family made us all come downstairs to watch you become elected – everyone was jumping with joy. You were surpassing boundaries that people never thought the African American man would ever cross.

When the newspaper came out the next day, my mom framed it and it’s still on my wall to this day. Growing up in a world where I constantly saw a man that was tore down by the media but still stayed strong was amazing. The media was relentless, yet you stayed strong from allegations of you not being a citizen to just the everyday remark that a Black man shouldn’t be president. You wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of being the stereotypical black man, there was no need for you to stoop to their level. The strength and dedication you displayed towards daily tasks was the most inspirational for a girl my age. In 2010, there was a middle school built in your name right around the corner of my house, and when it opened the community was astounded and filled with joy.

You will forever be known for helping out the middle class and creating more jobs for for the working class than any other president in history. There are so many people you helped through Obamacare. If I could break the rules, I would wish for 8 more years. It would be one thing if you were leaving office and we were getting another president with the same mindset as you, but instead we are getting a racist, inconsiderate man who could care less about anyone who makes less that he does a year. I am now a sophomore at an HBCU and the amount of sadness that will take over this campus will be astounding when you leave. My whole life I have watched the strength and the power you have shown and you have inspired me to believe that I can be anything that I want to be in life.You will always be my president. No one will ever top the amazing job you did in office.

Sincerly ,

              Riley Holbert