"A More Perfect Union"

In Barack Obama's speech, "A More Perfect Union", delivered in March 18 2008, Obama addresses everyone's responsibility to move on from the past. America's past holds many negative images, especially for African Americans who are aware of the many decades of suffering that our people had to endure. Obama's speech raises new possibilities for change in the American public, allowing our citizens to become enlightened with the hope for new beginnings. Obama's want for change is re-iterated throughout his speech several times as he describes the importance of moving forward. "I chose to run for president at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve them together...but we all want to move in the same direction : towards a better future for our children and grandchildren." The means by which we as African American citizens in the U.S. can improve race relations is by becoming a more tight-knit community. Putting unity before any other task, eventually breaking the cycle of any discrimination's or prejudices. We must educate ourselves together. We must volunteer together. We must replace jealousy with respect for one another. If we as African Americans could educate ourselves about our past, I believe that the importance of making unity a priority would illuminate itself. Volunteering together as one community could help our bond as one people grow. In order to replace jealousy with respect, African Americans need to embrace their diverse culture and realize that they all originated from the same roots. Ultimately if we can learn from our burdens of the past we can create a positive present day, and a united future.

Source:
Speech "A More Perfect Union" Obama, Barack. March, 18, 2008. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.