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Can President Obama Support A Black Agenda?

BY ROGER CALDWELL
     Last week on Rev. Al Sharpton’s syndicated radio program, Tavis Smiley called in and the two begin to argue. This was nothing new for the two, because they both are famous for controversial and confrontational subjects. The thing that made this different was that they both were both mad, and they argued in front of the radio audience.
     Many times African American leaders don’t agree with each other, but they resolve their disagreements behind closed door. But last week the two leaders exposed their disagreements in front of the public, and respect went out the door.
     Tavis Smiley is upset because when Sharpton, Morial, and Jealous had a meeting with President Obama, they let him off easy. Smiley believes that the Obama administration lacks a willingness to honestly and aggressively confront issues facing the African American community. Unemployment in certain cities in the African American community is at 40 percent and for Black men it is 50 percent.
     On a symbolic level, Tavis Smiley believes that the hoopla surrounding Obama is good for our community, because we can point to our success. We can now prove that we can be elected to the highest office in the land. Therefore we can give Obama high grades as an inspiration, a trailblazer, a motivator, and a model of success.
     But on a substantial level, which focuses on policy, his grades are poor. His economic team Lawrence Summer, Tim Geithner, and Ben Baernanke has put Wall Street at the center of their agenda. It is quite embarrassing that in the middle of a recession the corporate executives can give themselves millions in bonuses, after they received billions of dollars to keep their companies afloat.
     As a result of what is happening with the economic leadership, Tavis Smiley believes that it is time for a Black agenda that focuses on the problems in our community. Tavis Smiley wants our community to put pressure on the president, and he is the leader of this movement. There are many Black intellectuals such as Cornell West who support Tavis with this initiative.
     Tavis Smiley believes that a Black agenda is no different during the civil rights era. Obama’s administration has not focused on poor people and working class people needs. Jobs did not become a priority until unemployment reached double digits. Unemployment in the African American community will not become an issue until our leaders put it on our agenda.
     Having three of our leaders at a meeting with the president is impressive and significant. But going to the meeting with no agenda and no purpose leaves our community with no commitments and benefits from the meeting.
As we move forward in 2010, a Black agenda strategically is a good tool politically to use to help us get on the same page. Disproportionably our community is negatively being impacted by the problems in the society. We are the first to be fired and the last to be hired, because businesses are moving out of the cities.
     African American problems are unique because poor people cannot compete or not trained educationally to qualify for a job. Obama must be realistic and acknowledge the African American community will take a different approach in order to solve many of our problems. This is not Middle America where there is a job with benefits and they own a single family home.
     The resources that are needed in our community are different from what is needed in Middle America. A large percentage of our families are dysfunctional and our women are alone, and the men are in jail or without a job. A Black agenda is a good strategy to identify what our community needs.
     A comprehensive plan that all our leaders can agree on will bring unity to our community. It will also force Obama to make a commitment to improving our community. Many mainstream Americans believe that Blacks should not receive any preferential treatment. But racism still exists and police are still shooting unarmed Black men in the community.
     Based on Obama’s position in the country, the question can be raised would Obama support and have a dialog with African American leaders with a Black agenda?