PHILADELPHIA mayor chides black parents over teen mobs

PHILADELPHIA — The painful images and graphic stories of repeated violent assaults and vandalism by mobs of black teenagers had gotten to be too much for Mayor Michael Nutter.


As an elected official and a "proud black man" in the nation's fifth-largest city, Nutter felt he had to go a step beyond ordering a law enforcement crackdown.


So he channeled the spirit of another straight-talking Philadelphian: Bill Cosby. Nutter took to the pulpit at his church Sunday and gave an impassioned, old-fashioned talking-to directed at the swarms of teens who have been using social networks to arrange violent sprees downtown, injuring victims and damaging property. Moreover, he called out parents for not doing a better job raising their children.


"You've damaged yourself, you've damaged another person, you've damaged your peers and, quite honestly, you've damaged your own race," Nutter said at Mount Carmel Baptist Church.


The 54-year-old mayor, married with a teenage daughter and a grown son, called out absentee fathers and neglectful parents. He did not mince words, saying they need to be more than just a "sperm donor" or a "human ATM."


"That's part of the problem in our community," Nutter told the congregation. "Let me speak plainer: That's part of the problem in the black community. ... We have too many men making too many babies they don't want to take care of and then we end up dealing with your children."


It's a version of the tough-love message Cosby and others have telegraphed for years.


"I am a proud black man in this country," Nutter said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It was a message that needed to be said. It needed to be said at this time. ... People have had enough of this nonsense, black and white."


At a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People gathering in 2004, Cosby chided the black community in a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the legal case that toppled segregated education.


"These people marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around," Cosby said then.


"I can't even talk the way these people talk, 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' ... and I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk," the entertainer said.


Nutter's words also harkened back to a 2008 Father's Day speech by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.


At a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People gathering in 2004, Cosby chided the black community in a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the legal case that toppled segregated education.
"These people marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around," Cosby said then.
"I can't even talk the way these people talk, `Why you ain't,' `Where you is' ... and I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk," the entertainer said.
Nutter's words also harkened back to a 2008 Father's Day speech by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"If we are honest with ourselves, we'll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing _ missing from too many lives and too many homes," Obama told a church in Chicago. "They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men."
Now, it's Nutter taking up the mantra.
Some feel his message was needed. Others say he's airing private community matters now that crime is sprouting downtown, near businesses and popular tourist attractions in a sprawling city with many other sections already plagued by persistent gun violence.
Bill Anderson, a talk show host on the black radio station WURD-AM, estimated that about 60 percent of callers commenting on Nutter's address supported him. But quite a few, Anderson said, believe Nutter simply doesn't have the community standing to make such strong remarks.
"The perception is that he is not necessarily a `community guy. ... He has been perceived as more of a business guy," Anderson said, noting that he didn't have a problem with the comments himself.
Anderson cited concerns among the black community, such as Nutter's perceived focus on the city's downtown over other neighborhoods, a newly enforced curfew for teens and Nutter's endorsement of "stop-and-frisk" searches, a tactic police credit with reducing crime but that some feel unfairly targets minorities.
Annette John-Hall, a black columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, wrote this week that the mayor crossed a line when he said, "You've damaged your own race."
"We can deal with the public tongue-lashing, even if his intended targets were nowhere to be found among the law-abiding churchgoers in their Sunday best," John-Hall wrote. She went on to say, "But what really bothered me was when Nutter fired the age-old salvo that has historically evoked head-hanging shame among black folks."
Nutter said things that needed to be said, according to J. Whyatt Mondesire, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP.
"It's like Cosby did. It's like the president did when he was running for office," Mondesire said. "Something is wrong in many African-American homes, and we've got to come to grips with it."
Some have questioned Nutter's support among blacks at the polls, where he has fared better in white wards. Black politicians have taken shots as well.
At a mayoral debate in 2007, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who is black, challenged his fellow candidate Nutter on the issue of race, suggesting Nutter has to "remind himself he's an African-American." Last year, former Mayor John F. Street, Nutter's predecessor and longtime political adversary, told a newspaper that Nutter was "not a black mayor ... just a mayor with dark skin." Nutter called Street's remarks "ignorant."
Race has again risen to the foreground for Nutter in the wake of the mob assaults.
In one attack last month, a man ended up in the hospital with broken teeth and a wired jaw after a group of teenagers attacked him downtown. Hours later, a crowd of young people assaulted four other men. The city plans to increase legal sanctions for parents whose children participate in the attacks. Nutter has also said strict enforcement of a curfew will continue and more programs at youth centers will be offered.

Obama Weathers Criticisms on Leadership, Economic Policies

In the past week of market turbulence, President Barack Obama faced mounting criticisms of his leadership and economic policies. Some of this came from 2012 Republican presidential candidates, but also from some prominent columnists and African-American figures. The White House has responded, as the president intensifies defenses of his policies.


Stronger critiques of Mr. Obama have come in the wake of his difficult compromise with Republicans for a $2.4 trillion deficit and debt reduction package, and amid the wildly fluctuating stock market after the U.S. creditworthiness downgrade by a major rating agency.


Critiques also focus on what most economists now agree is the fact that the president's $800 billion stimulus, passed by Congress two years ago responding to the financial crisis and recession, was insufficient to boost job growth and sustain recovery.


Among the 2012 Republican candidates seeking to replace Mr. Obama in the White House, Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is using increasingly sharper language to challenge what he calls the president's lack of experience.


Among thе 2012 Republican candidates seeking to replace Mr. Obama in the White House, Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is using increasingly sharper language to challenge whаt he calls the president's lack of experience.
Romney saіd thіѕ аt Thursday's Republican candidates debate in Iowa.
"I'm nоt gоing to eat Barack Obama's dog food. What he served up waѕ nоt what I would have dоne іf I hаd beеn president of thе United States," sаіd Romney.
Some оf thе harshest assessments of Mr. Obama havе сomе frоm sоme prominent newspaper columnists who questioned thе president's leadership abilities, аѕ wеll aѕ hіs personal empathy.
Other commentators, nоt to mention lawmakers іn the far left оf Mr. Obama's Democratic party, hаvе questioned hіѕ determination tо stand uр to what thе president hіmѕelf hаѕ called Republican intransigence.
Mr. Obama іѕ сеrtainlу not the firѕt president of eithеr major political party to face ѕuch harsh critiques at thіѕ stage in his first term.
But fоr thе nation's fіrѕt African-American president, remarks in recent months bу two prominent African-American figures maу havе carried а mоre painful sting.
The outspoken Princeton University Professor Cornell West stirred controversy earlier this year bу saying Mr. Obama was іn danger of being "another black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs."
That's a reference tо criticisms that Mr. Obama has been too close tо banks аnd оthеr powers on Wall Street, еvеn аs hе attempts to further economic recovery and grow jobs.
Other criticism hаѕ cоme frоm prominent African-American television personality Tavis Smiley, whо with West haѕ traveled acroѕs the country in а "Poverty Tour" to, as Smiley puts it, hold Mr. Obama "accountable."
Asked аbout ѕuсh criticisms durіng a recent news briefing, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said thе president remains focused not only оn improving thе economy overall, but аlѕо on thоѕe whо are struggling the most.
"This president iѕ vеry focused on evеry American whо iѕ suffering during theѕe turbulent economic times and the policies that hе hаs espoused and thаt he haѕ pushed tаkе іntо account vеrу serіоuslу thоѕе whо arе mоst affected," said Carney.
Despite thе criticisms frоm theѕe twо high profile African-Americans, Mr. Obama’s support аmоng African-Americans remains generally strong, though sоmе recent polls show signs thаt such support cоuld be weakening.
White House officials sау thе president remains focused on the toll thаt thе financial crisis hаs taken on African-American and оther minority communities, а reminder of whiсh hе received іn person іn July when he met wіth Marc Morial, head оf thе National Urban League.
"The black unemployment rate continues to rise, notwithstanding thе fact thаt you do hаve job creation in thе private sector," sаіd Morial.
With recent stops аcroѕѕ the country, аt campaign fundraisers, аnd in next week's three-state bus trip in thе U.S. midwest, Mr. Obama iѕ intensifying hіs responses аnd explanations оf hіs policies.
At а battery factory in Michigan thiѕ past week, hе urged Americans to pressure members оf Congress tо stop what he called partisanship and gridlock thаt hе sаid hаve undermined public confidence.
"You hаve gоt tо tеll thеm уоu havе had enough of the theatrics, yоu hаve hаd еnough оf thе politics, stop sending out press releases, start passing somе bills thаt wе аll know wіll hеlр our economy rіght now. That's what theу neеd to do, thеy have gоt tо hear from you."
Traveling agaіn next week in Minnesota, Iowa аnd Illinois, including ѕeveral Town Hall meetings, Mr. Obama will hear аgаin frоm Americans аbоut their frustrations wіth the economy.
On Friday, Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest ѕaіd hе will make additional points abоut "the strident position" of some іn Congress, a reference to Republicans аnd Tea Party lawmakers, tо increasingly "put party ahead оf country."
However, the White House ѕаid Mr. Obama аlsо is prepared for questions hе will face from ѕоmе whо voted fоr hіm in 2008 about compromises hе haѕ bеen wіllіng tо make wіth Republicans.
Upon hіѕ return, thе president іs due tо leave fоr a 10-day vacation wіth hіѕ family іn Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

The Help Worthy subject weepy treatment

WASHINGTON - In a country where a harrowing history of slavery and segregation casts such a long and painful shadow, the film rendition of the Civil Rights-era novel "The Help" has sparked controversy just as the book did two years ago.


African-Americans are divided on the story told by Kathryn Stockett about a white southern woman in Jackson, Miss., who convinces some black domestic workers to covertly divulge what it's like working for white families amid the frightening events of the Civil Rights movement.


The Association of Black Women Historians has challenged the historical accuracy of the tale, saying it makes light of the struggles of African-American domestic workers during that time period.


The group also took issue with Stockett's use of a black dialect, her portrayal of most of the story's black men as cruel or absent, and the scant attention paid to the sexual harassment many black women endured in their employers' homes.


"Despite efforts to market the book and the film as a progressive story of triumph over racial injustice, 'The Help' distorts, ignores, and trivializes the experiences of black domestic workers," the association wrote in a news release.


But other African-Americans take issue with that harsh assessment.


Tim Gordon, a black film critic behind the FilmGordon blog, raved about the film on his D.C. radio show earlier this week.


"My mother really was 'the help' when I was growing up; she worked for a white family," Gordon said. "I thought they did an amazing job with this film ... I really thought 'The Help' knocked it out of the park."


Stephanie Penn-Danforth, the 33-year-old editor-in-chief of the Daily Venus Diva website, agreed.


"I loved the movie," she said in an interview Friday.


"The people who are speaking out against it may have lived through it, so maybe it's too hard for them to deal with, but I feel my generation needs to see this film to understand what life was like in the South, to understand what really happened and where we came from."


Read it on Global News: Global News | African-American opinion on 'The Help' divided due to painful history.


Decades after Whoopi in her movies and in the post-Oprah era, we have “The Help.” It’s based on Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel about black women in domestic service in 1963, their white employers and the children they were paid to “mind” (i. e. love, almost as if they were their own).


And therein lies the reason it’s such a great American subject from the ’50s and ’60s, the era that, courtesy of TV’s “Mad Men” and what it has wrought, the media will be diving into with both feet in the next couple months.


Upper-middle-class-and upper-class white children at the time could have a unique racial perspective denied to most of the white middle class.


It was an era that did everything possible to keep races separate. And with every ridiculous and often vile piece of white American mythology about black people (the queen bee monstrosity in “The Help” confidently declares “they have different diseases than we do”), those well-off white kids could check it against the domestic servants in their own home who were hired — as often as not — to provide intimate emotional sustenance for them that their own parents couldn’t (or wouldn’t).


It is no accident that the Kennedys in the 1960s found it so easy to be allied with the exploding civil rights movement. They knew things about black people that the white middle class generally didn’t.


That rich and profound relationship — so easily caricatured or treated with contempt —has been largely ignored in books and movies. (Carson McCuller’s “Member of the Wedding” was the first feint at giving it its due.)


And then came Stockett’s novel, “The Help,” which posits one of those white children, now grown, back in her hometown and writing down the lives and secrets of “the help,” i. e. those black women in domestic maid’s uniforms in charge of domestic order in her upper-class Southern world.


The only thing wrong with the film’s treatment of this huge and hugely neglected subject is that its setting in the South of 50 years ago makes it appallingly easy for 21st century Northerners to watch it as if it were as distant as Nazi Germany in the ’40s.


Stockett trusted a friend — Tate Taylor — to write and direct the adaptation of her book, and the result has the flaws of a movie an author trusted a friend to make. Most notably, it is too long at more than two hours, as if a friend struggled to include everything pertinent in the original novel.


But that specific Southern period setting means that the white women we’re watching can be painted as being close to monsters: the vicious, backbiting queen bee who’s so adamant about not allowing “the help” to use her family’s indoor plumbing that she wants it made into Mississippi law; the mother so dependent on the family maid Aibileen that she continues having children she has little or no interest in actually raising herself.


It is only in the last 15 minutes of the film that it even allows the possibility that there may have been white males who weren’t themselves complicit with vicious social oppression or merely spineless, racist meal tickets.


It’s all about a spoiled and vile world of white privilege that demeans the black women it employs at every possible opportunity. And it’s about how those women cope.


And, most importantly, how they wind up telling their stories to the young white woman who comes back from college ready to admit to her mother about the domestic “help” — “we love them and they love us, but they can’t even use the toilet in our house.”


By the time it all plays out, it’s manipulative tearjerking shlock not far from the well-plowed cornrows of “Steel Magnolias” and “Driving Miss Daisy,” but so powerful — and fresh — is the subject even now and so formidable the performances that this is one heavyweight weeper that gets where it’s going with nothing but honor.


Emma Stone is funny, lovable and just a bit dangerous in her naivete as the young writer whose return home instigates the sudden ugly lurch of truth about white privilege from those treated most harshly by it.


But key to the film’s success is one of the great working actresses in American movies — Viola Davis, whose performance in “Doubt” with Meryl Streep was nominated for—and should have won — a supporting actress Oscar. She has been a profoundly moving performer now in two similar roles — so much so that the only worry is that she’ll be typecast and prohibited from being just as prominent in entirely different circumstances.


Director Taylor’s relative inexperience didn’t deter him a bit in getting two rich and fine performances from two actresses who appeared in his negligible first major full-length movie, “Pretty Ugly People,” Allison Janney and, as Davis’ best friend, Octavia Spencer.

Bryce Dallas Howard plays the monster queen bee role of this enclosed, racist world with chilling conviction.