Obama urges Black Americans to "keep marching, keep speaking up, keep voting"

Washington — Former President Barack Obama encouraged Black Americans to "keep marching, keep speaking up, keep voting" to usher in progress throughout the nation after a year that was marred by the coronavirus pandemic and the deaths of unarmed Black men by law enforcement.

In an interview with BET.com set to publish Thursday, Mr. Obama noted the challenges of 2020 "can make you wonder if things will ever get better," but said that for policies to be changed, "we cannot let up during these next four" years. "The people who benefit from keeping things the way they are — they are counting on your cynicism," the former president told BET.com when asked for his message to Black Americans. "They know they can't win you over with their policies. So they're hoping to convince you that your vote, and your voice, doesn't matter. That's how they win. And that's why we need to keep marching, keep speaking up, keep voting."