WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Saturday that the country is "a better place today" than when he graduated from college more than 30 years ago, citing his historic election as "one indicator of how attitudes have changed."
But gaps persist, he told Howard University's Class of 2016, citing racism and inequality.
In his commencement speech at one of the nation's leading historically black schools, Obama said there were no black CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and few black judges when he received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University in 1983.
"A lot of folks didn't even think blacks had the tools to be a quarterback," Obama said. "When I was a graduate, the main black hero on TV was Mr. T."
Today, he said, "we're producers, studio executives. We're no longer small-business owners, we're CEOs. We're mayors, representatives" — and someone in the crowd shouted out, "President."
"I'm not saying gaps do not persist. Obviously, they do," Obama said. "Racism persists, inequality persists."
He called on Howard's 2,300 graduates to step up and take on the work of closing those gaps.
"America needs you to gladly, happily take up that work ... so enjoy the party, because you're going to be busy," Obama said.
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Monday, May 9th 2016 at 12:41PM
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