Fresh Roundtable XIV

Renee: Yes. While I am elated that Barack Obama is the first black president we cannot look to him to be out almighty savior as well. We have to remember that to the rest of the world, he represents the United States of America. Not just us. What I would hope is that he would have a meeting with our top political figures (those obvious and not so obvious) and light a fire under their butts to step up and develop an action plan to address the issues that are plaguing our community.

Garfield: Anybody who was waiting on Obama to do it, or expects Obama to do it, is a damned fool. It’s not that he WON’T do it (and that’s only a guess) it’s that he CAN’T. We’ve been addressing and trying to fix issues in the black communities before Obama was even thought of, and we need to be thinking about fixing the community long AFTER he’s gone. I know there are some people who think Obama is the messiah sent down from the heavens to carry every black person on their back to the promised land (thank the lord I don’t know them personally). That’s unrealistic, the community has to save the community and I just don’t understand what exactly people want/expect Obama to do.

Yohanna: I’ve never been of the belief that Obama was obligated to do anything for me. As a matter, had there been a better Republican candidate, I probably would’ve voted for him instead. I actually supported John Edwards until he decided to trick off his life on Rielle Hunter and their love child, thus the main cause of his political demise.

Anyway, some African Americans, are of the misguided belief that just because an African American is representing the American people that he was going to abandon the politics of yesteryear and create a new political structure. Because Obama hasn’t done that, people are now voicing their discontent with him. He’s the president for all of the United States of America, not just African Americans and at the end of the day, no matter how much he claimed to have wanted to distance himself from them, he still has to appease the elite in this country. Obviously he’s a better upgrade from Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, but he’s obligated to do his job of running this country, not making special concessions for black folks.

Jaclynne: Cut that crap out. Obama has a special obligation to Americans. The color of his skin shouldn’t mean that we should think we deserve special treatment. That’s the same form of cronyism we’ve hated all these years, let’s not be hyprocrites.

Renee: Denial. The black community has a bad habit of just saying “It’s nothing big. Let’s just pray it away”. While I am very spiritual and all, I know that God gave me good common sense for a reason. You can’t pray away debt, poverty, AIDS, etc. You can pray that he releases you from it and provides you the necessary plan to work on delivering you from it. But to just deny that it exists in hopes of it magically disappearing is fruitless. Use prayer as a starting point but then put action behind those prayers.

Garfield: Education. Education. Education. I will always and forever be a fan of education because that was how I was able to get away from the hopelessness in my upbringing. ”I’m of the belief that a good quality education is what is going to lead the community back to a point where they will be able to acquire wealth. Not a rich community, a WEALTHY community. To quote Chris Rock “Wealth has the power to uplift communities from poverty.” I’m not just talking about school education either. Life education. Sex education. Credit education. Mortgage education. Anything education.

I think parents need to become more involved in their kids education. Someone has to make these kids care, because they can’t see the value in it on their own. My grandmother handed me a book when I was 10 years old. I’ve been an avid reader ever since then. If parents show that they care with what’s going on in their kids lives, kids will act in appropriately.

If that doesn’t work, how about opening up more community programs where kids can go to learn about different things? Expand their worldview beyond the reality they live now, but someone making it attainable. I believe a lot of these kids want to do better but they either a) don’t know how b) nobody cares or c) they can’t see past where they’re at currently. An active involvement in the child’s learning and fostering a love for education, in my opinion, can change that.

Yohanna: The problem is parents not raising their children and expecting someone else to do it for them. I currently work in juvenile probation and too many times have I witnessed parents washing their hands of their parental duties and leaving their child’s well being in the hands of the probation officer. The parents are, at times, illiterate and ignorant themselves, but somehow wish for the child to be reformed. It starts with YOU. These kids nowadays have no respect for authority and will “get buck” with the system just because they know it lacks the resources to truly discipline them. If parents in the black community start molding their kids at a young age, instead of waiting until they become of an age where what they say doesn’t make a difference, some of these kids would be better off. All a child needs is one positive example, a person who doesn’t represent the norm. Hence the need for more mentors. (If you don’t mentor, you should. The kids need us.—end of shameless plug.)

Jaclynne: The fact that we don’t patronize black businesses. We need to grow together & stop all the hating. Let’s build each other up again.

Renee: Sell his entire current collection of clothing. He looks a hot mess trying to dress like he is a teeny bopper. After than, go down to Walmart and apply to be a door greeter. I’m sure he will bring customers in due to his notoriety. That would mean more profit for Walmart and more money for him to provide for his children.

Garfield: He can kill himself and leave the kids in his will. I’m joking…to an extent. Seriously, I care nothing for Flavor Flav.  Any man who is on TV that much, and ain’t even paying his damn child support, I have no words for. This is assuming he’s getting paid for all this face time. I won’t judge for there is a chance that he has extenuating circumstances that don’t allow him to pay, but he should’ve thought about that before he had all these kids. I read somewhere he wanted to have 10 of them…Well…that’s fine, but them kids cost money son. Can’t blame Uncle Sam for this one #kanyeshrug

Yohanna: That n***a needs a real job. Does he even have a GED? McDonalds and Panera are hiring…Honestly, We’ve seen enough of his buffoonery. That shit is not funny and I never found any humor in the foolywangness he presents on a national television scope. A check is a check though. I’m all out of ideas for him. His time in the spotlight was more prolific when he was smoking crack and doing the jig with Public Enemy. Next…

Jaclynne: Go to school. Education is a beautiful thing… (And maybe put his face on a condom box… Can we say endorsement?)

Renee: I don’t believe in attacking someone’s family just for the sake of trying to poke fun at or belittle the person in question. I think that it is tactless and disrespectful. Sure Sarah Palin is flighty and talks before she thinks. I get that. But why bring her children into the picture? Attack the person and their personal opinions. Family is off limits—unless they put themselves in the spotlight.

Garfield: I’m biased, I think Sarah Palin is a complete idiot. I hate John McCain more, because he gave her that first taste, and now she won’t go away. So in that respect, I hope she gets made fun of enough to jump off the Empire State building in 5 oclock traffic during the Macy’s Day Parade.

All that aside, I think you have to draw the line when it comes to family. Adults they’re old enough to be able to take the joke and hell, if they’re not, they’re not going to die from hurt feelings. Family is different. You can ask any regular person, I can give you the dozens (crack on you for the non old school folk) until I’m blue in the face, and everything is cool. Let me say something about your mother who’s retarded, or your kid, and then people want to fight. Public figures are fair targets for the most part, but I think when you start talking about the kids, you’re pushing the line.