I found this hard hitting commentary over at Rippa’s place.
Michael Eric Dyson on Barack Obama
02 Tuesday Jun 2009
%d bloggers like this:
02 Tuesday Jun 2009
I found this hard hitting commentary over at Rippa’s place.
I have heard about this so-called scholar from other AA blogs and apparently how he speaks in a faux-elevated tone and uses big words when small ones will do.
Firstly, how convenient it is to sit on your soapbox and bollock Obama when he is trying to do something – whereas is this Man actually doing something?
I am not American. Therefore the domestic changes BO makes to the US do not affect me. However, I recognise everyone has to be able to speak their opinion.
But there is a difference between speaking your opinion and gunning for someone when you are not doing anything either.
Is this man even a politician or a campaigner? Is he out there trying to help blue collar workers?
Looks like 2 me, someone is happy about calling people out just to be heard. What a bore. I would have more respect for this Dyson bloke if he hadn’t brought up the endorsement thing either.
Who the fuck cares if he endorsed him ages ago? Obama has more shit to worry about like the recession?
And that comment about the Negro to fix it was DISGUSTING.
This man needs to get a grip. Not liking Obama is 100% fine – that’s not what is jarring. What is jarring is banging on about it when you won’t even try and get involved as changing it.
Talk is broke
Sorry Asa, but he is bang out of order and this interview is far from hard hitting at all.
And what’s with him talking like he is a pastor?
I have been a fan of Mr. Dyson for a while now and I will admit that I hold a similar position of President Obama. The man dodges issues of race relations like George Bush dodges a shoe. Eric Holder steps to the mic and lays race relations in America bare and open when he talked about the cowardice of this nation to address its shameful history of abuse of the black community. Mr. Obama didn’t say peep about his attorney general’s declaration and bid his time until the dust settled.
The only time I have seen Mr. Obama take a stand on issues of race was when he gave his Fathers Day speech lambasting black men for their irresponsible reputation as deadbeat dads unwilling to get involved in their children’s lives. I have asked before, what makes the men of the black community so much more irresponsible where they have to be called out on the day set aside to recognize the dads who do step up to the plate? The vast majority of the black men in my neighborhood participate in their children’s lives. Why would Mr. Obama allow the minority of black fathers who are irresponsible define the reputation of the majority?
In order to appear inclusive Mr. Obama is willing to turn his back on a shameful race history to embrace an idealistic race future where issues of race are minimized and we have an atmosphere of true equality. But that’s rather hard to do with so much race based disparity and neglect with respect to financial development in the black community. People go crazy because the national unemployment rate hit 8%. But break it down by race and people will see that the unemployment rate in the white community is about 7% while it jumps to 13% in the black community. Could this be a factor to black men’s reputation as deadbeat dads?
Do I regret helping Mr. Obama win the white house? Not at all. The alternatives were truly far more disgusting. And it was truly remarkable to see a black man become president. But this does not mean he should get a pass from the black community without addressing our interest and concerns. Mr. Obama will placate the students and faculty of Notre Dame, addressing their issues on abortion with respect and sensitivity in his commencement speech at the school of higher learning. The same Mr. Obama will step in front of black people and refer to black men as acting like fools. Very insensitive.
So yes, I appreciated the video thread. I thought he made some very good points. But I have to admit that his comments about not being invited to the white house appeared self centered. I supported Mr. Obama as well and I still have yet to get an invitation. A lot of people have supported Mr. Obama and we all are still waiting. Why does Mr. Dyson think he deserves an exception?
Peace
Aulelia, brotherpeacemaker pretty much summed up my position.
Dyson’s point, which is plain for all, including Black people to see if they weren’t so mesmorized by the media propaganda and eager to crown a Black man as POTUS, is that Obama, like all other POTUS before him, doesn’t set his own agenda. He is beholden to the good will of the white majority so he has to cater to their interests and has shown that he is willing to sacrifice the interests of the Black community to do so. This is no conspiracy theory or secret. Obama has been very upfront and open about this by his words and actions.
In regards to the recession, Obama has managed the greatest concentration of capital, into the fewest hands, in the shortest amount of time. Bush oversaw the greatest concentration of political power into the Executive, i.e, into the fewest hands. See the connection? Obama couldn’t do what he is now doing without Bush laying the groundwork. If a republican… a white republican President was doling out this kind of money to bail out big business and taking over companies like Obama is now doing, there would be riots in the street! But the people are hypnotized by the charismatic Black pied piper. They are just following along to the music.
Furthermore, who do you think will end up buying the government assets in the financial institutions and auto industry when the so-called “crisis” is over? You, me and brotherpeacemaker? I got a couple hundred dollars (Canadian dollars) to kick in? What about you BP… how much greenbacks can you throw in? I’m sure they’ll take your Pounds and Euros Aulelia. Between the 3 of us I think we can buy enough of the US government’s GM stock to be the controlling interests of the company! What do you think? lol! Dyson made a very enlightening point when he compared Obama’s actions in relation to the crisis in the financial and auto industry. Big business managers got bonuses or golden parachutes with the bailout money, while blue collar workers in the auto industry got laid off, fired and their employee benefits, pensions, health care benefits and legacy entitlements slashed! As Dyson states: “understand who’s kissing you…”
BTW… Dyson has been an activist for years… well known before Obama was introduced to us as the next big thing by the media. Google him and check out his credentials. However I agree that Dyson’s whole take on his endorsement of Obama was lame and pretty self-serving. There is no fury like a lover scorned… but he says he still supports Obama!
Blessings!
“Mr. Obama will placate the students and faculty of Notre Dame, addressing their issues on abortion with respect and sensitivity in his commencement speech at the school of higher learning…”
…while at the same time, cut funding to historically black colleges and universities!
As Dyson states: “understand who’s playing you…”
Asa & bpm, thank you for clarifiying.
I thought his tone was bang out of order and flagrant if I am being honest.
Again, I am not American so I won’t be affected by the direct policies but Barack will not please everyone.
If Dyson is such an activist, why is he picking holes instead of going and doing something about it?
He sounds childish and immature. Chucking your toys of the pram makes one look more and more like a baby.
Little Sister, I agree that Dyson does not have the resources behind him to be as well scripted and well rehearsed as Obama. But once you get beyond the style of his speech, the substance of his words are tight (in my humble opinion).
Like you I am not American, but being their neighbour directly to the north, we not only get fed all the propaganda but we are directly affected by some of the US policies. The Canadian government had to drop billions of dollars, which they added to the current deficit, to buy a 12% stake in GM also. Obama even thanked our PM during his press conference. Concentration of capital in Canada is more prevalent than in the US, so there was no outcry here at all.
What is Dyson doing? Good question. There is a chinese proverbs which states that a bird doesn’t sing because it has answers, it sings because it has a song. However, even in saying that, Dyson is at least stripping away the veil of illusions and deceit (or trying to at least) and getting people to dig down deeper to get a better understanding of issues. This in itself is a difficult and potentially dangerous undertaking. Remember Tavis Smiley and his family received hate mail and death threats.
Black people all over the world, especially in America, see Obama as the fulfilment of their dreams. He captured their hearts and they have pinned their hopes on him. No one wants to be told that the realization of their dreams is in reality no different than the nightmare that is their lives. No one wants to be told that the person who captured their hearts and who they have pinned their hopes on… “is not that into you…”
Have a bangers and mash day! heehee
I agree with Aulelia AND Asa and BP. Dyson is a blowhard and in love with the sound of his own voice. Shallow as hell, but occasionally hitting a few nails on the head. But, hard as it is for me to say, I agree with some of what he says here.
Doesn’t doesn’t, of course, go far enough. He’s an academic by the way so don’t expect him to be at the front of the revolutionary march onto Capitol Hill.
Obushma is truly a disgrace, if you judge him by his actions. He shores up the haves, hinting that one day soon, he will tend to the have nots. That’s the logic of the politician beholden to capital…NOT, the former community organizer.
This man has used the black community at every turn, apparently and from the beginning, to pose as an activist, to pose as a black man even, in order to grasp the reins of power and deliver the goods for the people who pull his strings.
Name one progressive thing he has done? Hell, the first WEEK he was in office, he authorized a drone strike that killed dozens, reportedly, of civilians in Pakistan. So much for the liberal veneer.
This man just said he wants to find a legal justification for “prolonged detention”, meaning, keeping niggas locked up for as long as he feels like it “withOUT charge.” This is an outrage. How is this ANY different from Bush.
As Asa has noted, Obama can actually get away with MORE dirt because he has, to quote Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “put a spell on you” on us!
If Obama “belongs” to Wall Street, to the moneychangers, which his every action indicates, how can he do right by you – black man/black woman?! Why anybody has a lick of faith in this man – or in this system – to produce justice is beyond me.
Hm. Reminds me of this:
This morning, I saw an interview with Van Jones who was invited to work in the Obama administration and has as the Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. He is a black man who has been an activist in the black community in Oakland, CA.
I think that is how the President should look out for the black community. Seeking out advisors who have had roots in the community and have devised policies that have helped black people.
As for the financial mess, nothing he does goes without criticism. I don’t think much criticism is justified after a 100 days and especially since I have not seen much to tell me that those that criticize have any viable solutions. Most of this is unknowable at this point.
Saving auto workers jobs wasn’t going to happen in any scenario. The auto workers make cars, if no cars can be sold what can be done. The courts will not uphold saving pensions and health care during a bankruptcy, and there is already a government program to provide partial pensions for those already retired.The best the stimulus package could do was to provide training and extend unemployment insurance which relies on the state government to be implemented. Standing with the workers would have been an empty gesture and just hyperbole on Dyson’s part.
Dyson is a talkinghead and that’s it. He has never gotten his hands dirty. Never. All he does it talk. Remember that. People who just talk and not DO will not get invited to the white house. What is Dyson attempting to do with by making these comments? What is the goal? How is that going to change things in Black America? What positive activity will result from this? Black Man take care of your children iniaitive? No more gangbanging? What productive results will come out from his blabbing? Al Sharpton will get invited to the white house because he gets it. Education is an important part of being successful in the western civilization. Dyson is not a leader of anyone. So he supported President Obama? How many fundraisers did he have?
The real problem is black men who sit back and talk. About each other, about women, about nothing. But they won’t take responsibility for not being the best they can be. Ben Carson, Chris Gardner, Wintley Phipps, Geoffrey Canada and many numerous black men who are heros in our communities do not have time to criticize anyone much less the President of the United States. They are too busy changing lives. Who always agree with their mother and father? A Teacher, sibling and any other person with would probably give their life for you? What more the President of a country with 300 million people. Of course you will not agree with everything he says and does! That is where YOU need to get busy and handle your business. If funding has been cut to HBCU then send them money. I went to an HBCU and contribute monthly. I don’t blame anybody but I will contact my representative David Scott and bring that up as an issue if it is one (yes and I get a response too).
Anyone who thinks Dyson and other medicore losers who have managed to manipulate the system because they are black – is what we need to hear is plain lost. More talk and no action. We’ve been to this party, cafe, lunch table, auditorium, bedroom far too long. Less hot air and more action.