Well obama is a politican..and the fact he missed the state of the black union address to cater to "white folk" who are behind him makes me slam him..he is a sell out...and yes it is selling out when rather then doing what is best for your community you play the politics of mass appeal. THere is no "changing the system from within" in D.C. I don't care what his accomplishments were in law school. Alan Dershowitz is argubaly a much more distinguished legal scholar then him I respect his as a law student but he would never get my vote... but enough of me talking I will let Cornel West break it down for yall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXj3_pjTTwgP.S.Baracks got the "mariah carey" syndrome..only black when it is necessary Plenty of people take action for social justice. I've seen activism in most of my undergraduate education. I've been to plenty of organized events with people from a variety of ages, races, income backgrounds, etc advocating stances which I have not seen Obama advocate. These people to me have a much better direction of where the country can go versus Obama, Clinton, Edwards, etc. If the game is dirty then don't play it transcend it..social movements are not built based on electoral votes but on organizing people behind issues..and personally Barack is just to centrist for my political radar. He is a politican? yes.. articulate? yes educated? yes.. charasmatic? yes... (and wow he made harvard law review) but he is far to reformist for my taste, he is not revolutionary, he doesn't have the zeal which I believe is needed for radical change..in the end all I see is someone who tries to please everybody and change will come at a destructive compromise. That is not my approach nor the approach of those I look up too. Radical views may not "pay the bills" but it can change a country. I think radicalism is what this country needs rather then the constant ensuring of the status quo. (which includes getting a "black man" into Airforce one as if that is some sort of achievment for all black people. Obama is not the political leader I would ask black people to support because in the end he has to cater to other peoples intrest. Bottom line you don't have to be in electoral politics to make change and just the fact that he went on a path towards the executive branch already shows he has compromised a lot. He is not in the pursuit of social justice, he is in pursuit of the U.S. presidency.
Yes WOW he made Harvard Law Review… although I didn’t mention that in my comment.. let’s not downplay that ish… we (black folk) haven’t come that far with legal education to act as if that is not a huge accomplishment for a black man…Of course he’s in the pursuit of the US Presidency.. that’s basic common sense all things considered..
Oh and what are yall going to do when you graduate? My eventual goal is politics. I'll probably do the corporate thing for a couple years to get some money and experience then hope over to DOJ or something like then. Then I'll work my way up the ranks to become a governor or something.
Quote from: seventhson on May 10, 2007, 04:05:29 PMQuote from: Madness on May 10, 2007, 03:32:19 PMQuestion to everyone calling Tavis a farce and having negative things to say about a group of black people coming together to talk about issues they deem important: are there any black people doing anything positive to help out our communities? Or are they all just anonymous grass roots people, or named Barack Obama?I don't think it's negative, but it is what it is-People talking. It's purely inspirational. No implementable plan for success. Just people talking. I want to be an idealist for a minute. What if at the next SOBU they actually focused on a specific city like D.C.? Instead of inspirational talk, established goals in education, crime, and economic empowerment for the next year. Lobby for change. Then move on to the next concentration of black people.How about less talk and more action period...lobbying is fine but lets go one better...how about in the city they choose to discuss they go in and actually make the changes. You know instead of during the back to school rush giving out plastic bookbags and school supplies how about buying some books? I mean it cost them money to fly into the city...find a location, hotels, etc. So how about just going to the community schools not the school board but the principals and with open checkbooks say what do you really need. Then make it happen. How about painting a school over the summer break, buying or repair desk and tables and chairs and broken doors? How about instead of all the pity poor us..why not the empower us. Say fine we will do it ourselves. Like Reign said...Be the change...
Quote from: Madness on May 10, 2007, 03:32:19 PMQuestion to everyone calling Tavis a farce and having negative things to say about a group of black people coming together to talk about issues they deem important: are there any black people doing anything positive to help out our communities? Or are they all just anonymous grass roots people, or named Barack Obama?I don't think it's negative, but it is what it is-People talking. It's purely inspirational. No implementable plan for success. Just people talking. I want to be an idealist for a minute. What if at the next SOBU they actually focused on a specific city like D.C.? Instead of inspirational talk, established goals in education, crime, and economic empowerment for the next year. Lobby for change. Then move on to the next concentration of black people.
Question to everyone calling Tavis a farce and having negative things to say about a group of black people coming together to talk about issues they deem important: are there any black people doing anything positive to help out our communities? Or are they all just anonymous grass roots people, or named Barack Obama?
to bring back the topic of black male role models....Does anyone remember that comment Rosie O'Donnell made about their not being many black role models and that is why black folk rallied around O.J.?
I agree with action. Still, thats asking a bit much for Cornell and Gates to paint schools. Come on? is that what they got all those fancy schmancy degrees for? They are theorists. If they light a fire under someone watching who is more action oriented, they have done their job. Someone may cite them as their inspiration, as BPP cited Malcolm X or Frantz Fanon. really, Malcolm, we know, did alot of talking at places like Oxford etc...and was criticized in his time - and more recently - for merely talking, and was markedly absent from the southern marches. do we throw him away? like I read from someone else earlier, and like I truly beleive myself, we all can play a part. it takes all types. I just don't see the point of being so critical of guys like West and Smiley, almost like they are no good since they are not organizing or putting in some proleteriate elbow grease. As humans we are a very specialized bunch, some people are not "grassroots people". some people are "ivory tower" people. In that respect, they are doing their jobs. We can't look at them to take it from the cradle to the grave. It's a team game.
Quote from: seventhson on May 10, 2007, 05:13:25 PMto bring back the topic of black male role models....Does anyone remember that comment Rosie O'Donnell made about their not being many black role models and that is why black folk rallied around O.J.?Nah what was that about? Do you have a link?
Journeyman, I am dumbfounded as to how you got into IU and W&L with your numbers. 155 LSAT and you applied to Vanderbilt? Honestly?
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