2008 Woodie Awards
Obama's Speech on racism takes first step towards unity
Tim May
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Forum
For example, the tragedies of the war in Iraq cross racial boundaries with its ever-increasing death toll. In addition, our funding of the war has had a detrimental economic effect on the middle and lower classes of our society.
When dealing with these troubling issues, it's essential that our society doesn't collapse under our feet. To help prevent this, Obama exposed our country's racial divide and how, if we begin to move beyond it, we will form "a more perfect union."
The United States will undoubtedly be polarized by Obama's speech, which is problematic given the issues he discusses. Although Obama took a brave and admirable first step in uncovering these historical and present issues, it's important to understand that an effort to combat racism can't end at the podium.
As a society, we must understand the institutional implications of racism that are alive in our own public policies. Racism plays a role in the creation of bad schools, the high unemployment rate, our miserable health care system, and our presence in Iraq.
Discussion and theorizing are important, but if we want actively change the presence of racism in our society, there needs to be a transformation of the rules that govern our country. With his speech, Obama began to point to some these problems. Hopefully, his promises for change will be acknowledged by the public and cemented in public office.
When dealing with these troubling issues, it's essential that our society doesn't collapse under our feet. To help prevent this, Obama exposed our country's racial divide and how, if we begin to move beyond it, we will form "a more perfect union."
The United States will undoubtedly be polarized by Obama's speech, which is problematic given the issues he discusses. Although Obama took a brave and admirable first step in uncovering these historical and present issues, it's important to understand that an effort to combat racism can't end at the podium.
As a society, we must understand the institutional implications of racism that are alive in our own public policies. Racism plays a role in the creation of bad schools, the high unemployment rate, our miserable health care system, and our presence in Iraq.
Discussion and theorizing are important, but if we want actively change the presence of racism in our society, there needs to be a transformation of the rules that govern our country. With his speech, Obama began to point to some these problems. Hopefully, his promises for change will be acknowledged by the public and cemented in public office.
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