Obama : A sermon for black America

The President has called on African-Americans to take control of their lives. David Usborne went to Harlem to hear how his tough-love speech went down

Yet, they know it was to them that the President had in fact been speaking. And even if his message had been harsh – a sermon on blacks taking greater responsibility for their lives – they appreciated it, mostly. "I was just thinking about all this this morning," professes Divine, 49, his bright red T-shirt layered with cheap gold chains. "Racism is always going to be there, but man, you have to put your foot down and move forward and do what you have to do. We have to get over this racism thing."

A President with a difference
Not everyone was sure that changes in mindset that Mr Obama says black America needs – his refrain of the night was "No excuses! No excuses!" – can come quickly or are even entirely realistic. But nearly everyone in Harlem is thankful at least for the mere fact of Mr Obama being America's commander-in-chief.

"African-Americans have to get along with their lives and have to lift themselves up and do better to make their lives better," says Keyshia Brown, 23, rushing to a business studies class. "And I see a lot of kids doing that. And I think part of that is because Obama is president."

Never mind if at times Mr Obama came close to lecturing as he delivered his most important speech on race since coming to office. (He was twiddling with passages of the text until moments before delivering it, aides said.) Parents, for example, should be "putting away the Xbox and putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour".

Nor did it seem to matter that in parts he might have insulted some of those dawdling with Divine on 125th Street. "When I drive through Harlem... and I see young men on the corners," he said, "I say, there but for the grace of God go I". But he went on: "They're no less gifted than me. They're no less talented than me. But I had some breaks".

Above all, he explained in a speech that at times was more personal than political, he had a (white) mother who did not allow him to lower his ambitions because of the colour of his skin or because of the obstacles he was likely to face. And no one should be in any doubt that those obstacles remain. "Make no mistake: The pain of discrimination is still felt in America," Mr Obama said, drawing successive standing ovations and chants of "Amen".

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