In the light of Barack Obama's reverends anti-American, and racist statements Obama defends his minister and church. The speech eloquently tackles two of the key issues continentally avoided by US politicians.
He seamlessly ties race into religion, but largely skirts the contentious religious issues making the speech more about race and America; more pertinently about a white nations inability to understand the 'black experience'.
While condemning Wright's statements he said that he could not disown him anymore than he could disown Black America. However, while this may influence the Democratic Nomination where statistically the majority of African Americans hold camp; if it does swing the vote his way and place him at the forefront of the democratic campaign where will it place him amongst the undecided, the voters on the fence who grew up in the suburbs of white America?
Obama identifies with these middle class Americans of course because he can; He grew up without his black father with a white mother, and Grandparents in these middle class suburbs. But have issues of race and the religious implications segregated him to the point where he cant build his coalition as his speech says of "white and black, Latino, Asian, rich, poor, young and old"
He makes an interesting point where he says; "that your dreams do not have to come at the cost of my dreams." Speaking as a Black American addressing white fears that an African American president will raise taxes; in essence "victimizing" the majority of people who vote. Obama is putting a lot of faith in the white population of America. The majority of the population whose schools are not falling down, who do have health care, who don't care about global warming, or who support the war in Iraq. The question about Obama's "Perfect Union" begs whether it is a question about race or a more class based distinction. Tying the similarities of the "black experience" with the "immigrant white experience" who face similar issues. However, notoriously without the backing of the middle class American; you don't win an election.
Regardless of your opinions to the speech it is impressive to here a candidate openly and eloquently challenge the United States stance on race, even more so, one that has some real experience with the issues.
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