Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

babylonsister

(170,962 posts)
Thu Jun 4, 2020, 07:57 AM Jun 2020

Obama's message to young people of color: "I want you to know that you matter"


Obama’s message to young people of color: “I want you to know that you matter”
Obama praised young people of color for creating urgency around systemic racism and police brutality.
By Nicole Narea@nicolenarea Jun 3, 2020, 8:00pm EDT


Former President Barack Obama sent a message of gratitude to young people of color, who have “witnessed too much violence and too much death,” and said their activism has been a source of hope for him.

“I want you to know that you matter. I want you to know that your lives matter, that your dreams matter,” Obama said in a livestream of a roundtable hosted by My Brother’s Keeper, an organization he launched in 2014, on Wednesday evening. “You should be able to learn and make mistakes and live a life of joy without having to worry about what’s going to happen when you walk to the store or go for a jog or are driving down the street or are looking at some birds in a park.”


It’s not the first time that Obama has remarked publicly on the nationwide protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd, signaling a level of engagement that is unusual for a former president.

He wrote an essay on Medium earlier this week contemplating how the current protests could galvanize real change. He condemned the few protesters who have resorted to violence — including breaking store windows and setting fires — urging them to instead set an example for how American society should operate and clearly articulate their demands, a message he repeated Wednesday evening.

In his roundtable, he likened the young people taking to the streets in the name of the Black Lives Matter movement to other civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, and Malcolm X.

“You have helped to make the entire country feel as if this is something that’s got to change,” he said. “You’ve communicated a sense of urgency. That is as powerful and as transformative as anything that I’ve seen in recent years.”


more...

https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21279759/barack-obama-george-floyd-racism-police-brutality
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Obama's message to young people of color: "I want you to know that you matter" (Original Post) babylonsister Jun 2020 OP
Obama COMMUNICATES from the gut ProudMNDemocrat Jun 2020 #1

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,478 posts)
1. Obama COMMUNICATES from the gut
Thu Jun 4, 2020, 08:33 AM
Jun 2020

In ways that no one else can. President Obama has lived their experiences and will face scrutiny for the rest of his.

His voice and presence will be critical from now until November.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Obama's message to young ...