This weekend President Obama addressed the Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner. If you’ve seen news headlines you know he told Black folks to quit complaining and press on. To put your marching shoes on and fight for the rightness of his cause. Reading articles about the speech before actually watching the speech my initial reaction was, “Why is he telling us that. Why doesn’t he tell that to Republicans.” After watching the speech I have the same reaction. Let me explain why.
When the President began his remarks he began with an anecdote from Dr. Joseph Lowery. He discussed the sermon Lowery gave in the book of Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedegno. He said the three were bold enough to stand up for God, survived on faith, and it was that faith in God that allowed God to show up for them when they were burned alive. Obama said Dr. Lowery said this was a good kind of crazy. The same kind of crazy that applied to Obama when he announced his run for office in 2008.
This speech beginning with a sermon showed Obama’s level of comfort with whom he was talking to. It also showed his inherent Blackness. (Yall know black folks like to quote scripture) Additionally, it gave him a sense of familiarity with his base.
I noticed immediately the President was comfortable. Laid back. Cool, calm and collective, but urgent and insistent upon getting his point across. After associating himself with good crazy, he ran down the laundry list of good crazy accomplishments he has achieved for all of America that has also benefitted Black America. The consumer protection agency to keep Blacks from being victims of predatory lending, the Affordable Care Act that allows more young adults access to quality and affordable health insurance and Wall Street reform. He then listed statistics about Black unemployment nearing 17 percent, poverty nearing 50 percent, and belief in the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deteriorating.
Obama listed his accomplishments and rattled off these statistics before a crowd that knew the numbers inside out. A crowd that went on tour trying to get the President to know these numbers inside out. He received uproarious applause for saying what needed to be said but was already known, before explaining why passing his American Jobs Act will save the country, the economy, Black business, the chronically unemployed, teachers, construction workers, veterans, and our children. Obama then launched into full on preacher mode noting the talking points of his opposition and likening himself to Congressman John Lewis who marched on Selma and faced the terrors of the Civil Rights Movement head on.
In this comparison the President shouted that we put our marching shoes on. He quoted Dr. King saying that before we (Blacks) can reach majestic shores of the promised land we will face the prodigious hilltops of opposition and mountains of resistance. He ended his fiery speech saying he didn’t have time to feel sorry for himself or to complain, grumble or cry (jab at Maxine Waters) because he has work to do.
He said all of this to thunderous applause. Affirmations of “Amen.” And hallejuah choruses of “Thank You Jesus he really does get what it’s like out here for Black folks.” He really is a “real” Black man despite what Cornel West says.
But you have to not get caught up in the hype. We all know President Obama can give a speech that will make you want to go out and make a difference immediately. He can move you with words in ways we haven’t seen since the Civil Rights Movement. But just because his speech was good, and made him seem more personable to his Black base than distant and aloof does not mean that it was not calculated and a pragmatic political chess move. It was.
This is where my initial reaction returns. Everything President Obama said before the CBC Black people already know. We already believe in. We’re all ready to go to war with him if it means closing education gaps, achievement gaps, employment gaps, and wealth gaps. We’re ready now just like we were ready in 2008. We don’t need his tough talk. He’s already got us. I’m glad he acknowledged us, but we’re not the group of people he needs to be preaching too. Telling supporters how right you are and how wrong your opponents are is like teens in high school posturing before their friends before the after school fight goes down…. If I may speak directly to the President… Your supporters already got your back. You don’t need to “front” for us, we already know. What you need to do, if I revert back to my high school self is “Say that shit to Republicans faces.”
Those are ultimate fighting words. They set the stage for a good fight, and never has the country needed a good fight as it does now. Telling the CBC you talked to the much beloved Bill Clinton and found that his plan of higher taxes on the rich boded well for the economy in the form of more jobs and more money is all well and good. Saying we tried it the Republican way and failed when the Democratic way worked are lovely words to hear in a room of supporters. Now go say that same shit the same way to John Boehner’s and Eric Cantor’s faces. Go tell Mitch McConnell who has stated it is his goal to make sure you are a one term President that he needs a new goal and it needs to be passing the American Jobs Act BEYOTCH!
Okay I got a little carried away.
But you see my point.
Talking tough for supporters is cute, it renews what may be our declining faith in you. But Mr. President you haven’t lost your Black base, and you probably won’t unless Herman Cain really is the Republican nominee for President. The people you need to tap are the independents who came out for you in droves in 2008. Educated White men and women who aren’t so wealthy they automatically lean Republican but are aware and socially conscious enough that they feel where you’re coming from.
In your speech you stated “I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper.” To that I say prove it. Don’t just tell me. Show me. Show this country you are President and that a minority caucus doesn’t have you by the balls. Show me like Jay-Z says that you use your cahones. Show me that you’re not just fronting in front of your friend to strike a populist approach among supporters. Show me you really want this American Jobs Act passed by saying everything you said this weekend, in the tone that you said it to Congress. Now is not the time for diplomacy and bi-partisanship. If you want the bill passed as is Mr. President you have to work for it. You have to fight for it as much as you want your supporters to fight for it. Talking to us is not going to cut it.
You have our support. You see we’re backing you up. Bigging you up just in case the situation gets reckless, but you gotta start the fight. We’re ready, earrings off, vaseline on. But you gotta throw the first punch. You gotta give the country the fight we’ve been waiting to see more than Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Until you do that you’re just talking. And Republicans will tell you, “All that talking, you can do that shit while you walking out the White House” after what some have deemed a failed first and only term.
And you don’t want that do you?
Article by Urban Politico
The Urban Politico is a collaboration of four writers, who hold each other in high esteem, to address social, political and other issues which resonate within the populations in which they feel most connected; race, age, socioeconomic and political status, personal experience and any other identifying factor that can join us, rather than divide us. The Janitor is an attorney in NYC and he and Godson worked together as organizers on the 2008 Obama Campaign. Godson, a published author, is currently Chief of Staff for a State Representative in Philadelphia. The Fed, as the name implies, is in the Federal Gov in Washington D.C. and works with law makers on the Hill. These 3 writers share very similar views on many issues, however, all 3 have a different perspective. This blog will be a platform that will bring forth many new and fresh ideas and concepts that are extremely noteworthy.
Urban has written 122 article(s) for us.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
In full context of the speech, I think what Obama said was fair. I think Rep. Lee’s comments on the “Today Show” somewhat misrepresented the essence of Obama’s message to the CBC. I think she tempered her response when she was on the Tavis Smiley show and much more appropriately. Her response has been the main response latched on by the news media to try and pick apart what Obama was talking about. But as most soundbytes, there’s a level of unfairness and “out-of-context” taking that usually occurs, this was no different.
To say “stop complaining” and “stop grumbling” and “take off your bedroom slippers” is a speech that a coach gives to the team before the proverbial big game–and that’s all Obama was doing. Certainly it would be nice if Obama just told the Boehner et. al. to go piss up a rope or go eat shit on toast, but he’s not, he never will–at least not based on his current tempered and political trajectory. While Obama wouldn’t have said that to an LGBT group, a Hispanic and Latino coalition or any other demographic, I don’t think its unfair for him to say it.
Let’s be honest, black folk complain a LOT–and we rarely transform our complaints into actions.
There’s a difference between discussion that moves us forward and the complaining that often takes place. Complaining is wheel spinning and sometimes the venting session is necessary, but talking without fair discussion amounts to complaining–which we do a lot of. The Tea Partyers turned their complaints into action. As its noted earlier, the Tea Party has a bigger political capital than the CBC has ever had. Yes, there are major differences and I understand why they haven’t, but it still doesn’t negate the fact that they have more cache on the national stage than the CBC has ever had in its 30+ years of existence.
His first term has not been a failure, not even close to it. To understand the failures that he’s overseen in light of the major successes is to be blind to politics.
Excellent analysis Uppity. I like the team analogy, I had not thought of it in that specific term. The CBC is not looking at this as a team with the President as the coach and they as the players. Now that you’ve brought the team analysis up, it’s more clear to me that the CBC doesn’t even know how a team works, nor do they have a clear understanding of how a team bring about victory. I agree with you 100%, this speech was right and given to the right people.
Black America has to wake up and engage in this process. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people I know or heard them say, “I voted for Obama in 08 and thats it.” They clearly didn’t understand that the real work begins after inauguration day. This is where I hold the CBC accountable. They did not do their part and no they are trying to blame the President in an attempt to mask their missed mark and convince us all that 100% of the blame lies solely on the President. I can’t accept that and I won’t accept that. Everyone shares a bit of the blame.
I like the CBC, I really do, I think they’re still needed, but dammit if they don’t come off as a rubber stamp. They’ve suffered like the NAACP has–highly reactionary and never out in front leading the charge. There are no young faces to the CBC either–I like Rep. Lee and Rep. Maxine Waters, but those two are aging out. And Charlie Rangel’s time has come and gone–and he’s still here.
None of these people are attracting young black voters, they come off as complainers all the time. Yes, they’re usually on message with their complaints–but they come off as staying in complaint mode.
What further pisses me off is that none of them understand the concept of “sh*t or get off the pot.” Call it what you will, but the ageism that they play is disenfranchising and disillusioning people in my age demographic of 18-30. When we think of black political action we do NOT think of the CBC–which we should! Think about the last time you read a blog post or heard a news story about a young representative at the state or federal level who was doing something (aside from Jesse Jackson, Jr.) ?!?! It’s rare if ever–because the old heads don’t know how to turn over the reigns!
Lemme speak about my own U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush–the man needs to saddown! The irony of the fact that Barack Obama ran against him and lost, only for two years later run for Senate–and win, and then four years later run for President–and win!
The CBC has rendered itself irrelevant, but I think Obama was saying the onus of producing something that translates into jobs, economic growth–and ultimately votes, is on the CBC. He was telling them to move from apathy to action and Mr. President, I concur!
I agree 100%. I have nothing to add.
I think the arguement can be made that President Obama can’t talk that way to other groups is because of how the media will try to flip. You can only imagine how Fox News and Friends will try to portray him if he had a fiery speech. “Don’t let that Angry, Black Man talk down and at you like that. Who does he think he is?” If Gov. Christie uses that talk, then it is straight talkin’ what America needs to hear. However, when President Obama tries to use it, then it is “the nerve of this n-word.”
I can understand the frustrations though of Black folks. We pretty riding with you so you don’t need to hustle us to try and make yourself look tough.
Man, Obama be pulling Jedi mind tricks on black people. Marching shoes, mesach and abendigo..lol. I agree with this article 100%. Now I will go look up Lees comments.
Also amidst all the bourgie negroes looking pretty and going to happy hours and prententious panels for CBC week in DC, concerned with being seen and what michelles wearing and other trite shyt…
Did any of yall notice how the IMF and World Bank snuck into town and strategized about the GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISES that has a bunch of europe on the verge of default and threatens to cause a second recession/ depression for the rest of europe and for the us economiy? Silly negroes get on my last damn nerves. So easily distracted
Nobody is talking about Europe man! smh.
Considering it is a global economy, and a series of defaults over there will destroy our economy, I think we should be concerned. The fact they met in washington dc should give the uninformed a clue if they werent too busy hob nobbing with posers and a do nothing politicsl org to notice