Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) delivered an eloquent speech in Philadelphia Tuesday, discussing race and the controversial comments by his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.
Obama denounced many of the comments made by Wright. "Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes," said the Democratic presidential candidate.
"Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely," continued Obama. "Just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed."
"Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity," said Obama.
However, Obama stood strong to back Wright's character and his relationship with him as a person. "As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me," said Obama. "He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children."
Obama said no matter what, he remains loyal to the man that introduced him to God. "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community," said Obama. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."
Obama's diverse racial background added a lot of clarity to his statements. "I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents," said Obama. "For as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible."
Obama delivered a message of unity, not just because of a vision, but due to his family background, it is evident that Obama has lived it his entire life. He urged to calm the racial tensions in America, which he seemed to do in his biggest speech to his campaign thus far.
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