This post is the continuation on a theme that I initiated as a comment on the Electronic Village, Saturday afternoon. I guess I’m headed in the direction of activist actionist lately so I’ll just flow with it because I’m really feeling something truly passionate these days about the way life can be if we’d only make it so.
I hear a lot lately from the usual Black talking heads about candidate electability that sounds like excuse making to me. The Civil Rights Generation is thinking in totally wrong headed fashion on the pending ’08 election. C’mon now. They marched and protested, and their friends were murdered and lynched. Why, then, after Shirley Chisholm’s ground breaking move for the White House in ’72 (she made a run after one term in Congress too…humm), how then, after Jesse Jackson’s “Run Jesse Run” pursuit in ’84 and again in the 1988 “Keep Hope Alive” campaign is the Black power elite not coming out with a blanket endorsement for Barak Obama? This is the moment they have fought for and lived for and now fear of success has gripped their pitiful hearts like a vice grip.
Well destiny has presented us with the candidate they fought and marched for in the Jim Crow era and now they all want to use the “electability” excuse. It’s now or never and I for one plan on holding our elders (social and political) accountable for their fear and innaction. Finally, Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King’s dreams can be fulfilled. From marching on the White House to occupying it by election. Right here, right now. Not later. This is the 21st damn century and January 2008 is the time to change the complexion of the seat of power. Alright, O.K. Maybe I need to put it musically the way the P-Funk family phrased it a few years ago…time to Paint the White House Black.
And hey, isn’t it the Civil Rights Generation who always spoke about representing the race, being loyal to the race and creating opportunity for the race? You remember this line from your old man or your old lady when you were a kid, right? “…one day you could be president little Black boy or Black girl…” But now in the 21st century, they want to get stuck on some crazy old slavish thinking instead of taking the millenial opportunity to actually make the most historic advance in American history. Bullshit. I will truly be disappointed in our parents generation if they don’t do their duty and create a new legacy for the country and a final substantive legacy for their generation.
Do I sound pissed? Yep, I am and I’m calling out all of alleged leaders for not actually leading. Some of them may have already committed and I just haven’t heard about it yet. To those I’ll apologize when I learn otherwise. Until then, I’m calling out Maxine Waters, Tavis Smiley, Al Sharpton, Kwame Kilpatrick, Andrew Young, everyone in the Congressional Black Caucus, Nancy Pelosi, Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy – yeah, white powerbrokers included – John Conyers and others too numerous to list. The old guard can finally make the greatest difference in American history and it would literally reverberate throughout the entire world. Forget the transformation of the American phsyche (yes, the United States does need a psychological enema). I’m talking about the whole damn planet.
Allow me to continue the call out rant though. I’m calling out Joe Reed of Alabama who is the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Caucus. That’s the Black wing of the Democratic party in my state who’s body just last week endorsed Hellary – no I didn’t spell that Devil spawn’s name wrong – over Barak. Joe purportedly didn’t endorse Jesse during his historic run either. He has done good work in the past but now he’s just a Black turncoat who has screwed with the destiny of our people in a major way for the second time in the last 25 years. What an idiot. What a damn impossible idiot.
The Black Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, just recently endorsed Barak Obabama. As I mentioned on Saturday, it’s about time somebody with pull who recognizes the historic confluence of these times has given Barak the nod. Governor Patrick joins Jesse Jackson in that repect by throwing some more public muscle behind the campaign. Unfortunately, way too many of those of the Civil Rights era who should be grabbing destiny by the horns don’t have the guts to do so. How can you not go for the obvious opportunity when it’s staring you right in the face?
Barak is the man Dr. King was looking forward in time to nearly forty years ago. In fact he and I are part of that integration generation that he preached and spoke about so many times. How dare King’s own generation disrespect his memory and quiver in their boots when the one person who can truly represent the entire nation for the first time in history falls right in their collective lap. Can they do what needs to be done when the time comes? They’re making me wonder at this point. Where’s the heart now that great courage is truly needed Civil Rights Generation?
Never mind nationwide noose hangings by the racist ignorami from sea to shining sea. We’re not naive. African Americans have always known that kind of backwards 19th century stupidity was always lurking just below the surface waiting for any excuse to break out. It happens every few years so no big shock about any of it. No, that crap isn’t even important because apparently we’re determined to tie ourselves into a life ending choke hold.
How do you respond to me and to the rest of us who have to live in the world you are slowly leaving Civil Rights Generation? Have I offended you? I hope so. Am I being disrespectful? Fine, because the rest of us will have to live in the wake of what you will or won’t do in the next few months. I hope I’ve pissed you off as much as some of your brethren have ticked me off recently. But after you’re done being mad, think and reconsider your position on things. Come back at me and let me know how you feel. I’m a man, I can take it. Can you? Again I say destiny is calling. What is your answer?
Wow…yep you sound powerful and angry, Marty!
I hope whomever God intends to be in that White House next will.
Marty,
Bring it strong brother! I agree wholeheartedly with your message. I will share it on my blog as well.
peace, Villager
My brother from another mother, you are so on point. I’ll share your post on my blogs. Quite frankly I’m sick of the media and the “black leaders” that have so quickly proclaimed Hillary Clinton the Democratic presidential nominee.
Our “black leaders” have proclaimed Obama un-electable. What kind of crap is that? So we should accept second-class status in this country and tell our children they can only win American Idol, the Super Bowl or NBA championships? I don’t think so.
I agree wholeheartedly. I think a lot of people are looking to civil rights leaders, wanting to know should they vote for Obama or Hillary. Most are saying Hillary. A disgrace. I will share your blog with my friends. Blessings, my brother. Mac
I agree with you all. We need to take this opportunity NOW and elect Barack. “He’s too young and inexperienced” is a tired, trite, hacknyed argument and I am so sick of hearing it. If we elect a candidate with experience in Washington/White House Politics, we can expect the same ole thing we have been getting – but we dont NEED THE SAME OLE THING! We need a president who is not a part of the establishment – we need fresh ideas and a new way of thinking and conducting politics in this damned country. We as a people need to take this moment in history to ban together behind a young man who represents us (and does it well by the way) as well as the best that this country has to offer in terms of politicans. I intend to re-post your blog on my 360 Marty. Thank you!
I hear you Paula, but I’m sending up specific prayers on this. I want the Good Lord to pick Barak.
Thanks Villager. Appreciate the cross-post.
So true Vanessa. We have to destroy our fears and espand our expectations of success. Thanks for the shout back.
Thanks for sharing Mac and I appreciate the sharing.
Marty,
I am so impressed with you and your ‘fight for what’s right’.
I read your article twice just to make sure that I read everything correctly and you are spot on.
Hellary – love it, yes, she is the devil’s spawn. I shudder to think what our country would be like with that bitch in office. I believe I’d leave the country.
Would I vote for Mr. Obama?
Yes. In my opinion, he is the best choice from fairly poor slate of candidates we have to choose from. Not only that, I believe, and hope it to be true, that he has a ‘freshness’ that can not be ascribed by any other candidate, regardless of stripe.
It’s time for a change, and that’s coming from a fairly conservative, died in the wool, Republican.
Later.
Thanks Najmah. I’m glad someone is fired up like me.
Yeah Morgan, let’s hear more of it from all sides, died in the wool Republicans and tired of the bull Democrats alike. Thanks for the comments.
Oh no, Marty – Your URL is too long, containing the http stuff twice:
http://www.martyblogs.com/http:/www.martyblogs.com/why-is-the-black-establishment-afraid-to-grasp-history/30/
Make sure to just go under Options, Permalinks, choose the “Custom, specify below” radio button and type this in the field and save it:
/%postname%/%post_id%/
I’m not sure about tag clouds.
But the email options you can add by burning a new feed thru Feedburner. The feedsmith plugin makes it easy:
http://labnol.blogspot.com/2007/10/feedburner-upgrades-feedsmith-plugin.html
And the template I recommended is called “Adminded Wide Theme” — that’s the one I use and love. Find it here:
http://www.sapiensbryan.com/index.php/ads-minded-wide-version/
Changing your theme (which is what WordPress calls templates) won’t make you lose your posts.
But, I still recommend you also use the WordPress Database Backup Plugin and backup your site often:
http://www.genealogy-computer-tips.com/wp-database-backup/
Okay, have fun! And be careful! (That’s the mom in me coming out…)
Whoops, thanks Paula. Just saved it.
Alright, I’m finally getting around to posting it on my site. Here’s what I think.
Shirley Chisholm (I wasn’t born then) and Jesse Jackson were just setting the ground work for the future. In all honestly, they had no chance to win, but Obama’s campaign is more of a reality and I think that frightens people. I’ve heard comments on his experience and his “blackness”, but they’re all a part of the reality that he could actually pull this off. And I think he could do it with less resistance than Hillary would get.
All the protests, all the demonstrations, all the lives lost for eqaulity and opportunity are coming to fruition. Should Obama speak out on every black issue that arises in the community? Should his platform be based on the fact that he has some black in him? No. This country is not made up of only black people, so we need to realize his job is to represent all people. As a potential President, I expect him to make changes that help those in my community. But I also realize that the black vote is not going to win it for him. He needs all people of all different races to get him in the White House. Then he can paint it black
Well said Theo J. Well said.
In addition, there’s no greater polarizing force – no matter how big her war chest – than Hellary.
thanks for the GREAT post! Very useful…
Hello!
Nice site
Bye