Dear President Obama,
Anyone who knows me knows that I idolize the Obama family. I’ve convinced myself that eventually, I will become best friends with Sasha Obama. The biggest compliment I have ever received was given to me during fitness class on pull-up day when my friend Aaryn told me I have Michelle Obama’s arms. In addition to that, you and Michelle have been the only #relationshipgoals that have been worth tweeting about to me.
You, the Commander-In-Chief, have made the biggest impact on my life and the lives of so many others. I couldn’t think of a better way to say “thank you” than highlighting your words that move mountains, the hope you instill in black communities everywhere, and the seeds of inspiration you’ve planted in millions of young men and women across the nation.
As the face of a campaign made of dreams, you provided hope for black Americans everywhere. There is a nappy-haired man in a no longer all-white history, and the American Dream is finally identifiable to black men and women. From when you were first launched into the spotlight at the DNC in 2004, your message of hope has always been clear. Hope in the face of difficulty and things unseen, and the firm belief that there are better days to come. You bequeathed this hope to millions of people across America, and encouraged us to invoke change for ourselves.
As a loving husband and father, you set the standard for male feminists everywhere. Throughout your presidency, you have been devoted to developing progress for women everywhere. You admire how far we’ve come and those who have paved the way, but also understand that there is also work to be done. You understand the necessity of this work not only for your daughters, but also for the daughters, granddaughters, and nieces across America. And in a world where black women are trivialized and belittled, you acknowledge that behind every successful black man, there is a strong black woman, and you celebrate yours openly and publicly.
When I was in second grade you were sworn in as the 44th president of The United States of America. I wrote a letter to you then asking for you to build a library in my town because the nearest one was 30 minutes away; a couple of years later, a library was built three minutes down the road from my house. Now, I don’t know if I can credit the building of the library solely to you, but I know I can give you credit for the smile on my face when I received a letter back from you. I still have it to this day, and reading it gives me the same level of joy as it did eight years ago.
There is a whole generation of young black men and women, including myself, who have only known a world where their president looks like them. That simple truth is proof of history having been made, proof of progress, and a direct by product of what hope can do.
Because of you, President Obama, another skinny kid with a funny name, has proof that there is not anything that he or she cannot achieve. Thank you for being an ordinary man with the courage to do what many thought would be impossible. And most importantly, thank you for giving an awkward little black girl a reason to dream for eight years.
With love,
Marissa Joseph
