Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, the only Presidential candidate from either party to attend The State of the Black Union Conference held by Tavis Smiley of PBS, worked hard to use the appearance as a chance to regain lost black voters. Critics have charged that Clinton attended the conference because she is so far out of the presidential race that she could spare the time.
During the conference, event organizer Tavis Smiley gave Mrs. Clinton a chance to regain affinity with black voters. She acknowledged that there were "painful moments" during the race, and that she regrets them.
Hillary Clinton's husband, Bill Clinton, was once so popular with black voters that he'd been called "The First Black President". The title was offensive to some people of color, but many embraced the idea. However, during the election, Former President Clinton made several mistakes, such as presuming that Barack Obama won in South Carolina because both he and many of the voters were black.
Since that day, Mrs. Clinton has lost most of her primaries by a huge margin, and Obama has regularly exceeded her in black votes by 40 or 50%. The State of the Black Union, the venue in which Clinton appeared, but Obama did not, was her chance to appeal directly to African-Americans to regain their support.
Last week, Black America was in an uproar over Tavis Smiley's public attacks on Senator Barack Obama for not attending The State of the Black Union event. Obama offered to send his wife, Michelle, but she was rebuffed. While Smiley argued that no spouse of a Presidential candidate would be acceptable, many were concerned about the fact that many of the panelists invited were also not running for President.
Since that time, both Smiley and Clinton has seen a tremendous slide in their popularity in the black community.
Hillary Clinton claimed that her husband made racial reconciliation part of his public life. However, she stopped short of fully explaining why he refused to apologize for slavery.
"Most of my African-American friends and advisors don't believe that we should get into what was essentially a press story about whether there should be an apology for slavery in America," Bill Clinton stated in a magazine in 1998. "They think that that's what the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendment was; they think that's what the civil rights legislation was, and they think we need to be looking toward the future."
To this day, neither of the Clintons have backed legislation to publicly apologize for slavery.
21 comments:
It is amazing how many blacks say they are Christians but flock to Obama for his inspirational words and feel the Clintons slighted them.
What does the bible tell us? James 1:22 "But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Compared to Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr., the Clintons (not Obama) were doers of the promise to America. Yes all the the things they did were not perfect, but as a whole with federal surplus, making peace in the middle east, lower crime, creation of positions for all people of color, and closing the gap economically between black/brown v. whites, can't be denied. Clintons gave an opportunity for us to choose a better life. That is all blacks and any American should ask for.
I recall when the Israelittes were so bewildered after Moses went to Mount Sinai to get the 10 Commandments. The Israelittes, so fearful of not seeing him for 40 years were so caught up by a slick talking person to think that building a golden calf and going back to Egypt would be the best way for them to survive. Were they wrong? Yes. Half of Israelittes who chose wrong died eventhough they witnessed the opening of the Red Sea and destruction of Pharoah's army by the hand of God. I am not one of those who forgets the past.
What worries me is that Obama for his praise for Reagan slighted Clinton and his work for America. Many of the slights come from this initial slight by Obama which is sad.
Support Obama, but we must not forget the DOERS. Clinton and his wife are a doer. They allowed us to see that the American Dream is possible for people of color. So, I will be forgiving of slights because I know, and all of us should know, that their WORKS matter more in the history of time. They will stand longer than any perceived slight to a newcomer seeking power will ever do.
Unfortuately, with people who support the KKK and the Secret Service gunning to kill Obama, I think we will only have an opportunity to remember the Clinton years as the only years we will have to realize the American Dream.
James 1:23
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24-25
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Mr obama seems to be trying to distance himself from the black community. I think tavis raises a valid point, first he has moved away fom his church teachings at the behest of some of his handlers. As a black man,I think the two most pressing problems in our community, are economic inequality and inappropriate behavior. Mr Obama is quick to point out our behavior ,but wont criticize the dominant socitey. To not show up at the conference sends a coded msg to white america that im not Rev Sharpton or Jessie Jackson and that I wont bring up your racist past, that im a new kind of negro that you dont have to fear.Is this the only way a black man can become president?
Amazing how fearful the older generation of Black folks are. The Clintons are users.
At least a presidential candidate did show up. Neither McCain, Obama or Huckabee paid any respect to New Orleans, LA. I know we want to jump on Obama's bandwagon b/c he looks black but what has he done that helps our cause than state he should be the first biracial president with his black wife and first lady state that he can unify all of America and repair the world.
Obama's white aides forbade him from even going to black forums while campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire b/c he would look TOO BLACK for the white folks. Like a typical house slave, he followed along. CNN Contributer Roland Martin and others state that he should not attend the State of Black Union this past weekend b/c he would be TOO BLACK and would scare white folks.
I am sick and tired of intelligence in addressing issues pertinent to helping our people as being TOO BLACK. You don't hear the Jewish community, Native Americans, Asians and Hispanics saying they are too ethnic if they want people to address their issues for their people. I think we all need a wake up call.
I had to educate a white guy today in terms of understanding the racial connotation of LYNCHING b/c he thought with his midwest mindset it applied to everyone. I had a chance to have him look at yahoo pictures of lynching to see that it does not apply to everyone as done in the U.S. So, like the Jews when they remember the ones who suffered the Holocaust from 1920 to 1945, we must not forget those who died b/c of racial hatred and ignorance in our 400 years of existence in the U.S. and abroad. I don't care if Obama is President or not. We must know and show that our history and knowledge is POWER. Also, we must never forget those who died for us to even have an opportunity to live the true meaning of the Declaration of Independence's creed.
What's amazing is that Black people don't realize that it's not the President's job to fix the self-degenerating culture that a lot of low-income Blacks, Latinos, AND Whites perpetuate. The President serves as the head of the executive branch of government. For those that haven't had a particularly enlightening government class, that means he heads the law enforcement branch of government. If you think Sen. Obama, or Clinton for that matter, should run for president on the platform of fixing Black America, you are misinformed, and will be very disappointed after either of them as completed their presidency. It's up to US as Black people to fix OUR society. We could definitely use the help of legislators, judges, and executives, but it is up to US. That is to say, if you even think there's a problem with OUR culture as it is now.
I am getting very disturbed as this Democratic nomination process goes along.What is wrong with Black America? Why have we set out to crucify the Clintons(yes, both of them)just because a Black man is ALSO running for president?
Are we REALLY that simple? Do we REALLY just blindly jump on band wagons and go for the flavor-of the month?
Be PROUD of Obama, ...YES.....but take the next step....EDUCATE yourself about what's really happening.
Obama(or Clinton) is NOT going to come to your house and "fix" your problems. You got to do your own fixing!!!!!!!!
This Obama "mania" reminds me of the newest, latest "widget" that the media and advertisers shoved down our throats. WE JUST HAD TO HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and we missed paying our rent, missed paying our child support, went without a few things just to say WE HAVE ONE....
And then we brought it home....Only to discover that it wasnt all it was cracked up to be and it soon lost its appeal......(It looked good, tho and we were the FIRST to have it.......!!!!).
But we were stuck with it, wasting all our time, our money, or energy on something that was HOT FOR THE MOMENT....
I accept this from the younger crowd (18-30). But us OLD folks(over 35) should have a little more maturity in place.
We shouldnt be getting caught up in this snow-job that the media is feeding us....WHY IS IT THAT OBAMA is "Mr Right" to white america?? What do they know that we dont???(probably a lot, because we dont ever want to LEARN/research anthing).
So to Black America...dont play yourselves so cheap.....Dont get caught up in the hype of the newest, latest "widget".....
Vote for the best person for PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.....
Whew!
I am so relieved that I am not alone -- resisting the hype... I stepped back and found myself out of the room -- I do not like what I am hearing, I do not like what I am seeing -- from afar. Something is amiss. But, I could be wrong! My Father thought King was a troublemaker, and he thought Ali had a big mouth... and that all Doctors were quacks... so perhaps it is part of my genetic code...
DNA is a good segue to say --
Barack Obama cannot ride the coat tails of authentic African Americans – but he did ride us and he is riding us!
His father was from Kenya = African, and his mother was Caucasian and from Kansas = American. He was raised in Honolulu and schooled in Indonesia!
He is not an authentic African American but he climbed on our backs to get to Harvard and Princeton... and now we are carrying him to the Presidency of the United States and he's afraid of being TOO black... not hard to imagine b/c he is not TOO black! Something is wrong. I am not worrying about Obama being assassinated... I am worrying about my response if he is assassinated. Should I look the other way? Will there be another Civil War? Who is this man and would I die for him? Should I take it personal? Obamamania? I don't think so!
He was not here during the Civil Rights Movement. His African American footprint knows nothing about Emmett Till, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, the Scottsboro Boys, the Niagara Movement, Jim Crow, W.E.B. Dubois, MLK, Malcolm X, the Black Power Movement, upwards of 100 plus lynchings of Black men, women and children every year from 1863 to 1965…
Empirically, Barack Obama’s appreciation for the African American experience is vicarious. Hillary Clinton may have a clearer understanding of the African American experience than Barack Obama.
The affirmation of authentic African Americans [decedents of slavery) is not a negation of African Americans – but the distinction merits acknowledgement. The distinction will not be ignored.
I am proud of my ancestors in this country -- they will not be appropriated and disrespected for political gain.
lol this is crazy,obama is more african than most of us in america for.its crazy to say he isnt african or american,he didnt have to climb on anyone he is what he is,and thats a second generation african,and a american.people say he dont know about the history of americas,have they spoken with him and experienced his historical awareness?or have they been so caught up with voting for the man,that they wont even consider voting for there own?lol this is typical classical conditioning,where we are so suspicius of our own people,we wont support each other in nothing,and wonder why,nobody will help us...lol,just think how many harriet could have got to freedon if they really had a perception of who they were, and what they needed.because i wasnt born doing the times of the 40's,50's,and not old enough to understand what was really going on in the 60's does that make me less black?because does it take chronological age to be black enough now?so we cant be black unless we are how old?people dont think about what things come out there mouths and do more detrimental things to there own people from ignorance.my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge.
rayfucuis... your's is an ad hominem argument. Go back. Read the comment again.
It's true that this election is history in the making. We have two very intelligent Democratic candidates who have laid down some very important issues, not only directed to the African American community, but supposedly to all America. For those who say Obama isn't Black enough, or doesn't take more of a public stand where African Americans are concerned just doesn't make any sense. Yes, he's the first African American to make it this far in the Primary's, but he CAN NOT stand there and every other comment is what he may intend to do for the African Americans. He's supposed to be running for the people. Take his race out of the picture, and focus on the man and his potential as president. For those of you who think that if he is elected, then all your problems will be solved, think again. I don't think crime in our neighborhoods will decrease, I don't think the growing number of African American men in our prison system will decrease. I don't think the stigma that plagues our communities will change much at all unless WE as a people change. As an African American woman, raising 3 sons, holding down a full time job, watching my husband work 2 full time jobs just to make us comfortable is a daily challenge. We don't look for the likes of a Clinton, or an Obama for change in our household. That has to come from within. We look to our political leaders for positive change in our legislature, but nothing, and no one can change you but you. As an African American, I say, stop looking to others for change that YOU can make at anytime. Look past the race or gender of the candidates and vote with your heart and what you truly think will benefit the country.
Are you suggesting that it's good government to appropriate and disrespect African Americans [decedents of slavery] for political gain? African Americans are so efficient at censorship in our community --that we belittle existential opinions. We are not slaves – to this collective rhythm… America is in a trance. Obama is divine -- as long as he is disengaged from African Americans. Same empty suit… same cold shoulder at our expense.
tivolieclipse... While you're argument is very eloquent, it's a bit loquacious and I've lost the intent of your comment. It seems as though you think that because Sen. Obama isn't running a campaign based on solving the plight of African Americans, that somehow that means he is swindling their votes??? It is true that a legislator should answer to his/her constituents - African Americans if they vote for him/her. However, should Mr. Obama win the presidency, the makeup of his constituency will consist of African-Americans as well as the descendants of non-slaves. If Sen. Clinton based her campaign on uplifting White-Americans, you'd call her a racist.
Carl... I never suggested Obama will do anything about "solving the plight of the African American community..." Wonderful... He is just a man, pretending to be an African American, pretending to be a god.
tivolieclipse and first anonymous:
We are so fortunate to live in America where diverse ideas/opinions can be expressed. I do not understand either of your thoughts - you seem very bitter, opinionated, etc - but we love you all the same. Vote for whomever you please - Again - only in America!! I really do not buy "the Clinton years" were the best thing since slice bread; i.e., were wonderful for America - and I do not buy "especially" for us black folks.
I am really trying to understand your comments - 1) Obama is a "fake" black man? - how does he become "black enough " for you???2 --he is lost because of his direct African DNA - never to become one of us??? - I get the abbreviated black history lessons - are those a prerequisite for being black - and what happens if you are young - and did not live thru those times - what happens to your black barometer then!?? do you become "black enough' because of your parent's DNA or do you get it by some self-proclaiming arbriter thry osmosis?) Others have stated Obama is just a MAN - he is not SUPERMAN - black folks have to solve their own problems - interesting have YOU personally required the previous (all white ) presidents to solve "our problems"??? What is so great & dynamic about the Clintons that "we want to do it over again???"
Clinton was a doer of Monica, Jenifer and in the oval office to bring shame on the Democratic party that gave way to Bush 2 to do what he did. Oh how quickly you have forgoten
@tivoeclipse -
His father was AFRICAN (Kenyan to be exact. This is an important note).
His mother is AMERICAN.
This makes him the 100% DEFINITION of an AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
This is not 'pretending' by any stretch of your deluded imagination.
If anything, it would be a technical MISNOMER for him to be called a BLACK AMERICAN (and this is what you should be parsing words over).
Black Americans are traditionally seen and understood as descendants of slaves. (If you don't believe me, ask an African what they call us).
Athena,
That is my point... a distinction must be made -- the distinction is deserved and well earned! If you know the history of African/Black/Negro/Colored Americans -- then you know why we’ve struggled with these misnomers. Black Americans indeed are decedents of slavery. Our struggle and resistance afforded Africans (and every other “minority” the opportunities they enjoy, including Kenyans or Africans who make the distinction between blacks and Africans. To be sure, while Africans quickly remind Black Americans that they are decedents of slavery – let’s be clear -- Africans sold and perpetuated the enslavement of Black Americans. Africa owes a debt to Black Americans! War crimes, greed, and ignorance… Africa owes Black Americans Reparations (but that is another issue…)
I am a proponent/champion of the distinction. I am chauvinistic about my genetic “footprint” in this country.
Barack Obama is not an authentic African American or Black American (to be specific) -- not parsing words at all. Unfortunately, Black Americans are so HUNGRY -- they'll eat anything! Again, we're paying in the front of the bus, stepping off the bus to go and sit in the back! Because... why? So -- Barack Obama can walk through the front door? Never again -- under any circumstances...
I am really sadden by some of the comments here, it show how some people refuse to get away from a mindset.
I am a black man living in America, My grandparents were also slaves back in Haiti (Caribbean) where they overcome the powerful French empire and became the "first Black Republic in the world" in 1804.(story rarely acknowledge by our African-American leaders)
With all that said, can i consider my self as African American? Am I black enough, can my son one day run for office and expect the support of his people or at least being recognize as one of them?
Feel free to answer!
In the case of Obama and the election, our first challenge as people, is to see beyond those stereotype: enough distinction between ourselves, house-slaves and farm or field-slaves, Light skin vs. Dark skin, the Uncle Tom, or Black intellectual...by doing so our community will have a chance to grow. Obama will always be considered as a black candidate but he can’t base his candidacy on black issue only. Let’s not forget that he wants to be President of The USA!!!
I am voting for Obama because I think his message of change can inspire people, him being president will send a tremendous message to young African American as far as how far education can take them etc Please! Don’t tell me his not black enough, like they tell me that I am inferior because of my accent, or that I am a sale out when I try to educate my self… once again, Stereotype. For those of you skeptical, I think that after he’s speech on race, there should be no doubt that: Barack Obama is well aware of what it is to be black in America.
It’s time to forgive (but not forget) it’s time to unite (black brown white…) it’s time to move on and embrace the future with hope. It‘s time for us black people around the world to start working to better our selves.
Make no mistake, racism has no color, it’s a disease that affect people of all ethnicity.
Ask you’re self: Why is it that the child of a white and black person is automatically call black by every one?
Anonymous,
You are an African American... and your son is an African American. My son and I are Black Americans.
Barack Obama made the distinction I demanded in his “A More Perfect Union” speech and I am satisfied. Either the gods or Jeremiah Wright forced him to address the obvious or I am an oracle! I knew Obama was the metaphorical Columbia University student who goes to a Harlem church on Sunday, looks past the splendiferous hats and muffles laughter at sociopolitical Christian sermons that are… war cries in a language congregants and spectators understand.
I submit that Wright’s sermons were -- war cries like Northern Cree’s ”Stay Red” sound like war cries to me. But, I am not offended -- perhaps because I don’t understand the language or the burden.
I am reminded of Ayn Rand’s salient point on primitive forms of collectivism [in other words racism], “The respectable family that supports worthless relatives or covers up their crimes in order to “protect the family name” (as if the moral stature of one man could be damaged by the actions of another)…”
There are a lot of war cries being sung! They are fitting and appropriate theater while moving toward a more perfect Union. So... now what?
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