Michael Eric Dyson vs. Barack Obama

I love MED. I have followed his career forever and was thrilled when he took a position as a professor at one of my alma maters.

Some of his comments here are spot on. Like when he says that "presidents are limited." Everyone with a bit of common sense knows this, although there are some who are hell bent on insisting that Obama should have had everything wrong in this country, 90% of which he inherited from previous administrations, fixed YESTERDAY.

When he says that having a black president doesn't mean much to the lives of everyday Americans but means alot to America's children to look up and see "a black man in charge" I agree with that too. Again, presidents are limited in what they can do. But having a black figurehead does do much in the way of improving race relations in this country and eliminating one of the most pervasive and stubborn ideologies upon which this country was founded -- the intellectual superiority of white people.

Where he loses me is when he keeps saying that Obama has not addressed black issues and that he is even sacrificing black issues in an effort to not scare off white folks. This is similar to an article that firedupdem posted last week where activists in Chicago were demanding that Obama get involved in some way to try to stop the number of black murders that have been occurring there. Like I said then, I'm still not sure what those activists expect Obama to do about that, and I'm not sure what MED wants Obama to do either. He's real quick to say Obama's not progressing black causes (in other words, "Obama's a sellout") but he doesn't offer any explanation to what he's talking about or any solutions. So I always take stuff like that with a huge grain of salt.

Thanks for posting that. I'd rec it if I could. :)

one he started out with not being invited to the White House I knew he was kind of tripping. Barack Obama is President of the United States and he happens to be black. What the hell is he supposed to do differently? I actually appreciate the "little" things that have been done. When he announced the changes to the student loan programs, there was a young black woman speaking in front of him. One of the speeches, there was a young black girl and her mom in the box with Michelle. I don't expect Obama to do jack for me on the "black" tip. I really don't. I expect him to be a good President for all the United States. Promote people who deserve it like the guy that will be head of NASA. Did they think Hillary was going to do something better? Also, he didn't know what the hell he was talking about regarding Chrysler and AIG....the blackest city? Does he think all those plants closing are in Detroit? He needs to go to Detroit and help that busted ass City Council if he wants to be helpful...not asking the President to stand with the people. It seems like these voices would be better used to work on issues like the violence in Chicago etc. Why are they waiting on the President to wave a magic wand?

I didn't watch the entire segment because I'm tired from my first day on a new job...but I'll be back! :)

MED even said that in this piece. Said that Obama would not have been elected if not for the support of blacks and Latinos. Ain't it funny the number of people who claim it was THEY and they alone that put Obama in the White House??

Would it be great to see Obama say that he was sending a veritable army of scientists and doctors to central Africa to battle AIDS?? I would fall down dead with love if he did that. Or if he were to announce that he was sending US troops to fight the genocide in Sudan and the one in Rwanda that still hasn't died?? Again, I would love that. Or even to make a statement about all of the murders of black children in Chicago or address the number of minorities who were completely screwed over during the mortgage crisis last year?? I would absolutely LOVE that. But one thing I've learned since this man took office is that his detractors will jump on ANYTHING he says or does/doesn't say or doesn't do. And Obama, who ran on this made up contrivance of post- or trans-racialism, is not yet in a position where he can do these things without the Limbaughs/Tancredos of the world saying "see! I told you he was going to try and settle some old black scores!" as if these are only "black" issues instead of issues of common decency.

I'd like to see a hell of alot more political courage on his part re: these issues, but there is no way in hell I'm throwing in the towel 12 weeks into the man's term. I'm crazy but I ain't stupid and I ain't THAT crazy either.

but also some not-so-great points. True, Obama got overwhelming black and majority Hispanic support, by percentage, but he still needed enough white people to vote for him. Thus, the "post-racial" or rather, the "don't talk about race or we'll scare white people" campaign strategy, worked.

Dyson says that we need to hold Obama accountable, as we should for any elected official. We can't expect Obama to care about black people's issues just because he's black. During the campaign, the only candidate talking issues even near black people's issues was John Edwards. Obama can't say "black people" out loud without hearing from the RW rabid racists, just look at the Sotomayor nomination. They're going to scream bloody murder anyway, so there's no need to worry about them. What's needed is a galvanizing issue to rally around. GLBT's have gay marriage, Hispanics have immigration reform, black people don't have such an issue. One can't get attention without enough voices shouting as one.

It sounds like he's upset with not getting an invitation. During Tavis' State of the Black Union forum in February he was a strong supporter of Obama. What happened in 4 months to make him change his views. He sounds just like Tavis, "I support him but........" During the Democratic convention Tavis had a program slamming Obama for not mentioning Dr. King's name during his acceptance speech.

As has been said, I don't expect him to be the champion of all Black causes during his first 6 months in office. I do believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. MED also had his facts wrong about the CEO of AIG. The current CEO was newly installed and he's taking a salary of $1. The CEO that was in charge during the collapse is gone.

I love MED but was beginning to have a problem with him when he went on a speaking tour with Tavis and Cornel West. They charged $60 to hear them speak but were not directly involved in any programs that directly impacted our community.

It's ironic that MED complains about not being invited to the White House but Al Sharpton has had numerous invites. As much as people like to criticize Al Sharpton as being a race baiter or hustler at least he backs up his talk with actions. Al Sharpton is doing a lot to improve educational opportunities for Black Americans. He's been working closely with the Secy. of Education on this initiative. MED is in education and I have never seen anything he's done to increase educational opportunities among Blacks.

It IS beginning to look like crabs in the barrel.