The Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commission is a group of concerned scholars and activists who seek "to continuously monitor and evaluate the policy priorities and legislative proposals of presidential administrations in relationship to the needs, issues, vital interests and aspirations of people of African descent in the U.S. and globally."
I am a member of the commission, but admittedly not an active one. I am glad to observe and support the commission because I believe in the mission, but I do not wish to be overly active because my goal with President Obama is to evaluate him in an unbiased way. Beyond being limited in my time, I am also not a big fan of political speak, as I find myself consistently wondering what black politicians are actually doing for any of us.
But with my own cyncism being put to the side, I can highlight some of the observations that these respected scholars came up with as it pertained to President Obama's most recent State of the Union address. You can read the full
report at this link.
The group doesn't appear to be bashing President Obama in its message. The dialogue implies that the scholars have a keen understanding of the difficulties of juggling the numerous and conflicting challenges of the presidency. At the same time, they also seem to understand that empowered advocacy is necessary to remind the president that he can certainly do more. In the report, they state the following:
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Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama greets audience members after he presented 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medals, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
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BlackVoices.com
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama (R) presents the 2010 National Medal of Arts to musician Sonny Rollins during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama greets audience members after he presented 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medals, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama (R) congratulates poet Donald Hall after presenting him with the 2010 National Medal of Arts, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama (R) congratulates musician Quincy Jones after presenting him with the 2010 National Medal of Arts during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees.
Recent Obama Photos
First Lady Michelle Obama walks out of a 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama (R) presents the 2010 National Humanities Medal to author Joyce Carol Oates during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama signs the two-week funding bill averting a government shutdown in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The Senate on Wednesday sent President Barack Obama a Republican-drafted stopgap funding bill that trims $4 billion from the budget, completing hastily processed legislation designed to keep partisan divisions from forcing a government shutdown.
Recent Obama Photos
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama arrives in Green Bay, Wis., at Austin Straubel International Airport as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, center, welcomes President Barack Obama with a Charles Woodson jersey that says: "see you at the White House. Go Packers." Obama, an Illinois native, had predicted his Chicago Bears would beat Green Bay in the NFC Championship game; they did not prevail. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt is at left. Obama spoke with Packers coach Mike McCarthy to congratulate he and the team on their Super Bowl win of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama walks with his Chief of Staff,William Daley, center and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Monday, Feb. 7, 2011.
Recent Obama Photos
On balance the Commission concludes that President Obama has articulated a vision of economic growth and opportunity which offers some promise for people of African descent. Nonetheless, targeting is still necessary to end structural gaps/disparities between Blacks and Whites. It is imperative that the State of Emergency in Black America be confronted head-on.
The commissioners also go on to note that President Obama did not use the word "poor" during his speech, being the first Democratic president since Truman to do so. This is a worrisome trend for anyone with a concern for the plight of those who struggle at the bottom of America's economic ladder. On this, the commission adds:
It is important for the President to educate the public on the need to improve the quality of life for the poor as a "moral obligation" consistent with "American values." In addition, the President should stand firm in defending the collective bargaining rights of unions as vital vehicles for promoting a higher standard of living for workers and the middle class.
The commissioners contextualize Obama's speech by labeling him as to be a "pragmatic progressive," with the willingness to support the ideas of his base while appealing to independents by taking on his own party. Given that politicians only act on incentives, the sad truth is that the continuous existence of overwhelming black support tells us that our president has almost no incentive to speak up for black people. I have yet to hear his administration address either our community or targeted economic policy in any meaningful public forum, and that leaves me quite disappointed.
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,
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Comments: (6)
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By: Rasheda on 3/02/2011 4:05PM
Hmmm, I think its fair to say that to a certain degree both the Republicans and Democrats have re-invented themselves in Obama and sadly because of this Black votes and loyalty gets taken for granted. Whereby, we get the platitudes while everybody else tend to get the more substantive "stuff".
Thus,I appreciate Black Scholars who point out the need to regard the interest of the "poor" as being just as important as the middle class and certainly upper class. Too often it seems the rhetoric tends to stop with the middle class when assessing strategies for social upliftment and I am a firm believer that a bottom up paradigm for achieving social and economic parity is what constitutes a genuine progressive movement.
It's something we as people of color have to mostly implement for ourselves. That's when other progressive sectors become inspired to get on board in being about the arduous task of coilition building. I read somewhere that the Conservatives tend to be more homogenous and uniform in their platform. Where as the very thing we claim to embrace as Progressives i.e., our diversity, can be a positive virture or huddle depending on how "real" we are about bringing about a better quality of life for everyone. With that said I believe this push for a "winnable future" can only be manifested if we as particularly Black folks recognize that while we are not monolithic we do come from a tradition that places a great deal of importance on community building for both social and economic purposes. Thereby, I hope we will learn to re-invest in our own individual and collective potential as opposed to being duped into this political messiah path of deliverance
that is generally predicated on an Eurocentric method of playing both sides against the middle and/or giving with one hand and taking with the other.
And as I can personally attest to, when one is oppressed we are all oppressed and it has heretofore, been Black folks deep sense love for our people and empathy with other have nots that has propelled us into sustained action.
Somewhere along the line this continuum was severely disrupted and I believe this helps to explain why some of our adults and kids seem to be not interested in any cause other than that having to do with self presevation. Thereby, I believe that We simply can not afford to allow ourselves to be constantly derailed by divide and conquer and/or either or schemes that distract and create what seems like impenetrable schisms and self loathing-hence internalized oppression. As people of African descent, our ancestors demonstrated the kind of cohesion and examples of mutual respect that allowed them to develop great dynasties that gave rise to literature and the math and sciences etc. Not to mention the peaceful interelationships found in early matriachal societies. Thats why, while I might miss the mark at times, I want to keep the faith because i know the miraculous can occur when that true to nature female principle and energy is unleshed to the betterment of all man and woman kind. Unfortunately so do they.
Thereby I hope that a greater sense of our resolve as a people along with a great deal of divine intervention will get us, enmasse, back on track. May it be that the President's pride as an acknowledged Black man and change agent inform his consensus building rather than the other way around. People might not necessarily like you or agree with you but I believe they respect you more in the long run when you dare to be true to the totality and/or deep rooted basis of what and who you truly are.
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By: Beverly on 3/02/2011 6:20PM
I don't think we saw the same speech.... "State of the Union" ?What I saw was at the beginning an attempt to soak up aggrandizement from the pain of the shooting victims, something about Sputnik, and an unabashed campaign speech.
Right now Chinese seven year olds are doing algebra, Indian Universities are turning out engineers and biochemists, and we waste our time discussing Jennifer Hudson's weight loss.
I know the President would have been chastised for 'keeping it real'...BUT to survive in the 21st century will require effort, self discipline, and education.....things no one is GIVEN except by oneself.
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By: Catrice Jones on 3/02/2011 7:22PM
"...and as I can personally attest to when one is oppressed we are all oppressed and it has heretofore been...."(Rasheda)the community as a priority. A benefit for the community should not hurt a member of the community. It seems that our World Leaders have the poor in mind. Therefore, they exploit one person, or a small group, to pay for billions of poor people. Considering what position you take, this could make poor people aider and abettor in the crimes of exploitation,bank robbery, and/or receiving and concealing stolen money. Thinking about the poor could lead to the corruption of the community, If the wrong person with the right idea takes action. Let the rich and the talented lead in paying for the lower, middle,and upper classes which are the community.
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By: Pastori Balele on 3/03/2011 2:52AM
I am asking all African-Americans, democrats and white republicans to re-elect President Obama in 2012. The pendulum has now changed from TEA Partiers to Labor Union Partiers who are the true American people – working people. TEA Party is racist organization crafted without objective or focus other than shouting at democrats. Of course republicans reaped fruits by massively being elected. Now it's turn for true American working people. The republicans are done as potential for the White House, State Houses or legislators. The American people are furious for callousness of Republicans. In fact even some TEA Party members have now switched gears. They are joining the democratic party. Why? Some of TEA Party members republicans are being abused by the very people they campaigned and voted for-Republicans. And in fact I do not know why Republicans behave that way-hatred to the extent to make laws that cause misery or death to others. I am told Wisconsin Governor Walker is proposing to defund all programs for handicapped, food stamps, children, unemployed, Medicaid recipients etc. But of course Governor Walker has given hefty salaries to his immediate assistants. By other way, where are John Boehner and Mitch McConnell to advise Governor Walker? I have not read anywhere John and Mitch talking about Governor Walker. John, Mitch and all republicans will lose next election. Republicans are done. Let’s prepare for Obama re-election in 2012.
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By: Vladimir Estragon on 4/14/2011 12:22PM
"After a two-year bipartisan probe, a Senate panel has concluded that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. profited from the financial crisis by betting billions against the subprime mortgage market, then deceived investors and Congress about the firm's conduct."
Goldman Sachs "investment" In Obama sure payed off well for them didn't it? We can only hope they throw the leaders of Goldman Sachs and Obama in prison and let them rot there for their crimes against America.
To think some people are still going to vote for Obama is hard to belive! After the hundreds of Lies by Obama the campaign commercials are going to be hilarious!
put all bills on the White House web site for five days before signing them.
have the congressional health care negotiations broadcast live on C-SPAN.
end earmarks.Stop torturing people
keep unemployment from rising above 8 percent.
close the detention center at Guantanamo in the first year.
Bring the troops home, stop torturing prisoners the list goes on and on.Obama's plan to make the world a safer place by playing nice with his terrorist friends really back fired on him. What a loser Obama is. The president of the EU said Obama was a danger to the safety of all European countries. When asked why he thought this was so he replied saying "Obama is to stupid to be a president" you can contact me at work http://www.michigan-businessreview.com and yes keep those jokes coming. "Too bad GE paid NO TAXES" They did the taxes just went directly to the Obama reelection campaign fund.
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By: Vladimir Estragon on 4/14/2011 12:38PM
Obama/Cheney in 2012 warmongers you can believe in.
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