The Panther

On Tuesday March 18, Illinois Senator Barack Obama made a speech that may go down in history as one of the greatest political speeches ever made on race relations in this country. It literally was a mark of genius. Many of us have been waiting for this moment, but because of his personality, style, and politics, Senator Obama has been reticent to discuss his own personal views of this country's legacy of slavery, race, and race relations. Three events which took place during the past month have forced Obama to finally make a statement.

First during a debate with Hillary Clinton, Obama was asked if he accepts the support of Minister Louis Farrakhan. Apparently, several weeks prior to the debate with Clinton, Farrakhan had spoken with pride of witnessing Obama's rise to power as a viable candidate to become president of the United States. During the debate, NBC's Tim Russert repeatedly raised the question about Farrakhan's support. After several iterations of the question Obama finally said that he found Farrakhan's statements unacceptable and reprehensible. He went on to say that he rejects the support of Farrakhan.

Then in mid- February a second event occurred. During a speaking engagement, Obama's wife Michelle said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country and not just because Barack has done well but because people are hungry for change." Many people took this comment to mean that Mrs. Obama was unpatriotic.

Next came the attention given to the political beliefs of Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Obama's pastor and spiritual guide of 20 years. It is important to note that Wright presided over Obama's wedding ceremony and he baptized Obama's two children. However, in some of his sermons, Wright cast this country in a very negative light. Wright has made no qualms of considering America a country of racists and a defender of apartheid.

Throughout his campaign Obama had distanced himself from Wright. In fact Obama had to disinvite Wright from giving the convocation for the occasion when he announced his candidacy for president. Since Wright's worldviews are at odds with Obama's beliefs about reconciliation, unity and change, Obama had to publicly describe the type of relationship he has with his pastor. Thus the stage was set for Obama's speech on the broad issue of race.

In Obama's speech he repudiated Wright's words but provided a context for us to understand Wright's oratory. Obama traced the history of this country in a very delicate and balanced way while at the same time being empathic to the anger on both sides of the racial divide. At the end of his speech Obama advanced the belief that moving away from the rhetoric of the past will bring this country to its goal of a more perfect union, previously I had written that we had moved away from an era in this society where politics are based on race. The events of the past month suggest otherwise. It appears as if the psychological wounds are too deep to ignore.

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