Our government was founded on the belief that all Americans deserved the opportunity to have a voice—even if you use that voice to sing off-key and practice your yodeling. We may have different upbringings, different economic strengths and weaknesses, different opportunities—but, in the eyes of the law, we're all the same. However, that never quite happened as was intended—some people don't need to practice yodeling, for example, and others sing on key all the time.
But even beyond our literal singing voices, we still struggle for equality in all aspects of our lives. Obama's "A More Perfect Union" addressed these struggles and made it very clear that we need to find a solution because the inequalities have been impeding our success as a whole.
Questions About Equality
- What are some strides we've made in recent history to overcome issues of inequality?
- Do you think Obama becoming president has changed the way we think about equality in our country? Why or why not?
- How did Obama's personal stories influence your understanding of what it means to be equal?
- Why did Obama choose to end his speech with the anecdote from a roundtable discussion in South Carolina?
Chew on This
There will never be true equality in the United States until all minority populations—including women, Blacks, immigrants, and displaced persons—have access to the same opportunities.
The answer to the question of equality has nothing to do with equalizing everyone. Rather, it will come with an understanding of equality versus equity.