Barack Obama spoke to first year students at Howard University's convocation service on Friday. Howard University is a Historically Black College in Washington, D.C.

The Senator from Illinois and Democratic presidential candidate called it a privilege to speak at Howard and noted that "It was Howard that sent the first African-American to the United States Senate."




Obama's speech focused on the history and current condition of Black-White relations in America. He touched on the Brown vs. the Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that started the process of desegregating American's schools. He spoke of the Jena 6 and of "inequalities" in the American justice system.

Obama compared the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950's and 60's to Moses, leading captives out of bondage. He pointed out that Moses didn't lead his people into the promised land.

Everyone in this room stands on the shoulders of many Moses. They are the courageous men and women who marched and fought and bled for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. They have taken us many miles over an impossible journey.

But you are members of the Joshua Generation. And it is now up to you to finish the work that they began.

Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic described the speech as "strikingly expansive, a reminder of what Obama can deliver when he wants to."

A pro-Obama political blog, Think on These Things, has published the full text of Obama's speech.