This was an excellent speech to a ready crowd. The NAACP speeches are important to America. It is there a President can address the past, present, and future of Americans who are marginalized and those who have achieved success. President Obama reminded us of the value of being one nation. I was glad he mentioned that this great country is also the place of second chances. Those who need a fresh start should be able to get one as we are the place of opportunities. It seems that we forget how much we have in natural resources (our people), in our sense of fairness, generosity, and community things of value. We still live separately. When attacked we move as one. Regardless as to the fringe groups' denial President Obama is the President of us all and he represents us well in the world and at home.
See Langston Hughes' poem, "Mother to Son" to understand that what he said is not new for African Americans to hear. How it is said means all the world. Bill Cosby used ridicule and turned the very people he wanted to reach off. Many others like President Obama have used the truth not as a weapon but as a call for change and to encourage people to strive for better. In poor and marginalized communities this is a call that must be repeated because change, real change, is often slow, taking a great deal of energy and perseverance before it manifests itself.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
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