NAACP celebrates 100 years with President Obama
Hazel Trice Edney/NNPA Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 8/2/09 Section: Politics
And he illustrated how that work of years ago has led to Black America's affluence and leadership in Fortune 500 companies, in Congress and in the White House.
These words of thanks were familiar. In March, President Obama and First Lady Michelle gave a similar thanks to the publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association at a White House reception honoring his historic win as well as the role of the Black Press in his success.
In his speech to the NAACP, the President - a civil rights lawyer who, as a U. S. Senator, consistently got the grade of "A" on the NAACP civil rights report card - also made it clear that the struggle is not nearly over.
"Even as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the past 100 years; even as we inherit extraordinary progress that cannot be denied; even as we marvel at the courage and determination of so many plain folk - we know that too many barriers still remain," he said. "… African Americans are out of work more than just about anybody else ... African Americans are more likely to suffer from a host of diseases but less likely to own health insurance than just about anybody else. … An African-American child is roughly five times as likely as a White child to see the inside of a prison. We know that even as the scourge of HIV/AIDS devastates nations abroad, particularly in Africa, it is devastating the African-American community here at home with disproportionate force."
The President talked about the pain of discrimination making mention of Latinos feeling unwelcome in "their own country," Muslim Americans being viewed with suspicion, and the gay community being denied rights.
"Prejudice has no place in the United States of America," he said. "That's what the NAACP stands for. That's what the NAACP will continue to fight for as long as it takes."
With all the focus on civil rights, it was actually the issue of racial inequities in education that got the biggest ride in the President's speech before the oldest civil rights organization.
When one shout of "Amen!" rose from the audience above all others, the president concluded like a preacher, "Got an ''Amen corner'' back there … every child … every child in this country [deserves] the best education the world has to offer from cradle through a career."
These words of thanks were familiar. In March, President Obama and First Lady Michelle gave a similar thanks to the publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association at a White House reception honoring his historic win as well as the role of the Black Press in his success.
In his speech to the NAACP, the President - a civil rights lawyer who, as a U. S. Senator, consistently got the grade of "A" on the NAACP civil rights report card - also made it clear that the struggle is not nearly over.
"Even as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the past 100 years; even as we inherit extraordinary progress that cannot be denied; even as we marvel at the courage and determination of so many plain folk - we know that too many barriers still remain," he said. "… African Americans are out of work more than just about anybody else ... African Americans are more likely to suffer from a host of diseases but less likely to own health insurance than just about anybody else. … An African-American child is roughly five times as likely as a White child to see the inside of a prison. We know that even as the scourge of HIV/AIDS devastates nations abroad, particularly in Africa, it is devastating the African-American community here at home with disproportionate force."
The President talked about the pain of discrimination making mention of Latinos feeling unwelcome in "their own country," Muslim Americans being viewed with suspicion, and the gay community being denied rights.
"Prejudice has no place in the United States of America," he said. "That's what the NAACP stands for. That's what the NAACP will continue to fight for as long as it takes."
With all the focus on civil rights, it was actually the issue of racial inequities in education that got the biggest ride in the President's speech before the oldest civil rights organization.
When one shout of "Amen!" rose from the audience above all others, the president concluded like a preacher, "Got an ''Amen corner'' back there … every child … every child in this country [deserves] the best education the world has to offer from cradle through a career."
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