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Many black voters felt that electing a black president would make it easier to talk about race and racial disparities. Some naive pundits
even went so far as to ruminate on whether we now lived in a post-racial society. But four years into Barack Obama’s presidency, a Washington University study says African-Americans feel less empowered under Obama than they did under white presidents.
US News reports:
The study found that while the election of Obama initially boosted feelings of political empowerment among black Americans, those sentiments significantly faded in the years that followed—especially among conservative and religious blacks.
Once a black man became president, it actually became more difficult to discuss race because whenever race was injected into the conversation, racially aroused whites on the right would pounce on the opportunity to accuse President Obama of wanting ‘special rights’ for blacks. President Obama, a man who never welcomes a fight, seems to have decided to marginalize issues which impact blacks so as not to cause a stir with folks like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.
“First we saw the ‘empowerment effect,’ the boost that happens when a member of your group gets elected to an important political position,” says study author James L. Gibson, a professor of government and African-American studies at Washington University.”But then perceptions of political freedom deteriorated among conservative and religious blacks,” says Gibson.
What blacks found was that symbolism is important, but only goes so far. Blacks, like every other group, eventually ask “what have you done for me lately?” And with regard to Obama, some blacks didn’t like the answer.
Many liberal blacks find the situation deplorable, while conservative blacks disagree with Obama’s stance on same s*x marriage. Making matters worse, President Obama hasn’t provided a venue for disgruntled blacks to air out their grievances, leaving much of the black community to feel that they just don’t matter to the Obama administration.
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Shelia
November 4, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Rob Oso. He never had the black peoples’ votes. He had to earn them and even if he had promised and given 40 acres and a mule, many would not have voted for him. They would have taken the 40 acres and the mule, but condemned him in the same breath It’s the nature of some of our people to destroy that which is most similar to them. It’s a legacy of slavery and so insular that most aren’t aware of it.
Rob Oso
October 28, 2012 at 11:29 am
I don’t know when we as a people felt empowered by one particular President so I cannot fault or blame the president for people of color feeling this way for the ones that do. What I want to address is how the president reached out to the Latino community, the gay community and women to pander for their votes but went to the black caucus and made his speech by telling the black community ” quit your whining pull your bootstraps up”. And I believe for instances like that and being pushed around by the other side he is in the political fight of his life. Good luck to him come November 6 he’s going to need it. It doesn’t matter if 100% of the black community that he already has in his pockets vote for him we cannot put him over so that’s why he pandered to those other groups. HE DIDN’T HAVE TO WORK FOR OUR VOTE IT WAS ALWAYS THEIR.
mansa musa
October 22, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Mr. Obama i think lost a perfect opportunity,to define, historically what it means to be black in america…and therby define race relations in it,s mosty negative impact ….historically, upon black people,this lost opportunity…would have, could have gave unprecedented insight into an issue that mostly is not discussed in open and honest ways…specifically by white americans…instead of closing the big divide….of race…and it,s graphic definitions….this gap remains….and so does the distrust, indifference, and apathy…to this significant problem…..
Christine
October 20, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@Sheila …I listened to that on the news. And I have heard many things that shows Romney/Ryan as people that can not be trusted. And Romney’s son has no respect for the POTUS…shows me the character of Romney, no matter how old my children are, they were taught to be respectful and certain things is best left unsaid…It kills me to see and here people especially people of color rallying behind Romney….. He already has all the money he will ever need…and he stands blinking one hundred blinks a minute snaking his mouth like a crack head..he don’t know how to conduct himself with the class of a president when he’s abroad, he himself acts with no self control as he debated with the president. I can go on and on about Romney and Ryan is pictured with weights, hat turned backwards….Vice president? REALLY? Romney has clearly told everyone what his 5 point plan is…get richer, have more power, help his friends get richer, make sure the poor gets poorer and watch the world and everyone in it who’s not rich crumble at his feet/ bow down to him…that’s exactly what will take place if Romney/Ryan wins this election. Not yo mention him having the power to say yea or nay to things and choices in our personal lives. He’s power hunger! I have so much to say on this bit I’m gonna stop here. Just want the people to really think about this before they think of voting for Romney/ Ryan
Bella
October 20, 2012 at 12:15 am
Every race will be even more powerless, if Willard Romney wins the election. Romney and the Republican party are focused on creating low paying jobs so that the CEO’s and investors can make millions and billions and the workers make pennies. They are h**l bent on outsourcing to make higher profits. They want to take away your voice by busting unions, taking away collective bargaining and affirmative action. Republicans want to control your wages, how you vote and who you vote for. They are moving towards 10-12hr work days, no overtime after 8hrs, no afternoon or midnight shift premium. When you work you pay into medicare,your pension,social security and unemployment benefits but when its time to collect on one of these Republicans act like you are stealing from America and they try to make you feel like they are giving you something, when in reality you have earned it. If I lose my job tomorrow Obamacare will be my best friend. We have to help ourselves by getting educated, working everyday, teach our kids morals, values, life skills and how to love, end RACISM, respect our selves and each other. Obama can’t make us be responsible, but I feel President Obama’s policies will help the human race more than Romney hands down, Romney is 100% for the rich. Gutter politics, bullying, intimidation, bigotry, lies, slander and racism is what the Republican party is all about, they are COWARDS. The American people are under attack, especially BLACKS. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
Michael Lofton
October 19, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Re: Study: Blacks Feel Less Empowered Under Obama.
The study is not without merit because there are many U.S. born blacks who with good reason will not vote for and do not respect President Barack Obama and other elected black leaders who do not serve them.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-841153
I’m U.S. born, black, and an over three decades long time voter, who did not register to vote for the first time (2008), like many other black voters, to vote Barack Abama for President, solely because BO is black.
President Barack Obama and other public servants have contempt for the Oath of Office, the U.S. Constitution, a respective State Constitution…..and all the dysfunctional citizens or voters who vote for, or have voted for and who promote individuals unworthy and unfit to hold office or to a position of public service, can only fault themselves for the result of having voted for a misfit, such as Barack Obama.
It has more to do with President Barack Obama’s contempt for the oath of office, the rule of law, our Constitution, etc., etc., than being fabricated or hate based. The contempt for BO, is well founded, and is an assessment from many voters, from all walks of life, from both major political parties.
Tamara
October 19, 2012 at 6:33 pm
And under what President were people of color feeling more “empowered”? This doesn’t even sound like a real study.
I continue to be flabbergasted by the attempts by the anti-Obama right wing to insinuate that somehow having a black leader equates to feeling “less than” among black people. If anything, I’m willing to bet that any issues with feeling less empowered have to do with our higher-than-national-average unemployment rates and the all out naked contempt for our Country being led by a black man from those that insist it’s time to “take back” the White House. Or from those stating, “This is the White House, not the Black House!”
If in fact people of color truly are feeling less empowered during this time, I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with Obama, but the distaste some of America has for a Black man in power. It just shows us that “we’re all equal”, so long as we know our place.
BLACK JONES
October 19, 2012 at 10:50 am
Any race that use their own uniqueness will ultimately suceed.
BLACK JONES
October 19, 2012 at 10:43 am
II am so tired of this intellectual “HOG WASH” Black folks need to embrace their own UNIQENESS and stop finding faults of eveybody and everything—Presidents come and go–there’s all ways going to be “this or that”—-roll of your sleeves and stop being lead.
BLACK JONES
October 19, 2012 at 10:43 am
II am so tired of this intellectual “HOG WASH” Black folks need to embrace their own UNIQENESS and stop finding faults of eveybody and everything—Presidents come and go–there’s all ways going to be “this or that”—-roll of your sleeves and stop being lead.
Robert Hollis
October 19, 2012 at 9:42 am
For those Blacks who may not feel empowered ask your self what part do you and your denial of racism play in your perception? As Black people we cannot have it both ways, that is the paternal treatment expected by many Blacks, or the equality treatment as adult American citizens.
America is a racist society, a very arrogant society, White is seen by many as being the only way to live. People please wake up. All of us will always have to prove our self by the deeds we bare.
What will help all of us the most is to get over the denial stages that racism does not exist.
wil-lie
October 19, 2012 at 1:43 am
BLAME YOUR SELFS THE AFRICAN BLACK PEOPLE…..THE UNORGANIZE NEGRO ARE THE PROBLEM….AND NOT KNOWING HOW BUILD REAL WEALTH IT WHAT OUR GRAND FATHER AND GRAND MOTHER DID FARM BUT THIS TIME IT WILL BE OUR FOOD TO PROCESS AND PACKAGE ON A FULL SCALE AND SELL IT TO WHO EVER….WORLD TRADE….TAKE THE TRASH AND BUILD EVER THING…..DO LIKE ALL THE OTHER RACIST…TEAR EVERY THING APART AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER PIECE BY PIECE AND PUT IT ON THE BLACK INTERNET….AND NAME IT…..SO BLACK WILL ALLWAY DO BAD…..IF BLACK WAS BUILDING LIKE THIS THEN THEY WOULD HAVE THE WHITE MEN ATTENTION
ali
October 19, 2012 at 12:04 am
From all the above remarks, not one person has said what the President has done for the poor black folks? Can anyone that he ( Obama) have once made a mesaningful in the community of the poor people of any hue?
The words of man are worth no more than the man himself. And if a man that knows , he what knows. Is not true? Are words and deeds the same, not all the time, then look and see if the President ‘s words and deeds tbe same for the people of color.
WizardG
October 18, 2012 at 11:58 pm
It’s all an elaborate con, but most are oblivious!
Here is the most realistic observation. The whole ‘US’ is controlled by very powerful and filthy-rich “white” men and their cohorts! These people have been successful at conquering and colonizing countries for centuries! They have improved and polished their lying, stealing, conning, murder, torture, and mental manipulation techniques beyond belief! They know what it takes to control whole nations of people, after taking over and colonizing a great number of countries.
Here in America we have been manipulated and sold a bill of goods for centuries! We as “black” people have been fighting against blatant abuses by these vile racist sociopaths every generation since the kidnapping and enslavement, and some of us have watched as these tyrants continue to manipulate, control, commit genocide and pillaging all over Africa and other nations inhabited with large numbers of Africans! Yet here we are believing in the very processes these malicious sociopaths have set up to specifically fool the masses, as they take their time to slowly pillage us, and abuse us (nearly everyone) here. The masses of common people have been so assimilated and socialized that they have no clue that the whole “democratic” and political process is nothing more than an elaborate charade and facade in which we cannot win, if we cannot even recognize that we are being dealt fake cards! So because of (a number of reasons) most ‘Americans’ are unable to gain true enlightenment, and will not see that there are no wealthy politicians (men or women) willing or even capable of making our lives and experiences in the US, or anywhere these tyrants control, a reality of truth, freedom, democracy, and caring!
Most don’t, or won’t see that they (the elite who’s ancestors murdered and enslaved to build this roguish con-game) are still doing everything to us as they have always done but with much advanced scheming, deception, secrets, and lies! They still experiment, still discriminate, still use psychological brainwashing techniques, as they quietly and cunningly annihilate us! It’s all a foolish endeavor but believe these scheming, pillaging, tyrannical psychopaths at your own peril! And remember that dementia and greed will turn almost anyone of any color against anyone!
Marquis Smalls
October 18, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Those must be the ignorant, low self esteem blacks who would never know what power feels like to even equate a feeling of powerlessness under a black President that they would never even think to ask about until now. Amazing how the crabs in the barrel always seem to find a way to make there presence felt. We need to break the chains on our brains!
Greg
October 18, 2012 at 10:50 pm
This has been a new learning experience in how to think and act under a Black President. We are going through growing pains. This will take time. I don’t have a problem with a domestic Black President. But I have my biggest disappointments in foreign affairs. We used to get a pass on the evil things the Conservatives would do to other countries and their people. Now they will have one of Us on that television screen chopping over heads off like the white folks. I don’t like that part of being under a Black President. It also pains me that Obama and his administration took down Momar Qaddafi. He was a big friend to Us. That is the worst part I have had about this Black President experiment.
GUEST
October 18, 2012 at 10:30 pm
BLACK PEOPLE FEEL LESS EMPOWERED BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED THE PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES TO A GREAT EXTENT AND HE CAN NOT DO THAT BECAUSE HE IS JUST NOT THE PRESIDENT OF BLACK AMERICA, BUT THE ENTIRE AMERICA. WAKE UP BLACK FOLKS!!!
Elizabeth
October 18, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Why African-Americans should not listen to all of the negativity regarding President Obama.
Just some of his accomplishments thus far:
• Lowered taxes for 20 million African Americans through the payroll tax cut, putting $800 back in the pocket of the typical African-American working family.
• Invested $3.4 billion in African American-owned businesses.
• Passed the Affordable Care Act, ending insurance company abuses and expanding access to preventive care, which will reduce health disparities for 41 million African Americans.
• Supported the early learning programs Head Start and Early Head Start, to reach an additional 64,000 children and their families.
• Doubled funding for Pell Grants, increasing the number of recipients and putting a college education within reach for an additional 200,000 African-American students over the next decade.
• Invested $2.55 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions.
ST
October 18, 2012 at 5:52 pm
At the beginning of the Obama administration, or just before, the country experienced the housing debacle. Blacks lost 50% of their wealth as a result of that debacle. The recession had just started and blacks lost jobs. Republicans harrassed the government about government jobs and many government jobs were lost. Black women made up 18% of those jobs. This was one of the largest employers of black women. Republicans fought to rid the country of unions, and we lost many. This made workers less secure. When this country suffers, blacks get the worst of it. So if blacks feel less empowered, it’s because they are.
Mike C. Okereke
October 18, 2012 at 4:59 pm
I am a registered Black Republican, who is supporting President Obama. I am supporting him because of the sarcastic comment which Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell made over two years ago, that he would do everything in his power to see to it that Obama becomes a one-term President. After thinking very seriously about that comment, I felt that I could not, in a true bona fide spirit, align myself with that party, at least not in this election.
Regarding the issue of Black empowerment – whether or not the Obama presidency has engendered it or stymied it – I think it should, but the Black community has not, as of yet, seen or felt that empowerment. And it has been to Obama’s benefit, because no White President would get away from the hounding, and taints of being labelled a racist that goes with the appaling Black unemployment that has ran amock in the Black comminity. But you know what? I urge every Black person to come out in droves and vote for the President. If he wins – which we all hope he would – then he would unleach all that pent-up anger which has been building up among Black for eons on the American populace, and hopefully, let the general American public to realize what it has been to be “Black” in America. And how can he do this: legally and judicially. And who mans the judicial branch of the Obama Presidency? Well, you be the judge of that.
Obama, I am sure, with a wife who encountered racism due to the color of her skin, and a father who was shoved out of the United States without due process because his father was a Black man who dated, and married White women, during the racially tubulent 60′s – would not want to create, during his first term as POTUS, a racial stir whose effluvia could stink up, and in the process, dent any White support. I feel certain that the President realizes that marginalization of any group by any group is wrong, and as President, hopefully – a two term President – he has prescription to cure that. Curing that would open the way for the hoped-for Black empowerment.
Greg
October 18, 2012 at 10:43 pm
You are a levelheaded republican. I usually state I hate all of them including the black ones. I may have to say most of them now…
Charles Patterson
October 18, 2012 at 3:51 pm
This is one reason with such talk like this give those racist conservatives always proclaiming that Blacks only want HANDOUTS. Get the heck out there and do something for yourself instead crying what the President should do. Some never complained about how other WHITE presidents who has indeed misstreat the Negro race and it was fine,RIGHT! For example; If I were to call you a N****r you’d probably want to kill me. But it’s alright for the White man to call you a N****r,right and with no complaints.
truthbeliever
October 18, 2012 at 2:33 pm
I agree the article doesn’t make sense. DRJ, you are absolutely on target. For someone to think they can spout some ridiculous notions they have and report them as news is asinine. I don’t think the writer ever had an original thought- just mimics whatever nonsense he/she’s heard. Besides, what makes you think you can hold someone else responsible for empowering you. Even my 6 and 9 year-olds understand what it means to “possess the reins”. Get a grip. It’s sickening to me that so many ignoramuses are always screaming, “what have you done for me lately.” Get off your a$$, stop having babies you can’t even feed, get a pertinent education and/or job training and hit the streets running with a decent resume’ in hand.
Really??
October 18, 2012 at 1:12 pm
that’s what happens when you put your faith in someone else to validate yourself. what kind of c**p is that? I think President Obama is a wonderful man; president; father and husband; but I NEVER expected him to take me to the Promised Land. He’s a man, not a demi-GOD.
He gives me hope for this country, but I still have to do my OWN part of taking care of MYSELF.
Who the h**l wrote this stupid article?
There are people who don’t believe in same s*x unions; women for equal pay and the like. those thoughts were in place BEFORE Mr. Obama became President.
the writer of this article should be fired. it’s just stupid.
D Raheem J
October 18, 2012 at 12:21 pm
YBW, how can anyone take your writers serious when they write articles about how blacks feel, but offer no data in the article to support the claims?
Nothing about how many blacks were surveyed, how were they selected for the study, was it national or regional study etc. Without data, how can the reader determine or make a judgement on if Blacks truely feel less empowered?
Nothing factural offered in this article, I wonder if you would allow this c**p to be submitted to a majority white site as credible journalism?
How about showing black people the same respect you would give to a white site!
PetefromDetroit
October 18, 2012 at 11:14 am
Ya Think?