“It doesn’t do good to open doors for someone who doesn’t have the price to get in. If he has the price, he may not need the laws. There is no law saying the Negro has to live in Harlem or Watts” – Ronald Reagan
My man Max Reddick has an interestingly powerful post on Barack Obama up on his blog that has me fired up right about now [read it here]. I originally planned to piggyback his post with some thoughts of my own on Obama and how he has handled the issue of Health Care Reform. But I woke up this morning to this story via News One, on what Barry-O had to say rebutting his recent critique by the Congressional Black Caucus.
In case you missed it, they have voiced their discontent with the prez and his lack of focus by way of policy to positively affect the African American community which is currently in crisis economically:
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday rebutted critics who say he isn’t showing enough compassion toward black America, citing his health care effort as one example he says “will be hugely important” for blacks.
Obama said another example is the billions of dollars in aid to states included in the economic stimulus bill, money that was used to save thousands of teachers, firefighters and police officers from losing their jobs. He said many of those workers are black.
OK holdup, lemme step in here and call BS. First off, the negative effects of the economy on blacks and other minorities have been well documented. Yes, and states did receive federal funds through the Stimulus bill earlier this year as part of a rescue and recovery package. However, thus far only a 1/4th of the allotted $787 billion has been spent. And, according to the White House, that spending has been responsible for saving or creating anywhere from 600,000 to 1.6 million jobs.
Now, let’s say that this is true. How can Barry-O sit up there and say that those funds directly helped the “many” black workers? How can he say that (with a straight face) when African-Americans make up less than seven percent of workers and even less of those in managerial positions within those industries? The truth is, there is no over-sight to support such a claim. There is now way of knowing exactly how those funds have trickled down to the black community – but yet we do know that systematic racism still exists, right?
But anyway, let’s move on:
“So this notion, somehow, that because there wasn’t a transformation overnight that we’ve been neglectful is just simply, factually not accurate,” Obama said in an Oval Office interview with April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks.
But the president acknowledged there are limits to what a president can do for any class of people. “The only thing I cannot do is, by law, I cannot pass laws that say ‘I’m just helping black folks.’ I’m the president of the entire United States,” Obama said, giving his standard answer to questions about the economic and other disparities facing blacks.
“What I can do is make sure that I am passing laws that help all people, particularly those who are most vulnerable and most in need,” he said. “That in turn is going to help lift up the African-American community.”
So this was the part that truly pissed me off. I’m sorry, but this is the very Bellhop Kneecap Licking Negro antics I cannot stand. Factually inaccurate? Limits to what a president can do for any class of people? N*gga please! Shyt, where were those limits when Bush implemented his tax cuts which were very beneficial to the wealthy? Oh my bad, this is about broke down working class black people and they have no value outside of the ballot box.
Thank God the Congressional Black Caucus was able to secure $6 billion to help minorities caught up in foreclosure while unemployed last week – they couldn’t even get a moratorium from the gov’t on that. Somewhere in my head right now I can hear Flava Flav singing “I can’t do nuthin’ for ya man, Flava Flav got problems of his own!”
I understand the “perception” he’s trying to send or sell to counter the “I’m just helping black folks,” line of thinking and to whom that message is intended for. But, didn’t he specifically direct policy earlier this year to help students at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) with an increase on funding for Pell Grants and student loans? I mean closing the educational gap is one thing, but every-body’s main b*tch right now is that of employment. Hell, even educated black people are having a hard time becoming employed.
Black members of Congress have begun pressing their demands that the nation’s first African-American president do more for minorities hard hit by the recession, noting the billions of dollars spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to prop up big banks and large corporations.
Nationally, unemployment stands at 10 percent while 15.6 percent of blacks are jobless.
Obama said the grumbling was justified because the U.S. has just begun to emerge from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. At the same time, he said polls show overwhelming support among blacks for what his administration is trying to do.
Uh-huh, see why I raise hell and continue to speak out against my fellow melanin afflicted cousins who refuse to hold him accountable in these desperate times of need? Obviously because of this and these silly polls, Obama feels that with the “overwhelming support among blacks” that he’s doing a great job. But I’ll keep saying it; a closed mouth doesn’t get fed. Yep, and then when his presidency is over you Negroes are gonna wonder what happened, why, and how.
The president said the health care bill the Senate is expected to pass this week will help the one in five blacks who don’t have health insurance — almost double the general population — by making coverage more affordable.
“This will be hugely important for the African-American community,” he said, also citing increased spending on education.
Asked to comment on the state of black America, Obama paraphrased author Charles Dickens when he said it continues to be the best of times and the worst of times. Still, he said he was optimistic about the future.
“But it’s going to take work. It was never going to be done just because we elected me,” he said.
No shyt Obama?!! The health care reform bill is the savior of the Negro kind? Boy am I glad he’s optimistic – KEEP HOPE ALIVE! It’s gonna be more affordable for black people to purchase insurance? Really? So how exactly are the droves of currently unemployed black people without health insurance are going to be able to afford purchasing from those insurance exchanges when they don’t have jobs? Better yet, how will they pay the fines for not having health insurance as mandated by the government? Damn, can we at least get some Vaseline to go along with the anal rape?
“Congressional Budget Office estimates say a family of four with a household income of $54,000 would be expected to pay 17 percent of their income, $9,000, on healthcare” (SOURCE)
Listen, I’m not here to encourage you to shyt on the man. Instead, I’d like you to open your eyes to what’s going on around you. With that said, I think it’s very disappointing that the president would not acknowledge even the need for federal oversight to combat the hemorrhaging in the black community. But yet, he’s able to stand up in a packed house of Negroes and admonish them on responsibility and parenting. He spoke out against absentee fathers, but how can a father present or absent put food on the table without a job…
I’m sorry Barack, but this isn’t about what you can’t do. This is about what you won’t do, and I think that’s pretty sad that you would make compromise for political expediency because of our shared skin color. But I guess that’s to be expected coming from a man who turned his back on his church of 20yrs just to be able to sleep in that big-a** house built on the back of slaves. What, the 96% of blacks that voted for you have to enter through the back door and stand in the kitchen to eat now Massa Charlie?
There are some of you who have been preserving that little swallow of the Obama Kool Aid as a memento. Yep, and those people may think I’m dead wrong on this, and I understand. If you’re one of those people, hopefully you saved the swallow in the container; you might be able to sell it on Ebay one day when you need a job. Because from where I’m sitting, the milk has gone bad, and I’d be damn if I drink and and say that it tastes perfectly fine. Just because you sprinkle sugar on shyt doesn’t make it a ham sandwich.
Good luck on that new stimulus black folks…
Hopefully you have the price to get in as Ronald Reagan said.
Article by Rippa
Every once in a while you’re come across a writer who isn’t afraid to convey to his readers how he really feels about a subject. One who doesn’t stick to the belief that everything in life has to be about being politically correct and sugar coating the real issues that society believes in handing people on a tarnished silver platter. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, and raised in the New York City area, RiPPa’s life hasn’t been, how Langston Hughes wrote “a crystal stair”, but that stairway has enriched him with life experiences that have shaped his point of view on various subjects. Whether he’s writing about the injustices African-Americans face, politics, and the reverent or irreverent, RiPPa uses his sense of humor and sarcasm to convey his opinion, and whether others agree with him, it isn’t his concern. If you’re looking for someone who keeps up with what’s going on in society and approaches it without being political correct, then The Intersection of Madness & Reality (rippdemup.blogspot.com) should be a part of your daily reading!
Rippa has written 120 article(s) for us.
Senor_H_El_Jefe (24)
bitter black dude (15)
Abdul Wilson (12)
JG* RunsTheKitchen (12)
the uppity negro (12)
J Mark (11)
Idu Charles (10)
true2me (9)
E. Reed (7)
R0cktheMike (6)
Yvonne (6)
Ashleigh L. A. (5)
blackchild (5)
Garfield (5)
Diggame (4)
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Solution: All politics are local! We Negro’s DO NOT vote in strong numbers at the local level: city council; state level: comptroller, labor commissioner, ect..; and court of appeals: judges who sentence black men away that nearly guarantees a jobless future.
The Black comm. is quick to pray and very slow to act. Amen? All powerful movement s were initiated locally. I’m always tuff on the local Black comm; we are very complacent and too quick to blame others when we have the resource to make it happen. I can make shit happen. And so can YOU!
You said, “but how can a father present or absent put food on the table without a job…” That’s where you, me and other like minded local folks get a few others to drink the kool aid we’ve prepared. Subsequently, that’s when your other statement comes in: “But I’ll keep saying it; a closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” Yes, I agree! We’ve lost the communal agitation of yesteryear.
I will not blame the president for not keeping his promise; my JOB is to hold him accountable and continue to lobby, protest, fight, and kick azz at the local,state and federal levels until victory is won. As a same-gender-loving male, I fight and protest the DNC individually and collective; I ain’t afraid to phone elected officials. I’m gonna get my civil right to marriage equality(DOMA), ENDA, DADT and every civil and human right you “straight” folks take for granted. I won’t continue to accept living under “separate but equal!” Straight, Black folks have become too complacent. You’ve lost the passion. Now, ya’ll gladly got us black, SGL brothas and sistas sitting at the back of the bus, but believe me, we will FIGHT hard and steady for our place at the front. Just wait and see!
Also, I fight hard for local socio-economic issue for the betterment of all folks, yet every time that damn black church get a few dollars from the Right White church crooks, they will sell the black folks a bill of no damn good. Therefore, we can blame joblessness and many other ills within the black comm straight upon the church door step. Ya’ll need to STOP allowing ignorant pastors to rule the community. The black comm. ain’t rising up until it’s “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
@thepulpit, I never said Obama was to blame for the jobless rate Black Americans are suffering with. I am however saying that by way of policy, just as he did with HBCUs, he can direct and implement over-sight so as to ensure that funds spent in job creation triclke down to the urban communities. You make a great point about local elections. But in these economic times where the federal focus has and is rescue and recovery, not much has been done to directly impact the lives of blacks and other minorities. The CBC did it a few weeks ago and was able to procure $6 billion in federal funds – whay can’t he?
@RiPPa, If we continue to pass the buck, when are we going to be empowered? First, I want to focus on one mindset “in these economic times”, is there a time or a reason that we cannot continue to make progress? Our current economy is a cycle that business goes through, it is no tougher for the skilled now than it was before, and you have to know where your opportunities lie. However, if you are lacking a plan, education in finances, accounting, economics and business, drive, ambition or anything related to your own ability to progress then you will be effected by “these economic times.” Furthermore, it is unrealistic to discuss these economic times with the masses of our people in our communities that lack the education, to develop the growth we want in our communities.
We want credit for electing President Obama; however we have dropped the ball, on him. How many of us are still out there making the grassroots efforts necessary to elevate our communities, in the same manner in which we supposedly elected him? We are back to our natural colors, expecting results without making any effort, blaming others in power for our short falls. It is not the Presidents fault we have high unemployment, just because he is African American does not put a silver spoon in our mouths. If we have high unemployment it is because of our efforts or lack thereof. He is the President and much like the ones that came before him only as strong and supportive as his supporters. If we see little support from him it is because we are not courting him, we are not taking advantage of resources and opportunities afforded us nor are we creating them for ourselves. It is not his fault; we are just the way we were before he was elected. Do we want handouts, like it is said and expected of us?
One potential solution is to create a grassroots effort to educate the community on how money and the economy work. Money is supposed to work for us it is not the other way around.
Final thought, what stagnates us is not related to lack of money, we have to change our mindsets. Washing ourselves in dollars is not going to solve centuries of, negative self thought, dysfunction in the family community educational system and culture of African Americans. Until we begin to make some serious changes in our habits and beliefs we will continue to exact negative outcomes.
@Celeste, I’m sorry, but the economic tsunami that is this recession is the worst in modern history. So much so that it required an infusion of gov’t funds in the form of the Rescue & Recovery Act signed by our president.
You make some good points as it relates to self sufficiency. But in the grand scheme of things your point is moot. Elevating our communities is something I will always advocate. That said, how are we or is anyone, particularly the CBC wrong to hold him to account when it comes to necessary policy that directly affects people of color in urban communities?
You see, there’s this thing called institutionalized racism that has done a number on us. What good are federal funds being spent on shovel ready projects when there is no oversight to ensure that people of color are used or given opportunities on those jobs?
Listen to the brother CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ8IQ9X-N8A
If he can’t help us a community why does he single us out as a community every Father’s Day he gets up and gives a speech about how Black men aint ish. Yet when it is time to help those same people his hands are tied or he isn’t the president of Black aMERICA
@blackchild, That is EXACTLY a point very central to what I wrote. Black people will applaud him when he does that. But yet get pissed off and defend him from the black people who critique him. He has yet to say anything by way of policy directly to the black community, but yet he gets a pass?
@blackchild,
One Father’s day is NOT “every” Father’s day; President Obama, like any other African American, has the right to point out the ills of our community to the very people who can get up off of their a$$es and do something about it or maybe he should just sit complacently by as he sees another generation of fatherless children when he has a voice that can impact how MEN view fatherhood.
The Black vote alone did not get President Obama into his presidency. His presidency is not the cure all to ALL of the problems within the Black community; if anything it’s a highlight to how screwed up the Black community really is i.e. Look at people who believe that because the President of the United States of African American he should put an unnecessary focus on African Americans and African American issues.
President Barack Obama’s JOB as President is to sign CONSITUTIONALLY sound bills into law. The President CANNOT directly introduce legislation (which then becomes bills which ultimately become laws). Could you imagine what our country would be like if ANY President had that power? Maybe he should legislate for laws that will be racially biased for the Black community … wait – that’s UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Maybe, instead, it would be beneficial to the Black community if he funneled $10 billion of mystery money into it – but where would it go? Aren’t there Black communities in most cities in most states – which city, state, town would get what? What would this mystery money do? Who would manage it? How will this mystery money create jobs for the, as you cited, 15.6% of unemployed Black people? How will it teach Black people to get their OWN instead of relying on someone else to spoon feed them?
How about, instead of alluding that he has done nothing, acknowledge the FACT that President Obama has allocated a large portion of the budget to funds for the Small Business Administration (SBA); of which the majority of those employed in this country are employed through small businesses; there has been expansion in small business development through the SBA; the SBA provides loans, counseling and other support for people who want to start their own business; AND they ESPECIALLY provide help and support to Minorities (Black people) and women (think: Black women) who want to start businesses.
If Black people want to have a healthy community & curtail some of our unemployment AND, simultaneously, help with our health care quandries, why not start businesses in the Black community which could employ some of those 15.6% of unemployed people? Maybe, and it pi$$es me off to say it … if enough Black people considered their options more seriously, were a bit inventive and stop waiting for a handout (
) our community would and could improve. Maybe, if those of us with degrees, lived in Black communities, shopped in Black communities and chose to patron Black owned businesses (exclusively) the infrastructure of our communities would change. It is NOT Barack Obama’s JOB to fund the current lack of ingenuity and inventiveness that is widespread.
It is OUR job to pull up our community. To go to the SBA, start businesses, and invest in OUR community. It’s not our President’s JOB to do ALL of the thinking for US. Geez!
@Sheera, The SBA has received funds from the first Stimulus, and was recently appropriated more funds. Now you tell me or show me where the funds already spent by the SBA has been successful in unemployment reduction. Access to capital is one thing that MAY have an eventual effect. But this is about job creation, and I’m sorry, but if this is your solution we’re in trouble because that $4.5 billion in enhanced small business lending per the Stimulus has not done a damn thing thus far. But hey, he can’t do anything exclusive for the black community because it’s unconstitutional but yet he can increase student funding to directly impact HBCUs?
@Sheera, $4.5 billion has been alloted to help the SBA, and what has it done by way of job creation? Forget the SBA, how about the banks included in TARP are not lending any money right now. How about that? Citigroup gets a $38 billion dollar tax break two weeks ago.
And since you brought up the SBA, you should read this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lloyd-chapman/obama-administration-dive_b_384963.html
Yeah, once again, no federal oversight.
So you tell me how effective the SBA is in job creation?
Reading these responses re-affirms my position – clearly some of you are holding on to the symbolic nature of his presidential victory and are of the opinion that he is above reproach. But as I mentioned in the post, it’s a good thing the CBC who sparked the critique of the president was able to secure $6 billion in federal funds for urban projects where black people are disproportionally affected due in large part by predatory lending.
But hey, I guess the panacea is in Health Care Reform as Obama suggested. Yep, the new bill which goes into effect once finalized in 2014 will have an impact on the unemployment rate now and forever, right? Oh yeah, and that “education” talk? How about the fact that currently more than anytime ever the number of blacks with college degrees are at its highest level? How about that? How about blacks with degrees being swept up in this economic tsunami disproportionate to non-minorities?
Nobody is “asking for a handout” as the expressed perception. What is needed is oversight mechanisims to ensure that in the next stimulus, unlike the last, there is accountability to ensure that the funds trickle down to areas and people that are in dire need. If under this current administration a bank can get a $38 billion tax break two weeks ago. Is it too much to ask or hold our president to account that this countries disproportionately affected get a bone thrown at them?
“”We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
The above quote comes from a man who Obama continues to name drop most recently in justifying his troop escalation in Afghanistan. An escalation that requires $30 billion added to the recently passed $130 billion for the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But hey, I guess that’s more important especially when Afghanistan has been labeled “A War of Necessity,” by Barack Obama himself.
@RiPPa, I’m going to repeat part of what I said previously: “It is OUR job to pull up our community. To go to the SBA, start businesses, and invest in OUR community. It’s not our President’s JOB to do ALL of the thinking for US.”
We can always continue to scapegoat President Obama; there is a lack of complete, effective & efficient oversight, non-educated Black people have a significantly higher unemployment rate than other groups of people in this country, educated Black people have a significantly higher unemployment than other equally educated & qualified Whites and all of this is his fault?
Unemployment for Black people has ALWAYS (as far as I know) been significantly higher than that for White people; it should not be a HUGE shock that it is STILL significantly higher. You mentioned systemic racism; THAT is the reason for excesses in Black unemployment – NOT Obama or his legislating or lack thereof.
Maybe President Obama should fine the SBA for having ambiguous definitions of Small Business (i.e. defining it based on industry or revenue or company size depending on XYZ factor). Maybe he is working on something and we are just having this argument for nothing because 15.6% unemployment in ANY community should be unacceptable?
I’m will never say that everything that’s happening in his presidency is all great or that the oversight issues are acceptable and especially not that the unemployment level for Black people is fine. I am saying that EVERYTHING is not his fault and if the Black community actually want to improve it is OUR JOB to do it; not the President’s.
And … even with clearly great points of argument on all sides of any political argument … it still comes down to: What can actually be done? What can President Obama, legally & constitutionally, DO that will make Black unemployment echo that of White unemployment?
***
BTW if you were the CEO, COO, or CFO of Xerox, Lockheed Martin or Boeing you would greatly appreciate the opportunity presented by the SBA, with their ambiguous definitions of small business, to fund whatever aspect of your business that they are getting funded.
It’s not Obama’s fault that we are a capitalistic society and that business owners & management are opportunists.
@Sheera, Show me where I said it was his fault that unemployment is as high as it is in the black community? I said as plain as day, that as president he has the ability to ensure that federal funds are directed to programs via policy where they are needed most.
He can via policy create a moratorium on foreclosures, but he hasn’t. Oh and by the way, this economic crisis we’re in, it was created when the Fed chose to look the other way and ignore the very predatory lending practices they were warned about.
The problem here is that you assume my poition or my post is that of placing the blame on Obama. Well this is not so, and how you arrived at that I have no clue based on the very clear argument I presented. Could it be like I said that you’re one of the people caught up on the symbolic nature of his presidency where there’s no need for accountability because of a shared skin color?
It’s funny I’m told what he cannot do but yet he has recently expanded a hate crimes bill to include members of the LGBT community – a minority group in this country of ours. I mean, wasn’t there legislation back in the 60s signed into law by the then president which sought to level the playing field for minorities and or people of color?
Don’t tell me what he can’t do…
because obviously that’s not what this discussion is about.
After listening to his interview with April Rose, the question arises concernning the Law that “Says” statute. Derived from the statement the he cannot “By Law” pass “laws that say” he’s just helping black folk, one assumes that he is speaking in terms of a law prohibitng him from passing legislation for a particular segment of the American populace. Assuming that such a law exists, we assume that the “Law that says” was written in such a way to encompass all of constituencies, unless of course, it was written for Blacks exclusively, which if it did, would indicate that, there must be something that differentiates Blacks from all other other species of Men. I refer you to the Dred Scott decision. Lincoln, LBJ, even Ronald Reagan were not hampered by such a law. If we give our SoulBrotherPresident the bennei of of doubt, that such a law exists, which according to my meager atttempts at researching such a law indicates that it doesn’t exist, he will knowingly violate the Law that says statute by repealing the Don’t ask don’t tell law, as it pertains to gays in the military.