Comments - How President Obama Took Race off the Table—Again - The Hutchinson Report News

Mark, Thanks for sharing this…

2012-11-13T17:00:12.019Z

Mark,

Thanks for sharing this informative website and its content with us. I have read through several of the articles, and reviewed the fact sheets as well as "The President's Agenda and the African American Community." What is interesting is that this approach is the full incarnation of "THE RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS."

The problem with this approach is that it doesn't acknowledge the disproportionate impact of the downturn, and the need for more specific initiatives. Yes,all of the initiatives -- from the stimulus program to the Jobs Act, and the unemployment benefit extension -- all touch our community. However, these initiatives don't address the reality that a major economic crisis widens the structural gaps that already existed. And all people don't recover equally. The well-to-do have benefited most from all of the recovery initiatives.

Those of us who are advocates for stronger initiatives must work harder, and form effective coalitions with constituencies that we are a part of -- labor, women, and other poor people -- to gain increased focus on the fact that our needs are greater in order for our community to recover. We must take the initiative. The "race neutral" policies at www.whitehouse.gov/africanamericans won't produce the outcomes we need. We must demand more, and work harder to achieve more.

We need the efforts of Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, but not at the expense of destroying the efforts of the Al Sharpton, Michael Eric Dyson, and Mellisa Harris-Perry, among others. We must achieve collaboration in our own ranks. Just because the President has taken race off the table doesn't mean we have to. We cannot pretend to be race neutral. The pain we feel isn't.

As one of those featured nati…

2012-11-13T09:19:56.625Z

As one of those featured nationally challenging the lack of a Black agenda, I MUST admit when the Obama administration in fact DID respond to people like myself and others who participated in a number of National White House Black Issues conference calls that asked the administration to develop a dedicated website where Blacks like other constituent groups could find their specific agenda items being addressed and HE DID - AND that was followed with a detailed Black Jobs and Poor People's Agenda posted on that site that addresses many of the issues that I along with people like Tavis Smiley, Dr Cornell West and others have raised and we should acknowledge that. Its all there on the site an great foundation to start for those seeking The Black agenda for we should be ORGANIZING around whats there versus still saying one doesnt exist.

www.whitehouse.gov/africanamericans

I' ve said that for ages

2012-11-12T20:28:00.175Z

ve said that for ages

African American supporters o…

2012-11-12T20:07:30.908Z

African American supporters of Obama need to learn how to leverage our votes into benefits. President Obama cannot be the "President of Black America." We have to be better advocates for outcomes that we want.

thanks

2012-11-12T18:16:59.993Z

thanks

Excellent Article!

2012-11-12T17:50:05.261Z

Excellent Article!