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LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
FROM RAYANA YARBOROUGH, ‘10 AND IMANI POWELL, '09
Link Community School
120 Livingston Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Barack Obama,
My name is Rayana Yarborough, and I go to Link Community School, it is a great school, where there is great discipline, and a great education. Going to Link Community School I went through a big change, like you moving to Indonesia with your mom, step-father, and step-sister. Knowing this has made me more thankful, because I’ve learned change can lead to great things. If you did not move to Indonesia you might not be in the position you are today. I’d like to say thank you so much for taking a risk, and for not being scared to run for president of the United States of America. The night of November 4th I took a moment just to think of how great it would feel if I was alive to witness our first black president being elected. That night I stayed up way past my usual curfew, but it was okay with my mother because she knew how much I wanted to witness this moment. When I saw states lighting up every couple of minutes to either red or blue I was relieved at the blue, but nervous at the red. I barely had any doubts you would lose. It was about 12:02 when you were announced president of the United States. At 12:02 I was almost in tears, I thought of all those like Martin Luther King Jr., which fought for moments like this. You did it; we did it! Blacks, whites, hispanics, and all the other races did it. Without you we couldn’t have done it, so thank you so much for running for president.
There are many issues out there that need to be addressed, but to me one of the most important ones is all the gang violence. It is not a subject one person can really control, but I do have faith it will be controlled. I feel that way too many people are being killed, not only in gangs, but just in general. I know we can not control these people, but I know we as a community are smart enough to think of some techniques. Another issue I feel needs to be addressed is all the people on the streets who have no food, no home, and barely any clothing, in other words poor people. When I walk down the streets of Newark, NJ and other cities, I see so many poor people. Sometimes I just want to give them all the money I have, but I know I can’t. When I do give part of the money I have, I always pray they will actually use it on the things they need, not drugs. This is another issue that one person cannot resolve on his own, but we as a community can.
I think I may have some solutions for these problems. I am not saying they will work, but they may be helpful. For all the murders and gang violence I think there should be small classes where people volunteer to help people get out of gangs. There could be other classes where people could volunteer to help people who feel like they might want to kill someone. For those who are poor there could be more soup kitchens, and homes where poor people can go and sleep some nights. I know these aren’t the best ideas, but they may come in handy at some points. Thank you again for taking that risk, and for not being scared. You have inspired me greatly. Now that you’ve won I truly believe even more that I can do anything I put my mind to. God Bless you and your family.
“And Jesus said unto them…, “If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.” Romans 1:17
Sincerely,
Rayana Yarborough
Class of '10
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Link Community School
120 Livingston Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama,
Hello, I am Imani Powell from Link Community School of Newark, Jersey. I feel that your election as president of the United States of America will have a big impact on Blacks, Americans, Kenyans and people of all nationalities, and ethnicities. As far as I am concerned, we haven’t had a great president that has served all of America since Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. People have their heads raised high and are praying for a change in this country. Long after you are out off office, we want to look back and say “We had an African American president in office in 2009 and he made a change many people’s lives.” Many people are expecting a change and this is your time to make peace in this country.
An issue that I have right now is the way this country and specifically New Jersey has become as a result of our previous leaders. It has become more violent, unsafe, and polluted. Nobody deserves to live in an area where there is violence, negativity and uncleanliness. The country was a better place in the past and together we can change the future. Almost everyday, I see fire trucks with sirens, cops speeding across the parkway, and ambulances almost every 5 hours. I see helicopters in the air every week. This country has become corrupt and there are many people suffering through this unnecessary pain.
Another issue I would like to address you about the school system. I currently attend a private school but I would like to address is about the public schools. I don’t want to believe that there is s school at the bottom of the charts. In a way this takes you back to where schools were separated from black and white. The public schools get a different education than the private schools. There are some cases where scholarships are given but it is said that people with money bring their child to private school for a better education. This Urban America is changing the way we are separated by level of education instead of color or race. In my opinion that is one of the most terrible ways this county has changed. The inner cities say we all get the same education, but in reality, public schools tend to not care for students as much. I am not saying I am better than anyone, I am simply saying that we should all be taught at the same level and not based on how much money your parents make. Adults say all the time “Money isn’t everything” so why segregate people by our income per year. This is a hypocritical country and we have to live in it. A CHANGE IS NECESSARY!!!!
Sincerely,
Imani Powell
Class of ‘09 |
