In his speech, President Obama chose to shine the spotlight on women and their importance in the civil rights movement, the family and the disparity in pay especially for Black women.
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When black women and girls are marginalized, “we all lose out on their talents”, Obama said. He also called women “foot soldiers” and recalled how they were instrumental behind the scenes in the early days of the civil rights movement. And when pressed, male organizers added a tribute highlighting six women-none of them who were asked to make a speech.
President Barack Obama made history by becoming the first sitting president to visit a federal prison, in a segment that will be featured in a documentary titled “Fixing the System”, which airs on September 27.
But he said that while black women and girls in the United States have made progress in terms of education and economics, they are still more likely to be mired in poverty due to working in low-wage jobs, and are incarcerated at twice the rate as white women.
Speaking inside the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s year round promotions meals for your 7th years one after the other, Obama was at certain to handle a number of competitors for consideration on the table.
But on Saturday, with the campaign to succeed him in full swing, Obama was certain to face some competition for attention at the gathering sponsored by a major Democratic Party constituency group.
Among those in the audience was Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
He also swiped at conservatives who blame him for animosity toward law enforcement officers. “I want Michelle getting paid at some point”, Obama said. “I want to repeat because I’ve said it a lot, unwaveringly, all the time: Our law enforcement officers do outstanding work in an incredibly hard and unsafe job”. They put their lives on the line for our safety. So we’re focusing on boys, but we’re also investing in ways to change the odds for at-risk girls-to make sure that they are loved and valued, to give them a chance. In the march, she was badly beaten by police.
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Boynton Robinson died late last month at age 104.
