Most of us have heard the story about how a young Bill Clinton was inspired by his meeting with President John F. Kennedy. Sometimes when I look at photos of President and Michelle Obama with young people, I think about that and wonder about the futures that will be influenced by the encounter. What might be the impact of these young people 20-30 years from now?
Today at Booker T. Washington High School, many of those moments were created. As Christopher Dean introduced President Obama, he spoke eloquently about what it all means to him.
And then you multiply that by over 100.
Here's President Obama's commencement address to the 2011 class of Booker T. Washington High School.
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I believe this is part of why some are so against the President. they SEE what we see in the pictures with him and children and what he inspires in them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating point rikyrah!
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening between PBO and these kids is palpable. I have been struggling all afternoon trying to put it into words...they just won't come, so I gave up. It strikes something very deep and profound in me.
So yes, it probably does make sense that those who fear what it is he inspires would find this terrifying.
Rikyrah & SP, isn't his connection with children and young people 'awesome'? I find it remarkable because we can 'feel' it even through pictures! I confess that I am particularly enamored of the way even babies and toddlers look at our President. It often looks to me like they are totally focused on each other and are communicating at a higher level, regardless of who is around them. That intensity of focus always gives my heart a squeeze. IMO, the President has a gift in being able to relate in the moment, while, no doubt, considering ways of solving the country's problems. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE ALIVE TO WITNESS (be a part of)THIS PRESIDENCY!
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening between PBO and these kids is palpable. I have been struggling all afternoon trying to put it into words...they just won't come, so I gave up. It strikes something very deep and profound in me.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean. I really do. I went back and looked at my January 2008 endorsement of Senator Barack Obama, and I wrote this:
2. The Election of the First Black President
The symbolism of it. Don’t short shrift symbols. They are very powerful, and very meaningful. There is a Black kid somewhere, and his parent, grandparent, teacher, is telling him/her that they can be anything that they want to be. You have to tell kids that, because you can’t begin them with the obstacles that would be placed in their way. You teach them later, as they age, about how to deal with the obstacles. To be able to point to PRESIDENT Barack Obama as an example of success – through education, hard work, and skill – that you can use your mind and achieve unimaginable success- yes, that’s a powerful symbol.
In everything the President has done since being in office, THIS has been underreported, and underrated. When Black parents used to tell their children that they could do ANYTHING in America, they were LYING TO THEM.
PERIOD.
NO other way to say it. But, they said it anyway, because Black parents love their children as deeply as anyone else, and they didn't want to put anymore shackles on their children's dreams than being Black in America would already provide for them.
Barack Obama makes that statement FINALLY TRUE for all those Black parents. No, not every child will grow up to be President, but the child, who might have stopped with a Bachelor's degree, might continue onto a PhD. A child interested in science might invent something years from now.
They see this self-made Black man, and Barack Obama IS self-made, if nothing else. His father ran out on him, he was raised for a large chunk of his life by his grandparents (like so many Black youth today), and he used EDUCATION as a way out and forward. To see how the President responds with grace and dignity, with all the hatred lobbed towards him, is also inspirational. So, yes, those Black kids look at him, and they see possibilities for themselves that they never have before, and will shoo away those who want to be negative around them.
But, those who despise the President for being inspirational..it's not just for Black kids...they despise when they see all the NON-BLACK kids look at him too, with admiration, and RESPECT. they see all these White kids looking at this Black man with deference, and it turns their world upside down.
Plus, they know what I know, whenever something is done by a Black person, there are others that will follow. Because, a Black man became President of the United States, I know one day that there will be a Latino, an Asian and a female President.
AND, THEY KNOW IT TOO.
THey want the era of Mad Men Back, and simply put..
HELL NO, WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THAT..
EVER.
Wow rikyrah - you found the words I was looking for, and so much more. From the bottom of my heart - "THANK YOU" for that!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you won't mind if I copy this comment and make it a new post.
no problem.
ReplyDelete