This is a public service announcement.

If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to read and/or watch Barack Obama’s recent speech, “A More Perfect Union.” For those who don’t follow US election news closely, the speech was prompted in part by controversial comments made by Obama’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, but is also an exposition of the state of American race relations in general. At approximately 5000 words (or 40 minutes delivered), it is somewhat lengthy, but I believe must be absorbed in its entirety to be fully appreciated. No news article or highlight reel can do it justice.

There is much that can be said about this speech, but for now, all I will say is this: Show me another living politician in America who can give a speech like this, let alone write it himself in only two days (according to Newsweek).