Black Politics from TheGrio – 9/29/09

Obama addresses Black Caucus on health care

By theGrio via AP

10:06 PM on 09/26/2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Saturday resumed his push to overhaul the health care system, telling a Congressional Black Caucus conference...

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Barbershop Buzz on President Obama and Gov. Paterson

By Terrence Romney

9:57 AM on 09/25/2009

VIDEO - Should President Obama be backing his fellow African-American Democrat and allow him to make his own decision on what is best for New York?

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President Obama leads nuclear talks at U.N.

By theGrio

3:49 PM on 09/24/2009

VIDEO - President Obama wrapped up his visit to the United Nations with a commitment from nations to rid the world of nuclear weapons...

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Broad attacks on ACORN are just plain nuts

By Roland Laird

9:30 AM on 09/24/2009

OPINION -- Let me be clear, ACORN's actions deserved to be exposed, and they deserve to be punished. But let me be equally clear, ACORN is not a big American problem...

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President Obama delivers first UN address

By theGrio

12:30 PM on 09/23/2009

VIDEO -- President Obama today addressed the U.N. General assembly in New York where he took on world issues from the war on terrorism to global climate change. In his presidential debut, Mr. Obama...

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Wilmer Leon on Michael Steele

Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III, Your Black World 

Not to be outdone, in response to America electing its first African-American President, on January 30, 2009, the Republican National Committee (RNC) elected Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, as its chairman. It was a long and painful process, but on the sixth and final ballot, for the first time in its history, the Republican Party elected an African-American to manage its affairs.

    During his acceptance speech, Chairman Steele said, "To Americans who believe in the future of this country. To those who stand in difference with us, it's time for something completely different, and we're gonna bring it to them. We're gonna bring this party to every corner, every boardroom, every neighborhood, every community and we're gonna say to friend and foe alike: We want you to be a part of this, we want you to work with us, and for those of you who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over."

    These were very powerful and encouraging words, especially coming from an intelligent African-American man who was speaking to a political party dominated by white men who are not used to African-Americans speaking to them so forcefully and directly. To bring forth "something completely different"; to take the party to "friend and foe alike," to "knock over" decades of neoconservative ideology and racism would take a Superman. Unfortunately, these encouraging and powerful words ring hollow when compared to the reality of Chairman Steele's actions. Michael is no Superman. He's not "The Man of Steele."

Click to read.

Your Black Commentary from TheGrio – 9/26/09

From TheGrio.com 

• 

  Kristen Clarke

  Co-Director of the Political Participation Group at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund

  Local elections count as much as presidential ones

  8:00 AM on 09/28/2009

  OPINION - Turnout statistics from recent state and local elections around the country paint a rather bleak picture that is squarely at odds with the political energy and momentum witnessed last November....

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• 

  Sala Udin

  President and CEO of the CORO center for civic leadership, Pittsburgh

  Black Pittsburgh struggles in the shadow of the G-20

  9:27 AM on 09/25/2009

  OPINION - For the most part, African-American Pittsburgh seems to be invisible, not only to the public relations hucksters who tout Pittsburgh's successes, but we are equally invisible to the protesters....

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  Roland Laird

  Author of "Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans"

  Broad attacks on ACORN are just plain nuts

  9:30 AM on 09/24/2009

  OPINION -- Let me be clear, ACORN's actions deserved to be exposed, and they deserve to be punished. But let me be equally clear, ACORN is not a big American problem......

  > MORE

• 

  Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.

  Religion Contributor

  Racism's roots in the Bible

  8:11 AM on 09/23/2009

  OPINION - Everyone in power had been raised in a religious environment that taught that blacks were the descendants of Ham who was cursed by his father....

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  Talia Whyte

  Journalist & Activist

  African-Americans need to 'raise hell' about climate change

  8:10 AM on 09/23/2009

  OPINION - Right here in the United States, there are serious climate issues that need to be addressed, and these problems disproportionately affect African Americans......

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  Cheo Tyehimba

  Author & Activist

  Spare the rod, save your child

  7:42 AM on 09/23/2009

  OPINION - A study of more than 2,500 toddlers found that, for poor children as young as one, spanking is not only commonplace but promotes more aggressive behavior by age two......

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  Charlton McIlwain

  Professor, Author & Co-Director of the RaceProject.org

  Shift in race discussion needed for our kids and our media

  8:50 AM on 09/22/2009

  OPINION - Even the youngest among us recognize and realize the utility in making racial distinctions. Should we be concerned? If so, by what, exactly? ...

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Dr Boyce Watkins: Obama’s Falling Poll Numbers and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices, Syracuse University 

In an appropriate show of respect, President Barack Obama addressed theCongressional Black Caucus Foundation Conference this weekend. His speech focused primarily on healthcare, which has become the latest battleground for our challenged new leader. In the eyes of the public, Obama is no longer the cool, hip politician he was a few months ago. He is now the guy considered to be too moderate to be liberal, too socialist to be conservative, too black to be white and too white to be "down." Obama can't quite be anything to anyone, which is the price he must now pay for trying to be everything to everyone.
Michelle Obama, as lovely as she is, arrived to the event with the president by her side. The couple, when appearing together, present an inspiring portrait of successful black love. Every black woman in America looks at Michelle and dreams of having her own political Mandingo accompanying her and her children to important social events.

Click to read more at AOL Black Voices

If the link doesn’t work, click here to find Dr. Watkins’ articles on AOL

Black News: President Hits a Sunday Media Tour

from CNN, Your Black World 

President Obama says that despite signs of economic recovery, the country will not see large-scale job growth until next year. In a wide-ranging interview broadcast today on CNN's "State of the Union," Obama said reversing job losses from the recession will come at the end of the recovery period, not the start. full story

Your Black World: Obama Says Race Doesn’t Matter in Healthcare Fight

from CNN, Your Black World 

President Barack Obama said Friday that angry criticisms about his health care agenda are driven by an intense debate over the proper role of government — and not by racism.

"Are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are," Obama told CNN. "That's not the overriding issue here."

The nation's first black president spoke about the issue of race during a battery of interviews on Friday. In a media blitz aimed at pounding home his health care message, he taped interviews with ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Univision to be shown during the networks' Sunday morning talk shows.

Some excerpts aired during Friday night broadcasts.

Time and again, Obama was asked about whether the tenor of thehealth care debate turned nasty because of undercurrents in racism.Former President Jimmy Carter raised the point prominently this week when he said the vitriol was racially motivated.

Click to read.

Black News: Jimmy Carter Says Racism is driving attacks on Obama

Former President Jimmy Carter said in an interview Tuesday that Congressman Joe Wilson's "you lie" outburst to President Obama was "based on racism" and that many of the critiques leveled against the president have been made because of his black heritage.

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man," Carter said in an sit-down with NBC's Brian Williams.

Carter specifically said that Wilson's comment was "dastardly" and part of an "inherent feeling" held by many Americans -- particularly Southerners -- that African-Americans "are not qualified to lead this great country."

"It's an abominable circumstances and grieves me and concerns me very deeply," Carter said.

Click to read.