To My Friend & 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama,
Mr. President, thank you for your unwavering dedication to this country. You represented the people of the United States with the utmost grace, humility and class. The hope and inspiration you exemplified will always be embedded in the fabric of our nation. You are a president every American can be proud of regardless of their skin color, religious preference, gender or financial income. Thank you for showing us that “Yes We Can” was not just a great slogan, but a realization that America is at her best when we all work together. Thank you for showing us that “Yes We Can” was not just a great slogan, but a realization that America is at her best when we all work together.
President Obama, you faced some immense challenges during your tenure, but I never doubted that you were the right person for the job. As a champion for marriage equality, clean energy and education, your care and commitment to our country was steadfast. Among your many accomplishments was the passing of the Affordable Care Act, which now provides millions of Americans with access to health care. When you took office, the unemployment rate was in double digits and now as you leave office, it is below 5%. In 2009, you took a calculated move and approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which helped stabilize our economy during the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Despite the negativity and hardships, you remained true to yourself, as a man of integrity with good intentions.
Mr. President, what I love most about you is that you put the best interest of the American people at the core of each decision you made. In no place is that more evident than with the founding of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative to address the persistent problems facing boys and young men of color to reach their full potential. Being accepted by 240 communities in 50 states and receiving $1 billion in grants and in-kind donations is a testament to the need for this initiative. Accepting your call to be a co-leader of My Brother’s Keeper directly aligned with my commitment to our community and I am so grateful for that opportunity.
Cookie and I will never forget attending your first inauguration in 2009 and sitting among all of the political leaders and dignitaries as we watched you take the presidential oath. We were drawn to tears as we thought about our children, parents, and grandparents who never imagined that moment would be possible. Your election taught us to dream again and ignited a spark of hope in all of us. In my lifetime, January 20th, 2009 is the greatest day in American history.
One of the highlights of our friendship was playing basketball with you on your birthday with current and former NBA players. I will never forget watching you make the game winning shot. I don’t know if we will ever see another president with a jump shot like yours! Having you visit our home, meet our family and showing you around my trophy room is something I still talk about to this day. My first time going to the Oval Office to meet with you was an invitation I was deeply honored to receive. We talked about minority small business owners and how to help them grow and scale their businesses. I was deeply fascinated by your intelligence and knowledge in that meeting. It has been a true privilege getting to know you personally and professionally throughout your presidency.
Thank you to the First Lady, Michelle Obama, who captured our hearts with her intelligence, class, style, strength and determination. Through your platforms as First Lady, we were able to see the passion you have for the well-being of this country and its citizens. As an advocate for the social acceptance, education, and advancement of young girls around the world, you are a perfect role model for them to admire. Your devotion to helping Americans understand the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle was inspiring. The work you have done to shine a bright light on education and the welfare of our veterans will have a lasting impact for generations to come. All of these things and more are why you are one of the greatest First Ladies this country has ever known.
As I reflect on the past eight years, I now understand the sacrifices, struggles, marches, and lives lost that led to this opportunity; you have ensured their efforts were not in vain. To the 44th President of the United States of America Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, thank you for walking through the door and forging the path for our future generations.
Sincerely,
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Magic Johnson Enterprises
