Obama's Speech

Obama's speech in response to the uproar created by Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.'s inflammatory comments was, as expected, impressive in both tone and substance. In the short run, it will reassure supporters that Obama is who he says he is - a candidate who wants to transcend the racial and political divides and bring people together; however, it will not quell his detractors and critics who desperately want to marginalize his candidacy and, as such, will resort to anything to discredit him. And while I commend Obama's willingness to confront the matter of race, I am reluctant to view the speech as a watershed moment in the history of this nation. That is an assessment that cannot be made without the benefit of hindsight.