VIDEO: IS OBAMA FOCUSED ON BLACK AMERICA?
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Roland and the panel discuss President Obama’s focus on Black America. Seems the Congressional Black Caucus isn’t happy with the president’s lack of specific plans for the African American community, but he says he’s working to help everyone.
TELL US: Should the country’s first Black president take a special interest in Black people?
obama HAS NO INTENTION OF HELPING THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THIS MAN DOES UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE HERE IN AMERICA. I BELIEVE HE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BLACK AMERICA DUE TO THE FACT HE TRIES TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM US. HE IS a joke of a presidient. a feminized man he is.
**Obama has no intention of helping the black community**
Does anyone not recall most of the comments from our so-called ‘learned’ African-American pundits on the night President Obama was elected? People let me remind you that there is no way humanly possible that the president can try to push a purely African-American agenda through while he is in office. Not only would he not be garner enough support for reelection, but I sincerely doubt that he would survive his first term in office. Check the latest census data, we are no longer the upper majority as it relates to minorities in this country (12.3 % vs 12.5 & Hispanic)and this was just from the 2000 census numbers. Imagine what that number is going to be after the 2010 census is taken. While I do question the president’s current seeming blinders were it relates to healthcare vs jobs, I think he has at the bear minimum an adequate job thus far.
Money still runs this country! It was the money that got the President elected. This is a capitalist country, and if we can’t go where the money is, how are we as a country going to survive. Yes, we need the government, but it should be for a short length of time. We need jobs here more than anything so that we can start generating money. No jobs, no growth in the economy. The President is doing a good job in my book.
It would be wise for President Obama to take that $30 billion and invest it in some new Secret Service training. I wonder how many terrorist are actually awaiting for our troops to go and fight a no winning war while they lure themselves into our country. Our troops need to stay here and train to seal our boarders to keep the terrorist out. I say keep that $30 billion right here and invest in training these troops to maybe “train Secret Service”..lol. If Secret Service can’t even keep the President safe,it disturbes me to think about our nations safety… Oh and just to let the people know, desperate people are being targeting into going to fight this no winning war. Talk to your son’s or daughter’s and tell them to beware of the recruiters because they are aware that the economy is bad and people are desperate for money and jobs. I don’t think this is the job anyone should want unless they are preparing for early death. May God Bless our nation and our troops.
In this super technological industrial era people are going to be determined by their SPECIALITIES not just their Race.It is time to decide what we can do as A HUMAN RACE and stop focusing on divisions….OBAMA made it…it proves in AMERICA IT IS POSSIBLE.lets stop being petty.
Diane, you’re a wise woman and I totally concur with your assessment of our Commander and Chief. It is so terribly easy for people to sit on the sidelines and critize someone else’s efforts; and the saddest part about it all is when you don’t have a clue of what a situation entails. All this so called advice coming from people, who are complaining and have no real insight or a solution, is a royal aggrevation. If you know the answer, why the complaint? If you can’t resolve your own issues, how can you do it for someone else. The President is looking at the big picture and a broad scope of what’s going on behind the scene, which makes him a more viable candidate to make decisions. Consequently, stop trying to serve as judge and jury for everything he does; if you really want to be helpful pray for him and all the other leaders and get off your wanna-be politically correct high horses.
why do people wash up in dirty water and say there clean?black america is scared to expose white america!every president and vice president have been white males!that’s white agenda!stat how many projects in the last 40years for that white agenda!only spooks at the door make accuses too not help black america!too say we don’t need projects and bussinesses in the the inner-city is treason to this country and our race!all stats show we have not had any real investment in the city for decades!our leaders let the racists write the rules and the bigets make the budgets!last too hire first too fire!first to fight for real freedom last too get it!
people forget history to forget there crimes against humanity!our so-called leaders are afraid to bring the past to life and show how the scale has been tipped too all those but black!how dare people say barrack shouldn’t help the black communities when the biggest suffering is in it!use the 20th century as a tool for freedom!90to 95% of all our leaders have and was attacked in the 20th century!my bad! we turned the page!research and shock and augh the segregationist weak politics!you know there using old washed out politics of the 50’s and 60’s!just listen too there platform!stop being scared too bring facts to a segregationist!!!!!!
All of you whinners need to get up off of your lazy behinds and try to do something for yourself and your own community. The President does not owe you and your six children without fathers another welfare check. Nor can he get you job as cardiac surgeon for those who can’t speak standard english and dropped out of school at the 9th grade. Maybe the President of the UNITED STATES should just create a bunch
of jobs only for black people. Never mind the rest of the unemployed people in the country. Who also voted for him.
You had your chance to vote for someone who would have done everything possible under the sun to help black people: John McCain/Sarah Palin.
Not one of the pundits or whinners who appear on RM TV One or the white tv shows (wearing their their knee pads) to bash President Obama has done a single thing to help the black community. Why don’t all of the pontificating black commentators, pundits, so-called black scholars and intellectuals pool their knowledge and make some concrete efforts to benefit the black community? Like tutoring or job training programs? Like teaching standard english? Why haven’t they created any tutoring or mentoring programs, or stay-in-school programs, or programs to clean up the filty streets in many black communities. Or mentored people like Desmond Hatchett, who fathered 21 children by eleven different women, to him learn to keep it in his pants?
It is ease to go on tv to jig; in fact it is the best and only thing that they are capable of doing, Roland Martin included.
Why don’t the pontificating black commentators, pundits, so-called black scholars and intellectuals pool their knowledge and make some concrete efforts to benefit the black community?
They could trying doing this instead of fighting each other to appear all over white network and cable tv, sporting their golden knee pads, helping the racist and bigots undermine the President. Quick, get your little children out of the path of these crabs if you don’t want them to be trampled as this group rushes to answer the call of the white boys.
I would like to hear people like Roland Martin, Travis Smiley, Boyce Watkins, Cornel West, Eric Dyson and the rest of the black blovators, commentators, pundits, so-called black scholars and intellectuals explain why they DID NOT HAVE THE CAJONES TO WHINE ABOUT GEORGE W. BUSH and the republicans during the previous eight years? President Obama is in office for eleven months and they can’t wait to whine WHILE OFFERING NOTHING OF VALUE TO THE CONVERSATION. I guess not matter how much education these folks are supposed to have, they can’t get away from the barrel.
And here is a suggestion for the barrel of crabs clawing to keep everyone else in the barrel: get up off of you hind ends and start doing for yourselves. Can you speak standard english well enough that an employer would want to hire you to represent their business? Do you have a high schood diploma and if not, WHY the h*** not. Have you picked up the trash littering your street, block or neighborhood lately or do you add to the problem? Have you stopped your children from breaking the windows of empty houses on your street, you know, those house lost by your former neighbors who lost jobs or do you sit an watch as they throw bricks? Do you send your children out into public with their behinds showing and their pands hanging down below the knees? What are you doing everyday of your life to make it better for you and your community, your children? Besides sitting around whining?
Sam and Sammy, some powerful comments there. I say this: Obama does not care about black folks. In my opinion nor do the Dems. Repubs don’t either but I do believe their platform best fits black needs. So that leaves us and us alone.
But we don’t need anyone to love us to get to where we need to be. We all need to be politically involved and stop voting 93% Democratic so that we can be a voice in politics. We don’t have any weight politically. The Black Caucus is invisible and Obama is a Marxist. So where does that leave us. It leaves it up to us.
Keith, I take it you have a job. This president ran on the economy and promised to try and get it fixed. It appears to me he has done everything he can to sabatoge it. All the spending and taxing he is doing is no way to get companies to invest and hire people. That is the wrong principle in a recession. Tax cuts and less govt. spending is what we need to give businesses incentives to start doing business again. They are scared to death and are holding on to their money until they know exactly where this president is headed. Why invest in projects and people when you have a trillion dollar hc bill looming or a president who makes the wealthy and big businesses the villians. If you ask me, since he is a Socialist don’t expect a bustling economy under his watch.
To all of the opionated pontificators and pundits, opionions are just like behinds, everyone has one whether it be be small, large or medium. Consequently, when push comes to shove, every tub needs to sit on it’s own bottom. God help and bless us all, because he’s the only one who can and will if you trust him instead of elected officials, or even preachers for that matter.
Larry-
You need to do better than that. Tax cuts for the wealthiest amongst us has not paid off. It has paid China very well though. The Chinese and other foreign nations have realized that American businesses care about the almighty dollar bill (Republicans and some Dems. real God) and not the American citizenry. These beloved businesses can’t wait to send jobs overseas. We need to start learning the Chinese language, because they own us, “proud Americans.”
That’s why I laughed when I saw that “Country First” slogan at the gop convention. I asked my sister don’t they mean money first. There is nothing wrong with being successful, but there is something wrong with being greedy, just read the Bible, plenty of stories about that sin.
SOLOMON…AT LEASE PRES-OBAMA,PUT THE…SNAP-CRACKLE-AND-POP…BACK IN THE GAME OF POLITIC’S…WHEN THOSE WHITE BOY’S HAD THE(BIG HOUSE)FOR ALL THOSE YEAR’S, TO THEMSELF’S,IT WAS AS(DULL) AS WATCHING PAINT DRY ON WALL…AND TO GO BACK TO THAT KIND OF THINKING(DEFIES ALL LOGIC)…P.S…SOLOMON IS ON(COON AND HOUSE NEGRO WATCH)…A FOOL WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING…BUT A SAGE GIVE’S DEEP THOUGHT TO EVERYTHING…SOLOMON.
Shari,
Not only tax cuts for the wealthy but also for businesses. We need jobs. As you know we are in a recession. We need incentives for businesses to create jobs not hoard their money because we have a Socialist President in the WH. Higher govt. spending and tax increases will not stimulate the economy. How else do you propose to stimulate the economy? These higher taxes and spending WILL drive businesses to cheaper places. If you look at the northeastern states like NJ and NY they have lost a lot of their tax base because the high taxes have driven those with money out. If you continiue to do that with businesses they are gone also this time overseas. Texas’ economy is still larger than the Chinese economy so lets not get excited about them yet. Let’s put this in perspective.
How do you know tax cuts haven’t paid off? Why hasn’t it paid off? Do you have a 401K or a job? Driving us deeper and deeper in debt and taxing everyone out of their mind is obviously not the solution at all.
And when you say greedy are you referring to just Repubs?
Solomon, man c’mon. Obama is an old commie who has suckered black foklks because he’s black plain and simple. Spit out some facts next time and maybe we can discuss this more.
Larry-
The reason why I know tax cuts have not paid off is because since I was a teenager when Reagan was president, jobs have been going overseas at a higher and higher rate every decade since the 70’s. You can ignore that all you want, but that is a fact that not even Republicans can argue.
Corporations are not taking tax cuts and creating jobs, they’re CEO’s are buying designer yachts, and then some. You have to understand at some point not everyone is that gullible. I know what’s up. Big banks, wall street, and insurance companies (mainly health insurance) are in charge of America, not the people. We have become a “service” nation, because a few people think they need billions to survive. The gap between rich and poor is hideous, and growing more and more each year. Manufacturing hardly exists in America anymore.
If you read my email closely I said that there are greedy Dems. as well, but the Republicans take the cake on greed hands down. Someone’s health is a commodity in this country and that’s immoral. I’ve been a victim of these health insurance companies, or the new mafia is what I call them. And keep
thinking China doesn’t matter. Your statement about Texas is laughable, as far as I’m concerned they can secede. Good riddance to the keep the workin’ folks down mentality.I would not live in the South if God asked me to.
By the way, I have some critical issues as far as President Obama is concerned, but I think that he is better than Bush, and Cheney at least he’s not thinking about his wallet all the time. Don’t get me started on those heathens. My grandfather- a 3-war veteran had half his gut blown out in Vietnam, while Bush was snorting cocaine and Cheney was running up to Canada like a sissy.
I have a college education, and I do work for a living, I don’t know what you’re trying to imply. Middle-working class Americans are not ashamed, because we don’t own a corporation. We work hard and we’re proud of that.I guess you think we should just keep our mouths shut and bow down to the big money machine. Whatever.
Shari,
If you have a degree then you can follow me here. Tax cuts and incentives are designed to get companies to create business and jobs. Tax cuts really don’t have anything to do with companies going overseas. Companies go overseas because of cheaper labor or a more favorable tax situation. So your correlation there did not exactly fit. Now your boy Obama and his radical, Socialist policies will make companies go overseas. Of course, that’s what he wants as a true Socialist society is run solely by the government not by capitalist. I’m sure you would agree with that.
The reason companies aren’t creating more jobs today is because we are in a recession. In addition, Obama is pushing high govt. spending and taxing. A sure recipe for companies to keep there money close just in case they need it to pay more and more taxes. Plus the old Liberal unions will cause people to leave the country also. The unions helped sink the big three just in time for Obama, with all the wisdom of a ant, making them part owner of GM and Chrysler. So no, job creation under Obama will be very limited. Somehow though you will try and translate that onto Bush. The only move Liberals know.
In your response you have a problem with someone buying a yaght because they can afford it. Why is that a problem for you? So no one should enjoy nice things because they can afford it? That’s sounds Liberal /Socialist to me. I guess the rich people should just give there money away. That’s right, that’s what Socialist do: take from the wealthy to give to those less well off. So in the end the wealthy and the less well off have less incentive to work, if at all. What a lovely society that would be. That’s why Cuba is in the toilet now.
No Shari, I think Liberals should become financially literate and really understand how capitalism works in America.
Health Care is not about health Shari. Its about control. Controlling 1/6 of the US economy. Under the current Senate plan as of 2019 24 million will still be uninsured. The plan is so bad and full of holes anyone who is paying attention can see its not about health care. Why would you put a whole lot of taxes and expenses in a plan in the middle of a recession. Cut $500 billion from Medicare so the elderly are affected. They are on a fixed income. Leave millions of people still uninsured once the plan is active and going. No Shari, you guys don’t care about anyone’s health. You couldn’t convince me of that at all. Of course, you forgot to mention these facts.
Wherever you live I don’t believe the people down south will be inviting you down to live. No offense.
Larry you finally got something right in your tirade. Your first paragraph where you say companies send jobs overseas because of CHEAP LABOR and a more favorable TAX SITUATION is what I’m talking about. If corporations really had their way, we all would be making $5 per hour with no benefits, forever.
These companies would rather send their business overseas, and leave American workers in the unemployment line because they are GREEDY. Do you know what greed means, Larry? You didn’t read my first email very well, because I’m repeating myself, are you sure you have a degree? THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING SUCCESSFUL, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH BEING GREEDY. When you have so much money, like for instance, let me give you a CLUE. Stephen Hemsley CEO of UnitedHealthcare grossed $102,000 per hour in 2008 PER HOUR, PER HOUR!!! God knows THAT IS GREED. I’ll give you another one,Jeff Immelt of GE earned 75 Million in just 5 years, and their stock went down from $59 to $15 a share during that time.75 MILLION DOLLARS!!!! If you think there is nothing wrong with that, you’re an idiot.
If you want to pay more taxes so they don’t have to, GO AHEAD LARRY,send your whole paycheck to people like Hemsley and Immelt- be their slave, but the majority of middle-working class people DON’T WANT TO. WHY, SHOULD WE?? Larry, Jimmy Buffet, arguably the richest man in this country even said himself, his secretary pays more taxes than he does.
This is not capitalism, it’s predatory stealing from workers. Making the working class people pay more so they can buy 6 mansions or whatever they do with all that money. You conservatives are really something else. You would rather see people die than to pay your fair share of taxes,sending money to offshore accounts, and you call yourselves Christians, HA,yeah we’ll see who Jesus is going to leave down here with their BELOVED MONEY. You worship money, you think God does not know that!!
I have relatives that live in the South, LARRY- and believe me when they’re still having high school reunions, and proms in different buildings due to race, THERE’S A PROBLEM, LARRY!!!! The Southern states are the most poorest in the country, that’s a fact. I don’t have a problem with the people that live there I have a problem with the right-wingers that run them.
I’m not what you would call a liberal democrat either, I’m a progressive democrat, there’s a difference, and we’re starting to let people know that there is a difference. Our numbers are growing faster because we’re about common sense and moving this country forward, not backwards.
Men in power have certain needs. Let us create powerful men – not tear them down. ASIAN, AFRICAN, and MID-EASTERN men of power have priviledges. This is acceptable.
Obama is loved all over the world. Black mothers need to create sons like him. The world domination has Obama as one of the Leaders of respect. Let us create more leaders like Obama.
Obama has the perfect solution to BLACK AMERICA. Men become husbands and fathers. Women become loving wives and mothers. Restoring our men to their rightful place as the head of our families is the most important image we can have. Women who do not have husbands need to create husbands in their sons. Women need to organize to keep their sons out of jail. Michele Obama is the image for women. Make your family first. Your man might take you to the top of the world.
The greatest thing Obama can do for Blacks is to continue to breathe. God has blessed us with a powerful man. He is showing us what NORMAL looks like. Obama is a husband, father, christian, and a leader. This is all we need. Obama set the standard of what can be accomplished. We need to repeat waht he has done. We must become NORMAL. Learn to love our families, and become leaders in our communities. GOD IS GOOD
Well Shari,
Not only are your thoughts off kilter but it sounds as if you have a bias against people from the south. That should win you many friends. By the way, that’s why the migration today is from North to South. You’ll be the only one left up there talking the same old stuff.
Let’s talk about greed. Obviously you took NO economics classes. How is it you get to determine what people get paid? Who are you? Definately not the pay czar now are you. The market determines what people should get paid. I have no problems with people making that money if the market will pay it. Now you also want to define greed. Again, who are you to define what greed is? That’s the problems with Liberals. Because you aim low other people are greedy in your eyes. Quit whining about other people making money and find a way to get yours. If you don’t like the system quit your job. I am sure that you can be replaced.
We don’t worship money. We honor the free market system. That’s what it is. Now since you appear to be an uninformed Communist I am sure Hugo Chavez would welcome you down in Venezuela where you will definately work for less than what you make in this country. Then if you decide to make noise he’ll cut out your tongue or put you in jail. Why don’t you try that route and see how you like it.
Yeah I’ve seen the progressives. The same people that love Hugo Chavez and Mao Tse Tung. These nut cases killed millions of people who disagreed with them. Or your boy Harry Reid comparing Republicans to to the southerners who proposed slavery. That was charming. Unfortunately, Reid forgot that its been mostly Dems that have been against the advancement of black people in the past. Or Boxer who compared a woman’s right to an abortion to a man’s right to take viagra. Then there is you with you Socialist sputter. Yeah you guys are real classy and smart. I am glad I am not one of you. Please do us and yourself a favor. Stop.
Ignorance is dangerous and self-denial is destructive. Black people remain in the abyss of despair, because they have been programmed to look to their oppressor for a way out of their abyss. They were bamboozled into believing just getting a college degree would do it; integrating would do it; and/or not acting too black would do it. The 15 wealthiest people in America are white males with no college degree (Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, just to name a few).
For those of you who really believe that the “free capital market system” is opened to Black People, then explain to me why Blacks on average only make 75 cents per hour for every one dollar white folks make? Or for every one dollar Tiger Woods’ was paid by his white sponsors, his name brought them in 11 dollars. Or for every one dollar of wealth whites possess, black folks have 8 cents. If you are no make of the rules, you are not player of the game.
We have had white Presidents who have pushed white agendas for 400 years with absolutely no consideration for Black Folks. Now we have a Black President who is supposed to be able to connect with Black Folks having to operate under systems of apartheid and he acts like he doesn’t even know how to spell the word Black.
If you seriously think Black folks will ever reach a level of equality trying to play white folks games, then you are simply doomed and so are your generations to come. We need a Black Agenda pushed by this President. If not him then who?
What is a “Black Agenda”? Can anyone define that? I am so tired of hearing that but no one ever explains what that is! Is it to have as many babies and be as uneducated as possibe and then ask everyone to help our “agenda”! It is obsurd that we would say the president does not care about black people. We do not even care for each other! We are the only race who think its art to demean it’s women through music, have multiple children and not support them and allow our boys to be prostituted by the sports industry by clocking out of college early for millions of dollars only to lose it because they do not have sense enough to manage it! And where was the black causus when Bush was supporting tbe “black agenda”! Too busy hiding property and not paying taxes?! Get it together black people! All we do it talk and criticize but not get off our butts and do anything!
Larry-
You’re a fool, because I have researched the salaries of the people I mentioned, and even the people that worked for Hemsley and Immelt were offended by their compensation, because they didn’t get raises, or bonuses for THEIR WORK. If the free market was all that Larry, why didn’t the republicans win??? Yeah, Larry free market yourself into the ground if you want to. You didn’t even answer the questions I asked,because you know I’m right. Just like conservatives, never answering the real questions. You know the spin cycle comes to an end at some point. You all are spinning yourselves into the ground-last I heard only 20-24% of the population calls themself a republican.
The younger generation are not stuck in the 50’s and actually like the concept of thinking, so I’m not worried, but you should be. You all are dying off.
Read what ‘Nat Turner’ emailed and educate yourself. Oh, I forgot you don’t like thinking, sorry.
Shari,
You really aren’t worth my time in answering your response. I don’t think you really understand the concept of a free market or capitalism. Go call Tom Joyner and spew your mess on his show. That’s more your speed. Your facts are false and your concepts bogus. If you don’t like capitalism then leave. That’s all I have to say. By the way let me say that Obama had as much responsibility for this downturn as anyone else. If you don’t understand that and have no idea what I am talking about then as I said before I am wasting my time.
Nat Turner, yes blacks are discriminated against. You sound like one of these black Liberals that wants equal treatment and fairness. I can understand that but guess what? Its not happening. So now what? I’ll tell you: we work and work until we get what we need and want. We have a black President but he is a Socialist with another agenda. Don’t count on him. As Teresa hit on, blacks need to change their way of thought. No one is trying to make things fair or give us anything so give up on that. Go to Plan B. Get ourselves together and use our brains to better ourselves. We will have to work harder than the man but that is the only choice we have. We can’t do it as a community because not everyone is onboard. Each individual will have to be responsible for themselves and their families. And a good start would be a college education brother. Don’t be fooled.
Teresa you are correct. The Black Caucus is pitiful also.
Are any of you just mildly curious about how it is that Obama could vow his presidency to address Native Americans mistreatment suffered at the hand of our government, or how it is when he is asked about issues directly affecting or specific to Blacks he ALWAYS give his token (yes he is a token) responses that includes Hispanics too? He readily smilingly addresses those specific races, but have never made comments that he is president for all people. He only reserves those comments when it comes to Blacks.
Let’s not forget his steppin fetchin cowardly backstep on the Gates and RACIST COP incident. He had an opportunity to give American and the world a format to begin some real race dialogue but because the victim was Black it was pushed aside as a beer event, SHAME ON OBAMA AND THOSE OF YOU WHO CLOSE YOUR EYES TO THE OBVIOUS CONTUINING DISRESPECT OF BLACKS, ESPECIALLY FROM BLACKS!!
Also for those of you who say Blacks need to move on or get pass the historic and current slavery and mistreatment of Blacks, while sympathizing and supporting reparations for what Jews, Japanese and now Native Americans suffered then you are total HYPOCRITES!!
Natl Cong Blk Caucus, NAACP, 100 BLK MEN, Cornel West, Jesse Jackson, Blk Lawyers Assoc, Sharpton, John Burris (Prominent Civil Rights Attorney) and the rest of you Black supposed leaders are shameful! When suffering communities and individuals who issues are not worthy of media attention PLEAD AND BEG for your help you are UNREACHABLE. Or as Professor Cornel West does pat you on the head and send you on your miserable merry way, you all are doing nothing to really address the problems affecting Blacks.
For those of you who think I’m just commenting while doing nothing, WRONG! I’m in my and your communities fighting for quality healthy, clean environment and doing my part in addressing these issues affecting ALL but especially my Black people that I don’t apologize for focusing on.
We as Blacks must demand more from OBAMA! And Marie Hunter your comment about BLACK Mothers needing to create sons like OBAMA is laughable if it was so pitiful.
First of the president is not the president of JUST BLACK PEOPLE. HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I can not understand why the CBC is trying to go after Obama about the high unemployment in the black community that has always been high. If you don’t believe me got to the department of labor website. The umemployment in the black community stay in the double-digits for most of the 20-century and yet you heard nothing from the CBC. They want to make demands because we have a “so-called” black president. President Obama can’t HELP BLACK PEOPLE FIND JOBS AND GET HIRED ONLY BLACK PEOPLE CAN. He can’t cure that AIDS EPIDEMIC THAT HAS DEVESTATED THE BLACK COMMUNITY. HE CAN’T STOP YOUNG BLACK MEN FROM KILLING EACH OTHER IN CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES. I could go on. Accoutable did you also demand more from the other president or just this president because he supposed to be black? Also did you know that the hispanic people have the same problem as black people do, so I can see why the President would use black and hispanic together. I also agree with Marie that black women should create son’s like him. I rather for them to be like him than on the street corner or in jail or dead.
Why is this man’s race emphasize so much? He is a biracial man. He’s not black or white he is biracial. His skin just black. If his black half wasn’t emphasize so much it would not be no problems. He should be consider biaracial because it true.
I am a job seeker looking who just graduated for school.
Will I depend on the president to give me job?
No.
Will I depend on the
CBC?
No
I will depend on myself instead of some politicans.I suggest to some of the people out there to do the same.
My correction
I mean I am a jobseeker who just graduated from school.
Roland, when it comes to you black folks on t.v I ask my self why are you on here your opinion is the same as whites, you guys comes to the tables with nothing.
Roland, your opinion is the same as whites, you guys comes to the tables with nothing.
Desraye, if you are going to make a comment about the questions I raised then the least you can do is answer the questions which you clearly didn’t. It is obvious to anyone who has any common sense that he is the president for all people but you FAILED to address his OBVIOUS BIASES AGAINST BLACKS!
Your answer to the Blk/Hispanic issue is lame and uneducated because if you bothered to do any real research into the issues you would know that Blk and hispanic issues maybe somewhat similar but are not the same. You would also know that hispanic leaders focus on their own issues and only use Blk issues to further their own causes, while some Blks take on others causes and ignore or address their own.
If you were really involved in any of the issues raised which you didn’t answer, you would know that Hispanics who have a voice/power don’t take on issues affecting Blks unless it benefits them, and while you are trying to get brownie points making the connection they would leave you out in the cold unless you are hispanic.
It is peeps like you uneducated on the issues and obviously doing no work on these issues other than repeating inaccurate facts. No one with common sense is expecting OBAMA to get them jobs, but we are expecting him to address the issues affecting the Black community as he is willingly doing for issues affecting others. Again read the comments before you try and address them!
Absolutely I demanded and pushed for accountability from the previous President, DID YOU?
Simple minds (like you and Marie) think alike. If a Black woman would have had OBAMA, he would not be the coward he is running from issues affecting Black people while supposedly being President for ALL PEOPLE. Unfortunately his actions show his definition of all people does not include Blacks and people like you make excuses for him.
Well folks I will say you both have good points. The bottom line is that Obama is not working on the economy for anyone. He is trying to collapse the economy so more of us can depend on govt. Thus give him and his cronies greater control. Look up Coward and Piven Strategy. We must use common sense. Obama has practically ignored the economy. Answer yourself why. My answer is above.He’s a Socialist and Socialist run everything and take what they want from the people. That’s the plan folks. If we don’t have jobs then we don’t have much freedom now do we.
And these so called black groups, 100 black men and the Black Caucus, they are some of the biggest frauds I have ever seen. They could care less about black people. It shows because they aren’t doing anything but catering to whatever Obama says. Now they want to reach out to him for jobs when it was obvious Obama didn’t plan to give businesses any incentives to create jobs. Where were these groups when Bush was in? Where were they 20 years ago? 30% of the stimulus money has been spent and the rest is still in hiding. Most of this money is earmarked for special interests and his cronies.
There are more websites to read about this stuff. American Thinker, AEI, Project 21. Its all a big scam folks. HC and cap and trade is a big Socialist money and power grab. We all must wake up fast. This is why Obama has staked his reputation on HC. If he can’t get it then he knows he will not own 1/6 of the economy and cannot use that power to influence people and corporations to do what he wants them to. I know I’m repeating myself but this is really important stuff.
I was going to sit down and write this long page of responses to the numerous educated fools in this comment section and though, keep it simple. Let’s break this down to a pre-school level.Obama says he is the president for all the people.That is like being a parent to all my children. One of my children is on the floor choking(BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERIKKKA) my other children are playing Wii, eating imported chocalates, talking on their cell phones and waiting for the pizzamen.(Whites,Jews,Asians, Eurpeons and Indians)Now do I A. Get my wallet and answer the door for pizza or B.Use cash or Credit card? or C. Help my baby who is choking on the floor? For all those educated among us you have to next week to answer.Commonsense folk I know you have the answer already. I happen to be one of those community activist who are on the ground doing the work in the black community and they’re several ongoing themes. One is lack of involvement by community residents leaving the door open for worthless groups like the 100 Blackman,Naacp,Urban League,CBC,SCLC, Black Lawyers and etc.Plus individuals like president Obama to take advantage under the pretense of helping. There are is some new movement that is clear, no more will you be allowed to pimp the black community. Grassroots put Obama in office along with the congressional black caucus and we will take you out.
Accoutable
You keep talking black people issues?
What are they? I have done the research and black people and hispanics do have similar issues. You need to do your reserach.
Like I said before ONLY BLACK PEOPLE CAN ADDRESSESS ISSUES AFFECTING THEM.Another thing how can black people demand the president to address black issues and we don’t even care about each other. Until we start caring about each other we never be heard.
And yea I still hope that women created their sons just like the president because I rather for them to be like him than ON THE STREET CORNER OR PRISON OR DEAD.
Has the Black media reached out to the President Obama?
Has he denied coming on any show to comment on the Health Care Plan or the Job situation?
He has a lot on his plate!
There are many who wanted to see him fail and because he hasn’t been able to perform the miracles they expected of him, which weren’t expected of Bush , then he is being abandoned! Give the man of chance he’s turning things around and having to battle each step of the way. I say way to go Mr President keep up the good job!I got your back!
Sorry Pat. Obama isn’t doing the best he can. He actually is not working on the economy at all. Even you would have to agree with that right? I mean when the NAACP and the Black Caucus have to beg the man to do something don’t you think that’s a red flag?
Pat Brown said: “There are many who wanted to see him fail and because he hasn’t been able to perform the miracles they expected of him, which weren’t expected of Bush”.
And many of those who want to see the President fail are black, including the host of this tv show (ha, ha). Just watch the black crabs drive over the neighborhood children trying to get to appear on the white tv networks to dis the President.
IS BLACK AMERICA FOCUSED ON BLACK AMERICA?????Do we want businesses or jobs????? Well – we had businesses – we would not support. Our communities are filled with foreign businesses. Why would I hire you in my business when you do not respect your own. Start creating jobs and stop begging for jobs. Do not talk about it – be about it. Support ourselves and our PRESIDENT by restoring our communities. Start by holding our community churches accountable. PICK UP THE TRASH. OPEN HOMEWORK CENTERS. HELP SINGLE PARENTS RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. VOLUNTEER IN THE SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.
President Obama cannot make white folks hire us, DAMN!!!
TENAY – YOU NEED TO REPEAT THAT 100 TIMES…….. Blacks need to read their history and wake up. We are responsible for ourselves. The rappers are setting an example by going into business for themselves. THEY GOT MORE SENSE THAN BLACK INTELLECTUALS…..
Start business ownership seminars in the churches. Put our young people in business. CREATE OUR OWN JOBS!!!!!!!
It looks like regardless what President Obama says, congress is going to do what they want to. Why haven’t they release the blackfarmers settlement ASAP?? Can anyone get through to President Obama on this issue and don’t you think it is time to settle this and treat the blackfarmers with justice??
Please respond
On January 20, 2009 the world witnessed an historic event that was almost surreal; the election of the first President of the United States of African descent. For many African Americans the election of Barack Obama as the first Black American President was at once a dream fulfilled and the realization of a promise to our slave ancestors that this race of people, brought to the shores of America in chains, would one day rise up to be accepted on an equal footing with the rest of America. Indeed the election of President Barack Obama represented the culmination of over four hundred years of struggle from since the first English Colonization of North America in Virginia in 1607 when the first Africans were brought forcibly to the British Colonies as slaves.
Yet here we are not even a year into this historic and much heralded Presidency that we find ourselves criticizing this President who is faced with perhaps the greatest economic calamity since the Great Depression of the 1930s, two wars, unsurpassed environmental and energy crises and the most extreme right winged backlash we have seen since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. We as Black people must be reminded of the larger picture in the discourse of public debate. Not that we do not have the right, indeed the duty to call the President to task if need be; however, I say we have not given this President the chance to even catch his breath after perhaps the most tumultuous Presidential campaign in U.S. History.
I note with some trepidation the recent press coverage of the Congressional Black Caucus complaining about what it believes to be the failure of the Obama Administration to focus on black unemployment and other “issues of particular importance to Black America”. I would offer this. The first thing the Black Caucus should do is press upon urban Mayors the importance of quickly and efficiently using the more than $40 billion dollars this President steered to inner cities in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This money is more than twice (in some cases as much as three times) the amount of funding these cities typically receive in federal funding annually. Yet many cities have demonstrated a lack of capacity to spend what money they already have under their normal annual formula funding programs.
We just experienced eight of the most hellish years in American history. Courtesy of George W. Bush we were handed one of the worst economic crises in history, an unnecessary war in Iraq costing billions of dollars and taking thousands of lives, and do not forget that our own citizens were left to drown in New Orleans and to then be labeled as looters for going after the only sources of food and clean water available. Yet we find ourselves criticizing the new President for not fixing all of America’s problems right away.
It is especially disheartening for Black folks to be jumping on the bandwagon to criticize the President well meaning or not. Will he (President Obama) do everything exactly right? No. Will he immediately begin pushing for legislation that Black Americans somehow feel should be just for them? No. Will he solve two wars or for that matter address the war issue the way every person thinks he should address the war (i.e., pull out)? No. We must remember that this President is about as intelligent and as thoughtful a President as this country has seen in many years. He is respected on the world stage and in virtually every First World, Second World and Third World nation on earth. Aside from that the image of a strong, intelligent and powerful Black American family is incapable of being estimated.
So I say to Black America, it is highly likely that this President is about the best we can do as President’s go. I’ve lived through ten starting with Eisenhower through Bill Clinton and I have yet to see a perfect President. Yes we have a right to express our views but must be careful of the ‘crab in a barrel’ syndrome knowingly or unknowingly. The stakes are too high. Why don’t we instead put some energies into confronting our real adversaries, who would want nothing more than to destroy this President’s agenda and Black Americas’ hopes and dream along with it?
Why don’t Roland Martin talk about the real problem which is white folks if he really want to be real, but he won’t just like the rest of you black folks.
Michael Doaks,
I did read your post. Now you sound as if Obama was a non entity while the Bush years progressed. I say to you sir that Obama was as much responsible for the economic meltdown as anyone else. His representing ACORN in a lawsuit getting low income people financing through the banks and his 2005 balk at fixing Fdannie and Freddie which was put forward by Mccain and Bush. These are facts easily available.
Remember now about ACORN: weeks ago Obama said that he didn’t even know they were getting govt. funds even though he had them lined up to assist with the census. Even though SEIU , who Obama is very close to, is actually related to ACORN. Doesn’t sound like the Obama you describe above at all.
I also say to you that the war in Iraq wasn’t just Bush but a majority in Congress voted for it also including Joe Biden and Hillary yet we keep bashing Bush. Lets keep it real here. Again these facts are readily available.
In short we all are being played. Your words are nice but they leave out key facts and stories.
I say to you sir ask yourself what the HC bill will do for America. What are some of the positives? I will tell you anything you bring forward I can punch a hole in with actual facts from several sources mainly the CBO. So we are being conned plane and simple.
We are not criticizing this President for not solving the problems. We criticize him for ignoring the problems to forge his own personal and party agenda. Let’s keep it real.
And I must say foreign leaders in Iran, N. Korea, Venezuela and even Europe know this man is inexperienced. Even Russia is playing him. Iran is having a field day on this guy. They had recently taken over an oil well in Iraq until the Iraqi forces took it back. Doesn’t sound like Iran is afraid at all to me. They also continue to create the bomb.
President Pbama is LOVED AND RESPECTED worldwide. The world has no knowledge of you – ROLAND NOR LARRY. No President has been perfect and no president has had a BLACKFOLKS AGENDA. Even Lincoln freed the slaves for economic purposes. Civil disobedience was the base for CIVIL RIGHTS CHANGES. Our President will not be perfect for BLACK FOLKS – get over it. Roland-use your knowledge on growing your BUSINESS so you can hire MORE BLACK PEOPLE. Let us build TVONE/RADIO ONE to the top 5oo corporations in America and hire more Blacks and create more BILLIONAIRES /MILLIONAIRES. Roland – become MAYOR or GOVERNOR ABD MAKE Black people your priority. You did not do it in Chicago. You are afraid of Mayor Daley. We have no agenda to attack Daley for Black unemployment nor housing. BLACK ON BLACK CRIME means we attack those that look like us because we are afraid to attack the “MASTER RACE”. We can find fault and complain’ but, we need to put that energy into changing our lives one community at a time. Let us BUILD / NOT TEAR DOWN
In Africa we sit in the dirt waving flies/starving while our resources are stolen and making others rich. We are too afraid to hold the EUROPEANS accountable for stealing the riches from our own land. Kadhafi in Libya called on Africans and South Americans to unite and change the old WORLD ORDER. Open your eyes – OBAMA is loved and respected worldwide – HE IS A FIRST FOR CHANGE IN THIS WORLD.
Looking for an honest perspective on what is happening for African-American under the new Adminstration I turned on Washington Watch and I must say I was totally disappointed.
Roland is running this show just like Fox News, allowing his guest to just make up nonsense statements and not really calling them on it. I apologize for not knowing the name of the guest who compared President Obama to Tiger Woods but I feel that Roland as intelligent and articulate as he is should have called him on it and pointed out how mistaken, disrepectful and a balatent lie the comparison, instead Roland just looked shocked like a deer standing in front of headlights. The guest stated that both Tiger Woods and President Obama have let the African-Americans down. On both counts he was wrong. Tiger Woods has never been a African-American he is a Balasian. President Obama is not the African-Americans’ President he is the United States of America President and what is good for the country is good for African-Americans.
This need for sensationalism and African-Americans putting down African-Americans just because the whites will only listen to (and pay for) us degrading each other must stop.
President Obama surely can not cure all the ails of the country and let alone African-Americans, we need to care for ourselves and point out the distructive behaviors and beliefs that have landed us where we are. I think President Obama is working toward change for the better for the common man worldwide, he definately listens to a different drummer. I pray that God continues to give him strength and keeps him humble.
Tiger Woods on the other hand believed the hype and learned nothing from he OJ saga. I pray for him and whatever he feels he is missing in life, I hope he finds.
TVOne, I hope you find a prespective that is different from what we can hear on all the other news shows and stand up for what is true and just.
JMD, just call it like it is then. You are for Socialism. A new world order can only be that. Capitalism would not be able to operate under the system you propose.
Well Nona I wish you would have remembered the name of that guest. I am a conservative and I know of no one who talks like that. One question: what on Fox news has been said that’s nonsense? I watch it all the time and would love to hear what you believe to be untrue.
OK folks. I have layed actual facts down above. In response we hear how Obama is loved and how great he is but there is no substance or examples. What is it that this man is doing where you love him so much?
The reason that President Obama is the first president of the United States of America of African descent is that he is the first one intelligent enough to realize he could not win the election running as the president of Black America. He is also probably intelligent enough to realize that he can not put an infrastructure in place to reverse 400 years of institutional racism in one term. If the rest of Black America is too stupid to realize that, there won’t be a second term.
The things that the CBC are suddenly speaking up about they should have been shouting about long before President Obama took office, but better late than never. First and foremost, President Obama is no longer a legislator responsible for drafting all the details of various laws. He is the president. Rather than the CBC focusing on what President Obama isn’t doing they need to be focusing on complementing what he is doing. For instance President Obama has directed all agencies of the federal government to collectively reduce their government contracting budgets by $40 billion. My question is who in the CBC is going to sponsor a bill or amend an existing bill for President Obama to sign to ensure that the first government contractors on the chopping block are the one’s that are in violation of EEOC guidelines or have a track record of disproportionately laying off African American workers which is contributing to the disparities in the unemployment rates? This demographic information is readily available. As long as discrimination is free, corporate America will ALWAYS have a gluttonous appetite for it.
Every time a piece of legislation comes across their desks with dollar signs on it they need to be drafting amendments to ensure that their constituents get every bit of protection that they are entitled to under existing laws. There is no reason that small and disadvantaged government contractors should bare the brunt of reductions in funding set aside for government contracts when there is enough discrimination by large government contractors to pay down the deficit, fund job programs and pay for health-care reform. Just like states that have unemployment rates that are higher than the national average are entitled to extended unemployment benefits, there is no reason that certain demographics that have unemployment rates higher than the national average shouldn’t be entitled to extended benefits. If there is a reason it needs to be debated on the house and senate floors. We need to know why some Americans are not entitled to the same basic rights.
Let us recommend literature for Roland to read. Haki Madebutte; J. Kunjufu; Asante; Corruthers: DuBois; Dr. West. I am a GREAT GRAND MOTHER currently working on my Doctorate in Leadership. I was raised in the BLACK POWER MOVEMENT. My love for my race is great. I have studied under the Best Black Men of GREAT INTELLECT. I lift up my brothers so they can lift the race up. Yes, women has to raise the sons to do the lifting!!!!!!!!.
Study our Great Leaders and we can be the people we aspire to be. We were knocked down – BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO STAY DOWN.
Roland – I have an assignment for you. You need more study and meditation. Invite Dr. West onto your program. Let him explain to the viewers what lies ahead for Blacks. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!!!!! HAPPY KWANZAA, J.DuBose, B.A.; M.B.A.
MY DREAM SHOW: Rev.Al Sharpton,Prof.Micheal Eric Dyson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, TV One’s Cathy Hughes, Republican strategist Ron Christie.
THE SHOW: They should become the entire show in a 2 part special series. (it has to be “hyped” ) Afterwords the show should be available for download on the INTERNET. (MO Money
Thank You.
ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.
Roland – The show was much better. Can you get BOB JOHNSON on the show???He suggested a MINORITY ENTREPRENEUR SUMMIT in Washington. Minority summit – NOT Black summit. Put some young people on your panel. The old people are out of touch. And the children shall lead them. We need businesses- that is our power base.
How can Obama help the Black Community if the Black Community does not want to help themselves. Education is out there, the internet is out there. Everyone can get access to education if they truly wanted it. You can google damn near anything now days. It’s called self motivation. If you want something in life, no one can stop you. There is no white man holding any person back. It’s the lack of self movitation that’s holding black people back. Selfishness holds us back. Not sharing resources that hold us back. Not coming together when someone gets killed that holds us back. Being scared to speak up when wrong is done that hat holds us back. Not understanding ones own self that holds us back. If we took the time to self reflect and do some soul searching to find our own true happiness as individuals, then we can give ourselves to others and help others find themselves as well and thats when the coming together as a community begins. We as black people have a lot of issues that goes back generations that need to be addressed for us to move ahead. We have always been taught that we lack something. We lack nothing. We actually have more wisdom and creativity than we give ourselves credit. Once we accept this and begin to believe it, then we can grow and prosper. There is no one individual that can do this for us, it’s up to each individual to accept there greatness and know they were put here for a reason. Once we get rid of our poor mindset, then we grow. If we think of ourselves as poor, then we are poor, if we think of ourselves as wealthy, then we are wealthy. And that’s how anything happens in life, it starts in the mind and the heart. We work on changing our mind and heart, and that’s when our story changes for the better.
Here we go again! This time it’s Sheila, expressing her ignorance and self-hatred (if she’s Black). What amazes me is how these poor misguided minds never see the contradiction of their own premise — everything that happens to African Americans is due to their laziness, and, or, lack of motivation,garble,garble,garble, etc. Yet, in almost every case, it is easy to prove that it is the accuser who is the fool. For example, Sheila (like others of her ilk) continously propagate a false narrative that Black unemployment is due to Blacks not having skills, etc. And if Blacks would just do a little research we all would know that, garble, garble, etc.
Well, Sheila, if we are too lazy and dumb to find out facts, how come we know about the The New York Times article (12/01/09) documenting the fact that even African Americans holding advanced degrees from top-most universities are being denied jobs because of their race? And since you (and your ilk) are so industrious and smart,how come you didn’t know that?
These people, like Sheila, are living in a fallacious world. The first fallacy dominating their mental lives is the notion of Black inferiority. Therefore, in their sphere of thinking, everything that happens to Blacks is their own fault. This way of viewing Blacks has historically been the staple of racists. The tragedy is some Blacks have been overwhelmed by these powerful psychological assaults. It is not surprising then, to observe such victims descending into the fantasy world of child like, altered-ego,celebrity worship, even at the expense of the many. The many be damned,
in their worldview. For surely their hero, be it “Batman,” “Power Rangers,” etc., can never be wrong.
And as is expected for children, there is never an analysis of Public Policy. The world is instead a big fantasy land. Note the statement “if we think of ourselves as wealthy, then we are wealthy.” Try that with your mortgage lender, your landlord, car note lender, etc., and see how far you get.
In closing, for those kind of patients, unemployment usually snaps them back into reality real quickly. Maybe Big Mama was right when she used to say ” The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Stay tuned Sheila, given the trend of unemployment’s rise among African Americans, if you are Black, your fantasy wil be over soon. How much hell will you raise then when someone spaeks up for you, or not?
Here we go again! This time it’s Sheila, expressing her ignorance and self-hatred (if she’s Black). What amazes me is how these poor misguided minds never see the contradiction of their own premise — everything that happens to African Americans is due to their laziness, and, or, lack of motivation,garble,garble,garble, etc. Yet, in almost every case, it is easy to prove that it is the accuser who is the fool. For example, Sheila (like others of her ilk) continually propagate a false narrative that Black unemployment is due to Blacks not having skills, etc. And if Blacks would just do a little research we all would know that, garble, garble, etc.
Well, Sheila, if we are too lazy and dumb to find out facts, how come we know about the The New York Times article (12/01/09) documenting the fact that even African Americans holding advanced degrees from top-most universities are being denied jobs because of their race,and you apparently don’t? The literature is replete with such accounts, but since you (and your ilk) are so industrious and smart,how come you didn’t know that?
These people, like Sheila, are living in a fallacious world of make believe. The first fallacy dominating their mental lives is the notion of Black inferiority. Therefore, in their sphere of thinking, everything that happens to Blacks is their own fault. This way of viewing Blacks has historically been the staple of racists. The tragedy is some Blacks have been overwhelmed by these powerful psychological assaults. It is not surprising then, to observe such victims descending into the fantasy world of child like, altered-ego,celebrity worship, even at the expense of the many. The many be damned,
in their worldview. For surely their hero, be it “Batman,” “Power Rangers,” etc., can never be wrong.
And as is expected for children, there is never an analysis of Public Policy. The world is instead a big fantasy land. Note the statement “if we think of ourselves as wealthy, then we are wealthy.” Try that with your mortgage lender, your landlord, car note lender, etc., and see how far you get.
In closing, for those kind of patients, unemployment usually snaps them back into reality real quickly. Maybe Big Mama was right when she used to say ” The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Stay tuned Sheila, given the trend of unemployment’s rise among African Americans, if you are Black, your fantasy wil be over soon. How much hell will you raise then when someone speaks up for you, or not?
Basically Jwill7 you seem to have a lot of hatred in you. Negativity gets you nowhere. I am glad I don’t have low self esteem, because you tried to belittle me with almost every sentence. I guess that’s what Black people do to one another. If it’s the “White Man” that’s holding us back, then you the “Black Man” tried to put me down with every sentence, and you are just as worse as the “White Man.” How long can we keep blaming everyone else on our shortcomings. Living beyond our means and not saving caused people to be behind on their mortgage. Also, it’s not only Black America that’s behind on mortgage payments,car notes and credit card bills, it all America. I wonder if you read that anywhere in The New York Times. Yes I am Black by society standards, but I don’t limit my mind to just thinking that. I feel and know I am a human being that will be successful regardless of whatever challenge that comes my way. I do believe the glass of life is half full with an endless supply of water. And I know it will continue to quench my thirst until the day I die. I was out of work, had bad credit, but I checked myself and disciplined myself to get my credit straight and get whatever job I could until a better opportunity came along. I charged those credit cards up, it was not the “White man” or the color of my skin that used those credit cards, it was me. And I had to bite the bullet and do what I needed to do to get myself right. I would clean toilets as long as I can make an honest living and hold my head up. I have never used the white man as an excuse and I never will. All the people out of work are not out of work because of there race. Even if someone does not give you a job because of your race, go somewhere else. It’s more than one company out there.
As long as you keep blaming everyone else, then you will continue having this “Blaming the White Man Debate” 50 years from now. Instead of arguing with me why don’t you as the ‘Black Man’ help your fellow ‘Black Man” out. Do something. Go out an motivate. The “White Man” did not hold Obama back. If Obama thought as you and took the New York Times as law, then he would not be President right now. Obama can not fix our way of thinking. Only we can. Like I said earlier, change the way we think and we can go far.
Dear Sheila,
I just read your response to my criticism of your earlier comments. I am responding because it is critical that the facts are known. First, it was not my intent to make you feel bad, or lower your self esteem. But you began the comment that I responded to with a generalized attack on African Americans as not wanting to “help themselves,” “lacking self motivation,” etc. All of which is untrue. Since I am an African American, I felt you were castigating me. Secondly, your comment about my being hateful is certainly untrue. I didn’t use any of the terms you claimed one time. Go back and read what I wrote. I do not believe in hate of any kind. I don’t even believe in hating animals, that’s why I don’t eat them.
I do not wish to engage in a personal back and forth, that is for children. I wish to speak only of the facts.
You asked the question:”How long can we keep blaming everyone else on [you meant "for"]our short comings?” But you see, that’s exactly the point, Blacks who are being fired and not hired in disportional numbers have no shortcomings that prevent them from being part of the labor force for which they have paid all dues and prepared themselves for(hence the New York times article reference in my first comments).The fact that you would continue to believe so, despite the facts, raises serious concerns, given my line of work. You also claimed:”living beyond our means and not saving caused people to be behind in their mortgage.” That is a generalized statement, which may be true in your case, but you can’t say with certainty that’s true for everyone else. What about those thousands of families who exhausted their savings over a span of many months paying their mortgage, while looking for re-entry into the labor force? My point is, one cannot generalize about people without knowing their realities. To assume that Blacks are lazy and unmotivated is not only inaccurate, but irresponsible. And someone of your potential should know better. So you see, I’m not trying to put you down, but rather lift you up.
I understand where you are coming from, but I can never agree with you in that regard.I do not believe that African Americans are lazy, and don’t raise their children,etc. While there are plenty of hustlers(Black and White) who push that con game in order to obfuscate their failure to discharge their elected responsibilities, it is high time to stop looking at them and start looking at the game itself. But in order to do that, we must first view politics for what it is. It is a system/process that determines who gets what resouces, when , and how. It is not a game of hero worship. It is not a game for self-object extensions of our own ego wishful thinking. When we view politics as as a symbol of “pride”, rather than resource allocation, that’s when we get taken advantage of: While everyone else gets the goodies. Politicians are not “Batman”, “Power Rangers”, or, role models, for that matter. THEY ARE MAKERS OF LAWS AND ALLOCATORS OF RESOURCES. That is what they are elected to do. That’s what a demorcracy is all about. Leaders are elected to serve the populance, not to be idolized by the populance. That’s what they do in dictatorships. That’s all I’m trying to get you to see.
Normally, I wouldn’t respond to comments. But I feel your spirit and wish you well. I hope you keep your motivation. And congratulations on keeping up your personal struggles. But please, remember that we do not need to put others down in order to feel good about ouselves. Compassion is very important in helping us to become whole persons!Have a very Happy New Year!
NELSON MANDELA and BLACK POWER are the same. I am surprised your panel did not mention him. This man did not have the support of all Blacks in South Africa. However, this Great Glorious MAN is what Kwanzaa is about. He lived it and spoke it. We have greatness within our race, but we fail to lift them up so the young people can learn from them. We get in front of cameras and ego trip. Try humility – Roland. Mandela changed the landscape of South Africa and OBAMA will do the same in AMERICA.
SAY IT LOUD – I AM BLACK AND I AM PROUD
This message is for Jwill7. I understand where you are coming from. Thanks for clarifying yourself for me. I wish you all the best and I know in the end, we both want the best for our people. Thanks again for your response.
JWill7,
I wish to hear you push the idol angle more. We have a President in power who believes, because others make him believe, that he is the messiah. With that has come an arrogance that does not serve the people of this country well. This only serves his wishes. The idolization that has occurred, but now is subsiding, is a bad thing. The congress and the President work for us. Right now I believe they have their roles confused.
Here’s what I see as a development or underexposed problem. I think that in the Black community we have been loyal too long to the Democratic party and not found a balance in leveraging the the power in both or all three political parties. I believe we vote base on past results without challenging or asking the questions for the present and future. As long as one party can get our votes with question and not be held accountable to some degree; than we will always have a deficit in black leadership. I agree with Roland that leadership starts at the bottom-within our on homes, schools and communities.
Thank you Larry for your observation. However,I do not agree with your Right Wingish comments made earlier in this debate. This debate is between African Americans who are trying to settle a most important question: Do we get our needs met in the context of our political contributions,or do we idolize like children, while billions of dollars of our already limited wealth get taken away from us, leaving nothing for our children to inherit?
In that regard, I think Darryl’s comment was very appropriate. He made a technical point that deserves furhter anaysis. His point was thoughtful, while being critical. He didn’t get into sterotypes that we have learned from racists about Blacks being “lazy,”
“unmotivated,” etc. Rather he focused on our political behavior that needs improvement.
To expand on both Larry’s and Darryl’s points, I think it would be instructive to begin looking more carefully at Black History as it is taught to us. It is primarily rooted in individualistic hero worship. That’s where a lot of this blind, misguided, mess is coming from in this debate. For example, who was the first one to do this or that? Rather, the focus should be on what we have achieved as a group. While it is true that many among us have made special contributions to the group historically, and should be so honored. There is clearly not enough emphasis placed on what we have achieved as a group. By having a group based focus, rather than an individual based focus, it would be harder for any one individual to “PIMP” the group.
I will end my comments now, because my favorite song just came on the radio: “It’s so good to love somebody… when they love you back.”
On Monday night (Dec 27, 2009) the questioned was presented – do we need a 4th lane. We have 3 lanes “Education, Politics, and Ministry” Roland suggested a 4th lane (Economics). I agree, we need fair (“Black Power”) representation within the ranks of economics and “real” fair employment opportunities for all. Within the African-American community, there is indeed disparity and I strongly believe this is partly due to the so called “silent” self identification when applying for jobs. Despite continued education and our plight to obtain the skill sets and experience necessary, we continue to meet the wall when it comes to securing gainful employment that reflects rewards for hard work and education. At the age of 52 years of age, I am making more than 3 times less than I was making 20 years ago. I’ve returned to the class room 3 times to better prepare and market myself just to float in and out of unemployment or under employment. EEOE supports the self identify, but does not man the store when the self identify is used. I believe a lot of employers – no I am 90% sure a lot of employers use this self identify not to provide fair review to the EEOE, but to silently discriminate. I use to work in human resources and I was able to obtain access to a person’s race and age.
While I do not believe the President will publicly focus on a plan to investigate and make efforts to right the disparity of equal opportunity and diversity, the 4th lane – with proper representation and guts to make a difference – could help.
What good is education without opportunity to exercise new knowledge and skill sets, and be an effective component of our economic platform.
While I am not a Mit Romney (spell?) fan, he did make a good statement. One incentitive to employers would be to provide them with an incentive to hire “and” offer some additional training. This would come in handy, especially for our youth who are graduating with Bachelors and Masters – because they were told they would need it – yet when complete, unable to obtain a reflective job because they have “no experience” How will they obtain experience if no one wants to hire them. Enough – I am proud of our President but not of the diminishing power of “Yes We Can” and a hope that things would be different.
Heah – I’ve got an idea. If we “really” want to know what’s going on out there, why not interview real,unemployed, educated, and seasoned folks. Let’s through a few of our young college graduates in there too. What are their stories? The majority of the opinions, statistics, and insight are being presented by the employed. How about a real panel. Many have a story to tell, that didn’t just start when the market recently crashed. Personally, this has been my plight since 1994. I know I’ve a story to tell, and I am sure others may have several too.
In order to be taken seriously by politicians and elected officials at the state, local, and federal levels we as a black folk REALLY need to examine individual candidate’s and divorce or at least separate ourselves a LITTLE bit from the Democratic Party. We are the most loyal demographic despite getting VERY LITTLE to NOTHING in return. Now that we are no longer the ‘flavor of the month’ we are ceding our electoral power to Latinos and other ethnic groups, to our detriment.
D’Angelo and Darryl, thank you. Throughout this site I have said we as blacks need to stop voting 93% Democratic. Look at the Republican party and see what it offers.
The Dems have gotten comfortable with our vote. We , like robots, give it to them at every chance we get not even understanding the ramifications of what we are doing. And if somehow a black votes other than Democratic then he is somehow an Uncle Tom or not true to his race. Nevermind the fact that it was the Dem party who founded the KKK, who practiced Jim Crow in the South and voted against every civil rights legislation in the 60’s. What are we doing? We need to wake up and try to understand the issues that surrounds us.
We have given so much political clout to Obama and his cronies we have been blinded by his policies that will literally make us poorer than we are.
Therefore , JWll7 let me answer your question from above: right now the black community is sitting around watching money and opportunities run from us because we have been so mesmorized by a President who really isn’t even concerned about American Citizens. And before you lefties get your underwear in a wedgy let me give an example. $500 billion dollars will be taken from Medicare over the next 10 years to fund the Health Care hoax. These are elderly people on a fixed income who really have no assets to do anything else. A lot of blacks 65 and over who will really be effected by this and have no recourse. These are the types of policies coming out of the WH. Black people: stand up and fight for what’s right and quit looking at this man’s skin color.
And one more thing JWll7 yes I am a right winger but I am not a Communist or Socialist.
CreativeDebra,
I do understand what you speak of. Sometimes it seems that whatever we do its just not in the cards. Keep on trying and keep going forward.
Larry,
Please do not label me. I am not a “leftist,” certainly not a “socialist,” or “communist,” as you claimed in your hysterical tirade. None of those things are true–you made it all up in your fanciful mind. Just like your “idols”:Beck, the drunk; Hannity, the psychopath, and Limbaugh, the addict, make things up. You even used the same names they use. I was waiting for you to question whether I was born in America.
I wish to speak only of the facts: I know you are on a recruitment mission for your “idols,” we African Americans are not buying it. You seem totally out-of-touch with this debate. For me, and most Blacks I know, this is not about Democrat, or Republican parties (which, by the way, are different branches of the same party). It is about a fair return on our political investment! That’s what politics are about.
While some of the things you’ve said are basically true (I’ve commended you on those): your historical narrative is as inaccurate as the labels you hysterically assigned me. First, African Americans voted Republican from the time of the Emanicipation of slavery until the 1930s, because Lincoln was a Republican. However, because of Roosevelt’s NEW DEAL (which prevented many of our grandparents from starving to death during the GREAT DEPRESSION of the 1930s) Blacks switched to the Democratic party (at least those who were allowed to vote before the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT of the 1950s and 1960s). Most Blacks have voted Democratic ever since.
You also, in your recruitment efforts for Beck&bunch, twisted the history of the legislative side of the CIVIL RIGHTS efforts of the 1960s. It was not, as you claimed, the Democrats who opposed that legislation. The President who signed the legislation, Lyndon B. Johnson, was a Democrat. The Democrats who opposed the legislation were called “DIXIE-CRATS.” They left the Democratic party in protest and joined the Republican party. That’s why the south today is primarily Republican strong holds. In short, the south became Democrats because Lincoln was a Republican. Blacks became Republicans because of Lincoln. Then, the Blacks became Democrats because of Roosevelt. Then the south became Democrats again because of Lyndon Johnson, and Civil Rights. And that’s where we are today.
If you didn’t know this, then next time, you’d better ask somebody. And if you didn’t know, now you know.
You need to understand that Blacks have already experienced living under Republican rule: Nixon, Reagan, Bush&Bush, you can’t convince us that such would be a panacea.
My comments on this blog are not to push any certain party line. My comments are to challenge irrational thinking regardless who is doing it. I believe that African American are being short changed while in a hypnotic state of pride and celebrity worship. That is not good for us because pride cannot pay the bills. I believe that Blacks are being hood winked into buying condescending down talking to them as a substitute for Public Policy. That does not mean that I’m buying into your nonsense. Particularly, since it was your idols who started the victim blaming of Blacks in the first place, in an effort to justify Public Policies that decimated African American communties, from the 1970s to the present time.
I know you will probably respond even more hysterically, after having suffered narcissistic injury, but I will not respond to you again. Indeed, I wish to return to Roland’s original question in this debate.
CORRECTION:
In the 4th paragraph of my last comment,next to the last line, I meant to say: ” The south became “REPUBLICAN” because of southern opposition to Lyndon Johnson and Civil Rights…
I agree that we need to look outside of the Democratic party. But you’d have to be an outright retard to look at the Republican Party. They don’t even respect Michael Steele. Colin Powell was actually FIRED and I won’t get into Condi Rice. I personally think she was in love with Bush’s Howdy Doody looking butt, so her thinking was irrational anyway.
As for the original topic at hand, I think things are still going badly with this economy, due to some foolish choices the president made regarding that stimulus package a/o the money he just handed out to businesses, that were just as irresponsible as the ordinary citizen.
Plus, I think President Obama needs to fire some people: David Axelrod, Rahm Emmanuel and Valerie Jarrett. I’m sorry, but none of these people are good at anticipating or heading off trouble. Joe Biden is kind of pitiful too, but there’s not much to be done about him.
As far as the President’s comments about just doing something for ‘black people’…I love the president but he’s not slick. Even a person with a fourth grade education, knows that Congress can’t create a ‘Black Peopele Bill’. There are ways to get things for certain groups and the president knows this.
The most pitiful comment here came from Sammy back in early December: the only thing old azz McCain would’ve done is died in bed somewhere. And his Vietnam story was pitiful. His grandfather and father were successful military men. His stupid butt got caught. He offered to stay with his men because he didn’t want to face them…not knowing he would be there for years. There was nothing brave about that.
As for that big titted broad he tried to pawn off as vice-presidential material..please! The men that like her just want to have sex with her. None of them, even the ones that claim to like her, really think that retard could run this country. So stop playing around! The only dumb azz White people that get into that White House are RICH WHITE MEN! And that’s how it will ALWAYS BE!
President Obama has been average so far. He kept this country from going over a cliff. And for the people that have any understanding of the electoral college(something you don’t need a degree for since it is taught in elementary school), he doesn’t need us. He only has to please the Hispanics and peel off Whites from the Republicans, both which are easily attainable goals. He IS going to win Texas next time.
So my point is, he doesn’t really need, for his own re-election, to give us anything(he could be in trouble if he faces a primary challenge though). I will say this though: if this becomes a pattern, this fundamental disrespect for a group that gave him such large support, it could possibly be a long, ugly 8 years for him. No one can talk about people like Black folks!
Uncle Tom,
I agree with you on many points. Two points I don’t agree on is your use of profanity, and your analysis about Blacks not not being electorally needed. Were it not for Blacks votes in the primary last election, Hilary Clinton would have gotten the nomination hands down. Blacks carried the south in every state where they make up a majority, or significant %, of democratic voters. Most northern states also could not have been carried without Blacks. So Blacks, along with “progressive” whites (anti-war protestors, single-payer health insurance advocates,etc.) were responsible for the nomination. In the western “caucus” states, voter turn-out was low, and most who voted were “progressives.” Ironically, all of the members of this key coalition are presently feeling betrayed. The exception is many Blacks, but even their numbers are growing as they get thrown off their jobs and out of their homes with out a single word of support. All Blacks are getting are down talking, e.g.,”signifying,” and the “dozens” being played on them about being responsible and not raising their children. But where are the resources?We got enough of that mess from Reagan.
Doing the general election of 2008, Uncle Tom, as you may know,there were well publicized outreach efforts at voter registration targeted “specifically” towards Blacks in swing states:Virginia, Indiana, Flordia, etc., which were narrowly won because of Black voters. Did I just say “specifically targeted towards Blacks.” (Hush my mouth.)63 % of Hispanics voters were won over by multimillion media campaigns (in Spanish) promising to have their children taught in Spanish, and immigration reform, which most of them support.(There I go again, talking about specific group outreach).
It’s going to take all of these groups to prevail in 2012, not in spite of the electoral college, but because of it. The problem will be how to bring back the Progessives who are jumping ship like it’s the Titanic, and how to rewin a majority of Hispanic voters, particularly since it will be difficult to get any meaningful legislation through Congress in this National Climate. Given that, wait until this health care mess is over; then you’re going to see some “ethnic specific” legislation getting pushed in the form of immigration reform:It is a political debt owed.
But no one has to do any thing to impact the grave suffering of African Americans. Most of of which, if the current trend continues, won’t be able to vote because they won’t have an address by 2012. After all, the mis-calculation from the very begining was to not promise Blacks anything because we would “just be proud.” It will take a while before it is realized that it was a big mis-calculation. And that’s when things will begin to change for African Americans. However, with “Superfly” hair, and others, having been hired to attack the Black caucus for doing their jobs for a CHANGE: We can only hope that the realization comes before Black unemployment reaches 80%, and Black home ownership is reduced to 10%. Ironically, much of this suffering is being done to Blacks as PUNISHMENT for their voting choice, in the first place. That is a fact that is not talked about enough.
Oh, by the way:While I do not agree with John McCain politically, and would never vote for him, you must give the man credit for being a prisoner of war. The man endured much suffering! What’s right is right. No matter who it is.
JWIIL7,
I submit that you who suffer from an affliction of great magnitude. It was you who referred to my comments as rightwingish. Do you remember that? And for your information the South was a Democratic stonghold in the 50’s and 60’s and it was the Republicans in congress who supported the civil rights movement. Only 1 republican senator joined the fillabuster on the civil rights bill. Also, since 1933 republicans record on civil rights is much stronger that of Democrats. Any change to republican party in the South you blather about occurred in the 70s. Yeah Johnson was the president but it was the republicans who pushed the civil rights legislation to his desk, not the southern democrats.
If you can’t handle my responses and you think they are too “harsh” then maybe you should watch yours.
If the Republicans were the party of Civil Rights in the 1960s, then how come the Democrats who opposed Civil Rights legislation (who were called “Dixie-Crats”) left the Democratic party to join the Republican party. Are you suggesting they demonstrated their opposition to Civil Rights by joining a party that supported Civil Rights? Your premise is illogical, man.
Have a Happy New Year! After you get a clue!
Look son. Get your facts straight and do a little research. Southern Dems were the perpetrators of Jim Crow and no civil rights, plane and simple. People like Bull O’connor and Wallace are prime examples. Yes , there were Dems outside the South that did not support these policies. But it was mostly the Dems in the South who supported these practices. Now since more than half of all blacks lived in the south , as they do today, is an important issue. It perplexes me as to why we are so loyal to them as a race. Now maybe it was the Dems support of unions in the 70s that allowed us to have this blind faith in that party. That’s another discussion.
I submit that you are illogical son.
Dixiecrats came about in 1948 when Truman wanted civil rights for blacks. These Dixiecrats parted ways with the president then but remained committed to denying blacks freedoms they deserved as US citizens.