Jesse Jackson: “Poverty, Inequality and Violence Too Pervasive and Expensive to Ignore”
In 2009, the number of people living below the poverty level and on food stamps was around 32 million. Today, that number is closer to 47 million. Now a handful of black leaders are saying that President Obama has failed to address the issue, especially as it relates to the increasing number of African Americans who are still trapped in poverty.
Dr. Boyce Watkins, who describes himself as “a black man who happens to be a Finance Professor,” is now questioning President Obama’s commitment to addressing poverty in the black community and he is particularly calling out the president’s special adviser, Valerie Jarrett, whom some argue is the person who influences the political decisions of Barack Obama the most.
In a recent column on ThyBlackMan.com, Watkins laid out a number of reasons why he faults Jarrett for saying “no” to many black issues.
“Some have said that the Republican Party has been the primary obstructionist that keeps President Barack Obama from dealing with African American issues,” writes Watkins in a Sept. 17 post.
“Rather than earning the black vote by presenting a healthy track record of effort on behalf of the black community, black people are simply being told to ‘keep the faith’ (note the religious reference) and to ‘have Barack’s back,’ (note the hood slang reference). It’s as if we’re being told to ‘stop snitching’ on the White House, while Obama Administration officials sit back and laugh at how stupid we are for not asking for anything in return for unprecedented political loyalty.”
Watkins maintains that instead of working with Congressional leaders, including the Black Caucus which he says only met with Obama twice in two years, Jarrett works through people such as Al Sharpton, who in a 60 Minutes interview said he would never criticize Obama, even if he wasn’t doing his job effectively.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/blacks-claim-obama-ignores-poverty-81876/#jmdxLuOL40hFJqHf.99
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I want to know from the Dr. If you asked the same from Pres. Bush these issues about black people or any other issues concerning blacks. If so, what was the outcome? Pres. Obama is the people’s president… No just for a select few.
Under President Bush, the number of people in poverty didn’t jump a full 50%. And yes, while Bush was in office, the overall economy did weaken. Part of it was Bush’s fault, and part of it wasn’t (9-11 had a huge toll on the financial landscape of our nation). A distinctive thing about Bush’s term in office is that the “bad stuff” happened to all groups/classes/demographics sort of equally. Unemployment went up relatively equally for both blacks and whites. A lot of fat cats on Wall Street lost their jobs, along with a lot of “regular” folks across the nation.
Under Obama, blacks took it on the chin — big time. White unemployment went up a little, black unemployment went up a lot. The fat cats on Wall Street didn’t lose any more jobsl, and even started re-hiring the layed off fat cats, while the “regular” people kept losing jobs — a LOT of jobs.
wHITES ARE GOING TO SUPPRESS THE h**l OUT OF YOUR VOTES, AND WE ARE ONLY FOCUSING ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT DONE FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY??? WELL MAYBE PRESIDENT ROMENY WILL MAKE IT BETTER FOR YOU?
Yes, I actually believe Romney will do better.
Just for your information under President Bush at the end of 2007 the African-American unemployment rate was 9.2% @ the end of 2008 Obama 1st term it was 15.6%.
It would be higher, there are many many people who have to use the system due to no jobs,lost of homes.There are people who are using the system who never used it before,plus college graduates who add to count.Those who complain and have share. Stop bashing the President.Some people were not doing anything before President came into office. Green Envy!!! You stole what you lost anyway. Ride pass the mallls they are crowded.
Stop buying what you can’t afford
It’s not a bash “just a fact”.
It is so sad that here in the 21st. century and having been up from slavery the many years that we have, a large number of Afrikans in american just don’t get it. Such as those whe consider a critique of the Presidents’ politics in policies is an attack on him. I also understand that many of us are not well read, and hence can not think critically and therfore cannot and will not if they could, think outside of the box.
The day of settling for a black face in a high place or being the first is over. Politics is hardball. It’s also about who gets what, when and how much. we need to hold all elected officials accountable and their actions need to be transparent, including Mr. Obama. He like all politicians take us for granted because we don’t do the above. It’s sad that we have been condition to said behavior and some of us still think and act like slaves. Hotep
You’re right on point, James. It is so sad that blacks are in this love affair with Obama, just because he’s black. Most thinks that he’s their Messiah, their Savior. None can tell you anything that he has done for them to deserve such loyalty. He takes All blacks for granted. He thinks that we’re his slaves and is positive he has our votes. The Only thing he’s done is give out more food stamps and extended unemployment compensation. because he hasn’t done anything that will open the door for the private sector to feel secure enough to start hiring. He’s a weak leader and his foreign policy sucks. He defends the Muslims in the middle east instead of standing up for Americans. If we don’t get a strong leader, we’re all going to be doomed. We don’t need a celebrity president. We ned a real leader. Not one who hangs out with the Hollywood crowd and go on stupid liberal shows and have fun and every other month go on elaborate vacations on the taxpayer dollars. Our credibility has gone done since he’s ben in office. We’re downgraded from AAA to AA and if he gets another 4 years, we probably won’t have a rating at all. The whole world is laughing at us. We have a joke for a leader. Wake up people! Stop drinking the kool-aid! He doesn’t deserve your loyalty. He’s laughing at you! I say, you, because I didn’t vote for him the first time and definitely won’t this time. So, as far as I’m concerned, the joke’s on him.
Sharon, who let you off the plantation? You must return immediately. I know slavery ended 150 years ago, but still, you must return the plantation. We can’t have black folks actually thinking for themselves, and you must stop before it makes the rest of us look stupid.
What all this fussing going on about..I still gettin my d**n check aint you? Mostly you needs to go down to the office early and gets you a good place in line near the front so they can sees that you up early and commin in early and the check be in tha mail sooner and later
Let’s just stop bashing in the media, you have something to say, say it at the polls where it will really count…otherwise you are wasting your time and breath.
Peace!!!
Listen up every one
if you are waiting for the president of these united states to do
something for you, you don’t know your civics. it starts with your
local community voting for a representative,they call councilman he take your complaint before the city council they inturn take it to the mayor, the mayor call a special session of his cabinet to deal
with that community grievance. the mayor take it to another level
to your county commissoner who you vote for every four years
he inturn take it to the legislature. the law makers which consist
of two bodies assembly and senate. you vote every two years
for assemblyman every four years for senator,the legislator
take the grievance to the governor in the form of a law he has
an option he can sign it or veto it. if it’s a federal case you go to
your congress person you vote every two years for,they take it
to your senator who you vote every six years for. I hope this help.
I JUST GAVE THE VOTING PUBLIC A BLUE PRINT FOR SHARING
POWER IN OUR DEMOCRACY. WHAT EVER YOU DO PLEASE
VOTE!!!
I AGREE WITH JESSIE JACKSON! IT TIME TO START HOLDING OBAMA ACCOUNTABLE IF HE WANT THE BLACK VOTE.
IT JUST LIKE ANY JOB! YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE IN ORDER TO STAY!
BLACK FOLKS IS SUFFERING AND HE NEED JOBS
Are you all freakin’ stupid or something? How in the h**l are we as a “community” holding the President accountable to what the h**l we are doing to ourselves? You DO realize the President doesn’t make ANY laws or creates jobs in and of himself? CONGRESS makes the laws that dictate what can and can’t be done to create jobs. If CONGRESS turns down EVERY suggestionion made by the President, then THEY are the ones to be held accountable. THEY are the ones we elect LOCALLLY to represent us. I think we as a black community have gotten retarded in our old age. We are selfish and ignorant in our own right. Think for yourselves and make the right decisions at the right time, i.e. when you are asked to go tot the polls and vote for your local leaders all the way up to President. IF you don’t get your black, lazy a***s out there and vote, then STFU about what is going on in society becasue you obviously don’t have a stake in it or a care for it. Wake up people and think!!!!!