Race and the USA elections

Comment on Obama's speech

Abstract

Barack Obama´s speech on race relations in the U.S. is analyzed in the context of slavery in the development
of capitalism. While identifying the nature and source of existing racial strife, his speech fails to examine the role of the Civil Rights Movement and its anti-imperialist direction at the time of Martin Luther King’s death. Obama’s presidency must be viewed in the perspective of the current needs of U.S. imperialism and the sources of Obama’s support. The article concludes that an Obama presidency, although a progressive
event in world history, will not fulfill the expectations of his supporters without pressure from social movements.