So, folks needed Barack Obama to explain issues of race to them? Is what he said new?

[bigtree]

I don't think so. I've heard (and said) most all of what he expressed today in his speech. He's a year younger than me. Many of the important struggles he spoke of were capping off and settling when we were children - the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Act, desegregation, equal opportunity.

I saw his speech as a political address which was opportunistic for his campaign, notwithstanding whatever effect his association with Rev. Wright many have on how it's received. I think whatever potential the speech may as a 'historic' address or some significant impetus to any shift in race relations or some better understanding of these issues in America is going to be subject to the political opportunism which is being exercised by all of the campaigns in this election.

It was a reasonable defense of his pastor, but, I don't know what the impact will be on those folks who haven't already realized the very basic understandings Obama expressed in his speech.