Read
the speech in full
Barack Obama waged the biggest gamble of his presidential campaign yesterday
by confronting the corrosive issue of race in an emotionally charged speech
that could decide the outcome of his bid for the White House.
In the course of a speech that ran to nearly 5,000 words, Mr Obama sought
initially to stem the political damage caused by the “incendiary language”
of his former pastor.
But he also confronted America’s legacy of racial division and white
resentment, urging the country to overcome “a racial stalemate we’ve been
stuck in for years”.
His speech in Philadelphia addressed directly the five-day “firestorm” over
the Rev Jeremiah Wright’s views, as well as an emerging polarisation between
black and white voters in recent Democratic primaries.
“We have a choice in this country: we can accept a politics that breeds
division, and conflict, and cynicism,” he told his audience. “Or, at this
moment, in this election, we can come together and say: ‘not this time’.”
He acknowledged that discussion of race in the presidential campaign had taken
a particularly divisive turn in recent days, with videos of Mr Wright — who
was pastor to Mr Obama and his family for 20 years before retiring last
month — repeatedly broadcast on TV news channels. These show him denouncing
a corrupt, white-dominated and racist “US-KKK-of A”. In one sermon, he said
the 9/11 attacks were an example of chickens “coming home to roost” and, in
another, that black people should sing not “God bless America” but “God damn
America”.
Mr Obama repeated his previous condemnations of such views yesterday, while
admitting for the first time that he had been present at the Chicago church
where Mr Wright made “remarks that could be considered controversial” — and
with which he strongly disagreed.
But Mr Obama refused to renounce entirely a pastor whose sermons have
threatened to tarnish his image as a unifying politician. Instead, he tried
to explain — if not justify — Mr Wright’s comments by putting them into the
context of his own multi-ethnic heritage and that of a country that has
“never really worked through” the legacy of slavery and segregation.
“I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community,” he said. “I
can no more disown him than I can disown my white grandmother — a woman who
loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once
confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street.”
Hillary Clinton has remained silent on the issue, but some Republicans have
seized on Mr Wright as ammunition against the front-runner for the
Democratic nomination. One strategist said the pastor’s comments formed part
of a “negative pattern” that included Mr Obama’s decision to stop wearing an
American flag lapel pin, his association with radical groups in Chicago and
his wife’s recent comment that she was proud of her country “for the first
time”.
Rush Limbaugh, the right-wing talk radio host, said that Mr Obama’s
association with Mr Wright had “de-masked” a candidate who would no longer
make “whites feel good” or be able to transcend race.
Mr Obama delivered his address against a backdrop of eight American flags and
began by quoting the opening line from the US Constitution — “We the people,
in order to form a more perfect union” — which was agreed close to where he
was speaking in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Opinion polls suggest that Mrs Clinton enjoys a substantial lead among
working-class white voters in the state, which holds a crucial Democratic
primary on April 22.
“Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right
now,” Mr Obama said. The powerful sense of grievance felt by Mr Wright was,
he said, representative of “other African-Americans of his generation” and
could not be wished away. “The fact that so many people are surprised to
hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright’s sermons simply reminds us of
the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on
Sunday morning.”
America had been stuck in a “racial stalemate” with sections of the white
community feeling resentment over school bussing and affirmative action
programmes to help ethnic minorities — or “when they’re told that their
fears about crime in urban neighbourhoods are somehow prejudiced”.
Mr Obama said that Mr Wright’s mistake was to believe “our society was static”
and that progress was impossible. Building a “more perfect union” required
African-Americans to embrace “the burdens of our past without becoming
victims of our past” — and white Americans “to realise that your dreams do
not have to come at the expense of my dreams”.
But he claimed that the success of his own campaign this year in winning
voters from all ethnic and social groups had proved “that America can
change”.
He added: “And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about
this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation: the
young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already
made history in this election.”
Obama, being one of the most brilliant public speakers I've seen in a long time, made a masterstroke with this speech. My fellow Americans who are offended by Rev. Wright's speeches might want to take a deep breath and read some of the things that Dr. Martin Luther King was preaching from his own pulpit, TO A BLACK AUDIENCE, in 1968.
Had YouTube been around then, King would have been villified, instead of being honored as one of the great patriots of our time. Rev. Wright may say things about America that run outside of the popular view, but that's not all there is to the man either. You can't simplify such a complicated issue and simply assume that just because he said those things, that there weren't other things about he did that make him as worthy a man as any other. People are too multi-dimensional to be pigeon-holed like that.
Megan T, Seattle, WA
You know who I'd like to hear from since the topic of racism is the flavor of the month. The white 'folks'-to use the term loosely who were part of the Tuskeegee syphillis experiments, lynchings, opposers of the civil rights movement, decendents of slave owners and known klans people. What is your story? What have you learned? What can you share? And for those whose relatives have forever linked you to this horrendous history-- are you any closer to pouring out your heart in a book or lecture environment like Black people have been doing for the past 200 or so years. To know how Black people feel about any given subject in regard to racism and social issues, book shelves are rich with information and if you're too lazy to research, at the very least for those who get their info from t.v. there's Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to name a few. And even though they only represent a microcosm of us -the question is where are the spokespeople for whites who share these legacies?
kelly, indianapolis, indiana
I find it puzzling that people find Obama's speech to be "another play for power," while in the same breath saying that he should have left the church and disowned the pastor. Surely if he was just going for popularity he would have done just that and immediately announced he was leaving the church, and then his detractors would say "oh NOW he's leaving, he's just doing it to pull up his poll ratings, what a hypocrite" anyways. Instead he spoke honestly about his relationship with his pastor, urged us to look beyond 30-second media sound bites, and used this as an opportunity to make an inspiring speech that, once again, made me hope for a better future in a time I dread what will happen in the next four years to us living in the US.
To paraphrase John Lennon, he may be a dreamer, but he's not the only one.
Jina, Colorado,
Right on Heathcote. We all have the same opportunities in this world. Its what we do with those opportunities that matter. If we sit around talking about the things that happened in the past, we don't live in the NOW. The decisions we make now is what changes our futures. You are correct Mr. Obama hides his hatred and resentment for his own life. He was raised in Indonesia(?) for the first 10 years of his life. He is not from the same cloth of the African Americans of this country. His father never knew slavery, He is in a position to change racial divides but he won't, he's only out for himself. He wants that seat and he has a lot of powerful people backing him.
Denise, Meadville, USA PA
If you ask me, I think this whole thing has been a conspiracy. If you look closely at the facts, Slavery, Aids, Bad economy, rising fuel prices, Katrina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Global Warming, Jobs lost, and so on ,I think we can say without a doubt this is George Bush's fault. And I base my conclusion on absolutely
nothing. I hate to bring this to the black community's attention but did you know there was a civil war to free you. Half of the white community lost family members trying to secure your freedom. Not all whites are racist. The reason blacks have problems is the same reason everyone has them. PEOPLE DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES.
It's not Americas duty to police the world the same way it's not Americas duty to feed and shelter the world.
Tyler, MO, USA
Mr.Obama is an epitome of double talk. If you will read between the lines he did not condemn what Rev Wright has said, but used it as a starting point to expose his inner perspective about racism in this country.
He was trying to be neutral, but it is just impossible for him to cover up his true feeling about this "haunting issue", that is dividing our nation more and more.
If Mr.Obama is preaching change, then he should change from within.
Gene, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, California
1. Sen. Obama merely rejected the language of Rev. Wright that was video taped., but embraced and excused the man. We all say dumb things, and our character should not be judged on a few choice comments -- unless you ask your congregation to damn America, refere to his country as the US KKK A, and accused your own country of inventing AIDS to kill blacks. These were not comments out of context, nor were they merely disagreements with U.S. foreign policy as Obama said.
2. Obama was bold, and I applaud the honesty of the speech, but dragging his old grandmother into the political fray was classless, and clueless. There is ZERO similarity between Grandma saying that she is affraid of a groupd of young black men on a dark corner (me too sometimes, and I'm 6'4" 250 lbs!) and his "spiritual advisor of 20 years" saying the most foul and vicious anti-American, anti-white comments from the pulpit!
3. Obama gave it a good try, but we are still in a "stalemate"
Terrence, New York, New York
Odell in TX, we all have choices in life. One can choose to be a victim and wallow in self-pity, or one can choose to work hard, get on with life and make the world a better place. There are MANY examples of black Americans who have done just this. Unfortunately, these are the black Americans who are too often refered to by their brethren as "Uncle Tom's" for somehow abandoning their black 'roots' . Was it this fear that prompted Senator Obama to state “I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community†?
No, Odell, there will always be a place for bigotry, black or white, as long as people like Pastor Wright use their pulpit to spread hate, and sow the seeds of division amongst the people of their community; for as long as they provide the people of their community the easy answer - 'it's someone else's fault'; and for as long as people continue to make excuses for the them.
C. Heathcote, Brick, USA/NJ
Odell from Desoto, TX. you state that "400 years of slavery and "Jim Crow" is the legacy of the United States" A remarkable statement since the United States only declared it's independence 232 years ago! Slavery in the United States existed for 75 years. Anything prior to 1776 is laid at the feet of the British.
What I found offensive about Rev. Wright's statements was the baseless allegations that the Government of the United States was responsible for the AIDS virus, for drug dealing to balck Americans. Sheer lunacy!
I noted that Senator Obama never stated that Rev. Wright's staements were patently false, merely that they were divisive and he did not agree with them. Instead, he gives a wonderful speech about race in America. As long as lunatic statements like Rev. Wright's are repeated and accepted as gospel, then racism will continue to live.
James, Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.A.
Sara
The best place for you is the US. 'People should not throw stones in glass houses'
Ben Curtis, Stratford, UK
The reviews in the New York Times say it all... this was an EXCELLENT and very thought-provoking speech, that simply asks Americans to be honest with their own self-examination.
Barack Obama is a very courageous man!
Elias, Stevenage, UK
Unique events in history have the tendency of passing some people by. They are so filled with vitriol and racial hate that the significance of important events dealing with race only add to their apathy. Why do perpetrators of atrocities like lynchings and ostracism continue to hate their victims so. 400 years of slavery and "Jim Crow" is the legacy of the United States. Major contributors to the US culture are African Americans; yet they make up most of the prison population--the highest in the world. Given these few facts and being a black person born at the start of WWII I can understand the anger of Rev. Wright. He is my age. I've lived through being discriminated. I've lived through being denied the opportunities of whites in America and longing for the right to enjoy those opportunities--not realizing that change would ever come. So those individuals that speak within this blog with racial vitriol endemic in some sectors of the US, your time is past.
Odell, Desoto, TX
"If you think Rev Wright is a bigot you should have met my white grandmother" Will this stuff fly? Doubt it.
Jerry, seattle , usa
The trouble is not Obama's deliciously superb and incredibly acute and marvellously mellifluous and coruscatingly agile and dancingly intelligent speech. It is America. Is America bright enough to do what it ought - throw its hat in the air and shout: "WE Believe You, more than ever, Barack ! To the White House !" No, I fear, very very much fear, that America is not bright enough to yell that to Barack. I fear America will simply say something like this: "So when Barack sits for years in church with his daughters, listening to the pastor whom he calls his spiritual mentor and who is known to be a race-hate demogogue of great virulence and hitlerian ferocity - when Obama and his daughters and his wife sit there for years listening to this pastor, what is it? A Perfect Union? Sorry, Mr Obama. Try your luck somewhere else. You are through in this town." I fear that is what America will say.
Ganpat Ram , London , UK
It was typical blame the whites for everything as if Africans dont have any race discrimination.
How would one feel if somebody said I dont agree with Hitler and his racist views but denouncing him would be like denouncing the whole white race?
Obama said denouncing his racist pastor Wright would be like denouncing the whole black community!
Earlier he said he never heard Wright make any inflammatory anti American speeches like America invited 9/11, injected blacks with aids virus etc. , when he was in the pews , now he says he did! And he still didnt walk out ! He is not fit to be commander in chief.
arun, london, uk
As a black man I understand the sentiments of the Rev Wright. People have to understand how blacks feel about a history of repression and denigration. Slavery took away a races self worth and confidence - why do you think that there is so much black on black violence. What Obama said is right we - the black community need to move beyond our past to the future. The whit community has to understand that due t the past there is no easy way to change this 'schizophrenia' in the black community.
As Nelson Mandela said - there is no easy walk to freedom - without black freedom (mental), there can be no white, latino, jewish or whoever the case may be. All sections have to grasp the nettle from strength and not from fear - this is what Obama did not say.
Vernon Butcher, BASINGSTOKE, England
This is a fine speech which will go down in history as one of the finest. Obama was brave to address the race issue head on. Who better to lead a country made up of slaves and immigrants ? He represents both in his own heritage of which he is proud. It will be Americas loss and the Worlds, if Obama does not become the next president of the USA.
Patricia Clarke, Port Elgin Ontario, Canada
Obama is unelectable. His speech was pathetic. His pastor's remarks would be criminal if made in the UK or Canada.
Doug FOrbes, Columbus, USA
As an American white who lived in the UK for sometime. I honestly feel this speech is really really needed in England. Never have I seen people treated so disproportionately poorly and disgusting as I have seen in England.
Sara Wilber Francis, San Diego, , CA, USA
Racism exists. Lose the self-pity and victim status and get on with life. Many have pulled themselves up and gone on to better themselves despite massive odds. Stop looking for the next messiah to pat you on the head and say: there-there it'll be alright.
James, London,
Sheldon, Idaho- Firstly, America hasn't "accepted the war was wrong", you have. Please don't project your historical Alzheimer's upon the rest of us. Iraq repeatedly defied UN conventions and, WMD or not, was duly punished. Second, your views are representative are those of the most appalling revisionists- Linebacker operations were conducted to force the North Vietnamese to the negotiation table to get the US out of the war. It was JFK, yes JFK, one of the most worthless presidents in American history who, not only almost started a nuclear conflict with his belligerent and immature language, but took the US to Vietnam. Still, most left wingers have conveniently forgotten or more usually, are completely ignorant of this salient point in the Democratic party's past.
Richard, DALLAS, USA
To paraphrase Hillary Clinton, he makes a nice speech.......so where is the action? Where has the action been for the past twenty years as he sat in that church and listened to that preacher? As that preacher married him and his wife? As that preacher baptized his children? Oh, that's right, he had no idea of this bigot's hateful, divisive rhetoric before it started to affect his poll numbers.
C. Heathcote, Brick, USA/NJ
What I don't understand is his utter hypocrisy. This is the same man who called for Ferraro's head--in spite of her liberal record--just a week ago and now he condemns such demonization? This is the same man who swears "Words matter!" and yet *now* they don't?
If he could just back up those fancy words of his with some action, proving to me he has some conviction, it would be easier to vote for him. Instead, this speech was given for political expedience. Where didn't he renounce Wright's rhetoric before? Why hasn't he used the power of words to convince Wright to pursue another course?
Nathan, Seattle,
Obama has denounced the racist comments of Rev Wright, but is crtiicised for not disowning him. However, US Presidents Johnson and Nixon both ordered the blanket bombing of Vietnam in the 1960s / 1970s. Whilst Americans accept that the blanket bombing (which killed tens of thousands of Vietnemese and wounded hundreds of thousands more) was wrong, I don't see America disowning both Presidents. Further, George Bush ordered a war in Iraq which has killed thousands of Iraqis (including children) and whilst the US now accepts the war is wrong, I don't see America disowning George Bush. So why the hypocritical criticisms of Obama for not disowning Wright.
Sheldon, Boise, Idaho
What an honor and a privilidge to be in the same country with such a man as Barack Obama!!! His speech was fantastic! his words were sincere! and this man stands firm in his conviction to bring this country together.. America has fallen in love with say anything and do anything politicians:; And now that we finally have a strait and fearless man in or mist!! The fearfull; The cowards;The uncle toms! all of a sudden has something to say! But i say we do not want a disunited states but a united States of America! Barack Obama is the only one who can do this!!!
greene, Highland Park, michigan
The most profound and honest speech I've ever heard from a politician - dead or living. I'm thankful I watched this speech together with my wife and my two year old daughter. Listening to Barack I felt a strong sense of duty to raise my daughter in the knowledge that the colour of a man's skin is no more important than the colour of a man's eyes (apologies to Bob Marley). We are not a white race, or a black race or a brown race, we are the HUMAN RACE! I was undecided before now, but after this speech Obama has my vote 101%.
Jeshurun Jacobs, Philadelphia, PA, United States
It seems strange that when Bill had his problems with "that woman" everyone said a persons personal life had nothing to do with their political life. We have demanded that religion not be a part of our political life, so why are we so upset about what Obama's pastor preached? I was a pastor for 23 years and I am sure that many did not agree with everything that I preached. If you want to know whom not to trust, I say don't trust a person who will not face a difficult question with his honest feelings. When we look at Obama all we see is his black skin, but we do not see the black father and white mother. We do not see the white grandmother that raised him. When Fredrick Douglas black wife died, he married a white woman. He was attacked by blacks saying "you should have married in your race". He responded "I did. The first time I married a woman of my mother's race and the second time I married a woman of my father's race". Obama is a guy that all of America can call it's own.
Mark, NC, USA
There are moments in American history that, while rare, alter the state of that country's psyche. I'm old enough to remember President Kennedy in his innauguration speech, I can also remember Martin Luther King and his famous I have a dream speech. I was around to see an astronaut plant a flag on the moon and I was a witness to former President Nixon leaving the office of the President in disgrace. Today I witnessed another such moment during Mr. Obama's speech on race and religion. For too long politicians of all colour have shied away from confronting the elephant in the room in America, which has a history rich in discrimination, that has caused a division based on race and the hate which accompanies it. What Mr. Obama did today was allow both white and black America to open their eyes to see the wounds of the past for what they are, a divisive, corrosive cancer that eats at the fabric that is American's strength. If he is never elected President it will be a loss, however he will be forever remembered for this magnificent act of courage today.
Graham H., Toronto, Canada
Obama elevates the issue of race, but the really is that race isn't the issue that gave rise to all this. The fact that Obama's pastor, Rev. Wright, has espoused hate America views in many forms to the point where he produced those messages as part of his personal "highlight film" on tape for sale at his church is also not the issue. Rev. Wright can preach whatever he wants about anything to his church members, hateful, false, hopeful, whatever. No, the issue here, which is at the heart of the matter, and which has nothing to do with racism, is Obama's claim that as a twenty year member of the church, the church where he was married and where his children were baptized, he basically never had a clue that his preacher, friend, and spiritual leader, ever held these views. Race has nothing to do whatever with whether Americans can swallow that defense. It is an issue of credibility or believability that has nothing to do with race.
neil, chicago, ill.
This is probably the most signifigant speech by a politician in years. The man is obviously to principled to be the President of this country. The white folks that think that he is disingenous are the same paternalistic chauvinsitic white folks that have abetted the status quo for years in this country. They are not racist but cannot even grasp how it was for black men of my generation to leave family in the North and visit the South knowing that your life could be literally forfeit for the most minor infraction. They look at pictures of lynching "parties" and are completely disengaged, While each of us can literally name an ancestor abused in this way.
Rev.Wright served in Viet Nam werre black combat troops were thrown into the brig for tearing down Confederate flags upon hearing of King's assasination!
Believe me I am Rev. Wright's age, and I can gaurantee you if you get three African American men in a room we will site Iran-Contra in terms of drugs coming into South Central L.A.
Marty Price, Oakland, California
Mr. Obama has revealed he is just not made out of the "right stuff" but rather is of the "JWrightJr stuff". I do not care if he is purple or has polka dots; he speaks well but he is just another "empty suit" looking for personal
glory. He has not matured his judgement suficiently to take on the responsibilities of the office he seeks...
but when has that shortcoming ever held back a radical?
Tucano Fulano, Big Bear , Calif.USA
Long story short - If'n ya all don't vote for me it proves all white people are racist.
B.H. Obama.
Peter, Vancouver, Canada
It was an absolutely stunning speech. I was shocked. As someone who has supported Hillary Clinton throughout this campaign (and someone who lives in Pennsylvania as well, and getting ready to vote April 22), I had the sudden realization of why so many people are bowled over by this man. I have been solidly for Hillary for eight months, but have wavered a bit due to the realization that she and Bill are pretty hell-bent on getting power again, whatever it takes. But tonight, as he came to the end of his speech, I made my decision. I am switching my vote to this guy because I have never heard a more bluntly honest speech in all my life of involvement and attention to American politics. People have compared him to JFK... but frankly, he reminds me more of Adlai Stevenson. Yeah I was disturbed by his pastor's remarks. But Obama's response sent the debate about 5 miles higher than any of the criticisms. I am totally stunned. Thought I'd never say it, but, Obama for president!
Howard C., Philadelphia, PA
Glad to see that I am not the only one who is sick and tired of the racial divide in this country.
Silas, Foster city, California USA
Words! Just words!
Barack makes Willy look like glue. One slick dude. Teflon Barack. This guy sounds like a snake oil salesman. Which is what most politicians are anyway. The sheep will follow him off the cliff, like a Pied Piper playing his beautiful music and leading his followers to his own version of ruin. Believe it. He will pay whatever cost it takes to become President. He is like all the others, a career politician whose ambitions and quest for power will someday be evident to all those who are currently blinded by the brilliance of his words.
No one can associate with anyone for 20 years and not be influenced by what appears to be a deep seated hatred for this nation and the white men who created it and have ruled it for so many years. The truth will become evident. Its just a matter of time.
J. Russell, Houston, TX
Why don't you quit making excuses for a racist. Why don't you read what Wright said and replace all the times he said black with white. Then pretend MCcain said it. HIPOCRACY. By the way you have not heard the speechs entirely, because there are hundreds. I don't agree with everything my pastor says but I don't have to cover my kids ears when he talks either.
carrie, Nixa, MO
Obama cannot talk himself out of this. This isn't something from the dim, dark past like using drugs when he was younger. This is present day.
Any white candidate belonging to a church that espoused such views from a white perspective would be forced to quit the race, period. And Obama didn't even offer to resign from this church!
Obama was the first presidential candidate to call on radio dj Don Imus to resign after the dj used the term 'ho' to describe black females. Imus' comment seems like pretty small stuff by comparison now, don't you think?
gb, Austin, USA
I listened to the speech this morning and it has to be one of the most significant political speeches of the decade. I just hope most American voters can appreciate the nuanced intelligence of someone as articulate as Senator Obama and not revert to the same-old politicians who can only prevent issues in black and white (no pun intended).
Phil, Des Moines, Iowa USA
On the former pastor. While I don't condone what he said. But he was a Vietnam veteran, you have to know, a lot who came out of it, affected them.
He has served his time in duty, put his life on the line. How many of us here can say the same thing? He has a right to say what he did. Don't mean it's right but I understand why he was ranting.
Kelly Pierce, Sioux city, USA
If everyone who goes to church on Sundays had to be responsible for everything they hear there, whether they agree with what's said or not, no church going politicians would ever be elected anywhere to anything. How many people agree with everything they hear in their church? How many Anglicans agree with everything ever said by every Archbishop of Canterbury?
Steve, Preston,
This speech, proved to me Barack Obama belongs in a pulpit.
Obama has missed his calling; he would make a really good preacher. I do not want a Priest, Rabbi, Vicar or Mullah, I want a President of the United States of America. This country has no official religion, we have no religious instruction in schools, we do not say prayers, other then by personal choice and everyone is free to choose their own religion. Obama wants to give sermons, I for one do not wish to listen to 4 years, of his religious instruction.
Frank R., Plantation, USA
An excellent and brave speech - using a quiet but firm delivery, and dealing with a complex issue, he used everyday speech, not political oratory - everyone should listen to/read it - and that includes the politicians in this country.
heather stewart, nottingham, uk
I have listened to the speech in full - deeply moving - 0ne of the best I have ever heard. This guy sounds like a President - Clinton like a politician. Unlike Hillary it is clear that he is not prepared to become the democratic nominee at any cost. A highly principled individual - and also a very brave one.
PeterBuss, Canterbury, UK