Obama鈥檚 best legacy on race
In what may be his parting speech as president on race relations, President Obama focused on a theme common in his previous talks: the need to acknowledge racial progress already made in America.
Ciearra Jefferson celebrates her graduation with her class after President Barack Obama delivered the Howard University's commencement speech in Washington May 7. Obama says the country is "a better place today" than when he graduated from college more than 30 years ago, citing his historic election as "one indicator of how attitudes have changed."
AP Photo
Since he burst onto the national scene in 2004 at the Democratic convention, President Obama has probably had to give more speeches about race than he expected 鈥� at least three major ones. Now, in his final year as the first black president of the United States, he chose to give one more. On May 7, he was the 2016 commencement speaker at Howard University, the nation鈥檚 most prominent historically black university.
As in his previous talks on race relations, Mr. Obama emphasized the continuing need to tackle prejudice and counter lingering injustices from slavery and Jim Crow laws. But he opened with a theme that is common in his earlier talks: the need to appreciate the progress already made in order to sustain further change.
To frame his point, he chose to highlight the many changes since he graduated from college in 1983. Former basketball great Michael Jordan, for example, now owns the team he played on. 鈥淎merica is better. The world is better. And stay with me now 鈥� race relations are better since I graduated. That鈥檚 the truth,鈥� Obama said.
Obama said the current generation is better positioned than any previous generation to 鈥渇lip the script鈥� on the remaining challenges of race and injustice. The task needs more than 鈥渞ighteous anger鈥� or organization and a strategy. It is important to note the service and sacrifice made in years past by 鈥渢he legions of foot soldiers,鈥� he said, in order to spur today鈥檚 African-Americans into action.
鈥淏ecause of those who鈥檝e come before you, you have models to follow. You can work for a company, or start your own. You can go into politics, or run an organization that holds politicians accountable,鈥� he said.
In another speech on race last year, he refuted a report by his own Department of Justice that stated recent police shootings of blacks showed not much change in race relations. He said denying progress in race relations would rob people of their capacity and responsibility to do what they can do to make America better.
In his first major speech on race, given in 2007 and also at Howard University, he likened today鈥檚 black Americans to Joshua taking over from Moses in seeking the Promised Land. He told his audience that they stand 鈥渙n the shoulders of many Moses.鈥�
Obama鈥檚 legacy on improving race relations is mixed, yet he will leave office with what may be his most motivating words: 鈥淩emember how far we鈥檝e come.鈥�
Or as he told the class of 2016: Open your eyes to 鈥渢he moment that you are in.鈥�