Obama's Aspect of America

Brittany Lanier

May 17, 2010

Obama’s Aspect of America

Barack Obama shares some of the same values and beliefs of some of our strongest political leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. However, it is important to state that they also have some disagreements on certain aspects. According to Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention speech, Obama views himself as an American and views the constitution as the perfect framework of what values and aspects should be considered. Yet, Obama rejects the claim that we live in a colorblind society. Obama states, “There is not a black America and white America and Latina America and Asian America.” (Obama 274)

Obama, like Malcolm X and King were extremely motivated by faith and believed that we should not be judge by the color of our skin. While King believes that the constitution originally meant that all men were equal, Obama believes that this was not the original intent of the constitution, he believes in a living constitution. On the other hand, Obama agrees with Malcolm X that religious terminology should be expressed to their audience in a manner in which all will understand regardless of what race. It is obvious that Obama, however disagrees with the violent approach that Malcolm X chooses to pursue in order to reach his goal.

In Obama’s 2004 National Convention speech, Obama re-assures his audience that we all are Americans and refer to himself as being apart of the larger American dream. According to him, there is only one country that will allow for this much diversity, and that’s the one and only America. Obama declares, “Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” (National Convention Speech 1) And yet, by us having these rights, we are all equal.

Obama deeply embraces the constitution with the upmost respect. He views the constitution to represent...