President Obama spoke today to the Centennial gathering of the NAACP, founded in 1909 by WEB DuBois and other black and white reformers, who saw a need for a national civil rights organization to deal with the reality of prejudice and discrimination.
It was founded on the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, and now celebrates its centennial on the bicentennial of Lincoln.  While much progress has been made, and Obama’s election is a great moment in racial reconciliation, there is still plenty to do, as Obama pointed out.
Obama emphasized the importance of national health care, and also education reform. He particularly re-emphasized what he has been saying lately–that we need more college graduates, and that the nation’s community colleges play a major role in the promotion of educational attainment. Excellence is essential, and new approaches to education are required at all levels from preschool to graduate school.Â
As usual, Obama was inspirational with his message, and there is no doubt that he has set high standards in all of his speeches dealing with both domestic and foreign policy. If only we can attain the goals that he has set for the nation this year and in future years!