Michael E. Dyson of Georgetown criticizes Obama’s speech on African-American families.
Yes, Obama’s speech was directed in large measure towards whites, and was part of his awkward move to the “center.”
However, regardless of his political intent, he makes a good point that Dyson fails to address. Indeed, Dyson avoids even presenting an overview of the issue.
If we assume that 1) two-thirds of all African-American births are out of wedlock, and also 2) in general this is not good for the kids involved–unreasonable assumptions?– then there is a problem among African-Americans that Obama is correct to address.
Dyson somehow does not mention any of this, and instead searches for something good to say, regardless of its relevance, about out-of-wedlock births among African-Americans (“black fathers not living at home are more likely to keep in contact with their children than fathers of any other ethnic or racial group”).
In sum, he tries to downplay facts that he doesn’t dare mention.
