Speaker Lee Hawkins says America much more tolerant
Adam Kaminski and Jackie SmithLee Hawkins said the next step in the Civil Rights Movement is economic empowerment after the election of President Barack Obama.
Hawkins, a Wall Street Journal reporter and on-air correspondent for CNBC, discussed the Obama presidency, racial inequality and goals for young, black America in the Black History Month keynote address Tuesday in Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium.
"There's never been a better time to be black in America," Hawkins said. "Obama's election is a sign that America is more racially tolerant."
Hawkins said the Obama presidency has thrust blacks into an era of heightened opportunity and responsibility.
"Blacks shouldn't be pacified by a black man in the Oval Office," he said.
The theme of Hawkins' speech was "The Quest for Black Citizenship in America" and was sponsored by Minority Student Services.
Hawkins said he believes America is not a meritocracy. He noted 17 percent of voters who voted for Obama's presidential opponent, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said they voted against him specifically because of race.
Hawkins also was concerned with the opportunity for wealth for young black Americans.
"Opportunity for African-American wealth on Wall Street is shrinking," he said. "It's going to take more than a black president and three black CEOs in the Fortune 500 to bring equality."
Detroit junior Sara Kirkland thinks having an African American in a high profile position in the media will be benefit other young, black aspiring journalists.
"Color is one thing you can relate to," Kirkland said. "He's probably going to have the same struggles I'm going to have and to ask him about it will definitely be beneficial towards me. What he said was it's not going to be easy and whatever you do you need to try hard."
university@cm-life.com
