PHOTOS: Pre-Grammy Gala Becomes Whitney Memorial
Simon Cowell: Whitney Would've Been The Ultimate 'X Factor'…
As president Obama continues to push Congress to adopt his $800 billion stimulus plan this week, it's important to remember that the stimulus plan is not a "stimulus-for-us" plan for Black America.
At best, the stimulus package is a hail-Mary attempt to fix a badly damaged economy before time runs out. Hopefully Congress won't drop the ball.
What can the Black community expect from the stimulus package? Not much.
The stimulus package is not really targeted to benefit any one population. However, for those who listened carefully to Mr. Obama's inaugural address underscoring responsibility -- if you've been acting responsibly or intend to start doing so, there might be something in there for you -- if not, then there is less to be happy about. The plan has tax breaks for those who are responsible enough to look for work and hold down any job. It also heavily favors those who take on the responsibility of owning a home. That's not to say that people who don't have jobs and homes right now are not responsible, but they will not benefit as much from this plan as those who do.
The plan broadly calls for a tax cut of up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families, but because the tax cuts would be delivered through reductions in Social Security payroll taxes taken from employees' paychecks, people who are unemployed may not benefit. Only people who are lucky enough to continue collecting paychecks would see the full benefit. Since Blacks make up a sizeable portion of the unemployed, a lot of people will be disappointed unless the way the tax cuts are delivered changes. We'll have to wait for the final bill to see who truly benefits.
There is extra funding in the stimulus package for an extension of unemplyment benefits, so the high numbers of Black unemployed will get some relief from that.
The package also has a proposal that would allow credit worthy borrowers to refinance their mortgages at rates of 4.5% or lower. Since Blacks have historically been given higher interest rates on mortgages, this could mean thousands of dollars in extra income for many deserving Black homeowners. Of course, the discrimination associated with deciding who is "credit worthy" will have to be rooted out before Blacks can benefit.
A proposed $15,000 tax break for first time home buyers will also be beneficial to Blacks that can afford to purchase a home in this difficult economic environment. With so many people hurting in Black communities around the country, perhaps a modest number of families will take advantage of this benefit.
Measures in the plan to improve education will only benefit Blacks who are responsible enough to go to school. Measures in the plan to create construction jobs will only benefit Blacks who are responsible enough to organize themselves to fight for a fair share of the new jobs that the construction industry has historically excluded them from.
The message here is that if Black America wants somethng from this stimulus plan, you are responsible for going out and getting it. This is not a "stimulus-for-us" plan.
Leaving A Family Legacy
Will & Jada Smith have no problems with their children following in their footsteps in Hollywood.
Charley Gallay, WireImage
Willow & Jaden have both been cast into their father's movies.
Getty Images
Phillippi Sparks' son might not have carried on the family football tradition of the NFL cornerback. But his daughter found success in another field.
Stan Honda, Getty Images
Jordin Sparks, the winner of the sixth season of American Idol and sang the "National Anthem" for the Super Bowl XLII, which made he dad very proud.
Mark Mainz, FOX / AP
Actor Alan Thicke passed on his good looks to his son, but not the acting gene.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images
While Grammy Award winning singer Robin Thicke does acting on occasion, he actually carries on the legacy of his singer mother Gloria Loring, who co-wrote the theme songs to "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life" with his father.
Retna
A name as cool asCuba Gooding has to be passed down through generations. The elder Cuba Gooding, the lead singer of the soul group The Main Ingredient, has passed on his legacy of entertaining to his two sons.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
In Cuba Gooding, Jr. movie "Radio," there is a scene where he is listening to The Main Ingredient. He's pictured here with his brother Omar.
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage
Basil Patterson a labor lawyer and longtime political leader in New York and Harlem passed the torch to his son, the 55th Governor of New York.
Chris Hondros, Getty Images
Before becoming Governor, David Patterson represented the same Harlem district in the State Senate that his father did.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Comments: (19)
Add a comment
By: John P Roberts on 2/06/2009 9:14PM
We need to be part of the new Obama country, not act as a special interest group anymore. We need to work together as part of the solution.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: TANTRA1lov on 2/28/2009 4:23PM
I agree with you...and...I was wondering who has read or have plans on reading the stimulus plan...?.....I think the stimulus plan is an opportunity for people make a great opportunity as far as providing income for their families set up businesses for themselves and provide jobs for others in the community to build wealth...I think is important to literally read the stimulus plan from beginning to end....if is only 10 pages at a time until it's completely read...that way people can see for themselves where and what monies are allocate for; set up entrepreneurial ventures such as construction businesses or whatever business that will acquire portions of the monies allocated for that particular part of the stimulus package....to me this is the 40 Acres and A Mule all over again....but this time...as opposed to people waiting for someone to give them a mule and forty acres of land which they were entitled to while people who was suppose to be giving it to them kept it all for themselves and a lot of people didn't get anything....this time people have an opportunity to read comprehend and get it for themselves.
Report This
By: BAY on 2/07/2009 9:56AM
Don't Expect A "Stimulus For Us" Plan because we have already receive our stimulus on 1/20/09.
The most thing that is lacking in the black community is education. Obama have given us our stimulus that it is cool,hip,fine,ect.. to be a smart black man or woman. Now watch us grow.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: TANTRA1lov on 2/28/2009 4:24PM
I agree with you..and...a long with that...people still need to implement a source of income for themselves in order to progress in this economy... which brings me to my thought..I was wondering who has read or have plans on reading the stimulus plan...?.....I think the stimulus plan is an opportunity for people make a great opportunity as far as providing income for their families set up businesses for themselves and provide jobs for others in the community to build wealth...I think it is important to literally read the stimulus plan from beginning to end....even if it is only 10 pages at a time until it's completely read...that way people can see for themselves where and what monies are allocate for; set up entrepreneurial ventures such as construction businesses or whatever business that will acquire portions of the monies allocated for that particular part of the stimulus package....to me this is the 40 Acres and A Mule all over again....but this time...as opposed to people waiting for someone to give them a mule and forty acres of land which they were entitled to while people who was suppose to be giving it to them kept it all for themselves and a lot of people didn't get anything....this time people have an opportunity to read comprehend and get it for themselves.
Report This
By: NURMARAN on 2/07/2009 10:43AM
First, it's PRESIDENT OBAMA, get it right! Second, grow up! Do you think the damages that were done the last eight years are going to be fixed overnight, and you're complaining about a couple of weeks?!?!?! Be a part of the changes, not the problems! We Americans need to be more responsible, as well as, willing to do our parts in making this a better country.I am a homeowner, and I admit that even though there's been MANY a hard times, I still could've have been more responsible, or at least made better decisions. Lastly, and this is also for you other haters,for the next four years,(and I pray more!), we have an AA president, President Barack Hussein Obama! So get used to it!!!! God Bless our country.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: FU2 on 2/15/2009 2:37PM
Hey faithfull desciple to "The One", it was ok to say "Bush" a few months ago. It was also not cool to say Barak Hussein Obama during the elections.
The only person, I believe, who can solve earth's problem is God, the Creator. Read the Book of Revelations how he plans to cleanse the earth.
What will you say when Obama fails and cannot keep all those lying promises he made to the American people and the world?
Report This
By: TANTRA1lov on 2/28/2009 4:26PM
I agree with you..and...a long with that...people still need to implement a source of income for themselves in order to progress in this economy... which brings me to my thought..I was wondering who has read or have plans on reading the stimulus plan...?.....I think the stimulus plan is an opportunity for people make a great opportunity as far as providing income for their families set up businesses for themselves and provide jobs for others in the community to build wealth...I think it is important to literally read the stimulus plan from beginning to end....even if it is only 10 pages at a time until it's completely read...that way people can see for themselves where and what monies are allocate for; set up entrepreneurial ventures such as construction businesses or whatever business that will acquire portions of the monies allocated for that particular part of the stimulus package....to me this is the 40 Acres and A Mule all over again....but this time...as opposed to people waiting for someone to give them a mule and forty acres of land which they were entitled to while people who was suppose to be giving it to them kept it all for themselves and a lot of people didn't get anything....this time people have an opportunity to read comprehend and get it for themselves.
Report This
By: Aliou Jacksonville FL on 2/07/2009 11:05PM
Equity in our economy:
You need to call or email your own ideas to congresswoman/man in your area and/or senators.
Here are mine: Everyone Capitalism.
Posted by Ange Tekam on January 28, 2009 at 8:36am
View My Opinions Log
Admin OptionsEdit Post Add Tags
Delete Post Manage Suggestion's Log Here is a rough draft of the cooperative type plan for putting america back to work fast, and promoting Social Justice, and Democracy.
The plan comprises several aspects and each may be implemented separately.
Cooperatives:
Cooperatives are built on communities. That is they may be regional communities as well as they may be trade communities. Each community is open to capital inflow from anyone in the society, limited to a ceiling to avoid concentration of power in some hands. Each member of the community is entitled to grants by government to enable the start of the community or its continuity.
Let's say each worker laid off from DHL received a $5000 grant from the government and together they form a similar service. Among the 1000 workers fired, they can receive collectively a grant totalling $5,000,000 to start their own company. What ever they chose to do, this is a welcome addition to their community and they would start training some other people to work with them, and employ many other people.
Further more, their business will encourage satelite businesses around it. If each of the 70 000 workers laid off yesterday received just 1000, it would mean $70,000,000 start up funds for any idea in the community.
If they received $5000 each, they may be able to start their own credit union, with a fund of $350,000,000. and start lending money to the community right away.
Of course every community will know what they need, and the government can help in that too, by sending graduates from from various universities and a professor as a mentor, to find out what each commuty is interested in, and help them to implement it, with the help of the government.
There are many versions of this same work, some of them working around the credit unions or around the labor unions, as well as the independent communities, cities, states. Whether these ideas will be done to promote one member's idea or the community's innovative endeavor, that is left to the community and what they are able to come up with.
Ireland has announced that it is taking this path. Germany has been implementing this around the world for a long time. With the way america does business, success is more likely here than anywhere else.
I received a scholarship from one of those organizations myself some years ago.
In so doing, we are going to strengthen our communities and their capacity to participate in our development, in turning this economy around and in participating in democracy. It will also help this country get rid of some of the old structures of injustice since the communities will all have a $1000, $5000, $10,000, ... per person to tackle the recession. The more people in a community, the greater their capital to start and run their business. As a consequence, communities will be encouraged to include more people, and they would be equal since each person can take away their money but must send it to another community.
It would encourage the promotion of peaceful cohabitation, democracy values and equal rights to socio-economic development and a more sustainable use of our tax bail out dollars.
This program would give power to society's disadvantaged, who would be owners of capital for the first time in this capitalist country.
Recovery would only happen if all people would participate. Giving money to the banks would never be lent to people who don't have a job, or can't repay for any reason. Many would not benefit from tax cuts because they are/have been out of work for many years.
Giving a grant to society members would create jobs as entrepreneurs, or as consumers. This program would put people back to work, but also help communities take charge of their own communities, and creates a focus for continuous, united and diversed development of our society.
Who qualifies? Anyone who has a talent to contribute, Anyone who has no job, has a job that pays below, or at poverty threshlold, and belongs to a community of interest.
Who votes? Members of a community of interest have equal voting rights.
Disposition of the funds: The funds are not paid to individuals; a Certificate for these funds is paid directly to the groups' account, and the persons are notifited. They present the certificate to participate in the running and/or decisions of the entity.
Promoting these values and principles/practices around the world.
This program may be applies all around the world americans can be sent to promote economic development, peace, promote and safeguard democracy, social justice and socio-political develoment
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: TANTRA1lov on 2/28/2009 4:27PM
I agree with a lot you have said...and along with that...I think in principle it works...my concern would be being you have 700,000 equal investors; who have equal share and equal voting power...that is a lot on cooks in the kitchen at the same time...i think (and its just my opinion it has no barring on what you wrote)if smaller groups of people came together and form limited liability corporations that fulfilled the needs of monies being allocated by the Stimulus Package the results of your plan would come to fruition as well...actually I can see both ways yours an mine working...which brings me to my thought...I think people need to implement a source of income for themselves in order to progress in this economy...which brings me to my thought..I was wondering who has read or have plans on reading the stimulus plan...?.....I think the stimulus plan is an opportunity for people make a great opportunity as far as providing income for their families set up businesses for themselves and provide jobs for others in the community to build wealth...I think it is important to literally read the stimulus plan from beginning to end....even if it is only 10 pages at a time until it's completely read...that way people can see for themselves where and what monies are allocate for; set up entrepreneurial ventures such as construction businesses or whatever business that will acquire portions of the monies allocated for that particular part of the stimulus package....to me this is the 40 Acres and A Mule all over again....but this time...as opposed to people waiting for someone to give them a mule and forty acres of land which they were entitled to while people who was suppose to be giving it to them kept it all for themselves and a lot of people didn't get anything....this time people have an opportunity to read comprehend and get it for themselves.
Report This
By: Jessie on 2/08/2009 6:15PM
This is NOT a stimulus plan. It's mostly a plan to payback mayors and governors for their campaign support. It's so very wrong and totally irresponsible for this bill to be proposed in this form at this time when the economy has enough problems without adding costs for frisbee golf, butterfly gardens and mall lawn repair. Now many of you will refer back to what the media calls the "Bush" stimulus package. Yes, Bush did call for a stimulus package and he also called for congress to leave out the pork which of course they could not. When you refer to that bailout please remember it was again Pelosi, Reid, Obama and a large percentage of DEMOCRATS who passed that stimulus. For some reason people seem to confuse that as a republican bill due to the press misguiding people. Other than Obama cronies, no real economist supports this newest waste bill. In fact most say it will cause more harm than good. BTW: Why is it Obama says he can't keep many of his promises due to the economy but congress had no problem affording their raise while Obama stands by silently?
Reply to this Comment | Report This