Barack Obama tackles race in Philadelphia speech

In a moment that sounded oddly like Mitt Romney talking about religion, Barack Obama just directly addressed the undercurrent -- and occasionally main current -- of race in the 2008 presidential campaign, describing the nation's black-white divide as "a racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years."

In a 37-minute speech in Philadelphia, Obama again rejected the incendiary comments of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright while placing them within the context of a generation raised amid the pain of the civil rights struggle and the "legacy of defeat" shouldered by African Americans who, unlike those who "scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream," still lead unfulfilled lives.

He sought to cast this as a historic moment -- an opportunity to forge change, or to fall back into the stalemate.

"The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through –- a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like healthcare, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American."

But Obama sought to put Wright's views, and those of many African Americans -- as well as whites -- within a cultural context, and it was unclear whether his tack would bridge the divide or assuage those enraged by Wright's comments.

Obama argued that class weighs heavily, too. "Most working- and middle-class white Americans don’t feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. ... They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero-sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time."

In both cases, Obama said, the angers and resentments "distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle-class squeeze," blame he laid at the feet of corrupted corporate culture, "a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests" and "economic policies that favor the few over the many.  And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns -– this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding."

Obama argued that "like the anger within the black community, these resentments ...

aren’t always expressed in polite company. But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation. Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk-show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism."

So what to do? For African Americans, "binding our particular grievances" over such issues as better access to healthcare and good schools "to the larger aspirations of all Americans -- the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling, the white man who's been laid off, the immigrant trying to feed his family. And it means taking full responsibility for our own lives -– by demanding more from our fathers, and spending more time with our children, and reading to them, and teaching them that while they may face challenges and discrimination in their own lives, they must never succumb to despair or cynicism; they must always believe that they can write their own destiny."

But white Americans must acknowledge "that what ails the African American community does not just exist in the minds of black people," and that the legacy of discrimination thrives in both personal anger and policy decisions that had led to unequal access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities. "It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper."

It was a forceful speech, and a good moment for Obama. The question, of course, is whether it was good enough, and whether he can now move his campaign beyond what has become a major stumbling block for his quest for the Democratic nomination.

-- Scott Martelle

Photo: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Elena]

I am a 29 white woman who grew up in Idaho, incredibly naive about racial difference and the legacy of racism. After college, I spent 3 years in rural Mississippi teaching at an all black high school in one of the most impoverished parts of the nation. I have lived and worked on both sides of the racial divide and have learned along the way how complicated issues of race, justice, & economic disparity intersect. Obama presents some of the most honest & difficult truths I have ever heard from a politician with candor, humility, & grace. He is not a perfect man — but he has enormous insight & wisdom. This was a courageous moment in American politics. I can’t conceive of voting for anyone else. Even if his campaign should somehow fail, I consider myself lucky to have heard this speech today & to be part of the generation that has witnessed & worked for his campaign.

[R. vasudevan]

Americans will be loathe to admit it...but the fact is despite his impressive showing, Obama will not finally make it tgo the White House, becuase he happens to be an African American. Race and the skin colour does matter for most Americans. For all their lip serivce, the possibility of a Black US President is not palatable to the majority of whites.

R. Vasudevan, New Delhi, India

[R Hudgens]

This is an incredible speech and demonstrates to me why Obama should be our next President. However, if he is not elected then the words of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the underlying cynicism about racial progress in America will have been solidified.

[Nicholas Lefevre]

The parsing and mischaracterizations of this speech has aready begun. Nobody should rely on the characterizations of others about the content of this speech. You MUST watch the entire speech before commenting.

[Marilyn Prescott]

How could Senator Obama compare his grandmother's ignorance to his pastor's arrogance? You can't compare the two as being remotely similar. The senator needs to remember that some of us "Feel Good" Americans are still capable of rational thought. I'm tired of Obama's rhetoric.
M. Prescott

[anon]

How, and why exactly is this a 'major stumbling block' for Obama? Can anyone really explain this to me? I sometimes do not understand the news I am reading.

[Marvin]

The Conservative HATERS now have to wait for RUSH to tell them how they should digest Barack's speech. Shame, shame!

[blackbox]

A black man talking about race issues......
what a shocker!

"vote for me if you ever felt quilty about the racism black people have experienced"

[James]

For all of his flower speeches, Obama lacks the judgment or the integrity to take the action he describes. What action did he take when he knew he was subscribing and supporting a racist pastor? He did nothing. As a typical politician who will say and do anything to get elected, he waited until his little racist secret was uncovered and then gave a 30 minute history lesson of racism in America, not once apologizing for his complete lack of judgment in continually supporting a man who is clearly a racist. He does not deserve, and should not get, a free pass on this issue because he can decieve people with flowery rhetoric. If McCain, Bush, Gore, or Edwards, had been attending KKK rallies in the South for the past 20 years, we would we let them off the hook by saying, "the KKK does a lot of good in the white community and while I don't subscribe to all of its teachings, I can understand its point of view." No. We would expect that the leader of the free world (or wannabe leader) would have the integrity to stand up in the middle of such a racist rant, or to pull him aside (before he was caught), and say, "I don't agree with these comments. They are racist. I will not subject either myself, my wife, or my kids to such hateful speech." Obama did not have the integrity to do that. He should be ashamed as should all of his apologists.

[Sharon]

Unfortunately racism is alive and well though I can't agree with everything Obama's minister said, I don't feel it is fair to judge him by what his minister said. I worship in a church now where more than half of the congregation all but hates the minister. The important thing is that they are not there to worship the minister but to glorify Jesus. I think the manner in which Obama has ran his campaign demonstrates that he is humble and is not trying to make this thing about race. I guess this does help the ratings on the news programs though. Unfourtunately it has been my experience that most of the black people who are not supporting Obama chooses not to because they fear he will be killed should he become president. I think that is really sad and only validates some of his minister's words. I think the real issue is are the words of Minister Wright true. I really resent a white person telling me how to feel as a minority or to even begin to understand what the struggle is about. I grew up where hangings happened. There are still many people who have lived that who have not forgotten. I don't think the hatred and anger are justified, especially in the pulpit, but I do understand.

[BabyBoss]

where can you find the speech in its entirety? I thought it was passionate and beautiful. I lOVE ALL OF YOU

[bob]

Obama is a highly skilled manipulator. don't be fooled...

[thescoopenator]

Senator Obama showed the American people what can truly be. He showed courage and a true sense of the fears and realities of all races, and sexes. He spoke truth and sometimes truth hurts. The time is NOW!

[Gayguy whose mother left her church]

It is not his race, but his unwillingness to remove himself completely from a man that perpetuates racial divide.
After I came-out as a gay man, my mom left her church for making anti-gay statements. She grew up in this church, her kids were all baptized there, even some of her grandkids... she got married in it, etc., etc., etc., but she eventually left it because it was anti-gay.
There's a big difference about family that you can not reject, versus someone who is "like" family. There's is a power of choice.
He does not reject Wright (the man) because if he gets the nomination, he will need the Black vote. Rejecting Wright (the man) means the Black community calling him a sell-out.

[Dave G]

It is my sincere hope that all of us Americans can finally agree that we still do have major obstacles to unifying our country. Let's not enable one or two speeches by a church pastor prevent us from hearing all the good thoughts and vision of Barack Obama. He really can make a difference. We cannot go on with a Business as Usual" direction. It is time for dramatic change. Let's not fear this change but welcome it. Our place in the global world depends on it and we do not have time to waste.

[Donna]

I am a 50 year old white Republican woman who intends to vote for Barack Obama. I am ready to take that "leap of faith" with him. He is exactly what our country needs.

[ThinkPiece]

This speech will forever be known as, "Obama throws his Grandma under the bus!"

[Dwight]

Legitimate questions have been asked as to why whites support Obama.

I find the quality of his reasoning very strong. I ask myself if I am being duped by a slick guy.

I do find that I take comfort from the Kansas roots of Obama's mother, a woman who clearly seems to have lived a life of thought, sincerity, and dedication.

I went to Yale. My friends aspire high, and have achieved. But I have seen real leadership from few of them. Support for Iraq as a political calculation; Wall Street point winning; these have been more common.

Obama does look like the best of a new generation. My generation (I'm 42).

Where Hillary hid behind her mega-return in cattle futures, Obama says buying a 10 foot strip of land from Rezko was a bonehead move. Here's a guy who can admit an error; she's a person who hides her errors -- not sure she thinks she ever made one. Like George W. Bush. He has Rezko; she has the Asian guy. She wants to fight; he wants to unite. I've thought about it alot. I 'll go with him.

But, America has a big issue that Obama hasn't addressed. How will he really keep us safe?

If he gives a great answer, he will be president.

On security, one day America will realize we win through assuring our enemies of wholesale destruction of all they love if they nuke us. Why? Because it works. That's how Reagan faced down the Soviets, by talking tough but in fact only invading Grenada.

One day we will learn to tell the Islamic Jihadists that if they nuke us, we will obliterate all countries Muslim from Marocco to Indonesia. Only that will stop them from thinking big. And it will: they love the Muslim world and want to run it. But they can't run what doesn't exist. And they don't want to be responsible for it's end.

McCain has walked hismself out on a ledge with his eagerness for more Hot War that bleeds our soliders and our treasury. McCain is eager for more Viet Nams and Iraqs that play to the strength of pesky advesaries.

We Americans want Cold War, where we sit back behind our nuclear shield in relative peace, run our economy well, and let the inefficiency of our adversaries drive their own people batty until they throw them out and take up leaders who are more like us.

The Cold War mantle of wholesale assured destruction as response to an enemy nuke is there for Obama to take.

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice let the terrorists define themselves as having no country, and thus immune to the wholesale assured destruction that kept the Soviets in check. Hokum. There's are all the Muslim nations.

Obama is a very wise man. If he has the wisdom to assure our adversaries of broad and wholesale retaliatoary destruction, he will have a real chance at carrying 55-60% of the popular vote. Because the America people will see by emulating Reagan's successful approach, Obama is the wise man on defense, and McCain is asking us to support more folly that only our enemies could want.

[char]

This speech was stunning...I am relieved that he was able to verbalize these thoughts in such a meaningful way. There is no hype here; just a man expressing himself eloquently and humbly. His candor is remarkable, I hope his message is not lost to the negative politics from the other candidate who shall not be named.

[ger]

Did'nt like the speech at all,just more lies I was listening to him and I noticed Obama said he knew about the remarks his pastor made,but 2 days ago in a interview he said something different,he said he did'nt know.Obama is like any politician give a good speech,and then the dumbs fall into line.I don't need some butt faced politician who lies with smooth words to represent me,I need a president who has been open to all.Would we elect David Duke if he gave some fancy speech,even though we knew his connections to the KKK,I think not.

[John Grace]

As a high school student in Montana I marched in protest after the Rev. Martin Luther King was assinated urging the passage of the Civil Rights Legislation. It saddened me afterwards to see my black brothers retreat into self imposed segregation to develop a racial pride that needed to exist. As a proud Irish-American I understood the need for identity and pride but also for integration not just in employment and education but also in social settings. Integration is the necessary process of breaking down the fear of difference that divides us. Integration allows us to see that we are indeed all in the same boat and not so very different. Obama's speech has now changed me from a Hilary supporter to an Obama supporter with the hope that we can voluntarily integrate and learn to accept one another. If we are to live in peace in this country and be a world leader its the next step we have to take,

[zammy]

Look for Obama to be a prinicple player in global affairs after he miracously wins the presidential election.

[Chris Green]

Politics in America affects the globe and that's why so many persons outside of the USA are so caught up in this campaign.
I have watched as America squandered its political capital after 9/11, going from a nation that everyone could empathize with and support to being viewed as arrogant aggressors pursuing purely selfish, concocted agendas.

Now with the a clear choice between the politics that got you to this position of economic gloom and an unjustifiable war and a real chance of positive meaningful change. I watch in amazement at how what seems like an easy and obvious choice , is made to seem difficult and trying.

The world watches and hopes that America gets it right this time. We know who we would want as your President. We too hope for change we can believe in.

[Akindele]

Firstly, I have to say that there is no other like Obama. Absolutely none.

To sum up Senator Obama's speech today,

What he is offerring is not for the naive, nor the fainted-hearted, its not for the uncourageous, nor the unchanging.
What he is offering is for the courageous, for those who have the heart to move beyond just dreams, and into realms never experienced in American history.
What he is offerring is beyond hope, hope is just a starting point, like the intimate binding of struggle between his example of the young white girl and the old black man.
What he is offerring is for those who look to the next generation, believing that perfection is not in the eyes of the beholder, but reality which we can't avoid
What he is offerring is a solution for opportunities for more solutions to tackle root issues that have paralyzed a nation fit for perfection
What he is offerring is the antisynthesis to an ideology of hate and a philosophy of inferiority
What he is offerring is an agreement between struggles and a covenant for perfection, in that nothing is impossible if one begins with hope and the assurance of faith
What he is offerring is a contract between the old and the young, black and white, citizens and immigrants, rich and poor, priviledged and the impoverished
What he is offerring is beyond what we think could happen, it is what will happen someday, though the opportunity is one that we can grasp
What he is offerring is enough to make a young man like myself, from distant shores, from a place unlike America, have hope for where I'm from, from righ here in America
What he is offerring cannot be exploited by no one, cannot be politically manipulated by any pundit, cannot be impoverished by any economic struggle, it prevails above all else

I am ready for what he is offering, though I also understand that this time, fate might not be ready, though if indeed our generation's destiny, if indeed this time when we speak of such taboo truths, is indeed the time we've so longed for, to move one step closer towards perfection, then I am ready for what he is offering.

That is all that matters, no matter what the political outcome is, he has tapped into a force greater than what we have ever faced, he speaks directly to our hearts, bypassing our conscience and connecting with the root of our psyche. So that even if we try to hold hard to that which continue to divide us, because of our fear, our ignorance, and our childish philosophies of unchanging solutions; his message transcends our reach.

So on behalf of Senator Obama's message, who is truly the epitome of a dream that can only be dreamt by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., I am truly inspired that hope, change, and perfection are all means and ends which one day, we will achieve, within this nation and the world at-large.

So I hope you got the message, a very clear, simple yet complex, straightforward yet deep understanding of what we need to do to go to where we need to go.

If you feel inspired like I do, don't hide, express it and let it shine as the gem that it is, immune from our own worst enemies, each other.

God Bless.

[Roger]

All this shows is that he is an eloquent speaker. His choice in associations display quite an array of questionable and despicable characters. Who would be his cabinet?