Posted on 04/05/2009 11:30:41 PM PDT by libh8er
Jeff Johnson knows how to make his audiences squirm. The young, black radio and TV political commentator waits for the discussion to turn to the topic being talked about ceaselessly, incessantly, ad nauseam: the meaning of the barrier-breaking election of Barack Obama.
Then, in his laid-back style, he says, "The real issue for me is that history is not enough." That's when the mood becomes tense.
"Black folks, in particular, get irritated," says Johnson, who travels the lecture circuit, hosts a half-hour show on Black Entertainment Television and has a weekly spot for social criticism on a radio program popular with black listeners. Get past "Obama the personality" and see "Obama the president," he says. "Otherwise all you're being is a political-celebrity groupie instead of a citizen. . . . It starts with acknowledging he's my president, and not my homie."
As the nation's first black president settles into the office, a division is deepening between two groups of African Americans: those who want to continue to praise Obama and his historic ascendancy, and those who want to examine him more critically now that the election is over.
Johnson is one of a growing number of black academics, commentators and authors determined to press Obama on issues such as the elimination of racial profiling and the double-digit unemployment rate among blacks.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
It’s never enough.
At least someone is starting to hold President Obama accountable for his actions.
No sir! Barack is not black enough.
Accountable in the sense that he isn’t sopping enough to the far left black lobby. Oh what is a poor Uniter to do.
I’m somewhat curious how 0 can reduce double-digit unemployment in the black community, when we are nearing double-digit unemployment for the entire population. Magic, perhaps?
I don't think there is any room to the left of Obama. Just that he doesn't want to be seen that way.
You’re right; he’s a mix, not black enough.
We’ll hear that when Obama is history and a ‘real’ black runs for office.....”the first real black...”
Reverse racism. Let’s see if BO has the audacity to try to institutionalize that.
You've touched on what Joseph Campbell said about government efforts to bring "equality"--he said you can't "equalize" people UP, you can only pull DOWN those who achieve to the level of those who don't--then everyone is equal at the most base level.
I always think of that when I hear people talking about equality. Do they think Obama or whoever is going to give all poor people a wealthy lifestyle? Of course not--the only logical end to their thinking is to force EVERYONEinto a low-income lifestyle. With government, of course, controlling the excess to make sure it's distributed equally.
The TOTUS has a patchwork of positions determined by who surrounds him. Why should he bother bleeding his heart any more for the poor fist waving black, when he got 95% of the black vote?
BO’s intention to grant amnesty to 12 million illegal aliens would really help solve the double digit black unemployment.
Just couldn't help myself. Not that this Jeff Johnson is a bad buy...his name just reminded me of a really funny movie.
bad Guy, not Buy...
bed time.
How dare blacks criticize The Anointed One? Hopey Changey, baby.
Well, he was called "The Magic Negro" by a black columnist in the LS Times, wasn't he?
The same division exists among white people.
The division is between the intelligent and the stupid.
Color provides no excuses, color offers no immunity from criticism.
“A rose by any other name” etc!
The magic of his Trans America Make Work Brown Shirt Corps, maybe.
Well, black people can’t have it both ways.
Ditch the “racial pride” or become vulnerable to the voices of “racial shame.”
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