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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks during a news conference in Chicago on March 12, 2008. Obama received the endorsement of several retired Admirals and Generals Wednesday. (UPI Photo/Brian Kersey)

Obama's speech was prompted by questions about his association with his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who has delivered inflammatory sermons about U.S. society and foreign policy. Obama addressed race issues from the perspective of whites and blacks and encouraged U.S. citizens to discuss race freely, The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) reported.

"At the end of the day, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ makes it possible for even an African-American and a female to articulate the hopes and dreams of America, and do so with the hope of becoming president. Isn't that wonderful?" said Rev. William H. Curtis of Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh.

Philip L. Blackwell, senior pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Chicago, said he planned to confront race matters during his sermon by telling a story about a black friend of his who was pulled over because police thought it was suspicious that he was driving an expensive car.