Video of President Obama's speech at NAACP convention and commentary
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Pres. Obama making his speech before the NAACP. AP Photo Haraz N. Ghanbari
President Obama began the speech by honoring the history of NAACP and the participants of the Civil Rights movement. The President emphasized the concept that in the civil rights movement leaders recognized that "change would have to come from the people." He then cited examples such as the Freedom Rides, protests against lynchings, and sit-ins at lunch counters. President Obama then applied the same principle to problems of our time such as HIV/AIDS and unemployment saying those problems require "The same commitment. The same sense of urgency. The same sense of sacrifice. The same willingness to do our part for ourselves and one another that has always defined America at its best." It was a welcome call from President Obama for the public to bring about change itself and be a part of the solution rather than simply waiting for a solution. The President then outlined the ways in which people can do their part.
First the President stated that discrimination and bigotry must still be fought. While he made it clear that discrimination is a lesser problem than in the past, the President also stated the problem still must be fought on every level today. These were well spoken words by the President that addressed to mistaken extremes on the race issue in America. On one extreme are those who believe no progress has been made and that racism and discrimination are as bad as ever. On the other extreme are those who think racism and discrimination are a thing of the past. The truth is discrimination and racism are still problems that deserve attention but the problems are not as severe as when African-Americans were kept from even voting as recently as the 1950's.
President Obama then moved on to the issue of education which was the most important aspect of the speech. The President pointed to the failing educational system in America right now as a problem that must be addressed to prosper in the future. Most importantly, the President made clear that education is "not an African-American problem; it's an American problem." In the 21st century economies quality education will be absolute crucial for America to maintain its dominance. We can reduce carbon emissions and increase access to health care all we want but without a quality educational system we will quickly find ourselves looking up to China and India. The call for educational reform was welcome and needed in the mist of debates for reforms of energy and health care policy.
The next part of President Obama's speech was directed toward the need for increased personal responsibility amongst Americans. While once again emphasizing the proper role of government in making opportunity available for all the President stressed the need for people to do their part. Particularly enlightening was the President's attack on a mindset of victimization and hopelessness when he said:
We have to say to our children, Yes, if you're African American, the odds of growing up amid crime and gangs are higher. Yes, if you live in a poor neighborhood, you will face challenges that someone in a wealthy suburb does not. But that's not a reason to get bad grades, that's not a reason to cut class, that's not a reason to give up on your education and drop out of school. No one has written your destiny for you. Your destiny is in your hands - and don't you forget that.The quote was directed toward African-Americans but I believe it could also be applied to school children of all races who find justifications for giving up or failing. Perhaps most challenging however was the Presidents call for parents to take responsibility for the education of their children:
To parents, we can't tell our kids to do well in school and fail to support them when they get home. For our kids to excel, we must accept our own responsibilities. That means putting away the Xbox and putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour. It means attending those parent-teacher conferences, reading to our kids, and helping them with their homework.Rather than putting the blame for failure solely on government, the schools, or teachers the President appropriately also put responsibility on the shoulders of parents as well. Parents do, after all, contribute greatly to the success or failure of their children in school with the attitude and discipline they give their son or daughter.
To end the speech the President returned to his inspiring "prose and poetry" that made him such a successful Presidential candidate. Much like he did during the campaign, President Obama masterfully pointed to the dark past of America while also suggesting the possibility of the bright future by referring to his trip to the slave castle in Ghana:
There, reflecting on the dungeon beneath the castle church, I was reminded of all the pain and all the hardships, all the injustices and all the indignities on the voyage from slavery to freedom.The message was clear throughout the speech that government and the people must work together to succeed. The government must play its part to provide equal opportunity and the people must play their part by taking personal responsibility for themselves and for the good of the country. I was glad to see the President return to some of the inspiration that made the most die hard cynics believe when he was inaugurated. Perhaps the President should get of Washington D.C. to give more messages like this in the future.
But I was also reminded of something else. I was reminded that no matter how bitter the rod or how stony the road, we have persevered. We have not faltered, nor have we grown weary. As Americans, we have demanded, strived for, and shaped a better destiny.
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