(ThyBlackMan.com) I just returned from the Measuring the Movement forum hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton in New York City. The forum was insightful and empowering as it pertains to getting members of African American leadership to see the value of accountability. NAACP President Ben Jealous gave time to the forum, and even President Barack Obama came through to give a speech.
In many ways, the convention was arguably the most successful gathering of its kind. I find Sharpton’s approach to action-oriented solutions to be refreshing, and as a person who sat on a panel with both Jealous and Sharpton, it’s a relief to be involved with a forum where the goal is not to simply provide the best sound bite. “Sound bite leadership” in the black
The day after the forum, I got off an airplane to hear that Rev. Sharpton got into a heated debate over the black agenda with Cornel West. I knew the conversation would be volatile, and I was concerned about the imagery of two black men going to war on MSNBC. Ed Schultz was the host of “A Stronger America: The Black Agenda,” a show that allowed a few voices to air their perspective on what a black agenda should look like in the age of Obama. Personally, I wonder why such a show was not positioned on a black network, or at least with an African American host.
As I expected, the argument came to a predictable boiling point. Consistent with the views of his close colleague, Tavis Smiley, Cornel West fought hard to short-circuit the partnership between President Obama and Rev. Al Sharpton. Sharpton, a man not known to back down from anyone, defended his positions well and also challenged those who “sit in the ivory tower” and talk without much action (I do not consider Cornel West to be one of those people; he believes what he says and acts on it).
I watched the entire exchange shaking my head, primarily because I knew that such a fight was simply inevitable. As I wrote on the Huffington Post a couple of weeks ago, the Obama Presidency has created a divide among black public figures that I pray does not cripple our community. I love both Rev. Sharpton and Cornel West, and it was sad to watch them get into such a personal and nasty fight on national television.
My perception is that Cornel is coming from a genuine place. I cannot say the same about Tavis Smiley, who seemed to have a problem with Barack Obama’s disrespect toward him during the 2008 presidential election. West’s statements about the elitism of the Obama Administration (he mentions that Obama would be glad to speak out if a wealthy banker were stopped by police, but not if it were a poor black man) are on point. He is also correct to note that the administration has been slow to readily acknowledge African American suffering.
In Sharpton’s defense, the truth is that having an African American figure on the inside of the Obama Administration gives our community a better chance to grab the ear of the president. What’s yet to be determined, however, is whether or not the president is listening to Sharpton’s concerns or giving priority to the issues being faced by other constituencies. Women’s groups, the gay community and the Latino community have gotten high priority from the Obama Administration, but African Americans remain at the back of the bus when it comes to our primary concerns, including mass incarceration and growing unemployment rates of over 15 percent. My belief is that Cornel West and Al Sharpton are both witnessing the community’s struggle up close, and Sharpton hopefully serves as a true and passionate surrogate for those who are frozen out of Obama’s big white house.
President Obama has reason to be concerned about losing much of his steadfast African American support. According to a recent survey conducted at YourBlackWorld.com, 34.4% of black respondents said that President Obama failed to meet their expectations after being elected. This disappointment may not translate to votes for the Republicans, but it can manifest itself in reduced voter turnout in the African American community.
Another survey at YourBlackWorld.com reveals that nearly two-thirds (62.3%) of black respondents do not see President Obama as a civil rights leader. Given that Obama is not a civil rights leader, we must be careful not to feel that his presence reduces the significance of true civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and others. This means that we need genuine and empowered advocates within black America who can mobilize the people to put pressure on any administration that is in power so that our rights as Americans can be secured.
In other words, sitting around and hoping that President Obama will look out for our interests is not nearly as effective as pursuing our interests ourselves. Work must be done on the ground to lay out a black agenda, putting pressure on both Congress and the Obama Administration to see to it that our community is not left behind. Both West and Sharpton would likely agree with this assertion, and this can begin the quest for common ground.
Staff Writer; Dr. Boyce Watkins
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For more information, please visit http://BoyceWatkins.com.
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Anthony says:
How could you include Health Care Reform on that list? Tells me you didn’t follow the issue. Obama promised he won’t force people to buy insurance. He helped the insurance companies more than he helped any citizen in this country. Before the Health Care bill passed, all Insurance company stocks were at 52 Weeks high. Please be aware of the issues before you speak.
I followed the issue, while it's obvious you followed white right wing talking points.
The mandate really isn't a mandate at all:
"‘‘(g) ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The penalty provided by this section
shall be paid upon notice and demand by the Secretary, and
except as provided in paragraph (2), shall be assessed and collected
in the same manner as an assessable penalty under subchapter
B of chapter 68.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULES.—Notwithstanding any other provision
of law—
‘‘(A) WAIVER OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—In the case of
any failure by a taxpayer to timely pay any penalty imposed
by this section, such taxpayer shall not be subject to
any criminal prosecution or penalty with respect to such
failure.
‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS ON LIENS AND LEVIES.—The Secretary
shall not—
‘‘(i) file notice of lien with respect to any property
of a taxpayer by reason of any failure to pay the penalty
imposed by this section, or
‘‘(ii) levy on any such property with respect to
such failure.’’."
http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf
Using the insurance company stock price as evidence of them benefiting from healthcare reform is weak sauce talking point courtesy of Joe Scarsborough -- a white Republican. (Ain't it funny how these Blacker-Than-Thou types stay repeating white folks' lies, choosing to belive the other man over the brotha man?)
You have to do better than a weak talking point. Like Boyce, you're making blanket statements sans details and facts to support your argument.
@Val Your still holding on to those mini accomplishments aren't you? Look if that is your expectation well good for you, I cannot fault you. My expectation wasn't for him to do the same things Bush did, like give billions of dollars to pay of casino type gambling on wall street.
@Lynne,
What is the point of that video? In one breath you call me an intellectual and in another you question my intelligence/knowledge on a trivial matter. Obviously Bush knows has to pass laws better than Obama. Can you explain that phenomenon?
Anthony, obviously your high school civics teacher failed you miserably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
@ Anthony
"We are talking about a man who was voted in on a clear progressive mandate, only to turn out he was lying. Obama and Bush are miles apart in intelligence, yet that idiot got just about everything he wanted. But Obama can’t. It’s not because he can’t if he tried, it’s because both parties are playing good cop bad cop"
:-) It just kills you doesn't it Anthony. President Obama has done more for the black and minority community than ANY President in American history and it just kills you. However, despite all he has done, it isn't enough because one man can't do it all. We have too many issues that have long gone without a solution and we all have to participate in in moving our agenda forward.
If you choose not to help make a difference Anthony, then that is your choice. This is a free country after all. Let me know when you are able to find a challenger that will accomplish 1/3rd of what he has accomplished for black and brown folks.
@lynne
Thanks for seeing me as an intellectual but I'm really not. I'm a college student, who prides himself on knowing what the issues are. I gave you a clear evidence how the Health Care bill helped companies more than it did citizens and you call me an intellectual. I give you reasons why Obama is part of the system and you paint me as an intellectual.
It's a shame that most can't look past the image and focus on the issues.
@Val
I love how Val hides behind universal truths like "action talks and BS walks." Really!!! is that what we are talking about? We are talking about a man who was voted in on a clear progressive mandate, only to turn out he was lying. Obama and Bush are miles apart in intelligence, yet that idiot got just about everything he wanted. But Obama can't. It's not because he can't if he tried, it's because both parties are playing good cop bad cop.
Thank you Phinesse Demps. I am 40 plus years old and have been volunteering in our black community since I was 17 years old. Seventeen. We can all make a difference.
I chose to start a reading is fundamental and homework assistance program. Worked with kids who were struggling in school. As I got older and learned more, I helped folks who wanted to start their own business find out about the process and what resources were available to them. Helped them with their business plan and connected them to folks who could help. In my church, coordinated programs to help provide food and clothing for families in need and encouraged those families to find ways where they could be self sufficient and to recognize that no matter their situation, there is always something they can do to help someone else. I have kids of my own under 10 years and they were raised to know life isn't about them it is about what we can do to help others.
So while our President can do some things, we have to hold accountable ourselves as parents, our local leaders and the folks sitting in Congress. We have to get past the point of all this bloviating and finger pointing and become a part of the solution. One man can't do everything. He cannot. And it is disingenuous for folks to stand back and complain but are unwilling to step up and help to move forward a process.
Ain't nobody going to save us. We don't need it. We can do it ourselves and areas where we do need the help. . . we can pool our knowledge, pool our resources to help address those needs. Bottom line - action talks and BS walks.
We already know the works President Obama has done for the minority community while he was a community organizer, senator and now President. What are we going to do?
These so-called academics and agent provocateurs (like Anthony) are not worth a damn
http://weeseeyou.com/2011/04/03/memo-to-the-alleged-black-intellectual-class/
I love this quote from the great Harriet Tubman: “I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves." I am a 54 year old black man and I see no real black leadership.
My first black president is no Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. President Obama is a creation of our media. Black African's are dying under a so called leader of African descent. Black America always has its head in the sand. The democrats and republicans don’t give a damn about us. There is no black agenda in America. The United States prison industrial complex is open for business. I have not seen any of our new so call Black leaders. Stand up on a soap-box, on a corner in any American city. The America media propaganda machine has created this great divide.
The real Black Agenda Report should be done with real African American people in their own environment. “Let’s see that on MSNBC, NBC, CBS, TBS, BET, TVONE, etc. Black America need jobs, housing and fairness ASAP, not talking heads. President Obama will be running for reelection for the next 22 months. What kind of changes has been made in term #1? This looks like the Clinton and Bush administrations of the past. Change! BS....
Charles S
IT Professional/Business Owner
Military Veteran
@Bro. Ahijah
No one is saying he is the source and creator of all ills in this country. But he hasn't shown any interest for change. Don't blame the black caucus, cause you and I know they are spineless. I'll blame them when he takes the lead and they don't follow. And he hasn't done that.
As you concluded, Obama is a fraud, at judging by the way he campaigned.
All that is going on in America today is not Bro. President Obama's fault or sole responsibility to fix, he needs help just like any other President but is the Congressional Black Congress stepping up to help No, not all of them. What about the House & Senate Demo's No, not all of them... So... what is the man suppose to do when he has chumps and cow-towers all around him? And not to mention, he has been spineless & afraid to deal w/ certain issues himself especially when it comes to the poor & working class people. He shouldn't have put himself out there like that as a "Drum major for justice and change," if he wasn't ready to take the weight!