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In the video below, Dr. Boyce Watkins addresses recent remarks by Cornel West referring to MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry as a “fake” and a “fraud.” The conversation focuses on the manner by which slavery has influenced the political divides that now take place within African American leadership. During Black History Month, we can reflect on the history makers who are helping to shape the direction of African American thought, and reflect honestly on what the Obama presidency means for black people as a collective.
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Lawrence P. Rockwood, PhD
March 31, 2013 at 4:14 pm
Dear Melissa
Yesterday on your show, The Melissa Harris-Perry Show, on a segment called “Are You a Good Ally”
You used the example of Viola Liuzzo to document a good model of a civil rights “ally” (a civil rights activist who is not African American).
“Viola Fauver Gregg Liuzzo (April 11, 1925 – March 25, 1965) was a Unitarian Universalist civil rights activist from Michigan, who was murdered by Ku Klux Klan members after the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama. One of the Klansmen in the car from which the shots were fired was a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informant.”
You and your guests described an “ally” as an activist who after “meditating on white privilege” knows their place by remaining a mere auxiliary, facilitator, or adjunct of the movement. Someone who knows their place.
Milissa it is you, not Viola Liuzzo, who is a second class civil rights activist. You have spent your life as a privileged tenured professor in one of the most exploitive industries of workers in history. Yes, Viola gave her life for someone outside her tribe, her race, or her family. That makes her more of a human being, not less, than you are Melissa.
Your tribalistic criteria of who is and is not full members of the civil rights movement is pure racial essentialism and bigotry. The same is true of those who think they can judge real feminists by what is between someone’s legs. They are also bigots.
Mellissa, you do not have the civil rights credentials found in the cold tip of Viola’s fingernail and you never will. The only difference between you and the KKK bigots who murdered her is one of degree. They killed her body, you killed her integrity
John
January 20, 2013 at 12:17 pm
I refuse to allow society to define me. I’m not defined by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character. I don’t care if the President is Black, Asian, Latino, White or Indigineous, if he is wrong, he is wrong. Period! This idea that you understand me because your skin color is the same as mine’s, is foolish and narrow minded. We as Black people are first and foremost individulas with differing dreams, goals and ideas. We are not clones that you can just clump together. I never elected any of these so call Black leaders to represent me or speak on my behalf. I speak for myself and I am accountable only for my own actions and words.
Calexfo
February 24, 2012 at 4:06 am
It really amazes me how Black people on this forum are so UNGRATEFUL and talking so much trash about President Obama. George Bush took eight years to destroy the fabric of these United States while most of the folks here bashing the President did not even bother to vote.
Being apolitical and non-involved in the voting process gives you no voices. Cornell West and Travis Smiley are on an unfortunate mission to detract us and to smear the President’s character.
Rev. Al Sharpton is doing a great job on MSNBC in exposing those who if given absolute political power in Congress and the White House, will create the America not fit for us. Is that what you want?
Why is blatant inexcusable disrespect of a President who happened to be black? Did you all showed the bad card to George Bush who was one of the worst presidents in US history??
A reversal of your educations, livelihood, abatement of freedom, a South African style Apartheid system that disrespects you black people; is that what those of you who are talking loud and disrespecting the President Obama want if you do not secure is re-election???
Let us stop the nonsense, support the President, secure his re-election and move on.
So what about Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry? I believe that she is doing a great job, consistent and deserves her show on MSNBC. Dr. Cornell West is tired now and he has become irrelevant.
Dr. Boyce, it seem as if you are using your status lately to marginalize your own people. While you have an opinion, you need not disrespect us with your brand of cynicism.
Brenda Adrine
February 24, 2012 at 4:23 am
Calexfo, no truer words have been spoken. I had decided to remove my information from this page, but I kept looking at it to see if there was anyone out there who thought the same as me. I’ve seen a few responses in agreement but yours is the best so far. I wish there were more people like you on this site. I thought this site was about building up the Afro-American community. Instead, it seems that were tear down any black person who is blessed enough to make it in this anti black world. Keep up the good work Calexfo! OBAMA 2012!!!
TONI
February 11, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Dr B. I think you should get show on fox, I think you would fit right in. I dont see a lot of women on T V that look like me or my daughters in a positive role, MELISSA does and for you and those other haters like cornel,tavis,joe scarborough, dillan raddigan , glen beck,rush limbaugh and so maney more that hate black people and this President, make my stomach sick. I thought we had a group that was doing a good job at this “TEA PARTY” I will not be one of their voices.
Raymond Coats
February 11, 2012 at 2:36 am
I agree with Dr. Watkins!!
Scottie Lowe
February 10, 2012 at 8:44 pm
NOT voting in the upcoming election is a vote for the Republicans and if you are trying to assert that Obama is equal to Romney, Gingrich, Paul, or Santorum in his outreach to Blacks, you are allowing your own personal biases to cloud your judgment.
GC
February 10, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Yes. Personal grudges getting in the way of clear thinking.
Deborah Henderson
February 10, 2012 at 3:08 pm
I think what continues to be an issue for me as a bi racial female there are African Americans who are racist themselves. The academia stance of, “Look, How many Black men are incarcerated in Prison”? I grew up in East Harlem in “The Projects”, jumping rope playing hop scotch, while stepping over drug addicts, dropping down during shootings and still went to school. While there is a need for more training and afterschool programs, there are many of the incarcerated who BELONG THERE!!! There is so much Black on Black crime and living in the projects or in poverty is not a Prerequisite or an excuse to kill, maim, deal drugs, or any other kind of violence. There are many who grow up under extreme conditions and work and become productive citizens. I have been annoyed by some of President Obama’s stance on some issues but I don’t believe he owes me a Black Check or any special privileges. I’m so done and WILL NEVER COME BACK on this site. To actually say or hint Don’ vote …Not only will I vote but my whole family BETTER VOTE!! AS far as Sharpton goes NOT ONE of you can touch him .He has been there time and time again standing for us when no one stood with him against racism and bigotry. Where were you Tavis and for that matter West on the TV land basting another African American? Amazing what always stands out is how Blacks EAT EACH Other for Sport. Melissa you Rock!!
Bishop
February 9, 2012 at 4:04 pm
I am a supporter of the President, and I also criticize some of his actions as well. I love and respect Dr. West also, and believe that his voice needs to be heard. We can learn many things from his knowledge, struggle, and experiences. Many people ask, “where was he during the Bush years?” To that, I say the same place he is now, and he was just as vocal then. His platform has always been visible to those of us he followed the bloodline of “black intellectualism”; however, now, because we have a Black President, the platform has been heighten, and is more visible to the masses. This is by design, I’m sure. My hope is that the conversation moves from the destructive to the constructive. Black scholars ripping each other apart on a national stage does nothing to move anyone’s agenda forward. As the only Black Judge on the bench in my jurisdiction, I relate well with the President’s position, and many of the dilemas he faces when it comes to issues involving race. It’s a tricky situation to navigate; the President is the President of the United States, not Black Folk; however, to willfully turn a blind eye to the disparities that exist between the ethnic groups in the US as a political strategy in hard to stomach, even though I understand the thought process. To deny any part of yourself is death, regardless of the reasoning behind it. We all will never agree on everything; however, we should agree on coming to the table with suggestions, recommendations, and solutions, not diatribes. Hotep!
GC
February 9, 2012 at 6:13 pm
I hope too that “the conversation moves from the destructive to the constructive. Black scholars ripping each other apart on a national stage does nothing to move anyone’s agenda forward.”
Hotep, Judge Bishop, Hotep!
Carolyn
February 9, 2012 at 3:09 am
Dr.Boyce Iam begging you to vote for whatever candidate that you chose. Even though you feel that there is no one to vote for. I can agree with you. However, I was a small three year old child in the late fifties, and I remember those for white only and colored water fountains and I remember seeing Dr. king and the civil rights marchers being beaten on television fighting for our right to vote.To be heard and recognized as people as good as anyone else.Please don’t lose faith. As for Melissa Harris-Perry and Dr.West they are both strong willed.
I sincerely hope that they can kiss and make up.
Believe you me- fighting on the boat will sink us.
TONY
February 9, 2012 at 3:07 am
Way to go Dr. Watkins. I agree with you and Cornel and some of Tavis words. I just wish Dr. West would stop all of that brothering and sistering stuff, he sounds ridiculous to me and others. I can’t stand that fake sister as well, and Sharpton is an a*s kisser of Obama no matter what he does not do for the black community. They are sell-outs and have betrayed their community. Period.
Lew
February 9, 2012 at 1:24 am
Brother Boyce, what I like about YBW is the reporting of the latest ‘Black News’. In every case, YBW has been on the money. What I have always been leery of is you using YBW as your personal pulpit. Even so, I accepted that since its your publication, you’re entitled to your opinion. BUT this thing with you, TS & CW has gotten off the wall. The slavemasters encouraged their slaves to distrust one another, thus the crabs in the barrel theory. He separated family members to intentionally keep us at odds with one another. Have we learned anything over 200 years? Other races and cultures die for family and stand together come h**l or high waters. No one is perfect or always right. I haven’t always been a fan of Rev. Al, but I am now. I can’t wait for Melissa’s show to debut. And Lord have Mercy, I truly believe that our President didn’t get to be President by accident. He didn’t get to be President BECAUSE of us, BUT he wouldn’t have become President WITHOUT us…and a whole lot of other people too. What I do believe is that he was devinely chosen, and for that reason, you, CW, TS, the Repubs, the Tea Party, the Evangelicos, and all the haters will not be able to stop his re-election. If you DON’T vote, you will be voting for the winner anyway, so what’s your point? So far, everything and everyone that have been trying to thwart his efforts are failing. Permanent changes can only be made from the inside and he’s doing just that, gradually. As long as the ‘man’ owns the media, the businesses, the real estate, etc., he will be in charge and will have to be dealt with. If you want to make changes, you’ll have to hit the streets like we did in the 60′s, as the Wall Street protesters are doing. But be prepared for the haters. Otherwise, pick up your suitcase and get on board and help do the things you’re complaining that are being done. Here’s a toast to Melissa’s new show and President Obama’s re-election.
G Dorsey White
February 9, 2012 at 12:30 am
As a, soon to be, 73 year old, African-American male…I find this all very disappointing and sad, that so many, supposedly, educated and scholarly people, stoop to the lowest form of expression to denigrate a person or persons, for what seem to be personal attention…With respect to Pres O…anyone witha semblance of common sense, knows d**n well that this man, moreso than any other pres, is not going to be given a free hand to do all of the things that he would like to do…that is not to say that I am pleased with all of his decisions…however, I do understand that, just as in every other area of the government, including the military, there are many times when commanders are forced to make decisions, not of their own choosing, but of the powers that be…I would further state that I doubt very seriously, that Bros. Watkins, Smiley or West, placed in Pres O’s seat, would do any better or as well as he has done…I base that on two observations: This country/government is owned and controlled by the corporate elite and the aforementioned brotha’s, particurlarly, West and Smiley, have always shown themselves to be expressly, self-serving and pompous…it is a rare sight, indeed, to see either of them, at a march, rally or demonstration, for justice…but, they can and do pontificate, endlessly…peace….
Trevor Fraser
February 9, 2012 at 2:22 am
Hear, hear brotha, I couldn’t say it better myself. I would like to say one more thing-I don’t like people calling MHP a “w***e”. One may disagree with her and her posturings but please be respectful; after all she is a sister
David
February 9, 2012 at 12:11 am
Somewhere, somebody seems to think that only a certain minority of black speakers especially these so-called intellectuals is the voice of black America. Well they are not and sometimes they have something good to say and other times not, some moreso than others. White and Jew America places us in discourse for the sole purpose of dissent. Educated negroes from the days of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B.Dubois have disagreed on the plight of black folk and they lived during Jim Crow,lynchings and segregation and here we are with all this ed-u-ma-cation and still standing still, fussing at each other!
Blackstorm
February 8, 2012 at 10:38 pm
I’m going to make this short and sweet.
Why don’t all you disappointed, sad, heart-broken, disgusted, sickened, surprised, traumatized black people just chill out at home on election day; that way, President Obama’s name will be hardly mentioned in 2012…just like his predecessor.
R.E. MOODY
February 8, 2012 at 10:30 pm
I would like to relay a conversation i had with a Jewish friend of mine of more than 25 years. Ed is a guy who is probably the most attuned individual i’ve ever known, in terms of racial politics and the social dynamic. We often have far reaching and in depth conversations on a multitude of subjects, usually politics or sports, but what ever the topic he is always insightful and usally right on point.
Ed is a white man who is genuinely concerned about black people and i can say has a genuine love for us. The fact that he is married to a black woman further illustrates that point, but before i get to far off track, in regards to our latest conversation. Ed said to me, have you ever noticed that whenever any black person reaches any position of great prominence, that it seems that some black folks, even those of the so called higher intellectual strata, always seem to do whatever they can to undermine them.
He qualified that statement by saying jealousy an animosity aren’t just black issues, but is present in all groups, but it just seems to have a far more virilent strain amongst us blacks, and believe me whites notice.
Do you notice what has happened recently since Melissa Harris-Perry and Al Sharpton have gained greater prominence on MSNBC,not to mention the attacks Barack Obama has dealt with. I just thought it was interesting, that even the white folks can see our omnipresent crabs in the barrel mentallity.
Nuqman Tehuti El
February 8, 2012 at 9:43 pm
WHAT HAS YOUR VOTE CHANGED?
First, I would like to say that integration really messed us up as a people, then I would also like to express that Dr. King’s dream has turned into a nightmare! Now, I would like to ask anyone in this forum the question, what has changed since white people gave you CIVIL RIGHTS and the RIGHT TO VOTE?
What is happening to the Political system built on sand that is divided and in turn divided us?
WHAT HAS YOUR VOTE CHANGED FOR US AS A COLLECTIVE PEOPLE SINCE YOU VOTED OR OUR/YOUR GRANDMOTHERS OR GRANDFATHERS VOTED?
I still remember when Obama slogan was “IT TIME FOR CHANGE.” My question now is a change for who, cause it dam sure hasn’t been for us.
AGAIN I SAY, NOTHING & because the so called 10% who was suppose to help pull up the 90% forgot about their sisters and brothers left their coummunities trying to live and be like the OTHERS, our people are at the lowest point in the pecking order!
WHAT, THEY SHOULD HAVE VOTED FOR WAS HUMAN RIGHTS WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND INTERNATIONAL LAW.
YOU SEE: CIVIL RIGHTS, LIBERTIES, and PRIVILEDGES, WERE GIVEN TO YOU BY MAN, THE WHITE MAN, AND ARE FOR slaves and property. What fair and equal treatment has person’s of color received since we had the right to vote is another question?
BETTER YET WE SHOULD HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR GOD GIVEN NATURAL RIGHTS GIVEN TO US BY OUR CREATOR!
NOW all we have is a false cense of freedom, can move out there with them, individually become successful, live in a big house, buy a nice car, go to their schools of lower learning, work for them and vote! Does that makes us equal? Again I say No! Cause they run and control all of the major institutions, wealth, businesses, and Land.
Explain how Bush stole the elections with the help of his brother in Florida and the Supreme Court, DID YOUR VOTE DECIDE who won? They just used a black face to win the black sheepeople back into the fold, the game, and we fall for their tricks everytime. Like Spike Lee said in his movie. WAKE UP, WAKE UP!
Explain the deaths of Martin, Malcolm, Ron Brown, and many others to numerous to name. Explain the Drugs, & Death in our communities. Explain the Incarnation of our People mainly of our Youth, explain why they continue to build Prisons and how Corporations capitalize from crime, and the slave labor of our people. HAS OR WILL YOUR VOTE CHANGE ANY OF THIS?
The 10%, left and didn’t pull up the 90% of their people? Explain why Black Men Have Lost Voting Rights Because of Felony Convictions because the 10% left their communities in the 60’s and forgot about 90% of their brothers and sister?
Approximately 1.4 million Black men, 13% of Black males in the U.S., have had their right to vote taken away because of felony convictions, according to a report released on October 22 by Human Rights Watch and The Sentencing Project (Marc Mauer and Jamie Fellner, Losing the Vote: The Impact of Felony Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States, Human Rights Watch and The Sentencing Project, October 1998; Marc Mauer and Jamie Fellner, “The Lost Voters,” Legal Times, October 26, 1998, p. 23; Tamar Lewin, “Crime Costs Many Black Men the Vote, Study Says,” New York Times, October 23, 1998, p. A12).
Explain the War, unemployment, High Taxes on the, poor, the disappearing middle class, the taking of homes, cars, superinflation. Has or will your vote change any of this?
Explain the war on crime, the war on drugs, the war in our streets.
Explain Police Brutality, self hate and Division.
Explain the Patriot Act, the Buck Act, National Defense Authorization Act etc did you vote for that too?
There is nothing FAIR or EQUAL when it comes to us and them.
Many of our brothers and sisters don’t overstand anything that wasn’t taught in their so called white school of learning, or that the white man didn’t tell them.
WE WERE BETTER OFF AS A COLLECTIVE PEOPLE THEN, THAN WE ARE TODAY,
WHAT HAS YOUR VOTE CHANGED?
mysistagirl
February 8, 2012 at 9:42 pm
This is the third time I have Boyce Watkins use the term “w***e” when referring to Melissa Harris-Perry.
I take GREAT offense to this, and because of his choice of language, I can no longer receive anything he has to say. He says it’s ok to agree or disagree with someone, yet, he engages in slime and name calling against her because she disagrees with him.
First West calls her names, then Boyce piles on with stronger denigration. Way to go intellectual black men.
Pathetic!!
miss lee
February 8, 2012 at 9:06 pm
I think we should support and give mr.obzma a second term because he has done a great deal for america since he has been in office equal pay for woman and health care don’t ask don’t tell for sholders and a hole lot more every body knows that he had a mess when he took office so lets get behind him and give him the help he need to get voted back in all of the republicans thats running for president want to undo everything he has put in place and even stop the big 3 away from you and the senior citizens everybody had better weak up and get all of those republicans out of congress and please don’t put one in the warehouse.
Sheila
February 8, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Dr. Boyce and Dr. West…stop talking about what Obama hasn’t done and talk about what you have done to really further the cause of the Black community. Talking loud doesn’t cut it. YOU can be so critical of others? You really need to look in the mirror and check yourselves. A fake and fraud…you two should know one when you see one…cause they look alot like you.
d**k Peery
February 8, 2012 at 8:47 pm
In the face of genocide, it’s too bad that our best and brightest use their highest education to descend into guttural name calling, personal attacks and sexism to express disagreement with one another. When Cornel West calls Obama a mascot and Melissa Harris-Perry a fraud, It becomes hard to hear the analysis he is trying to express, When Harris-Perry trivializes West and Tavis Smiley by attacking their motives, she steers listeners away from the reality of the destruction of the poor that inspired their criticisms. And when Boyce Watkins tells Harris-Perry not to “w***e yourself out,” he is –hopefully inadvertently –using using the weapon of chauvinism in lieu of intellect.
Our future is in too much jeopardy to be further endangered by academics who give us insults instead of enlightenment.
Dr. Lorraine Mayes-Buckley
February 8, 2012 at 8:40 pm
I am done with this website; not because I disagree but I am tired of all of the bickering among my people. It’s just another hate sprewing that I am completely tired of. People forget and need to revisit their civics class: The purpose of the presidency is to MAINTAIN THE STAUS QUO. It would be a very hard row to plow to make changes in this country. As malcolm X said, “we have been baboozled, hoodwiin adn lied to”. Wake up people and let’s concentrate on getting our people back on track. I was done with TS years ago when he sprewed venom on President Obama. i was done with CW also and i used to admire both of them. What ever one feels about our president, let’s talk among each other and not in social media. i read Dr. perry’s book and I love her and admire her. When are we going to start supporting each other. We can agree to disagree. Come on people!
Californiaboykev
February 8, 2012 at 8:04 pm
HYPOCRISY!!!!
REALLY?? Doctor???? REALLY????
“FAKE AND FRAUD”…
Let’s NOT go there Dr. Watkins…
You have not worked at Syracuse University since they “relieved” you behind that whole Bill O’Reilly statement AND your statement regarding Black Athletes..but yet you “represent” yourself as a “Professor at S.U.” when you Clearly ARE NOT! You misrepresent yourself in the media, and everywhere else as an S.U. professor and when I called Syracuse to contact you MYSELF, the Silence I received from the School of Management WHERE YOU USED TO WORK was defining….
I’d hold off calling ANYONE a fraud until I clarified WHO I WAS..IF I were you!
Rene Byrd
February 8, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Lots of talk, where’s the action!? Dr. B., can you or Cornel or Tavis give me a job? I have a Master’s degree in Media Studies and 15 years of experience in Human Resources Management. Five years experience in media production, writing, research…I could go on, and I can’t buy a job! So, I ask again, can and will any of you give me a job? If Cornel or Tavis are invited to speak at a community or educational function, they charge big $$$$$$! How does that help the struggling black man, woman or family to develop strategies to maneuver this economy? Get over it guys, Pres. O. was the best thing that could have happened to you, the invisible Black Man! Now you have a voice, so use it to encourage, uplift, and guide the community, not bash each other. BTW, when was the last time you guys took a walk through your City’s Housing Projects?
Lee R. Chambers
February 9, 2012 at 2:41 am
Your president is not doing much to give you or poor blacks jobs, and he has the power to do more than Dr. West or Tavis can do. You seem to not understand this simple concept. Dr. West and Tavis are trying to get Obama to do more in the Black community to help you and other find a job. They are degraded by you and others, however, for trying to help you and other poor blacks get jobs, housing, medical and so forth. See how that sounds ridiculous. Thank about it. It will come to you.
G. James Palmer
February 9, 2012 at 5:28 am
Well said…who in their right mind think that President Obama can simply fix the inequalities of America and especially those that affect Black folks without fixing the whole problem? Its the same sort of hairy fairy argument some feminists carried for sometime…there are problems that affect males, females, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and believe it or not even Whites. If you start singling out Blacks, what about the Asians and Hispanics…You can’t fix the problems without fixing the cause and that takes time…Black Americans have never been in a better position in the US but instead of grabbing opportunities and forging forward what do we hear…whining and complaints…guess what…get over yourselves and start taking some responsibilities. There are too many single baby mothers and too few baby daddies…Use the system, others are coming to the US and doing fine…thank you…Stop hating your own and give progress a chance. There are way too many in the black community who display very little or no self respect…pull up your d**n trousers and get a haircut…enroll in an educational institution and make something of yourselves and stop the d**n whining…President Obama is the best thing that has ever happened to the Black community…stop berating him…he didn’t get to the White House because he had six baby mothers or sold crack in the streets…he educated himself and led a clean and upright life…many of his critics can’t hold up to scrutiny…The racists tried to demonize him and now his own are joining them…Disgraceful…leave Melissa the h**l alone and go do something progressive…like her or Obama…
Trevor Fraser
February 9, 2012 at 12:00 pm
I couldn’t have said it any better myself
GC
February 9, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Exactly James. Instead of this whining and complaining and trying to bring down the president or Harris, DO SOMETHING YOURSELF. The president or Harris may have their faults. But True reform is not going to come from the President. It must come from us. Ask yourself: WHAT HAVE I DONE?
Trevor Fraser
February 8, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Dr Watkins, I am not as familiar with what Melissa Perry-Harris said about Colonel and you. I don’t claim to know her or the depth of her writings or her utterances as well as you guys-Dr Watkins and Dr West know them. Whether she is a liberal attack dog or not why would you Dr Watkins say something like you are not going to vote at all because Pres Obama didn’t do everything that you wanted and expected him to do as they relate to African Americans.
I don’t agree with everything you say Dr.Watkins but I still respect and admire you and the many positions that you take. I CERTAINLY DON’T AGREE WITH YOUR SAYING THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT VOTE, even though I realize that you have the right to both express this thought and to follow it up with the action the to vote or not vote.
I am not happy with everything Pres Obama did or didn’t do as it pertained to my expectations. Yes I am disappointed but I would not say in a public print forum as Your Black World or any other print or video forum. You know, or you should know that many people, especially African Americans read and listen to you and you ought to be more selective in what you say, unless, of course, your primary aim was to get us to follow your example and not vote.
I guess I should just shut up because I am becoming more and more upset with you and this behavior of yours the more I think about it.
unclekipper
February 8, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Wow!
Just when I thought we were making some progress toward unity, here we go again!
Ni**as and flies…
Johnnie Gibson
February 8, 2012 at 6:50 pm
I am getting out of here because your positions are getting farther and farther away form my own–your have become a fan of West and his crab mentality and I expected better from you.
makheru bradley
February 8, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Until we break the monopoly which the two-party system has on our minds, our liberation from the tyranny of the oligarchic psychopathocracy is not only unachievable, it’s unthinkable. So I’m giving one Eye of Heru to anyone who has broken that monopoly—not voting, third-party voting, whatever.
Negroes are so afraid of the Re-thuglicans that they are self-shackled to the Democratic Party plantation. “What’s the matter boss we sick.” Yeah we sick!
Those of us with more of activist experience, who have been burned by agent-provocateurs, know that we should not respond to the vitriol of people like Lacewell Harris-Perry. She started the trash talk, and Bro. West fell into the gutter-trap she laid. Bro. West should know from history—Malcolm-Muhammad, US-Black Panther Party, etc. that responding in kind is a no win situation. Leave the trash to negroes with National Enquirer mentalities and focus on the issues.
Eileen
February 8, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Instead of spouting flowery rhetoric from the ‘ivory towers’ of academia, you need to stop assuming that what’s not laid out on silver platters isn’t taking place. When torpor &/or ego are the basis for ignoring the realities of our lives, you can’t go any lower than labeling a Sista a fraud & a w***e.
You’d think someone with a doctorate would be capable of the figuring out the simple math that the President doesn’t have the votes in Congress. Poverty will persist w/o the tax incentives for hiring, expanding markets to increase demand or leveraging funds for updating the infrastructure. There’s a broad public consensus for these actions but they’re blocked by politicians who serve special interests & claim they were elected to lead to rationalize. What I find even more unsettling is that you & West are using our community’s respect & admiration as distractions from the real culprits.
Racial Inequality – AG Holder reinvigorated the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the Fair Sentencing Act, retroactive early release for non-violent offenders, http://www.stopfraud.gov/news-index.html
“What many of the poutragers forget when they wail about DOJ not prosecuting what the banks did that led to our economic collapse is that most of the worst offenses were actually not illegal…regulations were nonexistent or had been discarded, which was the real crime.”
Getting nothing in return? Does that include extended unemployment benefits, lower taxes, increased access to healthcare, saving industries that give us decent paying jobs (auto, post office), pursue solutions to problems that disproportiately affect us (like obesity), feed our school children more nutritious foods, increased funding for HBCUs, etc.?
Norris
February 8, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Dont know what Melissa said and could care less. We Black folk are caught between a rock and a hard place. The Democrats take our votes for granted and the Republicans could care less. No president can do much for the Black community until we start doing for ourselves. Until we address Black-on-Black crime (if we are the victim of murder or other violent crime 9 our of 10 times its by another Black person), abortion in the Black community – nearly 40 percent of abortions are performed on Black females, single parent households – nearly 65-70 percent of Black babies born are born to a single Black female, and thats the tip of the iceberg. The wonderful organization The Congressional Black Caucus is elected by Black folks and normally from an inner city environment. Yet what have these wonderful individuals done beside line their own pockets. Do I expect more from my fellow Blacks – NO !! yET I dont expect less either. I voted for President in 2008, I dont know if I will vote for him again. As I tell many of my white associates if you have problems with President Obama remember that he is half white. I pray for our county in general and for my Black community in particular. We need it !!!
Lee R. Chambers
February 9, 2012 at 2:35 am
You are misrepresenting facts. Blacks are more likely to be victims of crime because of where they live, not because black crime is so rampant. More than 90% of Blacks in poor communities do not commit crimes. It is less than 10% of young, habitual offenders that commit most of the crime in black poor communities. The media creates a false depiction of crime in America and the public believes it. Is that unintentional?
There are many single mothers–many by choice and most are white. Most people receiving welfare are white. The most likely criminal is white not black.
One reason so many poor black people are in jail is because of policies that feed the prison-industrial complex that is one on the most profitable businesses in America.
Personal responsibility is important and most Black people are hardworking responsible adults. Reforming oppressive and egregious policies is probably the most important approach to last change in poor Black communities. Something Obama does not address.
Rasheed
February 8, 2012 at 5:52 pm
It ironic to see black folks whining about black folks attacking each other as they attack other black folks with nonsensical points about irrelevant issues
who cares if cornel taught at a white school or whether or Dr. Boyce used to be finance professor.
Its like people are distracting themselves on PURPOSE!
none of that has anything to do with the BIG FACT standing in the center of this debate..
Obama needs to be held accountable for his failure to address the concerns and needs of the black community
killing the messenger does not kill the message…
it still needs to be addressed
Vandellish
February 8, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Thank you sir.
Lee R. Chambers
February 9, 2012 at 2:22 am
True.
Kenneth Craddock
February 8, 2012 at 5:52 pm
One last thing, stop hating on MHP and Rev Al. I used to think that Rev Al was indeed a charlatan, but I’m not shamed to admit I was dead wrong, Rev Al has proved to be a man of words and actions, and CW can’t stand him when Rev Al put him in his place publicly on MSNBC, also when Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey called out CW and TS(to my knowledge Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey aren’t doing too bad). Oh Boyce, I get it now, you went to the Madonna school of marketing, you’re personally not as big a name as CW and TS but you believe like Madonna that ANY publicity is good publicity to get your name out there, I can see it now through out the internet headline news: “Black Syracuse Ph.d says black folk don’t vote for Obama” every conservative/racist talk show will have you on.My brother you are tearing yourself down, you’re barking up the wrong tree.Like Gideon in the bible, there are enough of us to put President Obama over the top,you 3 idiots/uncle toms cannot stop the mighty hand of God.” we’d rather die on our feet than keep living on our knees”…James Brown.Amen.
Kenneth Craddock
February 8, 2012 at 5:25 pm
I thought a few years ago that you Dr Watkins were a finance professor but I have found out you are an ambitious self-serving negro who like CW and TS really just want to be elite negroes (I really want to call you 3 the N-word because your actions speak to that kind of behavior)on tv, radio,and all social media, and to be thought of as brilliant highfulooting “educated intellectual” negroes. You stopped most of your financial teachings long ago to align yourself with as another responder put it the “heckle and jeckle” show. I too will unsubscribe as soon as I finish this. Why don’t you get smart and recant that you made a terrible mistake and spoke without really thinking about what you were saying apologizing and repenting is therapeutic and character building. Get off the crack pipe brother because with what you said you must be smoking something, that stupidity doesn’t even sound like you. One other thing, how do we (black folk)know that CW,TS, and yourself are not secret instigating infiltrators or Uncle Toms working for your slave master wealthy employers,e.g Harvard University, PBS, and Syracuse University, one never knows you so-called brothers(just like the record by the O’jays “Don’t Call Me Brother” remember that, you 3 need to take a listen).Oh, by the way I’m asking everybody to REELECT President Barack Obama
Mark Sawyer
February 8, 2012 at 5:25 pm
d**n Boyce-
Melissa has a position. Her position did address the critique. She has ever said nor has the OBama administration said, “We should not talk about poverty or incarceration.” Cornell West should not have talked about Obama being “afraid of black men”. West should not have whined about inauguration tickets. The problem is for example when Cornell West was screaming on Ed Schultz about the “public option” and it was pointed out that there were not 50 votes in the Senate for it, he simply changed the subject. The problem is while he is talking about the right issues his critique of the Obama administration relative to those issues is incoherent.
I can’t believe you used the language “w***e oneself out”, “plantation” etc.
Dude I am done with you and your blog. It was sad to see West engage in such an ad hominem attack. It was really beneath him. I don’t know you but you should know better than to double down on it and take it a step further.
Have you ever considered that one reason why lots of political scientists disagree with you is that we assess the Obama administration’s performance given the realities of American political institutions, not some mythical metric.
It doesn’t mean we don’t care about poor people, it doesn’t mean Melissa or anyone else is not critical of the administration on a range of issues, it just means we use some metric of reality to develop that critique.
I refuse to be called a “tool of the white establishment” or a “w***e” just because I might disagree with you.
I am trying to decide if I will blog about this. I have often disagreed with your positions, but in my opinion your attack is sexist (whoring out), and just completely over the top.
I am done with you my brother, just done. If we as scholars can’t model the idea that there are legitimate differences of analysis and strategies and tactics among black scholars who mostly agree about substance, it is a sad day.
Sadly,
Mark Q. Sawyer
Professor
Dept. of Political Science UCLA
Chair, IDP in Afro-American Studies
Californiaboykev
February 8, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Speaking of “FAKES AND FRAUDS”….Call Syracuse UP and see what they have to say about the illustrious “DOCTOR BOYCE WATKINS”…they will get Reeeeeeal quiet on the phone….
G. James Palmer
February 8, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Did you hear Dr. Boyce actually saying Melissa Harris Perry is whoring? Is this guy for real…he accuses the Obama administration of using Perry and other black commentators as attack dogs to quiet dissenting voices in the black community…this guy is over the top…there is venom…and not too subtle at that. …the question is WHY? You know you have lost the battle and the war when Blacks begin to turn on their own…Why can’t we disagree respectfully without tearing down our own…shame on you…and you call yourselves intellectuals….
Rasheed
February 8, 2012 at 5:15 pm
You are soo right Dr. Boyce….
There is some black folks out here who actually understand what is happening
Elenora Ivory
February 8, 2012 at 5:09 pm
You did not need to use the phrase “w***e YOURSELF OUT” It was uncalled for.
deschl
February 8, 2012 at 4:59 pm
I can’t believe in these days and times when we are fighting voter suppression in Florida and other states under the GOP who want to bring back litmus test and stringent ID requirements that we would have two so called black scholars suggesting the black populace not vote, shame shame shame on you. Could you put aside your p***s envy for a day and help us in the struggle for black empowerment. You are not fooling black america, we know you, Tavis and Smiley’s personal hate for the president is exactly that “personal”, but you would throw your people under the bus because you feel slighted by the president because he hasn’t exalted you or anointed you the “spokepersons” or “kings” of the black race. You are no better than the GOP candidates who would want to suppress the black vote by putting state troopers on highways on election day and turning away voters, I imagine those who have died for the right to vote such as Medgar Evers, Dr. King, and all the freedom riders who are no longer here and all others are turning over in their grave, I am through with you three and I would encourage all black people to vote for whatever party but have your vote counted, shame on anyone who would suggest you give up that right, because I doubt if Mr. West would advise his white wife not to vote. OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!!
Jermaine
February 8, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Interesting. I respecr Dr. Boyce, I respect Cornel West, I respect Melissa Harris Perry. Why the h**l can’t these wonderful Black minds work together for the Black cause? Is this the “Crab’ syndrome being played out on Black Intelligencia? Is this ‘Willie Lynch’s’ theory still in total effect? I maintain that if the uplifting of Black People is what drives these radical warriors, if the True motivation of what they do is sincere, Then, and only then, they will put away differences and pettiness for the greater good. If not, it will be more of the same ‘in’ fighting.
Are we incapable , as Black people. to work together? I sure hope not. There has got to be a ‘Wash Room’ with doors on it somewhere.
My message to Black Leaders is, ” Weigh which is more important, the plight of your People or your ego’s?” PLEASE come together. God did not bless you with what you have , to do what you do.
Les
February 8, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Black people have been systematically screwed-over by the American government for years now and now are actually defend inaction toward our community by our government because it is coming from one led by one with a black face. Wow!
Lee R. Chambers
February 8, 2012 at 4:15 pm
People,
First, dissent should not result in attacks and insults. To disagree and speak our minds is a Constitutionally guaranteed right that makes up the backbone of American democracy. Not voting is a personal choice and can be used a protest. There is nothing wrong with that position.
Second, Obama has many political accomplishments that no one can dispute–and he did it while against unprecedented opposition from congressional republicans. Black people feel proud to see that there is someone in the highest and most powerful office in the land who looks like us. Some might even say that we have overcome our greatest challenge to racial equality by electing a Black man.
What is overlooked in this rosy depiction is the fact that Obama has refused to address generational issues in Black communities across America that are the result of oppressive and egregious policies. In the past 30 years, for example, criminal justice policies have almost destroyed entire communities–Black communities–through the process of mass incarceration. Disinvestment, failing schools, lack of affordable housing, exploitation and the list goes on. Many of the problems in poor ghettos cannot be adequately addressed with policy reform.
I know: Obama is not the Black president but the THE president of the United States and cannot focus, solely on one population. If we are honest, we know that is a weak argument. If not Obama, then whom? In other words, if we cannot expect a Black president to care enough about our communities to stand up against the establishment, then we have poor representation. Some of you may have heard the phrase, “I want a bulldog in my corner” (referring to a lawyer who will fight for his or her client). We should not expect any less from Obama.
The black community faces problems that are unique compared to other communities. Therefore, a trickle-down policy approach will not work. I would like to see the one person I thought who understood the needs of Black communities make a stance–show courage. Legacy appears more important, however.
I believe many Black voters will be more critical of the next Black presidential hopeful and expect more than black representation: It is not enough for me and many others.
I want Obama to advocate for all Americans but show courage and admit that the Black community has a unique set of circumstances that require special consideration. That is the person I would respect and hold in the highest regard.
Makar
February 8, 2012 at 4:01 pm
There is certainly a tug of war going on in the black community. On one side there is an elitist black intelligentsia mainly comprised of academics who have never worked in the private sector. Their criticism is that Obama has responsibility to immediately address the plight of the African American. In their mind, because he hasn’t done so in the way they believe he should, he has let us all down. The opposing argument mainly felt by the working class black community (who have to deal with discrimination on a daily basis) believe that there is a bigger picture which is the slower and more measured advancement of the black agenda through mainstream policies. Furthermore, they believe the idea that this president would be able to address those problems in the short time he has been in office is short-sighted and small and even surprising that those who hold that opinion !
I for one lean toward the latter and am also surprised by Boyce-Watkins’ ridiculous statement about not voting! He is part of the elitist black intelligentsia that does not really get it! To make that statement is certainly his right but as one who expects people to consider his ideology he is letting us down!
For whatever reason, by becoming president, Barack Obama accomplished something no other black man has done to date. For that reason his he holds a great deal of political capital!! He does need to spot courting the conservative party believing he can penetrate their hatred and get them to compromise! But I believe that his presidency though not perfect is far more positive than negative. Split hairs all you want!! HE HAS MY VOTE!!
Makar
February 8, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I had to make the necessary corrections… There is certainly a tug of war going on in the black community. On one side there is an elitist black intelligentsia mainly comprised of academics who have never worked in the private sector. Their criticism is that Obama has responsibility to immediately address the plight of the African American. In their mind, because he hasn’t done so in the way they believe he should, he has let us all down. The opposing argument mainly felt by the working class black community (who have to deal with discrimination on a daily basis) believe that there is a bigger picture which is the slower and more measured advancement of the black agenda through mainstream policies. Furthermore, they believe the idea that this president would be able to address those problems in the short time he has been in office is short-sighted and small and even surprising to know that this opinion is held by this group!
I for one lean toward the latter and am also surprised by Boyce-Watkins’ ridiculous statement about not voting! He is part of the elitist black intelligentsia that does not really get it! To make that statement is certainly his right but as one who expects people to consider his ideology he is letting us down!
For whatever reason, by becoming president, Barack Obama accomplished something no other black man has done to date. For that reason his he holds a great deal of political capital!! He does need to stop courting the conservative party believing he can penetrate their hatred and get them to compromise! But I believe that his presidency though not perfect is far more positive than negative. Split hairs all you want!! HE HAS MY VOTE!!
Lee R. Chambers
February 8, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Makar,
As a person who is critical of Obama–before he became president–the issue is that he has not advocated for the very thing you said the working class people expect: policy reform. I am speaking more specifically of policy reform in Black communities. Trickle-down policies will not have an impact on the lives of many Black people living under oppressive and egregious policies.
If he does not acknowledge that there are issues unique to the Black community that are the result of oppressive and egregious policies, then, nothing will change and an opportunity will be missed. If a Black president is not going to challenge the status quo, who is?
Having a black face in the presidential office is not enough. And if we are willing to critic other president who fail us, we should do the same to the Black guy in office. Isn’t that only fair?
makar72
February 9, 2012 at 1:26 am
Lee, bottomline… what is the alternative?? after three years this man has people openly talking about killing him, and his own people are no better. Some of us would use words to kill too! If you expect this man to change your world in 3 years you are dreaming. Some of this criticism is really unwarranted. He is being heavily opposed by a conservative House for what he is doing now and we don’t think his policies are even close to enough. This man is in the middle of a no-win situation and we are as bad as his worst critics. We all know that it is totally unrealistic to expect wholesale change benefiting us to have done in one term! All you are doing in your criticism is stating something that we all knew was impossible.
And for Boyce-Watkins to openly say he is probably going to abstain from the vote and then site Du bois as his example is shameful in my mind. If Obama does not win is he going to be hurt? No! those who will be hurt are the ones he claims to be so greatly concerned about. what ridiculous rhetoric!! I am sick of this elitist academic intelligentsia and its bombast!!
Lee R. Chambers
February 9, 2012 at 8:36 am
I never expected him to change the world in three years and I do not expect he could do it if he had another presidential term. I am saying that he ought to at least make the case for policy reform in the Black community. He seems unwilling to do so. In fact, he seems unwilling to spend time in Black communities showing that we too are a priority–not THE priority but a priority in the way that other groups are viewed by his administration. If it meant being a one term president, so be it. At least he would have tried to make America a much fairer place for all citizens. It is his lack of courage on the issue that garners criticism from many in the Black community because they viewed him as the one president who would fight for them, as well. It turns out, which I am not surprised, that he is just another politician who is more concerned with legacy than putting himself out there for the greater good.
GC
February 9, 2012 at 2:03 pm
I agree with you and Makar except on the fact that reform is not going to come from the president, the government, or any other government “policy reform.” It’s going to have to come from the People. US. Barak has done some to addresss this issues and he has often spoken on these issues to black organizations. It’s just not publicized. Do your homework before you criticize hime and when its seems not enough give hime the benefit of the doubt. He’s under a lot of pressure from all enemies stated and those who claim to be “friends.” The real questoin is WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO MAKE CHANGE?
Linda Beard
February 8, 2012 at 4:39 pm
I am voting for Barak Obama! As for you complaining about what you beiieve about controling the black community.. isn’t it the same here as far as You hoping that the black community believes in your redoric and talking about the administration not doing anything for the black community! Arent you hoping they will follow you! Isn’t that your way of control! Get off of your ego!!There is no other man good enough right now (black or white) who I believe is better for this country than Obama)the only other choices right now are you know who..I am so sick of black know it alls talking about what somebody didn’t do for them.. this is just what the republicans means by lazy N@@@s always wining about what somebody needs to do for them.. WTH have they done for themselvs lately.. why is always someones elses fault for what black people don’t have..and as far as black people and the prison system.. they put themselves there! No matter how much we try to educate them about the system.. they still don’t get it! So they go to jail and it’s everyody elses fault!! smdh!! So right now no matter what anyones thinks.. I am behind Obama %100.. It’s him.. or them!!! There is too much education out here and too many ways to be successful and that goes for anybody.. there is no excuse for anyone to “have not” I always told my children as they were growing up.. “Your life is always going to be exactly what you make it!!” and don’t ever blame aanyone else for what you don’t have..
Lee R. Chambers
February 9, 2012 at 2:19 am
Linda,
One word: IGNORANT.
Gloria Coney
February 8, 2012 at 3:58 pm
DID I JUST HEAR YOU ACCUSED HER OF WHORING?????
Lacey
February 8, 2012 at 4:37 pm
HIS mother.
Lacey
February 8, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Extreme and Off the wall! One door to go into the promise land and 310 million people want to go in at the same time. So POTUS(who just happens to NOT be like the last 44 of them) is made the traffic cop as to who gets in. Wow, not ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE HIM ARE GETTING IN! Well, the moral to that story is that that it always has been that way,however. I think, believe or he will TRY TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM, but it may not be as high on the list as ‘the others’ Wow! let’s burn the place down, since we can’t get into the ‘club’ too!(?)
Who said the POTUS is gonna fix . . .everything?
Never has . . . .never will! Man, does he ever have haters, who maybe pretenders sucking-up for a paycheck . . . too?
By the way, did you notice all the new things some of us ‘shaded colored’ folks are getting like those of a whitter shale of pale? I wish everybody could gets what they wanted in life, but sometimes that may not happen. Sad, but true. I know, some of our so-called ‘relations’ wish that everybody gets what they wanted. (Please note the opening of the ‘door’ can NOT accept
wheel-chaired persons– at this time!)I did not know all the reason WHY EVERYTHING COULD NOT BE DONE TO A CERTAIN PERSONS SATISFACTION? Maybe the POTUS knows something that we don’?( You’d Think?)
miss lee
February 8, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Well i think you would be the one to say vote for our black president but you are on your soap box saying you are not going to vote when the republicans are stping the blacks from voting a nd you have the nerve to say you are not going to vote that’s a slap in the face to black people you are a frod big time I use to respect you but not anymore.you are not the man you portray to be you are just like doctor west and tavis smiley so you are in good company.
MarkDub
February 8, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Your Crab-in-a-barrell mentality has you stuck in the barrell of irrelevance with your peer, Cornel West. You’re opinion is flacid and ineffectual, and I’d wish that you’d grow up. To think that I actually subscribed to your page thinking I’d find thought-provoking, fact-based commentary. Meh. Consider me unsubscribed, crab.
bigsarge
February 8, 2012 at 3:45 pm
I don’t usually comment on these things, but when someone who is so opinionated about what’s right, wrong, and indifferent about our community and our plight as Blacks, utter those unintelligent words of “I might not vote”, I just can’t be quiet. I will not address the history of how we got the right to vote, you know the history. However, as an informed, educated, open minded, and 45yr old man, I find it preposterous that someone as educated as yourself, with a large following would, get into name calling. It’s one thing to inform us of what’s going on in the world of politics, our community, our leaders and alike, but when you get into name calling and disparaging remarks it sounds personal. I listen to you, and Melissa and Al on a regular basis. I don’t agree with everything neither of you say, but all of you give good information. We need to find common ground, tearing down is only good if you’re gonna rebuild something bigger, better, and stronger. I don’t hear that. Disagreeing with someone doesn’t have to spark negativity.
Nuqman Tehuti El
February 8, 2012 at 3:42 pm
She is apart of a long line/chain of Black Anglo Saxons, & Afro peon’s who have been used by the media to tell lies Visually & disseminate it to our people through a misleading propaganda machine called the new. She is a Lacky, & a tool for the powers that be who, wish to continue to control & further suppress the Upliftment of People of Color. She has been placed in a position to promote racial tension, suppression of facts and class warfare while making a lucrative career out of keeping racial strife, and division going in North America. She is a black person in WHITE FACE, protecting the WHITE Evil Throne of SUPREMACY, while carrying out their evil deeds. She is a flip-flop demagogue who has excepted the label of trader against her own people. She is a David Duke in light skin and these type of people need to be exposed for who they are, for the agenda that they are promoting, implementing, & for the powers who they help to continue to suppress the upliftment of fallen humanity. In closing, I would like to say: “They don’t have to use the KKK anymore because they can use sisters like her!!!” “Black on Black crime is at a all time high at all levels. “
BROTHER HASSAN
February 8, 2012 at 3:25 pm
This is such an obviously petty personal dispute. You self hating Negroes( yes, Dr. Watkins, i’m talking to YOU, and Dr. West) should have pulled her to the side privately and ironed these differences out, instead of being a crab in a barrel. This benefits NO ONE, but the enemy, and you ought to be ashamed.
Blackstorm
February 9, 2012 at 1:08 am
Why are you here? Don’t you have to stick in your mouth? Lol. www gays are beaten and burned .com
Andie
February 8, 2012 at 3:25 pm
For a person who’s putting himself in the public eye as a “bringer of information”, I find it very irresponsible for you to make the comment that you are thinking of not voting. For all the problems facing this country today, not voting is not the answer. People have not voted for the last ten years or more and our “representatives by default” have been creating and passing laws that are now showing their true colors. This is true for both local and national elections. People need to get involved, know what is going on, and vote! All the complaining after the fact is worthless.
TD1016
February 8, 2012 at 3:22 pm
MHP has critizied the Obama Administration quite a few times when she appeared on the Maddow Show, who has also been ciritical at times of this administration. It’s not like she’s waving pom poms 24/7.
TD1016
February 8, 2012 at 3:18 pm
It’s funny how we’re looking for someone to take care of the Black community when we’re not even doing a good job taking care of ourselves. If one were to watch MSNBC, he would see that MHP actually talks about the same needs and wants that you, Smiley, West and everyone else speaks on for us. The only difference is that hse is willing to look at the fact that the President has accomplished thinhgs and he’s EVERYONE’S President, not just responisble to Black people. Unsubscribing.
Lee R. Chambers
February 8, 2012 at 5:16 pm
TD1016,
Responsibility is important, and we like to think that it is one of the components of successful people and successful communities. The reality, however, is that a lack of responsibility is not the overall reason for the problems in poor black communities. The problem is policy: oppressive and egregious policies.
The Bureau of Statistics and other government sources have shown that all crime, for example, in poor black communities are committed by less than 10% of the residents. Therefore, the vast majority are hardworking, resilient people who happen to be trapped in poor communities where habitual offenders, mostly young people, hold them hostage.
Yet, nearly everyone in these communities pay a price, as they are labeled irresponsible. As it stands black people are more likely to victims of crime, not any other racial or ethnic group. Many racists have used the argument of responsibility, so they do not have to address the real issue–policy.
For example, welfare reform, under Clinton, hurt Black families more than it helped. Politicians could brag about reducing the welfare rolls, but they did not care about what happened to those no longer receiving healthcare, daycare, food stamps or housing. The truth is that getting a job at McDonald’s, for example, is more responsible than being on welfare, but the low wage makes it impossible to pay for daycare, rent, transportation, medical and all the other things that life presents. If the welfare reformers were serious, the would have fought for a livable wage, so the mother could truly become independent. In other words, policy should support responsibility, not hamper it.
The point is that Obama is not addressing policy that affects one population in a way that no other community can understand. A black face is not enough: We need Obama to have the courage to stand up for what is right, although unpopular.
David2001
February 8, 2012 at 3:17 pm
People get so upset when someone criticizes President Obama. I agree he’s been unfairly attacked by racist right wing teabag types. But people like Melissa Harris-Perry and even Al Shapton have become cheerleaders when they should be objective critics of this president or ANY president.
When President Obama was running for president Al Shapton was p****d because he felt he was not being acknowledge by then candidate Obama. His tone has since changed since the president gave him unlimited access to the white house as some sort of “spokeperson” for black people. We need to stop talking about crabs in a barrel. We criticized past presidents. Regardless of the bad economy President Obama inherited he knew what he was getting into and we as black voters knew when we voted for him. We need to stop using that as an excuse as to why black people should not criticize the president. This is what happened with a lot of our inner cities. When black politician took over from whites we did not want to criticize black elected officials.
I voted for President Obama and will vote for him in 2012. Not because he’s a great president but because he will do the least amount of damage to this country compared to the republican candidates. Basically President Obama is the lesser evil. I support him but people have the right and should criticize the president when we feel he’s wrong.
David2001
February 8, 2012 at 3:47 pm
It seems like everyone can criticize the president EXCEPT black people. No one expects him to be president of black Americans and I haven’t heard West, Smiley or ANYONE black state such a ridiculous request. But white gays, white women, the white middle class, even white racist teabaggers can expect their agenda to be addressed by the president EXCEPT BLACK PEOPLE. It seems to be OK to criticize this president just so long as it’s NOT on the behave of black people. LOL
Wallace D. Johnson, Jr.
February 8, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Being Black, not a woman, being Middleclass,being gay, being a parent, being a Democrat, being an activist, being an educator, being a mentor, and much more, I share many of the same critical concerns as those groups named and if more of us looked for allies insted of enemies we would find that we are able to defeat the Enemies and have the agenda we want as well. But public dirty laundry won’t do it. Just as Newt has become a bitter ole Troll who has led the GOP defeat in November( to my delight) we can turn the Democrat’s chances around just as quickly by not being unified. Inspite of what West, Watkins, and Smiley say this President has been good for Black People. West’s and Smiley’s scorched earth policy is not helping to do anything to get The Jobs Bill passed, Payroll tax holiday extended, working and middleclass tax reduction maintained, or improvements in the education, housing , or health bills. Educate our prople as to whom to criticise. We have 3 seperate branches of government and there is not a lot that can be done controling only 1 out of 3. Let the critics sit-in on the Congress, write letters, telephone, occupy, and bring back the Inaugural Crowd to the Mall in D.C.
Wallace D. Johnson, Jr.
February 8, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Criticise yes, but it is not the President’s responsibility to solve all America’s problems or all Black peoples problems. We need to start looking in the mirror and really realizing who is responsibile for our situation. This is what I teeach my children and all young folk I come in contact with. If we want change we need to control our pocketbooks, penises, vaginas, and our character. Then take our fellows by the hand and make ourselves heard just as the Tea Party did. But, we want to sit behind our keyboards, radio mics, TV cameras , and expect the President to solve our probs. No matter how poor you are and I’ve experienced poor, but I had parents who told me to work and study my a*s off, keep my p***s in my pants until I could afford children, and acquire some property that creates wealth and keep that wealth in the extended family. The Presidents leadership, can help facilitate this through policies that help all Americans, but we as people of color need to skip the Flat screens until we own the walls on which to hang it or can easily afford the lease should we rent. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of hearing of my brothers and sisters expecting a handout instead of doing a ‘pushup and a pullup and fight for what they want to accomplish. Teach our children self-reliance, keep them focused, re-educate ourselves in today’s skills and become marketable. We can’t expect others to conform to us untl we have the overall power(economic power)to control. The intellectuals, could have the grace to criticise each other in private, and recognize that the proletariat needs to see unity in public so that the weak don’t become discouraged.
G. James Palmer
February 8, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Well said…America is the land of plenty but here we have the so-called intellectuals bellyaching about who is to do what for them. A word to American blacks…look at the new immigrants and particularly those coming from the West Indies…Stop the whining and go forth and succeed. President Obama was elected by Americans, not Black Americans…in fact, many of you did not even bother to go out and vote…If he tries to give any special treatment to blacks then the Tea Baggers and racist will clean his clock…
Pray4Boyce
February 8, 2012 at 3:00 pm
everyone please pray for boyce. the hate in his heart is destroying this once brilliant brother.
obvious something is wrong with the brother, this is not the boyce we respected and loved.
pray for him that he find love and not hate for his brothers and sisters.
Mike
February 8, 2012 at 2:49 pm
The ills of poor black people will not be solved or meaningfully addressed by the government. It does not matter who the president is. Had Obama advocated more forcefully for a black agenda he would have had even less success. The issues we face will only be addressed at the grass roots level when enough black people start doing more than talking and blogging and arguing. When black Americans start caring about each other in a real way things will start to move. Lack of money is not our biggest problem its a lack of will and cohesiveness. Peace
Kerry Ross
February 8, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Very well stated & very true sir. Our desires to find a solution is directly proportional to the extent to which we personally deal with a problem…….so clearly we need to stop believing the rich and powerful are concerned with solving the ills of our community.
Linda Beard
February 8, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Than you Mike!! I could not have said it better!!!
Kee
February 8, 2012 at 2:31 pm
This is ridiculous…Dr. Boyce I can’t do you or this site anymore…and West is an idiot.
rickydocflowers
February 8, 2012 at 2:29 pm
man, whats happened to you, how can you keep saying all this stupid s**t, you just cant believe the stuff you been saying lately -
you have all these twisted positions coming out of this dynamic that are not at all convincing
ive decided that this is the price youve been asked to pay to join the old boys club
but every time you come out of this bag you lose respect and gravitas
i used to respect you, man
didnt always agree with you but i thought you were a true voice, now i think youre just a lackey, and i think its so very unfortunate, its like we engaged in one of the most important struggles of our political lives and you and cornel sitting on the sidelines having hissy fits
i thought you were warriors, keepers of the faith
sitting out an election would be bad enuf (i would have thought we were about the same age, i grew up in the apartheid south, participated in the civilrights/voting rights movements, i could no more tell blackfolk not to vote, not after the prices we paid for that right, not after seeing what not voting does to us and the policies we find important, i just couldnt do it, not with a straight face, its d**n near treason
its bad enuf sitting on the sidelines but when you actively work against us, you are really putting yourself on the wrong side of history, and will one day regret it
ive lost a lot of respect for you man
and everytime you double down i lose more
Les
February 8, 2012 at 2:28 pm
I agree with you 100 percent Boyce!
To all of the rest of you all who are Obamba sheeple:
Not all black people are blindly following Obama especially when he takes the black vote for granted.I voted for Obama and heard all the promises but once he got in office he did exactly the very things he said he was against. While helping and reaching out to numerous racial/ethnic coalitions that helped get him elected, The first AFRICAN-AMERICAN president just last week FINALLY open up the website “African-Americans for Obama????
Black unemployment is immensely higher than the national average, and I have never seen Obama in ANY black neighborhoods making ANY speeches or starting ANY initiatives to address the critical issues in the black community.he’s scared and doesn’t want the white people to get upset seeing him talking to us black folk!
It seems the white establishment just got smart and put a black face on the oppression now and according to what I have seen, blacks have bought it hook line and sinker!
WhatEva
February 8, 2012 at 2:48 pm
did you read the article…it’s about mellisa, not obama you big dummmy!
Les
February 8, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I am not a dummy but like the saying goes-throw a rock into a pack of dogs,it is the hit dog who yelps
whateva
February 8, 2012 at 9:28 pm
and like they say, if you cannot laugh at yourself, allow me to do it for you.
Brenda Adrine
February 8, 2012 at 3:10 pm
As has been so stated in this blog, President Obama is NOT just the “Black Folk” president, he’s the president of ALL Americans! With a bigoted House to stop anything he has tried to do! READ! Look at his accomplishments! Are you blind? I know why the republicans, tea party, CW, TS, and BW are against President Obama, they are blinded by hatred. The latter three blinded by jealousy.
I wonder if you are really a black person (with that weird pic)or just another bigot impersonating a black person. Did you see the pic of our President shaking hands with the little black boy? That child will remember that for the rest of his life. What promises did he make that he didn’t keep? Bet you can’t think of ONE! Look at his record before you make accusations! And he didn’t establish the website “African-Americans for Obama”, a group of black folk did! Which should have been thought of during the first election. It breaks my heart to see such ignorance coming from our people. The reason the republicans and tea partiers ar so afraid of his winning this time is they know he’ll be a lame duck president and will do whatever he wants to do (which will probably help ALL black folk). What do YOU want him to do? Blacks have ALWAYS had higher unemployment! I worked for the Federal Government for 25 years and when the economy got bad I saw how they instituted rules to get blacks off the job and put whites in their positions. When I started there was 90% blacks, when I retired, there was almost 100% white working in my department. Wake up! This is a fight we’ve been fighting for centuries! When they brought us over on slave ships they had black folk helping them! Look at your history man! My God!
Les
February 8, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Ha!
I have had these arguments so much I already know the responses I will receive. First off don’t give me that president for all c**p. Voters are constituents, and black folks are a constituent. With that in mind,we are the only constituents whom the president doesn’t address directly in public.I am a black person but i refuse to follow blackspeak-the belief that as a black person I have to shut up and not rock the boat in order to not incur the wraith of the masses. Obama has not don’t a thing for this part of his base AND he went about his administration’s business by governing as a moderate republican. Obama has been more concerned with appeasing the very people who hate him (tea part and conservative republicans) while disrespecting his liberal and progressive supporters who did most of the ground work for his campaign. If people know they will automatically get your vote then why do they have to do anything for you? THEY ARE PLAYING BLACK PEOPLE FOR SUCKERS. I expected it from a white man, nut a black one.
GC
February 8, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Les is right. The black constituent is almost the only constituent that Obama does not address directly. And that is about the only thing that Les’ is right about. The rest of Les’ points are ignorant.
But let’s all address this issue; “Obama does not address the black constituent.” Well not all of it is correct. Obama has on many occasions addressed the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus, the National Urban League, and several other black organizations. But meeting with these organizations does not mean “addressing the issues.” Nor does speaking actually mean addressing the issues. Obama has in many ways addressed some of the black community’s issues in ACTIONS and not words. Here’s a few: He oversaw the $1.2 billion settlement to black farmers, he expanded funding for HBCU’s over the next 10 yrs, he signed the Fair Sentencing Act (crack vs. cocaine bill), Healthcare reform, and his administration created the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department leading the fight for Latinos in Arizona as well as Black farmers.
But Obama does have to do “that dance.” He must “shut up and not rock the boat” and be coy and inconspicuous in order to carry out his plans for black America as well as the rest of America. He is fought on every end from his stated enemies, the Republican Party, et. al., and even from his “so called” friends. My question to you (Les) is do you go against all of your enemies outright without “rocking the boat?” NO, I’m sure because you still want to live comfortably. Guess what? Your employer (who is probably white) may just as well be your enemy. Go and get yourself fired in protest. Your bank (who is most certainly white) is probably not your best friend except when you are depositing money. Go and protest and complete all transactions in cash. (Yeah right.) Your Insurance Company is white because I don’t believe there are any black owned insurance companies anymore. They don’t have your best interests at heart. Go and protest. Your house won’t be covered and you won’t be able to drive without it. How about the clothes you wear. Are they all from black owed designers or do you wear clothing from companies that probably detest you and your neighborhood. …… People do you see what I am getting at? We all have to work with people and companies in our lives to get ahead. Even if that means working with people that may not like us. This is what Obama has to do. He has to work with all kinds of people doing that delicate “dance” in order to get ahead. I hope we all realize the real enemies in our lives and work through their obstructions to get ahead.
Rita
February 8, 2012 at 10:33 pm
GC BEAUTIFULLY SAID…YOU’VE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
Janet
February 8, 2012 at 10:24 pm
So are you saying the alternative should be either Gingrich, Romney, Paul, or Santorum, and if so, why, or maybe, like Boykins, you believe that African Americans should forego their right to vote altogether in order to prove what exactly?
Cynthia Cornelius
February 8, 2012 at 2:23 pm
All these disparities have existed against Black people for hundreds of years. Did you or West address them during the Bush admin?
How is she a fake and fraud? Or her credentials not withstanding?
Was Condoleeza Rice a fake and fraud too?
Lee R. Chambers
February 8, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Yes, Condoleeza Rice was FAKE. She did not cut her vacation short to return to Washington during Katrina. She says, now, that she regrets that decision. To see all of those people suffering and not care enough to be on the first thing smoking back to Washington, she appeared indifferent, at best.
Mrs. Masters
February 8, 2012 at 2:21 pm
I am sickened by your comments, this makes no sense to me what so ever. Our President is the President of just blacks, he is the President of all Americans. He can’t go up in the White House pushing an all black/ 1/2 black, or ever 1/4 black agenda. He has to present an agenda for all the people which he has. I swear you, Mr. West and Mr. Smiley need to have a seat and chill what you all talk and preach about is so archaic and makes no sense. Not to mention you not wanting to vote, you won’t be hurting anyone by not doing so and no one really cares its a dumb ploy that doesn’t prove anything at all.
Ormash
February 8, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Dr. Boyce you could not have made the topic any clearer. There have always been that tension in the “Black” community. As Dr. Amos Wilson stated “we have loss our minds.” All that remains are fragments to be claimed by one group or the other. The class issue looms large in the African-American community. From the brown bag society of 1790 to present. CLR James highlights this tragedy in his book “The Black Jacobins” a must read to understand the modern day insanity.
Wallace D. Johnson, Jr.
February 8, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Brenda Adrine, I could not agree with you more. These critics have onyl their little fiefdoms to be concerned about. President Obama is concerned about @360 million citizens and non-citizens alike. Yes some of us are poor and we don’t hear as much as we might like from the Admin. on this subject. But there are times when it is better to ‘do’ and not broadcast. The Equal pay for women helped many Black women and poor women that I know, the Affordable Care Act, directly benefits my Black a*s and other less financially stable members of my family, Peel Grants, mortgage assistance, Job re=training, and much more outsde of a beneficial foregin policy that ended the Iraq War, saving the lives of many poor young men and women of color and others. So, before you criticise, think of walking in that Leaders Shoes. Don’t think most critics would make it out the door. Furthur, I’d believe Ms. Perry-Harris over Boyce, West, and Smiley. All nice guys but so insecure.
Dennis Spurling, Esq and Ph.D. candidate
February 8, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Dr. Watkins:
I think Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Bro. Marcus Garvey would agree with your point: as they have all mentioned similar examples in their various writings. I would not refer to Dr. Lacewell as a “fake or a fraud” I would simply suggest that she may be allowing herself to be misguided.
R. Covington
February 8, 2012 at 2:07 pm
I believe the chuvanistic words coming from Dr. Boyce, and Dr. West are indicative of their inability to rise to the top, and be recognized for their own intellect and accomplishments. It’s sad when our brothers cannot salute us, and wish us well in our pursuits, when we are able to bring to the world via television, the plight, concerns and injustices of African Americans. Surely that’s what Dr. Harris-Perry will intellectually do in hosting her own show. Brothers stop hating on sisters. We have far too many strikes against us as is.
Tartbond
February 8, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Check This Out! I am gone from you Dr Boyce. You lost all credibility with me when you stated that your considering not voting. After all the black folks that have given their lives in order for us to have the right to vote, I am appalled that you would let those words come out of your mouth. I am a proud supporter of MHP. We need more women of color on the airways. MHP’s disgreement with the “carnival barker” is a plaus in my book. Your a pure fool, fraud, and a jerk if you do not vote.
Brenda Adrine
February 8, 2012 at 1:51 pm
I am going to stop reading your articles. You sound like an idiot! As many people died for our right to vote and you have the nerve to say that you’re considering NOT voting! Who did you vote for in the BushKerry race? I didn’t think either of them really had my best interest at heart, but I voted for the lesser of the two evils.
You guys want to say that ANYBODY in support of President Obama is being used. Well I believe that your and your friends, West and Smiley are the ones being used. This is just the reason we cannot get anywhere as a race, we can’t stick together on any issue! Give the man a chance! Bush had 8 years to destroy the country, give President Obama 8 years to try and fix it. Have you watched MSNBC? Do you see all the accomplishments the President has made? Even with the House bucking him at every turn! My God man, what does he have to do to get stupid so-called black folk off his back? I am ashamed that you, West and Smiley are out there in the public eye! The President WILL be re-elected regardless of your back stabbing! Then what? Will you continue to lash out at him for no good reason? You’re just like a supervisor I once had (black of course) who was harder on his black employees than whites because he said we had to be better than them in order to make it up the ladder. Well I made it up the ladder because I WAS better than them and not because he made it any better with his slave mentality! Stop the hating and get on board or just simply SHUT UP!!!
greg c hamblet
February 8, 2012 at 3:38 pm
You are spot on. I grew up in a household where we were told that not participating in politics, was NOT an option. My dad always said that when you don’t vote you are allowing others to determine how you live your life. Boyce is dead wrong on this issue like the many dead racist that fought to deny blacks the RIGHT to vote.
Vandellish
February 8, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Obama may be the lesser of two evils…but he is definitely the more effective evil.
If the elite class knew that all they needed was a Bush in a brother’s clothing to get all the war profits they wanted, expand on all of their policies including the Patriot Act and the Global (yes Global) Tax, pardon (and reward with cabinet positions) the architects of the economic collapse AND the previous admin’s war criminals, all while quieting the formerly progressive (black) community to collectively shut their traps, they’d have gotten a White House Negro in that office a long time ago.
tonya oliver
February 9, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Brenda, you couldn’t have put it more succinctly. I’m very surprised at these so-called socially conscious black intellectuals. Can you just imagine if the President had of come out the blocks like Malcolm X? h**l,even though he’s been opposed by congress at every turn, and has tried to be the President of all the American people, they still have not given him any cooperation or even any credit for what he has been able to get accomplished. But for the life of me I cannot understand how any black person, let alone our black intelligentsia, could talk about not possibly voting or even possibly not voting for the first and possibly only person of color that will ever be in the white house. Has the white man’s ice cooled off our throats? Or have those staggering statistics mentioned about incarcerated brothers and decimated black families been under the helm of the white man? Really people. d**n. Give the man the same chances that we are always willing to give someone that doesn’t look a thing like us! If President Obama had a been a white man, they’d be chiseling his image on Mount Rushmore as we speak.
Trevor Fraser
February 10, 2012 at 12:15 am
I agree Tonya…you go girl
Elenora Ivory
February 10, 2012 at 12:41 am
I like this
Emily Gray
March 22, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Brenda you are so on point with your comment, and it is so stupid for an educated man like Dr. Boyce to say he is not going to vote. Vote for Romney than and what will you be saying than? You people act like the President is running a corporation and he is the CEO, he is the President and he is running the gov’t. The different between the two are in corporations your people work with you and in gov’t the other side work against you. The president is not Moses who were able to divide the sea, he is only a man who have plenty of men and women working against him, I think he is doing what he can do with what he have to work with. “Black Brother I love ya”.
Spencer
February 8, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Dr. Watkins,
Once again you and Cornel West are wrong, and you both are suffering from the Crab Mentality. President Obama is the most attacked and disrespected president in history, and he really doesn’t need so-called intetllictual Negroes siding with these racist Republicans regardless of the complaint. Calling Professor Harris-Perry a fake and fraud will not change the opinion of the black community because she dared stand up against West. She was right, if President Obama had acknowledge West from the start he would have been President Obama as the best thing since slice bread. I don’t agree with everything President Obama does or says especially when it comes to abortion and same-s*x marriage, the first amendment gives us the right to express our opinions about his job performance. But West’s complaints stems from him feeling personally slighted. His remedy is to attack, attack, attack, this is why he initially attacked President Obama and now he is attacking Proffesor Harris-Perry. My question is, what exactly do you and West want President Obama to do? And another question is, why weren’t you so vocal during Bush’s administration? Please leave Proffesor Harris-Perry and President Obama alone! Let’s follow Big Mama’s timely advice, “If you can’t say anything good; don’t say anything at all”.
greg c hamblet
February 8, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Amen Dr Watson. Boyce should change his blog. Not voting is NOT an option and certainly is not part of my Black World. Boyce is full of s**t
Lil Steve
February 9, 2012 at 2:09 am
Then why are you on his website? For all the people talking about how Dr. B and West are this, this, and that. What you are doing is’nt different from the “hating” on Pres. Obama or Dr. Perry. Your on his site!
This is a site for freedom. You mad at the brother because he disagreed with a MSNBC host…really! Talking about unity and all that “crab” mentality garbage. How many of ya’ll sat your kids down and explained the true meaning of black history month, How many of you looked the white man in his eye and said Happy Martin Luther King day on his birthday, How many of you gonna celebrate the death of our prince this month.
We do alot of talking, we have everything to say about the status of our people, but who’s actually ready to die for our s**t. Ya’ll scary chumps would step over a n***a if he was dead in the streets to please ya masta. You frown ya face at the young ghetto kids and struggling black mothers, embarassed of ya race when you see a craccer. We dont even speak to each other, cuz you scary and weak. Im tired of hearing n****z bash each other on these sites, when these people are scholarly challenging each others minds. Did you hear Dr. Boyce…he at MSU given a lecture. What you do today? You mad at the wrong man. Your energy shows your weak. Stop being ashame of your race. Next time you see a n***a in the streets actin a fool, say something to him or her if you so tired of it, especially to the old heads. We are the product of your s**t, how you gonna be ashamed of your skid marks. Dissing a black man on his own site, how brave are you? n***a write that white man that dont give a fucc about you and see if he write you back. Like my here H. Rap. Brown say, “Ya’ll n****z is chumps”. Old a*s n****z on here talking about how thankful they are to have a black president and how much they tired. n***a where was you at when our brothas on the frontline was dying for the vangaurd. I despise you. You “chumps” ashamed of ya race. Im gone.
Otis L Griffin
February 8, 2012 at 3:58 pm
the ‘point’ I think being missed by some is ‘ the personal nature of the discourse. A person not agreeing in principal . Should not mix that with Motive , Unless the facts support it.
KaBa
February 8, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I agree with Dr. Watkins. Many blacks conflate ANY criticism of Obama with “self-hate” or collusion with so-called conservatives. It’s unfortunate that too many blacks who support Obama, do so in a manner that is akin to enabling a misguided child. Demanding accountability to a child (or a president) is NOT tantamount to “hating” on them. I remember as late as 2008 when MHP was a theology student UNDER West at Princeton, hearing how highly she spoke of him with my own ears. Now, she seems to have fallen under the spell of Obama to the extent of attacking a person she once claimed to admire. If anything, Obama represents the last best chance blacks have to make progress in this country. But instead of leveraging our political capital like other groups (lgbt, women’s rights, hispanics/latinos, jews, etc.) in such a way to advance our interests, “we” seem to be content with being political harlots, whose traumatic and drama-filled background leaves us willing to “give it up” to the first smiling face who pays us the same token attention as the ugly “johns” that we accomodate, yet despise.
macktan
February 8, 2012 at 8:26 pm
I have to agree with you, KaBA. Groups have lobbied presidential administrations since the beginning of this country. Why lobbying the president on behalf of your interests is considered “hating” or “divisive” is beyond me. I have a feeling people aren’t engaging to the issues and are being taught by propaganda.
Yes, it gets me angry to see how the white political community disrepects Obama because of his color. If I managed a department of primarily white employees who suddenly decided not to do their work, who spread rumors about my citizenship, who called me racially tinged names, I’d be in a lawyers office filing a discrimination lawsuit against such sabotage.
That said, I still expect the president to advocate and lead on the principles expressed in his platform. Not ending the Bush tax cuts put a burden on people who can’t afford it. Hiring WAll St types and funneling trillions to banks that ripped off this country and put people out of work was hardly what I expected from this president.
Dr. West does not deserve to be vilified as a hater. He’s long been a brilliant scholar who gives to his community and celebrates its culture. Dr. Harris-Perry, if you’ve ever listened to her, doesn’t say anything original and I have never heard he utter one critique of the administration.
We used to have diverse views on news shows. MSNBC is the same as Fox, just a different side.
Robert
February 8, 2012 at 10:04 pm
KaBa that is a well articulated sentiment. I agree with what you said and it seems well thought out.
BONITA
February 8, 2012 at 5:29 pm
When it comes to Melissa, Dr. Boyce & Cornel West are full of bull. Both of their opinions are sexist and wrong. The both want to be the only fish in the pond. They both are jealous of Melissa. Cornel West has ceased to be relevant since Obama took office. For years Cornel made his money and stayed hided in the IVY HALLS and did not basically care about real Black people; he stayed and spoke to white people he could bully and frighten
Winston Cornell
February 8, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Hello Spencer, “If you can’t say anything good; don’t say anything at all”. Big Mama. As far as politics is concerned Big Mama got it wrong.
Rita
February 8, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Spencer your right…I didn’t ANY COMPLAINTS WHEN DEVIL BUSH 1 or 2 WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE!! I don’t agree with all of President O’Bama’s actions either especially WHEN HE BAILED OUT THOSE BANKS ON OUR POCKETS BUT, If any of those other racists get in the white house in November WE’RE GOING TO BE IN DEEP DODO. And about not voting THAT IS JUST PURE STUPID!! How can we not vote after ALL what our ancestors WENT THROUGH for us to be able to vote. That’s what the racist are hoping for us not to vote SO THEY CAN TAKE OVER AND SAY WELL THEY DON’T VOTE ANYWAY, like they say well they DON’T read and we know thats a lie. I’m just sayin.