or blacks were excluded from unions； or the police force； or fire departments … meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations。 That history helps explain the wealth and ine gap between black and white； and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persists in so many of today's urban and rural munities。
A lack of economic opportunity among black men； and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one's family； contributed to the erosion of black families … a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened。 And the lack of basic services in so many urban black neighborhoods … parks for kids to play in； police walking the beat； regular garbage pick…up and building code enforcement … all helped create a cycle of violence； blight and neglect that continue to haunt us。
This is the reality in which Reverend Wright and other African…Americans of his generation grew up。 They came of age in the late fifties and early sixties； a time when segregation was still the law of the land and opportunity was systematically constricted。 What's remarkable is not how many failed in the face of discrimination； but rather how many men and women overcame the odds； how many were able to make a way out of no way for those like me who would e after them。
更完善的联邦（10）
But for all those who scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream； there were many who didn't make it … those who were ultimately defeated； in one way or another； by discrimination。 That legacy of defeat was passed on to future generations … those young men and increasingly young women who we see standing on street corners or languishing in our prisons； without hope or prospects for the future。 Even for those blacks who did make it； questions of race； and racism； continue to define their worldview in fundamental ways。 For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation； the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away； nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years。 That anger may not get expressed in public； in front of white co…workers or white friends。 But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table。 At times； that anger is exploited by politicians； to gin up votes along racial lines； or to make up for a politician's own failings。
And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning； in the pulpit and in the pews。 The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning。 That anger is not always productive； indeed； all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems； it keeps us from squarely facing our own plicity in our condition； and prevents the African…American munity from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change。 But the anger is real； it is powerful； and to simply wish it away； to condemn it without understanding its roots； only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races。
In fact； a similar anger exists within segments of the white munity。 Most working… and middle…class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race。 Their experience is the immigrant experience … as far as they're concerned； no one's handed them anything； they've built it from scratch。 They've worked hard all their lives； many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor。 They are anxious about their futures； and feel their dreams slipping away； in an era of stagnant wages and global petition； opportunity es to be seen as a zero sum game； in which your dreams e at my expense。 So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town； when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never mitted； when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced； resentment builds over time。
Like the anger within the black munity； these resentments aren't always expressed in polite pany。 But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation。 Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition。 Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends。 Talk show hosts and conservative mentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism。。 最好的txt下载网
更完善的联邦（11）
Just as black anger often proved counterproductive； so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze … a corporate culture rife with inside dealing； questionable accounting practices； and short…term greed； a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests； economic policies that favor the few over the many。 And yet； to wish away the resentments of white Americans； to label them as misguided or even racist； without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns … this too widens the racial divide； and blocks the path to understanding。
This is where we are right now。 It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years。 Contrary to the claims of some of my critics； black and white； I have never been so na？ve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle； or with a single candidacy … particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own。
But I have asserted a firm conviction … a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people … that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds； and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union。
For the African…American munity； that path means embracing the burdens of our past without being victims of our past。 It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life。 But it also means binding our particular grievances … for better health care； and better schools； and better jobs … to the larger aspirations of all Americans …… the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling； the white man whose been laid off； the immigrant trying to feed his family。 And it means taking full responsibility for own lives … by demanding more from our fathers； and spending more time with our children； and reading to them； and teaching them that while they may face challenges and discrimination in their own lives； they must never succumb to despair or cynicism； they must always believe that they can write their own destiny。
Ironically； this quintessentially American … and yes； conservative … notion of self…help found frequent expression in Reverend Wright's sermons。 But what my former pastor too often failed to understand is that embarking on a program of self…help also requires a belief that society can change。
The profound mistake of Reverend Wright's sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society。 It's that he spoke as if our society was static； as if no progress has been made； as if this country … a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black； Latino and Asian； rich and poor； young and old — is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past。 But what we know — what we have seen … is that America can change。 That is true genius of this nation。 What we have already achieved gives us hope … the audacity to hope … for what we can and must achieve tomorrow。
In the white munity； the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African…American munity does not just exist in the minds of black people； that the legacy of discrimination … and current incidents of discrimination； while less overt than in the past … are real and must be addressed。 Not just with words； but with deeds … by investing in our schools and our munities； by enforcing our civil rights laws and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system； by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations。 It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to e at the expense of my dreams； that investing in the health； welfare； and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper。 txt小说上传分享
更完善的联邦（12）
In the end； then； what is called for is nothing more； and nothing less； than what all the world's great religions demand … that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us。 Let us be our brother's keeper； Scripture tells us。 Let us be our sister's keeper。 Let us find that mon stake we all have in one another； and let our politics reflect that spirit as well。
For we have a choice in this country。 We can accept a politics that breeds division； and conflict； and cynicism。 We can tackle race only as spectacle … as we did in the OJ trial … or in the wake of tragedy； as we did in the aftermath of Katrina … or as fodder for the nightly news。 We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel； every day and talk about them from now until the election； and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words。 We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card； or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies。
We can do that。
But if we do； I can tell you that in the next election； we'll be talking about some other distraction。 And then another one。 And then another one。 And nothing will change。
That is one option。 Or； at this moment； in this election； we can e together and say； 〃Not this time。〃 This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian