Foundations for Writing

The Washington Post provides video footage of Obama’s virtual HBCU commencement, in which

Obama speaks on systemic racism for virtual HBCU commencement, citing covid-19 and Ahmaud Arbery
The former president spoke to graduates of historically black college and universities.

Obama’s speech is well worth listening to. Here are a few clips from the accompanying WP article.

“A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country,” Obama said. “We see it in the disproportionate impact of covid-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn’t submit to their questioning.

“Injustice like this isn’t new,” Obama continued. “What is new is that so much of your generation has woken up to the fact that the status quo needs fixing, that the old ways of doing things don’t work.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/16/obama-commencement-speech-2020/