Black Leaders Feeling Eclipsed In Obama Era - Politics on The Huffington Post

Black Leaders Feeling Eclipsed In Obama Era - Politics on The Huffington Post: "Jesse Jackson can still get a crowd going--when he can find one. "

I see that many people are having a field day at the seemingly waining popularity of black leadership, but I thing the problem is not necessarily with them but us as a community. I was recently watching a news show and they were discussing Barack Obama and Oprah. The statement was made that he and Oprah are not discusses any issues that are affecting the black community. Why should they? And who are they going to tell it to? The government? They are the ones most responsible for a lot of the mess we are in. They profit from the collapse of the black community in more ways than one. Plus, they know full well what's going on since they are its progenitors.

White America? They are too enthralled with their own issues, some of which they believed are caused by minorities. In their mind, its not their fight. If Obama is going to first speak about the issues affecting the black community, he would have to speak to the community its self because the people most affected by it have not made it high enough on their agenda to seem concerned. This adds a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Your s*** don't stink."

It's one thing to believe that you are better than everyone else, so you fail to acknowledge the the importance of someone else's existence other than yours, but for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction in the universe. Within the black community, the opposite has happened. We have failed to acknowledge the importance of ourselves to ourselves, thus we have abdicated our lives and existence to the empowerment of others who have no intention of returning the favor. Hip hop, the entertainment arena, sports and overall consumerism are areas that we dominate in participation, but very little of the benefits flow back to our community. We actually received the waste products of this relationship that we have embraced. This toxic relationship is corroding the very heart of our people, but yet the volume level silence of the outcry is deafening.

Enter black leadership. This is one issue that has been on my mind for some time as I have tried to understand why some of us hate them as much as we do. This love/hate relationship we have with Rev. Sharpton and Jackson is a lot of our own doing. We have gotten very accustomed to allow others to stand for us. Remember, everybody did not participate in the Civil Rights Movement, except Mitt Romney's dad. A lot of us were fine with "Mr. King's Dream". Let them march, and if they survive, we'll jump on board. This trend has continued for decades, we call it the welfare mentality. Someone steps up to assist, but then it turns into a hand to mouth relationship. Partly, because those who help sometimes have good intentions and some have an agenda, either way, we get comfortable with manna and stop seeking for promise. Manna is once a day at your door step, designed for temporary assistance. Promise is self sustaining. Seeking promise develops the skill to not only recognize when it comes, but patiences until it does and wisdom to know its there. The dream that Dr. King spoke of was promise, and we were to seek promise and let the pathway to it, develop us that we may be perfect and entire wanting nothing. Instead, we have still sought manna. Running to and fro seeking those who can give it to us. We have become malnourished from decades of manna. Some have gone on to their individual "promises", but collectively we still hunger for it.
I believe that black leadership intentions are good and just, but if the collective doesn't recognize what is taking place, leadership often stands alone, and is usually attacked by the ones they were empowering. The media outlets are masters at this tactic. They give them coverage and then interpret their intentions. We eat this manna and are persuaded. You noticed I mentioned black leadership and not black leaders. I do not hang on every word that comes out of the mouth of Al Sharpton, but I do listen to him. I know how to eat the meat and spit out the bones as we say in the South.

"But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Evil is a relative term in that passage for me, referring to what I feel is not compatible with my path to promise. Our political leaders or those desiring to be, echo the sentiments of the constituents that they hope to represent and serve. If you do not hear your issues being mentioned, maybe you are not loud enough. A few organizations here and there, as opposed to the voice of a community, is not enough in my opinion to overcome the obstacles of corporate media, and the collective apathy within the community. I understand what you are trying to do, but I think in 21st Century America that it's time for black leadership to focus more on speaking to the people about their issues and not "as" the people. I do not believe that these brothers are trying to control the people as some have said, but the people need to grow up and put away their childish things, take up their cross and follow on to promise.

The saddest part about our situation is that we are sitting in mess, and it don't stink to many of us, at least not enough to cry loud and spare not. Its time for a new strategy. The boat is too full and not enough people are rowing. The effort would be so easy if everybody joined in. God says its time out for all of this foolishness. Dr. King and those that followed was just round one. Round two involved all of those who remain on the other side and have benefited from the struggle. It's time to take your cross for your situation and stop letting Al and Jesse be the voices we hear and then get mad because they spoke up. If you don't want to hear them, drown them out. Saturate this country with the sounds of your outcry. I believe that Obama would speak as us, if could hear from us.

Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long snub Senate probe | ajc.com

Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long snub Senate probe | ajc.com:

"Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long snub Senate probe Dollar and Long don't plan to turn over financial records by today's deadline"

Ya'll askin' for it. Out of all the folks that decided to buck the system. The brothas is standin' up to the man. They are about to find out where they stand with the other Christians. Keep standing up against this type of stuff, and you will find yourselves hittin' the streets with Rev. Sharpton. You can not escape social justice. As long as this country continues to thrive on the constructs of race and class, you will find yourself behind the 8 ball at some point, more often than not. Your money, cars, furs and cash won't help you. It does not change how we are seen. In the minds of some, your place has already been determined.
The doors of the church is open.

ABQjournal News: The Associated Press

ABQjournal News: The Associated Press:

"One of six Christian ministries under investigation by a Senate committee is rebuffing inquiries into its spending, challenging the panel's watchdog role over religious groups, The Associated Press has learned."

You know the irony about all of this is that when a lot of the ministries speak up, it's usually along side the people that are investigating them. Gay marriage, government intrusion and such. I have not figured where this is going just yet, but it will be interesting to watch none the less. I got the feeling that someone is going to discover the meaning of "Social Justice" when this is all over with.
WWJM- When Would Jesus March.

Attention Black Folks, She's Not Bill!- Jackson Jr.'s relatively critical :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Lynn Sweet

Jackson Jr.'s relatively critical :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Lynn Sweet

People seem to be getting off on the fact that father and son are having a public battle over who to support for president. I think that it is good because it keeps us dialogging about the issue, and I think that it is so important. Talk may be cheap, but its good. Now, for all my people in the struggle, she is not Bill! I think that first we have become so infatuated with Bill that we see nothing else. Our perception is that Bill was the best thing since the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, Bill did his good, but he did some not so good also. His crime bill put a lot of yall's kinfolk in the pen, the Telecommunication Bill of 1996 made Clear Channel the monster it is today, shutting out a lot of minority and women owned radio stations, and NAFTA made a lot of you all's uncles lose their jobs, so lets stop with the near orgasms (no pun intended) we keep having because we say his name.

His wife is a different person altogether. She is her own woman with her own ideas, plans and agenda. If you think that the glory days of the Clinton presidency is coming back for a second coming, you could sadly be mistaken, and by the chance that you think that if she gets in a bind, she will roll over and ask him for advice, try again. The days of Bill Clinton are over, deal with and move on. We have an opportunity to make history and possibly change the course of this nation for good. Don't count Obama out because of the conservative spin of inexperience. His inexperience as they call it turned around means a new perspective on things. Sometimes we need to look at things and redefine what they are and stop settling for the same old hamster wheel. I am not saying that Hillary is not qualified, nor does she have the skill to do the job, but having been in the room does not necessarily equate to leadership. I could have been in the operating room with some of the top surgeons in the world, and I am a visual person, but you would not necessarily want me over you with a scalpel to save your life. One thing that I do know for sure is that the conservatives and the republicans are afraid to death of Obama. They are really afraid of black folks as a whole getting behind him. I can see it in their eyes, and I can hear it in their rhetoric on tv. I am almost tempted to get totally behind him just to watch them squirm. Come on people, read between the lines and let pharaoh go!

Go See "The Great Debaters"- Tell iTunes to put the trailer up.

The Great Debaters

If you loved American Gangster, then you will surely enjoyed The Great Debaters. This is a true story about a debate team from a small college in Texas in the 1930's that went on to beat Harvard. It has all of the intrigue, action and suspense that a movie should have. The only difference is the weapon of choice in this movie is, the mind. You know that weapon that we choose to ignore when we are out there makin' fools of ourselves making images that destroy our young people. I know that the not only will the American Gangster crowd will see it, the Tyler Perry crowd will be the first at the theater. This is no slight against my man Tyler. I just want the same church crowd who packed out the theater to show the same support for an intelligent, awe inspiring, thought provoking, uplifting movie. In fact go to trailers@mac.com and tell them to put the trailer up at once, even the HD version, like they have for American Gangster. Even if a bootleg copy gets out, it can still go to number 1 like AG. Come on, people. LPG!!!

Another group that gets dropped in the trick bag.

The other group that gets dropped in the trick bag is the black evangelical particularly the gospel music crowd. It looks like this group will be in play for the 2008 election. Black folks love to have church. What we love even more that having church is having other folks watch us have church. It is interesting that the one group that has not come out against what goes on over at BET is the same group that is benefiting greatly from its exposure on the channel. I strongly believe that BET is using this group to its advantage. The gospel music crowd has a powerful voice at the network, if they will use it, but I don't think that is going to happen any time soon because they could jeopardize their exposure on the network.

Exalted has is one of the better shows on the network, but they need to try again on "Sunday' s Best". I have always said that the church has a tendency to be 16 months to 2 years behind the main stream in media and multimedia. How long has American Idol been on? SB is a hot mess, I'm sorry to tell you. This exposure will keep the gospel crowd from speaking out on the destructive images that is being promoted on that network. In our minds, we believe somehow that the few hours of us rockin' and swayin' and groovin in the name of the Lord will counter all that bad programming the other six days of the week which most of young people don't watch. Again, drinkin' that diet coke with that large pizza.

Sadly enough, you can't beat us out their beating the pavement against all the evil morals that the devil is sending out to hold his people in bondage and keep us from going to church and payin' tithes. ( yeah , I said it.) Many of us were absent in Jena and have never heard of a Genarlow Wilson while other were marching protesting and making their case known. I have heard prominent black preachers say that the church should not be involved in politics cause we is all God's chillins and the gospel of Jesus Christ will take care of it all as long as we just pray and believe God. I am sure that will be the case until someone pushes through an amendment to revoke that 501C(3) status.

A Few People That Need To Stop Getting Dropped In The Trick Bag...

The following people need to take a time-out and figure out what they "really" want to do with their lives. They keep falling for the same old trick time and time again that its starting to get on my nerves.

1. Conservative Christians
Recent statements by the White House about WWIII can only mean one thing. No, not that Jesus will come after the 2008 election if Hilary wins the White House, but that it is an attempt to rally that famous base that Republicans could always count on. Remember in 2000, it was the fear that gangs of homosexual men would ride through good wholesome neighborhood and abduct good upstanding moral heterosexual men from their homes and family just as they were sitting down to dinner. I think the real fear was that some men would go willingly. The CC's are not really feelin' any of the current candidates on the Right. My homeboy Mike Huck makes 'em say "Amen", but that may not make them manifest their presence at the ballot box. This strategy may backfire because WW3 would mean the end of Iran, homosexuals and liberals which is what God wants anyway, right? So if none of the current candidates are makin' you jump pews, and you've got some time to kill, its been over 2000 years, the world is ripe for a good cleansin'. They may just forgo the election and take WW3 instead.

2. TI and Hip Hop Community
This one is so obvious. The rap community is kinda havin' a hard time ever since Don Imus brought the pain. The heat has been turned up on my brothas and rightfully so. The negative images produced and promoted through this powerful art form has been like Kryptonite to our community, stripping us of our power and weakening us and making us vulnerable to exploitation and degradation. The only images our kids see of themselves is coming from expressions of being pimps, thugs and hustlers, not engineers, doctors and lawyers, but their actions from these images leave them needing doctors and lawyers. LPG!!. They are really mad at Rev. Al and the Social Justice League. ( I like that title).

For the record, let me say that I fully support Rev. Al and those in the community who are preaching and empowering, marching and anything else that will cause us to change course. Here is the trick. The record execs are not going to sit by idle and watch their money makers get a conscious makeover. It is my prediction that they are fueling a sentiment, that the social justice movement wants to take away their money and lifestyles which is the "real" reason they rap about what goes on in the community, not because they are trying to change it. The have gotten rich and forgot to change the community. Oh wait, many have started "non-profits" to "give back" to the communities they left behind. It's like eating the most fattening meal of your life and drinking a diet soda to make it right. There is a difference between social service and social justice. Soup kitchens and such are good and are needed, but that is social service. Social justice deals with the entities and power structures that are causing the poverty and injustice in the first place. Does anyone know what Martin Luther King Jr.'s soup line looked like? I rest my case. The institutional construct of race doesn't mind social service that much. It is easy to do social service. You'll will get community awards and pats on the back, social justice is not that glamorous. You'll get shunned and despised, mainly from your own people because social justice make us all feel uncomfortable because it doesn't let us become complacent.
The record execs showing up at TI's bond hearing was for two reasons. One because they've got money invested that they want to see a return on, and two, it will show the rappers that the record execs have their back and support, while their own people turn their backs on them. You will hear some one repeat this soon, watch. Be smarter than the average bear. Let Pharaoh Go!!!

Welcome to Let Pharaoh Go!!!

What's wrong with the world today? I decided to start a new blog because of all of the foolishness going on in our community around the country. I will still talk about technology in the minority community, but I had to stop and deal with all of these other things "entering in". Misogyny, the criminal justice system, negative hip hop and the"de-education" of our youth leads me to cry from my mountain top to "LET PHARAOH GO !!!" What do I mean by this statement? Simply this, we have been afforded a lot of freedoms, wisdom, prosperity, culture, class and down right excellence, but over the past decades we have failed to "walk in our deliverance". The construct of race and class remains in the background plotting and working the game to its advantage, but we have become disqualified because of our refusal to Let Pharaoh Go. Pharaoh had to cede a good portion of his power over us because of the works and gifts (I refuse to use the word sacrifice, tell u why sometime) because of those before us, but we slowly went back into captivity. Not because pharaoh captured us, but we went back of our own volition.