FIFTH ESTATE: THE BLACK AGENDA

FIFTH ESTATE

THE BLACK AGENDA

In response to Dr. Boyce Watkins’, post A Stronger America: The Black Agenda

First, thank you for this article. While I may not agree with your viewpoint, I do appreciate it.

Second, I voted for President Obama for two reasons -his proposed policies in educating the populace specifically in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics and his ability to walk his talk when it comes to a woman's rights.

I am of African ancestry, however, in my opinion, there are only two differences in the human species and that is Sex: Male and Female.

Therefore, if President Obama has the ear of women and gays but the black community feels shut out; would not that actually mean that less than half of black community does not have President Obama's ear?

Maybe I am missing something; you mentioned that President Obama is not a civil rights leader and I agree but atop his agenda seem to be civil rights issues. The groups you have mentioned all have civil rights issues on the table.   Gays want the right to serve in the military, they want the right to marry legally; Latinos are looking for some type of immigration reform that benefits their families; Women want the rights to equal pay for equal work, we want to retain the rights to choose what to do with our bodies, etc. What civil rights are we blacks, particularly men, not enjoying that is already on the law books? High incarceration for black men is the cause célèbre’. If the courts are unduly targeting blacks for imprisonment for criminal activity then there is a remedy for this alleged malfeasance of the justice system. It starts with the United States Department of Justice's Civil Rights division.

I digress.

It seems to me the group most offended by the policies of the Obama Administration is men, both white and black.

In my opinion, President Obama was not appointed the savior of black people simply because his father comes from Kenya. Nor was he elected president to keep the status quo for white men just because he is descendant of England's King Edward.

He, in my opinion, is a shining example of what a man can do even when the odds are stacked against him.

Therefore, from his leadership, the take away is "Empowerment", and if anything, that goal should top "The Black Agenda"

President Kennedy said it best in his inaugural speech,