The first black president of the United States cannot credibly govern without a national black agenda. But don’t depend on him to front it. For the last 22 months, Sen. Barack Obama had one priority: getting elected. Black progressives have a different, urgent mission: to put meat on the bones of a black economic and social compact. Obama… return to article
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Reader Comments (34)Page 1 of 1 pagesToo frequently in our America we insist on the color of issues. I disagree, Laura Washington. The first black president of the United States cannot credibly govern without a national agenda that furthers the welfare, education, and futures of all Americans. The first black president of the United States must first and foremost lead us all, and implement policies that benefit us all. For too long in this country, under the auspices of the rampant Bush administration, only the needs of the wealthy and big business have concerned our “leaders”. It is time for long and careful look at the basic needs of all Americans, including the black community.
Having said that, I acknowledge special and different pressures within the community, as well as significant issues and barriers to well being. And yet I am bothered by your attitude-we got up from our couches and voted, and now we’re due something. How can it be Payback Time when the man hasn’t even assumed office? And yes, we expect, all of us, the change he promised. But I find your attitude troubling, and too normal for the black community. You exercised a basic right-you voted. That is terrific, and yes, you voted in record numbers. And now, you want to know, already and immediately, what’s in it for me? I did a little something, and now you, Mr. President, had better do a lot. For me. Gimme, gimme.
Maybe it’s time for the black community to continue to get up off it’s collective couches and exercise their rights to participate in larger society. Maybe with a little more practice getting up off that couch, it wouldn’t seem so monumental anymore, but rather a daily act of life.
Democracy requires participation, even when we don’t feel like it. If the black community has refused to participate in the process en mass before, then I’m glad that’s changed. But please don’t mistake the simple exercise of a civil right as being a monumental accomplishment that requires nothing more from you. Please don’t assume that’s all there was to it. Democracy is a daily process. And it ain’t always about what’s in it for you.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 11, 2008 at 9:00 PM I’m quite ambivalent about Obama having a “black” agenda. I’d like to see him have an urban agenda, and a health care agenda, etc., but these aren’t exclusively “black.” And while I agree that urban violence needs to be addressed head on, including closing down the loopholes for gun access, etc, I feel confident that that’s something he’s already got on his list of “to-do’s.” From the perspective of specifically “black” issues my list of pressing issues are probably quite different from most.. I tend to want nationality designation other than “African American” (clearly ambiguous, and missing the point that a specific subset of those so named are specifically born from the legacy of slavery in America) and inclusive measures like national recognition for the “Negro National Anthem.”
Those kinds of aspirations are more fully realized in my reparations proposal, now undergoing voting at Change.org: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/genuine_reparations_to_heal_the_legacy_of_slave ery
If anyone values the idea, please vote for it. And if you think it sucks, please post here or at my web site (http://obamaproject.windonwater.net) about why. I’ve got notifications on and will read all followup comments.
Posted by T Bond on Dec 11, 2008 at 9:33 PM Thank you, Sister, for your correct and clear voice and analysis, for reminding Negroes et al that there must and will be a black agenda, despite the efforts of “post-racialists” to erase our people and undermine our ongoing agenda for freedom in America.
Elaine Brown
Posted by Elaine Brown on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:13 PM .maybe we can get an hispanic america too…..and an asian america, brown america, indian america… and each one should be treated so differently from the rest that a ” - america” suffix is actually justified. of course that would mean more dividing than uniting. hmmm.
Posted by zefram Cuchin on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:37 PM I don’t think most of the white race, particularly the baby boomers, who marched, and died, for voter registration in the south, who have in one way or another worked every day of their lives to further the cause of their black brethren, should be described as “post-racialist”. I, personally, find that offensive. No one that I know of wishes to erase your people, which coincidentally, given my fathers bloodlines, and my nephews’ bloodlines, are also my people. No one has taken greater pride in the words of Sojourner Truth than this light skinned, blue eyed feminist. And no one took more encouragement from the trials and words of Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. than this lonely child, growing up in a desolate northern eastern wasteland, hoping to become this woman. When we define ourselves as a people, let us remember the best and brightest black leaders, who did not seek special treatment, or more excuses, but simply same for same rights. And to ask more of society, and less of oneself, is simply not going to fly. Yes, there is still racism, and no one calls it more clearly when she sees than me. And I also see a lot of lazy excuses being offered for a lack of personal effort. I also voted for this president, and he would not have been elected without white votes. Please remember that, when you rally to divide the races, as you have done with this remark, Elaine. That would be only the tip of my personal iceberg of civil rights work. Your heroes are mine, and please do not suggest otherwise. Take pride in their dark skin, and do not refuse the admiration of all for them.
Zefram, you have nailed it. Either we are one nation, indivisible, or we are not. We cannot have separation of race as a deciding factor in national policy any longer. We cannot afford it. We all need to step up and realize, either we all make it, or we all…..don’t. You choose.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 12, 2008 at 12:28 AM Excuse me? He is the President of the United States of America, not the President of the African-Americans of the United States. We are a melting pot, one nation, under God, not many nations separated by skin color. His agendas should be good for all of us, not for a few of us.
Posted by cuppa jo on Dec 12, 2008 at 1:03 AM There is really only one thing that Obama could do for the Black community. He could eliminate all Federal laws against drugs and allow the black gangs to become “legit” businessmen. He would have to do it in a way to only allow the Black gangs to have monopoly control of the now legit business. The Mexican gangs would have to be excluded somehow, perhaps by federal licensing of drug dealers. With a stroke of the pen he could free most Black males from prison. And if he did this, the Blacks would look upon him as a true Savior who freed his people and brought them wealth.
Posted by Andrewp111 on Dec 12, 2008 at 5:48 AM Well, Andewp111 there is some merit to your idea, although it would be illegal to “exclude” Mexican “gangs”. Legalizing drugs would certainly empty the prisons, and legislating and licensing their use would certainly create jobs. Please remember, however, he can’t just “preside” over the black community. He needs to be president to all. And he’s a president, not a saviour-the duties of the two are mutually exclusive. We also don’t know about the wealth part…if drugs were licensed and legal, they wouldn’t have the same dollar value they do now. The solution you suggest would probably result in some middle class incomes-40 to 50k-for some people. It wouldn’t solve everything, nor would this business employ everyone. And gangs, whether black or otherwise, will never be accepted. Individuals would have to sink or swim in this business.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 12, 2008 at 5:57 AM Barak Obama was not elected to divide people. Hopefully he is a leader of all American people. Obama is also not a dictator since we are a republic. Whether we like it or not, the reality is that the people are the force in this nation. If the people fail then the nation collapses. When one may experience the collapse of the United States of America we are talking about a world-wide catastrophe with millions of lives affected.
It seems everyone in the U.S. is preoccupied with what they deserve as an individual or group. Deserving: as in cash or media recognition. Deserving as a confirmation of your status or individuality.
This is a false pretense that has been shoved down our throats by the inequities of modern society.
Don’t forget that the main aim to life is the happiness for oneself and family. Don’t forget that a connection with God is so important to keep us going (all of us). Whether we are happy busting our butts to work or having a quiet moment with the ones we love, it is important to not let others judge what we have. These are some of the ideas that bind this nation together. Think that other nations also possess all this? Think again. It’s up to each and everyone of us to walk tall, hold our heads high, keep a keen but forgiving eye and grow stronger.
Forgive my philosophic approach. Let’s move on together. There are too many people wanting to destroy us.
Posted by carstedan on Dec 12, 2008 at 6:30 AM Well put, carstedan. United we stand, and divided, we might be conquered. It is time for all Americans to share in the wealth and largess of this country. It is time for tired old racial ways to fall by the wayside. We no longer have the luxury of fighting with one another; too many others are waiting to take us apart. We ARE a Republic; I refrained from saying so earlier, as I thought no one else would recognize what I was saying. I am impressed with your knowledge, and your message. Thank you.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 12, 2008 at 6:37 AM Thank you Gloria. It is so nice to hear someone with such encouragement.
I think that selflessness is a reward that achieves what we are all looking for.
Having the courage to put oneself out in potential danger or uncertainty in the meaning of helping others is the key. One real question is whether or not the “fat cats” of this nation have the same ethics or resolve.
I don’t mean to sound socialist or necessarily revolutionary, but there comes a time when certain questions should be asked.
Is it time to abandon racism? For all races?
Is it time to abandon “in the box” thinking?
Is it time to cross rigid class distinction?
We really are formed as a republic and the people are really the power in the United States. “Black” or “White” we have to solve these overwhelming issues together.
Posted by carstedan on Dec 12, 2008 at 7:03 AM In a capitalist society, the upper class, or, in the instance of America, the ruling business class makes a point of tilting all of the “not wealthy” at one another. So-you end up with poor white against poor black, poor black against poor Latino, and, in some cases, everybody against all white people-whether they are wealthy or not. This is not accidental-it is necessary, and required, for the wealthy ruling class to exist. The point is to keep the poor constantly fighting with one another, so that they never stop and realize they are not one anothers’ enemy. If you are kept so busy surviving, and then encouraged to move against “them ni%^&*&s;” or those “whiteys’”, you lack the time, energy, resources, thought and education to realize that other struggling person is not your enemy. The enemy is probably the 2 or 3% of the population which has devised law and money distribution to work against the rest of us. An underclass is a necessary component of capitalism, and an exhausted underclass is always best, because they’ll be too tired and hungry to riot.
I believe we can have a better capitalist system, a fairer capitalist system. I have lived through the golden years of labor unions and worker rights, before the Reagan administration gutted both. I remember how America used to be, and I believe we can restore this country, our economy, and all of our well being. Perhaps not to levels previously enjoyed, and certainly, with intelligent legislation, with consideration of all socio-economic classes, and with an eye to our childrens’ future, we can restore some of what has been lost. We can begin to function with meaning and dignity, once again And yes, carstedan, it will take people of all colors to implement this change. Which is why, as a white woman, I welcome the presidency of Barack Obama. I want the black community to succeed in America. I assume I will still be included. I want a fairer distribution of wealth to exist in this country. I want all of us, regardless of race, to benefit from that distribution. We are strong in our diversity, not in our adversity. Drawing color lines only increases our war upon ourselves.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 12, 2008 at 7:22 AM I am always leary of reviving anything resembling the New Politics or counterculture of the 1960s, lest economic issues go to the back of the bus again and be replaced by “cultural” issues and limousine liberalism. I am a progressive and a social democrat, and I think we need improved public education, a national health care system, a fair tax code, a lot more low cost housing, investment in green technology, high speed rail and mass transit, and also that certain industries and banks should be nationalized and run as public service corporations.
All the poor will benefit from programs like these, as will the working class and middle class of all colors. Now, I’m not the village idiot. I realize that blacks and Hispanics are a disproportionate percentage of the poor in this country and always have been, and that we are still living with the legacy of slavery, peonage, segregation, disenfranchisement, and so on.
My main concern is on how Obama’s reforms should be sold, that they should look more like the New Deal or Progressive Era than the 1960s. We only get one chance in a generation in this country to enact reforms, and this is it. This is the only chance we will have for another 30 years, and we don’t DARE waste it. The last reform cycle was the 1960s and frankly, it ended very badly, with a long conservative backlash that I thought would NEVER end.
Yes, I’m afraid of repeating those mistakes. I’m truly afraid of the 1960s and that generation, not least because my own Generation X really did face severe social and economic decline over the past 30 years and no one did anything about it.. I’m afraid of any association with people like Billy Ayers that will derail our desperately needed reforms—and this time, folks, the country is going off a cliff thanks to 30 years of “free market” capitalism.
Perhaps the 1960s is even partially responsible for this, especially the counterculture, all that constant talk of freedom, libertarianism, individual rights. Perhaps it opened the door in some way to a revival of libertraian capitalism—which is 19th Century, free market capiatlism.
In any case, there is so much to fear about the 1960s…..
Passing these necessary reforms will be difficult enough without raising all these issues from that frightening and disturbing decade. Maybe they will be raised again in the 2060s…
Posted by mcmchugh99 on Dec 12, 2008 at 1:36 PM While I understand your concerns about some aspects of the sixties, please remember some of the most necessary and controversial civil rights legislation was passed during those “turbulent” years. The late sixties and early seventies brought easy access to birth control, and greater freedoms for women in the workplace-the womens’ movement. These events or organizations allowed women to choose how large their families would be, and opened doors for the support of those families. In the sixties and seventies, decent employment with good health benefits and a living wage could be had. Labor unions were strong. We saw the dismantling of American economic well being begin with those trickle down, free market policies you refer to…in the eighties, with the election of Ronald Reagan. And I submit the conservative backlash was not as much a result of the 60’s as it was a reaction to the presidency of Jimmy Carter, the economic woes that developed during his presidency, as well as the taking of American hostages and HOLDING them in Beirut….we also saw a fuel shortage for the first time during those years. Oil embargo’s-remember? All of these events, coming so closely together, frightened Americans, and conservatives exploited that fear. Jimmy Carter was a wonderful human being, and he faced some of the most complicated, difficult issues of any president. He did not always manage these crisis’ well. The conservatives rolled, and ruined everything. George W. Bush has personally given away more of America than any president before him-our incomes, our jobs, our freedoms and security. I’m sorry that the ‘60’s frightened you so much. Huge change can be frightening. Sometimes, it is accompanied by chaos. It doesn’t have to be.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 12, 2008 at 6:30 PM After twenty years of study and observation of the changing face of American racisms, I can say with sincere honesty most of the commentators on this matter are full of you-know-what.
The United States is built on, and feeds a race based agenda of division, and in many, most, if not nearly all acts of major importance to the nation as a whole, such a foundation began and ends with a focus of serving the needs of Whites above all first, others second, and Afrimerican needs last. That is a systemic truth that is evident by the many studies, and statistics that show Afrimericans suffering the most of any race in the United States.
The idea that we are all one America is a good sound bite, but there are past and present institutional practices that need to be addressed, eliminated, and re-established with the balance of power in Afrimerican hands. By power I don’t mean in some dictator like manner, but power in a manner that an Afrimerican can set policies, and make decisions that don’t fall prey to White approval for it to be done.
President Obama is the first Afrimerican to acquire such power, and he would be a fool not to extend that power of decision to other Afrimericans.
Like some of you that have written here, I could write reams on what and why that needs to be done, but just look at the statistics and the results making the nation what it is today.
Reagan began a program through Amnesty to allow Immigrants south of the border to come to the United States to be used to displace Afrimericans from the work market, which is why when Amnesty was announced in early 1982 unemployment reached record highs that mirror todays numbers.
Then came cuts in, or eliminations in all programs that provided services to Afrimerican communites. Those cut funds went to fund corporate friends of whoever was in power, and laws to further re-disenfranchise Afrimericans.
After a while, there was no more to take from Afrimericans, thus like anyone in power that suffers from need based on greed, they began to feed on those they enlisted to serve their agenda of Afrimerican disenfranchisement, and when they were no longer useful, they had no one left to feed on but their own.
There does need to be an Afrimerican agenda that addresses the myriad rules, regulations, tactics, and systemic actions that effect Afrimerican life to the negative. Sure, everyone needs access to any and all services necessary for their betterment, but for once Afrimericans can be first instead of last, waiting to fight over massa’s scraps.
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Dec 13, 2008 at 1:48 AM As as African American female, I supported PE Obama for President of America. That means he is President of/for ALL the people of the US.
My response to this writer’s position is that we, as a people, should begin to look to our inner selves, our inner community, and our inner family units for problems that we can know we can resolve.
If PARENTS would begin to accept responsibility for their children, a host of problems in the Black community could and would be resolved.Many of us who read and respond to this blog know full well, that in the past, parents in the Black family (which may have been the mother, grandmother, auntie, mother and father, or mother, grandmother and grandfather), made their expectations very clear. We knew what we should and should not do at school, at church, at social activities, and how we should treat other “grown folks,” and those in authority, i.e. teachers, principals, and other adults in the community. If their children violated those major principals of honor and respect, there were consequences to be meted out to the children.
My position is that until members of Black community begin to take good care of family matters in a reasonable and responsible manner, PE Obama, more money sent to the Black community, or the best teachers in the world, will not make a dent in changing the current status of the community.
I am quite tired of blaming the system, for ALL our ills. Yes, there must be a lot government input to help change come to the community, but we, the Black people, must work to change the community from within, and that change begins with parents taking charge and being the adults instead of letting the children run wild and irresponsiblly.
Posted by marian lauria on Dec 13, 2008 at 4:32 PM Malcom X, Dr. King, and a whole host of others before, and after the civil rights actions of the 60’s were talking about Afrimerican parity. The I have a dream speech is not just about White kids and Black kids playing together, (Go Read It), but that has been the part the White Power structure has focused on to the point Afrimericans have been lullabied into only seeing that, or just saying that too, dismissing the part about about a “prommisary Note”, and “Insufficient funds”.
To let some folks tell it, the ills of the Afrimerican/Black community/race in/of the United States is Afrimericans fault, which is a key claim of whites who support a white supremist agenda of catering to white privelage exclusively, but it is sad when Afrimericans state and support the same philosphy that is not in their favor and one that defys the myriad of facts, studies, and historical parallels.
Those of us out here doing community work with families, and individuals usaually can’t find those who claim that as a need, I often find myself alone, or with a handful of people who are quickly discouraged because of the lack of support
It’s easy to talk but doing the walk is a different story
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Dec 14, 2008 at 1:11 AM I am approached, on the street, an average of 12x daily, usually-almost always-by black men, who want a dollar, two dollars, 43 cents, a cigarette, etc. When I decline their request, they sometimes become hostile. I have had older teenagers knock on my door, of my home, and ask me for money. Again, they are black. The myth seems to be that because I have white skin, and they don’t, I owe them something, usually money. The second part of this myth is that because I have white skin, I have money. I am, on occasion, tempted to enlarge my checking account balance, and post it on my back prior to leaving home. (Current balance-$457.00 overdrawn.) I understand hard times as well as the next person, black or white. I also understand that we all must take some responsibility for ourselves and our actions. And I would sell my blood before I took to begging on public streets.
Sometimes, the request is preceded by, “I don’t have busfare to get home.” Well, why did you leave home? I don’t go places, boring as that is, unless I have the money or means to get myself home again. I don’t think somebody out on the public wayfare is responsible for me getting home after an outing, an appointment, whatever. I assume I am responsible for myself
I am as tired of these beggars as I am conversations about the White Power Structure. If you read my earlier comments, AFRIMERICAN, you’ll see that I believe it’s not so much a white power structure, anymore, as it is a wealthy few power structure. Playing the oh poor me race card in
this respect is unfair. And black Americans do have a responsibility to themselves. If unfair practices are preventing employment, housing, or advancement, then we ought to address it. That should get fixed, quickly. Unfair educational opportunities have to change. Yet, the one thing I note of the black community is their huge families. If they are struggling as much as you and others claim they are, why are they having so many children? I had one child. I could only afford one. I could only give one the time, attention, care, and education required. If I had indulged myself-and I wanted more-and had even one more child, my only one would not have gotten to go to the private prestigous university he graduated from. But it wasn’t any White Power Structure that saw him through that school…it was his mothers decision to be reproductively responsible so that her son could have a better chance in life. That’s a choice. And it seems to me that too many members of the black community would rather complain about some mythical While Racist plan than look at their own unfortunate choices. Before you call me a racist, based only my skin, and before you ask for my pity, or my money, could you please look to your self and actions. Thank you.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 15, 2008 at 9:28 PM I have lived overseas for 14 years and there are beggars everywhere in this world. That is all part of the system.
There is always an oligarchy, aristocracy or whatever you want to call it. That is history. Even in the South, with the so-called White Power Structure, some whites were far more equal than others.
As a historian, my opinion is that teh elite has always used race, religion, nationalism and so on to manipulate the lower classes and maintain its own power. To me, this is not even a theory: it is what I have actually seen in operation all over the world. It works, too. It works most of the time, even here in America.
The only difference today is that our system has now become so obviously corrupt and dysfunctional that the majority can now see it for what it really is—except for Southern whites, of course. The last time this happened was in the 1930s. That was the end of the last big heyday of free market capitalism, and it has now ended the same way.
Too bad no one ever learns from history. You do not have to be particularly talented or insightful to do that: you could have picked up any introductory textbook about the 1920s or the First Gilded Age and predicted this disaster we are in right now.
Posted by mcmchugh99 on Dec 16, 2008 at 9:52 AM I concur with the previous respondent. The writer taking note of those who ask for money made note of “they” being Black which was suggestive that Blacks are the only one that ask for money.
I’m Afrimerican/Black and I experience Whites, Blacks, Mexicans, and Asians asking me for money all the time, they are on the beg for whatever reason and I treat them all the same with a no because I don’t have it to give.
The reason that Blacks target, or appear to target Whites for a beg is because Whites are considered to have greater access to having, and getting more than Blacks. No more, no less, and definitely not because Blacks think Whites owe them something.(With the exception most Afrimericans think Whites owe Afrimericans the respect to get out of the way of intentional blocking Afrimerican progress)
The discourse content was more than suggestive that Afrimericans think Whites owe them money, or some kind of material handout/reward, which is not true, but that ideology is part of the racist stereotypical mindset.
What Afrimericans want is the same unencumbered access to all manner of progress that Whites expect and enjoy.
Afrimericans have to jump through hurdles Whites get a pass from, and to progress we either have to be three or four times better than the White person in the arena, and/or he has to be, and play the house Negro and dare not disagree with anything his White associates/bosses say or do or desire, or he has to be a stand out sports or entertainment figure
To suggest racism in America no longer exist, or that the playing field is level is a delusion, a myth, a lie that racist powers promote as truths that the social facts betray. Ironically, there are both Blacks and Whites who sing the song that Whites have nothing to do with the heirchial (?) nature of White subjugation because it serves as a pat solution to a debate that most don’t want to HONESTLY (ugly truths) address and discuss.
Until one gets honest they will never see their racism, and will continue to look for acts they can use to justify and rationalize their racism, and feed their denial of who/what they really are.
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Dec 16, 2008 at 10:53 AM I also concur with mcmchugh99, AFRIMERICAN. And I asked you to read my earlier posts regarding the same theory of the elite keeping the lower classed at each others throats that he so eloquently expressed. Please don’t twist what he said into a validation of your position, which seems to be that I’m a racist, as are most whites. Again, if you read my earlier posts as I asked you to, my father has some blood, and my nephews are very dark skinned. I think it’s easier for you to cry racist foul than consider the actual position. And I do think black Americans deserve equal access to all manner of progress. I said that in an earlier post, as well. I’m not even going to address the rest of the comment, because no one said what your arguing. Especially not me. You simply want to have a position and a complaint that white America is racist without any challenge or further conversation. You want to lay everything at that door without considering any of the behaviors the black community or poor people everywhere engage in. There’s a weird, terrific book called “Freakanomics” which addresses some of these same topics. There are other studies which identify the leading qualifier for poverty as being a single mother of multiple children. It’s not that we don’t love these children, or wish to help them up the ladder of life through socially responsible programs, and we would all be able to accomplish more if there were fewer children in need of services, and if families, themselves, were better able to manage their households. Managing your household might mean having fewer in it to befgin with. It seems to me you’re the one that doesn’t want to look at honest, ugly truths and acknowledge that on many occasions, the black community is its own worst enemy. It’s far easier to cry white racism and give up, instead of looking to yourself, or community, and seeing the other side of the coin. You are engaging in exactly the behaviour the elite wealthy controlling classes want you to, both my being a victim as well as blaming me. The topic of this blog, originally, was whose president is Obama, anyway? If he’s going to lead all of us, it looks like he has his work cut out for him. And finally, those of us with whiter skin don’t normally speak so frankly, because we know what the response will be: No matter is said, a racist foul will be called. We have the thoughts, and feeling unable to communicate them clearly without that slam creates a racial divide. The black community is not above criticism, any more than the white community is. And this knee jerk cry of “Racist” every time someone disagrees with you serves no future moving purpose. Still, I thank you for your participation here.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 16, 2008 at 9:39 PM President Obama spoke on how his grandmother made negative comments reflective of racism about Black men, but still showed him an all encompassing love.
Racism, as it pertains to the Black/White divide has a plethora of nuances that are subtle to Blatant, and for some, because the outright widespread acceptance of blatant expressions of the pre 70’s racisms are no longer condoned, more subtle forms have come along.
If one were to look at racism as a physical injury not visible on the surface one could go to a doctor and describe the symptoms, and point to the area, or areas of discomfort, and a seasoned Doctor could quickly diagnose the illness/injury, and recommend/provide treatment.
Racism is similarly identifiable in those who have it. In present times it has been so expertly woven into many social idioms that many people have it and don’t know they have it, and will defend and simultaneously deny they have it.
Like a doctor, an astute student of racism can see it even when the person exhibiting it can’t. It’s in what is said and how it is said. It’s in the position the object of racism is given in any descriptive discourse, which is usually the negative. It is also often expressed with a positive qualifier before or after the denigration, like, “I have nothing against Black People but…”, or “Black people are uncouth, but they are skilled entertainers”.
I could go on and on, but the point is I can’t say anyone is a racist and make it so, it’s like reading, once one learns the language it is it, is is is.
There are varying degrees, and varying levels of expression, not all are bad, or with bad intent, and most expressions come from some underlying refusal, or denial that it exist, and that is the major expression of modern racism, denying Afrimerican claims of racism we see and experience everyday from the moment we wake up.
Those who want to debate can, I like the exercise, but one would do themselves better by doing some research. Read some Tim Wise, or some Robert Jenson, and the various college courses on-line on the topic of White privilege
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Dec 17, 2008 at 5:31 AM Look-I am a woman, fool. One who can quote both womens rights history and black history for chapters-because in case you weren’t aware, the womens rights movement has always supported the rights of black men. And if you DON’T know that….and I strongly suspect it doesn’t fit your narrow knowing…then this conversation is over until you pick up some books, educate yourself, and then and only then it carries on. I don’t need to be told of subtlelties of racism when I have had the fifty year experience of sexism. And I don’t lay around and whine, the worlds against me, mama, just cuz ahm a woman. Additionally, I could quote you chapter and verse about how I, personally, make the local establishment move forward on racial issues…but why should I? That would only interfere with your perception of yourself and your community as victims, and, by virtue of my white skin, me as oppressor. Hmmm. The knee jerk reaction of crying racism only furthers the racial divide. Find a fuller position, if you want the larger world to hear.
And am I to understand you seek criticism of the woman who grandmothered and sometimes mothered the most successful black man in the history of America? My God, there is NO pleasing you. Which is why your dialogue only fuels further white resentment. Any way you slice it.
As for astuteness…can it be this word stands in for any normal criticism of the black community? Sorry-no one is issuing “You’re black so you get a free pass card”, which seems to be what you request….and furthermore, truly want. Grow up. We call it racist when it is. You call it racist whenever it’s conveniant-and that’s much of the time.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 17, 2008 at 6:36 AM I think “Afrimerican” is missing the point here….no one is denying racism, but to suggest that BO needs to have a special “Black agenda” which is contrasted with a “regular agenda” is to deny the existence of racism to other ethinic groups, is like saying that ONLY black people are being discriminated against. I think in the past few years the Muslim Americans are having a harder time than African Americans, so with you seemingly indifferent to that fact, i think you are more interested in increasing the presence of a Black America than to advocate the elimination of racism. Maybe it would help if you can stand in other peoples’ shoes for a while.
Posted by zefram Cuchin on Dec 17, 2008 at 6:16 PM I do not misunderstand, or mis speak. As previously written, one should get some education on topics they wish to hold a discourse on.
Obama needs a Black agenda, just as whites in power had and still have a White agenda.
The first White agenda was to make Blacks slaves, to kill and steal the Indians land, later, it was to create a subjugative status during the civil war where immigration was advertised and upon arrival immgrants were given resources, and status over, and beyond those given Blacks/Afrimericans. (This most recent incarnation began with Reagan giving amnesty to immigrants South of the Western border states, with said amnesty extended four times in the last twenty years)
After the civil war, from 1865 to 1890 a multitude of new laws were created to give Blacks some parity. Under what became known as “jim crow” all those laws were overturned, eliminated, or restructured to instituted a second, third, fourth class status of Afrimericans .
That was a white agenda that still pulses today,
The only difference today is, when the white powers had took all they could from Afrimericans, they turned on their own, and began feeding on each other.
Every Afrimerican in the United States knows this.
The Black agenda one hopes Obama takes is not in the same model Whites used, and still use against us, but one that empirically erases that line of subjugation that make Afrimericans last despite being the ones who built most of this country through labor and other creativity that was stolen and used by whites to enrich themselves while the ones they stole it from starved, or had to accept crumbs.
A Black agenda where Afrimericans can own or have some broadcast control on a nationwide T.V. station like Robert Johnson is trying to do, but those Whites in power who have a white agenda are fighting tooth and nail to prevent. A Black agenda, where half the Afrimerican male race is not in jail, or subject to arrest and conviction simply for being Black( look at all the cases overturned from DNA testing). A Black agenda where Afrimerican corporations can get billion dollar no bid contracts like all the White corporations got during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Get some education on the topic and stop trivializing comments that relay what is taught in major universities worldwide.
The only ones uninformed are Whites who have had the benefits of a white agenda that never took the time to acknowledge the unequalness outside the propagandized depiction of Blacks as theives, liars, drug dealer, etc…, or as “One of the good ones”, who follow lifelong, and generational, and media inspired stereotypical mindsets that betray the now realities.
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Dec 17, 2008 at 9:54 PM I am aware of the history you propose to “teach” me. I do not need the education you assume I do. You simply have a position you don’t want to give up. The wealthy upper classes always ‘fed” upon poorer whites-again, it appears your education has some holes in it. Indentured white servants who came to colonial America died at an equal rate of slaves, due to the abuse of their wealthier white masters. Don’t pick and choose your history to justify your claims. No one is going to give you a television station. If we reversed the drug laws, many of the black men-and white men and other men-in jail would be freed. (But perhaps there is a link between the other black men in jail and those large incapable families I mentioned earlier. ) You would need to build a corporation first, to get those contracts you mention. I don’t think you know very much about universities world wide, although I could be wrong. You’re just angry because you aren’t getting the instant sympathy you’ve come to expect every time you over-use and abuse the term “racist”. You’re like the boy that cried wolf…when he really saw the wolf, no one listened, because he had ruined his credibility on the topic. If you attribute every problem faced by the black community to racism, and say it’s all whitey’s fault, there goes your credibility. You seem like an intelligent person. Why don’t you pursue your education, and make a contribution to your community, instead of blaming all the problems on the evil white folk?
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 17, 2008 at 10:17 PM Stop being a WhIte mans Negro and accept the facts for what they are.
It’s a disgrace to see Blacks defending a position that is not to their advantage, which actually feeds into the position of servitude, and the running debate of “they ain’t doing this for us”. Feeding the we are a victim role that has become the norm.
I said, and will continue to say Obama needs a Black agena, and if you are Black and to stupid to not see whites have had, and havew a white agenda, that’s on you.
If all one knows comes from one source one is bound to have an intelligensia confined to that spectrum, and the House Negro is a well defined, and identifiable state.
Instead of debating with me on a topic you are not well educated in, go do some research.
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Dec 23, 2008 at 10:41 AM Additionally, the discourse was not a personal attack until attacked.
The claims I have made in all the writings here are not just idol comments, they are historical, legal, and statistical facts.
It’s an irony that the only one arguing points of easily proven is a Black woman.
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Dec 23, 2008 at 10:51 AM Now, I’m a black woman. Good grief. OK-in the state of apartheid in South Africa, they certainly would have called me black, because one drop of black blood was reason enough for removal. In Louisiana at the turn of the last century, I would have been sold as an octoroon-I think that’s the term they used-and called a high yella gal. In truth, although somewhat baffled by the correct answer, when asked my race I choose “white”, because I am not given an option for my black and Native American blood. My eyes are blue. My skin sunburns easily. My father looks like a lighter skinned Nat King Cole, and my aunt has nappy hair. What am I? My mother had red hair, blue eyes, and pale, pale freckled skin. I used to refer to her as the whitest woman in America. Until my niece was born-and with her blonde hair, blue eyes, and milk colored skin, I now her give her that title. If I stood before you and called,“Blood!” you would probably hit me. And yet, aren’t we brother? For all my white skin, aren’t we, in fact, blood? My position on your position doesn’t change. I know the history. I want to live in the here and the now. I want us all to share in the wealth of America, AND I want us all to exhibit responsibility for ourselves. I want to only have the children we can feed and clothe, independant of social networks and services. I want us to love our children, whatever their color, and nurture them, and teach them, and educate them-instead of expecting teachers to do all of our job for us. I want black America to remember, and recognize those of us who pass for white who fought the fight, too-and those who are truly white who did, as well. I want people to stop whining, to stand up like adult men and women and claim their share without all this white devil racist crap. Call it when it is, and not constantly. That’s my point. You want to see the world onlly in terms of black and white. That’s a weakness, and an issue, for us all.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 23, 2008 at 8:05 PM Let me further state I well recall the subtle snubs and racism my father experienced. And I also saw, first hand, that he made it harder on himself with his rude and disrespectful ways. He also, by the way, is more of a racist than most purely white people. He could not, and would not, get along with anyone-he couldn’t be bothered, although he never played the race card.
I’ll answer my own question from above, as well. I’m twice directly descended from Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower Brewsters. I have the blood of the Germans,Dutch, English, Irish, Scots, French, Cherokee, and Africa in my veins. What am I? I AM AN AMERICAN.
Which is what we all better be, first and foremost , if we want this country to make it at all.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some to shovel. Lots of it, in fact. And while it might be nice if the government provided this middle aged woman with a snow shoveling service-HA!-what I see is that it needs to be done, so I’ll get to it.
Merry Christmas.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 23, 2008 at 8:23 PM Hey, AfriAmerican, and anyone else who doesn’t understand what I’m talking about when I speak of my bloodlines…google on the late, great Eartha Kitt, and take a look at the photo’s of her grandchildren…then tell me we’re not all in this together.
Posted by Gloria58 on Dec 31, 2008 at 9:11 PM The only person it seems to not be getting the point is the previous respondent hereto.
First, in attempting to address this writer, to be miscalled AfriAmerican is indicative of some form of mental illness, or ignorance, and it is also a subtle form of saying FU because AfriAmerican is something some folks came up with when it was learned Afrimerican was an original, and a first, AfriAmerican is not what I am or what I identify as. (It’s etymology is Carribean)
Secondly, I will try to make this plain and simple because this will be the last time I respond to this idiocy. I have many discussions with many people on this and related topics, and it is amazing that it is the older Afrimericans between 45 and 64 who stand in defense of the system of servitude in a manner that suggest we gotta go along and do as told so “Massa won’t get mad”.
Reading the previous, previous comment where one talked about ones father making it hard on himself bucking the white mans system, they did not say it like that, but that is the meaning of what was said, and maybe it did make things hard for him, but it is because of hundrefs, maybe even thousands of Afrimericans like him who over hundreds of years took a stand and refused to be the buck dancin, boot lickin, ass kissin, yessa bossin, house N-word that the little by little effected change so that the race is not in the feilds today being treated and used like mules.
Of course there are those who will not see the forest for wanting to pick out a single tree as being the whole forest, but when one suggest that Blacks are better off because of a White agenda I vehemenently disagree because the race and the countryAfrica) was doing well, and better off before Whites showed up.
Now a half millenium later millions Africa has been raped, robbed, and pillaged with it’s Black inhabitants in volcano of dissension unlike before, and millions of Blacks have become native to the United States, yet in either country, we don’t have one percent, ot one percent of the material, economic rewards of a race that only got here in high numbers only twenty years ago,... that’s due to a white agenda. ( Oh I forgot, that is Black peoples fault.. right?)
I don’t know if the previous writer is Black or White, but in either case, to suggest that we live in a color blind society is insane on it’s face. We are a box of crayons and we see each others skin tone, now the major point of contention is will that vision determine ones treatment of what the eye beholds, and again from the inception of this nation becoming a nation, Whites have had a White agenda that was, and is designed to exclude, or limit Blacks at any and every turn when possible.
That is not universally applied to all whites, and all Blacks are not subject to total exclusion, but the advances of the race from 1945 to 1975 have slowly but surely been reversed due to a White Agenda. And the basic White agenda platform written into the constitution is still applicable, and applied whenever possible.
This is not something I say as an emotional disgust, it is something news reporters across the nation wrote and write about before, and since Obama became President. They write about the race based advantage all white leaders in government, in business, in media, etc… have had based on a designed system where they held the monopoly on the power base perpetually.
Lastly, I had to learn over the past few years that there are some Afrimericans who like, and prefer to be the house Negro, they are usually black women who say the White man can do no wrong, or White folks can’t be beat, or they defend a position that is antithetical to real human equality with preference given Whites, and the Black male if not demonized is considered less than.
I have written enough, I suggest anyone that wants to learn more go to the library, read a paper, read several papers, and I suggest gloria58 get a life, go get a man and get a good d*&^%%n.
Posted by AFRIMERICAN on Jan 1, 2009 at 1:40 AM Barack Obama needs to spend less time trying to cultivate his worldwide celebrity status, and spend more time in Washington D.C. dealing with the issues that affect all of us.
But then again, his idea of working out our economic problems is to spend us into economic oblivion, so it is hard to have any real hope for the foreseeable future.
Posted by patrick hattman on Apr 6, 2009 at 12:28 AM I agree whole heartedly.
I believe President Obama is setting himself for a big fall by continuing to pander to the media build up.
Like President Johnson the media will turn and he will suffer the “Credibility Gap” , which the media will exaggerate, and combine with all types of racist innuendo to discredit him, and create a wall to prevent any other Black becoming president for another hundred years.
I believe president Obama needs to take a serious look at what happened twenty plus years ago under Reagan where Reagan and party set up programs and systems to exorcise Afrimericans from the overall job market , which caused record unemployment at the time that equals the numbers today, and he set into motion an open door policy for South American immigrants to come to the U.S. and overburden the social programs as well as replace the Afrimerican workforce.
Outside of the total number of votes President Obama had, I know for a fact, hundreds, maybe even thousands, tens of thousands of Afrimericans who never voted, and who never wanted to vote before voted for him in a last grasp hope he was different than the Jesse Jacksons, and other “fakes” who preach about aiding the Afrimerican community but don’t.
President Obama needs to take heed to the voices of his past experience, like when he was a student at Occidental, and got arrested twice for being Black, and recognize that there are government, and business policies, regulations, and customs that have relegated Afrimericans to the margins of U.S. society, which is why this so-called recession has’nt sparked a major outcry from the Afrimerican Communities because it’s always been like this for Afrimericans
Like my mother use to say, “Take care of home first”, and in this case that means nationally, and racially. After all it’s what Whites do and have done since the beginning, why should Afrimerican be different?
The worse thing Obama can do is become a living caricature of Jesse Jackson, which is where it appears he’s headed.
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