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I WILL NOT
CAMPAIGN
DIE YOUNG“LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT”
Le
tt
ers
to t
he
Pre
sid
en
tA
N I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G
CA
MP
AIG
N C
OM
PIL
AT
ION
I W
ILL N
OT
DIE
YOUN
G
“L
ET
TE
RS
TO
TH
E P
RE
SID
EN
T”
WR
ITT
EN
BY
JA
ME
S M
AD
ISO
N
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Alo
nzo
Bai
ley
Alg
ern
on
Jo
nes
An
dre
w
So
lom
on
Dak
ota
Bel
l Ja
mar
e A
ust
in
Mar
k L
esu
eur
AL
EX
AN
DE
R
HA
MIL
TO
N
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dar
rin
Mad
iso
nD
eAn
te B
rock
Dem
ariu
s A
llen
Des
mo
nd
Wal
ton
Dev
on
te L
ow
eE
dd
ie H
oll
iman
K
esh
awn
D. A
iken
sR
ick
ey N
orm
anSa
mu
el C
arab
allo
Step
han
Bak
erW
esle
y C
. Jo
hn
son
CA
SIM
IR P
UL
AS
KI
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Kes
hau
n C
ole
man
M
arw
on
Ed
dm
on
ds
Mic
key
Fo
rdR
ash
awn
Jac
kso
nD
on
nie
Har
rin
gto
n
WA
SH
ING
TO
N
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
nge
lo W
ade
Del
ane
Nel
son
Jerr
y T
russ
Nat
han
iel J
ines
Qu
into
n W
illi
ams
Shan
no
n S
anfo
rdT
ram
ain
Ch
aney
Jr.
MO
RS
E-M
AR
SH
AL
L
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Kyl
e M
. Byn
um
E
ric
!o
mas
Stev
en O
wen
sR
ay H
arri
sT
racy
!o
mas
Mic
hael
Den
zel H
arri
sD
ravo
nn
Ban
kh
ead
Isaa
c K
ram
erA
mer
e Ta
lik G
raha
mJa
vis
McP
ike
Dev
on
Sh
um
per
tK
eon
Bla
nd
Mic
hae
l Mo
ore
WE
ST
SID
E
AC
AD
EM
Y I
I
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Ch
ris
Bra
dy
Dav
ion
Cru
mb
leD
awo
nya
e R
ob
inso
nD
eon
tay
Win
ters
Isai
ah D
. Su
tto
nJa
van
Mo
ore
Jho
hau
anu
s T
aylo
rO
bre
y H
ayn
esR
ick
ob
y M
ino
r
BR
AD
LE
Y T
EC
H
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Ch
arle
s L
ane
Jr.
Dam
ian
Wil
liam
sD
aRo
nte
Ree
dK
had
imo
ul
R. F
all
Mo
uh
amed
Fal
lO
live
r Sm
ith
Ray
mel
lo A
lexa
nd
erR
aym
ond
Ale
xan
der
Ro
mel
lo R
. P
enn
ie
NO
RT
H D
IVIS
ION
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Keo
n I
rvin
gA
rman
i H
end
erso
nB
enn
ett
May
s Jr
.D
arri
on W
ashi
ngt
onD
esm
on
d J
on
esE
xavi
er S
and
ifer
Jaso
n J
oh
nso
nL
edar
y K
eele
rM
aceo
Po
wel
lM
arct
aviu
s Jo
hn
son
Mau
rice
Ham
pto
nR
aym
on
e H
ow
led
Tev
in B
aile
yA
lexa
nd
er T
ow
nse
nd
VIN
CE
NT
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Cav
anau
gh S
mit
hD
ako
ta S
cott
Dar
ius
Sco
ttD
’Qu
is T
erre
llE
ric
Bu
tler
Jash
awn
Fo
rdJe
rem
iah
Gra
nt
Mar
qu
ise
T. H
ow
ard
Shaq
uil
le C
lark
Wal
ter
To
wn
sen
d
RU
FU
S K
ING
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
An
two
n B
rash
ear
Bre
on
Gre
erJa
del
yn R
ow
lett
Jord
an B
urn
ett
Mar
qu
el C
lem
ents
Mu
sa M
uh
amm
adSt
eph
an Q
uan
trel
lT
erri
on
Arn
ett
Tyr
ell W
ren
cher
Co
pyr
igh
t ©
201
3 IW
ND
Y
Imag
ery
and
des
ign
by
Dea
dra
Ric
hel
le-P
uri
foy
Ed
itin
g b
y D
a# M
alik
All
rig
hts
res
erve
d. N
o p
art
of
this
bo
ok
may
be
use
d o
r re
pro
du
ced
in
an
y m
ann
er w
hat
soev
er w
ith
ou
t th
e w
ritt
en
per
mis
sio
n o
f th
e I
Wil
l No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng
Cam
pai
gn.
Jam
es M
adis
on
Hig
h S
cho
ol .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
1
Ale
xan
der
Ham
ilto
n H
igh
Sch
oo
l ....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
6
Cas
imir
Pu
lask
i H
igh
Sch
oo
l ....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
15
Mo
rse-
Mar
shal
l Hig
h S
cho
ol .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
...20
Wes
tsid
e A
cad
emy
Ii M
idd
le S
cho
ol .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..33
Was
hin
gto
n H
igh
Sch
oo
l ....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.42
Bra
dle
y T
ech
Hig
h S
cho
ol .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..48
No
rth
Div
isio
n H
igh
Sch
oo
l ....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.60
Vin
cen
t H
igh
Sch
oo
l ....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..71
Ru
fus
Kin
g M
idd
le S
cho
ol .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.82
Ta
ble
of
Con
te
nt
s
Fore
wa
rd
O
ne
hu
nd
red
yea
rs f
rom
no
w w
hat
wil
l h
isto
ry b
oo
ks
say
abo
ut
the
Am
eric
ans
of
the
21st
Cen
tury
? H
isto
ry, w
ill
no
do
ub
t at
test
to
th
e fa
ct
that
we
wer
e th
e m
ost
tec
hn
olo
gica
lly
adva
nce
d s
oci
ety
in t
he
span
of
all
man
kin
d.
Ou
r ge
ner
atio
n,
the
bri
llia
nt
gen
erat
ion
, cr
eato
rs o
f th
e
IPh
on
e an
d I
Pad
, in
fac
t th
e ge
ner
atio
n o
f m
e, m
ysel
f an
d I
, h
isto
ry
may
in
sist
, w
as t
he
hal
lmar
k o
f o
ur
enti
re e
xist
ence
. B
ut
un
fort
un
atel
y,
the
on
ly W
E t
hat
th
is g
ener
atio
n e
ver
lear
ned
to
id
enti
fy w
ith
was
th
e
vid
eo g
ame.
Y
es,
may
be
his
tory
wil
l sa
y th
at t
his
gre
at n
atio
n c
alle
d A
mer
ica,
in i
ts f
ou
nd
ing
do
cum
ents
, p
rou
dly
pro
fess
ed t
he
sayi
ng
WE
TH
E
PE
OP
LE
; b
ut
in t
he
end
SH
E s
till
str
ugg
led
wit
h w
ho
th
e W
E a
ctu
ally
was
. Was
th
e W
E, s
ole
ly t
he
peo
ple
of
mid
dle
an
d u
pp
er c
lass
Am
eric
a?
�e
mes
sagi
ng
in p
oli
tica
l ca
mp
aign
s ce
rtai
nly
su
gges
t th
is t
o b
e tr
ue.
Or,
do
es i
t al
so i
ncl
ud
e th
e o
ther
Am
eric
a, t
he
sore
eye
Am
eric
a, t
he
on
e th
at w
e tr
y to
fo
rget
; th
e o
ne
that
we
dri
ve b
y o
n o
ur
way
to
wo
rk
and
p
rete
nd
th
at
we
do
n’t
see
the
wid
esp
read
h
om
eles
snes
s an
d
dil
apid
ated
bu
ild
ings
.
It
is
the
oth
er A
mer
ica
that
we
chan
ge t
he
chan
nel
fro
m w
hen
th
e
late
st m
urd
er is
hea
rd t
hro
ugh
ou
r ai
rwav
es, b
ecau
se t
he
NB
A �
nal
s ar
e
mo
re i
mp
ort
ant
than
scr
eam
s o
f an
oth
er m
oth
er w
ho
ju
st l
ost
her
on
ly
son
. �e
oth
er A
mer
ica
that
lo
ses
7,00
0 b
lack
mal
es e
very
yea
r, a
nd
no
t
a p
enn
y is
do
nat
ed f
or
the
reli
ef e
�o
rt o
f th
is u
nn
atu
ral
dis
aste
r. F
EM
A
fun
din
g n
ever
see
ms
to r
each
th
e gh
etto
. F
lags
are
nev
er l
ow
ered
at
hal
f m
ass
for
the
chil
dre
n w
ho
die
in
th
e st
reet
s o
f N
ewar
k, L
ittl
e R
ock
,
Bro
ok
lyn
, B
alti
mo
re,
Oak
lan
d,
St.
Lo
uis
, D
etro
it,
Mem
ph
is,
Ch
icag
o,
Mil
wau
kee
, D
alla
s, a
nd
Ph
ilad
elp
hia
. �
e th
ou
ght
beh
ind
it,
I s
up
po
se,
is t
hat
res
ou
rces
an
d n
atio
nal
res
pec
t ar
e re
serv
ed o
nly
fo
r vi
ctim
s o
f
real
tra
ged
ies,
i.e
., m
ovi
e th
eatr
es o
r el
emen
tary
sch
oo
ls i
n s
ub
urb
an
Am
eric
a k
ind
of
trag
edie
s. W
hil
e b
ein
g sh
ot
in a
dri
ve b
y, i
n a
th
row
away
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d, �
lled
wit
h t
hro
w a
way
peo
ple
, wai
tin
g to
be
swep
t
o�
th
e co
ncr
ete
and
dep
osi
ted
in
to c
emet
ery
du
mp
ing
gro
un
ds
do
es
no
t q
ual
ify.
I
ho
pe
100
year
s fr
om
no
w A
mer
ica
is s
till
no
t ap
pal
led
an
d s
ho
cked
by
thes
e tr
uth
s, t
hat
WE
dec
lare
to
be
self
-evi
den
t, t
hat
all
men
th
ou
gh
crea
ted
eq
ual
, ar
e st
ill
no
t eq
ual
ly t
reat
ed.
Let
us
emer
ge o
ut
of
den
ial
and
cal
l it
like
we
see
it!
It
is
in t
his
sp
irit
of
tru
th a
nd
fre
edom
for
th
ose
wh
o h
ave
not
, th
at
WE
, th
e fo
un
der
s of
th
e I
Wil
l N
ot D
ie Y
oun
g C
amp
aign
, vow
th
at 1
00
year
s fr
om n
ow h
isto
ry w
ill h
ave
to a
lso
men
tion
, no
mat
ter
how
bri
e�y,
that
ther
e to
o e
xist
ed a
gro
up
of y
oun
g so
uls
, ou
t of t
he
dep
ths
of th
e p
ain
,
lack
of
hop
e an
d d
esp
air,
th
at r
efu
sed
to
giv
e in
to t
he
con
des
cen
din
g
atti
tud
e of
Am
eric
a to
war
ds
them
an
d t
hei
r p
eers
an
d d
ecid
ed t
o d
o
som
eth
ing
abou
t it
.
�
ey d
ecid
ed t
o t
ake
the
pow
er o
f th
eir
pai
n,
out
of t
he
bar
rel
of
gun
s an
d p
lace
it
on s
hee
ts o
f p
aper
. �ei
r bl
oo
d, s
wea
t, t
ears
, bea
tin
gs,
un
inh
abit
able
hou
sin
g, t
atte
red
clo
thes
, p
oor
sch
ool
s, a
nd
fat
her
less
exis
ten
ce, p
oure
d o
ut
on s
hee
ts o
f pap
er, p
rayi
ng
that
th
e m
ost
pow
erfu
l
man
in
th
e co
un
try
hea
rs t
hem
. D
o y
ou h
ear
them
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent?
Do
you
hea
r th
em f
ree
wor
ld?
Do
you
hea
r th
em e
mp
hat
ical
ly c
han
tin
g th
e
wor
ds
“I w
ill n
ot d
ie y
oun
g” a
nd
won
der
ing
wh
at w
ill W
E d
o A
mer
ica
to
hel
p t
hem
rea
ch t
hei
r go
al?
A�
er a
ll, I
bel
ieve
life
lib
erty
an
d t
he
pu
rsu
it
of h
app
ines
s is
th
eir
birt
hri
ght
too
!
D
o w
e h
ear
them
? D
o w
e re
ally
hea
r th
em?
I su
pp
ose
th
e an
swer
to t
hat
qu
esti
on i
s co
nti
nge
nt
on o
ur
coll
ecti
ve a
bili
ty t
o d
o s
omet
hin
g
bey
ond
a p
at o
n t
he
bac
k p
hot
o o
p, o
r a
15 s
econ
d n
ews
stor
y, b
ut
som
eth
ing
of s
ub
stan
ce t
his
tim
e. �
is t
ime
arou
nd
mak
e it
som
eth
ing
life
ch
angi
ng.
�e
typ
e of
som
eth
ing
that
wil
l m
ake
his
tory
pro
ud
th
at
we
end
ed t
he
nee
d t
o e
ven
hav
e an
, I
Wil
l N
ot D
ie Y
oun
g ca
mp
aign
!
Ou
r on
ly p
raye
r to
Go
d u
p a
bov
e is
th
at w
e d
on’t
hav
e to
wai
t 10
0 ye
ars
for
that
.
I W
ILL N
OT
DIE
YOUN
G C
AM
PA
IGN
TE
AM
Kh
alil
Col
eman
| M
uh
ibb
Dye
r
Da�
Mal
ik |
Kw
aben
a N
ixon
int
rod
uc
tio
n
�e
I W
ill
No
t D
ie
Yo
un
g ca
mp
aign
(I
WN
DY
) is
d
esig
ned
to
use
th
eatr
e, s
po
ken
wo
rd a
nd
ad
voca
cy a
s a
veh
icle
to
bri
ng
a se
nse
of
pu
rpo
se t
o t
he
“Lo
st G
ener
atio
n o
f B
lack
Mal
es”.
�e
wo
rk o
f th
e
cam
pai
gn is
to
insp
ire
you
ng
bla
ck m
ales
tau
ght
to m
urd
er e
ach
oth
er t
o
inst
ead
bec
om
e ad
voca
tes
in s
avin
g th
e li
ves
of
on
e an
oth
er.
A
s p
art
of
the
pro
gram
m
ale
stu
den
ts
are
char
ged
w
ith
th
e
resp
on
sib
ilit
y to
des
ign
th
eir
ow
n d
esti
ny.
�ey
hav
e b
een
wo
rkin
g si
nce
the
beg
inn
ing
of
the
year
on
th
eir
per
son
al g
row
th a
nd
dev
elo
pm
ent,
thro
ugh
sp
ok
en w
ord
exp
ress
ion
an
d v
ario
us
wri
tin
g p
rom
pts
. �
e
stu
den
ts
hav
e b
een
p
rovi
ded
th
e n
eces
sary
to
ols
th
at
allo
w
them
to
red
irec
t th
eir
pat
hs
fro
m
exh
ibit
ion
s o
f d
estr
uct
ive
beh
avio
r to
beh
avio
r th
at is
mo
re r
e�ec
tive
of
pro
du
ctiv
e, e
mp
ow
ered
fu
ture
lead
ers
of
thei
r co
mm
un
itie
s.
�
is b
oo
k is
the
culm
inat
ion
of t
he
pro
gram
an
d r
epre
sen
ts th
e yo
un
g
men
�n
din
g th
eir
voic
es a
nd
usi
ng
them
to
ad
voca
te f
or
wh
at t
hey
fee
l
is n
eces
sary
to
ach
ieve
th
eir
goal
s. �
e st
ud
ent
auth
ors
of
the
bo
ok
hav
e
pu
t m
uch
e�
ort
into
th
eir
lett
ers
as w
ell a
s m
akin
g ch
ange
s in
th
eir
live
s.
�e
IWN
DY
Tea
m a
ckn
ow
led
ges
thei
r d
edic
atio
n a
nd
pre
sen
ts y
ou
th
e
resu
lt o
f th
eir
e�o
rts;
�e
I W
ill
No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng
Cam
pai
gn —
Let
ters
to
the
Pre
sid
ent.
Ja
me
s
Ma
dis
on
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r M
r. B
arac
k O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is A
lon
zo B
aile
y. I
’m s
ixte
en y
ears
old
an
d I
att
end
Jam
es
Mad
iso
n h
igh
sch
oo
l. I’
m f
rom
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
My
wh
ole
lif
e
chan
ged
at
the
age
of
fou
r ye
ars
old
see
ing
my
litt
le c
ou
sin
get
sh
ot
in t
he
hea
d. S
om
e ga
ng
mem
ber
s w
ere
hav
ing
a sh
oo
tou
t an
d o
ne
of
the
bu
llet
s
end
ed u
p h
itti
ng
my
cou
sin
in
th
e h
ead
. I
was
rig
ht
ther
e to
see
my
cou
sin’
s b
loo
dy
bo
dy
tryi
ng
to g
asp
fo
r ai
r an
d h
e ju
st c
ou
ldn’
t b
reat
he.
So
met
imes
I w
ish
th
at m
y co
usi
n c
ou
ld s
till
be
aliv
e, j
ust
to
see
ho
w l
ife
wo
uld
be
wit
h h
im r
ath
er t
han
wit
ho
ut
him
. B
ut
I o
�en
wo
nd
er d
oes
anyb
od
y ca
re a
bo
ut
a fo
ur
year
old
bo
y w
ho
was
sh
ot
dea
d. W
e w
ere
on
ly
kid
s p
layi
ng
ou
tsid
e li
ke
we
wer
e to
ld t
o d
o.
M
y go
als
are
to b
eco
me
a su
cces
sfu
l m
an i
n l
ife
and
tak
e ca
re o
f m
y
fam
ily.
I j
ust
wis
h t
hat
peo
ple
per
iod
, yo
un
g o
r o
ld,
wo
uld
n’t
be
kil
led
by
oth
er p
eop
le a
nd
th
eir
foo
lish
nes
s. �
e n
eigh
bo
rho
od
we
live
in
isn
’t
real
ly f
or
the
kid
s b
ecau
se e
very
bo
dy
on
th
e b
lock
is
eith
er s
elli
ng
or
usi
ng
dru
gs.
I ju
st w
ant
to k
no
w w
hen
peo
ple
are
go
ing
to v
ote
fo
r th
e
ho
od
s al
l ar
ou
nd
th
e w
orl
d.
Ho
w m
any
mo
re p
eop
le a
re g
oin
g to
be
kil
led
by
gun
vio
len
ce?
I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g!
Sin
cere
ly, A
lon
zo B
aile
y
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is A
lger
no
n J
on
es I
go
to
Mad
iso
n H
igh
Sch
oo
l. I
live
in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I am
15
goin
g o
n 1
6 ye
ars
old
. M
y b
irth
day
is
on
Ju
ne
9 an
d I
do
no
t w
ant
to d
ie y
ou
ng.
Las
t w
eek
a y
ou
ng
man
die
d
at t
he
end
of
my
blo
ck i
n t
he
mo
rnin
g. I
was
in
th
e sh
ow
er a
nd
I h
eard
a gu
nsh
ot.
Bu
t I
alw
ays
hea
r gu
n s
ho
ts a
rou
nd
my
ho
use
. S
o I
th
ou
ght
that
th
ey w
ere
just
sh
oo
tin
g in
th
e ai
r o
nce
aga
in.
I go
t d
ress
ed a
nd
ate
bre
akfa
st a
nd
th
en I
le�
th
e h
ou
se. I
sta
rted
wal
kin
g d
ow
n m
y b
lock
an
d
I sa
w y
ello
w t
ape.
I k
new
so
meb
od
y go
t sh
ot
bec
ause
th
e p
oli
ce d
on’
t
pu
t ye
llo
w t
ape
up
fo
r a
car
acci
den
t o
r so
met
hin
g. M
y b
us
sto
p w
as
loca
ted
rig
ht
wh
ere
the
bo
y d
ied
. An
d I
bet
if I
was
rig
ht
ther
e I
cou
ld’v
e
bee
n s
ho
t to
o. �
ey h
ad t
o h
ave
the
po
lice
tak
e al
l o
f th
e st
ud
ents
fro
m
my
bu
s st
op
to
sch
oo
l. Ju
st y
este
rday
an
oth
er b
oy
got
sho
t o
n t
he
nex
t
corn
er o
ver.
My
mo
m c
alle
d m
e an
d a
sked
wh
ere
I w
as a
t an
d w
as I
ok
bec
ause
sh
e th
ou
ght
that
co
uld
’ve
bee
n m
e th
at w
as s
ho
t. �
e m
urd
ers
are
gett
ing
too
clo
se t
o m
y h
ou
se a
nd
I d
o n
ot
wan
t to
die
yo
un
g. S
o
that
’s w
hy
I jo
ined
th
e I
Wil
l N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g C
amp
aign
at
my
sch
oo
l.
�is
pro
gram
rel
ates
to
me
and
my
life
. �is
pro
gram
rea
lly
has
to
uch
ed
me
a lo
t an
d m
akes
me
wan
t so
met
hin
g m
ore
fo
r m
y li
fe.
Plu
s, I
do
n’t
wan
t an
y o
f m
y fa
mil
y m
emb
ers
to d
ie.
I
live
in
a f
ou
r p
eop
le h
ou
se h
old
; my
old
er s
iste
r w
ho
is1
8, m
y li
ttle
bro
ther
wh
o i
s 7
and
my
mo
m w
ho
is
37.
My
old
est
sist
er h
as m
ove
d
ou
t. I
do
n’t
wan
t an
y o
f th
em t
o d
ie b
ecau
se I
alr
ead
y lo
st m
y gr
and
ma
to c
ance
r. Y
es, M
r. B
arac
k O
bam
a th
is is
my
sto
ry a
nd
wh
y I
wil
l an
d d
o
no
t w
ant
to d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, A
lgem
on
Jo
nes
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is A
nd
rew
So
lom
on
. I
am f
rom
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I
am a
stu
den
t at
Jam
es M
adis
on
Aca
dem
ic C
amp
us.
Mil
wau
kee
is a
go
od
pla
ce t
o v
isit
if y
ou
hav
e m
on
ey b
ut
un
fort
un
atel
y I
grew
up
in t
he
ho
od
seei
ng
and
hea
rin
g m
urd
er l
e� a
nd
rig
ht.
My
blo
ck,
38th
an
d W
righ
t
is r
ou
gh.
Wit
h a
ll t
he
#gh
tin
g I
hav
e d
on
e I
sho
uld
hav
e b
een
a b
oxe
r.
Eve
ry d
ay w
as a
str
ugg
le fo
r u
s. S
om
etim
es w
e h
ad o
nly
bre
ad a
nd
bu
tter
to e
at. D
o y
ou
th
ink
th
at y
ou
co
uld
get
fu
ll f
rom
eat
ing
that
? N
ot
me.
I
thin
k t
o m
ysel
f, t
his
is
my
life
. S
o, I
did
wh
at a
ny
bo
y w
ho
gro
ws
up
in
the
ho
od
wo
uld
do
; I
pic
ked
up
th
e d
rugs
an
d t
he
gun
s. �
at i
s ju
st a
litt
le p
iece
of
my
life
.
B
ut
let
me
pai
nt
you
a p
ictu
re o
f a
litt
le g
uy
wh
o d
ied
on
th
e b
lock
.
Fiv
e sh
ots
�re
d,
thre
e o
f th
em h
eld
in
a l
ittl
e b
oy’
s ch
est.
Peo
ple
yel
lin
g
and
ru
nn
ing;
mo
m’s
cry
ing
and
th
e si
ren
s so
un
din
g as
th
e co
p c
ar h
its
the
blo
ck.
I se
e th
is a
lmo
st d
aily
; th
is i
s m
y li
fe.
I se
e ye
llo
w t
ape
lik
e
ever
y d
ay a
nd
hav
e th
e m
emo
ry o
f th
at l
ittl
e b
oy
gasp
ing
for
air.
I h
ave
bee
n t
o ja
il t
hre
e ti
mes
an
d I
kn
ow
it’s
tim
e to
ch
ange
my
life
. �at
’s w
hy
I jo
ined
th
e I
Wil
l No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng
Cam
pai
gn. Sin
cere
ly, A
nd
rew
So
lom
on
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is D
ako
ta B
ell.
I am
a y
ou
ng
teen
ager
, ag
e 17
an
d m
y
bir
thd
ay i
s Ju
ne
16.
I am
fro
m a
nd
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
Lik
e
mo
st y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
en I
did
n’t
hav
e o
r k
no
w m
y fa
ther
gro
win
g u
p. �
e
on
e th
ing
I le
arn
ed a
bo
ut
my
fath
er is
th
at h
e w
as v
ery
sel�
sh. W
hen
my
mo
ther
sai
d s
he
was
pre
gnan
t h
e sa
id t
hat
I w
asn’
t h
is.
�ro
ugh
ou
t m
y
wh
ole
life
sh
e h
as b
een
�gh
tin
g ab
ou
t an
d o
ver
me
wit
h m
y fa
ther
’s o
ther
bab
ies’
mo
ther
s. I
was
sad
to
dis
cove
r th
at I
hav
e o
ther
bab
y b
roth
ers
and
sist
ers
and
big
bro
ther
s an
d s
iste
rs t
hat
I’l
l n
ever
kn
ow
or
wil
l se
e, b
ut
sad
th
ings
hap
pen
in
life
. No
w t
hat
I a
m o
lder
I r
eali
ze t
hat
I h
ave
had
to
�gh
t al
l my
life
bec
ause
peo
ple
cri
tici
ze m
e an
d t
he
you
ng
man
th
at I
am
.
I sh
ou
ldn’
t h
ave
to f
eel c
riti
cize
d; I
sh
ou
ld f
eel e
nco
ura
ged
.
W
e h
ave
you
ng
peo
ple
get
tin
g sh
ot,
kil
led
, an
d ju
mp
ed b
ecau
se o
ther
peo
ple
wan
t to
be
du
mm
ies
and
wan
t to
gan
g b
ang.
�is
mak
es n
o s
ense
.
We
sho
uld
n’t
hav
e to
�gh
t fo
r o
ur
righ
ts t
o b
e le
" a
lon
e, t
o n
ot
be
pu
shed
aro
un
d,
and
esp
ecia
lly
be
stri
pp
ed o
f o
ur
mo
ney
, cl
oth
ing,
an
d o
ther
valu
able
th
ings
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t w
hy
are
sch
oo
ls s
o h
orr
ible
? W
hy
do
so
man
y yo
un
g
peo
ple
die
fo
r re
aso
ns
no
t ev
en c
alle
d f
or?
Wh
y d
o p
eop
le ju
st lo
ok
at
us
Afr
ican
Am
eric
ans
the
wro
ng
way
, lik
e “w
e w
on’
t b
e an
yth
ing
in li
fe, a
nd
that
we’
re h
op
eles
s an
d w
on’
t ge
t an
ywh
ere
in li
fe.”
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
do
yo
u
care
ab
ou
t yo
un
g b
lack
Am
eric
an b
oys
lik
e m
e?
I
join
ed t
he
I W
ill
No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng
Cam
pai
gn b
ecau
se I
fee
l it
hel
ps
me
mak
e ch
ange
s an
d c
ho
ices
th
at w
ill
lead
to
a b
ette
r fu
ture
fo
r m
e.
�ey
are
lik
e a
seco
nd
fam
ily
to m
e. I
wo
uld
just
lik
e to
say
th
at b
ecau
se
of
this
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, D
ako
ta B
ell
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is J
amar
e A
ust
in a
nd
I a
m f
rom
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I am
16y
rs o
ld.
�er
e u
sed
to
be
a lo
t o
f k
illi
ng
and
vio
len
ce i
n m
y o
ld
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d. I
hea
rd p
oli
ce s
iren
s ev
ery
day
an
d n
igh
t; s
ho
oti
ng
ever
y
nig
ht.
I g
rew
up
wea
lth
y, e
very
on
e in
my
fam
ily
wo
rked
. I
just
liv
ed
in a
bad
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d.
I w
itn
esse
d p
eop
le h
ave
a sh
oo
tou
t in
my
old
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d.
It w
as h
ard
sle
epin
g at
nig
ht
hea
rin
g gu
n s
ho
ts e
very
nig
ht,
�gh
ts e
very
nig
ht.
Y
ou
ng
men
bet
wee
n t
he
ages
of
15 -
19
mak
e u
p m
ost
of
the
ho
mic
ides
. Mo
re b
lack
men
die
in
U.S
. gh
etto
s th
an U
.S A
rmy
So
ldie
rs
do
in
co
mb
at.
Do
yo
u c
are
if a
no
ther
yo
un
g m
an l
ose
s h
is l
ife
ove
r
vio
len
ce?
If y
ou
die
wh
o w
ill
be
the
nex
t P
resi
den
t, d
o y
ou
car
e? W
hat
hap
pen
s w
hen
peo
ple
die
an
d a
ll w
e d
o i
s ce
leb
rate
an
d p
ut
face
s an
d
nam
es o
n s
hir
ts?
Do
n’t
just
rea
d t
his
just
to
be
read
ing
it, v
isu
aliz
e it
to
o.
Pic
ture
it.
I
Bel
ieve
in
th
e I
Wil
l N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g C
amp
aign
. I
wan
t to
kn
ow
wh
at y
ou
th
ink
. I w
ant
to g
et o
lder
an
d v
ote
. I w
ant
to t
ake
a vi
sit
to t
he
Wh
ite
Ho
use
. W
hat
are
yo
u d
oin
g in
th
e o
#ce
bla
ck p
resi
den
t? Y
ou
loo
k l
ike
me
do
yo
u c
are
abo
ut
me?
I a
m a
skin
g yo
u t
o r
ead
th
is. I
hav
e
nev
er b
een
to
Was
hin
gto
n D
.C.
We
vote
d f
or
you
no
w y
ou
vo
te f
or
us.
I d
on’
t k
no
w m
uch
ab
ou
t p
oli
tics
, ca
n y
ou
tel
l m
e m
ore
ab
ou
t it
?
Do
es i
t ta
ke
a lo
t to
be
pre
sid
ent?
Ou
r ti
me
is n
ow
. It
is t
ime
for
you
ng
bla
ck m
en t
o s
tan
d u
p. D
o y
ou
eve
r th
ink
to
inve
st in
ou
r ed
uca
tio
n?
We
nee
d m
ore
job
s, w
e n
eed
bet
ter
sch
oo
ls, a
nd
we
nee
d b
ette
r p
oli
ce in
ou
r
com
mu
nit
y. A
litt
le b
it o
f ev
eryt
hin
g.
I
bel
ieve
in
ou
r ge
ner
atio
n.
Ou
r ge
ner
atio
n i
s n
ot
mes
sed
up
we
just
nee
d a
lit
tle
mo
re o
f en
cou
rage
men
t. W
e n
eed
bet
ter
job
s, s
cho
ols
,
po
lice
. I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
Yo
u d
on’
t w
ant
us
to d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, J
amar
e A
ust
in
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is M
ark
Les
ueu
r, I
’m 1
7 ye
ars
old
an
d I
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. M
r. P
resi
den
t I
wo
nd
er i
f yo
u l
iste
n t
o y
ou
ng
mal
es.
I gr
ew
up
in
a f
amil
y w
ith
a m
oth
er a
nd
no
fat
her
. At
the
sch
oo
l th
at I
go
to
my
frie
nd
s an
d p
eers
are
dro
pp
ing
ou
t al
l th
e ti
me.
I g
rew
up
see
ing
frie
nd
s
and
fam
ily
mem
ber
s d
yin
g in
fro
nt
of
me.
I c
om
e fr
om
a p
lace
wh
ere
fam
ilie
s k
ill
or
be
kil
led
. Do
yo
u c
are
abo
ut
ho
w m
any
fam
ily
mem
ber
s
wil
l die
bef
ore
so
met
hin
g is
do
ne
to c
han
ge t
his
sit
uat
ion
.
W
hy
is i
t th
at m
y b
roth
er h
as a
bet
ter
chan
ce o
f li
vin
g th
an m
e? I
bel
ieve
th
ere
sho
uld
be
mo
re p
rogr
ams
lik
e th
is o
ne
to h
elp
Afr
ican
Am
eric
ans.
W
hat
wil
l yo
u d
o f
or
us?
Yo
u l
oo
k l
ike
us
bu
t d
o y
ou
car
e?
Wh
at’s
go
ing
to h
app
en t
o m
y si
ster
s if
I’m
go
ne?
Wh
o’s
goin
g to
kee
p
them
ou
t o
f th
e st
reet
s?
I
bel
ieve
th
at y
ou
hav
e p
rocr
asti
nat
ed o
n t
he
issu
es o
f b
lack
fam
ilie
s.
We
are
losi
ng
mo
re y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
en t
o v
iole
nce
in
th
e st
reet
s o
f th
e
ghet
to t
han
we
hav
e lo
st i
n w
ars.
Co
uld
yo
u d
o o
ne
thin
g fo
r m
e, s
ave
7,00
0 li
ves
ever
y ye
ar?
I b
elie
ve t
hat
we
are
the
gen
erat
ion
th
at w
ill m
ake
chan
ges
and
I a
m t
ryin
g, b
ut
I n
eed
yo
ur
hel
p s
o t
hat
I d
o n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, M
ark
Les
ueu
r
ALE
XA
ND
ER
HA
MIL
TON
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r P
resi
den
t O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is D
arri
n M
adis
on
. I’m
16
year
s o
ld a
nd
I li
ve in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. I c
om
e fr
om
a s
ingl
e p
aren
t ho
me.
I a
lway
s h
ad a
fath
er �
gure
in m
y li
fe b
ut
at t
he
sam
e ti
me
he
was
a b
ad r
ole
mo
del
fo
r m
e. I
att
end
Ham
ilto
n h
igh
sch
oo
l. I
com
e fr
om
th
e h
oo
d w
her
e yo
u s
ee a
nd
hea
r
gun
s go
ing
o�
all
day
lon
g.
S
even
th
ou
san
d y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
en d
ie e
very
yea
r d
ue
to v
iole
nce
. Us,
as y
ou
ng
men
are
bei
ng
led
th
e w
ron
g w
ay b
ecau
se w
e h
ave
few
po
siti
ve
role
mo
del
s to
lead
us
in t
he
righ
t d
irec
tio
n. A
s I
get
old
er, I
un
der
stan
d
the
risk
s I’
m p
utt
ing
mys
elf
thro
ugh
. Bu
t at
th
e sa
me
tim
e th
at is
th
e o
nly
way
to
mak
e it
ou
t h
ere.
I w
ant
to m
ake
a ch
ange
bu
t w
hat
ch
ange
can
I
mak
e if
th
is i
s th
e o
nly
lif
e I
kn
ow
? I
can
on
ly m
ake
a ch
ange
if
I k
no
w
ther
e w
ill b
e a
po
siti
ve a
nd
su
cces
sfu
l fu
ture
ah
ead
of
me.
I d
on’
t w
ant
to
be
a p
art
of
the
7,00
0 yo
un
g b
lack
men
th
at d
ie e
very
yea
r. I
wan
t to
be
the
on
e th
at s
ays,
“I’
m o
ne
that
did
no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
”
Sin
cere
ly, D
arri
n M
adis
on
•D
ear
Pre
sid
ent
Bar
ack
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is D
eAn
te B
rock
an
d I
am
15
year
s o
ld. I
live
in M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
on
9th
an
d N
ash
. I g
rew
up
in M
ilw
auk
ee w
ith
a s
ingl
e p
aren
t
wh
o h
as h
ad t
o s
tru
ggle
on
a d
aily
bas
is. M
y m
om
is a
lway
s th
ere
for
me
no
mat
ter
wh
at I
nee
d.
I gr
ew u
p i
n a
ho
me
wit
h n
o f
ath
er a
nd
I t
hin
k
that
’s w
hy
I h
ave
had
a t
erri
ble
att
itu
de.
I g
rew
up
wit
h g
un
vio
len
ce,
dru
g u
se, a
nd
peo
ple
wit
h n
o f
ath
ers.
I g
rew
up
wit
h m
y m
om
sm
ok
ing
and
dri
nk
ing
ever
y d
ay.
My
mo
m c
han
ged
her
lif
e ar
ou
nd
in
200
6 an
d
join
ed E
ph
esia
ns
Mis
sio
nar
y B
apti
st c
hu
rch
. I g
o t
o A
lexa
nd
er H
amil
ton
hig
h s
cho
ol i
n M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n a
nd
it i
s a
pu
bli
c sc
ho
ol.
M
y li
fest
yle
is a
lrig
ht
bu
t I
hav
e o
ne
foo
t in
th
e h
oo
d a
nd
on
e fo
ot
in
chu
rch
an
d s
cho
ol.
My
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d i
s n
ot
the
bes
t p
lace
to
gro
w u
p.
Yo
u c
an h
ear
sho
oti
ng
mo
stly
eve
ry n
igh
t. I
ju
st w
ant
to s
ee c
han
ge a
nd
I re
fuse
to
be
ano
ther
sta
tist
ic. I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, D
eAn
te B
rock
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is D
emar
ius
All
en.
I co
me
fro
m a
ho
me
wit
h 9
fam
ily
mem
ber
s an
d w
e li
ve i
n t
hre
e b
edro
om
s. I
hav
e gr
ow
n u
p a
rou
nd
dru
gs
and
gan
g vi
ole
nce
. H
eari
ng
gun
sh
ots
in
th
e m
idd
le o
f th
e n
igh
t h
ad
me
alw
ays
scar
ed o
f w
ho
it m
igh
t h
ave
bee
n t
hat
lost
th
eir
life
. I li
ved
in
Can
ton
, M
issi
ssip
pi
alm
ost
my
wh
ole
lif
e w
her
e p
eop
le k
ill
for
resp
ect.
Dru
gs a
lco
ho
l an
d m
on
ey i
s th
e tr
end
ing
top
ic.
A
s a
you
ng
man
I h
ave
seen
my
fam
ily
and
fri
end
s gi
ve u
p a
s q
uic
kly
as t
hey
sta
rt.
On
e o
f th
e o
nly
th
ings
th
at k
eep
me
goin
g is
th
e h
op
e o
f
sho
win
g th
e p
eop
le i
n
nei
ghb
orh
oo
ds
all
acro
ss A
mer
ica
that
th
ere
is
ho
pe
for
a p
erso
n t
hat
gre
w u
p i
n a
bad
co
mm
un
ity.
D
id y
ou
kn
ow
3 y
ears
ago
, yo
u w
ere
in J
ack
son
, M
issi
ssip
pi?
Yo
u
pas
sed
rig
ht
by
on
e o
f o
ne
of
the
smal
lest
to
wn
s d
ow
n s
ou
th. W
e fe
lt li
ke
you
did
n’t
care
ab
ou
t u
s.
"
ere
are
7,00
0 b
lack
bo
ys t
hat
die
eve
ry y
ear.
On
e o
f th
e re
aso
ns
I
bel
ieve
th
ere
is s
o m
uch
cri
me
is r
ap a
rtis
ts,
bec
ause
th
ey d
o w
hat
yo
u
do
n’t
do.
"ey
co
me
ou
t an
d s
pea
k e
ven
if
wh
at t
hey
are
tel
lin
g u
s is
wro
ng.
We
list
en b
ecau
se t
hey
su
pp
ort
wh
at w
e d
o a
nd
if y
ou
can
do
th
e
sam
e th
en y
ou
can
ch
ange
th
ings
. Wil
l yo
u s
pea
k t
o y
ou
ng
bla
ck b
oys
?
Sin
cere
ly, D
emar
ius
All
en
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
Bar
ack
Ob
ama,
H
ello
my
nam
e is
Des
mo
nd
Wal
ton
, I’
m 1
6 Y
rs.
Old
. I
was
bo
rn
and
rai
sed
in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I’m
go
ing
to t
alk
to
yo
u a
bo
ut
my
bac
kgr
ou
nd
an
d m
ain
ly a
bo
ut
ho
w y
ou
can
hel
p m
e in
th
is c
old
wo
rld
. W
hen
I w
as i
n 4
th g
rad
e, t
hat
’s w
hen
I s
tart
ed d
oin
g b
ad t
hin
gs
in s
cho
ol.
�en
�n
ally
my
6th
gra
de
year
I f
ell i
n lo
ve w
ith
th
e h
oo
d.
�
rou
gho
ut
my
life
I s
taye
d i
n a
sin
gle
par
ent
ho
me
wit
h j
ust
my
old
er b
roth
er a
nd
me.
I t
alk
to m
y d
ad f
rom
tim
e to
tim
e b
ut
I d
on’
t re
ally
see
him
bec
ause
he’
s in
Ch
icag
o w
ith
his
oth
er k
ids.
W
hen
I w
as y
ou
nge
r I
alw
ays
wo
nd
ered
wh
y w
e n
ever
had
a b
lack
pre
sid
ent.
I a
lway
s th
ou
ght
that
a b
lack
man
did
n’t
hav
e th
e co
ura
ge t
o
try
it o
ut.
Bu
t I
gues
s yo
u s
ho
wed
me
di�
eren
tly.
My
qu
esti
on
is w
hat
can
I d
o t
o b
eco
me
a p
resi
den
t la
ter
on
in
lif
e? I
f I
had
th
e p
ow
er t
o r
un
th
e
Un
ited
Sta
tes
I w
ou
ld t
ry t
o k
eep
all
kid
s in
sch
oo
l so
th
ey c
an g
et a
go
od
edu
cati
on
an
d s
tay
o�
th
e st
reet
s. �
ere’
s a
stru
ggle
in
th
is w
orl
d a
nd
I
real
ly d
on’
t k
no
w h
ow
to
do
dge
th
e b
ull
ets.
It’s
har
d i
n t
his
wo
rld
.
E
very
tim
e I
loo
k a
t th
e n
ews
I se
e a
litt
le b
lack
kid
eit
her
dea
d o
r
lock
ed b
ehin
d b
ars.
I w
ou
ld li
ke
to c
om
e to
geth
er a
nd
hel
p t
he
wo
rld
.
I n
oti
ced
th
at y
ou
alw
ays
say
“Yes
We
Can
”. M
y Q
ues
tio
n i
s w
hat
can
we
as y
ou
th d
o i
f yo
u’r
e n
ot
even
do
ing
it?
Do
yo
u c
are
abo
ut
the
kid
s th
at
are
dro
pp
ing
ou
t o
f sc
ho
ol a
t an
ear
ly a
ge?
Sin
cere
ly, D
esm
on
d W
alto
n •
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
I’
m w
riti
ng
this
let
ter
bec
ause
I w
ant
to c
han
ge t
he
imag
e o
f yo
un
g
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an m
ales
. My
nam
e is
Dev
on
te L
ow
e. I
’m 1
7 ye
ars
of
age
livi
ng
in t
he
city
of
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
. I h
ave
live
d i
n t
he
ho
od
eve
r
sin
ce I
was
bo
rn,
hav
ing
a h
ard
lif
e, s
tru
ggli
ng
wit
h n
o h
elp
. I
was
bo
rn
into
a s
ingl
e p
aren
t h
om
e w
ith
no
fat
her
try
ing
to m
ake
a w
ay. I
’m a
skin
g
ho
w y
ou
can
hel
p m
e an
d w
hy
do
we
hav
e th
e w
ors
t sc
ho
ol s
yste
ms
in t
he
nat
ion
. Tel
l me
wh
y th
ere
are
mo
re A
fric
an A
mer
ican
yo
un
g m
ales
dyi
ng
at s
uch
a y
ou
ng
age.
M
r. P
resi
den
t, d
id y
ou
kn
ow
th
ere
are
mo
re y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
ales
th
at
die
fro
m v
iole
nce
in
th
e U
nit
ed S
tate
s th
an t
he
nu
mb
er o
f so
ldie
rs k
ille
d
in s
ever
al w
ars
com
bin
ed?
Wh
y h
aven
’t y
ou
do
ne
anyt
hin
g ab
ou
t th
e
kil
lin
g? Y
ou
alw
ays
say
“yes
we
can”
. We
hav
e fa
ith
in
yo
u, w
e vo
ted
fo
r
you
, b
ut
wil
l yo
u v
ote
fo
r u
s. A
ll I
am
ask
ing,
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
is t
o h
elp
low
er t
he
rate
of
you
ng
mal
es f
rom
an
y ra
ce d
yin
g o
ut.
I d
on’
t w
ant
ou
r
gen
erat
ion
to
bec
om
e ex
tin
ct.
A
gain
my
nam
e is
Dev
on
te L
ow
e fr
om
Ham
ilto
n h
igh
sch
oo
l let
tin
g
you
kn
ow
th
at “
I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g”.
Sin
cere
ly, D
evo
nte
Lo
we
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is E
dd
ie H
oll
iman
. I w
as b
orn
in
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
. I
atte
nd
Ham
ilto
n h
igh
sch
oo
l an
d I
att
end
th
is p
rogr
am i
n m
y sc
ho
ol.
It
is a
typ
e o
f pro
gram
th
at t
ries
to r
each
yo
un
g te
ens
to p
reve
nt
them
fro
m
bei
ng
on
e o
f th
e 7,
000
bla
ck m
ales
wh
o d
ie e
very
yea
r.
I
grew
up
on
5th
an
d C
apit
ol
wit
h m
y gr
and
par
ents
. W
e li
ved
in
a b
ad n
eigh
bo
rho
od
wh
ere
ther
e w
as g
ang
vio
len
ce.
My
gran
dp
aren
ts
did
n’t
even
let
me
leav
e th
e b
ack
yard
bec
ause
it w
as s
o b
ad b
ack
th
en.
My
life
styl
e is
go
od
bu
t d
eep
do
wn
insi
de
the
ho
od
is s
till
in m
e. I
wo
uld
lik
e to
sto
p t
he
kil
lin
g th
at h
app
ens
ever
y d
ay.
I w
ant
you
to
sta
nd
up
and
hel
p u
s b
lack
mal
es g
et o
ur
live
s to
geth
er.
I
kn
ow
yo
u a
re e
njo
yin
g th
at g
oo
d l
ife
bec
ause
yo
u l
ive
in t
he
wh
ite
ho
use
sle
epin
g go
od
. B
ut
som
e o
f u
s b
lack
mal
es a
re s
tru
ggli
ng
on
th
e
stre
ets.
Eve
ry d
ay w
e h
ave
to h
ust
le ju
st t
o g
et a
bit
e to
eat
. I ju
st w
ant
to
live
a g
oo
d l
ife
and
no
t h
ave
to w
orr
y ab
ou
t so
meo
ne
tryi
ng
to k
ill
me
bec
ause
I’m
on
th
e w
ron
g b
lock
.
I
did
n’t
hav
e a
fath
er in
my
life
; he
was
nev
er t
her
e fo
r m
e. B
ut
I k
no
w
wh
en I
hav
e m
y k
ids
they
wil
l be
hap
py
bec
ause
I w
ill b
e th
e b
est
fath
er
ever
. I’v
e b
een
th
rou
gh a
lo
t in
my
life
bu
t I
pra
y to
Go
d e
very
day
th
at
I w
ill
mak
e it
ou
t o
f th
e h
oo
d b
ecau
se I
do
n’t
wan
t to
die
yo
un
g li
ke
the
7,00
0 th
at d
o e
very
yea
r.
I
wan
t to
sto
p t
he
vio
len
ce; t
he
kil
lin
g o
f ea
ch o
ther
for
the
colo
r th
ey
hav
e o
n o
r b
ein
g o
n t
he
wro
ng
blo
ck.
So,
I w
ish
yo
u w
ou
ld h
elp
us.
I ju
st
wan
t yo
u t
o m
ake
a ch
ange
bec
ause
I v
ote
d fo
r yo
u, I
pu
t m
y tr
ust
in y
ou
,
so I
th
ink
yo
u s
ho
uld
pu
t yo
ur
tru
st i
n m
e an
d s
tan
d f
or
us
bla
ck m
ales
that
wan
t to
mak
e a
chan
ge li
ke
you
did
.
Sin
cere
ly, E
dd
ie H
oll
iman
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
D
o y
ou
car
e ab
ou
t a
you
ng
bla
ck m
an l
ike
me?
Are
yo
u a
war
e th
at
7,00
0 b
lack
bo
ys d
ie e
very
yea
r w
her
e I’
m f
rom
? M
y fa
mil
y vo
ted
for
you
;
wo
uld
yo
u v
ote
fo
r u
s? I
gre
w u
p i
n a
sin
gle
par
ent
ho
me.
My
fath
er w
as
nev
er a
rou
nd
. M
y m
oth
er h
as b
een
rai
sin
g m
e al
l al
on
e. A
re y
ou
aw
are
that
it
is h
ard
to
rai
se a
yo
un
g b
lack
man
as
a si
ngl
e p
aren
t? I
hav
e to
su"
er t
he
fact
th
at I
do
n’t
hav
e a
fath
er #
gure
eve
ry d
ay,
bu
t so
meh
ow
I
rem
ain
str
on
g. D
o y
ou
car
e ab
ou
t th
e b
lack
men
th
at d
rop
ou
t o
f sc
ho
ol
ever
y ye
ar?
Kil
l ev
ery
day
? St
eal
ever
y d
ay?
Can
yo
u h
and
le a
day
in
my
ghet
to?
Ho
w d
o w
e #
x th
e p
rob
lem
? $
e tr
uth
is
we
do
n’t!
Can
yo
u
imag
ine
hav
ing
to w
alk
bef
ore
yo
u c
raw
l? I
th
ink
ab
ou
t m
y sa
fety
an
d
my
life
eve
ry d
ay. W
her
e w
ou
ld I
be
in 1
0 ye
ars?
Wo
uld
I l
ive
to s
ee y
ou
mak
e a
chan
ge?
M
y N
ame
is K
esh
awn
D.
Aik
ens
and
I a
m 1
6 ye
ars
old
. I
atte
nd
Ale
xan
der
Ham
ilto
n h
igh
sch
oo
l in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
I. I
’m n
ot
ask
ing
for
anyt
hin
g b
ut
a C
HA
NG
E. C
an y
ou
mak
e th
at c
han
ge?
“Yes
, we
can”
. Can
we?
Sin
cere
ly, K
esh
awn
D. A
iken
s
•D
ear
Pre
sid
ent
Ob
ama,
W
hy
do
n’t
you
hel
p u
s; t
he
on
es t
hat
are
on
th
e st
reet
s b
ecau
se o
ur
par
ents
do
n’t
care
? It
see
ms
lik
e yo
u d
on’
t ca
re e
ith
er b
ecau
se y
ou
are
just
lett
ing
the
stre
ets
tak
e o
ver
ou
r co
un
try.
Wh
y d
o y
ou
sp
end
so
mu
ch
mo
ney
on
oth
er s
tu"
th
at w
e re
ally
do
n’t
nee
d w
hen
we
can
pu
t th
at
mo
ney
in
mo
st p
ub
lic
sch
oo
ls?
We
nee
d b
ette
r te
ach
ers.
We
wo
uld
n’t
nee
d a
ll o
f th
ese
jail
s if
peo
ple
car
ed a
bo
ut
ou
r b
lack
yo
un
g b
oys
. I t
hin
k
all s
cho
ols
sh
ou
ld g
et tr
eate
d th
e sa
me.
Wh
y d
o o
ther
sch
oo
ls h
ave
bet
ter
stu
" t
hen
us?
We
nee
d m
ore
act
ivit
ies
and
mo
re te
ach
ers
that
rea
lly
care
.
We
also
nee
d m
ore
gro
up
s li
ke
the
I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g C
amp
aign
.
D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
wh
ile
you
are
sit
tin
g in
yo
ur
com
fort
able
ch
air
just
ch
illi
n’ s
om
e b
lack
bo
ys a
re o
ut
her
e w
ith
th
eir
life
on
th
e li
ne.
Yes
we
can
hav
e b
ette
r re
adin
g an
d m
ath
sco
res
bu
t th
at’s
har
d to
acc
om
pli
sh
wh
en y
ou
fea
r fo
r yo
ur
life
. Can
yo
u b
elie
ve in
us
lik
e w
e b
elie
ve in
yo
u?
I’m
su
pp
ort
ing
the
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
CA
MPA
IGN
.
Sign
ed b
y th
e k
id t
hat
’s t
ryin
g to
ch
ase
his
dre
am –
Ric
key
No
rman
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I
hav
e a
qu
esti
on
fo
r yo
u;
ho
w m
any
Afr
ican
Am
eric
ans
die
in
a
year
as
a re
sult
of
gun
vio
len
ce?
$e
answ
er is
ab
ou
t 7,
000
bla
ck m
ales
. I
thin
k it
’s t
ime
for
a ch
ange
in
th
is w
orl
d.
B
efo
re y
ou
bec
ame
pre
sid
ent
wh
at w
ere
the
thin
gs y
ou
wan
ted
to
chan
ge?
Did
yo
u e
ver
succ
eed
? D
id y
ou
eve
n t
ry t
o a
ttem
pt
to t
ry a
nd
go t
hro
ugh
wit
h i
t? $
ere
is s
till
rac
ism
go
ing
on
an
d i
t’s r
eall
y b
ugg
ing
me.
$er
e is
sti
ll w
om
an a
bu
se g
oin
g o
n. W
ho
is
goin
g to
do
so
met
hin
g
abo
ut?
I
was
rai
sed
wit
h b
oth
of
my
par
ents
un
til
the
age
of
7. B
oth
my
mo
ther
an
d m
y fa
ther
go
t lo
cked
up
th
at y
ear.
My
mo
ther
cam
e o
ut
wit
hin
3 m
on
ths.
My
dad
did
5 y
ears
an
d 8
mo
nth
s b
ecau
se o
f d
rug
dea
lin
g. $
e p
oli
ce t
reat
ed m
y m
om
lik
e “o
h s
he
pro
bab
ly w
as i
nvo
lved
in i
t le
ts k
eep
an
eye
on
her
” k
ind
of
thin
g. N
ot
all
wo
men
are
in
volv
ed
in t
hat
stu
".
$
ese
po
lice
o&
cers
nee
d t
o s
top
tak
ing
the
inn
oce
nt
and
tak
e
the
guil
ty.
$ey
giv
e th
e gu
ilty
ho
use
arr
est
for
wh
at?
Yo
u t
hin
k t
hat
’s
actu
ally
go
ing
to w
ork
? A
ll t
hey
’re
goin
g to
do
is
go r
igh
t b
ack
to
th
e
sam
e ro
uti
ne
un
til
they
en
d u
p l
ock
ed u
p.
An
d y
ou
tak
e th
e in
no
cen
t
for
wh
at?
I h
on
estl
y th
ink
yo
u s
ho
uld
let
them
fre
e if
th
ey h
ave
no
pro
of
esp
ecia
lly
if t
hei
r re
cord
is
clea
n.
�e
po
lice
nee
d t
o b
e ch
eck
ed.
Giv
e
them
war
nin
gs a
nd
su
spen
sio
ns.
No
wad
ays
peo
ple
rec
ord
po
lice
in
acti
on
an
d t
hey
arr
est
peo
ple
fo
r n
o r
easo
n. I
am
a p
art
of
the
“I w
ill
no
t
die
yo
un
g” c
amp
aign
an
d t
hes
e ar
e ju
st li
ttle
ste
ps
that
I t
hin
k w
ill c
han
ge
the
wo
rld
litt
le b
y li
ttle
.
Sin
cere
ly, S
amu
el C
arab
allo
•
Dea
r P
resi
den
t O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is S
tep
han
Bak
er, I
’m 1
5 ye
ars
old
, an
d I
am
fro
m M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
. I
grew
up
in
a h
ou
se w
ith
ou
t m
y fa
ther
, w
her
e m
y m
oth
er
had
to
do
eve
ryth
ing
on
her
ow
n.
I at
ten
d H
amil
ton
hig
h s
cho
ol,
and
wh
ere
I gr
ew u
p a
t, I
wo
uld
n’t
wan
t an
y o
ther
yo
un
g b
lack
bo
ys t
o l
ive.
I’m
wri
tin
g yo
u t
his
let
ter
bec
ause
I w
ant
to k
no
w i
f yo
u c
an s
it d
ow
n
wit
h t
he
you
ng
bla
ck b
oys
th
at v
olu
nte
ered
to
be
in t
he
I W
ill
No
t D
ie
Yo
un
g C
amp
aign
, an
d h
ave
a ta
lk w
ith
us
abo
ut
chan
gin
g th
e h
oo
d.
A
s I
gro
w o
lder
I r
eali
ze t
he
thin
gs y
ou
are
no
t d
oin
g to
hel
p t
he
wo
rld
, th
at m
ayb
e o
ne
day
I c
ou
ld d
o. L
ivin
g in
th
e gh
etto
is
no
t go
od
,
bu
t a
lot
of
peo
ple
hav
e n
o c
ho
ice,
bec
ause
yo
u a
s th
e P
resi
den
t ar
e n
ot
fun
din
g th
e ci
ty o
f M
ilw
auk
ee t
o h
elp
ch
ange
th
e gh
etto
. In
stea
d o
f yo
u
hel
pin
g th
e n
eed
y yo
u p
rovi
de
to t
he
on
es w
ho
alr
ead
y h
ave.
Bei
ng
the
Pre
sid
ent
of
the
U.S
yo
u h
ave
resp
on
sib
ilit
ies
that
yo
u h
ave
to h
and
le t
he
righ
t w
ay.
Sin
cere
ly, S
tep
han
Bak
er•
Dea
r M
r. O
bam
a,
M
y N
ame
Is W
esle
y C
. Jo
hn
son
. I’
m 1
5 an
d I
am
fro
m M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
. F
irst
I w
ant
to s
tart
o!
wit
h m
y b
ack
gro
un
d:
I co
me
fro
m a
on
e p
aren
t h
ou
seh
old
. M
y m
oth
er t
akes
car
e o
f m
y li
ttle
sis
ter,
my
big
bro
ther
an
d m
e w
ith
a c
hec
k t
hat
co
mes
on
ce o
n t
he
"rs
t o
f th
e m
on
th,
so b
y ti
me
the
9th
of
the
mo
nth
co
mes
we
are
bro
ke.
I
do
n’t
thin
k y
ou
use
yo
ur
po
wer
for
the
righ
t th
ings
. Wh
en y
ou
wer
e
run
nin
g fo
r p
resi
den
t yo
u s
aid
th
at y
ou
wer
e go
ing
to h
elp
th
e w
orl
d.
I h
ave
no
t se
en a
nyt
hin
g n
ew i
n m
y st
ate.
I w
asn’
t b
orn
wit
h t
he
gold
spo
on
. Y
ou
r ca
mp
aign
mo
tto
was
“ye
s w
e ca
n”.
Wel
l ca
n w
e k
eep
bla
ck
kid
s fr
om
get
tin
g k
ille
d?
Can
yo
u h
elp
us
to g
et o
ut
of
this
zo
o?
W
e vo
ted
fo
r yo
u s
o v
ote
fo
r u
s. W
e n
eed
yo
u l
ike
you
nee
ded
ou
r
vote
s. A
ll I
’m a
skin
g fo
r is
yo
u t
o h
elp
us.
I’m
no
t as
kin
g fo
r a
han
d o
ut.
We
nee
d a
hel
p c
ente
r, a
ho
ldin
g h
ou
se fo
r k
ids
that
do
n’t
hav
e an
ywh
ere
to g
o, m
ore
saf
e zo
nes
fo
r k
ids
that
are
bei
ng
kil
led
fo
r n
o r
easo
n. H
elp
us
to n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, W
esle
y Y
ou
ng
CA
SIM
IR
Pula
ski
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
I
am a
yo
un
g A
fric
an A
mer
ican
fro
m t
he
inn
er c
ity
of
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. E
ven
th
ou
gh I
mad
e it
to
my
sen
ior
year
of
hig
h s
cho
ol
I
hav
e en
du
red
a h
ard
ro
ad.
I li
ve o
n 4
8th
an
d C
ente
r an
d I
am
wo
rkin
g
har
d t
o m
ove
on
in
my
life
. I l
ive
in a
sin
gle
fam
ily
ho
me
wit
h o
nly
my
gran
dm
oth
er a
nd
it i
s d
i�cu
lt.
I
refu
se t
o d
ie a
t th
is y
ou
ng
age.
My
big
co
usi
n w
as s
ho
t an
d k
ille
d
on
th
e co
rner
of 1
9th
an
d A
tkin
son
. �at
day
my
cou
sin
bec
ame
ano
ther
stat
isti
c; o
ne
of
the
7,00
0 A
fric
an A
mer
ican
mal
es t
hat
die
eve
ry y
ear.
Bei
ng
that
yo
u a
re t
he
pre
sid
ent
of
the
Un
ited
Sta
tes,
I n
eed
yo
ur
sup
po
rt. I
nee
d t
o k
no
w w
hat
yo
u a
re d
oin
g to
hel
p u
s. W
hat
can
yo
u d
o
to e
nsu
re t
hat
no
Afr
ican
Am
eric
ans
or
any
per
son
die
s at
th
e h
and
of
gun
vio
len
ce?
Wh
at c
an y
ou
do
to
hel
p m
e?
M
y n
ame
is K
esh
aun
Co
lem
an a
nd
I s
tay
in a
dis
rup
tive
are
a w
her
e
you
see
dru
g d
eale
rs o
n e
very
co
rner
an
d I
hav
e th
e fe
ar o
f d
yin
g ev
ery
day
. I
wan
t to
mak
e it
acr
oss
th
e st
age
wh
en I
hav
e co
mp
lete
d h
igh
sch
oo
l. I
hav
e b
ig g
oal
s an
d d
ream
s th
at I
wo
uld
lik
e to
acc
om
pli
sh, b
ut
I ca
n’t
do
it
if I
die
yo
un
g in
my
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d.
I w
ant
to e
njo
y al
l th
at
life
has
to
o�
er. I
wan
t yo
u t
o h
elp
me.
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
.
Yo
urs
tru
ly, K
esh
aun
Co
lem
an
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is M
arw
on
. I’
m 1
8 ye
ars
old
an
d l
ive
in M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
. I a
tten
d C
asim
ir P
ula
ski h
igh
sch
oo
l. I
was
rai
sed
in a
sin
gle
par
ent
ho
me.
I h
ave
an o
lder
bro
ther
, un
fort
un
atel
y h
e is
in p
riso
n. I
live
in o
ne
of
the
rou
ghes
t ar
eas
in M
ilw
auk
ee.
It r
eall
y is
n’t
imp
ort
ant
that
I gi
ve m
y ad
dre
ss b
ecau
se i
t w
on’
t h
elp
. Y
ou
may
nev
er s
ee m
e o
r an
y
oth
er p
erso
n w
ho
su
�er
s th
rou
gh t
ryin
g to
su
rviv
e th
e in
ner
cit
y.
S
even
th
ou
san
d b
lack
mal
es d
ie e
very
yea
r b
etw
een
th
e ag
es o
f
15 a
nd
25.
We
hav
e m
ore
yo
un
g m
en t
hat
die
in
th
e gh
etto
th
an U
.S.
sold
iers
wh
o h
ave
fou
ght
in w
ars.
Fo
ur
ou
t o
f �
ve o
f th
ose
bla
ck m
ales
are
kil
led
by
ano
ther
bro
ther
.
M
y p
urp
ose
for
wri
tin
g th
is le
tter
is t
o in
form
yo
u o
f so
me
thin
gs y
ou
may
or
may
no
t k
no
w. I
am
ask
ing
for
you
r h
elp
to
ch
ange
th
e st
atis
tics
.
Just
last
wee
k a
17
year
old
bo
y w
as s
ho
t in
th
e p
ark
fu
ll o
f k
ids.
As
I lo
ok
aro
un
d it
see
ms
lik
e al
l th
e m
on
ey i
s go
ing
to p
lace
s th
at d
on’
t ev
en h
elp
the
ho
od
. Yo
u m
ay n
ot
kn
ow
ho
w i
t fe
els
to l
ose
a c
lose
fri
end
or
fam
ily
mem
ber
to
vio
len
ce, b
ut
I d
o.
I
join
ed a
mo
vem
ent
bec
ause
I d
id n
ot
wan
t to
die
yo
un
g an
d I
do
n’t
wan
t o
ther
s to
die
yo
un
g ei
ther
, bu
t th
ey d
o. I
nev
er s
ee a
nyt
hin
g o
n t
he
tele
visi
on
th
at s
ho
ws
the
vio
len
ce t
hat
go
es o
n i
n o
ur
nei
ghb
orh
oo
ds
and
I n
ever
see
an
yth
ing
abo
ut
anyo
ne
tryi
ng
to h
elp
th
e si
tuat
ion
. I’
m
ask
ing
that
yo
u r
ise
up
an
d t
ake
acti
on
. I
am n
ot
ask
ing
for
mu
ch,
just
to g
ive
a b
lack
tee
n s
om
eth
ing
to w
ake
up
to
or
ho
pe
for
oth
er t
han
wh
o
wil
l b
e th
e n
ext
to d
ie. M
r. P
resi
den
t I
am a
skin
g yo
u t
o p
leas
e h
elp
ou
r
nei
ghb
orh
oo
ds
bec
ause
I r
efu
se t
o d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, M
arw
on
Ed
dm
on
ds
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is M
ick
ey F
ord
an
d I
am
16
year
s o
f age
. I li
ve in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. I
love
bas
ket
bal
l. I
try
no
t to
do
th
ings
th
at w
ill
hu
rt m
y
fam
ily
bu
t so
met
imes
I a
m s
care
d t
o w
alk
to
my
bu
s st
op
th
ink
ing
that
I
wil
l be
kil
led
for
no
rea
son
. I k
no
w if
I d
ie it
wo
uld
hu
rt m
y fa
mil
y. I
wan
t
to m
ake
my
mo
m a
nd
dad
pro
ud
of
me.
All
sev
en o
f m
y li
ttle
sis
ters
loo
k
up
to
me
so I
hav
e to
mak
e go
od
ch
oic
es i
n li
fe.
I
atte
nd
Pu
lask
i hig
h s
cho
ol a
nd
hav
e a
har
d t
ime
focu
sin
g o
n s
cho
ol.
I tr
y to
mak
e fr
ien
ds
wit
h e
very
on
e so
th
ey w
on’
t h
urt
me,
bu
t th
e tr
uth
is t
hey
are
no
t m
y fr
ien
ds.
"ey
are
her
e in
sch
oo
l fo
r th
e sa
me
reas
on
I
am; t
o le
arn
.
Ju
st a
co
up
le o
f w
eek
s ag
o t
her
e w
ere
thre
e d
eath
s n
ear
wh
ere
I li
ve
and
it
mak
es m
e th
ink
th
at I
am
go
ing
to b
e n
ext
bec
ause
it
is s
o c
lose
to m
e. I
’m o
nly
16
year
s o
ld,
bu
t I’
ve p
rob
ably
mad
e m
ore
bad
ch
oic
es
than
a 4
0 ye
ar o
ld m
an. W
hen
I w
as 1
4 ye
ars
old
I s
tart
ed g
ang
ban
gin
g
bec
ause
my
mo
m w
as s
tru
ggli
ng.
I h
ave
set
a lo
t o
f go
als
for
my
life
an
d
hav
e fa
iled
th
em. B
ut
I w
ant
som
eth
ing
di#
eren
t fo
r m
ysel
f.
M
y fa
mil
y vo
ted
for
you
an
d n
ow
I n
eed
yo
u to
vo
te fo
r m
e as
a y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
ale
so t
hat
I c
an m
ake
it o
ut
of
the
ho
od
an
d n
ot
die
yo
un
g. I
ho
pe
you
tak
e th
e ti
me
to r
ead
th
is l
ette
r b
ecau
se I
wil
l co
nti
nu
e to
try
har
der
an
d I
ref
use
to
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, M
ick
ey F
ord
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is R
ash
awn
Jac
kso
n.
I am
19
year
s o
ld a
nd
liv
ing
in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I co
me
fro
m a
sin
gle
par
ent
ho
me
wit
h f
ou
r
bro
ther
s an
d s
iste
rs. I
nev
er k
new
my
fath
er a
nd
my
mo
ther
had
to b
reak
her
bac
k t
o m
ake
end
s m
eet.
I a
m ju
st n
ow
hav
ing
a p
osi
tive
ro
le m
od
el
in m
y li
fe a
nd
pla
n t
o g
o t
o c
oll
ege
in t
he
fall
. Fo
r m
e, b
eati
ng
the
od
ds
that
wer
e th
row
n a
t m
e sh
ow
s m
e th
at I
can
be
anyt
hin
g I
wan
t in
lif
e. I
wan
t to
th
ank
yo
u f
or
tak
ing
the
tim
e to
rea
d t
his
lett
er a
nd
kn
ow
th
at I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly,
Sin
cere
ly, R
ash
awn
Jac
kso
n
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
My
nam
e is
Do
nn
ie H
arri
ngt
on
. I
am 1
8. I
mad
e it
! "
ey s
ay t
hat
a l
ot
of
you
ng
bla
ck m
ales
do
n’t
mak
e it
to
see
age
18.
I d
id b
ecau
se I
fee
l if
we
all
be
goo
d a
nd
do
go
od
, lif
e ca
n b
e gr
eat.
Lik
e D
rak
e sa
id, “
Yo
u c
an
star
t fr
om
th
e b
ott
om
an
d g
et w
her
e yo
u w
ann
a b
e”. I
wan
t yo
u t
o k
no
w
that
th
e b
roth
ers
wh
o a
re s
ho
oti
ng
and
kil
lin
g, t
hey
rea
lly
wan
t to
be
lik
e
you
. "ey
may
no
t w
ant
to s
ay it
, so
I a
m s
pea
kin
g fo
r th
em b
ecau
se t
hey
are
no
t m
an e
no
ugh
to
say
.
I
wan
t to
go
to
mo
re g
rad
uat
ion
s an
d l
ess
fun
eral
s. I
’d r
ath
er s
ee
succ
ess
rib
bo
ns
than
yel
low
tap
e. J
ust
hea
r m
e o
n t
his
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
Mil
wau
kee
is
the
fou
rth
po
ore
st c
ity
in t
he
U.S
. I
nee
d h
elp
wit
h t
he
stre
ets.
We
nee
d p
oli
tici
ans
to g
et o
ut
of
thei
r se
ats
and
get
on
th
eir
feet
and
pit
ch i
n t
o h
elp
mak
e ch
ange
s. A
ll I
am
ask
ing
is t
o b
e h
eard
. W
e
hav
e m
ore
yo
un
g p
eop
le t
hat
nee
d o
ur
hel
p s
o t
hat
th
ey d
o n
ot
bec
om
e
stat
isti
cs. W
e h
ave
to m
ake
it b
ig.
Sin
cere
ly, D
on
nie
Har
rin
gto
n
Mors
e-
Ma
RS
HA
LL
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r P
resi
den
t O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is K
yle
M.
Byn
um
an
d I
am
17
year
s o
ld.
I at
ten
d M
ors
e-
Mar
shal
l hig
h s
cho
ol i
n M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n. I
am
th
e m
idd
le c
hil
d o
f
thre
e. I
hav
e a
you
nge
r si
ster
, ag
e 12
an
d a
n o
lder
bro
ther
, ag
e 21
. I
wil
l
be
turn
ing
18 t
his
su
mm
er. I
liv
e w
ith
bo
th m
y p
aren
ts, m
y b
roth
er a
nd
I sh
are
the
sam
e fa
ther
bu
t n
ot
the
sam
e m
oth
er. I
go
to
sch
oo
l fai
thfu
lly,
hav
e a
g.p
.a. o
f 3.
33 a
nd
wil
l go
to
co
lleg
e o
nce
I g
rad
uat
e th
is s
um
mer
.
I co
me
fro
m a
fam
ily
wh
ere
sup
po
rt i
s m
ost
im
po
rtan
t w
het
her
it
be
fro
m t
he
fam
ily
or
tho
se w
ho
su
rro
un
d y
ou
. M
y en
viro
nm
ent
is n
ot
all
bad
, n
or
is i
t al
l go
od
. �
en a
gain
, w
hat
pla
ce i
s ju
st o
ne
of
the
two
? I
hav
e h
eard
gu
nsh
ots
in
my
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d f
rom
tim
e to
tim
e.
�
e re
aso
n w
hy
I w
rite
to
yo
u t
od
ay i
s n
ot
for
hel
p w
ith
th
ese
situ
atio
ns
we
face
, b
ut
just
to
rea
d a
nd
hav
e a
leve
l o
f u
nd
erst
and
ing.
�e
“wo
rld
” as
I s
ee,
is g
oo
d,
bu
t h
as b
een
co
rru
pte
d b
y th
e ev
ils
fro
m
tem
pta
tio
ns
that
we
hav
e p
lace
d u
po
n o
urs
elve
s. W
e va
lue
do
llar
bil
ls
ove
r o
ne
ano
ther
’s li
fe. W
hy?
I d
o n
ot
kn
ow
. We
do
no
t lo
ve o
ne
ano
ther
as w
e sh
ou
ld.
We
view
on
e an
oth
er a
s st
ran
gers
in
stea
d o
f b
roth
ers
and
sist
ers.
�is
go
vern
men
t m
akes
ou
r li
ves
rath
er d
i�cu
lt,
no
t fo
r al
l, b
ut
mak
es it
di�
cult
fo
r m
ore
th
an s
om
e.
S
eein
g a
colo
red
bo
y su
cces
sfu
l is
rat
her
rar
e. S
eein
g a
colo
red
bo
y
dea
d in
a c
ask
et is
rat
her
co
mm
on
in o
ur
cou
ntr
y. I
qu
esti
on
wh
y it
is t
hat
you
are
th
e �
rst
colo
red
pre
sid
ent
in a
ll t
hes
e ye
ars.
My
min
d w
on
der
s
wh
y w
e ar
e lo
ok
ed d
ow
n u
po
n, n
ot
as in
feri
or,
bu
t as
peo
ple
wh
o a
re n
ot
des
tin
ed t
o b
e “s
ucc
essf
ul”.
N
ow
, th
ere
is n
o o
ther
pla
ce t
hat
I’d
rat
her
be
than
rig
ht
her
e in
th
e
U.S
.A.
I am
pro
vin
g al
l o
f th
ose
wh
o s
aid
I w
ou
ld n
ever
be
anyt
hin
g
wro
ng.
Eve
n w
ith
a d
augh
ter,
I h
ave
bee
n a
ccep
ted
into
th
e co
lleg
e o
f m
y
cho
ice.
I p
lan
to
bec
om
e a
neu
rolo
gist
an
d t
her
e w
ill
nev
er b
e an
yth
ing
or
anyo
ne
wh
o w
ill h
ind
er m
y su
cces
s.
�
ey s
ay t
he
min
d i
s m
ost
cre
ativ
e w
hen
it
is a
slee
p;
I b
elie
ve I
acco
mp
lish
su
ch a
go
al w
hen
I a
m w
ide
awak
e. �
is i
s th
e re
aso
n w
hy
I cr
eate
th
ose
th
ings
th
at p
eop
le s
eem
to
lik
e an
d t
he
reas
on
wh
y I
am
able
to
pas
s m
y A
P c
lass
es w
ith
eas
e; t
he
reas
on
wh
y I
wri
te t
his
let
ter
to y
ou
. S
o w
ith
th
at s
aid
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I o
nly
ask
fo
r yo
u t
o r
ead
an
d
un
der
stan
d w
her
e w
e co
me
fro
m. I
am
Kyl
e M
. Byn
um
an
d I
wil
l no
t d
ie
you
ng,
no
r w
ill I
all
ow
an
yon
e ar
ou
nd
me
to d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, K
yle
M. B
ynu
m
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is E
ric
�o
mas
an
d I
am
17
year
s o
ld. I
am
wri
tin
g to
yo
u
fro
m M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
as
a co
nce
rned
yo
un
g b
lack
bo
y w
ho
is
tire
d o
f se
ein
g o
ther
s ar
ou
nd
me
die
fro
m v
iole
nce
eve
ry d
ay.
I
atte
nd
Sam
uel
Mo
rse
Mar
shal
l S
cho
ol
for
the
Gi"
ed a
nd
Tal
ente
d.
Eve
ry d
ay I
co
me
to a
sch
oo
l th
at is
�ll
ed w
ith
sec
uri
ty g
uar
ds
and
po
lice
o�
cers
. S
cho
ol
sho
uld
n’t
hav
e th
is t
ype
of
envi
ron
men
t w
her
e sa
fety
is
such
an
iss
ue.
Ed
uca
tio
n s
ho
uld
be
the
pri
mar
y is
sue.
I
live
in
an
en
viro
nm
ent
wh
ere
peo
ple
fee
l th
e n
eed
to
get
ah
ead
by
pu
ttin
g ea
ch o
ther
do
wn
to
mak
e a
livi
ng.
I’m
tir
ed o
f h
eari
ng
abo
ut
peo
ple
th
at l
oo
k l
ike
me
dyi
ng
ever
y d
ay b
ecau
se t
he
mu
rder
er w
as
stru
ggli
ng
and
co
uld
n’t
�n
d a
jo
b. I
’m t
ired
of
hav
ing
to w
orr
y ab
ou
t
the
live
s o
f m
y fa
mil
y, f
rien
ds
and
my
ow
n b
ecau
se o
f th
e vi
ole
nce
in t
he
Mil
wau
kee
co
mm
un
ity.
Sin
cere
ly, E
ric
�o
mas
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I
kn
ow
th
at y
ou
are
pro
bab
ly w
on
der
ing
wh
o I
am
bu
t I
des
erve
to
be
hea
rd.
I vo
ted
fo
r yo
u.
I n
eed
so
meo
ne
to l
iste
n t
o m
e. M
y n
ame
is
Stev
en O
wen
s an
d I
am
18
year
s o
ld l
ivin
g in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I
grew
up
wit
h m
y m
oth
er a
nd
her
hu
sban
d.
I gr
ew u
p w
ith
ou
t m
y re
al
fath
er i
n m
y li
fe.
My
mo
ther
is
ther
e fo
r m
e, b
ut
she
pro
vid
es o
nly
so
mu
ch; t
he
rest
I h
ave
to p
rovi
de
for
mys
elf.
I n
ever
ask
ed f
or
a h
and
ou
t
or
som
eon
e to
fee
l so
rry
for
me,
on
ly t
o li
sten
to
me.
�
e en
viro
nm
ent
that
I l
ive
in a
nd
wh
at I
wit
nes
s ev
ery
day
are
peo
ple
str
ugg
lin
g, d
rug
dea
lin
g, a
nd
kil
lin
g. I
liv
e in
an
en
viro
nm
ent
wh
ere
peo
ple
ge
t re
cogn
itio
n
for
all
the
wro
ng
thin
gs
and
li
ttle
ack
no
wle
dgm
ent
for
the
righ
t th
ings
. I
wak
e u
p e
very
day
an
d t
her
e’s
ano
ther
yo
un
g p
erso
n a
dd
ed t
o t
he
per
cen
tage
of
7,00
0 b
lack
bo
ys t
hat
are
kil
led
eve
ry y
ear.
L
ast
year
, on
Oct
ob
er 1
9, 2
012,
I lo
st o
ne
of
my
clo
sest
fri
end
s to
gu
n
vio
len
ce.
On
Sep
tem
ber
, 15
, 20
04,
my
nep
hew
lo
st h
is d
ad a
nd
he
wil
l
nev
er a
gain
see
his
fat
her
. His
fat
her
did
no
t ev
en h
ave
a h
ead
sto
ne.
�e
on
ly t
ime
he
wil
l eve
r se
e h
is d
ad i
s o
n a
t-s
hir
t.
I’
m w
riti
ng
you
th
is le
tter
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
bec
ause
we
nee
d s
up
po
rter
s
and
bel
ieve
rs l
ike
you
so
th
at w
e ca
n a
chie
ve i
nst
ead
of
just
dre
am. M
r.
Pre
sid
ent,
do
yo
u k
no
w a
ny
of
the
nam
es o
f th
e yo
un
g m
en t
hat
die
ever
y ye
ar?
I ca
n n
ame
a co
up
le.
Y
ou
sai
d “
Yes
, We
can
.” I
f th
e o
lder
men
I s
ee a
re n
ot
sett
ing
the
righ
t
exam
ple
, th
en w
ho
am
I s
up
po
sed
to
loo
k u
p t
o?
W
hy
is t
he
qu
alit
y o
f ed
uca
tio
n i
n s
ub
urb
an s
cho
ols
di�
eren
t fr
om
inn
er c
ity
pu
bli
c sc
ho
ols
? H
ow
co
me
we
nev
er s
ee o
ur
sch
oo
ls o
n t
he
new
s ta
lkin
g to
stu
den
ts w
ho
hav
e m
ade
it t
o g
rad
uat
ion
? A
re w
e n
ot
goo
d e
no
ugh
to
ack
no
wle
dge
ou
r su
cces
s w
ith
a n
ewsp
aper
art
icle
?
O
nce
we
can
get
a f
ew b
lack
bo
ys i
n�
uen
ced
to
do
th
e ri
ght
thin
gs,
then
oth
ers
wil
l fo
llo
w. M
y go
als
and
dre
ams
are
no
t to
o b
ig a
nd
I’m
no
t
ask
ing
too
mu
ch, j
ust
an
op
po
rtu
nit
y to
be
succ
essf
ul l
ike
you
hav
e b
een
.
Yes
, I a
m g
oin
g to
co
lleg
e b
ut
seei
ng
the
wro
ng
exam
ple
can
eas
ily
hav
e
me
go i
n t
he
wro
ng
dir
ecti
on
. I a
m t
ryin
g to
sta
y st
ron
g. I
do
n’t
wan
t to
die
yo
un
g. I
wan
t to
acc
om
pli
sh m
y go
als
just
lik
e yo
u M
r. P
resi
den
t.
Sin
cere
ly, S
teve
n O
wen
s
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is R
ay H
arri
s. I
am
18
year
s o
ld a
nd
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. Y
ou
r ca
mp
aign
was
all
ab
ou
t “c
han
ge”;
bu
t I
hav
en’t
see
n
chan
ge. I
f an
yth
ing
it i
s w
ors
e. M
y fr
ien
ds
and
I s
till
hav
e to
bu
st m
ove
s
to g
et o
ur
mo
ney
up
. Yo
u s
aid
“ch
ange
” so
wh
y n
ot
give
us
mo
re j
ob
s to
sto
p t
he
nee
d f
or
hu
stli
ng
to s
up
po
rt o
ur
fam
ilie
s.
I
wo
uld
lik
e to
kn
ow
ho
w y
ou
fee
l ab
ou
t th
e 7,
000
you
ng
bla
ck m
en
wh
o d
ie e
very
yea
r. I
nee
d h
elp
get
tin
g a
job,
so
tel
l m
e w
hat
in
sch
oo
l
hav
e te
ach
ers
tau
ght
that
wil
l pre
par
e m
e fo
r re
al li
fe s
itu
atio
ns
lik
e h
ow
to g
et a
jo
b o
r h
ow
to
"le
yo
ur
taxe
s? M
y go
als
are
to b
e a
goo
d p
erso
n
and
to
be
auth
enti
c. I
wan
t to
be
di�
eren
t fr
om
oth
ers
and
see
mo
re t
han
just
my
city
an
d t
he
ho
mie
s I
run
wit
h. I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, R
ay H
arri
s
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is T
racy
�o
mas
an
d I
am
an
18
year
old
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an
you
ng
man
wh
o r
esid
es i
n M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
. I
live
wit
h b
oth
my
par
ents
an
d 4
oth
er s
ibli
ngs
wh
o a
re a
ll e
xtre
mel
y su
pp
ort
ive
and
up
li#
ing.
My
life
is
grea
t an
d I
hav
e m
y h
ead
on
str
aigh
t. I
hav
e b
een
acce
pte
d t
o b
oth
Lan
gste
n U
niv
ersi
ty a
nd
Ten
nes
see
Stat
e U
niv
ersi
ty.
Alt
ho
ugh
my
life
is
grea
t, t
he
envi
ron
men
t th
at I
liv
e in
is
no
t. �
e
pu
bli
c ed
uca
tio
n t
hat
we
rece
ive
is m
edio
cre.
�e
teac
her
s d
on’
t ca
re
abo
ut
the
stu
den
ts;
they
are
mer
ely
ther
e to
ear
n a
pay
chec
k.
�ey
are
no
t co
nce
rned
wit
h w
hat
we
lear
n o
r h
ow
we
lear
n.
W
hen
wil
l yo
u d
o s
om
eth
ing
to s
top
th
is m
istr
eatm
ent,
dec
epti
on
,
and
bra
inw
ash
ing
of
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an m
ales
? S
om
etim
es I
act
ual
ly
bel
ieve
yo
u a
re l
ike
tho
se p
ub
lic
sch
oo
l te
ach
ers.
No
thin
g is
bei
ng
do
ne
to e
nd
th
is i
neq
uit
able
tre
atm
ent
of
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an b
oys
. I
do
n’t
un
der
stan
d h
ow
yo
u c
ou
ld a
ccep
t th
is.
Mo
st o
f al
l, I
do
n’t
un
der
stan
d
ho
w y
ou
co
uld
be
a p
art
of
the
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an m
ino
rity
an
d d
o
no
thin
g.
I
kn
ow
yo
un
g m
en w
ho
hav
e re
cen
tly
dro
pp
ed o
ut
of
hig
h s
cho
ol
to g
o l
ive
life
th
e w
ron
g w
ay b
ecau
se t
hey
nee
ded
to
hel
p s
up
po
rt t
hei
r
fam
ily.
Man
y o
f m
y fr
ien
ds
are
dru
g d
eale
rs b
ecau
se t
hey
are
fo
rced
and
/or
bra
inw
ash
ed i
nto
th
is b
ehav
ior.
I
am v
ery
than
kfu
l fo
r th
e li
fe I
alw
ays
had
bu
t I
am d
isap
po
inte
d
wit
h t
he
life
th
at o
ther
s ar
e li
vin
g. M
y b
roth
ers,
“o
ur
bro
ther
s,” a
re
stru
ggli
ng.
Wh
y w
on’
t yo
u d
o a
nyt
hin
g?
A
lmo
st e
very
day
I s
ee y
ou
on
tel
evis
ion
an
d y
ou
ap
pea
r to
me
as
mo
re a
�gu
re o
f th
e m
edia
th
an y
ou
do
ou
r p
resi
den
t. I
am
a p
resi
den
t;
I am
a p
resi
den
t o
f m
ysel
f. I
wil
l be
that
su
cces
sfu
l mec
han
ical
en
gin
eer
that
I d
ream
of
bec
om
ing.
I h
ave
bee
n w
ork
ing
har
d a
nd
str
ivin
g to
reac
h m
y go
al. I
ref
use
to
die
yo
un
g. I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng!
!
Sin
cere
ly, T
racy
�o
mas
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is M
ich
ael
Den
zel
Har
ris.
I a
m 1
8 ye
ars
old
an
d l
ive
in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I gr
ew u
p i
n a
go
od
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d w
ith
my
mo
m a
nd
dad
. M
y p
aren
ts b
rou
ght
me
up
rig
ht
and
tau
ght
me
ho
w t
o
sho
w r
esp
ect
and
hav
e co
mm
on
sen
se.
I h
ave
bee
n b
ull
ied
all
my
life
and
at
tim
es n
o o
ne
wo
uld
hel
p m
e at
all
.
I
am a
sen
ior
at M
ors
e-M
arsh
all h
igh
sch
oo
l wh
ere
the
envi
ron
men
t
ther
e is
n
oth
ing
bu
t vi
ole
nce
, ra
cism
, b
ull
yin
g an
d
just
st
raig
ht
dis
resp
ect.
My
con
cern
is
for
all
thes
e yo
un
g p
eop
le w
ho
hav
e h
ad t
o
gro
w u
p i
n a
bad
en
viro
nm
ent
bec
ause
wh
en t
hey
wak
e u
p s
om
e o
f
them
en
d u
p h
urt
or
dea
d.
Wh
en I
was
bu
llie
d,
I go
t b
eat
and
no
on
e
did
an
yth
ing
bu
t m
ake
it s
eem
lik
e it
was
n’t
a m
ajo
r is
sue.
Eve
ry d
ay
som
eon
e k
ills
th
emse
lves
bec
ause
th
ey a
re b
ein
g b
ull
ied
an
d a
bu
sed
on
a d
aily
bas
is. �
is i
s a
maj
or
issu
e b
ecau
se t
ho
se y
ou
ng
peo
ple
wh
o d
ie
are
the
sam
e o
nes
th
at w
ou
ld h
ave
mad
e a
di#
eren
ce i
n o
ur
wo
rld
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t, I
am
no
t as
kin
g fo
r an
yth
ing
spec
ial.
I am
tel
lin
g yo
u
that
th
is a
ct o
f vi
ole
nce
is
no
t so
met
hin
g to
be
ove
rlo
ok
ed. I
do
n’t
wan
t
my
nep
hew
or
nie
ce o
r an
y o
f m
y fu
ture
ch
ild
ren
to
exp
erie
nce
wh
at
I w
ent
thro
ugh
. I
thin
k t
hat
we
cou
ld c
reat
e m
ore
pro
gram
s al
l o
ver
Am
eric
a te
ach
ing
you
ng
kid
s an
d t
een
s ab
ou
t th
e se
rio
us
ram
i�ca
tio
ns
of
bu
llyi
ng.
M
r. P
resi
den
t I
ho
pe
you
tak
e th
e ti
me
to s
erio
usl
y re
ad t
his
let
ter,
bec
ause
th
is i
sn’t
a n
orm
al l
ette
r fr
om
so
me
exci
ted
tee
n,
ho
pin
g yo
u
wil
l re
ad h
is l
ette
r. �
is l
ette
r re
pre
sen
ts y
ears
of
pai
n f
rom
th
e h
atre
d
that
I h
ad t
o w
itn
ess.
No
w, I
do
n’t
care
if y
ou
get
on
it r
igh
t aw
ay b
ecau
se
I k
no
w y
ou
are
a b
usy
man
, b
ut
un
der
stan
d t
hat
Am
eric
a n
eed
s m
ore
chan
ge. I
am
ju
st t
he
man
to
hel
p w
ith
th
at. A
$er
hig
h s
cho
ol
I p
lan
to
spre
ad t
he
wo
rd a
nd
hel
p e
lim
inat
e th
e h
ate.
�an
k y
ou
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
for
you
r ti
me
and
to
sh
ow
yo
u m
y ap
pre
ciat
ion
I p
rom
ise
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, M
ich
ael H
arri
s
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
A
s yo
u k
no
w li
fe m
ay b
e h
ard
, bu
t n
ow
th
at y
ou
are
a N
atio
nal
�gu
re
I w
on
der
if
you
kn
ow
wh
at i
t is
lik
e to
str
ugg
le a
nym
ore
. N
ot
to b
e
dis
resp
ectf
ul
bu
t d
o y
ou
car
e an
ymo
re?
As
a k
id I
lea
rned
th
at “
ever
y
man
can
gai
n a
tit
le t
hro
ugh
a s
ucc
ess,
bu
t a
man
do
esn’
t n
eed
a t
itle
to b
e su
cces
sfu
l.” A
s a
pre
sid
ent
you
are
su
pp
ose
d t
o b
e th
e le
ader
of
the
nat
ion
. D
id y
ou
kn
ow
my
un
cle
is a
lea
der
of
a n
atio
n o
f ga
ngs
ter
dis
cip
les?
An
d a
s yo
u s
aid
, “y
es,
we
can”
, th
ey w
ere
sayi
ng,
“Y
es w
e ca
n
des
tro
y th
is n
eigh
bo
rho
od
an
d t
hes
e p
eop
le.”
�ey
set
ou
t to
co
rru
pt
the
min
ds
of
my
pee
rs a
nd
I.
M
r. P
resi
den
t, p
leas
e d
o n
ot
hel
p u
s o
ut
of
pit
y; o
ur
fam
ilie
s d
id n
ot
vote
fo
r yo
u o
ut
of
pit
y. R
ead
my
lett
er a
nd
rem
emb
er I
am
a c
hil
d o
f
you
r n
atio
n. L
ead
me,
do
n’t
leav
e m
e b
ehin
d. I
wan
t to
be
som
eon
e, b
ut
wit
h n
o j
ob
s an
d a
po
or
sch
oo
l sy
stem
ho
w c
an I
wh
en I
fee
l li
ke
my
pre
sid
ent
aban
do
ned
us.
I
do
n’t
wan
t a
han
d-o
ut;
I w
ant
a b
ette
r ch
ance
. Yo
u’r
e ca
lled
th
e vo
ice
of
the
peo
ple
bu
t yo
ur
voic
e is
bar
ely
hea
rd i
n m
y n
eigh
bo
rho
od
. Y
ou
r
nam
e b
rin
gs h
op
e; m
y n
ame
bri
ngs
sir
ens.
Yo
ur
nam
e b
rin
gs f
aith
; m
y
nam
e is
lo
st a
mo
ngs
t th
ou
san
ds
of
you
ng
men
lik
ely
to b
e d
ead
bef
ore
they
rea
ch t
he
age
of 2
5. Y
ou
r n
ame
mea
nt c
han
ge; m
y n
ame
is e
stra
nge
d.
I as
k t
hat
yo
u li
sten
mo
re o
�en
bec
ause
we
wil
l be
hea
rd.
�is
let
ter
is f
rom
Dra
von
n B
ank
hea
d o
f th
e I
Wil
l N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g
Cam
pai
gn.
Sin
cere
ly, D
ravo
nn
Ban
kh
ead
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is I
saac
an
d I
am
17
year
s o
ld a
nd
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. I
atte
nd
Mo
rse-
Mar
shal
l h
igh
sch
oo
l. I
can
pla
y an
y sp
ort
fro
m b
aseb
all
to f
oo
tbal
l. M
y n
eigh
bo
rho
od
, I
real
ly c
ou
ldn’
t te
ll y
ou
wh
at it
is li
ke
anym
ore
bec
ause
I d
on’
t go
ou
tsid
e a�
er m
y fr
ien
d w
as s
ho
t
in t
he
alle
y an
d p
aral
yzed
. H
e w
as o
n h
is w
ay t
o c
oll
ege
bu
t w
as t
urn
ed
aro
un
d q
uic
kly
a�
er h
e w
ou
ldn’
t gi
ve u
p h
is c
ell p
ho
ne.
�
e is
sue
that
yo
u a
nd
th
e go
vern
men
t ca
n’t
seem
to
see
is
that
yo
u
spen
d 7
bil
lio
n d
oll
ars
on
a w
ar i
n t
he
Mid
dle
Eas
t, b
ut
can’
t sp
end
7
bil
lio
n d
oll
ars
on
th
e w
ar r
igh
t h
ere
in t
he
stre
ets
of
the
Un
ited
Sta
tes.
Yo
u n
eed
to
sp
end
mo
ney
on
ou
r fa
ilin
g sc
ho
ol
syst
em i
nst
ead
of
the
assu
med
des
tin
atio
n o
f yo
un
g b
lack
men
; th
e p
riso
n s
yste
m. I
f yo
u g
ave
us
a su
"ci
ent
sou
rce
of k
now
led
ge, t
hen
we
cou
ld g
o t
o c
olle
ge i
nst
ead
of t
ho
se p
riso
ns
that
you
pay
so
mu
ch m
oney
for
.
B
ut
I w
ill
than
k G
od
, n
ot
you
an
d m
y go
vern
men
t a�
er I
mak
e it
thro
ugh
co
lleg
e an
d o
nto
my
succ
essf
ul l
ife,
bec
ause
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, I
saac
Kra
mer
•
Dea
r M
r. B
arac
k O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is A
mer
e T
alik
Gra
ham
. R
emem
ber
th
e n
ame
bec
ause
you
are
go
ing
to h
ear
it a
gain
so
med
ay. W
hy?
Bec
ause
I a
m g
oin
g to
be
som
ebo
dy.
I
am fr
om
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
an
d 1
8 ye
ars
old
. I w
as b
orn
in N
ew
Jers
ey.
Sin
ce m
y p
aren
ts e
ach
had
sev
ere
alco
ho
l an
d d
rug
add
icti
on
s I
mo
ved
aro
un
d a
lo
t. I
mo
ved
to
liv
e w
ith
oth
er f
amil
y m
emb
ers
and
even
fo
ster
ho
mes
bec
ause
fam
ily
toss
ed m
e as
ide.
I h
ave
bee
n t
o g
rou
p
ho
mes
, ab
use
d a
nd
exp
ose
d t
o c
on
stan
t vi
ole
nce
as
a ch
ild
. M
y o
lder
sist
er a
nd
I w
ent
thro
ugh
mo
st o
f th
ese
issu
es t
oge
ther
. M
y si
ster
sti
ll
su#
ers
fro
m t
rau
ma
cau
sed
by
thes
e te
rrib
le p
ast
even
ts.
I
atte
nd
Mo
rse-
Mar
shal
l h
igh
sch
oo
l an
d I
am
cu
rren
tly
a se
nio
r.
I li
ve a
fas
t an
d h
ard
lif
e. I
liv
e in
a n
eigh
bo
rho
od
on
6th
an
d L
ocu
st
wh
ere
peo
ple
get
sh
ot
or
end
up
ove
rdo
sin
g o
# d
rugs
ju
st a
bo
ut
ever
y
day
. A
bo
ut
13 d
ays
ago
a 1
6 ye
ar o
ld b
oy
was
dri
vin
g fr
om
his
fam
ily’
s
ho
use
an
d h
e ju
st g
ave
ou
t an
d d
ied
. It
tu
rned
ou
t th
at h
e h
ad b
een
un
der
th
e in
$u
ence
of
dru
gs.
�
ere
is a
dru
g h
ou
se a
cro
ss f
rom
my
ho
use
. I
am s
ick
of
hea
rin
g
gun
sho
ts o
uts
ide
of
my
ho
use
eve
ry o
ther
nig
ht.
I’m
tir
ed o
f p
eop
le
mu
ggin
’ m
e o
r tr
yin
g to
%gh
t m
e o
ver
ten
do
llar
s! I
sh
ou
ld n
ot
hav
e to
live
lik
e th
is. W
ith
all
th
e is
sues
th
at g
o o
n in
my
life
I c
an’t
eve
n %
nd
th
e
tim
e to
get
to
kn
ow
mys
elf.
I d
on’
t k
no
w w
ho
I a
m. I
’m o
ut
her
e ju
st lo
st.
An
d w
hen
yo
u a
re s
tru
ggli
ng
mo
st p
eop
le t
urn
a b
lin
d e
ye t
o y
ou
.
E
very
no
w a
nd
th
en t
her
e w
ill
be
a h
oly
per
son
th
at w
ill
be
a G
oo
d
Sam
arit
an a
nd
hel
p o
ut.
Mr.
Bar
ack
Ob
ama,
I a
m a
skin
g yo
u t
o b
e th
at
Sam
arit
an,
be
my
Go
od
Sam
arit
an.
I n
eed
mo
re e
du
cati
on
an
d n
eed
to g
o t
o c
oll
ege
so t
hat
I c
an b
e su
cces
sfu
l. W
ith
all
th
at I
hav
e b
een
thro
ugh
, I
hav
e co
me
too
far
to
sto
p n
ow
. �
ere
hav
e b
een
man
y ti
mes
that
I h
ave
felt
lik
e gi
vin
g u
p, b
ut
then
I %
nd
mys
elf
tryi
ng
all o
ver
agai
n.
Qu
itti
ng
is n
ot
in m
y b
loo
d. I
wan
t to
live
lon
g. I
wan
t %
nan
cial
fre
edo
m.
Just
giv
e m
e so
met
hin
g th
at I
can
wo
rk w
ith
. I h
op
e th
at I
hea
r fr
om
yo
u
soo
n.
M
y n
ame
is A
mer
e G
rah
am.
Rem
emb
er t
he
nam
e, b
ecau
se I
wil
l b
e
som
ebo
dy
som
eday
. I
hav
e �
nal
ly f
ou
nd
my
voic
e. I
ho
pe
that
yo
u’r
e
list
enin
g. “
I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g.”
Sin
cere
ly, A
mer
e G
rah
am
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is J
avis
an
d I
am
a 1
7 ye
ar o
ld g
row
ing
up
in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. I
was
rai
sed
by
my
mo
ther
an
d g
ran
dm
oth
er.
I d
on’
t re
ally
kn
ow
my
fath
er,
bu
t h
e is
th
e o
ne
mis
sin
g o
ut
on
a g
reat
yo
un
g m
an.
I
atte
nd
Mo
rse
Mar
shal
l Sch
oo
l fo
r "
e G
i#ed
an
d T
alen
ted
. I’m
an
ath
lete
and
love
to
pla
y b
ask
etb
all.
"
e is
sue
I w
ant
to b
rin
g to
yo
ur
atte
nti
on
to
day
is
the
kil
lin
g o
f o
ne
ano
ther
. R
acis
m i
sn’t
th
e is
sue
bec
ause
wh
ite
peo
ple
are
no
t k
illi
ng
us
anym
ore
. "ey
are
rel
axin
g an
d l
etti
ng
us
do
it
ou
rsel
ves.
"is
co
nce
rns
me
bec
ause
wh
o is
to
say
th
at o
ne
of
the
7,00
0 b
lack
bo
ys t
hat
wer
e k
ille
d
cou
ld n
ot
hav
e b
een
th
e o
ne
wh
o f
ou
nd
th
e cu
re t
o A
ids.
D
o y
ou
hav
e
an a
nsw
er f
or
wh
y w
e k
ill
each
oth
er o
ver
“In
Go
d W
e T
rust
” (m
on
ey)
or
Jord
ans.
I d
on’
t w
ant
to t
urn
th
e T
V o
n a
nd
�n
d o
ut
that
an
oth
er
bro
ther
bit
es t
he
du
st. I
wan
t to
ask
yo
u f
or
an o
utl
et f
or
you
ng
bro
ther
s
wh
o l
ive
in t
hes
e si
tuat
ion
s b
ut
do
n’t
real
ly l
ive
that
lif
e. I
do
n’t
wan
t to
wo
rry
abo
ut
goin
g to
th
e st
ore
an
d w
on
der
ing
if t
he
sou
nd
s I
hea
r ar
e
�re
wo
rks,
rea
lizi
ng
it w
as a
ctu
ally
th
e so
un
d o
f a
pis
tol
tak
ing
ano
ther
life
.
H
ave
you
hea
rd a
bo
ut
the
I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g C
amp
aign
? W
e co
me
toge
ther
to
dis
cuss
an
d e
xerc
ise
ou
r th
ou
ghts
ab
ou
t h
ow
th
e w
orl
d i
s
goin
g. P
eop
le a
sk d
o I
th
ink
th
at a
sim
ple
pro
gram
can
ch
ange
my
life
;
you
wo
uld
be
surp
rise
d M
r. P
resi
den
t. I
wo
uld
als
o li
ke
to t
ell y
ou
ab
ou
t
an e
xtra
ord
inar
y m
an n
amed
Kw
aben
a w
ho
I p
ut
my
tru
st a
nd
bel
ief
in;
a m
an t
hat
is
do
ing
grea
t th
ings
fo
r yo
un
g b
lack
men
.
I’
m n
ot
ask
ing
for
you
to
sim
ply
rea
d t
his
lett
er; I
am
loo
kin
g fo
r yo
u
to r
each
ou
t an
d h
elp
du
rin
g th
is c
risi
s. P
resi
den
t O
bam
a, I
pro
mis
e,
that
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, J
avis
McP
ike
•D
ear
Bar
ack
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is D
evo
n S
hu
mp
ert.
I a
m 1
8 ye
ars
old
. I li
ve in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. I
atte
nd
Mo
rse
Mar
shal
l h
igh
sch
oo
l. I
hav
e li
ved
a h
ard
life
. I
bar
ely
had
my
fath
er i
n m
y li
fe.
My
bro
ther
s an
d I
wer
e ab
use
d
wit
h k
niv
es,
cord
s an
d b
ats
and
I j
ust
wan
t to
sh
ow
my
mo
ther
an
d
oth
er f
amil
y m
emb
ers
that
I c
an s
till
be
succ
essf
ul
des
pit
e w
hat
I’v
e
bee
n t
hro
ugh
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t I
nev
er g
ive
up
an
d a
lway
s k
eep
my
hea
d h
eld
hig
h.
I h
ave
wo
rked
so
har
d p
utt
ing
in a
pp
lica
tio
ns,
try
ing
to �
nd
wo
rk,
bu
t
I st
ill
do
n’t
hav
e a
job.
Ho
w a
m I
su
pp
ose
d t
o l
ive
wit
ho
ut
a jo
b?
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
I ju
st n
eed
yo
ur
hel
p t
o g
et t
o t
he
top
an
d t
hen
I w
ill
hel
p
oth
ers.
I w
ant
peo
ple
to
kn
ow
th
at y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
en a
re n
ot
all l
ike
wh
at
they
see
on
th
e ev
enin
g n
ews.
I
love
life
an
d I
wan
t to
gro
w u
p a
nd
be
som
eth
ing.
I w
ant
to h
elp
my
mo
ther
ou
t b
ecau
se s
he
has
alw
ays
bee
n t
her
e fo
r m
e. I
wil
l be
atte
nd
ing
coll
ege
in t
he
fall
bu
t I’
m w
orr
ied
ab
ou
t h
ow
I w
ill
pay
fo
r it
. I
tak
e m
y
life
ser
iou
sly
and
I a
m t
ired
of
seei
ng
my
bla
ck b
roth
ers’
fac
es o
n a
wh
ite
t-sh
irt.
It
is t
ime
for
a ch
ange
an
d t
his
tim
e th
at c
han
ge s
ho
uld
in
clu
de
peo
ple
lik
e m
e. I
ho
pe
we
hav
e th
e ch
ance
to
mee
t fa
ce t
o f
ace.
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, D
evo
n S
hu
mp
ert
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is K
eon
Bla
nd
, I’
m 1
6 ye
ars
old
an
d I
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. My
wh
ole
fam
ily
vote
d f
or
you
an
d w
e h
on
or
and
ap
pre
ciat
e
all
that
yo
u h
ave
do
ne
so f
ar.
Bu
t th
e p
ub
lic
sch
oo
l sy
stem
s ar
e fa
ilin
g
my
pee
rs a
nd
me.
�e
teac
her
s d
on’
t ca
re a
nym
ore
an
d s
om
e o
f th
e
pri
nci
pal
s h
ave
chec
ked
ou
t al
so. I
’m n
ot
the
bes
t st
ud
ent
wh
en it
co
mes
to a
cad
emic
s b
ut
I b
elie
ve i
f I
had
bet
ter
too
ls I
wo
uld
be
bet
ter.
My
life
is a
mes
s ri
ght
no
w a
nd
th
ings
are
go
ing
all
bad
. W
e sp
end
mo
st o
f o
ur
tim
e at
sch
oo
l so
wh
y is
n’t
it a
co
mfo
rtab
le s
afe
pla
ce t
o g
o?
M
y p
urp
ose
fo
r w
riti
ng
this
let
ter
to y
ou
is
to i
nfo
rm y
ou
of
all
the
foo
lish
nes
s th
at i
s go
ing
on
in
ou
r co
mm
un
ity.
Ho
w d
o t
hey
exp
ect
us
to b
e p
rep
ared
fo
r co
lleg
e if
all
we
do
is
stay
tra
pp
ed i
n a
bu
ild
ing
all
day
wit
h s
ecu
rity
gu
ard
s li
ke
war
den
s in
a p
riso
n?
I th
ink
it
is f
air
to s
ay
that
my
life
is
no
t a
jok
e an
d I
do
n’t
hav
e an
y ti
me
to w
aste
. Bec
ause
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I w
ou
ld li
ke
to g
o s
om
ewh
ere
and
be
som
eth
ing
in li
fe.
I lo
ok
fo
rwar
d t
o h
eari
ng
bac
k f
rom
yo
u M
r. P
resi
den
t. I
kn
ow
th
at y
ou
kn
ow
wh
at i
t fe
els
lik
e to
hav
e al
l th
e o
dd
s ag
ain
st y
ou
. M
ayb
e o
ne
day
wh
en y
ou
hav
e so
me
free
tim
e o
n y
ou
r h
and
s yo
u c
an c
all m
e an
d w
e ca
n
bo
un
ce i
dea
s o
� o
ne
ano
ther
an
d s
ee w
hat
we
can
do
to
mak
e a
chan
ge.
My
nu
mb
er i
s (4
14)
748-
0197
. E
ven
if
you
do
n’t
ever
get
th
is l
ette
r, I
kn
ow
th
at s
om
eon
e w
ill a
nd
th
ey w
ill h
elp
th
is g
et t
o y
ou
.
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, K
eon
Bla
nd
P.S.
“I
Wil
l N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g” i
s a
pro
gram
th
at i
s h
elp
ing
litt
le b
lack
bo
ys
lik
e m
e b
eco
me
mo
re t
han
ju
st a
sta
tist
ic.
�e
pro
gram
is
bas
ed i
n
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
. May
be
ou
r gr
ou
p c
an m
eet
you
fo
r d
inn
er.
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
I’
m a
per
son
fro
m M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n a
nd
I d
idn’
t ad
dre
ss m
ysel
f
by
nam
e b
ecau
se t
he
wo
rld
nev
er d
oes
. �ey
ad
dre
ss m
e as
a s
tati
stic
; a
litt
le b
lack
bo
y fr
om
th
e h
oo
d.
Acc
ord
ing
to w
hat
th
e w
orl
d b
elie
ves
I
sho
uld
n’t
be
aliv
e o
r I
sho
uld
be
in j
ail.
Do
yo
u k
no
w t
he
dea
th r
ate
of
peo
ple
in
th
e U
.S.?
Did
yo
u k
no
w t
hat
of
the
tota
l dea
th r
ate
7,00
0 b
lack
bo
ys j
ust
lik
e m
e d
ie d
ue
to g
un
vio
len
ce?
Bu
t th
e d
i�er
ence
bet
wee
n
them
an
d I
is
that
th
ey f
ell i
nto
th
e st
atis
tics
an
d I
ref
use
to.
I
atte
nd
Mo
rse-
Mar
shal
l h
igh
sch
oo
l an
d w
on
der
wh
y th
ey c
an’t
a�o
rd s
cho
ol
sup
pli
es b
ut
they
can
a�
ord
to
pu
t co
ps
in t
he
sch
oo
l to
kee
p u
s b
lack
s lo
cked
up
.
S
ee, I
co
uld
sit
her
e an
d t
ell y
ou
my
sto
ry b
ut
my
sto
ry is
th
e p
ast
and
ther
e’s
no
thin
g yo
u c
an d
o t
o c
han
ge t
hat
. B
ut
you
can
hel
p t
o c
han
ge
my
futu
re a
nd
th
e fu
ture
of
ever
y b
lack
bo
y in
Am
eric
a. I
t is
fu
nn
y h
ow
they
can
pu
t m
ore
mo
ney
in
to a
pri
son
sys
tem
th
an t
hey
do
sch
oo
ls t
o
kee
p p
eop
le o
ut
of
pri
son
in t
he
"rs
t p
lace
. My
sch
oo
l has
old
tex
t b
oo
ks;
rip
ped
an
d a
ll, b
ut
they
can
a�
ord
to
pu
t m
illi
on
s in
to w
ar. S
pea
kin
g o
f,
did
yo
u k
no
w t
hat
mo
re b
lack
peo
ple
die
in
th
e h
oo
d t
han
so
ldie
rs i
n
com
bat
?
I
did
n’t
wri
te t
his
ju
st b
ecau
se i
t w
as a
par
t o
f m
y p
rogr
am.
I co
uld
hav
e ju
st n
ot
sho
wed
up
for
clas
s. I
wro
te t
his
bec
ause
I h
eard
th
e im
pac
t
that
Dr.
Mar
tin
Lu
ther
Kin
g Jr
. m
ade
wh
en h
e w
rote
“le
tter
fro
m a
Bir
min
gham
jai
l”. I
f h
e m
ade
a d
i�er
ence
, wh
y ca
n’t
I?
“I
Wil
l No
t Die
Yo
un
g.”
I w
asn’
t ju
st te
llin
g yo
u th
e n
ame
of a
pro
gram
that
I b
elo
ng
to t
hat
act
ual
ly c
ares
. I w
as t
elli
ng
you
wh
at I
ref
use
to
do.
I al
so r
efu
se t
o b
e ec
on
om
ical
ly h
urt
to
th
e p
oin
t th
at I
fee
l I h
ave
to s
ell
dru
gs. I
ref
use
to
go
to
jai
l. I
refu
se t
o b
e tr
eate
d a
s if
I a
m u
neq
ual
. I’m
no
t as
kin
g fo
r go
ld r
ings
or
chai
ns
bu
t I
am a
skin
g fo
r h
elp
. An
d s
ince
I
refu
se t
o b
e w
hat
th
e w
orl
d c
alls
me,
I’l
l tel
l yo
u w
ho
I a
m.
we
st
sid
e
ac
ad
em
y II
MID
DL
E S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is C
hri
s an
d I
am
13,
an
d I
hav
e al
read
y b
een
arr
este
d a
nd
rece
ived
a t
ick
et fo
r 14
4 d
oll
ars.
�er
e w
ere
thre
e sh
oo
tin
gs r
ecen
tly.
My
cou
sin
die
d i
n ja
il a
t ag
e 23
, ab
ou
t a
wee
k a
go, o
ne
of
my
un
cles
is i
n ja
il
for
7 ye
ars
and
my
oth
er u
ncl
e d
ied
at
the
age
22. A
no
ther
of
my
un
cles
die
d a
t th
e ag
e o
f 17
. My
fam
ily
has
bee
n p
oo
r fo
r a
lon
g ti
me.
Ab
ou
t a
year
ago
a g
irl g
ot
kil
led
on
th
e p
layg
rou
nd
at
Wes
tsid
e II
, th
at’s
wh
ere
I at
ten
d s
cho
ol.
She
got
sho
t in
th
e h
ead
. M
y m
om
was
tel
lin
g
me
this
to
day
. I s
aid
I d
idn’
t ca
re, b
ut
wh
en I
th
ou
ght
abo
ut
it m
ore
an
d
rep
lace
d t
he
girl
wit
h m
y si
ster
an
d m
y b
roth
er it
ch
ange
d m
y th
ink
ing.
I w
ear
all b
lack
fo
r w
hen
I g
ang
ban
g. B
ut
that
’s w
hat
I w
ant
to c
han
ge in
me
and
in
th
e co
mm
un
ity.
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g,
Sin
cere
ly, C
hri
s B
rad
y.
P.S.
We
nee
d g
un
co
ntr
ol
so t
he
vio
len
ce c
an s
top
an
d b
ette
r jo
bs
so s
ingl
e
mo
ms
lik
e m
y m
om
can
su
pp
ort
th
eir
chil
dre
n.
•D
ear,
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is D
avio
n C
rum
ble
. I a
m 1
4 ye
ars
old
. An
d I
att
end
Wes
tsid
e
Aca
dem
y II
. I
was
bo
rn i
n L
os
An
gele
s, C
alif
orn
ia.
I m
ove
d h
ere
to
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n w
hen
I w
as 2
yea
rs o
ld.
I am
wri
tin
g to
yo
u,
to
info
rm y
ou
ab
ou
t w
hat
has
bee
n g
oin
g o
n h
ere.
�e
oth
er d
ay a
cro
ss
the
stre
et f
rom
my
sch
oo
l th
ere
was
fo
ur
sho
oti
ngs
. A
lmo
st e
very
day
som
eon
e is
dyi
ng.
Fo
r w
hat
th
ou
gh?
�at
’s w
hat
I a
m w
on
der
ing.
Am
I n
ext?
I d
on’
t w
ant
to b
e ju
st a
no
ther
fac
e o
n a
ho
od
y o
r a
jack
et
or
som
eon
e p
utt
ing
ted
dy
bea
rs o
n a
tre
e fo
r m
e. A
nd
I a
m n
ot
just
spea
kin
g fo
r m
e I
am s
pea
kin
g o
ut
for
ever
y yo
un
g b
lack
man
wh
o i
s
afra
id t
o s
pea
k o
ut.
I b
elie
ve i
n m
ysel
f.
W
e n
eed
ch
ange
fo
r o
ur
com
mu
nit
y. W
e re
ally
do
n’t
nee
d m
ore
jail
s w
hat
we
nee
d i
s m
ore
sch
oo
ls.
Eve
ry y
ear
ther
e ar
e m
ore
an
d
mo
re s
tud
ents
bei
ng
pu
t in
cla
sses
, st
op
pin
g o
ur
edu
cati
on
bec
ause
th
e
teac
her
has
to
sto
p t
each
ing
the
clas
s to
dea
l w
ith
dis
trac
tio
ns.
Wh
y d
o
sch
oo
ls g
et 1
0 th
ou
san
d d
oll
ars
for
each
stu
den
t fo
r o
ur
edu
cati
on
an
d
70 t
ho
usa
nd
do
llar
s fo
r ea
ch p
erso
n t
hat
is
in p
riso
n?
Do
yo
u c
are
abo
ut
ou
r ed
uca
tio
n?
I’
m a
lso
tir
ed o
f se
ein
g yo
un
g m
en t
hat
are
yo
un
ger
than
me,
ou
t h
ere
sho
oti
ng
and
sel
lin
g d
rugs
an
d m
ore
. W
hat
do
yo
u t
hin
k t
hat
th
ey a
re
do
ing
that
fo
r? B
ecau
se t
hey
do
n’t
hav
e th
at i
nsp
irat
ion
th
at l
ets
them
kn
ow
th
at t
hey
are
go
ing
to g
rad
uat
e fr
om
sch
oo
l an
d b
eco
me
som
eth
ing
in l
ife.
So
th
ey j
ust
tu
rn t
o d
rugs
an
d g
un
s. O
ur
bro
ther
s ar
e ge
ttin
g
lock
ed u
p f
or
no
thin
g n
ow
aday
s. W
e ar
e ge
ttin
g p
ull
ed o
ver
bec
ause
we
are
bla
ck. �
at’s
dis
turb
ing.
�e
oth
er d
ay a
wh
ite
man
was
just
ch
asin
g
ou
r yo
un
g b
lack
wo
men
. D
o y
ou
th
ink
th
at t
he
po
lice
are
try
ing
thei
r
bes
t to
cat
ch h
im?
I’
m d
eman
din
g ch
ange
! W
hat
are
yo
u w
illi
ng
to d
o f
or
me?
Fo
r u
s?
Fo
r th
e fu
ture
? I
wan
t p
eop
le t
o k
no
w m
e fo
r gr
eat
thin
gs n
ot
bec
ause
I
was
kil
led
du
e to
gu
n v
iole
nce
; “I
wil
l n
ot
die
yo
un
g”.
I am
th
ank
ful
for
this
pro
gram
bec
ause
its
hel
pin
g m
e ch
ange
eac
h s
tep
of
the
way
.
Wh
en I
was
10
year
s o
ld I
wit
nes
sed
my
step
fat
her
get
sh
ot
on
ou
r w
ay
to t
he
bar
ber
sh
op
. Wh
at d
o y
ou
th
ink
ab
ou
t th
at?
Eac
h y
ear
mo
re t
han
7,00
0 yo
un
g b
lack
men
die
to
gu
n v
iole
nce
. I h
eard
th
at y
ou
cam
e o
ut
of
the
bla
ck c
om
mu
nit
y. S
o p
leas
e d
on’
t tr
y to
act
lik
e yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w w
hat
we
are
goin
g th
rou
gh.
�at
’s t
he
on
ly t
hin
g th
at’s
go
ing
on
her
e is
bla
ck
on
bla
ck c
rim
e.
Y
ou
are
my
insp
irat
ion
bec
ause
yo
u m
ade
it. S
o t
hat
sh
ow
ed m
e th
at
I ca
n m
ake
it. I
am
no
t ty
pin
g th
is l
ette
r o
ut
of
hat
e I
am t
ypin
g it
ou
t o
f
ho
pe.
Sin
cere
ly, D
avio
n C
rum
ble
•
Dea
r P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is D
awo
nya
e R
ob
inso
n. I
lik
e w
hat
yo
u d
o, b
ut
in o
rder
to
mak
e it
bet
ter,
th
en I
per
son
ally
th
ink
th
at y
ou
sh
ou
ld b
e tr
yin
g to
hel
p
the
po
or
peo
ple
inst
ead
of t
he
rich
peo
ple
. �ey
alr
ead
y h
ave
ever
yth
ing;
do
n’t
you
th
ink
po
or
peo
ple
des
erve
so
me
thin
g to
o. �
ey a
re p
eop
le ju
st
lik
e yo
u b
ut
just
wit
h le
ss r
eso
urc
es.
S
ee y
ou
lik
e to
hel
p t
he
rich
peo
ple
so
eve
ryo
ne
can
lik
e yo
u.
Bu
t
that
isn
’t w
hat
’s u
p.
I lo
ok
at
you
co
ol
bec
ause
yo
u c
ame
fro
m t
he
sam
e
pla
ce a
s m
y m
ama
and
my
mam
a re
spec
ted
yo
u b
ecau
se y
ou
mad
e it
.
Bu
t sh
e st
op
ped
bec
ause
yo
u a
re n
ot
real
ly h
elp
ing
anyb
od
y th
at w
e
kn
ow
. Eve
ryb
od
y st
ill
loo
ks
up
to
yo
u b
ecau
se t
hey
hav
e n
o c
ho
ice,
bu
t
the
peo
ple
yo
u a
ren’
t h
elp
ing
are
real
ly t
he
on
es t
hat
vo
ted
fo
r yo
u.
Bu
t
if y
ou
are
co
nst
antl
y ig
no
rin
g th
em w
hen
ree
lect
ion
day
co
mes
aro
un
d
you
wil
l n
ot
be
pre
sid
ent
any
mo
re.
May
be
you
do
n’t
real
ly c
are,
bu
t
wh
en a
no
ther
man
tak
es y
ou
r sp
ot
then
yo
u’l
l ca
re.
Yo
u s
ho
uld
rea
lly
thin
k a
bo
ut
that
bec
ause
yo
ur
real
fri
end
s ar
e th
e p
eop
le y
ou
gre
w u
p
wit
h; t
hat
kep
t yo
u o
ut
of
tro
ub
le a
nd
wer
e yo
ur
insp
irat
ion
.
A
lso
th
e m
ost
im
po
rtan
t p
eop
le i
n m
y li
fe a
re d
yin
g b
ecau
se o
f gu
n
vio
len
ce.
Cer
tain
peo
ple
th
ink
th
at t
he
gun
law
is
a ga
me
that
yo
u c
an
pla
y ar
ou
nd
wit
h. �
at’s
ho
w o
ther
s ge
t h
urt
.
I
kn
ow
yo
u k
no
w w
hat
’s g
oin
g o
n i
n t
hes
e p
lace
s; y
ou
r o
wn
peo
ple
are
dyi
ng
bec
ause
yo
u’r
e n
ot
stan
din
g u
p f
or
ou
r ri
ghts
. B
ut
it’s
co
ol
tho
ugh
bec
ause
we
are
ou
t h
ere
mak
ing
it w
ork
. W
hil
e yo
u a
re s
itti
ng
in t
he
wh
ite
ho
use
eat
ing
stea
k o
r so
me
fan
cy d
inn
er,
they
are
ou
t h
ere
rob
bin
g an
d k
illi
ng
to g
et a
ho
t d
og
and
may
be
just
may
be
a si
de
of c
hip
s
or
som
eth
ing.
I’m
tel
lin
g yo
u h
ow
har
d i
t is
ou
t h
ere
bu
t I
wil
l n
ot
die
; I
pro
mis
e. I
’m ju
st b
ein
g h
on
est
for
my
bla
ck p
eop
le.
Sin
cere
ly, D
ewo
nya
e R
ob
inso
n
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
H
ey m
y n
ame
is D
eon
tay
Win
ters
. I li
ve i
n M
ilw
auk
ee a
nd
I’m
in
th
e
8th
gra
de.
I’m
tir
ed o
f m
y fa
mil
y an
d f
rien
ds
and
oth
er p
eop
le g
etti
ng
kil
led
in M
ilw
auk
ee a
nd
oth
er c
itie
s. I
do
n’t
wan
t to
turn
on
th
e n
ews
and
see
oth
er p
eop
le g
etti
ng
kil
led
. Wh
y ca
n’t
we
turn
on
th
e n
ews
and
hea
r
that
peo
ple
are
mak
ing
it i
n l
ife
inst
ead
of
hea
rin
g th
at p
eop
le a
re b
ein
g
kil
led
eve
ry d
ay. �
ey a
re b
ein
g sh
ot,
kil
led
, bea
t, r
aped
an
d o
ther
vio
len
t
thin
gs.
Peo
ple
are
do
ing
the
wro
ng
thin
g ju
st t
o g
et m
on
ey s
o t
hey
can
feed
th
eir
fam
ilie
s. I
f al
l th
ese
peo
ple
had
job’
s an
d s
tu�
to
do
in
life
th
ey
wo
uld
n’t
hav
e to
be
in t
he
stre
ets
just
to
get
mo
ney
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t if
yo
u t
ruly
love
us
lik
e p
eop
le s
ay y
ou
do
yo
u w
ill c
om
e
and
see
us?
So
me
of
us
hav
e d
ream
s. T
o k
eep
it
real
, I
do
n’t
wan
t to
be
rich
; I ju
st w
ant
mo
ney
so
I c
an t
ake
care
of
my
fam
ily.
So
we
do
n’t
hav
e
to a
sk a
nyb
od
y fo
r an
y th
ing
in l
ife.
I a
lso
do
n’t
wan
t to
be
on
e o
f se
ven
tho
usa
nd
th
at d
ie e
very
yea
r. I
just
wan
t yo
u t
o k
no
w t
hat
’s w
hy
I’m
wit
h
the
“I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g” c
amp
aign
.
Sin
cere
ly, D
eon
tay
Win
ters
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I’
m a
stu
den
t at
Wes
tsid
e A
cad
emy
2 an
d m
y w
ord
s to
yo
u m
igh
t
be
irre
leva
nt
bu
t I’
m g
oin
g to
ad
dre
ss t
hem
an
yway
bec
ause
I’m
no
t
hes
itan
t. �
ey s
ay e
very
bla
ck m
an c
ame
fro
m k
ings
bu
t so
me
do
n’t
see
the
thro
nes
. So
meb
od
y sa
y sc
ram
, th
e gu
n g
o b
lam
, bec
ause
th
ey d
idn’
t
wat
ch t
hei
r to
ne.
Afr
ican
Am
eric
ans
die
eve
ry d
ay i
n t
hes
e b
lack
str
eets
;
po
w,
po
w,
laid
th
em d
ow
n;
add
an
oth
er t
o t
he
stat
sh
eet.
We
bel
ieve
d
you
wh
en y
ou
sai
d c
han
ge w
as c
om
ing.
As
I lo
ok
aro
un
d d
ead
bo
die
s
on
th
e gr
ou
nd
. I
do
n’t
see
a ch
ange
in
no
thin
g. I
had
a c
ou
sin
in
th
em
bo
dy
bag
s th
ey s
tu"
ng.
�ey
can
’t br
eak
me;
mad
e of
ste
el l
ike
them
gun
s th
ey b
uss
in.
I h
eard
you
fro
m t
he
“Ch
i” t
he
nic
knam
e is
, “C
hir
aq
the
war
zo
ne.
” W
hy
do
n’t
you
ste
p o
� t
he
ped
esta
l an
d g
ive
bac
k.
Yo
u
can
to
ss it
aw
ay t
hro
w it
in
th
e tr
ash
. Be
pre
par
ed t
o d
o it
aga
in b
ecau
se
this
lett
er w
on’
t b
e th
e la
st. I
ain
t tr
yin
to
so
un
d r
ud
e o
r b
rash
bu
t I
had
so m
any
frie
nd
s lo
se t
hey
lif
e o
ver
wo
rk a
nd
cas
h;
or
litt
le y
ou
ngi
n 1
4
gett
ing
tim
e b
ecau
se t
hey
fo
un
d h
is s
tash
. �ey
go
t st
ash
es b
ecau
se t
hey
can’
t ge
t jo
bs.
No
bo
dy
wan
na
be
a fe
lon
bu
t th
ey l
oo
kin
g fo
r a
pla
ce t
o
rob.
Tir
ed o
f se
ein
g m
oth
ers
in t
hat
bla
ck d
ress
wee
pin
g an
d h
eari
ng
the
sob
s. W
ish
yo
u c
an s
top
it
in t
he
stre
ets,
it’s
no
ord
er. H
elp
sto
p t
he
bu
ryin
g o
f o
ur
pre
cio
us
son
s an
d d
augh
ters
.
Un
sign
ed
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is I
saia
h S
utt
on
an
d I
’m 1
4 ye
ars
old
in
a h
ard
cit
y ca
lled
Mil
wau
kee
. I
ho
pe
this
sto
ry #
nd
s yo
u;
I’ve
had
a l
ot
of
emo
tio
ns
and
tho
ugh
ts b
uil
din
g u
p i
n m
y h
ead
. To
kee
p it
rea
,l I
real
ly t
hin
k m
y li
fe is
goin
g to
en
d o
ne
way
or
ano
ther
so
I’m
try
ing
to r
each
ou
t to
yo
u b
efo
re
it’s
to
o la
te.
M
r. P
resi
den
t I
tru
ly n
eed
a b
ette
r li
fe n
ow
an
d l
ater
on
, so
I c
an b
e
a su
cces
s in
life
. My
po
ssib
ilit
y o
f ge
ttin
g a
sum
mer
jo
b i
s ve
ry p
oo
r n
ot
bec
ause
my
grad
es o
r an
yth
ing,
bu
t m
y m
ista
kes
an
d r
eco
rd w
ith
th
e la
w
bec
ause
of
my
pas
t.
I
lost
eve
ryth
ing
wh
en m
y li
ttle
bro
ther
die
d i
ncl
ud
ing
my
ho
pes
and
dre
ams.
I’m
afr
aid
of
the
slee
ple
ss n
igh
ts w
her
e I
lay
awak
e th
ink
ing
abo
ut
my
litt
le b
roth
er a
nd
cry
ing
ove
r h
is d
eath
.
I’
m n
ot
tryi
ng
to t
ou
ch y
ou
r h
eart
; I
wan
t it
to
rea
ch y
ou
r so
ul.
I’m
tryi
ng
to g
et a
n e
du
cati
on
, b
ut
this
str
ugg
le t
o s
tay
ou
t o
f th
e st
reet
s is
pu
llin
g m
e b
ack
to
wh
at I
do
bes
t. I
mu
st s
ay it
aga
in I
do
n’t
wan
t yo
u t
o
read
it, I
wan
t yo
u t
o f
eel i
t.
�
e o
utc
om
e o
f my
life
I a
m n
ot
sure
; bu
t I’
m c
on
#d
ent
that
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly,
Sin
cere
ly, I
saia
h D
. Su
tto
n
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is J
avan
Mo
ore
an
d I
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
7,00
0 b
lack
bo
ys d
ie e
very
yea
r. M
ore
yo
un
g b
lack
bo
y’s
die
than
U.S
. so
ldie
rs e
very
yea
r. I
wit
nes
sed
my
bro
ther
get
sh
ot
in h
is c
hes
t
3 ti
mes
.
W
e n
eed
yo
ur
sup
po
rt M
r. P
resi
den
t n
ot
just
me
bu
t ev
eryo
ne.
I t
hin
k
you
rea
lly
do
n’t
care
ab
ou
t u
s. Y
ou
do
n’t
even
kn
ow
I e
xist
. B
ut
I d
on’
t
wan
t to
be
in t
hat
7,0
00 p
eop
le t
hat
die
s ev
ery
year
, M
r. P
resi
den
t. D
o
you
kn
ow
th
e n
ames
of
the
7,00
0 p
eop
le?
I’
m t
han
kfu
l fo
r th
e I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G C
AM
PAIG
N. I
t’s t
he
on
ly w
ay I
can
exp
ress
mys
elf.
I t
hin
k t
hey
hel
ped
us
mo
re t
hen
yo
u d
id.
If y
ou
do
n’t
care
fo
r m
e I’
ll s
till
car
e ab
ou
t m
ysel
f. I
’m ju
st a
skin
g yo
u f
or
hel
p b
ecau
se t
hey
say
clo
sed
mo
uth
s d
on’
t ge
t fe
d.
M
y fe
llo
w A
mer
ican
s h
ave
to s
ell
dru
gs,
rob
peo
ple
an
d i
t al
l go
es
on
... I
bet
yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w t
hat
my
sch
oo
l is
acr
oss
th
e st
reet
fro
m t
he
ho
od
. We
hea
r gu
n s
ho
ts d
uri
ng
clas
s. W
e’re
try
ing
to l
earn
bu
t w
e ca
n’t
bec
ause
we’
re p
aran
oid
th
at a
bu
llet
wil
l co
me
thro
ugh
th
e w
ind
ow
at
any
tim
e. W
hat
can
yo
u d
o t
o h
elp
us?
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
!
Sin
cere
ly, J
avan
Mo
ore
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
H
i my
nam
e is
Jh
oh
auan
us
Tay
lor.
I a
m 1
4 ye
ars
old
. I a
tten
d W
ests
ide
Aca
dem
y 2.
I w
as b
orn
in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I h
ave
6 si
ster
s an
d 4
bro
ther
s. !
ree
of
my
bro
ther
s an
d I
wer
e sh
ot
in t
he
sam
e w
eek
. I
lost
my
dad
at
the
age
of
9 to
a h
eart
att
ack
; h
e h
ad h
alf
of
a h
eart
. N
ob
od
y
told
me
he
die
d u
nti
l 4 d
ays
a"er
he
die
d.
I h
ave
a si
ster
th
at’s
so
mew
her
e
in t
his
cit
y b
ut
I ju
st d
on’
t k
no
w w
her
e sh
e is
. I d
on’
t k
no
w h
er a
ge, w
hen
she
was
bo
rn,
or
wh
o h
er m
oth
er i
s. M
y o
lder
bro
ther
is
in j
ail
for
20
year
s fo
r h
avin
g 2
sack
s o
f m
arij
uan
a in
his
le"
po
cket
. I n
eed
hel
p. I
’ve
bee
n s
ho
t 3
tim
es i
n m
y li
fe t
wic
e in
1 y
ear;
on
ce l
ast
year
. I’
m t
ired
of
seei
ng
my
sist
er g
oin
g to
sch
oo
l w
ith
an
att
itu
de
bec
ause
her
dad
can’
t d
rop
her
o#
. My
mo
m g
ot
sho
t in
her
sh
ou
lder
in
fro
nt
of
Mar
cus
!ea
tre
just
as
we
le"
her
. I’m
tir
ed o
f se
ein
g m
y b
roth
ers
in c
ask
ets
and
nic
e su
its
ever
y o
ther
day
. I’m
tir
ed o
f se
ein
g m
y m
om
ma
stru
ggli
ng
to
kee
p u
s sa
fe a
nd
her
mo
mm
a o
ut
of
the
ho
spit
al. L
ike
I sa
id I
hav
e b
een
sho
t 3
tim
es i
n m
y li
fe a
nd
I a
m o
nly
14y
ears
old
. W
hen
I g
o t
o s
leep
at n
igh
t al
l I
hea
r is
sir
ens
all
day
all
nig
ht,
gu
n s
ho
ts, a
mb
ula
nce
ale
rts
and
ho
use
cra
ckli
ng
fro
m h
ou
se $
res.
We
nee
d y
ou
r h
elp
. I w
alk
aro
un
d
ever
y d
ay t
o s
ay t
han
ks
to m
y b
roth
ers
that
I d
on’
t k
no
w.
I’ve
bee
n i
n
ho
use
$re
s an
d c
ross
$re
s. H
ow
are
yo
u g
oin
g to
sto
p t
hat
?
W
e n
eed
so
met
hin
g to
lo
ok
fo
rwar
d t
o; t
o b
elie
ve i
n. I
wo
uld
lik
e to
see
on
e o
f m
y b
roth
ers
be
the
$rs
t b
lack
nat
ion
al s
wim
mer
. Eve
ryth
ing
else
is
all f
or
the
wh
ites
.
E
very
day
th
ere’
s 12
wh
ite
tee’
s w
ith
red
fo
od
co
lori
ng
on
th
e fr
on
t
of
the
shir
t. O
ne
qu
esti
on
; ho
w d
id y
ou
get
to
wh
ere
you
wan
ted
to
be?
Mo
re b
lack
bo
ys d
ie i
n t
he
ghet
to t
han
U.S
. so
ldie
rs; t
hat
’s n
ot
goin
g to
be
me
bec
ause
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, J
ho
hau
anu
s T
aylo
r
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
H
i my
nam
e is
Ob
rey
Hay
nes
. I a
m 1
4 ye
ars
old
. I a
m fr
om
Mil
wau
kee
Wis
con
sin
. I
atte
nd
Wes
tsid
e A
cad
emy
2. O
ur
sch
oo
l is
a g
oo
d s
cho
ol
bu
t it
is
in a
bad
are
a. A
pri
l 30
, 201
3 th
ree
peo
ple
wer
e sh
ot
in l
ess
than
an h
ou
r. O
ne
of
the
sho
oti
ngs
was
acr
oss
th
e st
reet
fro
m o
ur
sch
oo
l.
An
oth
er o
ne
was
by
my
ho
use
. My
frie
nd
an
d I
go
t st
op
ped
by
the
po
lice
bec
ause
th
ey w
ere
loo
kin
g fo
r so
me
you
ng
men
. I
am o
nly
in
mid
dle
sch
oo
l.
D
o y
ou
kn
ow
in t
he
Un
ited
Sta
tes
7,00
0 yo
un
g b
lack
mal
es g
et k
ille
d
ever
y ye
ar?
I h
op
e o
ne
of
tho
se y
ou
ng
men
wo
n’t
be
me
or
any
of
my
fam
ily
or
frie
nd
s. I
dre
am o
ne
day
th
at t
her
e w
ill b
e a
tim
e w
ith
ou
t
vio
len
ce a
nyw
her
e ar
ou
nd
th
e w
orl
d. S
o M
r. O
bam
a co
uld
yo
u h
elp
ou
r
sch
oo
l an
d M
ilw
auk
ee. I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G!!
!!!!
!!
Sin
cere
ly, O
bre
y H
ayn
es
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is R
ick
cob
y an
d I
’m 1
4 ye
ars
old
. I
live
in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. M
y fa
mil
y is
no
t p
erfe
ct.
Mo
st o
f m
y fa
mil
y gr
ew u
p i
n
the
ho
od
alt
ho
ugh
so
me
of
them
did
n’t.
I a
m a
stu
den
t at
Wes
tsid
e
Aca
dem
y 2.
I
am g
row
ing
up
in
a h
oo
d w
her
e p
eop
le b
e sh
oo
tin
g an
d #
ghti
ng.
My
envi
ron
men
t is
in
th
e h
oo
d w
her
e p
eop
le g
et s
ho
t an
d r
ob
bed
. $
e
peo
ple
ou
t h
ere
nee
d y
ou
r h
elp
. Ju
st l
ast
nig
ht
4 p
eop
le g
ot
sho
t. $
ese
peo
ple
do
no
t ca
re w
ho
th
ey s
ho
ot.
F
ou
r o
ut
of
#ve
peo
ple
die
at
the
han
ds
of
ano
ther
bla
ck m
ale.
I’m
tire
d o
f h
eari
ng
gun
sh
ots
eve
ry s
ingl
e d
ay. I
ju
st w
ant
you
to
hel
p t
hes
e
peo
ple
. We
nee
d m
ore
sch
oo
ls a
nd
no
mo
re s
ho
oti
ng.
All
my
life
I h
ave
bee
n h
eari
ng
gun
sh
ots
.
I
wan
t to
see
wh
at it
wo
uld
be
lik
e to
live
to
see
th
e ag
e o
f 80
. I b
elie
ve
in m
ysel
f. B
ut
we
nee
d m
ore
peo
ple
to
co
me
toge
ther
an
d s
top
th
e
vio
len
ce.
$
ere
are
peo
ple
wh
o d
on’
t h
ave
job
s; p
eop
le n
eed
jo
bs.
$er
e ar
e
man
y yo
un
g b
oys
ou
t h
ere
dro
pp
ing
ou
t o
f sc
ho
ol.
M
ore
bla
ck b
oys
die
in
th
e gh
etto
th
en U
.S.
sold
iers
in
co
mb
at.
I’m
just
ask
ing
to h
elp
th
e p
eop
le o
ut
her
e. W
hat
do
I g
ot
to d
o t
o n
ot
die
you
ng?
I g
o t
o b
ed t
o g
un
sh
ots
. We
nee
d p
eace
ou
t h
ere
in t
hes
e st
reet
s.
Bu
t I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, R
ick
cob
y M
ino
r
wA
SH
ING
TON
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
do
esn’
t m
atte
r b
ecau
se I
do
n’t
even
kn
ow
if
you
wil
l re
ad
my
lett
er,
bu
t I’
m 1
6 ye
ars
old
. I
stay
in
Mil
wau
kee
Wis
con
sin
. I
atte
nd
Was
hin
gto
n H
igh
Sch
oo
l. It
’s n
ot
as b
ad a
s ev
eryo
ne
says
it
is.
We
hav
e
very
sm
art
kid
s h
ere
at W
ash
ingt
on
th
ey j
ust
mak
e th
e w
ron
g ch
oic
es.
I’m
sm
art
mys
elf.
I s
tay
in a
n o
k e
nvi
ron
men
t. W
her
e I
stay
at
ther
e’s
a
lot
of
rob
bin
g an
d n
ot
that
mu
ch s
ho
oti
ng.
�
e h
oo
d t
hat
I’m
fro
m t
her
e is
sh
oo
tin
g an
d k
illi
ng
ever
y d
ay. I
sta
y
in a
ho
use
wh
ere
ther
e is
a s
ingl
e p
aren
t an
d a
sis
ter
and
bro
ther
. We
use
to s
tay
on
15t
h a
nd
Kee
fe w
her
e al
l th
e k
illi
ngs
hap
pen
. �en
we
mo
ved
on
21s
t an
d A
tkin
son
wh
ere
all t
he
crac
k h
ead
s an
d a
ll t
he
dru
gs a
re.
I u
sed
to
be
ou
t h
ere
in t
he
stre
ets
bu
t I
calm
ed d
ow
n a
lo
t. I
wan
t to
kn
ow
, wh
y d
o y
ou
pu
t m
ore
mo
ney
in p
riso
ns
then
in s
cho
ol?
We
bar
ely
hav
e te
xtb
oo
ks
to s
tud
y. B
ut
on
e th
ing
I co
uld
say
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
is t
hat
I w
ill
no
t d
ie y
ou
ng
bec
ause
of
the
cho
ices
th
at I
mad
e. M
r. P
resi
den
t I
wan
ted
to
ask
yo
u i
f yo
u c
an h
elp
me
hel
p m
y fr
ien
ds
mak
e th
e sa
me
cho
ice
I m
ade
by
no
t d
yin
g yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, D
ean
gelo
Wad
e
•D
ear
Mr.
Bar
rack
Ob
ama,
I’
m 1
6 ye
ars
old
an
d I
live
in
Mil
wau
kee
Wis
con
sin
.
See
wh
ere
I’m
fro
m m
y fa
mil
y w
as f
rien
dly
an
d n
ice.
Mo
mm
a w
as p
oo
r
cou
ldn’
t p
ay t
he
pri
ce f
or
foo
d a
nd
clo
thes
. A
"er
Dad
die
d t
ime
beg
an
gett
ing
old
; I
beg
an t
o b
e al
way
s sa
d s
o I
had
to
hu
stle
day
an
d n
igh
t
sell
ing
can
dy
and
wat
er.
B
roth
er
use
d
to
try
to
foll
ow
in
m
y fo
ots
tep
s;
bu
t h
e se
en
me
pan
han
dle
. H
e w
ante
d t
o t
ry b
ut
I’m
lik
e w
hy?
�is
ain
’t t
he
life
yo
u
wan
ted
to
live
.
I
wan
ted
to
be
bet
ter,
see
ing
my
bab
y co
usi
n g
et s
ho
t in
th
e h
ead
so
I w
as w
illi
ng
to C
han
ge.
Bu
t th
e ga
me
is f
ull
of
pai
n a
nd
str
ugg
le s
o I
pro
mis
e m
y m
om
ma
and
sis
ter
that
th
ey w
ill
be
able
to
liv
e b
ette
r an
d
di#
eren
t.
A
nd
see
I g
o to
Was
hin
gto
n h
igh
sch
oo
l. U
sed
to g
angb
ang
bu
t fo
un
d
ou
t it
was
n’t
no
thin
g in
it.
Bu
t se
e M
r. B
arra
ck O
bam
a w
e n
eed
ch
ange
and
go
od
pro
gram
s li
ke
I W
ill
No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng.
It’s
so
fu
n a
nd
rea
l li
fe
acti
on
; bec
ause
my
life
is
bas
ed o
n it
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t, t
ell
me
wh
at w
ou
ld y
ou
do
? D
on’
t k
no
w m
y li
fe;
you
do
n’t
kn
ow
wh
y m
om
ma
pra
yin
g ev
ery
nig
ht
ho
pin
g th
at h
er b
aby
bo
y
mak
es i
t h
om
e sa
fe a
t n
igh
t. S
till
to
th
is d
ay i
t st
ill
hu
rts
me
dee
ply
. Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
wit
ho
ut
bla
ck t
her
e’s
no
me.
Sin
cere
ly, D
elan
e N
elso
n
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is J
erry
Tru
ss.
I am
16
year
s o
f ag
e. I
am
fro
m a
nd
liv
e
in M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
. I
go t
o s
cho
ol
at W
ash
ingt
on
Hig
h S
cho
ol.
I st
ay i
n a
sin
gle-
par
ent
ho
me
wit
h m
y m
oth
er a
nd
my
old
er b
roth
er.
I gr
ew u
p i
n t
he
mid
dle
to
lo
w c
lass
nei
ghb
orh
oo
ds
on
th
e W
ests
ide
of
Mil
wau
kee
. A
nd
I l
ive
a li
fest
yle
of
con
sist
entl
y go
ing
to s
cho
ol
and
pla
yin
g b
ask
etb
all.
I b
elie
ve w
ith
ou
t sc
ho
ol,
succ
ess
cou
ldn’
t b
e p
oss
ible
at a
ll.
An
d I
use
bas
ket
bal
l as
a t
oo
l to
get
me
to c
oll
ege,
ho
pef
ull
y
rece
ivin
g an
ath
leti
c sc
ho
lars
hip
.
I
hav
e is
sues
wit
h w
hat
’s g
oin
g o
n i
n t
he
wo
rld
rig
ht
no
w w
ith
ou
r yo
un
g b
lack
men
. I
bel
ieve
th
at s
oci
ety
do
esn’
t gi
ve u
s en
ou
gh
op
po
rtu
nit
ies
as w
e sh
ou
ld h
ave.
In
so
me
way
s th
at i
s o
ur
ow
n f
ault
bu
t
we
des
erve
th
e sa
me
op
po
rtu
nit
ies
as o
ther
s. I
th
ink
th
at t
he
cau
ses
of
no
t h
avin
g th
ose
sam
e o
pp
ort
un
itie
s ar
e d
ue
to h
ow
so
me
cho
ose
to
act
.
Bu
t, I
ch
oo
se t
o b
e d
i#er
ent;
to
be
an e
xam
ple
. An
d I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, J
erry
Tru
ss
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is N
ath
anie
l Ji
nes
an
d I
’m 1
6 ye
ars
old
. I l
ive
in W
isco
nsi
n
in M
ilw
auk
ee.
I n
eed
hel
p w
ith
fam
ily.
I s
ee y
ou
sh
ow
lo
ve t
o y
ou
r k
ids
my
fam
ily
do
esn’
t sh
ow
lo
ve t
o m
e. I
th
ink
it
is b
ecau
se I
’m n
ot
thei
r
real
so
n.
My
real
mo
m i
s w
hit
e an
d m
y re
al d
ad i
s b
lack
. �
ey g
ave
me
up
wh
en I
was
bo
rn. M
y li
fe h
as b
een
har
d f
or
me
no
t k
no
win
g w
ho
my
mo
m a
nd
dad
wer
e.
�
e I
Wil
l N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g p
rogr
am i
s li
ke
a fa
mil
y to
me.
�ey
sh
ow
me
that
th
ey c
are
and
it
is c
han
gin
g m
e an
d m
akin
g m
e w
ant
to l
ive
my
dre
am.
It m
ade
me
sto
p d
rin
kin
g an
d s
top
bei
ng
mea
n t
o p
eop
le.
Bu
t
wh
at d
o y
ou
do
to
liv
e yo
ur
dre
am a
nd
ho
w d
o y
ou
get
it?
Hel
p m
e so
I
wo
n’t
die
yo
un
g.
Sin
cere
ly, N
ath
anie
l T J
ines
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is Q
uin
ton
Wil
liam
s. I
am
16
year
s o
ld a
nd
am
fro
m D
etro
it
and
cu
rren
tly
live
in
Mil
wau
kee
. M
y w
ho
le l
ife
I h
ave
bee
n e
xpo
sed
to
the
wro
ng
elem
ents
su
ch a
s d
rugs
an
d v
iole
nce
. E
ven
th
ou
gh m
y m
om
trie
d t
o s
hie
ld m
e fr
om
it
she
cou
ldn’
t b
ecau
se s
he
was
a s
ingl
e m
oth
er
rais
ing
a gr
ow
ing
bo
y b
y h
erse
lf. S
o I
sta
rted
wat
chin
g an
d e
mu
lati
ng
the
peo
ple
aro
un
d m
e w
ho
wer
e d
oin
g th
e w
ron
g th
ing.
An
d b
ein
g a
litt
le
kid
I h
ad n
o c
ho
ice
in t
he
life
I h
ad b
ecau
se I
was
bo
rn i
nto
a p
lace
so
me
can
on
ly c
om
par
e to
HE
LL
(D
etro
it).
So
I d
id w
hat
I k
no
w w
hic
h w
as
surv
ive
by
any
mea
ns
even
if
it m
ean
t co
mm
itti
ng
crim
es t
o k
eep
so
me
mo
ney
in
my
po
cket
so
Mo
ms
do
n’t
hav
e to
wo
rry
abo
ut
me
lik
e th
at.
An
d I
can
’t s
eem
to
"n
d a
jo
b n
o m
atte
r h
ow
har
d I
try
bec
ause
th
ey d
o
no
t th
ink
I w
ill d
o r
igh
t.
D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
do
yo
u c
are;
bec
ause
to
me
it d
oes
no
t se
em
lik
e yo
u d
o. M
y h
om
e to
wn
has
bee
n t
urn
ed i
nto
a w
arzo
ne
by
lack
of
po
lice
pre
sen
ce a
nd
dru
gs. �
is h
as c
ost
me
so m
any
frie
nd
s d
ue
to t
he
vio
len
ce.
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t I
just
wan
t yo
u t
o u
nd
erst
and
wh
at I
’m
faci
ng
and
un
der
stan
d I
do
wh
at I
do
fo
r a
reas
on
. I
do
n’t
wan
t to
be
a
crim
inal
. I w
ant
to b
e a
gun
smit
h b
ut
rega
rdle
ss o
f al
l th
is I
wil
l n
ot
die
you
ng.
PS.
Try
to
mak
e a
chan
ge.
Sin
cere
ly, Q
uin
ton
Wil
liam
s
•D
ear
Pre
sid
ent
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is S
han
no
n S
anfo
rd.
I am
15
year
s o
ld a
nd
I l
ive
in t
he
city
of
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I am
an
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an f
resh
man
at W
ash
ingt
on
Hig
h S
cho
ol
of
IT.
�e
life
styl
e I
live
is
thre
e th
ings
:
dan
gero
us,
un
pre
dic
tab
le,
and
ch
alle
ngi
ng.
I a
m t
ryin
g to
mak
e it
ou
t
of
her
e th
e b
est
way
I c
an b
y ge
ttin
g go
od
gra
des
, get
tin
g in
sch
ola
rsh
ip
pro
gram
s, a
nd
pla
yin
g b
ask
etb
all.
�e
envi
ron
men
t I
live
in
is
craz
y. I
do
n’t f
eel s
afe
wal
kin
g h
om
e a#
er b
ask
etb
all p
ract
ice.
I h
ave
bee
n ju
mp
ed
and
ro
bb
ed,
and
I h
ave
to w
alk
wit
h m
y li
ttle
co
usi
ns
ever
ywh
ere
they
go b
ecau
se I
’m a
frai
d s
om
eth
ing
is g
oin
g to
hap
pen
to
th
em.
A
no
ther
co
nce
rn I
hav
e is
th
at,
Mil
wau
kee
Pu
bli
c S
cho
ols
is
on
e
of
the
wo
rst
sch
oo
l sy
stem
in
th
e U
nit
ed S
tate
s, W
hy
is t
hat
?? I
’m j
ust
ask
ing
for
som
e ch
ange
s to
hel
p k
eep
my
pee
rs a
nd
I f
rom
dyi
ng
you
ng.
Sin
cere
ly, S
han
no
n S
anfo
rd
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I ’m
a 1
4 ye
ar o
ld m
ale
in M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
wh
ose
nam
e is
Tra
mai
n C
han
ey J
r. M
r. P
resi
den
t w
hy
can’
t I
spen
d a
day
wit
h y
ou
at
the
wh
ite
ho
use
? I
wan
t to
kn
ow
ho
w it
fee
ls t
o b
e p
resi
den
t.
T
o m
e, m
y p
aren
ts a
re s
om
etim
es m
oti
vate
d b
ut
then
aga
in t
hey
are
som
etim
es v
ery
con
fusi
ng.
�e
sch
oo
l I a
tten
d i
s W
ash
ingt
on
Hig
h.
�
is s
cho
ol
is n
ot
wh
at m
any
wo
uld
cal
l a
goo
d s
cho
ol.
I am
wri
tin
g
you
to
ask
wh
y,w
hy,
wh
y d
on’
t yo
u e
ver
visi
t W
ash
ingt
on
Hig
h s
cho
ol
Pre
sid
ent?
Mr.
Ob
ama
wh
y ca
n’t
I w
ork
at
the
wh
ite
ho
use
wit
h y
ou
?
I m
ean
do
yo
u c
are?
If
you
rea
lly
care
yo
u w
ill
wri
te b
ack
. O
bam
a w
hy
can’
t I
be
trea
ted
lik
e yo
ur
chil
dre
n w
hy,
wh
y,w
hy,
can
’t y
ou
an
d M
ich
elle
ado
pt
me?
W
hen
I g
et o
ut
of
hig
h s
cho
ol
I w
ou
ld l
ike
to b
e a
�ig
ht
atte
nd
ant
or
may
be
even
a p
sych
olo
gist
. On
ce a
gain
I a
sk c
an I
eve
r vi
sit
you
? M
ayb
e
we
can
hav
e lu
nch
or
som
eth
ing.
Tru
st m
e yo
ur
resp
on
se w
ill
hel
p m
e
live
to
th
e m
ott
o “
I w
ill n
ot
Die
yo
un
g.”
Sin
cere
ly, T
ram
ain
Ch
aney
Jr.
Bra
dle
yT
ec
hH
IGH
SC
HO
OL
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is C
har
les
Lan
e Jr
. M
y n
ick
nam
e is
CJ.
I w
as b
orn
on
th
e
no
rth
sid
e o
f Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
an
d r
aise
d o
n 2
3rd
an
d B
row
n w
her
e
crim
e is
to
be
exp
ecte
d m
ore
th
an w
ar.
To
tel
l yo
u t
he
tru
th y
este
rday
I
do
n’t
rem
emb
er w
her
e I
was
; sp
ace,
Mex
ico,
all
I k
no
w i
s th
at I
wo
ke
up
pra
yin
g to
Go
d t
hat
th
e n
ext
day
wo
uld
be
bet
ter
than
th
e d
ay b
efo
re. I
t
did
n’t
ch
ange
it
was
th
e sa
me
thin
g m
urd
er,
dea
th k
ill,
mu
rder
, d
eath
,
kil
l rep
eati
ng
itse
lf li
ke
that
Dra
ke
son
g “s
tart
ed f
rom
th
e b
ott
om
no
w w
e
her
e.”
“C
lick
” th
at’s
th
e o
no
mat
op
oei
a o
f th
e .3
8; t
he
sam
e .3
8 th
at fe
eds
him
and
his
lit
tle
sist
er a
t n
igh
t b
ecau
se h
is b
ig s
iste
r d
on’
t ca
re f
or
him
no
mo
re.
His
mam
a an
d h
is d
add
y go
ne
ever
yday
do
ing
Go
d k
no
ws
wh
at
and
his
bro
ther
is s
o a
dd
icte
d t
o w
eed
th
at it
bec
ame
his
nic
kn
ame.
Wh
at
is w
eed
? S
om
e m
ay c
all
it a
dru
g; s
om
e m
ay e
ven
say
it’s
th
e m
oti
vati
on
that
get
s th
em t
hro
ugh
th
e d
ay.
So
me
may
eve
n s
ay i
t’s a
par
t o
f th
eir
dai
ly s
ched
ule
th
at c
ove
rs f
or
sch
oo
l, w
ork
an
d t
akin
g ca
re o
f th
eir
kid
s.
It w
ou
ldn’
t b
e li
ke
that
if
they
had
n’t
bee
n l
abel
ed a
s a
no
go
od
, n
on
-
wo
rkin
g, w
eed
sm
ok
ing,
no
ch
ild
su
pp
ort
pay
ing,
nig
ga s
layi
ng
thu
g. I
t
sho
uld
n’t
hav
e to
be
lik
e th
at w
hen
so
meb
od
y h
as t
o w
ake
up
an
d in
stea
d
of
smel
lin
g co
�ee
th
ey s
mel
l a p
ipe
bu
rnin
g an
d w
om
en s
crea
min
g, “
No
sto
p;
get
o�
of
me”
. W
hen
yo
u w
ere
in C
hic
ago
did
yo
u g
et u
p t
o m
ake
co�
ee o
r st
op
th
ose
wo
men
fro
m b
ein
g tr
eate
d s
o p
oo
rly?
Sin
cere
ly, C
har
les
Lan
e Jr
.
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is D
amia
n W
illi
ams.
I a
m 1
7 ye
ars
old
an
d I
am
fro
m
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
I am
a y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
an c
om
ing
to y
ou
in
dir
e
nee
d. I
n m
y ci
ty I
hav
e se
en t
hin
gs t
hat
no
sev
ente
en y
ear
old
sh
ou
ld s
ee.
To
be
ho
nes
t it
’s a
sh
ame
that
peo
ple
are
afr
aid
to
go
to
sch
oo
l o
r ri
de
the
city
bu
s b
ecau
se t
hey
mig
ht
no
t ge
t h
om
e. I
liv
e in
a c
ou
ntr
y w
her
e
on
e d
ay m
y so
n w
ill
loo
k a
t m
e an
d s
ay d
ad w
hy
do
I n
eed
sch
oo
l an
d
edu
cati
on
an
d I
wil
l lo
ok
at
him
str
aigh
t in
th
e ey
e an
d l
ie a
nd
say
fo
r
you
r fu
ture
fo
r yo
ur
life
bu
t o
n t
he
insi
de
I k
no
w t
hat
’s n
ot
tru
e an
d t
hat
geo
met
ry o
r sc
ien
ce w
ill
no
t ge
t h
im a
jo
b w
ork
ing
at a
fas
t fo
od
pla
ce
pay
ing
$7.2
5hr.
Yo
u s
aid
th
at y
ou
wo
uld
bri
ng
chan
ge,
bu
t w
her
e is
it?
"is
co
un
try
nee
ds
chan
ge a
nd
yo
u a
re t
he
chan
ge t
hat
I b
elie
ve i
n.
I
nee
d y
ou
r h
elp
. I h
op
e yo
u u
nd
erst
and
th
is. Si
nce
rely
, Dam
ian
Wil
liam
s
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y N
ame
is D
aRo
nte
Ree
d.
I st
ay i
n M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
on
th
e
rou
gh s
tree
ts o
f H
amp
ton
wh
ere
hu
nd
red
s o
f b
oys
wh
o lo
ok
just
lik
e m
e
call
ho
me.
"is
lan
d t
hat
we
call
lan
d o
f th
e fr
ee;
I w
ou
ld r
ath
er c
all
it
ghet
to A
mer
ica.
Yo
u s
ho
uld
kn
ow
th
at w
e ar
e #
ghti
ng
mo
re t
han
ju
st a
war
aga
inst
Afg
han
ista
n.
We
are
#gh
tin
g w
ith
eac
h o
ther
rig
ht
her
e in
Am
eric
a. I
hea
r ab
ou
t a
new
yo
un
g so
ul
lost
eve
ry d
ay. I
’m g
lad
it’s
ju
st
on
e an
d n
ot
two
or
thre
e li
ke
wh
at w
as o
nce
th
e n
orm
. I’m
no
t b
lam
ing
you
fo
r w
hat
go
es o
n i
n m
y h
oo
d;
I’m
ju
st s
pea
kin
g fo
r m
y h
oo
d.
I’m
spea
kin
g fo
r th
e o
nes
wh
o w
ant
to s
ay s
om
eth
ing
bu
t d
on’
t h
ave
the
hea
rt.
I’m
sp
eak
ing
for
the
on
es w
ho
are
beh
ind
bar
s. I
’m s
pea
kin
g fo
r
that
hu
stle
r o
n t
he
stre
et; t
he
kid
s w
ho
are
ru
nn
ing
fro
m g
un
sh
ots
; I’m
spea
kin
g fo
r th
e m
ama
wh
o i
s w
aiti
ng
up
fo
r h
er s
on
or
her
dau
ghte
r to
com
e h
om
e. I
’m s
pea
kin
g fo
r th
ose
wh
o c
an’t
sp
eak
an
ymo
re b
ecau
se
som
eon
e to
ok
th
eir
life
.
D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
we
sho
uld
n’t
hav
e to
pay
ren
t to
sta
y so
mew
her
e
and
ou
r sa
fety
can
’t b
e as
sure
d o
r o
ur
thin
gs c
an’t
be
pro
tect
ed. D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
I k
no
w h
un
dre
ds
of p
eop
le w
ho
wo
rk b
ut
do
n’t
pu
nch
a c
lock
;
wh
o w
ork
bu
t d
on’
t go
t n
o b
oss
bu
t th
e st
reet
.I k
no
w p
eop
le w
ho
do
n’t
wo
rk a
t al
l an
d w
ou
ld r
ath
er l
et t
he
syst
em t
ake
care
of
them
. "er
e ar
e
even
so
me
wh
o w
ant
job
s b
ut
can’
t ge
t th
em b
ecau
se t
hei
r b
ack
gro
un
d.
So
th
ey h
ave
no
oth
er o
pti
on
s b
ut
to t
ake
and
ste
al t
o p
ut
a m
eal
on
th
e
tab
le a
nd
mo
ney
in t
hei
r p
ock
et. �
e w
orl
d is
ou
t o
f pla
ce a
nd
it is
n’t
even
you
r fa
ult
bu
t h
elp
is
nee
ded
. �
ere
are
too
man
y b
od
ies
dro
pp
ing
and
no
t en
ou
gh s
tan
din
g. I
ref
use
to
die
yo
un
g. I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G!!
Sin
cere
ly, D
aRo
nte
Ree
d
•D
ear
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is -
----
, I’m
16
year
s o
ld &
I s
tead
ily
get
sto
pp
ed &
ch
eck
ed
by
the
po
lice
. Eve
ry d
ay I
feel
lik
e it
co
uld
be
my
last
day
. All
I s
ee a
rou
nd
my
city
are
sh
oo
tin
gs,
mu
ggin
gs,
& a
bu
se.
Yet
no
thin
g ca
n b
e d
on
e to
hel
p.
In o
ne
of
my
old
ho
use
s w
hil
e m
y fa
mil
y w
ent
to a
par
ty,
I st
ayed
beh
ind
bec
ause
I f
elt
sick
. Nex
t th
ing
I h
ear
a k
no
ck o
n t
he
sid
e d
oo
r an
d
it w
as 2
men
. �
e #
rst
man
wo
re a
mas
k w
ith
a g
un
& t
he
oth
er k
ick
ed
in t
he
do
or.
My
ho
use
was
ro
bb
ed w
ith
me
at g
un
po
int
and
su
rpri
sin
gly
that
was
n’t
the
#rs
t ti
me
I w
as a
t gu
np
oin
t. �
e #
rst
tim
e w
as w
hen
I
was
13
and
a c
op
pu
lled
a g
un
on
me
as I
wen
t to
go
pic
kup
my
foo
tbal
l
fro
m t
he
gro
un
d.
He
tho
ugh
t I
was
th
e fu
ll-g
row
n b
lack
mal
e th
at h
e
was
lo
ok
ing
for.
Do
yo
u t
hin
k t
her
e ar
e co
ps
wh
o a
ctu
ally
car
e ab
ou
t al
l
citi
zen
s? H
ow
man
y m
ore
bla
ck c
itiz
ens
are
kil
led
by
cop
s th
an w
hit
e
citi
zen
s? H
ave
you
eve
r li
ved
in
fea
r o
f b
ein
g k
ille
d t
he
nex
t d
ay,
bef
ore
you
bec
ame
pre
sid
ent?
Un
sign
ed•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
I
am a
n A
FR
ICA
N b
oy
bo
rn i
n t
he
Un
ited
Sta
tes.
I w
as b
orn
an
d
rais
ed i
n N
ew Y
ork
Cit
y an
d I
hav
e w
itn
esse
d t
he
larg
est
act
of
terr
ori
sm
on
Am
eric
an s
oil
. S
o d
id m
y m
oth
er w
ho
was
bo
rn i
n S
eneg
al,
Wes
t
Afr
ica
and
cam
e to
Am
eric
a in
199
3 to
see
k a
bet
ter
life
. B
ut
she
has
com
e to
live
a li
fe o
f te
rro
r an
d i
s p
etri
#ed
of
the
peo
ple
of
Am
eric
a. S
he
can’
t w
rite
her
ow
n l
ette
rs,
read
her
ow
n b
oo
ks
or
ho
ld a
co
nve
rsat
ion
wit
h a
per
son
wit
h a
co
lleg
e le
vel
voca
bu
lary
bu
t m
y m
oth
er h
as t
hre
e
bu
sin
esse
s. M
y fa
ther
co
-ow
ns
a cl
oth
ing
com
pan
y ca
lled
Bel
chez
. Sh
e
has
op
ened
up
nu
mer
ou
s b
usi
nes
ses
that
ben
e#t
you
r n
atio
n b
ut
you
r
nat
ion
do
es n
ot
ben
e#t
her
at
all.
She
has
no
gre
en c
ard
, no
cit
izen
ship
,
and
no
Vis
a p
aper
s b
ut
I’m
ver
y p
rou
d o
f h
er t
o d
o b
ette
r th
an t
he
citi
zen
s o
f th
is n
atio
n. I
’m fr
om
127
th S
tree
t, S
t Nic
ho
las
Pro
ject
s in
New
Yo
rk. B
ut
no
w I
live
in M
ilw
auk
ee m
ovi
ng
to s
ee a
bet
ter
edu
cati
on
her
e
on
ly t
o b
e p
rove
n w
ron
g. J
ust
an
oth
er l
ittl
e b
lack
bo
y o
n C
her
ry S
tree
t
wh
o w
as t
old
he
can’
t b
e w
hat
he
wan
ts t
o b
e. A
no
ther
bla
ck b
oy
wh
o
wit
nes
sed
his
nei
ghb
or
mu
rder
ed.
I’ve
see
n w
om
en e
xpo
se t
hem
selv
es,
sell
th
emse
lves
, str
un
g o
ut
on
dru
gs t
hat
my
acq
uai
nta
nce
s se
ll a
nd
use
.
A
t ti
mes
I s
tart
th
ink
ing
wh
y d
id m
y m
om
tra
vel
3,80
3 m
iles
fo
r
me
to w
itn
ess
this
. M
y d
ista
nt
rela
tive
s fo
ugh
t fo
r M
Y e
du
cati
on
, fo
r
MY
rig
hts
. Bu
t w
hy
am I
sti
ll d
enie
d o
f th
at p
ow
er. B
ut
I se
e m
y p
eop
le
abu
se t
hat
po
wer
eve
ry d
ay. I
hav
e al
l H
on
ors
cla
sses
an
d I
pla
y V
arsi
ty
bas
ket
bal
l fo
r B
rad
ley
Tec
h
as
a fr
esh
man
. I
hav
e w
itn
esse
d
mo
re
ho
rrib
le t
hin
gs t
han
mo
st e
lder
ly w
ar v
eter
ans
hav
e in
th
eir
life
tim
e.
It’s
a w
ar o
ut
in A
mer
ica
a w
ar o
f k
no
wle
dge
, wo
rds
and
po
wer
bu
t th
e
op
po
siti
on
#re
arm
s, d
rugs
, p
rost
itu
tio
n,
rob
ber
y, c
arja
ckin
g. D
ay b
y
Day
I a
m lo
sin
g fr
ien
ds
and
fam
ily.
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
I as
k n
oth
ing
bu
t yo
ur
pro
mis
e o
f C
HA
NG
E. C
HA
NG
E f
or
us,
Ch
ange
fo
r th
e fu
ture
, Ch
ange
for
this
co
un
try,
for
this
wo
rld
. Wh
y d
o I
ask
yo
u?
Bec
ause
yo
u c
an m
ake
it h
app
en y
ou
are
th
e m
ost
po
wer
ful
man
in
th
is c
ou
ntr
y an
d i
n t
his
wo
rld
. We
just
wan
t re
sult
s.
Sin
cere
ly, K
had
imo
ul
R. F
all
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I
am i
n t
he
10th
gra
de
and
I g
o t
o B
rad
ley
Tec
h h
igh
sch
oo
l an
d t
his
is m
y #
rst
year
her
e. I
liv
e o
n 1
9th
an
d N
ash
wh
ere
I w
as r
aise
d a
nd
wh
ere
I b
ecam
e w
ho
I a
m t
od
ay.
To
mo
st p
eop
le y
ou
wo
uld
ask
ab
ou
t
this
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d i
t’s d
ange
rou
s an
d t
her
e ar
e al
way
s sh
oo
tin
gs.
Fro
m
som
eon
e w
ho
is
fro
m t
her
e I
wo
uld
tel
l yo
u t
hat
it’s
all
just
ab
ou
t m
on
ey
and
ab
ou
t gi
rls.
I lo
st fa
mil
y m
emb
ers
and
fri
end
s o
ver
ther
e d
ue
to h
oo
d
vio
len
ce,
I ev
en l
ost
my
clo
sest
co
usi
ns
to t
he
jail
sys
tem
ove
r th
e sa
me
thin
g. O
ne
thin
g I
can’
t sa
y is
th
at I
reg
ret
bei
ng
fro
m o
ver
ther
e b
ut
I d
o
regr
et t
he
cho
ices
I h
ave
mad
e an
d t
he
thin
gs I
did
to
peo
ple
. I
am n
ot
per
fect
an
d n
eith
er i
s an
ybo
dy
I k
no
w.
I ca
n’t
be
jud
ged
by
anyo
ne
bu
t
Go
d. I
gre
w u
p i
n a
sin
gle
par
ent
ho
me
rais
ed b
y m
y m
oth
er a
lon
g w
ith
my
sist
er a
nd
3 b
roth
ers.
My
mo
m d
id e
very
thin
g sh
e h
ad t
o m
ake
sure
we
had
th
e b
est
clo
thes
an
d t
he
thin
gs w
e w
ante
d i
n l
ife
and
we
did
. My
Dad
was
in
jai
l m
ost
of
my
life
so
I g
rew
up
lo
ok
ing
up
to
my
bro
ther
s
and
co
usi
ns
wh
o b
asic
ally
rai
sed
me
to h
ave
the
swag
an
d t
he
way
th
at I
act.
�at
’s w
hy
I d
o a
nyt
hin
g to
get
mo
ney
an
d s
tay
�n
din
g w
ays
to g
et
mo
ney
bec
ause
th
e w
ay I
fee
l th
at’s
all
I n
eed
an
d m
y ed
uca
tio
n s
o t
hat
I co
uld
tak
e ca
re o
f m
y fa
mil
y so
th
ey d
on’
t h
ave
to d
o t
he
thin
gs I
am
do
ing
and
th
e th
ings
I d
id.
Un
sign
ed
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is M
ou
ham
ed F
all;
I’m
an
18
year
old
yo
un
g b
lack
man
fro
m M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n. A
s yo
u s
it c
om
fort
ably
in y
ou
r ch
air,
I s
it in
a h
ard
ch
air
wri
tin
g to
yo
u.
I’m
ask
ing
for
you
to
hea
r m
e o
ut
and
tak
e
tim
e to
lis
ten
to
7,0
00 y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
en t
hat
die
eve
ry y
ear,
wh
o d
on’
t
hav
e a
voic
e.
E
very
day
I h
ave
to l
oo
k o
ver
my
sho
uld
ers
as I
wal
k t
hro
ugh
th
e
ho
od
. I w
on
der
if
you
kn
ow
ho
w t
hat
fee
ls. I
’m p
rett
y su
re t
hat
’s h
ow
th
e
7,00
0 yo
un
g b
lack
men
fel
t w
hen
th
ey H
AD
fee
lin
gs.
I’m
th
eir
voic
e as
you
let
thes
e w
ord
s "
ow
th
rou
gh y
ou
r h
ead
.
A
s m
y w
orl
d s
tick
on
th
is p
aper
, I’m
wo
nd
erin
g if
I c
an s
urv
ive
to s
ee
tom
orr
ow
. Ju
st t
he
oth
er d
ay I
hea
rd y
ou
are
bri
ngi
ng
the
tro
op
s b
ack
ho
me,
bu
t M
r. P
resi
den
t D
o y
ou
kn
ow
th
ere’
s a
war
in
my
ho
od
? A
nd
I
alw
ays
see
you
on
TV
sm
ilin
g an
d w
avin
g yo
ur
han
d l
ike
ever
yth
ing
is
goo
d. I
wan
t yo
u t
o h
ear
my
voic
e b
efo
re I
bec
om
e o
ne
of
the
7,00
0.
I
rem
emb
er w
hen
yo
ur
slo
gan
was
“C
HA
NG
E”,
bu
t I
do
n’t
thin
k
you
kn
ow
wh
at t
hat
mea
ns.
I g
ot
a q
ues
tio
n f
or
you
, C
AN
MY
HO
OD
CH
AN
GE
? M
r. P
resi
den
t an
swer
my
qu
esti
on
an
d w
rite
me
bac
k s
o a
t
leas
t I
and
th
e 7,
000
you
ng
bla
ck m
en c
an h
ave
an a
nsw
er a
nd
so
me
ho
pe
for
bet
ter
day
s. “
I am
my
Bro
ther
’s k
eep
er a
nd
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE
YO
UN
G.”
Sin
cere
ly, M
ou
ham
ed F
all
P.S.
I w
ill b
e si
ttin
g in
th
is h
ard
ch
air
wai
tin
g fo
r a
rep
ly.
Sign
ed-
On
e o
f th
e 7,
000
aliv
e h
op
ing
to h
ave
thei
r vo
ice
hea
rd.
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is O
live
r Sm
ith
. I a
m a
16
year
old
, Afr
ican
Am
eric
an m
ale
livi
ng
in M
ilw
auk
ee W
isco
nsi
n. I
am
a 1
0th
gra
der
at
Bra
dle
y T
ech
. I li
ve
wit
h m
y m
om
ma
and
my
aun
t an
d 3
litt
le s
iste
rs. I
hav
e a
goo
d li
fest
yle.
My
envi
ron
men
t is
no
t th
at g
oo
d.
�e
issu
es i
n M
ilw
auk
ee a
re t
hat
som
ebo
dy
is g
etti
ng
kil
led
alm
ost
eve
ry d
ay o
ver
pet
ty t
hin
gs.
It’s
tim
e
for
a ch
ange
in
th
e en
viro
nm
ent
for
ou
r yo
un
g b
lack
mal
es.
A c
ou
ple
of
way
s to
hel
p u
s is
by
hel
pin
g u
s cl
ean
up
th
e st
reet
s o
f M
ilw
auk
ee.
I’m
tir
ed o
f yo
un
g b
lack
men
kil
lin
g ea
ch o
ther
an
d I
kn
ow
I’m
no
t th
e
on
ly o
ne.
I h
ave
goal
s I
wan
t to
pu
rsu
e. I
wan
t to
be
able
to
see
my
litt
le
bro
ther
gro
w u
p a
nd
mak
e so
met
hin
g o
ut
of
his
lif
e an
d m
ake
sure
he
stay
s o
n t
he
righ
t p
ath
an
d t
he
sam
e fo
r m
y li
ttle
sis
ters
. I
wan
t to
be
a
bas
ket
bal
l p
laye
r if
no
t th
at t
hen
a m
usi
c p
rod
uce
r fo
r su
re.
It’s
kin
d o
f
har
d d
oin
g th
at i
n M
ilw
auk
ee. Y
ou
hav
e to
wo
rry
abo
ut
peo
ple
tu
rnin
g
agai
nst
yo
u.
Yo
u c
an’t
tru
st e
very
bo
dy.
Bu
t I
kn
ow
wh
o t
o t
rust
th
at’s
wh
y m
y ci
rcle
sm
all.
So
I’m
go
ing
to m
ake
it i
n l
ife!
My
nam
e is
Oli
ver
Smit
h a
nd
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
!!!
Sin
cere
ly, O
live
r Sm
ith
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is R
aym
ello
Ale
xan
der
, I a
tten
d B
rad
ley
Tec
h h
igh
sch
oo
l,
& I
’m a
jun
ior.
I li
ve o
n t
he
east
sid
e o
f M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n; H
olt
on
&
Bu
rlei
gh t
o b
e ex
act
& i
t’s n
ot
easy
liv
ing
her
e. I
liv
e w
ith
my
mo
m,
her
bo
yfri
end
, & m
y si
ster
& h
er b
oyf
rien
d.
M
y fa
mil
y is
ok
ay a
t th
e m
om
ent,
bu
t th
ere
are
stil
l o
ther
liv
es I
’m
con
cern
ed a
bo
ut.
Yo
un
g b
lack
mal
es a
re d
yin
g ra
pid
ly &
th
is s
ho
uld
no
t b
e h
app
enin
g n
ow
th
at w
e h
ave
a b
lack
pre
sid
ent.
It
sho
uld
n’t
be
hap
pen
ing
per
iod
, bu
t es
pec
iall
y n
ot
wit
h y
ou
in
o#
ce.
Y
ou
hav
e th
e p
ow
er t
o h
elp
us
get
it t
oge
ther
. 7,
000
bla
ck m
ales
die
ever
y ye
ar d
ue
to g
un
vio
len
ce &
yo
u d
ecid
e to
bas
ical
ly l
et g
un
s b
e
lega
l as
lo
ng
you
’re
ove
r 18
? 21
? &
hav
e a
pie
ce o
f p
aper
th
at s
ays
you
’re
qu
ali$
ed to
hav
e th
at g
un
. I h
on
estl
y b
elie
ve t
hat
wil
l in
crea
se t
he
kil
lin
gs
her
e in
th
e U
nit
ed S
tate
s.
W
e’re
des
tro
yin
g a
gen
erat
ion
th
at w
e’re
su
pp
ose
d t
o b
e p
erfe
ctin
g.
I’m
no
t sa
yin
g th
at a
ll o
f th
is i
s yo
ur
fau
lt, b
ut
you
’re
pla
yin
g a
par
t in
it.
I u
nd
erst
and
yo
ur
job
is
no
t ea
sy, b
ut
nei
ther
is
livi
ng
on
th
e ea
st s
ide
of
Mil
wau
kee
. I d
on’
t w
ant
to ju
st r
emem
ber
yo
u b
ecau
se y
ou
wer
e o
ur
$rs
t
bla
ck p
resi
den
t, b
ut
bec
ause
yo
u a
ctu
ally
mad
e a
chan
ge l
ike
you
sai
d
you
wo
uld
. Y
ou
’ve
ach
ieve
d g
reat
nes
s; y
ou
did
wh
at e
very
par
ent
told
thei
r yo
un
g b
lack
ch
ild
th
ey c
ou
ld d
o.
%
ey a
lway
s to
ld u
s th
at w
e co
uld
be
the
pre
sid
ent
if w
e w
ant
to, t
he
$rs
t b
lack
on
e. W
e d
idn’
t th
ink
it
was
po
ssib
le,
we
nev
er t
ho
ugh
t w
e
wo
uld
see
a d
ay w
hen
we
had
a $
rst
bla
ck p
resi
den
t &
th
en y
ou
cam
e
alo
ng
& m
ade
his
tory
. Y
ou
tru
ly s
ho
wed
us
that
an
yth
ing
was
po
ssib
le
& w
e re
ally
ap
pre
ciat
e th
at.
Wel
l at
lea
st I
do,
I c
an’t
sp
eak
fo
r ev
eryo
ne
else
. B
ut
I w
ant
to t
han
k y
ou
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
th
ank
yo
u f
or
sho
win
g m
e
anyt
hin
g is
po
ssib
le a
s lo
ng
as I
pu
t in
th
at e
(o
rt &
nev
er g
ive
up
.
I’
m n
ot
ask
ing
you
to
cat
er t
o A
fric
an A
mer
ican
s o
r an
yth
ing,
bu
t I
am a
skin
g th
at y
ou
giv
e u
s so
met
hin
g to
$gh
t fo
r. G
ive
us
ho
pe.
So
me
peo
ple
do
n’t
thin
k t
hin
gs w
ill
ever
ch
ange
, b
ut
I fe
el w
ith
th
e h
elp
of
U.S
cit
izen
s &
ou
r p
resi
den
t; w
e ca
n r
eall
y ch
ange
th
is c
razy
wo
rld
we’
re
livi
ng
in.
%
ere
are
kid
s o
ut
her
e th
at r
eall
y w
ant
thin
gs t
o c
han
ge, n
ot
all o
f u
s
are
ou
t h
ere
sho
oti
ng
gun
s, k
illi
ng
each
oth
er,
join
ing
gan
gs,
& s
elli
ng
dru
gs. S
om
e o
f u
s ar
e p
lan
nin
g o
ur
futu
re &
get
tin
g re
ady
for
grea
tnes
s,
bu
t w
hen
yo
u s
nap
bac
k i
nto
rea
lity
, yo
u a
sk y
ou
rsel
f “a
re t
hin
gs e
ver
goin
g to
ch
ange
or
get
bet
ter?
” &
fro
m t
he
loo
ks
of t
hin
gs, y
ou
can
’t t
ruly
say
thin
gs w
ill
chan
ge; a
t le
ast
no
t an
ytim
e so
on
. All
yo
u c
an d
o i
s h
ave
ho
pe.
So
th
at’s
wh
at I
’m d
oin
g ri
ght
no
w, j
ust
ho
pin
g. H
op
ing
I ca
n h
elp
chan
ge t
he
wo
rld
so
on
or
that
yo
u c
an s
oo
n.
“C
han
ge w
ill n
ot
com
e if
we
wai
t fo
r so
me
oth
er p
erso
n, o
r if
we
wai
t
for
som
e o
ther
tim
e. W
e ar
e th
e o
nes
we’
ve b
een
wai
tin
g fo
r. W
e ar
e th
e
chan
ge t
hat
we
seek
.” –
Bar
ack
Ob
ama.
%es
e ar
e yo
ur
wo
rds.
No
w l
et’s
stic
k t
o t
hem
& m
ake
a ch
ange
.
Sin
cere
ly, R
aym
ello
Ale
xan
der
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is R
aym
on
d A
lexa
nd
er f
rom
th
e E
asts
ide
of
Mil
wau
kee
. To
tell
yo
u t
he
tru
th, i
t’s r
ou
gh o
ut
her
e. I
wan
t to
kn
ow
wh
y yo
u’r
e al
low
ing
this
to
hap
pen
. %
ere
are
litt
le b
lack
bo
ys o
ut
her
e k
illi
ng
each
oth
er
and
th
ere’
s n
oth
ing
goin
g o
n t
o s
top
it
bu
t ja
il, p
riso
n, o
r an
oth
er d
eath
.
Yo
u s
ay y
ou
’re
tryi
ng
to b
rin
g A
mer
ica
toge
ther
. Bu
t to
me
In O
rder
Fo
r
Am
eric
a T
o B
e T
oge
ther
, Am
eric
a N
eed
s T
o B
e A
live
!
It
isn’
t a jo
ke
ou
t her
e. E
spec
iall
y fo
r yo
un
g b
lack
bo
ys b
ecau
se p
eop
le
are
ou
t h
ere
givi
ng
us
har
d t
imes
. W
hil
e w
e ar
e st
rugg
lin
g to
get
ou
rs,
oth
ers
are
hav
ing
the
sam
e th
ing
han
ded
to
th
em. �
ere
are
�gh
ts a
lmo
st
ever
ywh
ere
we
go.
Nin
e ti
mes
ou
t o
f te
n i
t’s b
lack
peo
ple
�gh
tin
g ea
ch
oth
er.
�er
e ar
e gu
ns
goin
g o
� a
lmo
st e
very
day
aro
un
d m
y b
lock
. It
’s
har
d t
o t
ake
my
litt
le c
ou
sin
s an
d b
roth
ers
and
sis
ters
to
th
e p
ark
bec
ause
ther
e’s
a p
oss
ibil
ity
som
eth
ing
mig
ht
hap
pen
to
th
em.
I go
to
Bra
dle
y T
ech
Hig
h S
cho
ol a
nd
we
got
abo
ut
20 p
oli
ce o
�ce
rs w
ith
lik
e 30
sec
uri
ty g
uar
ds
wal
kin
g ar
ou
nd
all
th
e ti
me.
Ou
r b
ath
roo
ms
are
even
lo
cked
. I w
ant
to m
ake
it i
n l
ife,
bu
t A
mer
ica
is p
ract
ical
ly h
old
ing
me
bac
k.
H
ow
do
yo
un
g b
lack
bo
ys s
tay
ou
t o
f tr
ou
ble
wh
en w
e ca
n’t
get
a jo
b?
Ho
w e
lse
are
we
exp
ecte
d t
o g
et m
on
ey if
we
do
n’t
hu
stle
fo
r it
? �
is is
n’t
easy
fo
r u
s. I
’m s
ure
mo
st o
f u
s d
on’
t w
ant
to d
o w
hat
we
are
do
ing
bu
t
we
say
“Go
tta
get
it h
ow
yo
u g
et it
.”
A
nd
th
en fo
r yo
u M
r. P
resi
den
t Sir
, Yo
u e
xpec
t fo
r al
l th
e b
lack
peo
ple
to r
esp
ect
and
wor
ship
you
for
bei
ng
the
�rs
t bl
ack
pre
sid
ent.
No
! I w
ant
to r
esp
ect
and
wor
ship
you
bec
ause
you
act
ual
ly d
id s
omet
hin
g fo
r u
s
out
her
e; b
ecau
se y
ou a
re h
elp
ing
the
blac
k co
mm
un
ity.
�at
’s w
hat
I
wan
t to
res
pec
t yo
u f
or.
I’m
16
and
I c
an b
arel
y ge
t a
job.
All
I g
ot r
igh
t n
ow i
s a
bal
l in
my
han
d o
r a
har
d c
hai
r, r
ipp
ed b
ook
, a li
ttle
pen
cil a
nd
an
an
gry
teac
her
le�
to g
et m
e to
wh
ere
I’m g
oin
g.
Se
ven
th
ousa
nd
bla
ck b
oys,
not
men
, B
OY
S, a
rou
nd
my
age
are
dyi
ng
ever
y ye
ar, w
hil
e yo
u r
idin
g in
lim
os,
�yi
ng
jets
, tal
kin
g w
ith
oth
er
cou
ntr
ies.
We
thin
k w
e go
t to
ro
b, k
ill o
r se
ll t
o g
et m
oney
aro
un
d h
ere.
You
say
th
at y
ou w
ant
litt
le b
lack
boy
s to
do
som
eth
ing,
bu
t h
old
us
bac
k
and
pu
nis
h u
s fo
r tr
yin
g. I
’m o
ut
her
e on
Bu
�u
m. I
wan
t to
live
as
clo
se
as I
can
to
you
r h
ouse
. I’m
wai
tin
g on
you
to
do
som
eth
ing
abou
t th
is.
An
d I
ap
pre
ciat
e yo
u r
ead
ing
this
; now
let’s
see
wh
at y
ou d
o!
Sin
cere
ly, A
not
her
Bla
ck B
oy
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
H
ello
my
nam
e is
Ro
mel
lo R
ash
awn
Pen
nie
. T
od
ay i
s th
e d
ay m
y
litt
le b
roth
er d
ied
(M
ay 9
). I
t h
urt
s w
akin
g u
p k
no
win
g th
e o
ne
you
love
th
e m
ost
can
’t h
ave
his
life
bec
ause
a n
o c
arin
g p
erso
n t
oo
k h
is li
fe.
I w
on
der
wh
y w
hen
peo
ple
kil
l p
eop
le t
hey
do
n’t
care
ab
ou
t h
ow
th
eir
fam
ily
wil
l fee
l ab
ou
t th
e si
tuat
ion
.
I
am a
n 1
8 ye
ar o
ld b
lack
man
th
at s
tays
in
th
e h
oo
d w
her
e sh
oo
tin
g
and
dru
g ra
tes
go u
p e
very
day
. At
an e
arly
age
I lo
st m
y li
ttle
bro
ther
to
som
e n
on
sen
se.
I b
elie
ve y
ou
hav
e to
be
tou
gh &
rea
dy
to r
ide
in t
hes
e
stre
ets
wh
en t
he
tim
e co
mes
. If
yo
u c
ared
ab
ou
t u
s so
mu
ch w
hy
you
do
n’t
com
e vi
sit
ou
r sc
ho
ol
or
hav
e a
get
toge
ther
fo
r yo
un
g b
lack
men
to m
oti
vate
us
to d
o b
ette
r an
d a
cco
mp
lish
th
ings
lik
e yo
u d
id.
I
feel
I s
ho
uld
n’t
hav
e to
wat
ch m
y b
ack
wh
en I
wal
k t
hro
ugh
my
ow
n h
oo
d.
On
e d
ay o
ne
of
my
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d f
rien
ds
(sis
ter)
was
sh
ot
twic
e a�
er w
e go
t in
to a
lit
tle
�gh
t w
ith
oth
er p
eop
le.
If p
rayi
ng
mak
es
thin
gs b
ette
r w
hy
wh
en I
pra
y m
y cl
ose
on
es g
et k
ille
d o
r h
urt
. If
yo
u
invi
ted
us
to t
he
wh
ite
ho
use
or
cam
e to
see
us
we
cou
ld c
han
ge o
ur
life
styl
es. W
hen
I w
as g
row
ing
up
my
mo
ther
was
on
dru
gs s
o w
hen
yo
u
tell
peo
ple
it
wil
l ge
t b
ette
r yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w w
hat
we
go t
hro
ugh
in
th
is
sava
ge w
orl
d.
I
loo
k f
orw
ard
to
mee
tin
g yo
u i
f I
can
ju
st h
ear
a w
ord
or
two
th
at
cou
ld m
ake
me
chan
ge m
y li
fe p
rob
ably
eve
n m
y b
roth
er s
iste
r o
r fa
mil
y
mem
ber
s. I
f I
can
ju
st t
alk
to
my
bro
ther
see
his
fac
e o
r h
ear
his
vo
ice
agai
n l
ife
wo
uld
be
so m
uch
bet
ter.
Sin
ce I
’m i
n t
his
wo
rld
I’m
go
ing
to l
ive
my
life
lik
e m
y b
roth
er c
ou
ld h
ave
bu
t n
o l
on
ger
can
. I’
m h
app
y
I m
ade
it t
o 1
8 m
y b
roth
er d
ied
at
3 h
e co
uld
n’t
even
go
to
hig
h
sch
oo
l or
coll
ege.
I w
ill
no
t d
ie y
ou
ng
bec
ause
if
I d
o t
hat
’s g
oin
g to
hu
rt m
y gr
ann
y, m
y
mo
ther
an
d a
ll t
he
lad
ies
that
’s i
n m
y li
fe t
hat
car
es &
lo
ves
me.
Eve
ry
day
I w
ake
up
I s
ay t
o m
ysel
f n
ob
od
y co
uld
do
bet
ter
than
me;
I’m
on
a cl
ou
d w
her
e it
’s h
ard
fo
r o
ther
peo
ple
to
rea
ch. S
ho
ut
ou
t to
my
ho
od
(Atk
inso
n)
my
team
(M
TA
). �
ose
bro
ther
kee
per
s an
d I
’ll
do
an
yth
ing
for
my
peo
ple
to
be
safe
ou
t h
ere.
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
Sin
cere
ly, R
om
ello
Ras
haw
n P
enn
ie
NORT
HD
IVIS
ION
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r P
resi
den
t O
bam
a,
A
s a
sen
ior
stu
den
t o
f M
PS
(Mil
wau
kee
Pu
bli
c S
cho
ols
) I
hav
e d
on
e
a lo
t o
f gr
ow
ing
ove
r th
e ye
ars
and
rea
lize
d m
y ch
ild
ish
men
tali
ty h
ad t
o
chan
ge. S
o, m
y se
nio
r ye
ar I
bec
ame
the
bes
t st
ud
ent
I co
uld
po
ssib
ly b
e
and
per
son
ally
I w
ish
I h
ad m
ore
tim
e to
�x
my
hig
h s
cho
ol m
ista
kes
.
I jo
ined
a p
rogr
am c
alle
d F
loo
d t
he
Ho
od
wit
h D
ream
s: I
Wil
l N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g C
amp
aign
an
d th
at’s
wh
en I
rea
lize
d th
at m
y li
fe p
rob
lem
s w
ere
no
com
par
iso
n t
o s
om
e o
f th
e tr
aum
atic
ob
stac
les
that
th
ese
oth
er s
tud
ents
face
on
a d
aily
bas
es.
So
I t
hin
k a
bo
ut
all
the
tim
es I
see
on
th
e n
ews
abo
ut
som
e te
en b
ein
g ar
rest
ed o
ver
a st
up
id c
rim
e, b
ut
they
neg
lect
to
sho
w t
he
kid
s w
ho
are
try
ing
to d
o g
oo
d f
or
them
selv
es o
r th
e fa
ct t
hat
ther
e’s
mo
re f
un
din
g in
pri
son
s th
en t
her
e is
in
pro
gram
s li
ke
this
th
at’s
goin
g to
pre
ven
t u
s fr
om
do
ing
sen
sele
ss c
rim
es.
If
yo
u a
sk m
e I
feel
lik
e yo
u h
ave
you
r p
rio
riti
es A
LL
ME
SSE
D U
P!!
So
qu
esti
on
is h
ow
mu
ch d
o y
ou
rea
lly
care
? B
ut
no
mat
ter
wh
at y
ou
car
e
abo
ut
or
no
t I
stil
l RE
FU
SE T
O D
IE Y
OU
NG
!!!!
!!! Si
nce
rely
, Keo
n I
rvin
g
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is A
rman
i. I
live
in M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n &
I a
tten
d N
ort
h
Div
isio
n H
igh
. I
live
on
Ham
pto
n w
her
e I
hea
r si
ren
s ev
ery
day
; w
her
e
peo
ple
get
bea
t u
p &
ro
bb
ed d
aily
. I
live
wit
h m
y b
roth
er &
sis
ter,
my
mo
m &
gra
nd
ma,
an
d n
iece
s &
nep
hew
s; w
her
e o
nly
on
e p
erso
n s
up
po
rts
ever
yon
e. I
live
wh
ere
the
stre
ets
are
rid
dle
d w
ith
bu
llet
sh
ells
, ro
ach
es &
rays
. W
hil
e yo
u’r
e li
vin
g go
od
in
yo
ur
nic
e h
ou
se p
eop
le a
re s
tarv
ing
&
ho
mel
ess
tryi
ng
to g
et s
om
e m
on
ey f
or
thei
r n
ext
mea
l. P
eop
le g
et k
ille
d
a lo
t ar
ou
nd
her
e b
ecau
se p
eop
le a
re b
rok
e &
we’
re a
ll ju
st t
ryin
g to
mak
e
a li
vin
g &
su
pp
ort
ou
r fa
mil
y.
#
e go
vern
men
t nee
ds
to s
top
sp
end
ing
mo
ney
on
all
that
un
nec
essa
ry
stu
$ &
sta
rt s
pen
din
g m
on
ey o
n t
he
Un
ited
Sta
tes
Peo
ple
. Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
you
r p
eop
le a
re s
tru
ggli
ng
tryi
ng
to s
up
po
rt t
hei
r fa
mil
y &
th
emse
lves
.
I tr
y to
su
pp
ort
my
fam
ily
by
“Sta
ckin
g P
aper
” in
th
ese
stre
ets
as m
uch
as I
can
. Y
ou
nee
d t
o s
top
tal
kin
g ab
ou
t p
oli
tics
& g
et t
o c
on
nec
tin
g
wit
h n
eigh
bo
rho
od
s li
ke
min
e b
ecau
se t
he
lon
ger
you
wai
t 7,
000+
lit
tle
bla
ck b
oys
lik
e m
e d
ie e
very
yea
r. B
ut
no
t m
e b
ecau
se I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G.
Sin
cere
ly, A
rman
i H
end
erso
n
•D
ear
Mr.
Ob
ama,
#
is i
s a
lett
er f
rom
a y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
an t
hat
wo
n’t
die
yo
un
g. M
y
nam
e is
Ben
net
t M
ays
Jr.
and
I a
m t
ryin
g to
mak
e a
chan
ge i
n t
he
wo
rld
. I
wo
nd
er d
o y
ou
th
ink
ab
ou
t u
s M
r. O
bam
a. I
gre
w u
p i
n a
bad
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d b
ut
I al
way
s tr
y to
bet
ter
my
life
.
I’
ve b
een
to
ld l
ots
of
tim
es t
hat
I w
on’
t b
e an
yth
ing.
Wh
en I
lo
st m
y
cou
sin
Jo
hn
I lo
st a
par
t o
f m
e. N
ow
at
this
par
t o
f th
e le
tter
I a
m h
op
ing
you
are
sti
ll r
ead
ing.
I k
no
w y
ou
’re
a ve
ry b
usy
man
, bu
t ju
st t
ake
tim
e to
read
th
e re
st.
D
id y
ou
kn
ow
th
at 7
,000
bla
ck b
oys
die
eve
ry y
ear?
Mo
re b
lack
men
die
in m
y ci
ty “
Mil
wau
kee
” th
an in
th
e w
ar. D
o y
ou
rea
lly
care
ab
ou
t u
s?
If s
o, s
ho
w u
s b
ecau
se I
can
’t s
ee t
oo
mu
ch c
han
ge. I
’m t
ired
of
hav
ing
to
see
dea
d b
od
ies
and
mo
ms
cryi
ng.
I
kn
ow
yo
u’r
e h
app
y to
be
pre
sid
ent
bu
t n
ow
wh
at a
bo
ut
us?
I w
ant
to b
e gr
eat
som
eday
to
o a
nd
I s
ho
uld
n’t
hav
e to
lea
ve m
y ci
ty t
o d
o
so.
Wh
en i
s th
e la
st t
ime
you
tal
ked
to
a y
ou
ng
bla
ck m
an a
bo
ut
his
pro
ble
ms?
I a
m a
14
year
old
bo
y w
ith
pro
ble
ms
just
lik
e ev
eryo
ne
else
.
Mr.
Ob
ama
I ju
st w
ant
to m
ake
a ch
ange
in
th
e w
orl
d f
or
the
bet
ter.
I
just
wan
t m
y vo
ice
to b
e h
eard
all
ove
r th
e w
orl
d li
ke
you
rs. I
’m n
ot
the
on
ly o
ne
wit
h t
hes
e p
rob
lem
s. #
e gi
rls
hav
e m
ore
pro
ble
ms
than
us
mal
es.
#ey
are
dis
resp
ecte
d e
very
day
. I
just
wan
t to
see
a c
han
ge n
ot
just
hea
r ab
ou
t it
. Yo
u k
no
w w
hat
we
go t
hro
ugh
eve
ry d
ay. Y
ou
gre
w u
p
in a
no
t so
go
od
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d a
lso.
I k
no
w y
ou
hea
rd o
f p
eop
le d
yin
g
and
get
tin
g h
urt
. H
ow
did
th
at m
ake
you
fee
l? D
o y
ou
sti
ll t
hin
k a
bo
ut
you
r ch
ild
ho
od
lif
e? I
t’s n
o d
isre
spec
t I
just
wan
t yo
u t
o f
eel
ho
w I
fel
t as
I w
rote
th
is le
tter
.
Sin
cere
ly, B
enn
ett
May
s Jr
.
•M
r. P
resi
den
t,
H
ello
Mr.
Ob
ama
you
may
no
t k
no
w o
f m
e ye
t, b
ut
I am
a s
tud
ent
at
No
rth
Div
isio
n H
igh
Sch
oo
l. I’
m 1
7 ye
ar o
ld 1
0th
gra
der
th
at w
ants
to
be
succ
essf
ul.
I ju
st n
eed
hel
p t
o "
nd
th
e ri
ght
road
to
su
ccee
d in
my
life
an
d
envi
ron
men
t. I
do
n’t
real
ly h
ave
a p
rob
lem
wit
h m
y li
fe; e
very
thin
g’s
"n
e.
I ju
st w
ant
a go
od
jo
b t
o h
elp
aro
un
d t
he
ho
use
an
d b
e ab
le t
o s
up
po
rt
mys
elf.
#
e o
nly
pro
ble
m m
e an
d m
y b
roth
ers
in t
he
I W
ill
No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng
Cam
pai
gn h
ave
is t
hat
we
nev
er r
eall
y h
ad a
ny
on
e to
sh
ow
us
the
righ
t
road
. We
do
n’t
hav
e m
on
ey; a
ll w
e ca
n d
o i
s li
ve.
M
y p
lan
has
alw
ays
bee
n t
o b
e a
rela
xed
per
son
, to
pro
tect
my
ow
n,
and
mak
e su
re t
hat
th
ey l
ive
to b
e su
cces
sfu
l in
th
eir
life
. My
fam
ily
and
bas
ket
bal
l is
all I
hav
e an
d I
kn
ow
it b
ut
I w
ant
it t
o b
e m
ore
. I w
ant
to b
e
the
grea
test
. I
wan
t ev
eryo
ne
to r
emem
ber
me
for
the
goo
d t
hin
gs I
do
for
ever
yon
e; t
o k
no
w t
hat
I w
as a
lway
s th
ere
for
ever
yon
e n
o m
atte
r if
it
was
mo
ney
or
som
ewh
ere
to li
ve; I
was
th
eir
bro
ther
’s k
eep
er. W
ell,
wh
at
I am
rea
lly
tryi
ng
to s
ay i
s th
at b
esid
es h
elp
ing
my
bro
ther
s I
pla
n t
o d
o
thes
e th
ings
fo
r ev
eryo
ne.
Sin
cere
ly,
Sin
cere
ly, D
arri
on
Was
hin
gto
n
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
W
hat
’s u
p M
r. P
resi
den
t? M
y n
ame
is D
esm
on
d J
on
es.
I’m
16
year
s
old
an
d I
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
. I’m
fro
m 3
7th
an
d H
amp
ton
Ave
an
d o
ver
ther
e yo
u c
an’t
wal
k w
ith
ou
t a
gun
or
you
wil
l b
e a
vict
im t
o v
iole
nce
.
Eve
ryb
od
y w
ants
to
be
rich
so
th
ere’
s a
lot
of
rob
bin
g an
d k
illi
ng
goin
g
on
. Wh
ile
you
’re
sitt
ing
in y
ou
r so
$ c
hai
r o
r %
yin
g in
yo
ur
fast
jet
we
are
in t
he
har
d s
tree
ts l
ivin
g o
ur
fast
liv
es d
ay b
y d
ay n
ot
cari
ng
abo
ut
wh
at
hap
pen
s, n
ot
cari
ng
abo
ut
no
bo
dy
and
th
eir
fam
ily
; w
e al
l ju
st w
ant
to
be
rich
. If
you
get
cau
ght
snit
chin
g yo
u w
ill p
ay t
he
pri
ce; y
ou
wil
l eit
her
get
kil
led
or
bea
t. B
ut
I w
ill b
e th
e "
rst
you
ng
man
o&
37t
h a
nd
Ham
pto
n
to m
ake
it o
ut
and
be
rich
an
d t
ry a
nd
sav
e so
me
of
my
bro
ther
s an
d
sist
ers
and
we
wil
l be
scre
amin
g I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G!
Sin
cere
ly, D
esm
on
d J
on
es
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I’
m E
xavi
er S
and
ifer
an
d I’
m 1
5 ye
ars
old
. I g
o th
rou
gh p
ain
eve
ry d
ay.
Do
yo
u k
no
w h
ow
it fe
els?
Pro
bab
ly n
ot.
I li
ve in
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
.
I se
e b
ad s
tu&
hap
pen
ing
ever
y d
ay;
po
lice
bea
tin
g o
n p
eop
le.
Wh
ere
I
com
e fr
om
th
ere’
s n
o s
uch
th
ing
as a
bla
ck k
id b
ein
g a
pre
sid
ent.
I g
ot
litt
le s
ibli
ngs
; do
yo
u t
hin
k I
wan
t to
en
d u
p in
th
e st
reet
s? N
o, b
ut
that
’s
the
way
it i
s. I
am
my
bro
ther
’s k
eep
er t
ryin
g to
kee
p t
hem
on
tra
ck, b
ut
its
mu
rder
ing
goin
g o
n. P
leas
e d
o s
om
eth
ing.
Peo
ple
are
get
tin
g p
aid
o&
of
vio
len
ce. W
hy
are
the
jail
ho
use
s so
big
? B
ecau
se t
hey
wan
t p
eop
le t
o
go t
o j
ail.
Yo
u t
hin
k i
t’s a
ll g
oo
d l
ivin
g in
th
e w
hit
e h
ou
se. W
ell
com
e to
the
ho
od
an
d t
ry t
o c
han
ge a
law
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t 7,
000
bla
ck m
ales
die
a y
ear.
Do
yo
u t
hin
k I
wan
t to
be
on
e o
f th
em?
No,
lif
e is
har
d. #
ere
is b
lack
on
bla
ck m
urd
ers
goin
g o
n
ever
y d
ay. W
e w
orr
y ab
ou
t b
ein
g sh
ot
wal
kin
g d
ow
n N
ort
h A
ven
ue.
We
nee
d m
ore
pro
gram
s to
hel
p o
ur
com
mu
nit
ies.
Do
yo
ur
job.
Y
ou
rec
ruit
peo
ple
fo
r w
ar; w
hy
no
t re
cru
it f
or
peo
ple
to
hel
p i
n t
he
ho
od
? M
r. P
resi
den
t I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G a
nd
I’m
no
t h
avin
g it
.
I’m
go
ing
to b
e th
e b
est
I ca
n b
e. M
ilw
auk
ee,
Wis
con
sin
is
on
e o
f th
e
po
ore
st c
itie
s. H
elp
me
I’m
no
t tr
yin
g to
bec
om
e th
e n
ext
Ob
ama,
ML
K
Jr.,
or
Mal
colm
X, I
just
wan
t to
hel
p M
AK
E A
CH
AN
GE
…
Sin
cere
ly, E
xavi
er S
and
ifer
•D
ear
Pre
sid
ent
Bar
ack
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is J
aso
n J
oh
nso
n a
nd
I a
m 1
6 ye
ars
old
. I li
ve in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. I
live
on
23r
d a
nd
Cen
ter,
wh
ere
som
eon
e ge
ts s
ho
t ev
ery
oth
er w
eek
. W
hy
is o
ur
city
so
vio
len
t? W
hy
can’
t b
lack
yo
un
g m
en g
et
a jo
b i
n M
ilw
auk
ee?
Wh
y ar
en’t
th
ere
mo
re p
rogr
ams
to h
elp
bla
ck m
en
succ
eed
?
I
thin
k t
her
e ar
e a
lot
of
thin
gs y
ou
co
uld
do
th
at w
ou
ld h
elp
us
to b
e
mo
re s
ucc
essf
ul
than
we
are
no
w.
We
nee
d h
elp
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
and
yo
u
are
in a
po
wer
ful
po
siti
on
wh
erea
s yo
u c
ou
ld d
o a
lo
t to
hel
p t
he
peo
ple
in o
ur
com
mu
nit
y.
E
very
on
e b
elie
ved
yo
u w
ere
goin
g to
be
the
nex
t b
ig A
mer
ican
Her
o
sin
ce M
arti
n L
uth
er K
ing
Jr. W
hil
e yo
u h
ave
bo
dyg
uar
ds
pro
tect
ing
you
and
yo
ur
fam
ily
24/7
we
on
ly h
ave
ou
rsel
ves.
Wh
ere
are
the
bo
dyg
uar
ds
to p
rote
ct u
s in
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n?
We
nee
d b
ette
r p
oli
ce s
yste
ms,
bec
ause
th
e o
ne
we
hav
e n
ow
is
no
t d
oin
g en
ou
gh t
o p
rote
ct u
s.
I
go t
o N
ort
h D
ivis
ion
Hig
h S
cho
ol
and
peo
ple
rea
lly
thin
k t
his
is
a
terr
ible
sch
oo
l. N
ort
h D
ivis
ion
is p
rob
ably
th
e p
oo
rest
MP
S H
igh
Sch
oo
l
in M
ilw
auk
ee, b
ut
I th
ink
it’s
do
ing
mo
re t
o h
elp
yo
un
g b
lack
mal
es a
nd
fem
ales
th
an a
ny
oth
er s
cho
ol.
I th
ink
mo
re s
ho
uld
be
do
ne
to t
his
hel
p
this
hig
h s
cho
ol t
o c
on
tin
ue
hel
pin
g u
s o
ut.
I
use
d t
o b
e re
al h
eavy
on
sm
ok
ing
wee
d a
nd
!gh
tin
g; u
nti
l th
is I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G C
AM
PAIG
N c
ame
alo
ng.
"
is p
rogr
am
chan
ged
my
life
in
a t
rem
end
ou
s w
ay.
I lo
ve t
his
pro
gram
; th
is i
s o
ne
of
man
y p
rogr
ams
that
we
nee
d t
o h
elp
yo
un
g A
fric
an A
mer
ican
s. I
kn
ow
ever
yon
e w
ill n
ot
use
th
ese
pro
gram
s to
th
eir
adva
nta
ge, b
ut
it w
ill h
elp
A L
OT
.
I
love
bas
ket
bal
l M
r. P
resi
den
t an
d w
ill
ho
pef
ull
y gr
adu
ate
fro
m
Du
ke
Un
iver
sity
an
d I
wil
l on
e d
ay b
e ve
ry f
amo
us.
"is
is o
ne
pro
gram
I w
ill d
on
ate
the
maj
ori
ty o
f th
e m
on
ey I
mak
e to
.
G
oo
d b
ye M
r. P
resi
den
t I
ho
pe
to h
ear
fro
m y
ou
in
th
e fu
ture
.
DR
EA
MSS
SSSS
SSSS
SS
Sin
cere
ly, J
aso
n J
oh
nso
n
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is L
edar
y K
eele
r an
d I
’m 1
5 ye
ars
old
. I l
ive
in M
ilw
auk
ee
Wis
con
sin
. I a
tten
d N
ort
h D
ivis
ion
hig
h s
cho
ol.
I co
me
fro
m a
ho
use
ho
ld
of
6, t
hre
e si
ster
s, m
y m
om
, ste
pd
ad a
nd
mys
elf.
I li
ve o
n t
he
east
sid
e o
f
Mil
wau
kee
, in
a h
igh
cri
me
area
of
the
city
. "er
e is
a lo
t o
f ga
ngb
angi
ng
and
dru
g d
eali
ng
in m
y n
eigh
bo
rho
od
. I
wan
t to
do
rig
ht
bu
t it
’s h
ard
wit
h a
ll o
f th
e th
ings
go
ing
on
aro
un
d m
e. I
t’s n
ot
safe
to
wal
k t
o f
amil
y
mem
ber
’s h
ou
ses
at n
igh
t.
W
hy
is i
t so
har
d f
or
a yo
un
g m
an t
o g
et a
jo
b?
My
fam
ily
vote
d f
or
you
so
wh
y h
aven
’t t
hin
gs c
han
ged
yet
fo
r u
s? M
r. P
resi
den
t I
thin
k t
hat
mo
re j
ob
s fo
r yo
un
g m
en w
ill b
e th
e so
luti
on
s fo
r m
ost
of
the
pro
ble
ms
in m
y n
eigh
bo
rho
od
. Peo
ple
no
t h
avin
g m
on
ey is
th
e re
aso
n w
hy
peo
ple
star
t se
llin
g d
rugs
.
Sin
cere
ly, L
edar
y K
eele
r •
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is M
aceo
Po
wel
l. I’
m f
rom
th
e h
ard
str
eets
of
Ch
icag
o. I
’m
17 y
ears
of
age.
I l
ive
in M
ilw
auk
ee (
WI)
. I
com
e fr
om
a f
amil
y th
at
did
n’t
hav
e an
yth
ing
and
my
bro
ther
pu
t h
is l
ife
on
th
e li
ne
to t
ake
care
of
me.
I g
o t
o s
cho
ol a
t N
ort
h D
ivis
ion
Hig
h S
cho
ol a
nd
I’m
in
th
e 11
th
grad
e an
d I
wil
l no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
I
com
e fr
om
th
e w
est
sid
e o
f C
hic
ago
wh
ere
ther
e w
ere
vice
lord
s th
at
did
n’t
care
fo
r an
ybo
dy.
Can
yo
u g
o b
ack
to
my
blo
ck a
nd
pu
t th
e p
eop
le
that
nee
d h
elp
in
a h
ou
se l
ike
you
r fa
mil
y w
her
e th
ey c
an e
at l
ike
you
r
fam
ily?
I’m
no
t go
ing
to b
e o
ne
of
the
7,00
0 b
lack
yo
un
g m
en t
hat
die
to
gun
vio
len
ce. I
just
rea
lly
wan
t to
mak
e it
to
see
my
kid
s b
e a
bet
ter
man
than
I a
m. C
an y
ou
hel
p m
y sc
ho
ol b
ask
etb
all t
eam
?
Sin
cere
ly, M
aceo
Po
wel
l
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is M
arct
aviu
s Jo
hn
son
. I
am 1
8 ye
ars
old
an
d I
am
fro
m
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
. My
fam
ily
is f
rom
Lit
tler
ock
, Ark
ansa
s b
ut
I w
as
bo
rn in
Mil
wau
kee
. I g
o t
o N
ort
h D
ivis
ion
Hig
h S
cho
ol.
My
life
is n
ot
all
that
gre
at. I
co
me
fro
m a
ro
ugh
pla
ce w
her
e b
lack
s h
ard
ly m
ake
it t
o t
he
age
of
18 o
r ev
en ju
st p
ast
25.
A
ll m
y li
fe I
had
to
ove
rco
me
man
y o
bst
acle
s an
d s
om
e o
f th
em w
ere
no
t go
od
ch
oic
es. I
n m
idd
le s
cho
ol I
had
a p
isto
l to
my
face
wit
h m
y li
ttle
bro
ther
by
my
sid
e ju
st lo
ok
ing.
It’s
no
t m
uch
I c
ou
ld h
ave
said
or
do
ne
if
the
man
wo
uld
hav
e d
ecid
ed t
o p
ull
th
e tr
igge
r. I
n m
y ey
es I
wo
uld
hav
e
just
bee
n a
no
ther
bla
ck c
hil
d d
ead
in
th
e n
ewsp
aper
. Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
hav
e
you
eve
r h
ad a
gu
n p
oin
ted
at
you
wh
ile
you
wer
e w
alk
ing
ho
me
and
th
e
rob
ber
tel
l yo
u d
on’
t m
ove
or
he
wil
l kil
l yo
u e
ven
if
he
do
n’t
wan
t to
?
M
r. P
resi
den
t I
wo
nd
er w
hy
it i
s so
har
d t
o g
et a
jo
b b
ut
easy
to
sla
ng
dru
gs.
Wh
y o
ur
ow
n b
lack
Qu
een
s se
llin
g th
eir
pre
cio
us
bo
die
s ju
st t
o
mak
e so
me
qu
ick
cas
h. I
hav
e 7
you
ng
sist
ers
and
I r
efu
se t
o le
t th
em li
ve
in t
he
stre
ets
or
to e
ver
thin
k a
bo
ut
sell
ing
thei
r b
od
y.
I
was
in
th
e 9t
h g
rad
e w
hen
I "
rst
got
intr
od
uce
d t
o t
he
gan
g li
fe.
I
hav
e 4
bro
ther
s th
at a
re y
ou
nge
r th
an m
e an
d e
very
day
I t
ell t
hem
do
n’t
be
lik
e m
e o
r ev
er t
hin
k a
bo
ut
join
ing
the
gan
g. N
ot
all
men
or
wo
men
dre
am t
o l
ive
ho
mel
ess,
bu
t w
e d
o d
ream
to
be
able
to
car
e fo
r o
urs
elve
s
and
ou
r fa
mil
y.
M
r. P
resi
den
t h
ave
you
eve
r h
ave
to d
uck
in
yo
ur
kit
chen
wh
ile
coo
kin
g fo
r yo
ur
bro
ther
s an
d s
iste
rs;
wh
ile
they
are
ou
tsid
e p
layi
ng
wit
h t
hei
r fr
ien
ds
and
ou
t o
f n
ow
her
e a
man
co
me
fro
m b
ehin
d t
he
apar
tmen
t sh
oo
tin
g tw
o a
uto
mat
ic p
isto
ls a
nd
do
n’t
care
wh
at h
e h
its?
E
very
day
I f
eel
lik
e I’
m l
ivin
g in
dan
ger
on
th
e N
ort
h s
ide
of
Mil
wau
kee
. I
do
n’t
say
this
bec
ause
th
is i
s th
e h
oo
d;
I sa
y th
is b
ecau
se
som
e p
eop
le c
ho
ose
to
mak
e b
ad d
ecis
ion
s b
ecau
se t
hey
mak
e ch
oic
es
bas
ed o
n h
ow
th
ey w
ere
rais
ed.
M
r. B
arac
k O
bam
a I
ho
pe
to h
ear
fro
m y
ou
so
on
an
d w
hil
e I
wai
t I
wil
l tr
y to
co
nti
nu
e to
mak
e go
od
ch
oic
es w
ith
my
life
an
d b
e a
bet
ter
role
mo
del
fo
r m
y b
roth
ers
and
sis
ters
. I
do
n’t
dre
am t
o b
e fa
mo
us
bu
t
I d
o d
ream
to
bec
om
e a
man
. I
am a
lso
pro
ud
to
be
the
"rs
t fr
om
my
fam
ily
to e
ver
get
a ch
ance
to
wri
te y
ou
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent.
Sin
cere
ly, M
arct
aviu
s Jo
hn
son
•D
ear
Pre
sid
ent
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is
Mau
rice
H
amp
ton
an
d
I w
as
bo
rn
in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. I
am s
ixte
en y
ears
old
. I
com
e fr
om
a m
idd
le c
lass
fam
ily.
My
de"
nit
ion
of
mid
dle
cla
ss i
s n
ot
RIC
H b
ut,
su
rviv
ing
com
fort
ably
. I
am a
so
ph
om
ore
in
hig
h s
cho
ol
and
I h
ave
pla
ns
to b
e th
e "
rst
mal
e in
my
fam
ily
to a
tten
d a
GO
OD
co
lleg
e.
S
o, w
ith
th
at b
ein
g sa
id,
I w
ou
ld l
ike
to a
sk y
ou
fo
r m
ore
jo
bs
for
teen
ager
s. W
hen
yo
u d
o t
hat
, it
wil
l giv
e a
lot
of
op
po
rtu
nit
ies
for
you
ng
bla
ck p
eop
le t
o d
o s
om
eth
ing
con
stru
ctiv
e. I
nst
ead
of
sell
ing
dru
gs t
o
get
by,
th
ey c
ou
ld h
ave
a jo
b t
o p
ay t
hem
LE
GA
LLY
.
A
s a
you
ng
bla
ck m
ale,
th
ere
isn’
t re
ally
a lo
t o
f th
ings
to
do
wit
ho
ut
"n
din
g yo
urs
elf
in t
rou
ble
so
all
I a
sk i
s to
kee
p m
e b
usy
! I
feel
lik
e it
’s
tim
e fo
r th
e U
nit
ed S
tate
s to
act
ual
ly p
ut
a fo
ot
forw
ard
wh
en i
t co
mes
to h
elp
ing
the
you
th. $
ere
are
som
e th
ings
ou
t h
ere
in W
isco
nsi
n, b
ut
tho
se a
re a
lso
lim
ited
.
I
wo
uld
lo
ve t
o h
ave
the
ho
no
r o
f sp
eak
ing
wit
h y
ou
in
per
son
. I’
m
curr
entl
y in
a p
rogr
am c
alle
d t
he
“I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g” C
amp
aign
an
d
I p
lan
on
do
ing
just
th
at!
So,
th
ank
s fo
r li
sten
ing
and
I h
op
e yo
u t
ake
my
idea
in
to c
on
sid
erat
ion
.
Sin
cere
ly, M
auri
ce H
amp
ton
•D
ear
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is R
aym
on
e H
ow
led
. I’m
14
year
s o
ld. I
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
an
d I
sta
y o
n 8
th a
nd
Wri
ght.
It’s
har
d f
or
me
righ
t n
ow
I ju
st
lost
my
gran
dm
oth
er a
nd
it’s
bee
n h
ard
fo
r m
e to
sta
y fo
cuse
d.
I p
lay
bas
ket
bal
l; I’
m v
ery
goo
d a
t it
. I p
lay
insi
de
this
gym
cal
led
“N
ort
hco
tt”.
I
nee
d m
on
ey t
o b
uy
sho
es a
nd
oth
er s
tu#
I n
eed
.
$
ere
is a
lway
s so
meb
od
y d
yin
g yo
un
g in
my
com
mu
nit
y. I
see
peo
ple
wh
o d
o d
rugs
eve
ry d
ay.
I d
o n
ot
wan
t to
be
lik
e th
em.
I d
on’
t
wan
t to
do
an
y o
f th
at.
M
y sc
ho
ol
I at
ten
d i
s ca
lled
“N
ort
h D
ivis
ion
Hig
h S
cho
ol”.
I w
ish
I
can
mo
ve m
y fa
mil
y o
ut
the
ho
od
. I
go t
o s
cho
ol
ever
y d
ay a
nd
I h
ave
a d
ream
to
bec
om
e an
ed
uca
ted
yo
un
g b
lack
per
son
. I
do
n’t
wan
t to
bec
om
e a
kid
th
at’s
go
ing
to ja
il, o
r h
avin
g a
gun
on
me.
I w
ant
to b
eco
me
som
eon
e th
at n
ever
did
wh
at I
wan
t to
do.
M
y d
add
y’s
nam
e is
“R
aym
on
e H
ow
led
.” H
e is
str
ugg
lin
g ev
ery
day
goin
g to
wo
rk w
ork
ing
for
wh
ite
peo
ple
an
yth
ing
he
do
es t
hey
wo
uld
try
to %
re h
im. I
wan
t to
bec
om
e a
per
son
wh
o h
elp
s o
ther
peo
ple
. My
mo
m,
her
nam
e is
“T
eked
a L
ewis
,” h
as 5
kid
s an
d t
hey
all
go
to
sch
oo
l. I
do
anyt
hin
g th
at s
he
ask
s m
e.
W
e n
eed
mo
re m
on
ey t
o b
eco
me
wh
at y
ou
are
; no
t ve
ry w
ealt
hy
bu
t
at le
ast
hav
e m
on
ey t
o t
ake
care
of
my
fam
ily.
I d
on’
t w
ant
to b
e th
e n
ext
per
son
to
die
yo
un
g ad
ded
on
th
at li
st.
Sin
cere
ly, R
aym
on
e H
ow
led
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
Y
ou
do
n’t
kn
ow
my
stru
ggle
. Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
I’m
o#
25t
h a
nd
Bu
rlei
gh
wh
ere
you
hav
e to
sla
ng
to h
ang
and
yo
un
g b
lack
mal
es l
ike
you
rsel
f
do
n’t
get
the
chan
ce t
o s
ee t
he
age
25.
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
I h
ad f
aith
in
yo
u.
Wh
y d
oes
it s
eem
as
if y
ou
do
n’t
hav
e fa
ith
in
us?
M
r. P
resi
den
t w
hy
are
7,00
0 b
lack
mal
es d
ead
an
d m
ore
lo
cked
up
ever
y ye
ar w
hen
th
ose
bla
ck m
ales
co
uld
be
in y
ou
r sh
oes
or
hav
e a
care
er a
hea
d o
f th
em?
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
wh
y d
o y
ou
an
d y
ou
r fa
mil
y ge
t to
lay
thei
r h
ead
un
der
a b
ig w
hit
e h
ou
se w
hen
my
mo
ms
hav
e to
str
ugg
le
to p
ay t
he
nex
t b
ill?
M
r. P
resi
den
t w
hy
are
you
sp
end
ing
so m
uch
mo
ney
on
war
an
d
leav
ing
MP
S h
angi
ng?
Wh
y d
oes
life
hav
e to
be
so h
ard
fo
r o
ur
race
an
d
com
mu
nit
y? I
f I
was
th
e P
resi
den
t o
f th
is n
atio
n y
ou
ng
peo
ple
wo
uld
nev
er h
ave
to w
orr
y ab
ou
t w
alk
ing
do
wn
th
e st
reet
an
d g
etti
ng
sho
t. M
r.
Pre
sid
ent
on
e th
ing
I k
no
w i
s I
Wil
l No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng!
!!!!
!!!!
Sin
cere
ly, T
evin
Bai
ley
•D
ear
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is A
lexa
nd
er T
ow
nse
nd
, I
am 1
6 ye
ars
old
, an
d I
liv
e in
Mil
wau
kee
/Wis
con
sin
. T
o b
e h
on
est
ou
r p
eace
ful
wo
rld
is
bec
om
ing
mo
re c
orr
up
ted
eac
h a
nd
eve
ry d
ay.
I k
no
w I
alw
ays
wan
ted
to
be
a
sold
ier
to p
rote
ct o
ur
nat
ion
, fu
ture
, an
d f
amil
ies,
bu
t I
do
n’t
hav
e th
e
corr
ect
give
n e
qu
ipm
ent.
$e
way
I s
ee i
t m
y li
fe i
s u
nlu
cky
bec
ause
th
e
on
e gi
rl I
lo
ved
is
gon
e, a
nd
I d
on’
t w
ant
oth
ers
to l
ose
th
eir
love
d o
nes
.
Wh
en I
was
fo
urt
een
I p
raye
d t
o G
od
to
hav
e m
y li
fe t
han
tak
e o
ther
s. I
dem
and
Red
emp
tio
n.
“No
thin
g Is
Tru
e, E
very
thin
g Is
Per
mit
ted
”
Sin
cere
ly, A
lexa
nd
er T
ow
nse
nd
vin
ce
nt
HIG
H S
CH
OO
L
Dea
r B
arac
k O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is C
avan
augh
Sm
ith
an
d I
am
a 1
6 ye
ar o
ld b
lack
bo
y fr
om
Mil
wau
kee
, W
isco
nsi
n.
My
mo
m i
s n
ot
fro
m t
his
co
un
try.
Sh
e is
fro
m
Jam
aica
an
d h
er n
ame
is M
ich
ele
Bai
ley.
I lo
ve m
y m
om
ma
a lo
t. I
do
n’t
kn
ow
wh
en s
he
cam
e to
Am
eric
a, b
ut
I d
o k
no
w t
hat
sh
e d
idn’
t h
ave
mu
ch c
om
ing
her
e. S
he
star
ted
o�
in
New
Yo
rk, a
nd
th
en s
he
mo
ved
to
Mil
wau
kee
. Sh
e u
sed
to
go
to
on
e o
f th
e b
est
hig
h s
cho
ols
in M
ilw
auk
ee,
bu
t sh
e co
uld
n’t
�n
ish
hig
h s
cho
ol
bec
ause
sh
e h
ad t
o t
ake
care
of
her
mo
ther
an
d s
end
mo
ney
to
her
bro
ther
s an
d s
iste
rs i
n J
amai
ca f
or
them
to c
om
e h
ere.
To
day
, sh
e is
do
ing
wel
l fo
r h
erse
lf a
nd
her
fo
ur
kid
s. I
f
she
can
mak
e it
, I k
no
w I
or
anyb
od
y ca
n m
ake
it. B
ut,
co
min
g fr
om
th
e
fou
rth
po
ore
st c
ity
in A
mer
ica,
it’s
har
d t
o m
ake
it.
S
ee w
her
e I
com
e fr
om
, fas
t an
d e
asy
cash
are
dri
lled
in
to t
he
hea
ds
of
you
ng
bla
ck b
oys
lik
e m
e. I
f yo
u d
on’
t m
ake
mo
ney
, yo
u d
on’
t ea
t.
�at
’s w
hy
the
stre
ets
are
call
ing
mo
st y
ou
ng
bla
ck b
oys
. In
stea
d o
f
pu
ttin
g o
ur
hea
ds
in b
oo
ks,
we
wo
uld
rat
her
ru
n t
he
stre
ets
and
sp
oil
the
do
pe
�en
ds.
I d
on’
t w
ant
any
han
do
uts
, n
ah,
I d
idn’
t co
me
her
e fo
r
that
. I
cam
e h
ere
to d
eman
d y
ou
r h
elp
. In
th
is w
orl
d,
you
can
’t a
sk a
ny
mo
re b
ecau
se i
t w
on’
t b
e gi
ven
to
yo
u.
Yo
u h
ave
to d
eman
d w
hat
yo
u
wan
t n
ow
. I c
ame
her
e to
hel
p u
s, y
ou
ng
bla
ck b
oys
, get
bac
k t
o t
he
top
.
Y
ou
eve
r h
eard
th
at D
rak
e so
ng,
sta
rted
fro
m t
he
bo
tto
m?
Nah
, w
e
did
n’t
star
t fr
om
th
e b
ott
om
, w
e st
arte
d a
t th
e to
p.
We
wer
e o
nce
kin
gs
and
qu
een
s, n
ow
we
at t
he
bo
tto
m. N
ow
we
are
thu
gs, d
rug
dea
lers
an
d
we
are
kil
lin
g ea
ch o
ther
. We
do
n’t
ple
dge
all
egia
nce
to
th
e �
ag n
o m
ore
.
We
ple
dge
all
egia
nce
to
th
e al
mig
hty
do
llar
. We
kil
l eac
h o
ther
fo
r p
aper
wit
h f
aces
an
d n
um
ber
s o
n i
t. A
re o
ur
live
s re
ally
wo
rth
a c
ou
ple
do
llar
bil
ls?
Wh
at w
e n
eed
is
the
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
CA
MPA
IGN
in
ever
y sc
ho
ol.
We
also
nee
d a
pla
ce w
her
e w
e ca
n g
o w
hen
th
ings
get
hec
tic
at h
om
e, a
t sc
ho
ol o
r o
n t
he
blo
ck; a
pla
ce w
her
e w
e ca
n ju
st c
hil
l
and
hav
e fu
n.
Sin
cere
ly, C
avan
augh
Sm
ith
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
I
hea
rd y
ou
are
fro
m t
he
blo
ck M
r. P
resi
den
t. �
e b
lock
we
call
Ch
icag
o, w
her
e w
e ge
t k
ille
d fo
r tr
yin
g to
be
som
eth
ing.
�e
blo
ck w
her
e
we
sit
in a
ho
use
wit
h n
o f
oo
d o
r w
ater
. �e
blo
ck w
her
e w
e ar
e th
e m
an
in t
he
ho
use
. A
blo
ck w
her
e th
e w
om
en h
ave
to a
ct l
ike
a m
an t
o t
ake
care
of
the
ho
use
. �e
blo
ck w
her
e w
e ca
rry
gun
s to
sta
y sa
fe. �
e b
lock
wh
ere
we
teac
h e
ach
oth
er h
ow
to
die
. H
ow
to
pu
sh t
hat
ro
ck,
ho
w t
o
sho
ot
them
gu
ns,
ho
w t
o b
e th
e m
an o
n t
he
blo
ck. Y
ou
r b
lock
wh
ere
we
vote
fo
r yo
u b
ut
you
do
n’t
vote
fo
r u
s.
A
t a
tim
e yo
u c
alle
d t
his
yo
ur
blo
ck.
Wh
y d
on’
t yo
u s
up
po
rt y
ou
r
blo
ck?
Yo
u d
ecid
ed t
o l
eave
us
for
you
r n
ew l
ife.
I b
et y
ou
do
n’t
kn
ow
a si
ngl
e n
ame
ou
t o
f th
ese
tho
usa
nd
s o
f yo
un
g b
lack
bo
ys d
yin
g o
n t
he
blo
ck t
ryin
g to
get
mo
ney
or
som
eth
ing
they
nee
d.
Wh
en w
e vo
ted
we
ho
ped
for
the
bes
t b
ut
no
thin
g ch
ange
d b
ut
rap
per
s sa
yin
g “o
ur
pre
sid
ent
is b
lack
.” W
e d
on’
t w
ant
to d
ie y
ou
ng;
we
wan
t to
see
ou
r o
ld a
ges.
We
wan
t to
be
able
to
lo
ok
bac
k a
t o
ur
live
s an
d s
ay o
h y
eah
we
did
do
th
at
and
th
at.
W
e lo
ok
up
to
peo
ple
lik
e yo
u M
r. P
resi
den
t, b
lack
mal
es t
hat
act
ual
ly
mad
e it
in
lif
e; a
bla
ck m
ale
that
sh
ow
ed t
he
wo
rld
th
at w
e ar
en’t
all
th
e
sam
e. W
e w
ant
to b
e li
ke
you
. We
wan
t to
bre
ak s
tati
stic
s an
d s
ay f
org
et
the
man
th
at t
ell u
s w
e w
on’
t b
e an
yth
ing
or
just
be
ano
ther
bla
ck d
ud
e in
jail
or
dea
d o
n th
e st
reet
. As
a yo
un
g b
lack
mal
e in
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
I w
ant
to s
ee t
he
ligh
t M
r. P
resi
den
t. I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G!!
!!!!
!!!!
By
a yo
un
g b
lack
bo
y n
amed
,
Sin
cere
ly, D
ako
ta S
cott
•
Dea
r P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
in t
his
let
ter
is n
ot
imp
ort
ant
bec
ause
my
voic
e is
no
t
spea
kin
g o
nly
for
me,
bu
t it
is a
lso
co
min
g fr
om
all
th
e p
eop
le t
hat
su
#er
as b
ad a
s o
r ev
en w
ors
e th
an m
e. I
sp
eak
on
th
e fa
ct t
hat
it
is h
ard
er f
or
me
to b
reat
he
ever
yday
th
en it
is
to m
ake
it t
hro
ugh
hig
h s
cho
ol.
�e
city
I l
ive
in h
as t
he
wo
rst
and
po
ore
st z
ip c
od
e in
th
e co
un
try
kn
ow
n a
s a
Fo
od
Des
ert.
If
yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w w
hat
a f
oo
d d
eser
t is
, it
’s
an a
rea
that
do
esn’
t h
ave
any
org
anic
fo
od
/gro
cery
sto
re i
n a
on
e m
ile
rad
ius
form
th
eir
ow
n h
om
es.
I
was
par
t o
f th
e gr
eat
cam
pai
gn t
hat
go
t yo
u w
her
e yo
u a
re b
ecau
se
I b
elie
ved
th
at y
ou
wo
uld
ch
ange
my
life
. �
e o
nly
ch
ange
I s
ee i
s th
e
excu
se r
app
ers
use
wh
en t
hey
do
so
met
hin
g ig
no
ran
t “M
y p
resi
den
t is
BL
AC
K!!
” M
y fr
ien
d w
alk
ed u
p o
n m
e an
d r
evea
led
to
me
that
he
fou
nd
a jo
b w
her
e ta
xes
aren
’t t
aken
fro
m h
is m
on
ey.
He
said
sel
lin
g d
rugs
is
the
tru
e fr
eed
om
to
mak
e m
on
ey.
B
ut b
ack
to th
e p
oin
t; I’
ve lo
st a
lot o
f th
ings
at m
y yo
un
g ag
e. �
rou
gh
all
that
I a
m a
yo
un
g ac
tivi
st t
hat
sp
eak
s o
n s
yste
ms
of
op
pre
ssio
n t
hat
I th
ou
ght
gett
ing
peo
ple
to
vo
te f
or
you
wo
uld
en
d. I
lau
gh a
t th
e n
aive
tho
ugh
t n
ow
, kin
d o
f ti
ckle
s m
e. A
ll t
he
fait
h I
pu
t in
yo
u m
akes
me
feel
sick
. Yo
u c
ou
ld c
han
ge t
hat
th
ou
gh!
So
wh
at I
’m a
skin
g o
f yo
u i
s to
ch
ange
th
at f
eeli
ng
in t
he
pit
of
my
sto
mac
h.
To
liv
e u
p t
o t
he
exp
ecta
tio
ns
you
mad
e m
e p
ut
into
oth
er
peo
ple
liv
es.
Sto
p m
e fr
om
bei
ng
rid
icu
led
fo
r b
ein
g a
liar
in
my
com
mu
nit
y. B
ut
mo
st i
mp
ort
antl
y, S
TO
P M
E A
ND
MY
BR
OT
HE
RS
FR
OM
DY
ING
YO
UN
G!!
Sin
cere
ly,
�e
voic
e o
f th
e M
ino
rity
th
at c
an’t
live
, Dar
ius
Sco
tt
•
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is D
e’�
nn
es F
ergu
son
. I’
m a
yo
un
g b
lack
mal
e o
ut
her
e
tryi
ng
to m
ake
it w
ith
a d
ream
in
a p
lace
th
ey c
all
Kil
lwau
kee
. I’
m a
you
ng
bla
ck m
ale
that
’s t
ryin
g so
har
d t
o g
et a
jo
b t
o s
up
po
rt m
ysel
f an
d
som
eday
my
fam
ily
bu
t ca
n’t
bec
ause
th
e co
lor
of
my
skin
. I’
m a
yo
un
g
bla
ck m
ale
tryi
ng
to r
ise
abo
ve t
he
hat
red
an
d s
tere
oty
pe
I w
as l
abel
ed
and
act
ual
ly b
eco
me
som
eon
e su
cces
sfu
l lik
e yo
u d
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent.
I ch
alle
nge
yo
u t
o c
om
e li
ve t
he
life
I li
ve e
very
day
fo
r ju
st a
wee
k.
Dea
r
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
I’m
her
e to
tell
yo
u I
wil
l nev
er d
ie y
ou
ng
and
on
e d
ay I
wil
l
mee
t yo
u t
o s
ho
w y
ou
ho
w f
ar I
mad
e it
.
Sin
cere
ly, D
e’�
nn
es F
ergu
son
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is D
’Qu
is T
erre
ll a
nd
I’m
15
year
s o
ld. I
’m f
rom
an
d l
ive
in
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
. No
w le
t m
e te
ll y
ou
a li
ttle
ab
ou
t m
y b
ack
gro
un
d.
I h
ave
3 li
ttle
bro
ther
s an
d a
mo
m t
hat
I w
as li
vin
g w
ith
. My
mo
m d
idn’
t
hav
e th
e m
on
ey, w
hic
h is
so
sad
to s
ay, o
ur
ligh
ts g
ot
cut
o"
. Sh
e’s
livi
ng
at
her
fri
end
’s h
ou
se a
nd
I’m
at
my
aun
t an
d u
ncl
e’s
ho
use
. I w
as t
he
man
of
the
ho
use
so
I’m
sel
lin
g d
rugs
to
mak
e a
livi
ng
and
to
get
my
fam
ily
bac
k
into
a h
ou
se w
hic
h a
ll t
he
bil
ls w
ill b
e p
aid
. I’m
go
ing
thro
ugh
so
met
hin
g
and
go
ing
thro
ugh
it f
or
a w
hil
e n
ow
. I W
ISH
IT
WA
S A
LL
OV
ER
!!!
I
go t
o s
cho
ol
at H
arlo
d S
. V
ince
nt
Hig
h s
cho
ol.
It’s
no
t th
e b
est
sch
oo
l b
ut
this
is
wh
at i
t is
. M
y li
fe s
tyle
is
har
d a
nd
I w
on
der
if
you
can
wal
k a
mil
e in
my
sho
es.
I’m
go
ing
to s
leep
eve
ry n
igh
t w
on
der
ing
wh
y m
e? W
hy
do
MY
FA
MIL
Y a
nd
I h
ave
to g
o t
hro
ugh
th
is?
Yo
u h
ave
po
lice
o$
cers
th
at a
re s
up
po
sed
to p
rote
ct u
s an
d a
ll t
hey
do
is h
elp
mak
e
the
pro
ble
m w
ors
e b
ecau
se a
ll t
hey
wo
rry
abo
ut
is t
hei
r se
lves
an
d t
her
e
fam
ily.
As
lon
g as
th
ere
gett
ing
pai
d a
nd
hav
e th
em B
LU
E u
nif
orm
s o
n
wit
h a
BA
DG
E t
hey
can
do
an
yth
ing
they
wan
t. T
o t
ell
you
th
e tr
uth
wh
ere
I gr
ew u
p w
e w
ere
tau
ght
to h
ate
the
po
lice
lik
e B
oo
sie
said
F@
#k
&e
Po
lice
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t I
hav
e w
ante
d t
o w
ork
sin
ce I
was
lik
e 10
yea
rs o
ld; n
o
lie.
I t
hin
k I
des
erve
a j
ob.
Mo
st j
ob
s d
on’
t re
ally
wan
t p
eop
le l
ike
me
to
wo
rk a
t th
eir
com
pan
y b
ecau
se I
’m a
yo
un
g b
lack
mal
e an
d t
hey
th
ink
we’
re a
ll b
ad a
nd
go
ing
to k
ill
of
each
oth
er.
So
me
thin
k w
e’re
go
ing
to
stea
l o
r ge
t th
e p
lace
ro
bb
ed.
I d
on’
t th
ink
of
them
wro
ng
for
thin
kin
g
lik
e th
at b
ecau
se s
om
e p
eop
le a
re l
ike
that
, b
ut
I’M
NO
T L
IKE
TH
AT
AT
AL
L!!
I
live
on
a s
tree
t n
ame
Ham
pto
n k
no
wn
as
HP
T. &
is is
a p
lace
wh
ere
ther
e is
lots
of
�gh
tin
g, s
ho
oti
ng,
dic
e ga
mb
les,
wee
d s
elli
ng
and
fam
ilie
s
cryi
ng
bec
ause
th
ere
you
ng
on
e is
layi
ng
on
th
e gr
ou
nd
tak
ing
in h
is la
st
bre
ath
wit
h 6
bu
llet
s in
him
.
W
e n
eed
a c
han
ge;
MO
RE
JO
BS,
LE
SS K
ILL
ING
, M
OR
E P
EA
CE
,
AN
D A
PR
ESI
DE
NT
TO
DO
HIS
JO
B A
ND
PR
OV
IDE
FO
R T
HE
NA
TIO
NS
AN
D Y
ES
TH
AT
IS
US.
We’
re li
vin
g in
a d
rou
ght
and
it’s
no
t
do
ing
anyt
hin
g b
ut
kil
lin
g o
ur
peo
ple
. &e
wh
ite
man
do
esn’
t ca
re t
hat
’s
wh
at h
e w
ant
anyw
ay. W
e ar
e n
ot
do
ing
anyt
hin
g b
ut
hu
rtin
g o
urs
elve
s.
On
e th
ing
I ca
n t
ell
you
MR
.PR
ESI
DE
NT
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
.
On
e m
ore
tim
e I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G.
D’Q
uis
Ter
rell
•D
ear
Bar
ack
Ob
ama,
M
y n
ame
is E
ric
Bu
tler
. I’
m 1
8 ye
ars
old
. I
live
in
Mil
wau
kee
,
Wis
con
sin
. Ju
st l
ike
you
use
d t
o l
ive
in a
gri
my
dir
ty p
lace
, I l
ive
in o
ne
call
ed K
illw
auk
ee (
Mil
wau
kee
). &
e m
urd
er r
ate
is h
igh
. I c
an’t
leav
e o
ut
of
my
ho
use
wit
ho
ut
thin
kin
g ab
ou
t b
ein
g sh
ot
or
gett
ing
kil
led
fro
m a
stra
y b
ull
et o
r fr
om
so
meb
od
y w
ho
do
esn’
t li
ke
me.
I j
ust
had
a f
rien
d
wh
o g
ot
kil
led
in b
road
day
ligh
t at
a p
ub
lic
par
k a
nd
no
on
e k
no
ws
wh
o
did
it. B
ack
in
201
2 I
lost
my
mo
ther
.
I m
ade
a ch
ange
to
no
t d
o t
hin
gs t
hat
I u
sed
to
do
bu
t I
fell
bac
k i
nto
my
old
way
s an
d g
etti
ng
in m
ore
tro
ub
le a
nd
�gh
ts i
n t
he
stre
ets.
I h
ad
to w
atch
my
bac
k e
very
wh
ere
I w
ent
un
til
I jo
ined
a g
rou
p c
alle
d “
save
or
son
s” a
nd
ou
r ch
ant
is “
I w
ill
no
t d
ie y
ou
ng”
. S
o, n
ow
in
my
life
I’m
mak
ing
a ch
ange
fo
r th
e b
ette
r, a
nd
it i
s w
ork
ing.
Bu
t I’
m w
riti
ng
this
let
ter
to l
et y
ou
kn
ow
th
at y
ou
’re
hel
pin
g o
ther
cou
ntr
ies
and
yo
u n
eed
to
hel
p M
ilw
auk
ee.
We
nee
d t
he
mo
ney
fo
r th
e
“ho
od
s.” M
ake
a ch
ange
in t
he
ho
od
so
we
can
all
gro
w u
p a
nd
no
t w
orr
y
abo
ut
hav
ing
foo
d t
o e
at o
r w
hen
th
ey a
re g
oin
g to
get
th
eir
nex
t m
eal.
My
city
isn
’t l
oo
kin
g fo
r a
han
do
ut
we
are
loo
kin
g fo
r A
CH
AN
GE
WE
CA
N B
EL
IVE
IN
.
Sin
cere
ly, E
ric
Bu
tler
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is J
ash
awn
Fo
rd.
I’m
fro
m M
ilw
auk
ee W
isco
nsi
n.
I am
a yo
un
g m
an w
ho
has
co
me
fro
m m
any
di"
eren
t p
lace
s an
d b
y th
at I
mea
n m
any
goo
d a
nd
bad
sit
uat
ion
s. F
or
exam
ple
bef
ore
I w
as b
orn
my
bio
logi
cal f
ath
er le
# a
nd
to
be
ho
nes
t I
do
n’t
thin
k h
e n
ever
loo
ked
bac
k
or
tho
ugh
t ab
ou
t it
tw
ice.
My
step
dad
has
bee
n t
hei
r b
ut
he’
s al
so a
man
wit
h m
any
$aw
s li
ke
bei
ng
in a
nd
ou
t o
f jai
l hal
f my
life
. I e
xcu
se h
is $
aws
bec
ause
he’
s b
een
a p
rovi
der
fo
r m
e fo
r th
e m
ost
par
t. W
hen
th
e m
en o
f
the
ho
use
wer
en’t
dep
end
able
th
ings
aro
un
d m
e go
t h
ard
.
B
ut
I’m
rai
sed
by
a st
ron
g an
d b
eau
tifu
l A
fric
an A
mer
ican
wo
man
;
my
mo
ther
. Sh
e gi
ves
it h
er a
ll i
n e
very
thin
g sh
e d
oes
an
d t
hat
’s b
ecau
se
it’s
all
for
us.
Sh
e is
tru
ly t
he
dea
rest
th
ing
to m
e in
th
is w
orl
d b
ecau
se it
is
her
an
d m
y b
roth
ers
and
sis
ters
th
at k
eep
me
san
e an
d p
reve
nt
me
fro
m
mak
ing
the
wro
ng
cho
ices
. Bu
t to
be
ho
nes
t I
do
n’t
thin
k I
can
last
mu
ch
lon
ger.
By
that
I m
ean
I d
on’
t k
no
w h
ow
mu
ch l
on
ger
I ca
n p
rete
nd
no
t
to s
ee t
he
tear
s an
d f
row
ns
up
on
my
love
d o
nes
fac
es.
Yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w
ho
w m
uch
I w
ou
ld li
ke
to c
han
ge t
hat
.
S
om
etim
es I
get
so
tir
ed a
nd
str
esse
d j
ust
th
ink
ing
abo
ut
it.
I al
so
nee
d t
he
righ
t en
viro
nm
ent
and
th
e p
eop
le a
rou
nd
me
nee
d t
o c
han
ge.
I h
ate
it w
hen
peo
ple
tre
at i
t as
if
that
’s o
nly
a d
ream
wh
en i
t’s n
ot.
I
bel
ieve
it c
an a
nd
wil
l be
a re
alit
y.
I
am a
n A
fric
an A
mer
ican
mal
e an
d w
ill
nev
er b
e ju
st a
sta
tist
ic.
Wh
en I
say
th
at,
I d
on’
t m
ean
th
at I
’m p
erfe
ct,
bec
ause
I a
m h
um
an
and
wil
l mak
e m
ista
kes
. Bu
t u
nd
erst
and
th
is I
on
ly w
ant
the
bes
t fo
r m
e
and
eve
ryo
ne
I lo
ve.
%at
’s w
hy
I w
ill
nev
er b
e o
ut
thei
r se
llin
g d
rugs
and
tak
ing
live
s. I
wan
t to
mak
e th
e m
on
ey t
hat
wo
n’t
bu
rn p
ock
ets
and
des
tro
y h
eart
s. I
wan
t th
at m
on
ey t
hat
can
hea
l h
eart
s an
d p
rovi
de
wit
ho
ut
any
bad
co
st.
W
hat
I w
ant
fro
m y
ou
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
do
esn’
t m
atte
r; i
t’s a
bo
ut
wh
at
I n
eed
an
d w
hat
I n
eed
is
just
an
op
po
rtu
nit
y.
I u
nd
erst
and
th
at y
ou
’re
just
on
e m
an a
nd
may
be
wh
at I
’m a
skin
g is
to
o h
ard
, bu
t al
l I r
eall
y w
ant
you
to
do
is
just
try
. A
nd
I’l
l k
no
w w
hen
yo
u’r
e tr
yin
g w
hen
I s
ee t
he
chan
ges
that
co
me.
I h
on
estl
y d
on’
t b
elie
ve t
his
let
ter
is g
oin
g to
ch
ange
anyt
hin
g b
ut
I h
on
estl
y d
on’
t ca
re a
ll I
wan
t is
to
o l
et y
ou
kn
ow
wh
at
goes
th
rou
gh t
he
min
ds
of
a yo
un
g te
en i
n M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n.
Sin
cere
ly, J
ash
awn
Fo
rd
•D
ear
Ob
ama,
I
kn
ow
yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w m
e. I
kn
ow
ho
w y
ou
liv
e b
ut
do
yo
u k
no
w
ho
w I
liv
e? I
tri
ed t
o g
et a
jo
b a
t th
e ag
e o
f 10
to
kee
p m
ysel
f o
ut
of
the
stre
ets
bu
t I
cou
ldn’
t b
ecau
se I
was
to
o y
ou
ng.
So
I h
ad t
o h
ust
le a
no
ther
way
; n
ot
in a
bad
way
bu
t in
a g
oo
d w
ay l
ike
sho
veli
ng
sno
w,
cutt
ing
gras
s, r
akin
g le
aves
an
d a
nyt
hin
g el
se t
hat
nat
ure
wo
uld
giv
e m
e. B
ut
if
nat
ure
did
n’t
give
me
anyt
hin
g th
en I
wo
uld
hav
e to
bre
ak t
he
law
an
d
gam
ble
.
D
o y
ou
wan
t to
ch
ange
th
e w
orl
d b
ecau
se in
my
eyes
yo
u d
on’
t? W
hy,
thin
k a
bo
ut
this
if y
ou
hav
e a
sin
gle
mo
m t
hat
is s
tru
ggli
ng
and
yo
u h
ave
to g
et m
on
ey t
he
ille
gal
way
to
pu
t fo
od
on
th
e ta
ble
an
d p
ut
clo
thes
on
you
r b
ack
, yo
u w
ou
ld t
ake
that
ch
ance
an
d d
o w
hat
yo
u g
ot
to d
o?
Bu
t
you
sti
ll g
ot
extr
a th
ings
yo
u w
ill
nee
d i
n l
ife;
lik
e yo
u w
ant
to h
ave
fun
to t
ake
away
str
ess,
pay
bil
ls w
hic
h i
s st
ress
ful,
pay
tax
es w
hic
h i
s al
so
stre
ssfu
l an
d a
t th
e en
d it
is
lik
e a
big
rec
eip
t o
f st
ress
.
Lif
e is
sh
ort
in
a h
oo
d w
ith
no
on
e to
ch
ange
it
bu
t it
to
ok
fo
r m
y m
ama
to t
ake
me
and
my
bro
ther
ou
t o
f a h
oo
d t
hat
we
stay
ed in
for
me
to fo
cus
on
lif
e. A
nd
as
I go
t o
lder
I r
eali
zed
ho
w i
mp
ort
ant
life
was
so
I h
ad t
o
chan
ge. S
o I
’m n
ot
sayi
ng
this
to
mak
e a
big
let
ter
I’m
say
ing
this
to
yo
u
so y
ou
can
mak
e th
e w
orl
d b
ette
r. I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G.
Sin
cere
ly, J
erem
iah
Gra
nt
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is M
arq
uis
e T
. Ho
war
d. I
was
bo
rn a
nd
rai
sed
in M
ilw
auk
ee
Wis
con
sin
. I
com
e fr
om
a s
tro
ng
Ch
rist
ian
bac
kgr
ou
nd
bu
t I
can’
t h
elp
the
thin
gs I
do.
To
be
ho
nes
t I
real
ly w
ant
to g
o t
o c
oll
ege
and
pla
y
foo
tbal
l bu
t sm
ok
ing
wee
d i
s p
layi
ng
a h
uge
ro
le i
n m
y li
fe.
"
e p
eer
pre
ssu
re w
her
e I
com
e fr
om
is
so c
razy
. I
shak
e u
p g
ang
a#li
ated
han
dsh
akes
bu
t k
no
w n
oth
ing
abo
ut
them
or
no
t en
ou
gh t
o
shak
e it
up
in t
he
$rs
t p
lace
. I a
lway
s h
ad t
his
dre
am t
o b
e w
her
e yo
u a
re
bu
t I
gues
s tr
uly
I d
on’
t th
ink
I w
ill m
ake
it.
W
hen
yo
u t
hin
k o
f th
e M
idw
est
you
th
ink
of
Ch
icag
o b
ut
I th
ink
of
Mil
wau
kee
. I’
m s
care
d b
ecau
se I
kn
ow
ho
w M
ilw
auk
ee i
s an
d f
or
the
mo
st p
art
I d
on’
t w
ant
to d
ie y
ou
ng.
I j
ust
wan
t to
say
I m
ade
it.
I d
on’
t
wan
t an
y h
and
ou
ts b
ut
just
tak
e n
oti
ce i
n w
hat
Mil
wau
kee
has
; sm
art
kid
s th
at n
eed
hel
p b
ut
real
ly n
eed
tea
cher
s an
d c
oac
hes
th
at a
ctu
ally
care
an
d b
ette
r sc
ho
ols
to
att
end
. Y
ou
see
, m
y o
nly
ro
le m
od
els
are
bal
l
pla
yers
or
dru
g d
eale
rs s
o y
ou
can
do
th
e m
ath
on
th
at o
ne.
Sin
cere
ly, M
arq
uis
e T
. Ho
war
d
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is S
haq
uil
le C
lark
. I l
ive
in M
ilw
auk
ee, W
isco
nsi
n. I
go
to
Vin
cen
t H
igh
Sch
oo
l, an
d I
am
wri
tin
g th
is l
ette
r b
ecau
se I
nee
d h
elp
in M
ilw
auk
ee;
no
t ju
st p
rob
lem
s at
ho
me
bu
t o
n t
he
stre
ets.
It
is r
eall
y
gett
ing
craz
y. P
eop
le a
re d
yin
g fo
r n
o r
easo
n, g
etti
ng
sho
t fo
r n
o r
easo
n,
gett
ing
rob
bed
an
d i
t’s l
ike
the
peo
ple
do
n’t
care
. "
e sa
d t
hin
g is
th
at
it’s
no
t th
e ad
ult
s th
at a
re d
oin
g th
is i
t’s r
eall
y th
e te
enag
ers,
to
me.
All
they
rea
lly
nee
d i
s a
man
in
th
eir
life
to
tel
l th
em t
he
righ
t fr
om
wro
ng
or
even
tea
ch t
he
righ
ts o
f re
alit
y.
It
’s l
ike
ever
y b
it o
f fr
eed
om
we
get
tho
se f
ew k
ids
alw
ays
tak
e it
away
. A
sit
uat
ion
hap
pen
ed 2
yea
rs a
go a
t th
e m
all.
Tee
nag
ers
all
wen
t
to t
he
mal
l aro
un
d C
hri
stm
as t
ime
just
to
go
$gh
t an
d a
hu
ge r
iot
bro
ke
ou
t at
th
e m
all.
Peo
ple
wer
e ev
en s
ho
oti
ng
in t
he
mal
l. T
o m
e it
rea
lly
do
esn’
t m
ake
any
sen
se t
he
thin
gs t
he
kid
s in
Mil
wau
kee
wil
l d
o j
ust
to g
et t
her
e n
ame
kn
ow
n o
r as
th
ey s
ay s
om
e “F
ame”
. "
ey h
ave
real
ly
goo
d l
ead
ersh
ip p
rogr
ams
in M
ilw
auk
ee.
If t
he
kid
s w
ou
ld g
et i
nto
th
e
pro
gram
s in
stea
d o
f try
ing
to g
et s
om
e ”F
ame”
th
en M
ilw
auk
ee w
ou
ldn’
t
be
as b
ad a
s it
is.
P
eop
le r
eall
y n
eed
to
ju
st w
orr
y ab
ou
t th
emse
lves
; th
ose
peo
ple
aren
’t d
oin
g an
yth
ing
bu
t m
akin
g th
eir
futu
re h
ard
er.
"ey
th
ink
th
e
thin
gs a
re c
oo
l th
at t
hey
are
do
ing,
an
d it
is
a li
ttle
wo
rd c
alle
d “
Kar
ma”
that
is
goin
g to
cat
ch u
p w
ith
th
em i
n t
he
futu
re. A
nd
th
ey a
re g
oin
g to
end
up
dea
d o
r in
jai
l at
a y
ou
ng
age.
I p
rom
ise
that
“I
WIL
L N
OT
DIE
YO
UN
G”.
Sin
cere
ly, S
haq
uil
le C
lark
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
W
hy
do
I s
tru
ggle
? W
hen
was
th
e la
st t
ime
you
eve
r sa
t d
ow
n a
nd
talk
ed t
o a
yo
un
g b
lack
mal
e li
ke
me?
Eve
ry o
ther
yo
un
g b
lack
bo
y
wh
ere
I co
me
fro
m i
s p
oo
r in
Mil
wau
kee
, Wis
con
sin
.
M
y n
ame
is W
alte
r T
ow
nse
nd
I’m
16.
I c
om
e fr
om
a m
urd
er c
apit
al.
I w
atch
FO
X n
ews
and
hea
r h
un
dre
ds
of
bad
th
ings
day
an
d n
igh
t ab
ou
t
wh
at g
oes
do
wn
in
my
city
.
I
can’
t �
nd
a jo
b t
o s
up
po
rt m
y fa
mil
y an
d d
o m
y o
wn
litt
le f
un
th
ings
that
an
y o
ther
ran
do
m 1
6 ye
ar o
ld h
igh
sch
oo
l stu
den
t w
ou
ld d
o. I
’m ju
st
sayi
ng
my
mo
ms,
po
ps,
gra
nn
y, a
un
tie’
s an
d u
ncl
e’s
vote
d fo
r yo
u b
ecau
se
we
are
die
har
d t
o s
ee a
ch
ange
in
ou
r co
un
try
; th
e U
nit
ed S
tate
s O
f
Am
eric
a. W
hat
my
fam
ily
and
I w
ou
ld l
ove
to
see
hap
pen
fro
m y
ou
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
is m
ore
jo
bs,
les
s tr
ou
ble
ou
t h
ere
in t
hes
e h
ard
ro
ugh
str
eets
,
seco
nd
ch
ance
pro
gram
s fo
r th
e fe
lon
s.
I
wan
t to
see
my
mo
mm
a, a
un
tie,
sis
ter’
s an
d e
very
bla
ck s
ou
l ab
le
to s
up
po
rt t
hem
selv
es a
nd
no
t h
ave
to l
ive
o�
th
e sy
stem
; m
on
th t
o
mo
nth
pay
chec
ks
and
fo
od
sta
mp
s.
We
die
try
ing
to s
ee o
ur
race
100
%
succ
essf
ul.
We
are
tire
d o
f st
rugg
lin
g n
igh
t an
d d
ay li
vin
g in
th
ese
Do
Or
Die
(H
OO
DS)
I W
AN
T Y
OU
TO
MA
KE
LIF
E E
ASY
AN
D S
AF
ER
FO
R
OU
R B
LA
CK
BR
OT
HE
RS
AN
D S
IST
ER
S.
Sin
cere
ly, W
alte
r T
ow
nse
nd
RUF
US
Kin
gM
IDD
LE
SC
HO
OL
Dea
r M
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is A
ntw
on
Bra
shea
r, I
am
14
year
s o
ld a
nd
I a
tten
d R
ufu
s
Kin
g m
idd
le s
cho
ol.
I’m
an
eig
hth
gra
der
, w
ho
is
very
sm
art
and
o�
en
loo
ked
do
wn
up
on
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t I
live
on
21s
t an
d lo
cust
, an
d I
wat
ch m
y m
om
str
ugg
le
wit
h b
ills
bu
t sh
e th
ink
s I
do
n’t k
no
w. I
nev
er le
t her
kn
ow
that
I k
no
w a
nd
the
way
sh
e ta
kes
car
e o
f u
s yo
u w
ou
ldn’
t ev
en k
no
w.
Mu
rder
s h
app
en
aro
un
d m
y h
oo
d e
very
nig
ht.
So
me
nig
hts
we’
ll g
o t
o s
leep
to
gu
nsh
ots
and
oth
er n
igh
ts a
rgu
ing.
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
I am
ask
ing
for
you
r h
elp
. I’
m
no
t as
kin
g fo
r m
on
ey I
’m a
skin
g fo
r a
sim
ple
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d c
lean
-up
. It’s
got
to t
he
po
int
wh
ere
wh
en w
e h
ear
gun
sho
ts w
e ac
t as
if
it’s
nat
ura
l.
In
sch
oo
l te
ach
ers
call
me
du
mb
an
d s
ay I
wil
l n
ever
mak
e it
. �
at’s
on
e o
f th
e re
aso
ns
wh
y I
get
in t
rou
ble
in
stea
d o
f p
rovi
ng
them
wro
ng
I
pro
ve t
hem
rig
ht.
Fro
m w
hat
I’v
e h
eard
ab
ou
t yo
ur
chil
dh
oo
d t
each
ers
and
oth
ers
said
yo
u w
ou
ldn’
t m
ake
it b
ut
loo
k a
t yo
u n
ow
. I
am a
lso
ask
ing
for
chan
ge in
th
e sc
ho
ols
. Bel
ieve
it o
r n
ot
teac
her
s ar
e th
e b
igge
st
bu
llie
s ev
er a
nd
th
ey c
on
tin
ue
to p
ick
on
stu
den
ts b
ecau
se t
hey
are
a
teac
her
an
d t
hey
’re
in c
on
tro
l of
you
r ed
uca
tio
n. I
am
no
t se
arch
ing
for
a
han
do
ut
I’m
sea
rch
ing
for
a so
luti
on
.
In
th
e w
hit
e h
ou
se y
ou
an
d y
ou
r ch
ild
ren
are
saf
e fr
om
th
e o
uts
ide
wo
rld
, b
ut
in m
y h
oo
d e
very
on
e’s
a ta
rget
ju
st f
or
you
dre
ssin
g b
ette
r
than
th
e o
ther
per
son
. �er
e ar
e vi
ole
nt
bea
tin
gs a
nd
kil
lin
gs a
ll t
he
tim
e
and
I’m
get
tin
g si
ck o
f it
. W
e ca
n’t
wea
r �
ash
y th
ings
bec
ause
we
wo
uld
get
bea
t o
r k
ille
d f
or
it.
Ps.
I w
ou
ld l
ove
to
hav
e a
face
to
fac
e m
eeti
ng
wit
h y
ou
to
dis
cuss
th
ese
pro
ble
ms.
Sin
cere
ly, A
ntw
on
Bra
shea
r
•
Dea
r, M
r. O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is B
reo
n G
reer
, I’m
13
year
s o
ld, a
nd
I a
m w
riti
ng
this
lett
er
fro
m m
y sc
ho
ol R
ufu
s K
ing
Myp
. I’m
wri
tin
g th
is le
tter
to
yo
u t
o a
sk y
ou
for
som
eth
ing
very
im
po
rtan
t. B
ut
"rs
t I’
m g
oin
g to
tel
l yo
u w
hat
I’v
e
bee
n t
hro
ugh
co
min
g u
p.
I’
ve b
een
thro
ugh
thin
gs li
ke
this
, alm
ost
get
tin
g h
it b
y a
tru
ck, a
lmo
st
fall
ing
fro
m t
he
top
of
a tr
ee,
bei
ng
eate
n b
y 1
or
2 co
yote
s b
ecau
se I
did
no
t li
sten
to
my
two
fri
end
s D
e’An
dre
Ste
war
t an
d L
on
do
n S
mit
h
wh
en t
hey
tri
ed t
o t
ell m
e a
coyo
te w
as c
reep
ing
up
on
me
bec
ause
I w
as
wal
kin
g in
to it
s te
rrit
ory
.
S
o w
hat
I a
m t
ryin
g to
say
is
this
can
yo
u t
ry t
o u
pgr
ade
the
size
in
the
k5
to 8
gra
de
sch
oo
l b
uil
din
gs b
ecau
se I
go
to
a s
cho
ol
righ
t n
ow
wit
h o
nly
a 6
th-8
th g
rad
e m
axim
um
an
d a
ll o
f u
s ca
n b
arel
y m
ove
thro
ugh
th
e h
allw
ays
wit
ho
ut
gett
ing
cro
wd
ed o
r ge
ttin
g in
to "
ghts
wit
h
the
oth
er s
tud
ents
th
at is
in t
he
6th
or
7th
gra
de
bec
ause
we
acci
den
tall
y
bu
mp
ing
into
th
em. S
o c
an y
ou
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
try
to u
pgr
ade
the
mid
dle
sch
oo
l bu
ild
ings
lik
e th
e o
ne
I am
in
.
O
kay
, an
oth
er t
hin
g I
wo
uld
lik
e to
say
is s
epar
ate
the
ho
od
rat
s fr
om
the
nic
e w
ork
ing
peo
ple
th
at a
re t
ryin
g to
mak
e a
livi
ng
for
them
selv
es
and
th
eir
fam
ily.
If
you
wri
te b
ack
I a
m g
oin
g to
let
yo
u k
no
w t
hat
I a
m
fro
m t
he
I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g p
rogr
am.
Sin
cere
ly, B
reo
n G
reer
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
M
y n
ame
is Ja
del
yn R
ow
lett
an
d I
am
14
year
s o
ld, I
live
in M
ilw
auk
ee
Wis
con
sin
. I
live
wit
h m
y m
om
an
d d
ad.
My
dad
has
a f
ull
tim
e jo
b
bu
t m
om
do
esn’
t h
ave
a jo
b. M
y m
ain
co
nce
rn i
s w
hy
job
s ca
n’t
hir
e
peo
ple
un
der
16.
Yo
u p
ersu
aded
my
par
ents
to
vo
te f
or
you
so
meh
ow
.
Do
yo
u k
no
w h
ow
har
d i
t is
see
ing
my
mo
m s
tru
ggle
lik
e sh
e d
oes
to
hea
r h
er t
ell m
e th
at s
he
can’
t "
nd
a jo
b ju
st t
o h
elp
ou
t w
ith
bil
ls?
An
d I
kn
ow
yo
u c
an r
elat
e to
wh
at I
’m g
oin
g th
rou
gh. I
t’s e
mb
arra
ssin
g! I
’m n
ot
beg
gin
g yo
u I
just
ob
vio
usl
y n
eed
yo
ur
hel
p.
I
am t
he
�rs
t b
oy
fro
m 2
2nd
an
d H
op
kin
s to
wri
te y
ou
a l
ette
r. W
ith
all o
f th
e cr
ime
that
’s h
app
enin
g, I
ho
nes
tly
qu
esti
on
if m
y fa
mil
y w
ill e
nd
up
bu
ryin
g m
e b
ecau
se o
f gu
n v
iole
nce
. W
e d
eser
ve a
saf
e p
lace
to
liv
e
wit
h n
o v
iole
nce
. I lo
ok
fo
rwar
d t
o h
eari
ng
bac
k f
rom
yo
u.
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g ca
mp
aign
.
Sin
cere
ly, J
adel
yn R
ow
lett
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I
grew
up
in
Mil
wau
kee
Wis
con
sin
on
18t
h a
nd
No
rth
. No
w I
live
on
67th
an
d V
illa
rd. Y
ou
pro
bab
ly n
ever
wil
l mee
t o
r h
ear
fro
m a
nyo
ne
fro
m
my
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d. B
ut
her
e I
am a
frai
d t
o w
alk
in
my
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d.
#er
e ar
e ab
ou
t 7,
000
you
ng
bla
ck m
ales
th
at d
ie e
very
yea
r; I
fee
l th
at
that
is
very
un
nec
essa
ry a
nd
is
un
call
ed f
or
and
can
be
pre
ven
ted
no
t b
y
just
pu
ttin
g m
ore
peo
ple
beh
ind
bar
s b
ut
givi
ng
sup
po
rt t
o y
ou
ng
bla
ck
bo
ys li
ke
me.
I h
ave
had
to
go
6 y
ears
wit
ho
ut
my
fath
er f
rom
th
e ag
e o
f 6
to t
he
age
of
12. #
ose
are
a l
ot
of
bir
thd
ays;
man
y ti
mes
wh
en I
nee
ded
a p
osi
tive
mal
e ro
le m
od
el i
n m
y li
fe t
hat
he
was
n’t
ther
e.
I’
ve b
een
th
rou
gh a
lo
t in
th
e p
ast
year
s. I
mad
e a
lot
of
mis
tak
es a
nd
tho
ugh
t ab
ou
t d
oin
g th
ings
th
at s
ho
uld
nev
er c
ross
a t
een
ager
s m
ind
.
I’m
so
met
imes
afr
aid
of
wal
kin
g ar
ou
nd
th
e co
rner
bec
ause
I’m
go
ing
to b
e h
on
est
I’m
afr
aid
of
dyi
ng.
I’m
afr
aid
of
bei
ng
a d
isap
po
intm
ent
to t
he
peo
ple
wh
o h
ave
hel
ped
me
in l
ife.
I w
ake
up
in
th
e m
orn
ing
no
t
exp
ecti
ng
to g
et b
ack
ho
me
safe
ly.
Y
ou
liv
ed i
n C
hic
ago
so
yo
u m
igh
t k
no
w w
hat
my
nei
ghb
orh
oo
d
loo
ks
lik
e, f
eels
lik
e, a
nd
th
e th
ings
it
in$
uen
ce
me
to d
o. B
ut
no
w I
am
in t
he
8th
gra
de
par
tici
pat
ing
in t
he
“I W
ill
No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng
Cam
pai
gn”
wh
ich
has
sh
ow
n m
e a
new
pro
spec
tive
on
life
an
d h
as s
aved
my
life
. I g
o
thro
ugh
th
ings
th
at I
hav
e k
ept
in b
ut
du
rin
g th
ese
pas
t co
up
le o
f w
eek
s
I h
ave
let
a lo
t o
f th
ings
o%
my
ches
t an
d t
ried
th
ings
I n
ever
wo
uld
hav
e
tho
ugh
t ab
ou
t. P
rogr
ams
lik
e th
is s
ho
uld
be
pro
vid
ed t
o m
ore
yo
un
g
bla
ck m
ales
to
red
uce
th
at n
um
ber
of
7,00
0 d
yin
g ev
ery
year
.
#
e th
ings
th
at e
ven
hap
pen
at
sch
oo
l w
her
e w
e ar
e su
pp
ose
d t
o b
e
safe
at
isn’
t sa
fe t
o m
e. #
e th
ings
th
at g
o o
n, �
ghts
an
d o
ther
th
ings
th
at
aren
’t s
up
po
sed
to h
app
en; i
t’s s
cary
. I a
sk t
hat
yo
u ju
st r
ead
my
lett
er a
nd
tak
e it
to
hea
rt a
nd
do
wh
atev
er y
ou
th
ink
is
nec
essa
ry.
M
y m
oth
er h
as b
een
a g
reat
pro
vid
er t
o m
e an
d I
’ve
had
it
pre
tty
goo
d b
ut
I k
no
w p
eop
le t
hat
do
n’t
hav
e it
as
easy
an
d n
eed
hel
p.
I’m
goin
g to
try
an
d m
ake
a d
i%er
ence
in m
y co
mm
un
ity
bu
t w
ith
yo
ur
hel
p
I ca
n m
ake
an e
ven
big
ger
imp
act
and
mak
e th
e “I
Wil
l N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g
Cam
pai
gn”
kn
ow
n a
cro
ss t
he
Un
ited
Sta
tes.
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
!!!!
!!
Un
sign
ed
•
Dea
r P
resi
den
t,
I’
m J
ord
an B
urn
ett.
I h
ave
bee
n r
aise
d in
th
e h
oo
d; t
he
ho
od
th
at k
ills
each
oth
er e
very
day
. I l
ive
in a
ho
od
wh
ere
peo
ple
ju
st d
on’
t ca
re w
hat
they
do
; li
ke
smo
ke
wee
d,
sell
do
pe
and
kil
l. O
ver
7,00
0 B
LA
CK
bo
ys
die
d t
his
yea
r b
ecau
se b
lack
peo
ple
’s b
ehav
ior.
My
cou
sin
was
sta
bb
ed in
the
nec
k j
ust
fo
r sa
yin
g n
o t
o s
om
eth
ing
stu
pid
. B
arra
ck y
ou
r n
ame
is
po
wer
ful i
n b
lack
peo
ple
eye
’s. S
ho
w u
s th
at w
e ca
n b
e st
ron
ger
if w
e ju
st
wo
rk t
oge
ther
an
d m
ake
ou
r ch
ild
ren’
s fu
ture
bet
ter.
My
fam
ily
vote
d fo
r
you
Bar
rack
Ob
ama
and
no
w t
he
on
ly t
hin
g th
at w
e w
ant
is y
ou
r h
elp
to
sto
p b
lack
peo
ple
fro
m d
yin
g o
n t
he
stre
et.
Sin
cere
ly, J
ord
an B
urn
ett
•
Dea
r. B
arac
k O
bam
a,
M
y n
ame
is M
arq
uel
Cle
men
ts,
age
15 a
nd
I l
ive
in M
ilw
auk
ee
Wis
con
sin
. I’
m n
ot
tryi
ng
to t
ell
you
wh
at t
o d
o b
ut
I’m
ju
st t
ryin
g ge
t
you
r h
elp
. I k
no
w y
ou
do
n’t
kn
ow
me
bu
t yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w w
hat
hal
f o
f th
e
peo
ple
in t
he
Un
ited
Sta
tes
go t
hro
ugh
. Bu
t I
do
n’t
thin
k it
’s fa
ir w
e si
t o
ut
her
e an
d s
tru
ggle
an
d y
ou
sit
in a
big
wh
ite
ho
use
eve
ry d
ay. I
nev
er h
ear
abo
ut
a b
lack
bo
y m
y ag
e m
eeti
ng
the
Pre
sid
ent
bec
ause
hal
f o
f th
em a
re
bei
ng
kil
led
or
are
do
ing
the
kil
lin
g. I
wan
t to
be
the
�rs
t to
mee
t yo
u.
I’
m t
ryin
g ge
t o
ut
thes
e st
reet
s I
hav
e a
dre
am t
o g
et s
ign
ed a
nd
be
a
rap
per
. I h
op
e yo
u c
an h
elp
me
bec
ause
my
fam
ily
vote
d fo
r yo
u s
o I
ho
pe
you
can
hel
p u
s I’
m n
ot
tell
ing
you
to
ju
st h
elp
me
bu
t sh
ow
me
som
e
sup
po
rt. C
an y
ou
co
me
visi
t u
s an
d h
elp
us
ou
t? C
an y
ou
just
hel
p m
e o
ut
1 ti
me?
I’d
lik
e to
mee
t yo
u. J
ust
giv
e m
e o
ne
sho
t to
bec
om
e a
sup
erst
ar
is t
hat
to
o m
uch
to
ask
fo
r I
just
do
n’t
wan
t to
see
my
fam
ily
stru
ggle
no
mo
re.
I b
elie
ve i
n y
ou
so
I h
op
e yo
u b
elie
ve i
n m
e an
d I
ho
pe
I ge
t to
mee
t yo
u i
t w
as a
lway
s m
y d
ream
to
be
a ra
pp
er a
nd
sin
g a
son
g in
th
e
wh
ite
ho
use
.
Sin
cere
ly, M
arq
uel
Cle
men
ts
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent,
I
am n
ot
beg
gin
g o
r as
kin
g fo
r a
loan
or
han
do
ut.
I a
m 1
4 ye
ars
old
livi
ng
in M
ilw
auk
ee W
isco
nsi
n w
ith
my
mo
m, a
sin
gle
mo
ther
wit
h t
wo
chil
dre
n,
stru
ggli
ng
bu
t st
ill
mak
ing
her
way
fo
r u
s an
d w
hil
e sh
e’s
stil
l
at w
ork
all
nig
ht
I’m
try
ing
no
t to
be
pu
lled
in b
y al
l th
ese
bad
in"
uen
ces
that
’s s
urr
ou
nd
ing
me,
kee
p s
hak
ing
my
han
d t
ryin
g to
pu
t d
rugs
in
it.
I’m
pre
tty
sure
yo
u k
no
w a
bo
ut
the
7,00
0 b
oys
wh
o d
ie e
very
sin
gle
year
wh
ich
do
esn’
t mak
e se
nse
. Yo
u c
on
tro
l bas
ical
ly e
very
thin
g so
yo
u s
ho
uld
kn
ow
wh
y m
y p
eop
le a
re d
yin
g ev
ery
day
an
d I
do
n’t
wan
t m
y m
om
to
wo
rry
abo
ut
seei
ng
my
blo
od
sta
ins
insi
de
the
con
cret
e o
n a
str
eet
wh
ere
no
on
e ca
res.
Or
wan
t m
y m
om
to
see
me
dre
ssed
all
nic
e b
ut
for
no
reas
on
bec
ause
I’m
dea
d a
lrea
dy
layi
ng
ther
e w
hil
e sh
e’s
cryi
ng
and
I
sho
uld
be
ther
e w
ith
her
co
mfo
rtin
g h
er.
A
s a
mat
ter
of
fact
I s
ho
uld
n’t
bec
ause
no
on
e sh
ou
ld h
ave
to g
o
thro
ugh
th
at if
yo
u a
re t
ruly
do
ing
you
r jo
b. I
’m n
ot
tryi
ng
to d
isre
spec
t
you
I j
ust
wan
t yo
u t
o h
ear
me
ou
t an
d m
y m
om
vo
ted
fo
r yo
u a
nd
all
we
ask
fo
r w
as f
or
you
to
just
mak
e a
chan
ge I
wan
t to
mak
e a
chan
ge t
o
hel
p m
y p
eop
le a
nd
giv
e to
my
peo
ple
all
I c
an. I
wil
l n
ever
giv
e u
p a
nd
I’m
let
tin
g yo
u k
no
w t
hat
I w
ill
no
t d
ie y
ou
ng.
We
nee
d h
elp
an
d m
ore
job
s fo
r yo
un
ger
peo
ple
to
kee
p u
s o
ut
of
tro
ub
le.
An
d j
ust
in
cas
e yo
u
did
n’t
see
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
…
An
d I
exp
ect
to b
e h
eari
ng
fro
m y
ou
so
on
it w
ill b
e a
grea
t p
leas
ure
.
Sin
cere
ly, M
usa
Mu
ham
mad
•D
ear
Mr.
Pre
sid
ent
(Bar
ack
Ob
ama)
,
C
an y
ou
do
so
met
hin
g ab
ou
t w
hat
’s h
app
enin
g? I
’m S
tep
han
yo
u
hav
e to
hel
p u
s. Y
ou
’re
livi
ng
the
goo
d l
ife
in D
.C.
Wh
y d
o y
ou
th
ink
bla
ck p
eop
le k
ill
each
oth
er?
To
get
wh
at t
hey
wan
t th
at’s
no
t ri
ght.
I
hav
e se
en a
lot
for
my
age
I’m
13
and
I’m
no
t b
eggi
ng
I ju
st w
ant
hel
p.
I
hav
e lo
ts o
f dea
d f
rien
ds.
Ho
w m
any
do
yo
u h
ave?
We
vote
d fo
r yo
u
as o
ne
of
us
we
tho
ugh
t yo
u w
ou
ld h
elp
yo
ur
bla
ck p
eop
le. Y
ou
sh
ou
ld
feel
ou
r p
ain
. #
ink
if
I d
ie w
ill
you
co
me
to m
y fu
ner
al?
Yo
ur
bla
ck
folk
s th
ou
ght
it w
ou
ld’v
e b
een
a g
oo
d i
dea
to
hel
p y
ou
so
yo
u c
an h
elp
us.
Yo
u a
re s
itti
ng
ther
e w
ith
yo
ur
feet
up
in t
he
air
wit
h m
aid
s an
d s
tu$
lik
e th
at.
We
are
stru
ggli
ng
to li
ve. W
hy
do
yo
u p
ut
mo
re m
on
ey in
jail
an
d p
riso
n
then
ou
r sc
ho
ols
? I
wan
t to
be
som
eth
ing
goo
d c
an y
ou
hel
p?
I lo
ok
forw
ard
to
see
ing
you
I w
ill n
ot
die
yo
un
g.
Step
han
Qu
antr
ell,
Mil
wau
kee
, Kil
lwau
kee
Wh
y d
o y
ou
th
ink
we
call
it t
hat
?
•
Dea
r M
r. O
bam
a,
I
live
in a
ho
use
wit
h f
ou
r b
roth
ers
and
I f
eel l
ike
they
pic
k o
n m
e an
d
no
t m
y o
ther
bro
ther
s. A
s fa
r as
sch
oo
l go
es, I
nee
d t
o s
tart
go
ing
to c
lass
on
tim
e an
d t
he
teac
her
s n
eed
to
sto
p p
utt
ing
me
ou
t o
f cl
ass
so I
can
do
mo
re w
ork
in m
y cl
asse
s. B
ut
wh
en I
go
to
cla
ss o
n t
ime
they
pu
t m
e o
ut
stil
l so
I b
e li
ke
forg
et it
for
real
. I t
hin
k b
ecau
se it
’s t
he
end
of
sch
oo
l th
ey
just
pu
ttin
g m
e o
ut
so I
wo
n’t
pas
s.
Y
ou
up
in y
ou
r o
�ce
bei
ng
goo
d y
ou
nee
d t
o c
om
e to
Mil
wau
kee
an
d
hel
p p
eop
le s
top
kil
lin
g p
eop
le. D
o y
ou
kn
ow
wh
at h
app
en o
n 2
3rd
an
d
Cen
ter?
Y
ou
nee
d t
o t
alk
to
th
e p
eop
le a
nd
see
wh
at t
hey
on
. W
hy
is i
t m
ore
jail
s in
Mil
wau
kee
an
d n
ot
mo
re s
cho
ols
? W
e n
eed
to
go
ou
t to
hel
p o
ld
peo
ple
an
d y
ou
ng
peo
ple
to
sta
y o
ut
of
tro
ub
le a
nd
tak
e th
em g
un
s aw
ay
so c
an y
ou
ple
ase
hel
p u
s.
I W
ILL
NO
T D
IE Y
OU
NG
Sin
cere
ly, T
erri
on
Arn
ett
•D
r. P
resi
den
t,
M
y n
ame
is T
yrel
l W
ren
cher
. I
live
on
no
rth
19t
h a
nd
Mel
vin
a. I
go
to s
cho
ol
at R
ufu
s K
ing
Mid
dle
sch
oo
l an
d I
nee
d y
ou
r h
elp
. "
ere
are
all t
hes
e p
eop
le d
yin
g b
ecau
se o
f gu
n v
iole
nce
. Ove
r 7,
000
bla
ck m
ale
are
gon
e b
ecau
se o
f th
e st
reet
s so
I a
m a
skin
g fo
r yo
ur
hel
p. I
’m a
litt
le b
lack
bo
y fr
om
th
e h
oo
d w
ho
is
loo
kin
g fo
r so
meo
ne
to h
elp
an
d s
up
po
rt o
ur
you
ng
bla
ck k
ids
and
co
mm
un
ity.
My
cou
sin
die
d b
ecau
se y
ou
wo
n’t
tak
e
the
gun
s aw
ay f
rom
th
e b
ad p
eop
le.
M
y m
om
is
stil
l cr
yin
g b
ecau
se w
hat
hap
pen
ed t
o h
er g
ran
dso
n
wh
o g
ot
sho
t o
ver
som
e w
eed
. W
e w
ere
clo
se.
Ou
r d
ream
was
to
mak
e
it t
o t
he
NB
A t
oge
ther
bu
t n
ow
wh
at…
….
He’
s go
ne
bec
ause
yo
u d
idn’
t
tak
e th
e gu
n a
way
fro
m b
ad p
eop
le.
Yo
u d
on’
t k
no
w h
ow
it
feel
s to
wak
e u
p e
very
day
an
d k
no
w t
hat
so
meo
ne
you
kn
ow
was
sh
ot
ove
r so
me
no
nse
nse
.
M
r. P
resi
den
t w
e al
l nee
d y
ou
. If
I w
as t
he
pre
sid
ent
it w
ill b
e a
wh
ole
lot
di#
eren
t:
lik
e yo
u c
an’t
car
ry a
gu
n w
ith
ou
t a
lice
nse
an
d s
cho
ols
wo
uld
no
t b
e li
ke
jail
s.
Sin
cere
ly, T
yrel
l Wre
nch
er
I W
ill N
ot
Die
Yo
un
g —
Let
ters
to
th
e P
resi
den
tC
op
yrig
ht
© 2
013
IWN
DY
All
rig
hts
res
erve
d. N
o p
art
of
this
bo
ok
may
be
use
d o
r re
pro
du
ced
in
an
y m
ann
er w
hat
soev
er
wit
ho
ut
the
wri
tten
per
mis
sio
n o
f th
e I
Wil
l No
t D
ie Y
ou
ng
Cam
pai
gn.
