I can't decide how I really feel about the latest charge from Obama where he says – among other things - of black fathers, "They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it". Are these the kind of talks we have to look forward to if he wins the next election? I am not saying that I am necessarily unhappy with him winning the democratic ticket, but I take offense to his generalization of black fathers, and think his entire speech is completely unnecessary. I mean, c'mon, I have heard of many fathers who have abandoned their responsibilities and who were missing from the lives of their children. Ironically, I can't recall that any of them have been black.
I feel like his viewpoint is valid, but should be aimed at ALL fathers, rather than singling out a particular race. Why would you call people out like that? Just because this is an issue close to his heart and has been something that affected him personally, is not reason enough to use his public notoriety to make blatant generalizations about black fathers who ARE there for their kids. And what about the fathers who are white, Latino, Asian, or of another ethnicity who have not lived up to the standard of a good father? Do they just get to fly under the radar on this one?
I certainly hope these kinds of divisive speeches are not a sign of things to come.
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