Dear Obamas

Dear President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama,

We write you this letter to express our deepest gratitude. We are so thankful and appreciative of your self-sacrifice and all that you’ve accomplished on behalf of our country.

Thank you for showing us what true leadership looks like. You awakened hope for our nation, but more specifically, you gave us a vision of what it means to occupy spaces black people have been historically denied. That vision has been imprinted on our hearts, and we now walk with a boldness that we’ve never been afforded before.

Thank you for shattering the ceiling of limitations we placed on ourselves. We will never forget the elation we felt eight years ago when the first black man became President of the United States. We are able to aspire to more and dream bigger because of the example you’ve shown.

Thank you for exemplifying love on the ultimate stage. Your relationship not only provided #goals for the world, but it also allowed us to see a healthy black marriage that was authentic and unscripted.

Thank you for showing us how to handle adversity and maintain poise and authority. Lord knows we’ll depend on those lessons in the coming years.

Thank you for showing us that change is not universally accepted and even more difficult to enact. Despite the consistent opposition you both faced, we still managed to sleep easy knowing that you were the leaders of our nation. In the days to come, we will honor your legacy by being politically vigilant, engaging our right to vote, and increasing our knowledge on government policies. The fire has been lit—we are awake now.

Lastly, thank you for the dap, the hug, and the warm reception this photo signifies. It still feels like a dream having met you both, and we will cherish that moment for the rest of our lives.

Thank you,

Brooklyn Beresfords

Read more about the Brooklyn Beresfords adventures at www.brooklynberesfords.com.