Obama Tells Black Fathers To Engage Their Children

June 16th, 2008 · 3 Comments

By CHRISTOPHER WILLS
Associated Press WriterCHICAGO — Barack Obama celebrated Father’s Day by calling on black fathers, who he said are “missing from too many lives and too many homes,” to become active in raising their children.”They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it,” the Democratic presidential candidate said Sunday at a largely black church in his hometown.Reminding the congregation of his firsthand experience growing up without a father, Obama said he was lucky to have loving grandparents who helped his mother. He got support, second chances and scholarships that helped him get an education. Obama’s father left when he was 2.

“A lot of children don’t get those chances. There is no margin for error in their lives,” said Obama, an Illinois senator.

“I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle — that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls,” added Obama, whose daughters, Sasha and Malia, and his wife, Michelle, watched from the audience.

Obama’s appearance at the Apostolic Church of God was his first address to a church since he ended his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ, where he had worshipped for 20 years, following inflammatory remarks there by his former longtime pastor and others.

Obama frequently emphasized the importance of God in his life and ended the speech by asking the congregation to “Pray for me. Pray for Michelle.”

Obama often speaks about the importance of parental involvement. In Washington, he sponsored legislation to get more child support money to children by offering a tax credit for fathers who pay support, more efficient collection and penalties for fathers who don’t meet their obligations.

The issue adds to his family values credentials and lets voters see him delivering a stern message to black voters.

“We can’t simply write these problems off to past injustices,” Obama said Sunday. “Those injustices are real. There’s a reason our families are in disrepair … but we can’t keep using that as an excuse.”

Obama urged black parents to demand the best from themselves and their children.

He compared it to his own presidential campaign and early comments from black voters who said they liked him but didn’t think a black man could ever be elected president. He said they were admitting defeat before the competition had even begun.

“That was when I wasn’t black enough. Now I’m too black,” he said in a joking aside.

He said parents who proudly tell him their child gets great grades, all B’s, should encourage them even more.

“All B’s? Is that the highest grade?” Obama said. “It’s great that you can get a B, but you can get a better grade. It’s great that you’ve got a job, but you can get a better job.”

What do you think about Obama speaking directly to black fathers?

Tags: Community · News · Politics

3 responses so far ↓

1 Anonymous // Jun 16, 2008 at 2:43 am

I had the privilege of being at church today to hear Senator Obama, our next president, speak. His message was uplifting and right on target!Contrary to popular belief, black fathers aren’t the only men, who are missing in action, there fore, his message was appropriate for all fathers.
2 sunshine // Jun 27, 2008 at 8:54 am

Hello,I think you used the right words to reach out to our BLACK fathers.I’m am a single perent living here in the distric.I feel like too many of our black men abandon there responsiblities to there children.I feel like DC should have much stricker laws that Make these dead beat dads set up.Most of poor moms are a results of absent fathers,we are force to raise there children and struggle while the fathers are free to move on and out of their childrens live.Our girls and boys are left to find fathers from the hood,gangs,and other poor role modles.I was left as a child by both perent because there were and still are drug abuser’s.I was raise by the state and had it hard all my life.I’m trying to make a diffrenace in my childrens life by not giving up because that’s the easy way to go.It’s hard and I have tried seeking help through our Government agencies and that has been unsuccessful.I still cry out for the four children who’s mother killed them a few months ago.I have four and I suffer with depression due to life’s struggles.Sometime’s I feel do we really have a voice because I have been crying out for HELP and I truly don’t think that anyone has heard my voice.I would love to get a responce to this because I feel my voice should be heard.My family and I live here in ward six and right known we are being forced to move because of safety issuse and the neighborhood that we are being moved to has more drugs crime ,killings and etc.My two oldest children are13and 14 one girl and one boy.I would love any informatoin about getting them a big brother and sister,maybe there are people out there that can help me or at least guide to where I might need to go.please email me back I am very grateful for any help.
3 sunshine // Jun 27, 2008 at 9:05 am

I help in my neighborhood with the children because I see that they don’t have outlets and when you don’t have both perents sometime’s,well most of the time our children become a victim of their envoirment and that is the most clear way to put it,Our daughters become teen moms our sons want to help with there mom stuggles so they give up on school and turn to selling drugs.Help Me I’m reaching out,I never had a stronge family but I have good kids I want to save their live and let them no that they can be and do whatever they want in life,I’m a working mom and that makes it that much harder for me.If anyone hears this when you read my comment no that I am reaching out for help not smypathy

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