My Apologies to Soledad O'Brien and CNN on behalf of the United Negroes of America

Recently I did a post The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Watch CNN's Black in America 2. Today, after watching the first installment or part one, I must say that for me it was quite worth the 2hrs of my time; now, as for the reactions of some of my cousins? Well, let’s just say that they don't feel as I do. I honestly didn't want to even share my thoughts on the show until I saw part 2 or the conclusion to the series. But after reading some of the commentary around the blogosphere I feel compelled to open my big ass mouth.

CNN, I want to apologize to you for my people. On behalf of the United Negroes of America -- you know the ones who enjoyed your show last night? -- I offer you my sincerest apology. You may not know it CNN, but many of my people have been bashing your show. They did that last year as well, and, umm, I kinda felt their pain back then. Yes, I too in the pre-Obama age felt some type of way about you airing out our dirty laundry for White America to use as confirmation on long held beliefs. This year however, I'm not feeling them -- the Angry Negro crowd -- so much. Before going into details allow me to say: it is my belief that Black people in America will never be happy.

That's right CNN, you can't please all Negroes. However, don't allow all this "hate" to permit you from bringing forth the programming which illustrates the various experiences that is being Black in America. You see, last year Negroes were complaining about all the negative stereotypes or illustrations of some of our social ills. The funny thing about that is that in doing so, none of them could dispel your presentation to be false. The irony of all of this today is that you put forth a much more nuanced approach with focus on solutions in education, and yet, Negroes are still mad.

You showed us thirty kids from the Bushwick neighborhood (not too far from the Brooklyn neighborhood my mother lives in that I know all too well) who through the work of a wealthy Black woman took them to South Africa. You showed us that in an attempt to illustrate how broadening our world-view has a positive impact on our lives as Black Americans, but even that wasn't good enough. I don't know, maybe it's the fact that me being born and having resided in the Caribbean as a child I'm a bit critical of the Black people in America who cannot even find Africa on a map. Trust me; I've had a hard time convincing a few of my Black American cousins that Africa and Jamaica aren't neighboring islands.

I know, you probably don't know this CNN, but Black people in America are just finicky like that. What can I say, White America has done quite the job on our minds and it didn't happen overnight; it took about 400yrs or so. In a society where we're inundated with negative images of Black people -- you know like on our local 10 o'clock news? -- You’d think that my cousins would be happy to see some well to do African Americans, who are doing well on your show. But no, that's not good enough; no, instead the complaint is: too many bougie light skinned people. Yeah CNN, it would appear that to my cousins you didn't keep it real enough.

Uh huh, and the sad thing about it is that they think that Barack Obama isn't one of those uppity elitist Negroes you showed on TV last night. Which is rather funny because he himself is now the measuring stick for African American success? Yes, today all Black kids are told that they too can be like Barack Obama. Be like the bougie Negroes you showed? Nah, not so much; but we've got that "keeping it real" thing down to a science. You see Black people in America "keep it so real" that we cannot help but to talk shit and only see the glass as half empty when you guys go out of your way to show Black people in a good light for two damn hours of our lives. Yeah, some of them are still mad that you showed how the dauther of an alcoholic father, and crackhead mother can manage to go to college. Yep, screw the triumph in what that young lady acomplished CNN. You guys made us look bad by putting that dysfunctional family on there.

I won't even take the time to go into how much it was a great idea of showing that sister walking away from her $70K per year job and entering that 18mth program as prep for her MBA. Nope, I'm not going to even touch that one because, well, quite honestly, some of my people missed the mark on that one. Yeah, and my inbox is filled with hate mail as is, and I don't need the extra headache. Just know that I thought it was good to see Black women especially doing big things. Yes, and hopefully just by her example we'll see more sisters break the glass ceiling that is landscape of corporate America.

Just know CNN, that this Black man in America is glad that you did what you did in part one of your show. Just know that I'm eagerly awaiting the airing of part two to air. And in closing I say to you CNN and Soledad O'Brien: keep up the good work and don't change what you're doing; hopefully last night's episode will impact the lives of our youth and adults who are not adverse to change, or maybe even hope. Here’s to hoping that the response from Latinos and Latinas in America when you air your documentary focusing on them in October. Hopefully the “Wise Latinos/Latinas” are not as fastidious as my Black relatives in America.

So You People Are Still Talking About Obama's Birth Certificate? Does He Need to Produce His Umbilical Cord As Well?

Lemme let you in on a little secret. Somewhere in my mothers house in Brooklyn New York there's a baby shoe box with my soon to be 39yr old umbilical cord. No joke, my mother for whatever reason decided to save the umbilical cord of each of her four children. As I was growing up, I'd peek in at them every now and then, but I haven't in a long time. Watching this "Birther Movement" thing in the news where "certain people" are still questioning whether Barack Obama is a natural born citizen made me reflect on my umbilical cord. I've come to the conclusion that these "Birthers" would not be happy even if Obama produced his Birth Certificate tomorrow.

Something tells me that the hate in their souls is such that they may require him to provide his umbilical cord and his mother's placenta. Yeah, and this should all be presented in triplicate form accompanied by pictures of my man Barry O., actually exiting the womb with his hand on a bible as he recites the pledge of allegiance. Oh yeah, and Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan must be the attending doctors. I don't know if my mother had visions of this sorta thing eventually having to happen to Black people, but I'm glad that she did. Maybe it will come in handy one day should I decide to become president or something. My wife is currently 4mths pregnant and I have the sneaky suspicion that she'll have to do like my mother did 39yrs ago. Hey, you gotta be forward thinking these days.

Black Man Joins the Klu Klux Klan - Score One for Post-Racial America with Another Black First in Los Angeles of All Places

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's official: post-racial America is the shit! OK yeah, so I know we've had some not so good moments of post-racialness here in these United States since the election of Barack Obama. Yes, I know this, and yes we're only 7 months in to this "new world" of ours. But alas, just when we needed a sign to promote hope and change I bring you the story of another Black first. Yes, and while you're probably still steaming over the recent Philly pool incident or the smart Negro encounter with the Cambridge Massachusetts police department, I bring to you Michael Hunt.

You see it seems that Michael Hunt (dammit if the Negro doesn't have a cool name...Mike Hunt) recently sued the city of Los Angeles in Federal Court to challenge their vending ordinace. I don't know what his beef was or what's the deal with the vending ordinance. But I do know that Mike won. Yes, he won his lawsuit and was victorious to the tune of $264, 000. Oh yeah, Mike is Black and that in itself was a moral victory by taking on the city in Federal Court and winning; shit like that doesn't happen to brothers too often.

Well, given the recent troubles in California as far as balancing it's budget and the city of L.A. having to pay for Michael Jackson's funeral. It would appear that the city of Los Angeles, being down and out as it is, cannot afford to pay Mr. Hunt, so they've appealed the Federal Court ruling.

Needing his money as any Negro in America, Mike decided to protest at a public hearing:

LOS ANGELES -- A protester dressed up in a Ku Klux Klan outfit made a third appearance at the Los Angeles City Council Friday in what has turned into a test for city officials about how far people can take their First Amendment rights in city council chambers.

Hunt, an African American, recently won a $260,000 settlement against the city challenging its vending ordinance in federal court as a violation of his rights. Instead of paying Hunt, though, the city has appealed the decision.

Hunt claims the reason the city hasn't paid him is racially motivated. He says wearing the KKK outfit is his way of exercising his First Amendment rights to protest the city's decision not to pay him.

City council members pointed out Friday that the First Amendment does have its limits, and in this case they say Hunt crossed the line.

"In an abstract way, there is no limitation on you wearing a mask and that outrageous and offensive garb. But if it has a disruptive effect that goes into the area of action, we will have you removed," City Councilman Eric Garcetti told Hunt.

Hunt didn't put his mask back on for the remainder of the meeting.

On Wednesday, City Council chambers went dark early after Hunt refused to remove his white robe and hood before speaking.

"Mr. Hunt, you're going to have to remove your hood," Councilman Dennis Zine, who was the presiding officer, told Hunt twice.

"Are you refusing to remove your hood? ... Mr. Hunt, we can't hear you. Remove your hood."

Hunt refused to remove the garb, citing his First Amendment rights.

When three African American councilmembers left -- apparently out of disgust -- the council floor was lost, ending the discussion.

Zine told KTLA he believes the latest stunt may be an attempt to sue the city again over a violation of his First Amendment rights.

"In this day and age, no one should be wearing that attire. No one should come to a public meeting wearing that attire and offend not only the councilmembers but the general public," Zine said.

The city council is now looking at adopting rules that would allow them to remove anyone who is disruptive during meetings, or wearing disruptive clothing such as Hunt's.[source]

And just think, you people thought "Clayton Bigsby" was just a figment of Dave Chappelle's imagination. OK yeah, so you guys may think what he did was a bit House Negro-ish like [like this person], and I can understand why. But I have to give the brother his props for such an ingenious stunt.

I'm sayin' him being a Black man and having the guts to pull something like that off should be commended. As a matter of fact, I think we need a stamp in his honor. Wouldn't that be cool? Talk about a first: a Black man in a Klan outfit on a U.S. postal stamp. How's that for Black History?

Mike Hunt is my hero for today; he didn't have a lunch counter sit in, nor did he march in the hot sun holding a sign. Mike got dressed in a Klan outfit and took it to city hall; and, he refused to remove his hood when asked. Now to me, that's gangsta! Yes, and it's just as brave as getting sprayed with firehoses or getting bitten by racist German Shepherds. Uh huh, that's how you get attention and get things done. Yeah, put this shit on Black in America 2 Soledad O'Brien!

OK yeah, so he has yet to get his money from the city. But you damn sure better believe that everybody in L.A. knows his story. What's even sweeter is that he can possibly challenge them for infringing on his First Amendment rights. Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money!! Uh huh, who said symbolism wasn't important. If a real Klansman could protest Barack Obama's election victory as he did while holding an American flag, what's wrong with what Mike did?

Besides....

I know Los Angeles is a magnet for wierdos, but how come nobody said jack about the guy wearing the ski-mask at the very same city council meeting that Michael Hunt attended??


QUESTION: Do you think what Michael Hunt did was wrong or offensive?

I Got Questions...

Ladies, do you think you would be able to still pull men looking like the woman in this pic? Fellas, would you hit that or be seen with her in public as your woman? What part of sexy is this? I'm assuming it's the part that should have never been brought back by Justin Timberlake. But seriously, what makes a woman wanna do some shit like this? Am I wrong for thinking that if a guy hits this there's a strong possibility that he's gay? Did this woman take the whole Kegels coochie crunch, and strong Black woman thing a little bit too far? And lastly, forget about Congressional hearings on steroid use in Baseball: do we have to have them investigate steroid usage by women?

[hat-tip to Oh Hell Nawl on this one]

Henry Louis Gates Jr: "Open and shut case Johnson; lets sprinkle some crack on him and lets get out of here." - Cambridge Police

Racism? What racism? Henry Louis Gates Jr. should have known better than trying to enter his home while wearing a ski mask. Him being a prominent African American scholar you'd think he knew better. I mean if it were Halloween that would have been different; everybody dresses up in costumes on that day you know. That said, how in the world was the neighbor who called the cops to know it was him trying to break into his own house? Yeah, and why would said neighbor vouch for him after the police showed up? I mean, you know all Black people residential burglars look alike, right? Shit, I wouldn't wanna stick my head out and vouch for the guy either. You start doing that and all of sudden your neighborhood is over-ran by Black people as they move in.

Yeah, it's just like you Black folks to get arrested and scream racial profiling and racism. Yep, you people always cry foul and never take into account your actions when encountering the police. Instead of keeping his mouth shut or providing some ID, he accused the cops of being racist and went to jail for disorderly conduct. Yep, you Negroes sure do have a way of getting that street cred by that whole "keepin' it real" thing. Well you know what Black people? Cops are known to keep in realer. And can you blame them? They do all of this in the interest of public safety. Uh huh, and if the cops don't do it, there are certain people in the state of Texas who are known to take justice into their own hands. Yes, and Henry Louis Gates Jr. better thank Black Baby Jesus that this little incident didn't transpire next door to Mr. Joe Horn: America's hero.

That's right, the police in this case was responding to a call of a concerned citizen, but you Negroes aren't happy about that. First you guys are against the "Stop Snitching" movement, but are all mad now because some smart Black guy got arrested? Listen Black people, you can't have it both ways. I mean you don't hear those oppressed White criminals upstanding caucasian citizens bitching and moaning when they become victims of reverse racism, do you? Oh you don't think White people are victims of reverse discrimination when it comes to crime? OK, well obviously you haven't noticed those Brinks Home Security commercials on TV. Obviously you haven't noticed that in those commercials all the perps are always White. Uh huh, they never show a Black perp kicking in a door, and why is that? Reverse discrimination.

Yes, and it's funny how you people are always quick to pull some conspiracy out of your rectums when it comes to racism. Yeah, lemme guess, COINTELPRO and the CIA were behind this latest event, no? Yep, it's always "the man" or maybe the actions of some "Spook Who Sat By The Door", who is responsible for taking down one of our own. Yep, the same ones who set-up Michael Vick and planted dead pit bulls on his property; yep, it's always a conspiracy. But what's sad is that you people don't see the real conspiracy behind this one. Yes, you guys don't see that this is all the work of CNN. Uh huh, Henry Louis Gates Jr. was a contributor in the upcoming installment of Black in America 2 which premieres this week. Umm, do you think it's a coincidence that he's in the news as a victim of racial profiling?

Look, all jokes aside, what happened to the good professor was really messed up. If anything it should serve notice to you Uppity Elitist Negroes/Black Republicans that racism is indeed something that everybody encounters in spite of their socio-economic status. Yes, the same way poor people in "the hood" cry foul when dealing with the police, so too can you be a victim. I don't exactly know how many wake up calls are needed in our society. But I find it ironic - and telling - that this took place on the very campus of the University that Barack Obama attended where he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. Looks like post-racial has come full circle don't you think? Henry Louis Gates Jr. the formidable Havard African American scholar is lucky they didn't sprinkle some crack on him.

The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Watch CNN's Black in America 2

If you're still a little salty after watching CNN's Black in America documentary last year, you've probably already made up your mind not to watch part 2 this year. I watched it last year like everybody else, and yes, I was somewhat disappointed. However, unlike my wife and the rest of you ungrateful Negroes, I am going to watch this years installment. What follows is my attempt to convince you ungrateful Negroes of just why you should watch Black in America 2:

10) They're still Black people in America: Nope, we didn't all go back to Africa, nor did we or our circumstances change in post-racial America. Black kids were thrown out of a Philly pool a couple weeks ago.

9) Our president is Black: Surely you wouldn't want to miss out on all the gleeful commentary on the state of Black America when we have our first Black president? Him being the catalyst for hope and change should be enough to convince yourself that CNN is going to do a good job. Hopefully they'll offer solutions unlike him of course. I'm sure he'll be watching.

8) Watch parties: There are going to be watch parties all over the country. So if by chance you don't have cable anymore because they've finally caught up to your cable stealing ass you have no excuse. Besides, wouldn't it be cool to get together with fellow Americans for such an event? Surely you don't want to miss out on the spades tournament afterward, do you? It's gonna be like the inauguration all over again minus the cold weather.

7) It's CNN and not Fox News Channel: Yes, you should have nothing to fear when it comes to the negative depictions of Black people in America. Can you imagine if this were a documentary put together by the good folks over at the house that Rupert Murdoch built? There will be no commentary from Jesse Lee Peterson or Juan Williams on this one folks. That alone should be encouragement enough. Besides, CNN is like the United Nations when it comes to it's employees; there are more people of color on that network than Fox and MSNBC put together.

6) This is not a show for White people: Contrary to popular belief, this show is for America and not meant to be one of those "look at the Negroes" carnival sideshow attractions. If that's what you think, obviously you haven't seen the dysfunction that is Maury or a Jerry Springer episode. No, there will be no paternity test results read on this one.

5) There's no "White in America" documentary: Lets face it, if there were a true documentary which chronicled the White experience, Negroes would be mad. It's not that we don't know what it means to be White in America. It's that a show like that would be a slap in the face. And I don't think America needs a repeat of what happened when the Roots miniseries first aired back in the day. Yep, there's no need for random White people to get beat up over a TV show. That said, Black people should be glad that this is about them and not White folks. Yep, America is too scared to air such a program.

4) Soledad O'Brien: The sister is fine and there's not much more to be said than that. Other then the fact that she is Black, intelligent, and qualified to ask the right questions. And lets be real: not even Oprah Winfrey would do a show on what it is to be Black in America. Oh, and did I mention she's fine?

3) You don't have anything else to do: Yes, the program is playing on Wednesday and Thursday night. That said, you don't have shit else to do and no reason to miss either night. Unless you're a Jehovah's Witness and have to go hangout at the Kingdom Hall on Thursday night. I mean seriously: basketball season is over, and football is yet to start. There are no sporting events getting in the way of getting your family together to watch this.

2) Solutions: I get the idea that this years offering may be heavy on solutions unlike last year. I think for most people this was a problem. There was a presentation of one extreme to the next with not much middle ground or solutions. It was either you're well do do, or extremely poor and about to lose your home. This year I believe much of the discussion will be about moving forward and inspiring.

1) You watched the BET awards this year: Do I really have to explain this one? The fact that you gave your time to that station is an insult to your ancestors and you owe it to them to watch Black in America 2; it's only right. It is because I think somewhere down south a Black person is lynched everytime 106th & Park is aired.

So there you have it. I hope you folks who read this will now at least take the time to tune in and watch the show. I have faith in CNN and this years show and I doubt that they won't let me down. I wish I could say the same for everybody else. But lord knows us Negroes are never happy. Yes, and it is with saying that, that you folks know that I reserve the right to tear CNN a new asshole if they do in fact disappoint me after I watch the show.

Are you gonna watch it?

Thoughts On Personal Responsibility and Accountability

"My aim is not to provide excuses for black behavior or to absolve blacks of personal responsibility. But when the new black conservatives accent black behavior and responsibility in such a way that the cultural realities of black people are ignored, they are playing a deceptive and dangerous intellectual game with the lives and fortunes of disadvantaged people. We indeed must criticize and condemn immoral acts of black people, but we must do so cognizant of the circumstances into which people are born and under which they live. By overlooking these circumstances, the new black conservatives fall into the trap of blaming black poor people for their predicament. It is imperative to steer a course between the Scylla of environmental determinism and the Charybdis of a blaming-the-victims perspective." - Dr. Cornel West

They Call Me "Little Man"

A very good friend of mine sent this to me in an email last week:

I meant to post this last week, but I could not have done this at a more perfect time. After reading one of the most powerful posts from one of my blog brothers Brown Man Thinking Hard, I had to bring this today. His post was centered around education and today's youth. His post stemmed from a conversation on another blog where it was suggested that maybe Black kids are failing in school because the curiculum was too 'Eurocentric' -- a pretty stupid asertion if you ask me. That said, I must say that I agree with Brown Man's post entitled: "Keeping It Real" - Being Stupid On Purpose. Do yourself the favor of clicking the title of his post and have a read; I believe it's well worth it.

Now, after looking at the previous video or teaser for CNN's Black in America 2, I was left to ponder these Socratic questions:

How is it that a man who grew up picking cotton as the grandson of slaves was able to raise a family with 13 kids, and was able to put 5 of them through college? Why is it that parents today are having a hard time getting their kids to graduate high school? How is it, that he was able to do that without any education, but yet the high school drop out rate is what it is today? Oh yeah, just in case you didn't know, it's pretty damn low [Read: Losing Our Future: How Minority Youth Are Being Left Behind by the Graduation Rate Crisis.].

Are kids failing in schools and dropping out because, well, the curriculum is too eurocentric? What other excuses can you come up with that explains what's happening? I'm only asking because like Brown Man, I'm not going to accept that one. If all 13 of "Little Man's" kids can graduate high school in rural Mississippi and 5 of them advance to college, what's the problem? Is the problem the lack of uneducated Black men the likes of "Little Man" raising their kids today? Surely this Black man isn't an anomaly is he?

Listen, I know the subject of this post deals with education as the questions have laid out. But I would be remiss if I didn't shed light on the beauty of this story. It just goes to show that though us Black men get a bum rap in the media. There are many of us out here who do not or will not be held to a certain negative stereotype or perception. I'm willing to bet that there are many more Black men out there like "Little Man" but maybe not as old. I could only hope that CNN with their upcoming Black in America 2 documentary do a good job of highlighting this fact. We are all aware of the negative stereotypes and it is stories like this that should be used to inspire us.

If "Little Man" can triumph against all odds, why can't we all?

Check out one of my favorites from Nina Simone:

File This One Under: They Never Shoulda Gave You N*ggas Money! Or: "I'm Broke, N*gga I'm Broke!" - Adam "Pacman" Jones

This is what happens when people who've never had anything before finally become wealthy. We see it all the time; more specifically, with professional athletes. In a recent article for Sports Illustrated - How (And Why) Athletes Go Broke - writer Pablo S. Torre had this to share:

What happens to many athletes and their money is indeed hard to believe. In this month alone Saints alltime leading rusher Deuce McAllister filed for bankruptcy protection for the Jackson, Miss., car dealership he owns; Panthers receiver Muhsin Muhammad put his mansion in Charlotte up for sale on eBay a month after news broke that his entertainment company was being sued by Wachovia Bank for overdue credit-card payments; and penniless former NFL running back Travis Henry was jailed for nonpayment of child support.

In a less public way, other athletes from the nation's three biggest and most profitable leagues—the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball—are suffering from a financial pandemic. Although salaries have risen steadily during the last three decades, reports from a host of sources (athletes, players' associations, agents and financial advisers) indicate that:

• By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce.

• Within five years of retirement, an estimated 60% of former NBA players are broke.

This type of financial downfall is not exclusive to professional athletes. Ordinary people who by chance and the luck of the draw manage to pick the winning lottery numbers also fall victim to their financial ineptitue [See: 8 Lottery Winners Who Lost Their Millions]. Just like professional athletes, they all wish they had it to do over again. Of course not all lottery winners and professional athletes are daring enough to "make it rain" on women in strip clubs. But never the less, through bad decisions they for the most part wake up one day wondering "what the f*ck?!!"

William "Bud" Post won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988 but now lives on his Social Security.

"I wish it never happened. It was totally a nightmare," says Post.

A former girlfriend successfully sued him for a share of his winnings. It wasn't his only lawsuit. A brother was arrested for hiring a hit man to kill him, hoping to inherit a share of the winnings. Other siblings pestered him until he agreed to invest in a car business and a restaurant in Sarasota, Fla., -- two ventures that brought no money back and further strained his relationship with his siblings.

Post even spent time in jail for firing a gun over the head of a bill collector. Within a year, he was $1 million in debt.

Post admitted he was both careless and foolish, trying to please his family. He eventually declared bankruptcy.

Now he lives quietly on $450 a month and food stamps.

"I'm tired, I'm over 65 years old, and I just had a serious operation for a heart aneurysm. Lotteries don't mean (anything) to me," says Post.

I often wander off in my mind like everybody does and wish I could hitb the lottery. Like you, I have found myself imagining just what I would do if I were ever in that situation. I often wonder what I would buy, and just how my life would change. Just like you, the thought of hitting the lottery is a welcomed dream. But hey, there's an old saying that says "you gotta pay to play". I can't help but to think that sometimes said price isn't worth it.

I guess in the end we can all say that what happened to these people will never happen to us. But that's easy to say especially when you never had it to begin with. Adam "Pacman" Jones, though unlike other athletes who have lost money and are broke after retirement was a fool. I'm sorry, but I don't think it gets any more silly than going into a stripclub with $100,000 in cash. Especially when you can get women for a lot less by just being a professional athlete in ton on Allstar Weekend. He took forgranted the opportunity he had, and he threw it away. He was given a second chance in the NFL and he has since pissed it away. In my opinion, though a gifted athlete, and as much as I believe in people given a chance for redemption, Adam "Pacman" Jones deserves no more than he was already given.

You can read this article - 25 Rich Athletes Who Went Broke - to get a feel for the who's who of professional athletes who have had their share of financial ruin. Like me, you'll probably be surprised to see the host of White athletes who made the list. Further proving that failures are not always the kid you take out of the ghetto.

Preaching to the choir

I listened to Barack Obama's speech at the NAACP, and I'll be honest, it wasn't one of those come to Jesus moments for me. Unlike the people in attendance the Holy Ghost didn't run through me, nor did I start speaking in tongues. I suppose it's due in part to the fact that I felt like he broke no new ground with his speech; seriously, how many times have we heard the whole dreaded "PR" words - personal responsibility - dished out at us. Of course this "self-accountability" theme or line he delivered is being played out by the media for obvious reasons. Yeah, I know it's the NAACP so it's probably to be expected, but tell me something I don't know. I mean, tell me about how the green jobs are going to create employment in the Black community. Tell me about how those "shovel ready" projects are coming along and it's impact on the crisis of minority unemployment. Tell me if us minorities will ever have to worry about predatory lending ever again.

I don't know, but is it too audacious to think that a person like myself filled with hope and longing for change to ask this of our president? Can we hear some talk about how implemented policy will directly, and specifically impact the Black community? How much longer will we as Black people be the choir that is lectured? When will we be just members of the church who tithe every week and question the progress on the building fund? Look, personal responsibility, and the importance of education is one thing - an important thing. However, haven't we stressed these ideals a time or two? The thing that bothers me, is that if this were George W. Bush giving the very same speech - obviously with less eloquence and passion - a part of me thinks that us Black folks would be offended. Yes, we would and I dare you to tell me I'm wrong; I'll let you marinate on that as I move on.

Speaking of hope, change and social justice:

A good friend of mine, Tracie Powell, who is a weekly contributor to CQpolitics wrote a piece recently that I found interesting and thought provoking. Her piece centers around president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Rev. Eric P. Lee. He has come under fire for expressing an opposing view which supports the LGBT movement and their fight for equality and marriage. As a result of his stance or support the organization wants him fired. Her piece is titled: Gay Marriage: What Would King Do?, and after reading it one can only wonder - as I did - what, how or where would Martin Luther King Jr. stand on this issue today were he alive. I'd really like you to take the time to click the aforementioned link to her post and give it a read.

It is my hope that you would be brave enough to leave your honest opinion on her post as you would here. Personally I would hope that if Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, he would lend his support to the LGBT movement. After all, he he did champion for equality economically and socially, did he not? However, even in knowing that as well all do. A part of me wants to think that he too would have back pedaled and become hypocritical and lend no support to this cause. Him being a Black preacher, I think he would have folded under the pressure of the Black church, and organizations like the SCLC, and I think that would have been tragic. Tragic because for most of us, it's probably hard to see Martin Luther King Jr. as a hypocrite. Even more tragic, is that there are some of us who believe that organizations like the SCLC and the NAACP are no longer relevant. Well, if they aren't where would Barack Obama go to preach to the choir?

QUESTION(S):

What did you think of Barack Obama's speech in front of the NAACP gathering?

Do you think Martin Luther King Jr. would be supportive of the LGBT w/ gay marriage?

Do you think as an organization, that the NAACP or the SCLC are still relevent today?