Given the political and social divide in America, where do you find faith that it's possible for us to come together as a country and heal that divide?
"Those folks — who look out at everything we face as a country and do the work to make it right — they're the reason I still believe our better days are ahead."
Well, my name's Barack Hussein Obama, and I made it to the White House, so I've always been able to maintain a sense of optimism. And from my very first days as an organizer on the South Side of Chicago, I have been amazed by the basic decency of the people I have met around this country. As long as I can keep their stories in mind, I stay hopeful — and that's even been true over the past four years.
We've seen folks of every age and background pack city centers and town squares so that families wouldn't be separated. We've seen the Parkland kids lead us so that another classroom wouldn't get shot up. We've seen healthcare workers risk their lives day in and day out to save somebody else's loved ones. We've seen Americans of all races joining together to declare that Black Lives Matter.
Those folks — who look out at everything we face as a country and do the work to make it right — they're the reason I still believe our better days are ahead.
Additional reporting by Mandy Harris, Lisa Peterson, Zareen Siddiqui, Riyana Straetker, and Lisa Sugar
