Obama Tells Fellow Blacks: ‘No Excuses’ for Any Failure

How does this observation:
“'No one has written your destiny for you,' [Barack Obama] said, directing his remarks to 'all the other Barack Obamas out there' who might one day grow up to be president. 'Your destiny is in your hands, and don’t you forget that. That’s what we have to teach all of our children! No excuses! No excuses!'” agree with this one:
"Mr. Obama spoke directly about his own upbringing, crediting his mother (who was white) with setting him straight, and departing from his prepared text to talk about how his life might have turned out had she not. 'When I drive through Harlem and I drive through the South Side of Chicago and I see young men on the corners,” he said, “I say there but for the grace of God go I.'"

Isn't this just more of the American myth of the self-made man, which; while it works for some is relatively impossible to achieve for the majority?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/us/politics/17obama.html?_r=1&ref=global-home