The Story Behind A Touching White House Photo
Find Your Swimsuit Confidence
I saw news of the event everywhere. Most interesting was the image of President Obama dancing with Michelle and his kids with Stevie Wonder, Smokie Robinson, Jamie Foxx and John Legend crooning in the background. The president, who appeared to be doing his best, had the stiffness of a corpse, and the posture of a 92-year old woman, but the nation appreciated his effort.
"Interesting," I thought to myself. "The president is a really bad dancer, but I'm impressed that he can shake his butt to Motown while simultaneously dealing with the most complex foreign policy matters known to man. The man is really focused."
In addition to giving the president credit for at least trying to boogey to the music around him, I also wondered why the White House had worked so hard to promote their Motown event. This email, like many others before it, focused on things that appeared to be symbolic, rather than substantive matters in the lives of black people. Sure, we all love Motown, without a doubt. But in light of the fact that black unemployment continues to be in the double digits, and with the White House's insistence upon ignoring people of color on almost every relevant policy issue imaginable, it is ironic that the one time the administration is willing to publicly claim a concern for our existence is when we are dancing for them at the White House.
Yes, I have to say that I was a wee bit insulted. I can hear one of Obama's advisors saying, "Yes, black people love to dance and sing. Let's get some images of the president dancing to Motown music. That will make them believe that we're on their side for sure!"
After the Obama Administration finishes jamming to the beats and rhythms of Detroit, perhaps they will have the same sense of urgency when dealing with the horrifically high unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates of Detroit (which are far worse than the national average, even among black people). After that, I am hopeful that the administration will send me another email stating that they've decided to declare a state of emergency to save all of the failing public schools in Detroit and every other urban area around the United States. Our horrible school systems and economic inequality are a fundamental violation of our human rights, and as our president is given permission to celebrate Motown, he must also be given permission to deal with real racial inequality in America.
I saw last week that the Obama Administration took a very bold legal position on gay rights, effectively stating that they would stop defending a law that bars gay marriage. The gay community applauded the move loudly, for their president and attorney general had stood by them in their time of need. All the while, black people are facing the highest bankruptcy, jobless, incarceration and high school drop out rates in the United States, yet our president appeases us by dancing next to Stevie Wonder. I love Stevie and I love Motown, but I also love the black people who are struggling to pay their rent. Given that Obama Administration officials have not even uttered the words "black man," or "black woman" in any meaningful public forum, I find myself wondering whether their love for black people goes deeper than the fact that we can sing. In that regard, the White House has become The Cotton Club all over again, with a black man in charge instead of a white one.
After the Motown show, there is another song the president might want to learn by Beyonce Knowles, called "Say my name." If the Obama Administration wants to show that the president's Motown event is anything more than Bill Clinton playing the saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show, they should say our names in public and make historic racial inequality into a national issue. There is no better time to do this than during Black History Month and no president better equipped to lead the charge than the man who's been (perhaps incorrectly) compared with Dr. Martin Luther King. I will be carefully reviewing my next email from The White House to see if it contains anything more than the typical song and dance, but for some reason, I doubt that it will.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here. 
Comments: (245)
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By: renee on 2/27/2011 7:20AM
how are you still here... know one likes a fool
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By: Queen of Sheba on 2/28/2011 9:11AM
Of course there are no Black people who are Gay. So President Obama's work on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is on behalf of white homosexuals only. What an irresponsible observation about the Gay lobby. Does not the media play up what is considered in its best interest to create controversy and sell news stories?
I am so sick of the hatred that rears its ugly head in so many incredible forms by Blacks, Whites, and Browns. It is most often those who sit on their "backsides" and pontificate from the sidelines, without contributing anything positive in an effort to help move our country forward.
Since everyone including the commenter to whom I am responding knows how to be President, please get your campaign together and run fiercely in 2012. After all the President is the country's dictator and can do whatever he wants no matter what happens in the House and the Senate. BUT you are among those who sat home during the midterm elections; thought that, upon winning the Presidency, President Obama would single-handedly solve all of Black people's problems while they sit and pontificate; and have all the knowledge of government, governing and politics.
Maybe I am missing something but I see a lot that Black people (yes I am visibly, unmistakably Black)could be doing for themselves AND not doing it. You are very much a HUGE part of the problem.
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By: eatmydessertfirst on 2/28/2011 11:14AM
Queen of Sheba: well said!
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By: bintalphonzo on 2/28/2011 12:43PM
sad but true, "black" people do not know how to come together and things accomplished, the faster they stop waiting around for a handout and trying to integrate with people that want nothing to do with them, the better off they will be. Integration ruined any chances black people had of rising up as a people
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By: vic on 2/28/2011 7:55PM
@hacksaw , it's always somebody else's fault isn't it.
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By: Dianne on 3/02/2011 12:57PM
Could it not be expected that people Black or White, Red, or Blue, or any other description ought to belong to the Democrat Party by now? Don't get me wrong, I think that Michael Steele is excellent smart amd polemically savvy when he tries to convert Rachel Maddow but is that discernment? Yes, if she gives him part of her hour to tell Black Republicans some of the refinements of politics to pay close attention to in this era of deception as usual; and to remind Whiter Republicans just who Black Americans are while Whiter Republican animosity to a Black President is the biggest thing on their mind( and how to get more money before he takes it away from them ).Obama could FDR them. I personally do not care how he dances as long as his mind moves as it does over and through Constitutional Law to keep these racist creeps in high places at arms'length,
rhetorically speaking.
Unless you want Newt Gingrich as President (Huckabee made a bad show of his limited mind yesterday by still foolishly stating Obama grew up in Kenya!). On that note, former producer of tv's The West Wing,Lawrence O'Donnell boldly stated that the Republican field is so bad that they will be surprised when Obama wins re-election.
Of course, keep in mind Newt will try, just to stay in shape for his game; or as his wife asked him, why in the heck does he preach stuff as Gingrich Republican Policy which he did not practice in his own life in regard to deceased wife and women, and other people more human than himself?
A Motown celebrity party is not unsmart at the White House. This is campaign warmup time again at the White House. Too long Democrats have let the Bush menage undercut the best candidates that the Democrat Party has to offer, by employing the smart quips of Karl Rove who is nothing but a "punk and a bum", if you examine his physique carefully identifying him as someone who lost his hair at Louisiana State University (I suspect in the Agricultural college at Baton Rouge). Why Poppy Bush hired him, while instead trying to put Dick Cheney* up at Yale?
*who could not pass the entrance exams even with preparatory coaching provided because Bush wanted him to work for Halliburton as he had himself.
But, if you want more of the same,Representative Boehner who can't hold a candle of his inept mental capacity to the brilliance of Barack Obama's intelligence; not to mention those recent racists Eric Cantor and Steve King of Iowa who should know better where Barack is coming from.
You also would not have heard that confession out of Massachusetts, if it were not pre-campaign warm up season.
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By: Benbit on 3/03/2011 2:43PM
Yes and The Demo's want to keep us there.Please just take a look back and ask your self. Are we better than 40 years ago.
I say not.
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By: Mimi on 2/26/2011 9:18AM
I did not watch the show, but I think that the President is in a difficult position. While he has to lead the country, he still has to lead his own life. I can see him being "stiff" my own husband is this way when he dances, but like our President, he is a very intelligent man that simply does not master dance moves. Maybe in the future events can be more substantive, but honestly; its always easy to back seat drive.
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By: Justifyed on 2/26/2011 8:30AM
I am wondering if Boyce will attend any other events sponsored by the White House if he is so insulted.
Yes our president is focused, but that doesn't mean he can't have just ONE evening of downtown for family, friends, and entertainment.
Was Boyce offended when the Obama Adm., hosted various "salute to" days based on various musical genres?
If we, as blacks, can stop picking apart every little thing "we" do, maybe we can gain focus. I am seeing that Boyce will throw a wet towel over any situation.
Maybe Boyce could use some downtime, if he were a women, ppl would be saying "she needs a man".
I would assume that after our "stiff" president came off the dance floor, and the night came to an end, he and his gorgeous wife made beautiful music in the bedroom, where he could continue
that 'downtime' before arising the next morning to face reality once again, along with the negative thoughts and comments from his "own" people.
I'm also wondering why Boyce even attended if he thought that Mr President should be focusing on our country instead of having a night of musical entertainment?
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By: Epyphyny on 2/26/2011 12:45PM
Amen!! EVERYTHING IS AN ISSUE! JUST UNREAL!!
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