| I recently spoke to a class of high school | | | | controversy stop his dream of becoming leader |
| freshmen in Houston about the value of a | | | | of the free world. Obama put law school on |
| college education and avoiding the pitfalls | | | | hold to serve the poor in Chicago, becoming a |
| that so many men of color seem incapable of | | | | community organizer with a church-based |
| doing. Many times speaking to inner-city | | | | group. He eventually earned his law degree in |
| youth can be a daunting task because they do | | | | 1991 from Harvard, in the process becoming |
| not see the opportunities that many | | | | the first African American president of the |
| middle-class youth see on a daily basis. They | | | | Harvard Law Review. He served in the Illinois |
| do not see Black lawyers, doctors and | | | | State Senate for eight years before becoming |
| educators in their everyday lives. They often | | | | the third African American since |
| see broken families, drug dealers and | | | | Reconstruction to be elected to the United |
| convicts and believe that fate will lead them | | | | States Senate. Furthermore, he needs 884 more |
| to the same destiny as those around them. | | | | delegates to become the first Black nominee |
| Many do not see the value of attending school | | | | for the White House in American history. If |
| for another four or five years after high | | | | Obama's presidential campaign is successful, |
| school, and some do not even see the value of | | | | African American youth will be able to see |
| high school when thousands of dollars can be | | | | that they can rise to the highest position in |
| made in the streets. However, with the recent | | | | the free world on a daily basis. They will no |
| success of Barack Obama's presidential bid, | | | | longer exclusively see negative portrayals of |
| children from all walks of life are finally | | | | Black men, but see that despite the |
| beginning to realize that there are no doors | | | | stereotypes and obstacles they do not have to |
| closed to them if they apply faith, | | | | settle for the status quo. Many will aspire |
| perseverance and hard work to their dreams. | | | | to become engineers, accountants and |
| Obama followed his stunning victories in Iowa | | | | educators when previously they only aspired |
| and South Carolina with resounding victories | | | | to be like the neighborhood superstars, the |
| in states like Louisiana, Kansas, Utah, | | | | pimps and drug dealers. When critics said |
| Georgia and North Dakota heading into the | | | | Americans could never elect an African |
| primaries on March 4 where hundreds of | | | | American to such a high office, Obama said, |
| delegates are up for grabs in Ohio and Texas. | | | | "Yes, we can!" When those same critics said |
| The Illinois senator's improbable journey | | | | Americans could never overcome their racial |
| began in Hawaii, the son of Kenyan immigrant | | | | and religious differences and unite, Obama |
| Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham of Kansas | | | | replied, "Yes, we can!" And when someone |
| who met while they were attending the | | | | tells you you cannot do something because of |
| University of Hawaii. Their son was born on | | | | your race, gender or socioeconomic |
| August 4, 1961, but his father eventually | | | | background, remember the mantra of this |
| chose to return to his homeland, leaving | | | | historic campaign and simply reply, "Yes, I |
| Obama to be raised by a single White mother. | | | | can! |
| However, he refused to let criticism or | | | | |