What Obama must say to African-American gradsPosted in Articles, Barack Obama, Media Archive, Politics/Public Policy, United States on 2013-05-19 03:16Z by Steven |
What Obama must say to African-American grads
CNN Opinion
Cable News Network
2013-05-18
Paul Butler, Professor of Law
Georgetown University
—”My brothers.”
That is how President Obama should begin one of the most significant speeches of his presidency: the commencement address at Morehouse College this Sunday. Addressing the historically black all male institution gives Obama an opportunity to rectify his strategic neglect of African-Americans. In this high-profile talk to his own demographic, the president has some explaining to do.
Obama’s identity as a black man is usually communicated subliminally, with the swag in his walk, the basketball court on the East Lawn, the sexy glances at the first lady, his overall cool. Now, however, comes the time to be explicit: to speak out loud his affiliation, his fraternal pride and concern. That’s the good work that calling us “brothers” would do…
Read the entire opinion piece here.