By the time the school day began at 8:05 on Wednesday morning, I had already read what felt like hundreds of articles and listened to hundreds of commentators about this historic election. But, as my students entered the classroom chanting "Yes We Can" I knew that the 25 strongest voices in my life were yet to be heard.
Nothing has hit me as hard as the letters my 4th graders in Harlem wrote to their new president. A few are pasted below.
Dear President Obama,
I am so happy you are our new president! And it is not just because you are black, it is because you have some great ideas! And I wanted to be a singer, dancer, and actress but you open new doors for me. You open the doors for everybody. Now I think that now I can be the first female black president! And we went from black people not being able to vote and that changed and then black people never got a chance to be president but you changed that. And for that, it is like you are my and the whole world's hero!Love (a 9 year old),
TatianaP.S. I won't put TV before homework.
Dear President Obama,
Congratulations. I'm glad we have our first black president and I'm glad we all (the United States) have a great president like you! I am very sorry about what happened with your grandmother, but I know if she was here right now, she will be very proud of you! I am very sure you will make the best decisions for all of America! I was hoping you can make a recycling rule to help something called Global Warming.Love,
E'Raya
Dear President Obama,
I want to say you are the bomb. I love all your speeches. Even my grandma does. I feel sorry for your grandmother but she's there up in heaven watching over you. When you get to the white house you will have our help.I'm so happy that you are becoming president. Can you make a change about the cops? They need to pay more attention at the Lincoln Tunnel.
Write back.
Your friend,
Asia
Dear President Obama,
I like the way you think about turning off the T.V. and letting kids do their homework. I know so many things that the people in the world want you to fix. Do you think you can do it? We CAN make change. I believe you. Everybody believes you. Barack, we can do it. Yes, we can.
Don't forget leadership and responsibility is what we are looking for.Change we make. Change we believe.
Sincerely,
Hawa
Dear President Obama,
I knew you would win. You easily won by a landslide. Do you think you can lower taxes? Just 20 dollars. My mom wants to move. I do too. The house we want to move to cost twice as much. So, can you please do that? I hope you have a good time being president. I know I would. I also hope you get free time. How did you get to spend time with family and do the election? Also can you really bend the rules? If you can please make children do less homework. Especially on holidays. On holidays they load us with homework. One last request. I promise it's my last one. Can you make Friday a weekend like Saturday and Sunday?Sincerely,
Darnell
Dear President Obama,
Congratulations on your win to be president of the United States of America. What are you going to change about littering, gas, and wars? Are you going to make hunting stop? Are you going to lower taxes? Are you going to give more money to schools? What are you going to do about stock markets? What are you going to do about parking spaces? What are you going to do about more jail time, book store prices, gas prices, robbers, the laws, houses, and long lines in Pathmark?Your Biggest Fan,
Rafi
Dear Barack Obama,
My name is Shareef and I am writing to you to say congratulations on being the first black President. Your wife must be very proud of you. Also your kids too must be proud. Also I'm African American too and I might be just like you. When you get to the white house please try to stop the war for once and for all. Obama I'm very proud of you especially my mom. She's really proud because she woke up 5:30 AM to go vote for you and I went with her. Please write back to me when you get a chance. To tell you, I'm nine years old in the 4th grade. Obama, you're the man.Sincerely,
Shareef
And so Messages to Obama was born, through animated conversations and passionate creative dialogue with friends. We have come together to create this website in order to keep the momentum going and to capture the personal hopes, dreams and concerns that others may have for our world.
I invite you to visit the site TODAY and share how this election has personally affected you. We are particularly intrigued by your answer to the question: If you could have the ear of the President for just 5 minutes, what would you want to say?
Please click on the links above or go to www.messagestoobama.org and add your message to President-Elect Obama in any category that resonates for you: Hopes, Dreams, Concerns, Questions, Poetry & Song, Stories, Well Wishes or Children's Letters. Then please, pass this email along to everyone you know who shares your passion.
Last week in between yelling and screaming, I asked the children about role models. It was funny, I expected the first child to answer the obvious. Several answered parents, brothers, sisters, but finally the quiet studious Marquavis answered Barak Obama. When I explained that President elect Obama went to Harvard Law school and was the first African American to be president of their Law Review, Jevon interrupted his talking with Horus to yell out, "who did"? Marquavis answered, "President Obama".
I grew up relatively poor, not the best neighborhood near MLK Dr (Are thre any suburbs with MLK Drs?), so I can understand some of the distrust and the anger. But when it comes to your child? I hope and pray that some of this anger and hostility will change, if nothing else for the very bright children in that class, Marquavis, Sade, Drianna and others who know they can't learn with the yelling, screaming and fighting.
These articulate, insightful letters only reaffirm what I (as a parent and educator) have known for a long time; our children are listening and watching everything we do. The election has electrified and revived their interest in the political system and the wider world. Kudos to this dedicated teacher and her awesome 4th grade class!.
I also remember writing a letter to Jackie & family after that horrid time in our history, so good teachers have always been around - and under appreciated.
And these sweet children, I want to hug them all. Thanks dear children for your hope and your dreams. May Obama with our help bring a lot of change about and more justice to the world. Yes, and hopefully no more wars, no more poverty, a protected environment....
Dearest Lord, please help us all and bless us all.
Please, help find a way to do that.
Thank you.
Out of the mouths.......
P.S.Tatiana call me when you campaign starts I want to be your first volunteer!