Is Obama Right For Saying "I Can't Do Nuthin Fo Ya Man" To The Congressional Black Caucus?

Straight from Flava Flavs play book, the Obama administration is saying, "I can't do nuthin fo ya, man" to the Congressional Black Caucus (aka CBC). What began as a friendly partisan request for the release of stimulus funds directed toward minority businesses and their constituents is now morphing into an outright clamorous demand right before our eyes. During recent interviews with the CBC, you sense the unease that many of these politicians have about escalating this issue. Whereas some are definitely eager to hit Obama where it hurts, the majority seems cautious and a bit nervous about picking this fight. President Obama is still very popular among their constituents.

As of November 2009, the unemployment rate for Whites and Blacks were 9.3% and 15.6%, respectively. For Black women and men it was 11.7% and 16.9%, respectively. See the chart at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t02.htm.  Some believe this to be double and even triple in some of the CBC’s districts.

President Obama wants to address the economic woes of all of Main Street. The CBC claims that the economic woes of Blacks and other minorities represent something more like Back Street as opposed to Main Street. They say that they need to target economic stimulus dollars to stabilize this section of the United States.

Knowing politics as I do, you get what you want when you have the leverage. When you don’t have leverage, you get ignored and marginalized. For example, consider the few hold-outs over the healthcare legislation. They used the threat of a nay vote to get what they wanted and ultimately trumped the will of the majority of the Senate. God knows what other concessions they were able to get for other pieces of legislation not currently in the lime-light. Being loyal does gain you some leverage, but not as much as holding out on close important votes.

The CBC has leverage if they so choose to use it. There are a slew of votes coming down the chute that will need their support. They certainly could be the sticks in the mud if they have the balls (for lack of a better word) to stand firm on their convictions. It has been a while since they have asserted themselves in a major way. Mostly the CBC focuses on safe low hanging fruit, nothing too controversial or costly.

I have to be honest, I agree with the Obama administration on this issue. But it’s not likely for the same reasons the administration is making this stand. I'm sure his inner circle has advised him that African Americans are his most loyal constituents and have traditionally supported the Democrat in big numbers whether there was a quid pro quo or not. And that showing any direct support of African Americans would give the opposition proof to support their assertions that he is the "Black President". And that any preferential treatment should first be directed toward those "independent" voters. You know those folks that drive mini-vans, live in the suburbs, enjoy Starbucks joe on the regular, and flip-flop voting for Democrats and Republicans. Yeah, they'll make the real difference in the 2010 and 2012 election.

I think the CBC’s initiative is the wrong move because the money needs to go where folks know how to leverage it. The Bush and Obama administrations were thinking this when the stimulus money was directed to Wall Street. Although the intent was to prop up our financial system, the issue with that distribution choice is that only flimsy strings were attached. Now that the financial system seems to be regaining its balance and the smoke is clearing, we can all see that Wall Street did exactly what it does well. They made money. Why anyone would think that Wall Street would be the knights in shining armor riding in to save the day on their white horses is a mystery to me. Financial institutions are all about the Benjamins, baby.

Surely, the lesson has been learned and the next round of stimulus won’t be as much of a gift as the first. So in that frame of thinking, the right way to go is to put stimulus funds in the hands of those who can properly leverage it. That group of people is a much ethnically broader spectrum than either the Starbucks independents or the CBC constituents. That group understands money and would make the right decisions to get the economy going and lower unemployment rates.

Funneling money down the chute specifically for Blacks and minorities will neither get the economy going nor lower the unemployment rates in the long run. Just like the failure of most social programs and social spending, such an approach will only temporarily sustain Black folks and minority businesses until the money runs out. Don’t get me wrong, there will be a few that game the system and walk away in good shape. But this is not the case for the vast majority who will find themselves still in a vulnerable situation when it’s all said and done.

Really, if the CBC wants to reduce the unemployment rate among minorities, they’d stop with aid and assistance program mentality that only prolongs problems instead of solving them. Where are the "keep families together" bills and "equal education for all" bills? What about the "endangered species" bill for Black and Latino men to address the incarceration and murder rates impacting these groups or the "go to high school...go to college" bills giving poor people education and financial support? How about the “minority business incubator” bills that groom and support entrepreneurs and small business owners?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the CBC isn't an important and essential group. But they do focus a whole lot on the low hanging fruit. It would be good if they shift their focus to more important issues affecting the Black community. They have the leverage to do it. But that's a blog for another day.

Why are African Americans opposed to gay marriage?

I recently read a blog on the Huffington Post by Sam Fulwood called Why Are Some Black Folks So Upset Over Gays Getting Married? Please check it out at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-fulwood/why-are-some-black-folks_b_375885.html. The author, Sam, is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.


Immediately, it struck me that gay people are dealing with various forms of prejudice and discrimination sort of like what women, African Americans, Hispanics, Chinese, and countless other minorities experienced in America. Clearly, gays aren't being routinely terrorized by hate groups, but state and local legislative bodies are passing laws that are discriminatory toward gays. Is it questionable that a legislative body would pass laws that discriminate?  Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that interracial marriage was illegal. 

Maybe here is where I should state that I am African American, heterosexual, married with kids, and a proud Christian of the Church of God in Christ denomination (a rather conservative Christian group). And maybe that is why my heart and compassion extends to the gay population surrounding marriage. It's a choice between two consenting adults. It's a choice that doesn't harm anyone else. It's a choice that other U.S. citizens enjoy. So why shouldn’t gay Americans have equal protection under the law?

As I discussed this with my wife who also is a proclaimed heterosexual, married, African American Christian, we seem to have two different perspectives. She says that the Bible says that gay behavior is a sin and that's why it shouldn't be legal. Period!

I said that my Christian beliefs and morals should not determine whether gay marriage should be legal. If gay people want to get married, that's between the couple and God. But as a matter of equality, I cannot think of a reason why it should not be legal for gays to marry.

Is the Bible really the best source for determining the legality of social norms? The Bible made plenty of other social rules that no longer apply in today's society. Slavery and women rights immediately come to mind. Should we not then re-animate the legality of slavery and strip women of their rights?

I assert that if African Americans are thinking like my wife on this topic, then they too are substituting Christian morality for legality. One’s morals whether based on one’s Christian beliefs or not should not determine right and wrong behavior for someone else. Instead, one’s morals should be their personal guiding principles.

Sam Fulwood article points out how some Christian leaders once understood that Civil Rights for one translated into Civil Rights for all.  But if God gave us free choice to choose right or wrong, then why is it appropriate for us to take away choice from others? By doing this, are we not putting ourselves above God as judges?  Surely, that is not a place for man.

Are You A Potential Millionaire Or A Marketer's Dream Consumer?

I just finished a book by Thomas J. Stanley entitled Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire this week. For those unfamiliar with this author, he wrote the best-selling book, The Millionaire Next Door. In Stop Acting Rich, he highlighted several distinctions between the truly rich and those who are faking the funk. For instance, did you know that the number 1 car among millionaires is a Toyota? If you are like me, you were thinking it was a luxury car like a Lexus, Mercedes Benz, or BMW, right? Nope! And surprisingly there were a host of other misconceptions I held about the wealthy. This book really challenged a lot of my understandings of what it would be like to be a millionaire.


But how did we develop these understandings? Where did these misconceptions come from? How were they shaped? Marketers! The geniuses of advertising and marketing brainwashed us. They suggested that one product was the preferred choice of the wealthy and we believed them…hook, line, and sinker.  They told us what cars they drove. They told us what liquor they preferred. They took us on tours of their $1,000,000 plus homes. They showed us the luxury vacations that the rich enjoyed.  They told us that the 5-star restaurant was where they dined.  They defined how we view the rich.

Who are we? We are roughly 80% of the US population, give or take 5% or so. We’re the people who wish to one day to be millionaires. We’re the ones who are looking forward to the spending power our millions will allow us. We are the ones who the marketers are eager to become rich so that we can give our millions to the companies that employ them.

Millionaires are actually a frugal bunch overall according to Stanley. On one end of the millionaire continuum are those who are flashy, but the far majority are on the other end. Those millionaires could be living in $150,000 house right down the street from you right now. They play outstanding defense to keep more of their money. They are guided by a primary goal of financial independence.  They don’t buy into marketers’ fact manipulations about products, services, and preferences of the rich. 

Nope. That would be us supporting these companies by following the old cliché “fake it until you make it” while all along not really having a wealth building strategy to actually achieve the millionaire level of wealth. Go figure.

Why Are Christians Praying For The Death Of President Obama?

This week a story broke that “Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8” paraphernalia was being sold on the internet. Hats, t-shirts, bears, mugs, mouse pads, etcetera, all bearing this statement were being sold to presumably our Christian brethren on the right. It went relatively under the radar, I assume, until someone actually read Psalm 109:8. It reads, “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership”. So what this campaign is all about is praying for President Obama’s quick removal from office, right?

Certainly, that would be the case if you take Psalm 109:8 out of the context in which was written and take it literally. But what if Psalm 109:8 is put in the proper context? The meaning of this scripture takes a rather insidious turn and doesn’t actually fit the “political” statement at which I hope they were aiming (no pun intended). Here is what’s in Psalm 109 before and after verse 8:
1 O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, 2 for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. 4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship. 6 Appoint an evil man to oppose him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. 7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him. 8 May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. 9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. 10 May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes. 11 May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. 12 May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children. 13 May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation…

I’ll stop there; but there are 31 verses in Psalm 109. The author of Psalm 109 has a real issue with this individual(s). He switches from the plural to the single a few times throughout the chapter. In essence, he is describing himself as a victim of the attack of an accuser(s). He’s asking God to unleash his wrath upon him/them and his family. In verse 9, he goes as far as calling for his/their death.

Hence, if this scripture is taken in context in which it was written, the short days implied here are referring to his death. So, I ask, why are Christians praying for the death of President Obama?

6 Reasons Why Racism Is Still Around (Part 3)

In the first part, I made the point that racism exists only because people believe it does and because some White men use it as a defensive tool to protect and maintain control and power. In the second part, I made the point that it existed because some use it as a hedge of safety by keeping them separated from perceived threats and because Christians either actively practice or silently condone the practice of discrimination and prejudice.

This week, I list my final 2 reasons why racism is still around which are:
5. Applied racism is a wealth building strategy. Yes, indeed! Racism applied systematically toward a people creates wealth for the profiteers. This works because racism effectively isolates and renders groups defenseless. Isolated and defenseless people are susceptible to all kinds of exploitation schemes necessary to build wealth.

This strategy is not original. It is a natural law of the wild. In the wild, one of the predator’s strategies is to isolate its prey. Once isolated, the prey is vulnerable to attack. In the same way, racism implemented properly isolates a group and increases defenselessness. Institutions of racism strip a people of resources, sufficient education, and political power. What remains are people who lack physical resources for gaining leverage, do not understand their leverage, and cannot organize properly to apply their leverage.

Those seeking wealth can then turn a profit by providing services and products that address conditions brought about by systematic discrimination and prejudice. High unemployment, crime rates, and convictions are connected to the growth of for-profit prisons and government jails. High levels of hopelessness and superficial living are connected to the booming illegal drug market. Low wage jobs are connected to mortgage industry predatory lending. Poor health conditions are connected to the increase in for-profit hospitals, pharmacies, and urgent care facilities. Poor and decaying neighborhoods are connected to the bottom lines of lenders and developers via gentrification.

I submit that social ills that impact the Black community as a result of systematic discrimination and prejudice are directly connected to profit centers. Solving these social problems would in essence undermine the profiteers and their enterprises. Both politically and financially, it is not in the interests of power brokers and community leaders to address these issues in some meaningful way. This should come as no surprise as capitalism will create a market wherever it is permitted by law, despite its social impact.

6. Some Blacks cannot function without racism. As a member of arguably the most persecuted race of people in modern world history, I assert that racism is surviving because some Blacks will not let it die. I'm sure my revolutionaries are saying, "are you serious...how can you blame the victim for the atrocities of the victimizer?" I agree, BUT, the extent to which some Blacks obsess over racism raises the question whether it has become a psychological crutch that undermines the efforts necessary to escape the holds of racism.

Admittedly, we cannot downplay the psychological impact of slavery, Jim Crow, and the nearly 400 year campaign of negative propaganda and discrimination directed towards Blacks. Clearly, that much negative attention and treatment scars a people for generations. Surely, the source of self-hatred behaviors, hyper-sensitivities, and glass-ceiling mentalities is planted in this trauma.

But at what point do Blacks recognize this, break loose from these psychological shackles, and resolutely pursue King’s “promised land”? Is that not the American experience…to overcome adversity? Is that not achieving the American dream? Instead, it’s as if, Blacks are waiting for an official apology. It’s as if an acknowledgement of mistreatment is in order before Blacks as a people, can move forward. It’s as if an apology or other acknowledgement would undo the damage.

I submit that the psychological trauma of racism is real; but, it seems that the response of Blacks to that trauma is to renew it in our daily lives and limit our own progress. Even the grandchildren and great grandchildren of slaves are holding on to the many limitations experienced by the slaves. Education opportunities abound nowadays. Yet, instead of problem solving the pertinent Black issues of the day, many are in the business of problem dodging, excuse making, and issue perpetuating.

Thank you for your indulgence on this topic. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about racism and this blog.

6 Reasons Why Racism Is Still Around (Part 2)

Last week, I made the point that racism exists because people believe it does. It also exists because some White men use it as a defensive tool to protect and maintain control and power. 

This week, I add 2 more reasons which are:
3. Racism is a perceived hedge of safety for some. A hedge of safety is a barrier used to divide, block, or somehow impede access of those outside the barrier. Some believe that by separating themselves from others, they somehow gain security for self, family, and assets. Racism can be perceived as a hedge as it can effectively divide groups, block advancement of others, and impede the access of those seeking entrance.

Did you know that school districts are secretly re-segregating? (Please reference http://www.harvardscience.harvard.edu/culture-society/articles/public-school-districts-resegregating-race-study-finds). Seeking safer learning environments and better education for their children, I suspect parents are moving their children to private schools if they can afford the tuition or moving to school districts where minorities are extremely small percentages of the population.

Did you know that many communities today are segregated? Certainly, families are concerned about crime statistics and property valuation. And for some "reason", higher crime rates and lower property values are uniquely linked to minorities and poor people. Therefore, by virtue of safety and motivated by racism, some people seek to distance themselves from minorities.

I submit that these choices are primarily not based on racial biases. Those seeking security via a hedge are basing their decisions on perceived threats. Granted, the threats are based on perceptions of minorities and the poor among other reasons; but we cannot ignore the empirical data that supports many of these perceptions.  And then, we're not only talking about Whites, but other races including Blacks make similar choices.  And what they all have in common is financial means.

4. Christians support racism. I know what you're thinking...whoa, somebody's been putting a little vodka in his coffee! But it is true. Christians support racism. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “We must face the sad fact that at 11 o’clock on Sunday morning, when we stand to sing...we stand in the most segregated hour in America.” And no matter what city and state one may go, this is a truism that is undisputed to this very day.

Christian customs toward women, minorities, non-believers, and other religions have been discriminatory and prejudice as well as presumptuous. Where there is very little pushback from leadership and members of the Christian faith, that silence and inaction translates into support of truly non-Christ-like behavior in the form of discriminatory and prejudicial customs.

Sadly, Biblical scriptures demonstrate these customs. In the Old Testament, one can find scriptures defining the "clean" group and the "unclean" group. A "clean" person would become unclean if he were to consort with an "unclean" person, food, or activity. So laws and customs were established to ensure everyone knew the boundaries. Sound familiar? 

In the New Testament, a similar system was established for "believers" (the righteous) and "unbelievers" (the unrighteous). These groups shouldn't inter-marry. 1st century Jewish converts to Christianity still carried racist attitudes toward Gentiles. Apostles Peter and James were called out by Apostle Paul over their racist attitudes and behavior.

I submit, as a Christian myself, that racism is not a precept of Christianity; however, Christians do practice various forms of discrimination and prejudice. The distinction is Christian practice as opposed to Christianity.  When fellow Christians fail to correct this behavior and attitude, in essence, they support it with their inaction and silence. I must note that Jesus did set the counter-example of racism by reserving judgment and accepting people for who they were; but then Jesus was a Jew not a Christian, argumentatively.

Next time, I add my last 2 reasons as to why racism is still around which are wealthy building necessity and Black self-identification.  Stay tuned...I'll explain.

6 Reasons Why Racism Is Still Around (Part 1)

I must be honest; I have always wondered why racism is still surviving today. Slavery ended well over 100 years ago. Integration in work places and the military came along in the mid 1900s. 1960’s brought government intervention vis-à-vis the Civil Rights Bill pioneering affirmative action and the other field-leveling legislation. The vast majority of schools were integrated by the early 1970s. Interracial relationships have become somewhat of social norm in the last 20 years. Heck, we even have an African American sitting as President of the United States as of January 2009.

Yet, racism still seems to be intricately woven into the American fabric. Clearly, the degree and visibility of racism has declined over the century, but its effects are still experienced by minorities. Racism is a prism through which the vast majority of people sees and experiences life, even though it is not primarily a perspective or experience of Whites.

But, let’s first define racism before exploring this subject. The Webster Dictionary defines racism this way:

1. A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
2. Racial prejudice or discrimination.

Because of the length of this discussion, I had to break this one into 3 parts. So today, I submit reasons 1-2 as to why racism still exists which are:

1. Many believe that racism exists. Simple enough, many believe that it does exist; therefore it does (Rene Descartes, “I think therefore, I am”). Since many have “believed” racism into existence, it now is a reality for all of those who believe it exists.

But does racism really exist? Could it be a Matrix phenomenon: “There is no spoon”? If so, there is no racism. There is no difference in human character or ability based on race. In fact, whether someone is good, bad, capable, incapable, or some variation has nothing to do with race at all. Furthermore, systems of racism, whether institutional or other, are actually systems of control that impact groups equally within economic groups.

But how ridiculous is it that if one’s decisions or efforts do not produce the results they wish, then it is because of someone else’s feelings toward them or a system designed to defeat them? Not only is that ridiculous, but it's abundantly self-centered.

I submit racial discrimination and prejudice is a misnomer. Using the term "racial" in conjunction with discrimination or prejudice gives the impression that this type of belief is somehow paramount in comparison to other forms of discrimination and prejudice. However, the beliefs and acts of discrimination and prejudice transcend race and are actually normal human characteristics.

2. White men need it to protect and maintain power and control. In all fairness, I should say some White men. No group has benefited more from racism than the White man. Even the non-racist ones have benefited from the systems created by their peers. It is clear that racism works because from the inception of the United States to this very day the fraternity of White men has been controlling events. Our Founding Fathers, the first 43 Presidents, 90+ percent of the 20th century CEOs and so on were all White men. Clearly, racism is an effective defensive tool to protect and maintain power and control.

I submit that this defensive tool (one of many in the arsenal) is premised on the illusion that women and minorities are lacking somehow. In the opening paragraph of this blog, I step through key events that highlight the undermining of this illusion. What it exposes is the deterioration of this illusion that women and minorities are somehow incapable and powerless. Social changes are shifting power and control to other groups, redefining perceptions about women and minorities, and rendering this tool impotent.

Next week, I'll continue with a couple of more reasons, say...christianity supports it & security in racism.  Stay tuned...I'll explain.