Syracuse Prof Boyce Watkins Thoughts on Barack Obama

I recall endorsing Barack Obama back when it was simply wishful thinking to hope for a Black President. During a CNN appearance over a year ago, I mentioned that his backing by Oprah Winfrey would change Obama from being “Hillary Clinton’s black baby brother” into a man who could run one of the most significant presidential campaigns in American history. This is one of the few times when I enjoy being able to say, “I told you so.”

President Obama is, quite simply, the Tiger Woods of American politics: another Black man of mixed heritage, who used the power of tremendous focus, creativity, intelligence and preparation to do the impossible. Like his counterpart Tiger Woods (who happens to be a Republican), Obama went into the domain of White males and dominated in ways that simply transcended his chosen field. Similar to the way that Tiger’s greatness attracted droves of fans that’d never cared much about golf, Obama brought in millions of voters who would never have cared much about a presidential election.

I am proud of Barack Obama for the way he ran his campaign. His choice of advisors and campaign strategy has changed the face of American politics for the next 100 years. He dismantled the “Death Star Clinton Regime” through the use of innovative, daring and powerful tactics, a sound choice of advisors and lots of good old fashioned intelligence.

I am proud of Barack Obama for liberating our minds. For the first time in quite a while, millions of Black boys had a chance to see an intelligent Black man consistently profiled in “mainstream” media. This man showed our kids that you can be a “balla” without dribbling a basketball and a major “playa” without being played. Greatness is not achieved with a football, a hand gun or a microphone; it is achieved with a textbook, a college diploma and a sound economic plan.
I was proud of Barack Obama long before he became our president. I don’t need validation from the rest of America to feel good about whom we are as a people. We were just as great, just as strong, and just as accomplished and just as meaningful on November 3 as we are right now. The presidential election is essentially a popularity contest which leads to uncomfortable tradeoffs and “deals with the devil” that reduce the glitter of addictive political gold. The respect I give Barack Obama for raising hundreds of millions of dollars to get access to the Whitehouse is matched by the respect I give Dr. Julianne Malveaux for raising tens of millions of dollars to educate young Black women at Bennett College. Being President of the United States is not what makes Barack Obama a great man: He is a great man because he is a great man.

I am proud of Barack Obama for marrying Michelle, who served as one of my primary reasons for trusting him. I have a hard time imagining a man who can sleep with Michelle Obama every night and not be influenced by her beautiful mind. Michelle Obama is not a “buppy” soccer mom, Stepford Wife, or wannabe Barbara Bush. Michelle is a super sharp and relentless “sister girl”, who demands the most of her African American husband. She makes the first family as beautiful as Barack Obama makes it strong.

I am proud of Barack Obama for his willingness to take his life and career into the lion’s den. He inherits a terrible economy, an unjust war, a sickening healthcare system and an educational system which cripples our children for life. Like the first Black football coaches in the NCAA, Obama has been granted the reigns of a team with a serious losing record. Furthermore, he must bend and twist to satisfy citizens of the same country that was naïve enough to consider mediocre characters like George Bush and Sarah Palin to possibly run our great nation. I sincerely wish Obama the best as he attacks these problems, and I hope that this brilliant Black man with the middle name “Hussein” can negotiate the balance between our quest for a better world and America’s consistent commitment to anti-intellectualism.

As proud as I am of President Obama, I am also proud of America for showing that it has the ability to choose the right person for the job, instead of the right WHITE person for the job. By choosing Obama, we have shown our capacity for fairness, and how much progress we’ve made to overcome some of our racial demons of the past. The easiest thing to do, however, is to think that having a Black president is going to change the lives of most Black people. The reality is that BLACK PEOPLE THEMSELVES is going to change the lives of Black people and if we do not embrace the power of financial independence and unity, we will simply remain perpetual socio-economic slaves in the domain of a new overseer. The same way America rolled back the political gains of the 1960s, the Washington-based rewards of the new millennium could be just as fleeting.

President Obama did his job, now it’s time for us to do ours. Good luck over the next 4 years.

Syracuse Prof Boyce Watkins Statement on Barack Obama

I recall endorsing Barack Obama back when it was simply wishful thinking to hope for a Black President. During a CNN appearance over a year ago, I mentioned that his backing by Oprah Winfrey would change Obama from being “Hillary Clinton’s black baby brother” into a man who could run one of the most significant presidential campaigns in American history. This is one of the few times when I enjoy being able to say, “I told you so.”

President Obama is, quite simply, the Tiger Woods of American politics: another Black man of mixed heritage, who used the power of tremendous focus, creativity, intelligence and preparation to do the impossible. Like his counterpart Tiger Woods (who happens to be a Republican), Obama went into the domain of White males and dominated in ways that simply transcended his chosen field. Similar to the way that Tiger’s greatness attracted droves of fans that’d never cared much about golf, Obama brought in millions of voters who would never have cared much about a presidential election.

I am proud of Barack Obama for the way he ran his campaign. His choice of advisors and campaign strategy has changed the face of American politics for the next 100 years. He dismantled the “Death Star Clinton Regime” through the use of innovative, daring and powerful tactics, a sound choice of advisors and lots of good old fashioned intelligence.

I am proud of Barack Obama for liberating our minds. For the first time in quite a while, millions of Black boys had a chance to see an intelligent Black man consistently profiled in “mainstream” media. This man showed our kids that you can be a “balla” without dribbling a basketball and a major “playa” without being played. Greatness is not achieved with a football, a hand gun or a microphone; it is achieved with a textbook, a college diploma and a sound economic plan.
I was proud of Barack Obama long before he became our president. I don’t need validation from the rest of America to feel good about whom we are as a people. We were just as great, just as strong, and just as accomplished and just as meaningful on November 3 as we are right now. The presidential election is essentially a popularity contest which leads to uncomfortable tradeoffs and “deals with the devil” that reduce the glitter of addictive political gold. The respect I give Barack Obama for raising hundreds of millions of dollars to get access to the Whitehouse is matched by the respect I give Dr. Julianne Malveaux for raising tens of millions of dollars to educate young Black women at Bennett College. Being President of the United States is not what makes Barack Obama a great man: He is a great man because he is a great man.

I am proud of Barack Obama for marrying Michelle, who served as one of my primary reasons for trusting him. I have a hard time imagining a man who can sleep with Michelle Obama every night and not be influenced by her beautiful mind. Michelle Obama is not a “buppy” soccer mom, Stepford Wife, or wannabe Barbara Bush. Michelle is a super sharp and relentless “sister girl”, who demands the most of her African American husband. She makes the first family as beautiful as Barack Obama makes it strong.

I am proud of Barack Obama for his willingness to take his life and career into the lion’s den. He inherits a terrible economy, an unjust war, a sickening healthcare system and an educational system which cripples our children for life. Like the first Black football coaches in the NCAA, Obama has been granted the reigns of a team with a serious losing record. Furthermore, he must bend and twist to satisfy citizens of the same country that was naïve enough to consider mediocre characters like George Bush and Sarah Palin to possibly run our great nation. I sincerely wish Obama the best as he attacks these problems, and I hope that this brilliant Black man with the middle name “Hussein” can negotiate the balance between our quest for a better world and America’s consistent commitment to anti-intellectualism.

As proud as I am of President Obama, I am also proud of America for showing that it has the ability to choose the right person for the job, instead of the right WHITE person for the job. By choosing Obama, we have shown our capacity for fairness, and how much progress we’ve made to overcome some of our racial demons of the past. The easiest thing to do, however, is to think that having a Black president is going to change the lives of most Black people. The reality is that BLACK PEOPLE THEMSELVES is going to change the lives of Black people and if we do not embrace the power of financial independence and unity, we will simply remain perpetual socio-economic slaves in the domain of a new overseer. The same way America rolled back the political gains of the 1960s, the Washington-based rewards of the new millennium could be just as fleeting.

President Obama did his job, now it’s time for us to do ours. Good luck over the next 4 years.

Your Black World: Michelle Obama & Chris Rock On 'The Tonight Show'

On Monday, Michelle Obama payed a visit to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Mrs. Obama talked, amongst many other things, about the road to victory, fashion, Gov. Palin, and her dad -- who passed away in 1991 after a long bout with multiple sclerosis. Immediately following her appearance, Chris Rock was available to shake things up. Rock, known for his comedic ingenuity, cracked on everything from the Obamas, to the difference between Black and White kids, to the economy, and his new animated movie: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa."

Michelle Obama On The Tonight Show:



To watch Chris Rock's appearance, click here

Your Black World: Sister, Can You Spare Some Class: Black Women in the Media

Sister, Can You Spare Some Class: Black Women in the Media
By: Tolu Olorunda
Staff Writer - YourBlackWorld.com

Who can argue with prophetic leader and political prisoner, Mumia Abu Jamal’s assessment that “Black women are the most disfavored of all the nation’s women?” Only a fool would. Black Women, historically, have had to endure the horror of living in a world that screams hatred from its four corners. Like piercing swords drilling a hole into one’s soul, many Black Women are subjected daily to inhumane attacks from the left, right, front, and back angles of society. White Men, whose historical role as the original Slave master still persists, hold steadfast control of the wheels of society and therefore decide in which direction wealth, prestige and honor are steered.

With a 2004 Government report documenting $30,134 as the median income for Black households, one is certain which course the national financial vehicle has traveled. Black men, once devoted protectors of Black Women, now function as “Slave-master surrogates,” in interaction with their sisters. Black Women also have a hard time with confronting the reality that “White feminists,” who recruited them in the 70s for the epic “Gender War,” never abhorred any desire to join hands in the fight for liberation from the shackles of White Male Supremacy. In addition to coming to grips with the rampant racism exhibited in many White feminist organizations, financially-disempowered Black Women also face the firey scorn of well-to-do Black Women who hypocritically blame them for the criminal conditions in whinh they exist. With such precedent, I ask again, who can argue with prophetic leader and political prisoner, Mumia Abu Jamal’s assessment that “Black women are the most disfavored of all the nation’s women?”

The controversies of Tawana Brawley and Anita Hill are explicit examples of the White Supremacist media’s hatred of Black Women. To hide this malevolence, one or two Black news anchors are employed (disproportionately meteorologists), but underneath, the evidence is as overt as Fox News’ bias. In the world of Mass Media, the role of Black Women has traditionally been dual-natured: “The stereotypical, angry black bitch” or “the regurgitating, self-hating, conservative mouth piece” – a la Amy Holmes & Tara Setmayer. Any other attribute is vetoed or outlawed. Fox News reporter, Cal Thomas, bore witness – though unknowingly – to this reality earlier this year. Thomas was quick to point out that Black Women of sophistication are a rare commodity on Television screens because of the White male supremacy culture that revels in the demonization and objectification of Black Women. Cal Thomas, a man of low intelligence, made a blunder, however, in confusing passion for anger:

“Look at the image of African American Women who are on television. Politically, you have Maxine Waters of California, liberal Democrat. She’s always angry every time she gets on television. Cynthia McKinney, the former Congresswoman from Georgia, was another angry black woman. And who are the black women you see on the local news at night in cities all over the country. They’re usually angry about something. They’ve had a son who has been shot in a drive-by shooting. They are angry at Bush. So you don’t really have a profile of non-angry black women.

With corporate America’s grip on Commercial Hip-Hop Culture tightening by the hour, the commodification of Black female bodies takes on a whole new context. It is no coincidence that Queen Latifah, who once embodied the symbolism of a Black goddess, is today, nothing but a sad spectacle to behold. The once-upon-a-time pro-Black militant-minded and feminist Queen Latifah has become a washed up Hollywood product, with an appetite for destruction. If Viacom and other big-name corporations within the Hip-Hop beltway were to exist unimpeded, Trina, Lil’ Kim and Remy Ma would represent the holy trinity of female artistry in Hip-Hop. But such inference would be problematic because, for every Trina, there once was a Nefertiti; for every Lil’ Kim, there once was a Moni Love; and for every Remy Ma, there once was a Lauryn Hill. Unfortunately, a self-respecting, knowledgeable and highly-educated female artist like Lauryn Hill is deemed radioactive in an industry built around the exploitation of diffident young Black Women.

Many younger Blacks are familiar with “Tip Drill,” and the horror of Hip-Hop music videos. In this particular video, the rapper Nelly is featured swiping a credit card down the gluteus maximus of a Video Vixen. As expected, this despicable act – deemed entertainment – was beyond the pale for certain Black female activists who perceived it as the last straw in their accommodation of misogyny in Hip-Hop. In 2004, Nelly was scheduled to visit the Black female College, Spelman, for a bone marrow drive. Unbeknownst to Nelly, a few Spelman students didn’t quite consider his music to be that “entertaining,” and had drafted a plan to see how much of a man he truly was. “The Spelman sisters,” as they’ve come to be known, challenged Nelly to a forum to address the issue of Black female Exploitation in Hip-Hop videos – particularly with regard to his video, “Tip Drill.” As one might imagine, Nelly swiftly turned down the offer, appearing to be more concerned with his image than the dire issue of bone-marrow transplants. The way the Spelman sisters figured, a bone-marrow drive is equally as essential as a healthy soul. The Spelman sisters sought to question the conscience and motive of a man who would openly denigrate the legacy of Black Women, but claim concern to the sector of their organism that guarantees blood circulation – hence, life.

The morally decrepit performance of artists like Nelly has granted ample leverage to White-controlled media channels such as Vh1 to promote shows that defile the integrity of Black Women. Vh1, a subsidiary of Viacom, has done more damage to the self-worth and decency of Black Women than any other channel in recent history. Vh1 has skillfully structured its programming in such a way that an untrained eye watching it might be misled into believing that Black Women are naturally promiscuous and adulterous. Some might even fall victim to the lie that the availability of young Black Women on Vh1 reality shows is ample proof of culpability or willingness, but such inference would suggest that if those same Black Women were paid the exact share of incentives to appear on a morally upright and spiritually nurturing show, they would decline instantaneously. By this measure, it’s presumably evident that White male executives of big media are easily satisfied with a Black female constituency whose preoccupation with self-deprecation runs afoul of the legacies of Fannie Lou Hamer, Harriet Tubman, Barbara Jordan, Rosa Parks, and Callie House.

It is no surprise that the same media which revels in the destruction of Black female identity seeks to fulfill the same with today’s most important Black female: Michelle Obama. More disturbing is the reality that Michelle, like prominent Black public figures before her, lacks the confidence – there’s certainly the willingness – to, quite simply, be herself and refuse the Obama camp’s incessant attempts at recreating her into a “submissive, all-American first lady.” One thing is for certain, however: Black folks of consciousness have their work cut out for them. For Change is not an empty rhetorical stunt, but rather a fortified, systematic dismantling of a historical structure – especially one which has oppressed, repressed, depressed and suppressed the hopes of a mighty race.

Reposted From Black Commentator

Your Black World: FOX News' Clown Host, Bill O'Reilly Attacks Michelle Obama

The face of disgrace, Bill O'Reilly, found another way, yesterday, to take criminal swipes at the potential first lady, Michelle Obama. In a new segment he calls, "The Obama Chronicles," an "extensive 25-part series" on Sen. Barack Obama, O'Reilly made some deeply reprehensible comments. In an effort to slime the independent-minded Michelle Obama, Billo - as he's called by rival host Keith Olbermann - began by degradingly labeling Ms. Obama as "the controversial wife of the Democratic candidate." To affirm this folly-inspired categorization, O'Reilly further claimed - rather baselessly - that Michelle Obama "looks like an angry woman." Most YBW readers are aware of FOX News' reporter, Cal Thomas's despicable remarks, earlier this year, that most Black Women on TV are of some shade of angry. Bill O'Reilly, who has in the past, expressed willingness to lynch Michelle Obama -- on the condition that substantive proof is given that she feels a certain way about her country, blamed the victims of Hurricane Katrina for their demise, publicly expressed shock at the idea of Black people acting civically at an Harlem Restaurant, and claimed inner-city kids are innately incivil, is in no way morally equipped to assess the temperament of anyone -- let alone someone who, quite obviously, shatters the limited brain data he possesses.

From Media Matters:

Your Black World: Elizabeth Hasselbeck Takes Unfair Swipe at Michelle Obama

Arch-Conservative and Co-Host of The View, suggests that Michelle Obama was granted special treatment in her June 18, appearance on The View. Anyone familiar with the mind of Hasselbeck, is aware of her morally-reprehensible statement earlier this year, where she made an absurd comparison between Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright and cannibal, Jeffrey Dahmer, saying “Would you say … I’m sure at some point Jeffrey Dahmer ate peanut butter sandwiches doesn’t make the fact that he ate people any less wrong.” Also, in an argument with fellow co-host, Sherri Shepherd, she alluded to Trinity United Church Of Christ being a Black Separatist union, asking, “Can white people go to that church?” — the fact that TUCC is said to be outnumbered by whites notwhithstanding. In this clip, Hasselbeck takes a strong and dishonest swipe at Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama:

Rap Music To Blame For Michelle Obama's Problems? - Pearl Jr.

Is Today's Black Music To Blame For All of This? Pearl Jr.

Just within the past few days, I've been shocked and awed to no end; furthermore, to add insult to injury, major media isn't discussing these high levels of racism against Black women like they did with Rev. Wright. Oh, my bad, Blacks were to look like the racist in that instance and now when non-Blacks do it, it's just barely mentioned. As usual, NOW (National Association of Women) is MIA (missing in action). How about endorsing Barack Obama, NOW that Hillary is out? Despite crucifying Michelle Obama for her obvious delight of being REALLY proud of America, 9-year-old Malia and 6-year-old Sasha have been labeled "Nappy Headed Hos" by a racist group of people who approved, created, built and leased office space to demagogue-like, so-called, artist Yazmany Arboleda, who developed a HATE exhibit called, "The Assasination of Barack Obama". The well-raised daughters of two highly educated, respected, and accomplished Black people have come VICTIM to being lumped into a group of women who have been misogynized to no end in hip hop music. It's time we face the facts. Rap crap music has devastated the Black family leading to the downfall of the Black community. Not even the most successful and powerful Black man's family in political history is immune to being labeled worthless by whoever deems it. Do you recall, the most hated President Bush ever being called "trailer park trash"? Not hardly because the claim would be off base-President George W. Bush is a warmonger as well as a failure as a President to be accurate. In lieu, to label little girls a derogatory term aimed at sex-aged promiscuous Black females, the phrase must NOW be used to describe ALL Black females, despite their age, background, integrity, personality, actions, or prestige. Then I hear and see that Michelle Obama is being branded "Obama's Baby Mama" instead of Barack's wife. This wreckless slur solidifies the hatred, disrespect, and dismissal of Black women as human beings worthy of a successful Black man's love, matrimony, and commitment. Fox News' Michelle Malkin, a Philippino racist against anything non-White, labeled Mrs. Obama inaccurately, because a "Baby's Mama" isn't married to the father, and since the text on the screen reiterated Ms. Malkin's words, it proves malice, forethought, and apparent collaboration with a female producer by the name of Jessica Herzberg, the show's producer. It's now fun to hurt Black women. Why not, it seems Black men do it all the time, so let's all jump in and rip out the hearts of Black women; after all, too many Black men are too psychologically twisted to realize that the disrespect, abandonment and dishonor they show to Black women will affect their own daughters, mothers and sisters--creating a hostile world for their own off springs, even if their children are bi-racial. Actor/comedian Eddie Griffin has recently been slapped with a lawsuit because he didn't realize that by his own actions of putting down Black women, abandoning Black women, and going on the big screen praising non-Black women that his own MAMA would be so very disrespected he would get enraged to the point of physically assaulting a producer on his newly developed reality show. You see, they put Griffin's mother in a cheap cheesy hotel and then treated her as if she had no attributes to be respected. After all, she did raise him and must take some responsibility for his actions--the good AND the bad! I wonder what will it take for us to learn and for Black men to take a stand and NEVER allow that stand to fall down, as with the Don Imus insult to a girl's basketball team calling them "Nappy Headed Hos" and Duane "Dog" Chapman racist rant against his White son's Black girlfriend calling her the "N" word. After a short-lived controversy, both of them got their shows back, and Imus even got a raise and a better time slot. You see, the word prejudice (pre-judgment) needs to be re-introduced into everyday language as the most pervasive form of racism today--if one is disrespected, then all are subject to be put in the same category of some form of worthlessness. The hatred of Black women is so vivid that Michelle Obama is being strung up once again. This time for something she didn't even say. Mrs. Obama is being accused of using the term "Whitey", which is supposed to be on some church tape somewhere, but, of course, the tape will soon come to a conservative talk radio or cable news show near you soon. Meanwhile, everyone hate her for the pretense that it MIGHT be true! The most recent example of straight ignorance and weakness on behalf of Black men that relates to the pre-judgment of Black males, rap crap artist Lil Wayne has a photo of himself as a baby on his recent album cover with gang teardrops, tattoos, and other thug paraphernalia to promote his filthy degrading noise. The most disheartening part is the record company has went all out to saturate the marketplace with a thug baby meaning ALL Black males are criminals and menaces to society despite the age, once again! Yes, yes, it is top-level record executives, not Black-owned companies, who green light these society destroying images for public consumption. Remember Motown's music of love and healing, featuring songs and lyrics like "Baby Baby Don't Cry", "My Guy", "Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got, "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "Precious Love" and the sweetest of all, "My Girl". This music gave strength through togetherness. The above small list of songs, written, owned, distributed, and produced by Blacks, of the 1960's, bonded the Black race with love so strong, Blacks tore down the walls of segregation and created a whole new world with vast possibilities. Today, too many of us are begging to be a part of our own downfall, raising our arms and hands up high, urging pick me pick me, I'll say the most despicable, degrading words if I could just have a few years of fame and fortune, paid to them by those who HATE Black progress. Even Ashanti has sold her soul to the devil with her newest song urging for Black women to kill, stab, shoot Black men who cheat. I mean, damn, how low can we go? Inspite of all of this, there is hope lying directly in front of Blacks. The glass ceiling may be shattered to pieces with the Obama's having the best odds of living in the White House as President and First Lady of the USA. Just know, the Obama's are only two people; Blacks must do the work to NEVER, EVER, EVER support ANYTHING that disrespects or dishonors anything Black, and that includes going in your child's room and destroying all that anger music that resonates like a prayer of pain and failure in your child's heart each and every time they hear it. Too bad, Lil Wayne's album is slated to have the #1 best selling week of 2008. This time, maybe 70 percent of rap crap sales are White hip hoppers because judging by the above atrocities, it's fun and cool to judge Blacks in a bad light. By analyzing rap crap's dismal sales of 2007 and 2008, hip hop is truly a dying genre that should have been never been transformed and owned by non-Blacks. The most disheartening revelation is Blacks financed their own demise, and if Blacks can do that, then Blacks can contribute to their own growth and prosperity. Pearl Jr. is an author, activist, journalist and producer. She is is a member of the National Academy of Media Arts & Sciences. She has authored three books, one documentary and has successfully ran four websites (award-winning) and serves as the founder and owner of Elbow Grease Productions (EGP) and Pearl Jr. Publications. She is best known for her work in the African-American community. She is a long-time activist. As an activist, Pearl Jr. has successfully challenged major corporations to respect the Black community, she has protested and forced major corporations such as Nissan Motors, Ebay, and the NAACP to change their ways to better represent a positive image for African-Americans. Pearl Jr. has also leads the charge consistently against negative rap music. She writes widely published articles such as, "The Rap Crap Treason Act" and "The Golddigger lie leads to Black Male Failure," which has awaken the sleepy giant in the hearts and minds of the Black public. She runs the websites: TRUtalk.us, MichaelJacksonInsider.com, and BlackWomenNeedLoveToo.com