It is with great hope that I view our future with our President-elect Barack Obama, not just for our country but very specifically for young black males.

For years I taught elementary school in the inner city of Columbus, Ohio. It was with great sadness that I repeatedly heard the boys expounding on their future as pro football stars. Because I was white and lived in the part of the city they considered “rich” they would not and perhaps could not hear me say that not only size but “smarts” played a huge part in that picture. One was not recruited to play football at Ohio State with failing grades or if you were a short, skinny little guy.

Twenty years ago who were the role models for black kids? Pro athletes. Now they can look at their president. Educated, well-spoken, neat and even talks about books he has and is reading. It is a novel concept for many inner-city youth.

Thank you, President-elect Obama for giving our black young men someone to emulate.

Elizabeth Fauver

Machias