WHAT’S YOUR AGENDA? by William Reed Columnnist

When it comes to looking out for the economic interest of Black Americans do you think that the Obama administration is doing too much, too little or the right amount?

In the upcoming months, someone is going to tap you to 1) make a donation, 2) volunteer, and or 3) vote for people and platforms that best represent you and your views. Don’t let the past be prologue in this instance, in that history influences and sets the context for the future. This time around why don’t we demand that all candidates present a “Black Agenda” with specific ways to improve the lives of Blacks in America to get our 2012 vote?

It’s not like Blacks don’t need someone to look out for our interests. The wealth gap between Whites and Blacks continues to increase. Reports say the annual median income ($32,584) for Black Americans is going down and the number among those living in poverty (26%) is headed up. And, who in our representative form of government is trying to change that? In representative politics, elected “representatives” are supposed to stand up for us and “represent our interest.” Exactly who is representing Blacks’ interests in this representative democracy?

We need a bona fide “Black agenda” to address a range of difficult social problems which still plague Black America. Under the guise of collective advancement we should ask ourselves: “What’s wrong with critics like Tavis Smiley requesting that Obama publicly announce his thoughts and policies regarding a Black agenda. As if the subject is debatable, a chorus of Black leaders who include such as the Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network, National Urban League’s Marc Morial and the NAACP’S Ben Jealous have give President Obama cover saying that “he doesn’t need a Black agenda.”

What has Obama done for you lately? Here’s what’s important: The issues of concern to Black Americans have to be put on paper and sent to your representative in Congress as well as to the city, county and state councils where you live. We suggest you make use of the following concepts to let them know your legislative agenda.

The Black Agenda 2012

We want you to:

Promote educational reinvestment in low- income and disadvantaged African American communities

- Guarantee child care assistance to low-income families and promote early education

- Improve student achievement and graduation rates for low income and minority children, with special emphasis on science and technology education and training opportunities.

- Expand college access by simplifying and expanding Pell Grant opportunities and increasing support for Historically Black College and Universities

- Connect disadvantaged youth to after-school and summer programs, job training and employment.

Increase Access to Economic Security

- Increase unemployment assistance.

- Increase funding for education, job training, and small business opportunities for low- income and minority communities.

Eliminate Health Disparities

- Provide and fully fund programs to increase minority representation at all levels of the health profession

- Address and ensure that the impact of research and all health related provisions in minority communities is assessed through data collection, disaggregation and analysis.

Provide Equitable Housing Options

- Support comprehensive public housing reform and expansion of the Section 8 housing voucher programs

- Protect renters, especially those affected by housing foreclosures

- Prevent foreclosures by increasing the number of loan modifications.

- Stop predatory lending, foreclosure rescue fraud and general housing discrimination practices.

Strengthen Civil Rights and Judicial Reform

- Provide opportunities for individuals with criminal records and their reintegration into their respective communities.

- Eliminate sentencing disparities

- Stop the cradle to prison pipeline

Address Global Poverty

- Continue Millennium Development goals to end poverty.

- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

- Achieve universal primary education

- Promote gender equality

- Reduce infant mortality and improve maternal health

- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

- Ensure environmental sustainability

- Expand trade and development assistance

Are you any better off than you were in 2008? If, not, you may want to incorporate these concepts into your agenda.

(William Reed is available for speaking/seminar projects via BaileyGroup.org)

See related:

William Reed Columnist

 

What the hell? – From Buchanan to Obama

First of all thank you for sharing this with me.

 

I don’t recall ever sending out so much mess about my previous Presidents whether I voted for them or not. It is by coincidence they have all been white although some have spoken for me saying former President Bill Clinton was the first black President. Well Barack Obama is my first  however I recognize and understand that he is bi-racial or whatever but hell I didn’t create the rule that if there are any black in you, you are considered black. My daddy’s moma’s daddy was a white man and so that makes me bi-racial also.

 

I get so damn sick and tired of folks trying to speak for me because I do not fit the category that Buchanan speaks of. See the rest of my response below in red also.

 

—– Original Message —–

From: Dupreessc@aol.com

 

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 7:15 PM

Subject: Fwd: FW: From Buchanan to Obama

---

A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

 

 

BUCHANAN TO OBAMA
By Patrick J. Buchanan

Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America . Fair
enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White
Americaneeds to be heard from, not just lectured to.. This time, the Silent
Majorityneeds to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard.. And
among them are these:

 

I am ready to have the conversation and I will start here.

 

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was
here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew
into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and
reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever
known. Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

 

Well I be damn, brought here, didn’t say came here on their own. Introduced to Christian salvation. Really. Some folks have died over religion and could not freely worship back in the day from what I have been told. Hell some folks are not free today so I am confused. I am assuming he is talking about the (Rev.) Wright. I am quite sure Rev. Wright have worked for what he has and do not fit the description that Buchanan speaks of. However I dare not to attempt to speak for him because it is very clear that he can speak for himself.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white
Americans.

 

Really? So we have overcome? LOL

 

Untold trillions have been spent since the ‘ 60s on welfare,
food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student
loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty
programs designed to bring the African-American community into the
mainstream.

 

How about report why all of this came about. Probably trying to right a wrong. But is this just limited to black folks.

 

Well I be damn. I know as a fact that back in the day many black people owned land and lots of it and today many of them don’t any. I have heard many facts of how black folks land was taken away from them. So obviously you don’t know of these facts.

 

White children/adults go to black colleges they do not have to pay because they are a minority but unless a black child receives a scholarship, they have to pay to attend a white college.

 

Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in
discrimination against white folks — with affirmative action, contract
set-asides and quotas — to advance black applicants over white applicants.

 

Affirmative action would not exist if there was not a problem.

Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over
America have donated their time and money to support soup kitchens, adult
education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.

And that is great and they should, what is the problem. So are you saying that only blacks benefit from these resources?

We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude???

 

Really? Obviously you are living in a box.

Barack talks about new ‘ladders of opportunity’ for blacks. Let him go to
Altoona ? And Johnstown , and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how
many were visited lately by Ivy Leaguerecruiters handing out scholarships
for ‘deserving’ white kids.?

 

What? So just like President Barack Obama has his opinions, I see you have some as well. So again attempting to speak for black folks. I am quite sure my President is familiar with people from all walks of life especially since he has been a community activist.

 

Is white America really responsible for the
fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven
times those of white America?

 

Root cause? I wonder why?

 

Is it really white America ‘s fault that
illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the
black dropout ratefrom high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?

 

Root cause? Did we have this problem be during segration?

Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the
black community itself?

 

Root cause? I wonder why?

As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and
especially interracial crimes of violence.. Is Barack Obamaaware that while
white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals
choose white victims 45 percent of the time?

Don’t know if he does, however I would think that he is familiar with crime as it relates to black and white.

 

Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than
the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the
first three years of this decade as the reverse?

We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the
Duke rape case and Jena . And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the
epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.

Yep, I agree that Rev. Al Sharpton messed up with the Brawley case however I think he learned from that lesson with her. I was not a Rev. Sharpton’s fan for many years however since I have listened to him over the years and seen him in person, I appreciate him on that I agree with and that I do not, I will make it known that I do not. I do not agree with black folks simply just because they are black. I voted for my President Barack Obama because he is an intelligent black man.

Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40
trillion tax dollars ago.
We are a Christian Nation even if Mr. Obama says we are not.
This needs to be passed around because, this is a message everyone needs to
hear!!!

Heard before? Oh well I say let the race discussion begin. I am willing to talk abut it but there are so many others who are not.

 

Response done in a hurry.

 

C. Dancy II – my response in red.