Obama - The Unfolding Story - Page 41

TheDogon · (#1001 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vubundada_Kandaba

Solutions also come from speeches Dogon. Ligali is a successful Organization that is geered to speak and represent on behalf of Black African British in the UK when ever the media distorts our images. Ligali as I understand it is formed by people who are still members of BNV. They met here and from the talks, speeches and debates they have here on BNV, Ligali was born. The members of BNV here can correct me if I am wrong on this because I don't know all the details ( I stand to be corrected).

- India was liberated after Mahatma Ghandi gave a series of speeches that motivated people to protest against British Rule. From there on people with the help of Ghandi organized for a wider goal of Independence.

- In Ghana in 1883, an exceptional woman called Yaa Asantewaa rose up and gave a speech that motivated the men to rise up and face the British. Prior to her speech, the Men were intimidated and cowered from fear of the British. Said Asantewaa "Now I see that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king. If it were in the brave days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see their king to be taken away without firing a shot. No European could have dared speak to chiefs of Asante in the way the governor spoke to you this morning. Is it true that the bravery of Asante is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this: if you, the men of Asante, will not go forward, then we will. We, the women, will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight the white men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields".

- It was speech that Hitler gave amongst other things that led to rise of Nazism which led to them almost ruling the World.

The examples are many but I will stop here for lack of time.

Well, perhaps other Africans can meet and speak on issues. And perhaps from those discussions a plan can be designed and implemented. But here in America, it doesn't seem to work that way. The only movement that I have been exposed to that has lead to concrete action is Tavis Smiley's SOBU.

Speeches in our community simply lead to move speeches. No one is inspired. No one is motivated. Everyone is simply figuring out how to make it on their own. But that I think is largely due to our experience in America and the state of our fractured community/identity.

I dunno, VK. We have heard this all over and over again. From Malcolm, at the MMM, in churches, on tv, on the radio, Tom Joyner, Tavis Smiley, Judge Mathis, etc., etc.

Everyone is speech making about fatherhood, yet sons go fatherless. . .only to repeat the same cycle with the future children.

You can't change a lifetime of behavior, with one speech. You must be taught how to be father and see examples of how to contribute positively to your community.

astmartins · (#1002 (**permalink**))

I always thought Obama had fond memories of his father albeit it was just a glossy attempt at masquerading his inadequacies as this article depicts

Contrapunctus XIV: Barack Obama's Father a Polygamist and Violent Drunk?

Prince Hakeem · (#1003 (**permalink**))

Yaaaaawwwwnnnnnn...........

adrianerik · (#1004 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDogon

Barack and Bill can make all the speeches they wish. Speeches are not solutions. We have been talking about the "Black" family and personal responsibility for decades. That hasn't done squat. The only time we have made progress is when people got together to take action. When we stop pointing at each other when it comes to raising children and start realizing that all of these children are our children.

I think it is pretty easy to see that Barack was speaking to that "White" vote about "personal responsibility" for "Black" fathers. He wasn't speaking to us. Bill Cosby should know better seeing that he has personally intervened in the lives of "Black" youth, to put them through school and to make sure they have an education.

When our actions match our rhetoric, we will be getting somewhere.

I just let my older sister stay the weekend with me. She has been in and out of shelters for the past few months. I like everyone else, get so tired of this stuff. She has a 9 year-old daughter with her. And all I can see in the future is heartache and disappointment.

But I still have to try.

I don't think that you understand the evangelical black church movement in the United States, particularly the pentecostal (who are very socially conservative and the apostolic who are uber-conservative). Obama's message was mild compared to the ass-whupping given to wotless (is that how the Brits say it) black men every Sunday.

What did Obama say that was not said at the Million Man March? Did you go? Do you remember the speech of Farrakhan? If not, make yourself aware of it. As well as the speeches of more than half of the speakers there. Do you remember the pledge that those MORE THAN A MILLION MEN MADE? Almost equal to Obama's. Wasn't that in public, in front of a whole lot of white folks? So is Farrakhan a white-man loving Uncle Tom, who doesn't respect black people? And Ben Chavis. And what's his name from the Fugees. And Stevie Wonder. They ripped black men's behaviour terribly. I was there.

Sure, there were minor comments about the history of white racism. Nobody traveled all the way to D.C. on that cold October to hear more rants.

I detect a bit of good ole southern 'contrariness' being posted here.

@G - "Respect" is not an agenda point. It is not an organizing point. What can't be measured can't be organized. Can't be managed. We can't appoint a Minister of Respect. How much respect do we need? How much do we have? One-fourth? One-half? When do we know we have it? How do I look at my son's report card and determine that I'm getting respect? What measure do I use with the women of D.C or Atlanta (1/4 of whom will be raped or sexually assaulted. ISN'T THAT CATOSTROPHIC?), to tell them our respect level increased last year.

So, respectfully, I'm suggesting that sometimes it's so difficult to find a black agenda because we are so knife-between-the-teeth, hand-on-the-sword, AHM-A-BLACK-WAR--REE--YUR addicted that we can't respect an agenda that does not have 'black' in front of it or that may cause rain, that we think should only wet us, to fall on others. The URBAN AGENDA, particularly URBAN TRANSPORTATION. THE HEALTH AGENDA. The POOR RURAL AGENDA. (In the American south, the economic situation is the opposite of the north. The cities have good schools while the poor rural have crap. It's not just poor rural whites suffering. It's rural blacks, rural indians and rural latinos). THE EDUCATION AGENDA (there, we need the word black. Afrocentric studies should be part of the curriculum).

There are others but they are meaningless until these silly STATE OF THE BLACK UNION crap are replaced by the soul-searching the community did in the 60's and 70's when it was easy to say that the black movement was a 'righteous movement'.

Vubundada_Kandaba · (#1005 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDogon

Speeches in our community simply lead to move speeches. No one is inspired. No one is motivated. Everyone is simply figuring out how to make it on their own. But that I think is largely due to our experience in America and the state of our fractured community/identity. I dunno, VK. We have heard this all over and over again. From Malcolm, at the MMM, in churches, on tv, on the radio, Tom Joyner, Tavis Smiley, Judge Mathis, etc., etc. Everyone is speech making about fatherhood, yet sons go fatherless. . .only to repeat the same cycle with the future children. You can't change a lifetime of behavior, with one speech. You must be taught how to be father and see examples of how to contribute positively to your community.

I hear you Dogon and feel your frustrations, we all are frustrated to a certain level about our status being at the bottom of all the Worlds people. It is not easy but what can we do really other than just keep on trying maybe someone else will listen. And I applaude your efforts in trying to help others. To me Rap Music and BET are amongst the contributors to the Negative State Black People find themselves in by influencing the younger generations. There has been a battle brewing on since last Month between “The Boondocks” creator Aaron McGruder and Black Entertainment Television and it is about to get a lot more animated over the issue of BET's negative influence on the community. Several weeks ago, BET executives complained to Turner-owned Cartoon Network and Sony Pictures Television, which produces “The Boondocks,” and urged that they be block from broadcast, any episode that pokes fun at BET. The Boodocks episode is now realeased on DVD because of the threat from BET. The use of the N-word, apparently went too far in mocking BET’s top brass. In Boondocks episode “The Hunger Strike,” a main character refuses to eat until BET is off the air and its executives commit hara-kiri ( Japanese Suicide form of slicing ones abdomen). And in “The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show,” a foul-mouthed black man who hates African-Americans gets a show on BET.

Chairman and chief executive Debra L. Lee, who succeeded the network’s founder, Robert Johnson, is shown as Debra Leevil, patterned after “Dr. Evil” in the “Austin Powers” films. Leevil declares in a staff meeting: “Our leader Bob Johnson had a dream, a dream that would accomplish what hundreds of years of slavery, Jim Crow and malt liquor could not accomplish — the destruction of black people.”
And BET president of Entertainment Reginald Hudlin is depicted as Wedgie Rudlin, a culturally insensitive buffoon coasting on his Ivy League education. The DVD release features stinging commentary from McGruder and Barnes about the episodes, which are uncut. In the introduction, McGruder said he went after BET because network executives, in his view, failed to elevate the network’s standards, something Hudlin had pointedly promised to do when joining the network three years ago. Barnes added: “You expect white television to present black people in a particular way. The anger comes from black television portraying us in a particular way. That brings out a different sense of frustration, and at the heart of these episodes is that frustration.”

Vubundada_Kandaba · (#1006 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrianerik

What did Obama say that was not said at the Million Man March? Did you go? Do you remember the speech of Farrakhan? If not, make yourself aware of it. As well as the speeches of more than half of the speakers there. Do you remember the pledge that those MORE THAN A MILLION MEN MADE? Almost equal to Obama's. Wasn't that in public, in front of a whole lot of white folks? So is Farrakhan a white-man loving Uncle Tom, who doesn't respect black people? And Ben Chavis. And what's his name from the Fugees. And Stevie Wonder. They ripped black men's behaviour terribly. I was there.

There are others but they are meaningless until these silly STATE OF THE BLACK UNION crap are replaced by the soul-searching the community did in the 60's and 70's when it was easy to say that the black movement was a 'righteous movement'.

Good elaboration about the Million Man March. I was about to include that in my earlier response but I could not remember all the details about that show. At that time I was still new to the US having just arrived from Africa but I remember the same amount of criticism leveled at Black Man. And the Million Man March was broadcasted on nearly all TV stations and played for days on end on C-Span.

manwiththemirror · (#1007 (**permalink**))

comparing special interest groups to a whole race AS a special interest group is way off mark.

the special interest groups that politicians and the presidency usually lie in bed with represent mostly one section of the majority race i.e. upper middle class, and on occasion the middle class. but both these groups also include upper middle class black people, and middle class black people most of the time too do they not?

TheDogon · (#1008 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrianerik

I don't think that you understand the evangelical black church movement in the United States, particularly the pentecostal (who are very socially conservative and the apostolic who are uber-conservative). Obama's message was mild compared to the ass-whupping given to wotless (is that how the Brits say it) black men every Sunday.

What did Obama say that was not said at the Million Man March? Did you go? Do you remember the speech of Farrakhan? If not, make yourself aware of it. As well as the speeches of more than half of the speakers there. Do you remember the pledge that those MORE THAN A MILLION MEN MADE? Almost equal to Obama's. Wasn't that in public, in front of a whole lot of white folks? So is Farrakhan a white-man loving Uncle Tom, who doesn't respect black people? And Ben Chavis. And what's his name from the Fugees. And Stevie Wonder. They ripped black men's behaviour terribly. I was there.

Sure, there were minor comments about the history of white racism. Nobody traveled all the way to D.C. on that cold October to hear more rants.

I detect a bit of good ole southern 'contrariness' being posted here.

@G - "Respect" is not an agenda point. It is not an organizing point. What can't be measured can't be organized. Can't be managed. We can't appoint a Minister of Respect. How much respect do we need? How much do we have? One-fourth? One-half? When do we know we have it? How do I look at my son's report card and determine that I'm getting respect? What measure do I use with the women of D.C or Atlanta (1/4 of whom will be raped or sexually assaulted. ISN'T THAT CATOSTROPHIC?), to tell them our respect level increased last year.

So, respectfully, I'm suggesting that sometimes it's so difficult to find a black agenda because we are so knife-between-the-teeth, hand-on-the-sword, AHM-A-BLACK-WAR--REE--YUR addicted that we can't respect an agenda that does not have 'black' in front of it or that may cause rain, that we think should only wet us, to fall on others. The URBAN AGENDA, particularly URBAN TRANSPORTATION. THE HEALTH AGENDA. The POOR RURAL AGENDA. (In the American south, the economic situation is the opposite of the north. The cities have good schools while the poor rural have crap. It's not just poor rural whites suffering. It's rural blacks, rural indians and rural latinos). THE EDUCATION AGENDA (there, we need the word black. Afrocentric studies should be part of the curriculum).

There are others but they are meaningless until these silly STATE OF THE BLACK UNION crap are replaced by the soul-searching the community did in the 60's and 70's when it was easy to say that the black movement was a 'righteous movement'.

Sorry brotha, you totally missed my point. You must have read someone else's post.

I just told you that Barack's speech wasn't even meant for us. It wasn't even the way most pastors, speakers, organizers, activists, even break it down. I am not even sure why you even tried to bring this up. . .when I just told you this.

Anyway, sufficed to say, that is a whole lot of speeches with almost little or no action.

You might not like the SOBU, but it is the best thing going. If you have something better, then share it with the forum. Maybe we might take a look at your organization.

And if you don't have anything better. . .

well. . .

I guess that kind of sums up the African-American Experience, doesn it?

TheDogon · (#1009 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vubundada_Kandaba

I hear you Dogon and feel your frustrations, we all are frustrated to a certain level about our status being at the bottom of all the Worlds people. It is not easy but what can we do really other than just keep on trying maybe someone else will listen. And I applaude your efforts in trying to help others. To me Rap Music and BET are amongst the contributors to the Negative State Black People find themselves in by influencing the younger generations. There has been a battle brewing on since last Month between “The Boondocks” creator Aaron McGruder and Black Entertainment Television and it is about to get a lot more animated over the issue of BET's negative influence on the community. Several weeks ago, BET executives complained to Turner-owned Cartoon Network and Sony Pictures Television, which produces “The Boondocks,” and urged that they be block from broadcast, any episode that pokes fun at BET. The Boodocks episode is now realeased on DVD because of the threat from BET. The use of the N-word, apparently went too far in mocking BET’s top brass. In Boondocks episode “The Hunger Strike,” a main character refuses to eat until BET is off the air and its executives commit hara-kiri ( Japanese Suicide form of slicing ones abdomen). And in “The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show,” a foul-mouthed black man who hates African-Americans gets a show on BET.

Chairman and chief executive Debra L. Lee, who succeeded the network’s founder, Robert Johnson, is shown as Debra Leevil, patterned after “Dr. Evil” in the “Austin Powers” films. Leevil declares in a staff meeting: “Our leader Bob Johnson had a dream, a dream that would accomplish what hundreds of years of slavery, Jim Crow and malt liquor could not accomplish — the destruction of black people.”
And BET president of Entertainment Reginald Hudlin is depicted as Wedgie Rudlin, a culturally insensitive buffoon coasting on his Ivy League education. The DVD release features stinging commentary from McGruder and Barnes about the episodes, which are uncut. In the introduction, McGruder said he went after BET because network executives, in his view, failed to elevate the network’s standards, something Hudlin had pointedly promised to do when joining the network three years ago. Barnes added: “You expect white television to present black people in a particular way. The anger comes from black television portraying us in a particular way. That brings out a different sense of frustration, and at the heart of these episodes is that frustration.”

VK, I saw those banned episodes and almost busted a gut laughing. I do admire Aaron McGruder.

Yep, it could not be said any truer. The problem is our image of us. The issue is the limitation we have placed on ourselves. And the box, we have chosen for our group.

We find entertainment in minstrelsy, ignorance, and vulgarity. It doesn't even feel natural watching this garbage. Yet it is so pervasive.

But I don't get frustrated with our media image so much. I can't control it. I do what I can to complain. But my struggles are more personal. I get frustrated just living in the ghetto and seeing hopelessness. There is nothing worse than seeing a hopeless person. . .who is totally ignorant of the hopelessness they are buried in.

I can't even pull them out. . .they don't even know which way to climb.

Burning Spear · (#1010 (**permalink**))

Does it matter who is the messaenger( MLK,Malcolm,DuBois,Mandela,or Obama) a large percentage f Black men are walking away from responsibility.Just walk down any street in DC, New York,Kingson,Niarobi,Lonon or Cape Town. You see the after effects of this foolishness.