The Daily Orange

With the fervor of a preacher and the words of hip-hop greats, black intellectual and ordained Baptist Minister Michael Eric Dyson brought an unexpected message to Syracuse University students Thursday night.

Dyson criticized President Obama, saying that he needs to start actively combating racism. At one point, he said Obama tends to "run from race like the plague."

"He's not a prophet. He's not a race leader. He's a president and I expect him to talk about race. I will vote for him again and continue to challenge him in office so I can have the right to criticize him," Dyson said. "We've seen the hope, we want the audacity."

Dyson, who spoke in Goldstein Auditorium in Schine Student Center at the Fall Convocation of the Student African American Society, pressed Obama to speak more frequently and frankly about the subject of race in America.

"Obama needs to tell the truth about race. We don't need to be post-race, we need to be post-racist," he said. "It means we all come together of every race, ethnicity, region and sexual orientation."

Dyson spoke about Obama's struggle not only to publicly address race but also to defy those who aim to color his biracial roots only white or black.

"Race is a contribution of organizing culture around a positive definition," Dyson said. "My friend said, 'Obama's half white.' I replied, 'A lot of brothers in prison are half white, too. Nobody claims them.'"

Dyson called attention to his own issues with racial identity. He finds that as a light-skinned black man, society often questions how black he is.

"Roots should nurture, not strangle you," he said.

"Mr. Dyson is very inspiring - he doesn't beat around the bush," said Paul Barbosa, a junior in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

During the talk, Dyson used quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., singer Beyonce and rappers Lil Wayne and Drake, resulting in a combination of pop culture and history that resonated with the student audience.

Continued...

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