President Obama's 2008 campaign speech has been hailed as one of the most influential political speeches of the decade. Alternatively, some considered it a complete farce. However, both sides can agree on one this. This speech is about one thing, and one thing only: Race.
The speech itself addressed a number of issues which proved to be cornerstones in the 2008 election. These included rising racial tensions in America, socioeconomic inequality among races, and Obama's controversial connection with Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who previous to the speech, had made several inflammatory comments regarding race and American politics.
When Obama states that, "…race is an issue that [this nation] cannot afford to ignore right now," he's not solely talking about his presidency, or gang violence, or the race-correlated education gap in America. Rather, he is referring to the big picture; A more united nation. A force that, once combined, has the power to tackle any and all obstacles in our path. However this is a future many cannot see because racial prejudices obscure their judgement. We can never afford to ignore racial tensions and simply sweep them under the rug, lest we, "widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between races."
Obama addresses both black and white discontent with their social and economic standings. Many black feel oppressed by a system they believe to be rigged against them. Alternatively, many working and middle-class whites feel that they haven't fared much better, as they watch their jobs and pensions disappear to individuals who don't even speak their language. To both sides, Obama reminds us that race has detracted from an exponentially more responsible culprit; a corrupt and insatiable corporate culture.
All of this serves to put Reverend Wright's comments into context. He is not just a crazy, racist, old man. Any comments Wright made reflect the underlying feelings and emotions that this nation (particularly the black community) has about race and inequality in America. And to cite those sentiments as racist or misguided is to ignore, and indeed perpetuate, the very reason why they exist in the first place.
tl;dr - Obama thinks it might help make the world a little less shitty if we all got along. Also, stop ripping on Reverend Wright. Dude's only human.
[Full Text & Video available at Huffington Post]
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