Barack Obama was warmly received at the 99th annual NAACP convention in Cincinnati, where the candidate paid homage to African American leaders who walked before him, including Julian Bond who introduced the candidate, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and John Lewis. “It is because of them; and all those whose names never made it into the history books – those men and women, young and old, black, brown and white, clear-eyed and straight-backed, who refused to settle for the world as it is; who had the courage to remake the world as it should be – that I stand before you tonight as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States of America,” he said.

But, he observed, “Just electing me does not mean our work is over. We’ve got more work to do.”

Part of that work, he said, will have to be done by individuals. Obama, who was recently crudely chastised by Reverend Jesse Jackson for his tough love message to the African American community, made it clear he will not back down from his beliefs that those in the community have to take on more responsibilities to better their lives and those of their families.

“Now, I know there’s some who’ve been saying I’ve been too tough talking about responsibility. NAACP, I’m here to report, I’m not gonna stop talking about it,” he said to a rousing applause. “Because as much as I’m out there fighting to make sure government’s doing it’s job and the market place is doing it’s job and we’re passing laws to bring more investment and more education and more infrastructure into our communities and putting our young people back to work. No matter how much money we invest in our communities, how many 10-point plans we propose, how many government programs we launch – none of it will make a difference, at least not enough of a difference, if we also at the same time don’t seize more responsibility in our own lives.”

Jackson implied Obama’s comments were condescending, but Obama stood tall before the African American group and continued, “We need societal responsibility and we need individual responsibility. We need politicians doing what they’re supposed to do and CEO’s doing what they’re supposed to do, and we need parents doing what they’re supposed to do….if we’re serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives, there’s nothing wrong with saying that.” Based on the crowd’s response, they agreed.

Obama concluded his remarks with a promise to return on the NAACP’s 100th anniversary next year. “I will come back to you next year on that anniversary and I will stand before you as the President of the United States of America. And at that moment, you and I will truly know that a new day has come in this country we love. Thank you NAACP. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.”