Obama speaks about race

This week, more than 2,000 people are in Washington, D.C., at the Take Back America conference, one of the nation's largest gatherings of progressive political thinkers and activists. This is the first of two posts we'll have at DemocracySpace reporting on the event, which ends today.

It was a few minutes before the scheduled panel discussion on "Race Matters: Progressive Transformation in the 21st Century," and nearly a dozen people - including moderator Maya Wiley of the Center for Social Inclusion - were huddled around a laptop, watching a replay of the speech that presidential candidate Barack Obama had delivered in Philadelphia a few hours before. As the room filled, Wiley returned to the rostrum, saying "I had to pull myself away ... he's actually summarizing our panel for us."

Obama's speech on Tuesday sought to place into context the recent news reports over the words of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Although he had previously talked little about the impact of race on his campaign and in America, Obama on Tuesday wound up giving voice to many of the same thoughts and questions and strong emotions that people across the country have about the issue. In one sense, he indicated that we seem to be moving into an era where people really are judged by the content of our character and not our race, ethnic heritage, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. On the other hand, Obama talked about continuing prejudice and of a generation gap between people his age and that of his pastor, whose life was shaped by civil rights-era struggles, and even that of his own white grandmother, who admitted being terrified of black men.

Time and again Tuesday, speakers at Take Back America and writers on blogs like The Super Spade and Booker Rising and Pam's House Blend echoed and dissected and even wept over what Obama had said in Philadelphia. The candidate spoke of structural racism that persists in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and prisons. It's true, Maya Wiley noted at the "Race Matters" program, that communities of color are often the first people harmed when society's structures fail, either by natural disaster or human neglect.

And as Obama talked about the achievement gap, Catherine Albisa of the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative told of schools that basically warehouse children until they can kick them out, and Dennis Parker - director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Racial Justice Project - spoke of filing suit Tuesday against a Florida school district where far fewer black students graduate on time. Parker also pointed to the trend toward school resegregation and the reality that students in these schools, hampered by lower tax bases, continue to lag behind students in schools with more resources.

For people doing racial equity work, this passage from Obama's speech had particular resonance: "The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through - a part of our union that we have yet to perfect," he said. "And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American."

This election season, the United States has an opportunity to examine its deeply racist (and sexist) past, recognize that tensions and prejudice still exist, and consider a different future: one that might not include a white man in the top job at the White House, and one in which an ever-widening range of viewpoints and life experiences are considered in forging public policy. By the end of the year, voters will decide whether this future remains an idea, or whether it has already arrived and we're living it. However we choose, Everyday Democracy (formerly the Study Circles Resource Center) has resource materials on racial equity, education, and more to help keep the conversations moving.

Comments

[Nick Connell]

Excellent, Julie. I was shocked that Obama was so genuine about this issue and his relationship with Rev. Wright. Given the politics and how one gets elected in this country, I didn't think he could be so forthcoming. It was refreshing to see a presidential candidate highlight various perspectives on race in this country and call us all to dialogue and get to know each other's experiences, so we can work together on the most pressing concerns of this country.

[Julie in Boise]

Thanks, Nick. It's too soon to tell, but - whether or not Obama winds up in the White House or not - I think that speech may wind up in a few history books. I truly feel fortunate that I had the chance to hear it in the context I did, amid a multiracial group of people all deeply committed to addressing race head on.

[Carol Scott]

Appreciate your comments, Julie! Reading the news covering the speech this morning has created a flood of thoughts from past years of working in communities. Senator Obama's words should stimulate all of us to PERSONALLY step up our involvement in race relations in our communities. And it surely validates the work of EvDem! I'll be watching a replay of the speech. Thanks for the work you do!
Carol in Colo.Springs

[Martha McCoy]

Thanks, Julie.

For me, Obama's speech resonated powerfully with what we have learned in our work at Everyday Democracy.

He embraced and talked about his own identity, and showed a willingness to listen with empathy and respect to the experiences and feelings of people from all backgrounds.

But I was grateful that he didn't stop there (which is where people often stop, as though "race" is a matter only of "getting along"). He refused to treat race as solely a case of personal prejudice. He gave us a brief lesson in "racial literacy 101." He put racism into its proper perspective as a systemic and historical force that helps explain the disparities that profoundly affect the quality of everyone's lives.

And he emphasized that this is something that people from all backgrounds and views must have a genuine voice in addressing if we are going to tackle the most critical public issues we face..... the economy, the environment, education, criminal justice. Amen!

Having spent years working with communities on these issues, I found it profoundly moving and hopeful that a leader with national stature would speak so plainly with us about the nature of racism, and what each of us can and should do about it.

As we wrote in the guide we developed to help communities take on these issues (Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation), there are hopeful signs of transition in our country when it comes to dealing with racism. Not only are communities more diverse, but many are looking for better ways to manage the changes. And well before Senator Obama's speech, we began to see the beginning of a shift in our national conversation on race. People have been starting to talk about all the ways that racism can show up -- not just in individual attitudes, but in institutions, in public policies, and in the culture. More people have been paying attention to gaps among racial and ethnic groups in key areas.

I hope that Obama's speech will provide encouragement to all those who are doing this challenging work. I know it did so for me, and I am grateful.

[Eric Rigaud]

Thank you Julie for this piece. Just as Obama sparked a national discussion around hope and change -- ideas that have long been in the periphery of our public discourse -- he's now trailblazing the way for a long overdue national discussion about race and the possibility of reconciliation and national healing after centuries of pain, guilt, anger and even denial, which tear at the spiritual fabric of our country. I see Obama's presence in the national arena as a gift and a blessing - and quite honestly a gift I feel many times we're undeserved to receive as a nation. There I've said it -- Obama is a gift. He's cracked the door open and it is now our responsibility to step in and to steward this conversation that will ulimately lead us closer to a "more perfect union". Let's take the next step.

[Sally Campbell]

It seems that most of my professional conversations of the last several weeks have been with community people who are trying to address racial inequities. Then, I listened to Senator Obama speak honestly and courageously on the same points. I haven't heard anything like that since Dr. King moved us with his vision. This work is critical to our future, and he offered a glimpse of how we might proceed. Bring it on.

[Amy Malick]

It's heartening to watch the aftermath of the speech play out and draw so much interest seemingly beyond campaign politics (although that's there, too). The speech transcript is still the top e-mailed article on the New York Times web site, and it's spurring all kinds of comments from religious and community leaders (at least judging from the few forwards I'm receiving.) Regardless of Obama's reported need to address the Wright issue to preserve momentum in his presidential bid, or maybe because of that, I have a lot of respect for his courage in speaking so honestly about the bitter and devastating legacy of racism in this country. It is a true honor to be working with colleagues and communities who are trying to get to the root causes of inequities and move forward toward change that gives everyone the same chance at happiness and success.