The Morning After: A Different Discussion Worth Having

I learned about another response to Obama's historic race speech (which, from what I understand, the YouTube version has already reach 1 million hits!). While many of us (myself included) continue to be enraptured by his eloquent vision of a "more perfect union," I came across Cynthia McKinney's "A Discussion of Race Worth Having" (thanks to focused purpose for leading me to it!).

Much has been made around the edges of this campaign about the issue of
race. Sadly, nothing has been made of the public policy exigencies that arise
because of the urgent racial disparities that continue to exist in our country.
Just last week, the United Nations criticized the United States, again, for its
failure to address the issues arising from the rights, particularly the right of
return, of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita survivors. Author Bill Quigley writes in
“The Cleansing of New Orleans,” that half of the working poor, elderly, and
disabled of New Orleans have not been able to return.

Two weeks ago, United Nations experts on housing and minority rights
called for an immediate end of public housing demolitions in New Orleans. Now,
the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, ratified by the U.S.
in 1994, further observes that the U.S. must do more to protect and support the
African American community. In 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Commission “noted its concern that while African Americans constitute just 12% of the population, they represent 50% of homeless people, and the government is
required to take ‘adequate and adequately implemented’ measures to remedy this
human rights violation.” In short, the United Nations has issued reports squarely calling for the United States to do more to eliminate racial discrimination—and this discrimination is a human rights violation.

I am deeply offended that in the middle of a Presidential campaign,
remarks–be they from a pastor or a communications mogul, or a former Vice
Presidential nominee–are the cause of a focus on race, and not the deep racial
disparities that communities are forced to endure on a daily basis in this
country.

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