As African-Americans we must do our part to help race relations in our country, and not perpetuate the issue with excuses. President Obama calls for us to do our part in moving on from an unjust past in his “A More Perfect Union” speech. He urges us to address incidents of racism with action, not words. He does this by saying says, “By investing in our schools and our communities…by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations”. We must move towards an era in which black students walk onto college campuses ready to earn their degree in four years. We must provide healthcare to those in needs, regardless of their skin color. President Obama also emphasizes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In order to continue in the direction of equality for all people, we all come together in our efforts for change. The single Hispanic mother has many of the same needs as the white family living in a rented trailer. We all have more in common than most realize. Every culture has its own problems, but we can come together to fight universal issues like subpar housing, or healthcare. Those that have fought before us have left a map for us to follow in our fight for change. President Obama acknowledges those of Reverend Wright’s generation, saying, “What's remarkable is not how many failed in the face of discrimination, but rather how many men and women overcame the odds”. There are no police teams with attack dogs and fire hoses or segregated water fountains, but this union is not yet perfect. African-Americans must focus on our promising future, rather than our dark past. Just as our President felt the time was right for him to run for the highest office in the county, it is the right time for us to fight for change. The time is now.
Works Cited
Obama, Barack. “A More Perfect Union.” National Constitution Center, Philadelphia. 18 March
2008. Speech.
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