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President Barack Obama hosted a screening recently of a film about this country's first African-American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall.
The fact that the screening of HBO's "Thurgood" comes during Black History Month is even more special.
President Obama and Marshall have a lot in common: Both were groundbreaking black men who have left lasting impacts on this country. Marshall, first as a lawyer, fought for equal rights for African Americans - and all people - with his lawsuits for school desegregation.
President Obama has already sought to change this country with health care legislation that acknowledges it as a basic human right. He has also sought to reduce this nation's nuclear stockpiles despite the political blow-back.
Expectations for both men as they headed in to their new roles was tremendous.
Everything Obama does is examined through the lens of race. I'm sure Obama can look back at the difficulties Marshall faced and the way he still fought for what he believed as a guide.
In talking about the film, Marshall's son spoke discussed how his father's accomplishments can never be solely attributed to his father alone:
"One person can make a difference but that one person needs a lot of people to help him or her out along the way," said John Marshall.
That's the lesson we should take from the administration of Barack Obama. Electing the first black president is not the end of the story. There's still a lot of work to do before we can say we have achieved true equality in this country.
"As we focus on today and focus on moving forward, I think it's so important, particularly during African-American History Month, that we remember those who worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much to enable us to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that we do today and my father was one of those," said John Marshall.
Indeed.
Watch President Obama's event here:
Comments: (47)
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By: cole on 2/24/2011 10:36AM
For those of you in the "entertainment business," realize that your role in our society is very important too. Keep striving to be the best at what you do whether that is acting or writing or singing. The "White House," was viewing a film about Thurgood Marshall that was written and performed by Artists.
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By: laroywatermelon on 2/24/2011 5:10PM
Get to work Obummer you bum
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By: nick on 2/24/2011 5:25PM
Someone tell me why this guy is black?? When he was made it seems to me he had a white mother and a black father???? To me that is a half breed???
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By: El on 2/24/2011 6:48PM
Nick, because all people who was born into an interacial couple is consider(if it's noticeable) Black. So, now are you saying white people want to claim all fair skinned Black as white. Why the change now?
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By: berry lee on 2/24/2011 9:09PM
You're a halfbreed for calling him one.
You are well aware that is a derogatory term.
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By: Debbe on 2/24/2011 10:36PM
Actually he is more WHITE than black because not only 50 percent white blood, but 100 percent white upbringing. Tell me too how can he be called black? Where's the white? Something is wrong with this picture if you ask me, I don't care about the olden days when they said you are not white if you had an ounce of something else in ya, that was a long time ago and it was not a melting pot back then, now so many races and mixed people, not cool to just choose one side. Strange to leave out your white folks that raised you and help get you where you are today.
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By: El on 2/24/2011 11:36PM
Debbie, Read my post that I send to Nick. Apparently, you were born after post Civil rights Movement. Things that happen in the past just don't change over night when it's suitable for whites.
DEBBIE TAKE A HISTORY CLASS AND LOOK AT THE REAL HISTORY OF AMERICA and then come back to Black Voices and comment. If you don't see the racism of having a Black president when, white people NOW, call him half white when three years ago, before he was elected, he was considered Black and nothing close to white before then, you don't have the slightest clue. The president will tell most whites they don't have a clue, but he can't because he's the President.
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By: BP on 2/25/2011 3:29AM
Actually, Obongo is a Muslim Mulatto.
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By: Thomas Boyette on 2/24/2011 5:34PM
Race matters most to some people. Those people, by definition, are racists.
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By: Debbe on 2/24/2011 10:46PM
I don't agree all with that statement but there is some truth to it. I think that if white people are told they are racist constantly, it puts the race issue in their heads. And there is such a melting pot of races in our country now but you only hear that a white person is racist. This is not true and cannot be true. Racist is not a color. So anyway, then, like people like me who have mixed children, I want my child to proud of his half white side just like his other, and this is because I made him too and I don't think my contribution to his race should be dismissed. Also, I do not understand why race comes up the most on black boards, television, discussions of any kind. It seems the people who talk about race the most is black, but they never accuse asians, indians, or any other ethnic group of racism. I just think black people have an issue with whites. I may be wrong though....but it seems white people are not a very popular race at the moment.
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