“The Black Agenda” special hosted by Ed Schultz, scholar Cornel West and civil rights veteran Al Sharpton got into an intense argument over whether President Obama is doing enough for the African American community.
The discussion probably would not have gotten ugly, if both men had been willing to release the need to publically totally approve or totally disapprove of the president’s commitment to the African American community. And, the majority of black Americans have followed the lead of West and Sharpton—more so following Sharpton.
We rightfully recognize that President Obama is a great president. He has influenced the passing of legislation (healthcare) and increased federal funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He has vowed to keep Social Security, Medicare and the Earned Income Tax Credit vibrant. However, other presidents and politicians (Republicans) have supported and passed legislation that was in the best interest of blacks and minorities but we sometimes discredit these accomplishments. Why? Because we believe giving credit to Republican politicians and/or criticizing President Obama is morally wrong.
Both Sharpton and West could have acknowledged President Obama’s strengths and weaknesses. To do so, does not make either man or us disloyal to the president. Rather, it makes all of us informed individuals, holding the president accountable which is an expectation for all politicians.
West made a valid point. He said, “There is a feeling in this country that a criticism of President Obama is an attempt to support the rightwing vicious attacks of Fox News and others.”
The “all or none” support by these two men led to some degrading language. Sharpton said most black leaders, except Obama, are silently doing nothing. West said Obama is manipulating Sharpton. These statements are ridiculous. Both men should have merely listed their approval and disapproval of the president. West could have said, President Obama did a great job with healthcare but he has miserably failed on reducing black unemployment. Sharpton could have said, “I agree,” instead of saying “why doesn’t the Congressional Black Caucus do something about it.” Sharpton could have said President Obama did a great job with supporting the entitlement programs but he has miserably failed on taxing the wealthiest Americans.” West could have said, “I agree,” instead of saying the president is a “black mascot” for the wealthy.
Finally, and for the record, let’s look and identify some quotes of politicians:
“I favor the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and it must be enforced by gunpoint if necessary.”—President Ronald Reagan.
“I hereby issue a proclamation honoring America’s Historical Black Colleges & Universities designating Sept. 9-15, 2007, as National HBCU Week.”—President George W. Bush.
“Whereas the Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for people who work but earn low wages and allows low-income workers to keep more of the money they earn, I Governor Sarah Palin declare Feb. 1, 2008 as Alaska Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day.
Despite this collective hope, a far different reality exists today. The National Urban League’s 35th Annual State of Black America Report noted the following:
African Americans have half the access to health care as white Americans;
The Urban League’s Equity Index places African American living standards, in general, at 71.8 percent of whites, declining from 72.1 percent in 2010.
African American unemployment is 15 percent, compared to 8 percent for whites.
The median income of white households in the United States equals $54,680; for African American households, the median income is $33,500.
These figures were mirrored by the economic and social data for Latinos, with the Latino Equity Index equaling 75.5 percent of whites, a 12 percent rate of unemployment, and a median income of $40,000.
Clearly, the election of Barack Obama has not improved the lives of African Americans. Why? Because racism is a feature of the capitalist system that benefits from national oppression and other forms of bigotry that keep workers divided and allow for super-exploitation. And Obama is the chief executive of a state that serves the interests of the capitalist class.
Like all U.S. presidents before him, Obama earned the support of the corporate establishment—a must for funding a viable electoral campaign—by demonstrating his commitment to their interests, not by confronting them. The election of a Black president was indeed a historic milestone in the struggle against racism, but it made it all the more clear that the racism is inherent in the system itself and not determined by the particular individuals occupying the seats of power.
The history of African Americans in the United States is one of suffering extreme oppression in several stages, including chattel slavery, Jim Crow, the violent repression unleashed on the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, the post-Vietnam War incarceration rates and the drug infiltration of communities. Oppression and the struggle against it form the bulk of the Black experience in the United States. That oppression continues today.
The experience of the Obama presidency shows that the only solution to the national oppression Black people suffer in the United States is a revolutionary transformation of society, and not the election of any particular person to the White House.
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