Better late than Never?

July 20, President Bush made his first appearance at the NAACP

convention, leaving Warren Harding, who died before addressing the
organization, as the only President not to.

After waiting six
years to speak to the oldest civil rights group in the country, I as an
African American youth hoped he would “bring it.”  Speaking about
the Voting Rights Act, HIV/AIDS, Gulf Coast Relief, and education his
message was cordial and only critical to his yearly snub.  Yet
Bush has a lot to criticize himself regarding African Americans. 
His moral lapse in Hurricane Katrina exposed his and other Republican
policies that steep minorities in poverty and disaster’s path. 
Low wages, failing schools, and the housing gap are root causes Bush
avoided in his speech. 

I
especially found his discussion of ownership jarring.  To show how
times have changed, he displayed his elementary school textbook level
knowledge of Black history (slavery, King, ….?).  Unlike our
ancestors, who were owned, African Americans today can own our pension
plans.  Without good wages or health care it may not matter if we
have private accounts, being unable to even retire.  Besides the
good news on fighting HIV/AIDS at home and abroad, I heard nothing to
recant Kanye West’s assertion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072000803.html