(ThyBlackMan.com) I’m in New York right now preparing to see President Barack Obama as part of the “Measuring the Movement” forum that I have decided to attend. As you might expect, the security is through the roof, and people are excited. I was happy to see President Obama commit himself to making an appearance at the National Action Network event, but I presume that with his 2012 campaign being launched, he’s going to make a lot of stops along the way.
President Obama has some explaining to do. As Marc Morial communicated in the recent State of Black America report, Washington has 
continued to ignore the tremendous suffering of the African American community. Our unemployment rates have gone up, while those for white Americans have gone down, and we are still being incarcerated by the boatload. Morial’s open question, “Washington are you listening?” should really be translated to “What’s up Barack? You’re supposed to be a brother.” Morial is wise to point the finger at all of Washington to avoid the scorn of those who love President Obama no matter what he does, but I am impressed with the brother’s thinking on this important strategic issue.
continued to ignore the tremendous suffering of the African American community. Our unemployment rates have gone up, while those for white Americans have gone down, and we are still being incarcerated by the boatload. Morial’s open question, “Washington are you listening?” should really be translated to “What’s up Barack? You’re supposed to be a brother.” Morial is wise to point the finger at all of Washington to avoid the scorn of those who love President Obama no matter what he does, but I am impressed with the brother’s thinking on this important strategic issue.The president has other problems as it pertains to his previously relentless African American support. A recent poll at YourBlackWorld.com shows that nearly a third of all African Americans are thus far disappointed in the Obama Presidency. How this translates into votes in the 2012 election is yet to be determined.
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One thing that the Obama Administration must learn that there is a quickly evolving political education taking place within the African American community. Black people are no longer excited solely by the presence of a black face in the White House. Instead, the community’s leadership are seeking substantive policy that addresses the issues that matter most to all of us, and President Obama would be wise to take notice.
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Staff Writer; Dr. Boyce Watkins
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For more information, please visit http://BoyceWatkins.com.
