Former US President Barack Obama on Thursday said that divisiveness is “one of the greatest challenges of our time,” in his first speech after Democrats lost the presidential election.
Speaking to over 600 people in Chicago, Obama called division “one of the greatest challenges of our time,” emphasising the importance of pluralism and cooperation in US.
Obama urged his audience to build alliances and coalitions, saying, “It’s about recognizing that in a democracy, power comes from forging alliances and building coalitions… not only for the woke, but also for the waking.” He stressed that building bridges across divides is crucial for achieving lasting change, “building bridges is not contrary to equality and social justice. In fact, it is our best tool for delivering lasting change,” he said.
While acknowledging potential skepticism, the 44th president emphasised the importance of addressing the post-election atmosphere. “I understand the skepticism… But to produce free and fair and more just societies, I cannot think of a better time to talk about it,” he said.
However, Obama also acknowledged limits to compromise, saying, “In those circumstances, a line has been crossed, and we have to stand firm and speak out and organize and mobilize as forcefully as we can,” referencing situations where the justice system is used against political opponents.
He cited Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, explaining that pluralism doesn’t require giving up one’s beliefs. He concluded with a call for collaborative action: “If you want to create lasting change, you have to find ways to practice addition rather than subtraction.”
The event included attendees such as Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett and former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. Obama did not mention any specific political figures or parties during his 45-minute speech.