Does Obama Unfairly Hold African Americans to a Different Standard?
President Obama’s Morehouse commencement speech has reignited conversation regarding the idea that he might be unfairly holding black youth to a different standard.
Most of us are familiar with the “Bill Cosby” argument about how black youth need to stop being lazy and work harder.
Is Obama reiterating that same rhetoric that ignores history and further marginalizes vulnerable groups, or is he finding a balance between taking history into account and articulate the reality of the difficulties that will be faced by black youth in the 21st Century?
In his speech Obama said:
“Not because racism and discrimination no longer exist; that’s still out there. It’s just that in today’s hyperconnected, hypercompetitive world, with a billion young people from China and India and Brazil entering the global workforce alongside you, nobody is going to give you anything you haven’t earned. And whatever hardships you may experience because of your race, they pale in comparison to the hardships previous generations endured — and overcame.”
What do you think, was his speech problematic or was it necessary?
Sound off below!