President Obama and the expectation of the black community


K

Kendrick

Well-Known Member
Since Barack Obama was elected president there have been statements, opinions and general comments made about him not addressing some of the pressing issues facing the black community like black incarceration, unemployment (that is double that of whites), foreclosure and other matters that disproportionately affect our communities.

Many have said that Obama can't be the president of black America he has to be president of all of America. Others have said that the black community should be more self-reliant in order to improve current conditions.

There are other camps who believe that if there is not an expectation for President Obama to throw the black community a bone or two (considering the previous 43 presidents haven't looked like us, and republicans have not historically been in our corner either), what was the point of voting for him in the first place?

I mean, it is understood that the economy sucks right now, we're in the middle of two wars and labor numbers have been on a roller coaster ride since 2008.

However, there are those who say even with issues facing the country that Obama has found time to address the needs of other groups and entities. But has not found any time or even realistically sought to address issues facing blacks. For example some members here have desired Obama do more for HBCUs.

With that said, what should the expectations of President Obama be when it comes to the black community?
 



kendrick said:
Since Barack Obama was elected president there have been statements, opinions and general comments made about him not addressing some of the pressing issues facing the black community like black incarceration, unemployment (that is double that of whites), foreclosure and other matters that disproportionately affect our communities.

Many have said that Obama can't be the president of black America he has to be president of all of America. Others have said that the black community should be more self-reliant in order to improve current conditions.

There are other camps who believe that if there is not an expectation for President Obama to throw the black community a bone or two (considering the previous 43 presidents haven't looked like us, and republicans have not historically been in our corner either), what was the point of voting for him in the first place?

I mean, it is understood that the economy sucks right now, we're in the middle of two wars and labor numbers have been on a roller coaster ride since 2002. (corrected that for you)

However, there are those who say even with issues facing the country that Obama has found time to address the needs of other groups and entities. But has not found any time or even realistically sought to address issues facing blacks. For example some members here have desired Obama do more for HBCUs.

With that said, what should the expectations of President Obama be when it comes to the black community?
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I want him to 'encourage' our supposed black leaders to start focusing on the real issue of ignorance in our communities. I want him to somehow get Al Sharpton, Cornell West, & Jesse Jackson types to get off of their couch and put their life on the line and start protesting in the neighbor hoods of blacks that force out drug/crime & poor education influence. Bring media attention and disruption to the area so much so that relocation will be a must. Everyone is too scared of doing the neighborhood watch correctly.


The crime/drug game has ruled our 'hoods' with fear so long that it has created a paralysis in the would be leaders of our generation. Instead we just move out & watch our old spots become a desolate shell of its former self.

This is the type of agitation that has to happen in order to clean up our 'hoods'. The reason why we can't get any businesses to move or stay in the urban/inner city is because of crime. Crime is there because of drugs. Drugs are there because of ignorance (no education). No education is there because of poor parenting. Poor parenting is there because of generational learned ignorance. The generational learned ignorance spawned from having no self worth.

Since we can't fix all of this in one swoop. I say go to the only root that you can reach...which is the crime element. Hoping that once you tamp down crime it somehow spreads to the other aspects of the community like a welcomed virus.

Also Obama can focus on the telling of the real history of the United States of America by including things such as black wall street in the books. Most blacks these days don't know themselves at all. Heck I'm still learning & that ignorance of one's self creates a doubt in oneself. We (whites included) must learn our history better.
 
Brave said:
I want him to 'encourage' our supposed black leaders to start focusing on the real issue of ignorance in our communities. I want him to somehow get Al Sharpton, Cornell West, & Jesse Jackson types to get off of their couch and put their life on the line and start protesting in the neighbor hoods of blacks that force out drug/crime & poor education influence. Bring media attention and disruption to the area so much so that relocation will be a must. Everyone is too scared of doing the neighborhood watch correctly.


The crime/drug game has ruled our 'hoods' with fear so long that it has created a paralysis in the would be leaders of our generation. Instead we just move out & watch our old spots become a desolate shell of its former self.

This is the type of agitation that has to happen in order to clean up our 'hoods'. The reason why we can't get any businesses to move or stay in the urban/inner city is because of crime. Crime is there because of drugs. Drugs are there because of ignorance (no education). No education is there because of poor parenting. Poor parenting is there because of generational learned ignorance. The generational learned ignorance spawned from having no self worth.

Since we can't fix all of this in one swoop. I say go to the only root that you can reach...which is the crime element. Hoping that once you tamp down crime it somehow spreads to the other aspects of the community like a welcomed virus.

Also Obama can focus on the telling of the real history of the United States of America by including things such as black wall street in the books. Most blacks these days don't know themselves at all. Heck I'm still learning & that ignorance of one's self creates a doubt in oneself. We (whites included) must learn our history better.
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Truth is... this is EXACTLY what a first BLACK president should be doing and all other after him... But the folk on here will tell you that's asking for too much from him...

I am still wondering what hope and change they thought he was talkng about....smdh
 
jsupop33 said:
Get the same attention that the latinos are.
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Mabye if the so called "leaders" of our community would get their act together then that would change. We keep the same talking heads at the helm like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton that have their own agendas. We haven't been organized on one accord since the 60's when we had a common enemy and focus to change what was going on in our community.
 
SUtrp96 said:
Truth is... this is EXACTLY what a first BLACK president should be doing and all other after him... But the folk on here will tell you that's asking for too much from him...

I am still wondering what hope and change they thought he was talkng about....smdh
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Man, what you talking bout? We got plenty of hope and change! We all hoping the economy will get better and the price of gas will go down and he is changing the deficit by tripling it. If things keep going the way they are, you and I will hope we got enough spare change to buy goods and services.!

(And the Obama desciples will retort in 3.....2.......1.......and Action!!!)

:D
 
Makaho 2.0 said:
Man, what you talking bout? We got plenty of hope and change! We all hoping the economy will get better and the price of gas will go down and he is changing the deficit by tripling it. If things keep going the way they are, you and I will hope we got enough spare change to buy goods and services.!

(And the Obama desciples will retort in 3.....2.......1.......and Action!!!)

:D
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Some hope they could actually think for themselves and not have to keep repeating republican sound bites.

Some hope he doesn't capture or kill another al q leader.

Some hope he doesn't prevent another terrorist from bombing us.

Some hope another terrorist does bomb us

Yep theres a lot on hope still going on.


Sent From My Samsung Captivate
 
Makaho 2.0 said:
Mabye if the so called "leaders" of our community would get their act together then that would change. We keep the same talking heads at the helm like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton that have their own agendas. We haven't been organized on one accord since the 60's when we had a common enemy and focus to change what was going on in our community.
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[video=youtube;HfOmk3V7ZX4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfOmk3V7ZX4[/video]
 
Makaho 2.0 said:
We keep the same talking heads at the helm like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton that have their own agendas.
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exactly, these guys aren't half the man MLK was. The fight has changed and a real civil rights leader would've acknowledged that by now.
 
And just what influence does Jesse or Al have in any of your lives?

NONE!!

We have a black president and the only thing holding ninjas back are the usual suspects and Jesse nor Al are in that line up.

If you look close enough though you may very well see a familar face.

Jesse and Al are who you've just been brain wash to use as an excuse.

Sent From My Samsung Captivate
 
and please dont complain about Pres Obama helping the black community when we dont do it ourselves. (well i do) hell its pulling teeth giving back to our beloved swac schools that we love so much. How many go to PTA meetings, go to neighborhood watches, mentor the youth, volunteer our time to the community. so maybe we should look in the mirror first instead waiting on Obama, Al and Jesse to help us out.
 
Well, why are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson the voices of black America? Who signed the documents for that to happen?

I mean, you look at MSNBC or ABC and Sharpton is part of the Black Agenda program as well as the religious roundtable discussion on Easter.

Jackson is a syndicated columnist for various black and mainstream newspapers.

I'm a fairly young person. And I don't remember any other prominent black leaders doing or saying anything other than the Sharpton-Jackson ticket.
 



kendrick said:
Well, why are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson the voices of black America? Who signed the documents for that to happen?
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It appears to me you should know that answer since thats how YOU are describing them

Sent From My Samsung Captivate
 
bluedog said:
Some hope they could actually think for themselves and not have to keep repeating republican sound bites.

Some hope he doesn't capture or kill another al q leader.

Some hope he doesn't prevent another terrorist from bombing us.

Some hope another terrorist does bomb us

Yep theres a lot on hope still going on.


Sent From My Samsung Captivate
Click to expand...

Here ya go blue......knock yourself out......

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/08S4poMGvwA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
bluedog said:
It appears to me you should know that answer since thats how YOU are describing them

Sent From My Samsung Captivate
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I don't know the answer. That's why I asked the question. It seems like when there is a roundtable discussion on a major network or otherwise about something involving issues relating to blacks or the black community Sharpton and Jackson seems to be connected to it in some form or fashion.

I could understand both sides of this debate, though.

Sure, the people play a tremendous role in governing. Our actions are essential in the process. However, what can't be lost is that fact there is a reason we elect these men and women to various local, state and federal offices. That is to serve us. To do what is best for the people who voted them in that position in the first place.

If the people shouldn't or are advised to not have some expectation of what X mayor, governor, alderman or president might do for them, then why is this whole election and voting thing so valued?

I come across comments along the lines of well you know this leader can't do everything he/she set out to do or promised in their campaign because you know, there is opposition from the other side or things change once reality sets in.

If that is the case, shouldn't we as smart, responsible voters think long and hard about what we support instead of who we support?

How must a republican or Tea Party backer feel at this moment knowning some of the folks they put in office are running amuck?

And the same can be said for democrat voters as well -- especially here in Illinois -- where the governor, a dem, raised the income tax by more than 60 percent, which is concurrent with motorists paying the highest gas prices in the country.

I don't talk politics much around here or anywhere else. Rarely among family members or friends either. But I do read and observe a lot, however. And what I've found out is that President Obama is a very polarizing figure among blacks.

There are blacks who are in lock-step with everything Obama has done up to this point in his term. There are blacks who are supportive, but not completely satisfied with the job Obama has done. Then there is a sect of blacks who believe Obama has completely distanced himself from or only paid lip serviice to significant issues involving fellow blacks and the poor.

All three groups have some intriguing arguments and perspectives to say the least.

And I believe similar views could be shared in regards to any person holding a public office right now.

But I think it's good to every once in a while to have discussions like this.
 
Rev Jackson, James Clingman, Claud Anderson, Louis Farrakhan, Bobby Seale and others has been addressing issuses that arrange from economic justice to social justice for decades.. Instead of aiming attacks at those actvisits that has been fighting the battles and tying their best to help the race, We should be attacking the ones that are our best our equip and educate that refuse particapte in the struggle at all..
 
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kendrick said:
Well, why are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson the voices of black America? Who signed the documents for that to happen?

I mean, you look at MSNBC or ABC and Sharpton is part of the Black Agenda program as well as the religious roundtable discussion on Easter.

Jackson is a syndicated columnist for various black and mainstream newspapers.

I'm a fairly young person. And I don't remember any other prominent black leaders doing or saying anything other than the Sharpton-Jackson ticket.
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This is exactly why I said what I said. These guys aren't keeping their ear to the street if they haven't realized what the current fight is right now. They still on the 'white man' tip when we need to focus our energy internally. I'm so tired of seeing these same guys up on some stage arguing about the same problems, drop-out rate, jails, parenting, schools yet they haven't mobilized one thing to effect change in these problems.

Its the same thing year after year for the 'Black agenda'. Sooner or later you are gonna have to stop 'talking' about it and DO SOMETHING!!!

The reason I put the buck at their door step is because these guys have the ability to galvanize people, but they are just doing it for the wrong causes now.
 
Makaho 2.0 said:
Man, what you talking bout? We got plenty of hope and change! We all hoping the economy will get better and the price of gas will go down and he is changing the deficit by tripling it. If things keep going the way they are, you and I will hope we got enough spare change to buy goods and services.!

(And the Obama desciples will retort in 3.....2.......1.......and Action!!!)

:D
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LMAO!!
 
Makaho 2.0 said:
Mabye if the so called "leaders" of our community would get their act together then that would change. We keep the same talking heads at the helm like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton that have their own agendas. We haven't been organized on one accord since the 60's when we had a common enemy and focus to change what was going on in our community.
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If you are not happy with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson...why don't some of you step up to the plate and be leaders instead of complaining about what the president or someone else is not doing? Talk is cheap!
 
ahnlplsa12 said:
If you are not happy with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson...why don't some of you step up to the plate and be leaders instead of complaining about what the president or someone else is not doing? Talk is cheap!
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In a perfect world, where everyone did "the right thing" by their kids, family and God then there would not be a need for "so called leaders". Which is what I called them. If you take care of those things I listed, then in my opinion you are taking care of the community in general, of which the black community is a part of.
 
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