Why Nobody’s Paying Attention to Black Folks These Days, Including Our So-Called Leaders
by BAR executive editor Glen Ford
“The Black Misleadership Class has no intention of taking any position that might discomfort this president or reveal their own impotence.”
While the Congressional Hispanic Caucus met at the White House to press for immigration reform, on January 25, traditional Black organizations gathered at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel to further refine their so-called “Black Agenda,” for presentation to President Obama at some future date. The five broad goals are really more like a set of suggestions for Obama’s consideration, talking points on economic parity, educational opportunity, voting rights, healthcare disparities, and criminal justice reform – nothing remotely resembling demands. Obama need never worry about any drama from this crowd.
Malcolm X would have derisively called them the Big Four-Plus: the National Urban League’s Marc Morial; Ben Jealous, of the NAACP; National Coalition of Black Civic Participation president Melanie Campbell; Rev. Al Sharpton, head of the National Action Network and Obama’s Black political pit bull; plus an assortment of 50 or so other notables. It has taken them four years and a history-wrenching Black economic catastrophe to come to the conclusion that African Americans ought to have something to say to the First Black President besides “we love you and your beautiful family so much.” Finally, with Obama’s second and last term secure, the Black Misleadership Class pretends to have a political existence and agenda beyond organized sycophancy in the face of Power. But it’s all a charade.
“Demands would be put forward, against which the president’s speech would be publicly measured.”
A Black formation that was serious about pressuring a sitting president would seek to have an influence on next Tuesday’s State of the Union Address. Demands would be put forward, against which the president’s speech would be publicly measured. That’s politics101. But, despite their recent posturing, the Black Misleadership Class has no intention of taking any position that might discomfort this president or reveal their own impotence. For them, the State of the Union address is yet another occasion to bask in Obama’s glow, to feel, vicariously, at the center of the world stage, to rally once more around the Icon-in-Chief. It is the antithesis of independent Black politics – of serious politics of any kind – and renders the Big Four-Plus useless at every crucial juncture and all points in between. For all other groups, the State of the Union address is a barometer of a president’s commitment to the interests of their constituency – stated for the world to hear and see. But, for the Black Misleadership Class, it is just another chance to swell with pride at the sight of all those white folks summoned to sit in rapt attention to a Black man’s voice. The Big Four-Plus would never consider ruining the event with demands that Black interests be addressed in the State of the Union content.
Unless, of course, these Black interests have already been defined by the White House. The January 25 session of the Black Agenda-makers endorsed the American Jobs Act, Obama’s reworked 2011 bill that focuses mainly on tax incentives to encourage corporations to increase hiring. The Big Four-Plus also support the Obama administration’s voting rights efforts (as does the entirety of the Democratic Party, the overwhelming recipients of the Black vote). No points of conflict, there. However, the Morial-Jealous-Sharpton-Campbell version of the Black Agenda includes one item that is not in sync with the White House: the Urban Jobs Act. Introduced in February of 2011, the measure got no push from the Obama administration and has languished in a committee of the Republican-controlled House ever since.
“The State of the Union address is yet another occasion to bask in Obama’s glow.”
It’s really the Congressional Black Caucus jobs bill; all but 7 of the measure’s 25 sponsors are members of the CBC. More to the point, the Urban Jobs Act is a National Urban League bill. It would spend $200 million over five years “to provide a comprehensive set of services and activities for eligible young adults, to be implemented by local National Urban League affiliates.” The legislation’s “Findings and Purpose” section is a veritable executive summary of the need for a targeted response to the Black and Hispanic youth employment-education-incarceration crisis.
It’s a worthy piece of legislation. Of course, Obama’s not going to use up an ounce of political capital in support of the Urban Jobs Act – and why should he? After all, unlike immigration reform, it’s not part of a set of actual demands put forward by a well-organized and determined constituency that the White House is eager to please. It’s only backed by Black folks and their Misleadership Class, and they won’t make a fuss. Nobody’s afraid of them.
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well, he had four years where people were just too overjoyed. now that we are all treated like c**p on his shoe, maybe people will realize – 1) Obama is not in charge of anything ; 2) black people are not on the radar because any of their priorities are secondary to anyone else’s priorities ; 3) the corporate empire being built uses our military to rule the world and our police to rule our population.
Don’t blame Obama for our demise. Our greedy wealthy black folks Never built foundations to help our young people succeed, squandering money left and right, neighborhoods becoming hoods. Total disunity especially economically, the black church pimping folks out of money etc etc. We are in a broken state from which we might not Ever recover for the foreseeable future.
http://youtube.com/#/watch?v=KsM1lfssWBQ&feature=relmfu
The one and only salvation for us Black Folk——- is to find away to collaborate a method of communicating the word of how to STOP SPENDING MONEY ON A SCALE THAT WILL SHOW OUR WORTH AS A CONSUMER– OUR PROBLEM IS—WE ARE OVERLY CONSUMED WITH THE FEEL GOOD NOTION OF MATERIAL SLAVERY.
That said our new LEADERS are going to be the ones that have the ability not to get caught up with owning what MASSER deems necessary to have– inorder to be accepted by them.
We have to be our own keeper! We as a people are ignoring reality, the truth. We are encouraged to embrace a culture that is not our own. We are encouraged to comform to what you know is unethical in the name of success. We are discouraged from learning about our culture because it all happened in the past, get an education and that will solve all our problems.
When the most visible black man in America face racism on his job, what do you think an educated black man going into corporate america face? Do they pander like the most visible black man does?
Do we continue to ignore the violence of black 18-25yrs olds? Do we comform to the idea of lock them up and throw away the key? They were not born murderers, they were not born violent people, what happened in their lives from the time they were born to let’s say, 18yrs old. What happened in that short period of time to his mind that allows him to pick up a gun and kill, most of the time someone who look like him?
Notice the faces of black america in mainstream media, I might be just a bit sensitive, but they are mostly “light-skinned” blacks. Our president, Beyonce, Rhianna, even Hadiya Pendleton. If Hadiya not participated in the inaugural or been chocolate brown, would her death receive national attention or would she have been just another Chicago statistic?
Chris Dorner, I am in noway condoning his actions. But, did you read his manfesto? Have you read about black FBI agents around this country filing discrimination suits around this country, and winning? Do we educate our children on how to interact with other ethnic groups in the workplace or are we sending them out into the world with the false reality that your education will make others look past their skin color?
Are we encouraging our children to read Ancient African and Black history to empower them, to instill pride, understand what strong shoulders they stand on? Do we instill European values, though some of their values are evil? Do we introduce our children to the thoughts of John Henrik Clarke, Marcus Garvey, James Balwin. Are we encouraging European culture as the only way to be successful? Do we understand European culture will accept you no matter what shade you are only when it benefits them? Do we tell our children that they can be used to bring destruction to their own people and communities?
Are black fraternities and sororities doing enough to teach what their founding members stood for or is it now just for show?
If parents don’t have the answers to these questions, how do we send well rounded, educated, strong superior mentalities, self esteemed adults into the world?
We all have a lot of work to do, on ourselves, as parents. Let’s get busy! Let’s just do the d**n thing!
I agree with Resa. We need to get our act together. The black community can clean itself up, teach and learn our history and support our own businesses. I had a plan many years ago in a small town in which I live. If I could get 100 people to give $1000 each to begin some economic development in our town. Sad to say, I couldn’t get five. With a small investment, we could build some great businesses and infrastructure in our own communities. Back when we were a real black community, we couldn’t get a loan at the bank. My parents bought their home from borrowing from leaders of the community and paying them back, interest free. That is how we did it. My home church was built with the labor and donations of the community. As a people we have more than ever, but we don’t have each other. Most of us don’t care about anyone but ourselves. With this attitude our communities and families will continue to deteriorate.
Most of our leaders are from the upper middle class and their needs are being met. The’re job is to keep the masses in line. Another point I Like to make is that most of our leaders are Symbolic figure heads for the Democrates yet they are not on any of the policy making committees and they don’t have real power. Example would be: Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson. Maybe we need a group similar to the “tea party” that can represent Black America’s interest, urban jobs act, better schools, stop the war on drugs, which is really a war on our young men and improve our neighborhoods.
The only thing left to say is—– a community as disconnected as the black community will have a helluva time bringing about any changes from it’s present condition—–because of our preoccupation with MATERIALISTIC nonsense—–(our only definition of success) —-trying to buy ourselves out of PAIN.
If us as black Americans could just unite agree and challenge the system. Maybe we could make some type of a difference. Perseverance is critical.
Glen Ford is a hater and his article is stupid. I am so sick of “Negroes” cutting each other down. I will also delete this stupid “Kulture Kritic” from my email. I’ve had enough.
@Black jones, I’d like to disagree, however, you’ve said something that is very very very important. Buy ourselves out of pain.
WOW ! I have a head-ache, gotta sleep on that one.
Good Night!
Obama got what he wanted a second term ,we got promises ,i was in that bubble ,but now it burst, and i see clearly now ,what a slap in the face first stroke of his pen immigration reform,second stroke gay rights,third stroke meet with black leaders results none ,we are not important to our prez,he is more interested in jay z and jimmy Fallon,and his wife dancing,being in the company of the jet setters, put your trust in god and don’t worry about the with house .its a done deal we got played!!! by a oreo.
With respect to the Urban Jobs Act, H.R. 683, I think the National Urban League would be more successful to seek a grant, a philanthropist or USAID, because it is very unlikely that this Congress will enact the bill. Especially, with our country facing a potential sequester. The National Urban League would have to provide a line item proposal along with financial history similar to a loan process, to ensure it has the capacity, rather than merely expect a vote on a legislative bill requesting $20 to 60 million from 2012 to 2016 (increasing $10 million each year for a total of $200 million). That’s not how our government operates, nor does any financial institution. Moreover, a monitoring and transparency mechanism would need to be implemented to ensure accountability, and that would apply to any organization not just the National Urban League.
Mr. Ford makes some very points and much of what he says it correct. I too, have had problems trying to figure out what the “Black Agenda” is and who is preparing, negoiating, discussing, strategizing, etc. this very important piece of work. Like the “house negro” of old, these so called black leaders are not going to “rock-the-boat” and cause anything that they have acquired through manipulation, etc. to be taken away by proposing, arguing and advocating for “true” black empowerment. We don’t need any of the “misleadership” to advocate, design, implement or put forward a black agenda, with some of the statements mentioned in the reply, there is enough talent and know-how to put together a strategy and consensus for implementing a black agenda. Free speech and ideas passed along amongst ourselves will go alot further than just waiting for the misleadership to “save us” from our inaction. With the awakening, collaborative and visionary leadership in Africa beginning to emerge on the world stage, black folks here in the United States need to ‘engage’ themselves in the discussions and opportunities thats beginning to surface there. We have enough educated, trained and capable black folks here to make themselves available to assist, consult, direct and implement the growth of the emerging infra-structure that is developing in Africa. We can consolidate and create a “global entity” to provide our technical know-how to African governments and infra-structural development creating jobs, commerce, resources and political power to influence American foreign-policy as well as domestic policy reform that will benefit the black community in critical-mass.
Minister Farrakhan, in my opinion is the only true black leader
in this country who cares about the survival of the black race,
he’s been preaching this for as long as I can remember.
I’m so sick of black leaders, and black news castman, when
they talk about blacks, always saying blacks and hispanics…
how many times must I say, hispanics and no other group
of people give a d**n about your a*s. The only thing hispanics
and other illegal immigrants want is all the rights our ancestors fought and died for, your job, amnesty,and as many of our midget minded men with money they can trick….only thing is..they’e never heard of “Black Wall Street”, how one lying white
woman can cause the death of a whole, thriving black community
like this country has never seen before, every living black in this country should see and read this story and documentary. Have tried on numerous occasions to get Tyler Perry to produce this and make a movie so we may see how we’re being tricked.
Blacks, should be outraged, marching in the streets, you’ve been living in a community all your life and have the audacity to let some illegal immigrants run you up out of your home and community, a neighborhood dosen’t get blacker than compton and carson california..this is absurd,
We as a people, used to have morals…now we fall for anything and stand for nothing…being led straight to slaughter and becoming exticnt because our men are marrying everyone except
his own woman.
want is all the rights our ancestors fought and died for, your job,
free medical, free hospitilization(for having babies)so they can
over populate this country,
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
Let’s just say that there is no President Obama; no racism; no nothing. Not one black person has a job, but there is an abundance of business opportunities available. With everything remaining constant in the, so-called black community, what are you going to do to survive in this life?
Every single black person is smart enough to own their own business. Black folks have the answers right in the palm of their hands but lack the ability to want to use it. There are a host of black people starting businesses that don’t even possess the experience but get the knowledge as they go. Blacks cannot keep on pointing the fingers at someone else; be accountable for you. Well, the good news is, YOU CAN MAKE IT! You know darn well you can, you just need to start and know that you can make it. It’s not, “IF YOU TRY”, but it’s, “WHEN YOU TRY”. Blacks have always been told that they will never amount to anything and that was just a darn lie. But, some black folks give into the stereotypes and start believing the BS. You are better than any chains that bind you; break the chains! You are better than any rope that holds you; cut the ropes! Blacks need to stop saying what they need to do and start doing it. Blacks can start their own neighborhood watches, making sure that their kids, especially teens, are in-doors at a decent time. All the gang activity that goes on can be stopped, these parents know what their kids are doing). Blacks can police their own streets and bring corruption to an end. Some are just too scared to. So what are more solutions? Look within yourselves.
I’m not here to hear the sob stories because all black folks do is make excuses of why someone should be helping them. Well, what if President Obama never existed? What if blacks could start their own businesses? The answers are: President Obama does exist and blacks should be optimistic that he is working on black issues. And, black folks can start their own business and be successful at it. You’ll never know “when” you don’t try. There’s a wealth of knowledge that one can obtain to get started. Start by going online to: Small Business Association.
Some black folks need to give the President a chance to get the issues prepared. This being his second term, there should be no reason why he can’t fulfill the black issues. If you have a problem with our president, then write him a letter, send him an email, or do a group petition. That’s what all the other groups do when they want to be heard and want something done. Why can’t black people? Answer: WE CAN! And if President Obama is not willing to deal with the black issues, then so be it. All one can do is to keep applying the pressure until he delivers.
I’m in the process of starting my own business because I know I can. I CAN AND I WILL. I’m going to hire as many black people as I possibly can and get them training as needed. It’s time black folks stopped talking and start doing. I’m optimistic and moreover, I love my black people! NO EXCUSES!
Go out there and get what’s yours, Business Owners. Autonomy is a good thing.
There are a lot of good ideas on this post. People talk about collaborating, that’s great. However, when you actually approach real live people with this idea, the first thing they want to do is look you up and down and say who are you? They start to think of ways that they can break you down because they think that you must think you are better than them to be talking about helping them. They say help yourself. This is the epitome of divide and conquer. The plan has worked and worked well. Then if you start talking to white people about your ideas they want to talk about ur a Tom or a sell out. People need to wake up and recognize that it’s about alliances. Everybody on the planet wants to survive. If white people think ur trying to take something from them they have the power to stop u. So face it, we need to come to some type of agreement. The problem is that they don’t believe that we are useful because we are not even useful to ourselves as a collective, maybe to our families but not that much more. It’s ok to put yourselves and your families first. That’s Survival 101. The problem is we also need to build each other up and stop being so judgmental. Not everybody is going to agree on everything, Black or white. But every time I start to speak on the little knowledge that I may have, I have to start running down my credentials, have my likes and dislikes examined, explain who I associate with, apologize for all of my past mistakes (like wetting the bed when I was a kid…lol). See I bet most of yall think that I’m a classless because I made an off color joke. That was one of my milder jokes. But does all of that c**p really matter? We need to get past the trivial and start accepting each other regardless of our background or mistakes because if we don’t, then we are the ones that are discriminating. It’s hard to break that mold of looking down on each other but that’s what we do. We’ve been conditioned. Just cause I might know something or have something you don’t have, or vice-versa, doesn’t make me any more or less than anyone else. Can we just have a little peace, a little fun, a little cooperation, a little trust. Those things don’t cost anything. Those things are free. Like the cliché goes, the best things in life are free. If we have those things then maybe we can start to build material wealth collaboratively. I have a lot of ideas that I need assistance with and I have accomplished some things but could do a lot more with some assistance. The people I run into can’t be bothered or come to bite. In my area there is no consensus of thought but if anyone on here agrees with me then we need to find away to join our efforts together, so all suggestions are welcome. I mean I know about grants and all but money is not the only thing needed to succeed. Shared knowledge is what it’s all about. And if any white people who get upset about Black people collaborating are reading this post, just relax, if we are benefiting, then it’s less likely that we are angry.
Sorry folks. When wisdom tried to speak to you…you refuse to listen, rather clinging to the false belief that a rich Black man would care about the interests of his people as a whole.
However…we do have one more card to play. Obama is pushing certain issues that are causing Americans of all colors and standing to begin to rise up and ready themselves to fight for their ‘rights’. Furhermore, the issue that is the hotspot of the American people….our rights to bear arms.
Folks, if our President continues down this path, he will be impeached; barring support from the Black community. One of the main reasons that Obama has not been impeached as of yet is who is in place to potentially block this action AND the others who could push it through (majority, I might add) are cowards and who do not know exactly ‘how’ Black people will react to any actions in this direction.
Black people. I’m afraid, Obama does not respect Black people and, in our blind support of his actions that affect us directly, he never will do anything for us that affects us, directly, specifically and by name! So, what do we do?
Let’s do like the mexicans (the ones pushing the illegal immigration la raza agenda)! Hey, they copied us on a lot of things in how to do these things. Copy success, right? What those pushing the illegal immigration agenda are doing right is that they are organized and utilize modern technology to push their agenda efficiently. Furthermore, they don’t ask for general, pie in the sky, things…they gave our dear President specific, clear cut things that they wanted him to do. What have those speaking for us done? Fix our high rate of unemployment…elimate high crime in our communities…etc….”ERr, excuse me….” all of our demands are ‘pie in the sky’ requests that have no clear cut demand. Well, let’s do this Black people. In exchange for our further support when they start to really impeach him….let’s demand that he EXECUTIVE ORDER our 40 Acres and a mule! (Ok…get your laughs out, people) Now, we ALLLLL know that there are just too many Black people in this country and not enough free, unclaimed land, to give each one of us 40 Acres (maybe the mule though)….So, we will accept a lump sum of $50k per qualifying Black person, with small cottage-industry business training and/or investment mentorship in lieu of the 40 acres. Now, Black people when you get your check don’t go run down to the nearest mall or, God forbid, swapmeet and spend all your cash! NOOOOO! Partner with another Black person and open up a Subway, or a corner liquor store/convenience store – you konw something viable that will work towards uplifiting yourselves and your community and those to follow by example.
Sounds real crazy, right? Hey, President Clinton already acknowledged the ‘wrongdoing’ publicly, now we just need a President to make reparations for the wrongdoing…just as has been done for the Chinese Americans…the Native Americans..the Mexicans (yep, do your research)….many others.
Crazy is as crazy does…Thank you for this compliment. Crazy people change the world, is my personal belief.
In short, we can view this whole thing this way: if there is a man who is dating a woman and he knows without a doubt that he can do and say anything to her and against her yet she will always be there to support him…does he respect her? Does he care about her ‘feelings’? Does he really, truly care about what happens to her? ANSWER: NO, he does not
My beloved Black community, we have become old faithful to Obama and our self-appointed Black leaders. So, what do we do?
1. Make it clear to all ‘outsiders’ that these leaders are not our leaders. Find a true leader with a real heart for the Black community and raise this person up…IMPORTANT: be LEADERS OF OURSELVES so that we never again become puppets.
2. ORGANIZE! With today’s technology, this is simple and inexpensive to do….text, tweet, fax, phone, email, blog, keep us alive and defended on forums, propagate the positive things about our community (there are many) and set up MEETUPS where we can freely discuss the issues important to our community…then, spred the word some more using the above means of communication. I have done research and this is exactly how the Hispanic community organizes and gets things done, politically.
3.FEAR NOT and do not back down make it clear that we are not going anywhere, will not be bowing down nor maintaining position at the bottom of the eschalon.
4.Be wise and make allies with other cultural communities at risk with upcoming events; but do not confuse these ally relationshiips with your becoming one of your ally’s community (in other words, don’ start worshipping other communities and start thinking that they are better than your community…it’s all business.
We’d better do it, people. This fight is real and it is not we who will suffer most…rather our kids (downgraded to second class citizens in their own country) and generations to come.
@ImNotThatBrainwashed…
I agree with you. We, as Black people, will attack these issues from many different points – business ownership, education, political pressure through strategic and organized political pressure, being known as the hardest working community, ever, etc.!!
I, personally, have launched my own business, as well. So, I agree with you on this issue.