Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father

The speech at Cambridge University raises interesting questions as Obama explores his family prejudice and racial tension that existed in America.  It is a revelation of the race relation especially between the black American and the white American.  The extent of the tension is shown in the manner in which the young Barak related with fellow white students some whom were his friend.  In the high school parties he attended, there would only be about three to four black individuals out of around three hundred people in a room. In one occasion, he together with a friend invited white fiends to attend a black party but they sensed their discomfort immediately given that they would be in a minority situation. What they felt represented what Barak would have to endure every day, but they found out so objectionable that they couldn’t put up with it for only a day.  In this piece, Obama represents himself as an easy going and liberal black American. The issue of race extends beyond the American society, as seen in the Obama’s Kenyan cousins refers to Michele Obama as the “Wazungu” meaning the white lady (Townesphd, 2015).

 

Being a black with independent presence, Shirley Chisholm used her slogan “Fighting Shirley Chisholm--Unbought and Unbossed”, to develop her political career that aimed at living up to her pledge. Being a member of a minority group, she championed the human rights for the disadvantaged groups such as women, minorities and the poor. Her political courage and candor made her a political icon (Blair, n.d).As in case of Obama, Shirley felt the weight of being undermined due to one’s skin color and background and they both decided to speak out.  Given the manner she stood up to governments, she would advice Obama to prioritize alleviating the plight of the poor in the budget before other issues. However, she would appreciate the step taken in improving racial relations and equality in provision of healthcare and education.

References

Townesphd, (2015).Barack Obama - Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5k60W6pwv8

Blair,D.(n.d).SHIRLEY ANITA ST. HILL CHISHOLM, "FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT" (10 August 1970).retrieved from: http://archive.vod.umd.edu/civil/chisholm1970int.htm