Obama lauds racial progress, but warns of more work to be done

Speaking at one of his final college commencements as commander-in-chief, President Obama on Saturday marveled at the improvements in race relations since he was a college student but said more work needs to be done.

{mosads}“Given the current state of political rhetoric and debate, let me say something that may sound controversial,” Obama said at Howard University. “America is a better place today than it was when I graduated from college.”

More black people are earning their bachelor’s degrees, coming into positions of power and creating change, he said.

“We’re no longer entertainers, we’re producers and studio executives,” Obama said. “We’re no longer small business owners, we’re CEOs. We’re mayors, representatives, presidents of the United States.”

But racism and inequality still prevails, he added, in the form of gaps in economic opportunity and high black unemployment and incarceration rates.

“There’s still so much more work to do,” Obama said. “America needs you to gladly, happily take up that work.”