The Last Time Obama Gave a Major Speech About Race

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On March 18, 2008 in Philadelphia, then-Senator Barack Obama delivered a speech that is considered by many to be one of the greatest speeches on race in America’s history. Our own David Corn wrote that the speech, which Obama gave in response to the controversy surrounding his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was “unlike any delivered by a major political figure in modern American history.”

When Obama talks about race, he makes waves (see his surprise press conference after the Zimmerman verdict for a more recent example). Wednesday, when he delivers a speech on the National Mall to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, he’s expected to speak about race again. As a reminder of how good he can be when he does, watch 2008’s “A More Perfect Union:”