Senator Barack Obama and the State of the Black Union 2008
Tom Joyner Morning Show
Thursday, February 14, 2008
By now many, if not most of you, have either read or heard about the letter faxed to me by Senator
Barack Obama yesterday to officially inform me that he would not be attending the State of the
Black Union symposium next Saturday, February 23, in New Orleans, live on C-SPAN. The letter
was apparently made public on the Internet by the Obama campaign.
This morning a few thoughts now about the letter, about Senator Obama and for that matter, about
Michelle Obama.
First, I want to thank Senator Obama for his letter, although I regret his decision. I said on Tuesday
and I reiterate today, that I believe that this is a critical miscalculation and a missed opportunity.
Having said that, I also feel that should Senator McCain or Governor Huckabee, like Mr. Obama,
end up denying our invitation to appear at this annual Black think tank, it would also be for them as
well, in the long run, a critical miscalculation and a missed opportunity.
Particularly for Senator John McCain, who appears to now be the presumptive Republican nominee
and who decided, as you recall, not to appear last year before Black America in Baltimore.
Indeed, I personally expressed that sentiment to Senator McCain earlier this week. Don’t think that
in the general election, should he be the nominee, that he ain’t going to get reminded frequently that
he kept passing on opportunities to speak to Black and Brown audiences. That’s pretty much
Political Science 101. That’s going to happen, trust me.
Two. For the record, with regard to this letter and the statements made therein, my office was never
contacted by the Obama campaign offering Michelle Obama as a proxy speaker. It never happened.
No letter. No fax. No e-mail. No phone call. No document whatsoever from the Obama camp to
my office, ever, regarding Michelle Obama. She was never offered, it was never discussed.
Three. While I have great admiration and affection for Michelle Obama, had she been offered to us
I would have respectfully declined. Just as we would have declined had Hillary Clinton offered Bill
Clinton; had John McCain offered Cindy McCain; had Mike Huckabee suggested Janet Huckabee.
By any measure, by any measure, Michelle Obama’s personal story is empowering and inspiring. I
am moved by her personal story, as I have been, since I first met her. From the South side of
Chicago to Princeton, to Harvard Law, it is a quintessential American story of overcoming.
That said, last year at Howard, live on PBS, we spoke to candidates only. And that’s what we intend
to do next Saturday, February 23, in New Orleans, live on C-SPAN, speak to candidates only, with
all due respect.
And speaking of Howard, point number four. When we invited Senator Obama last year to
Howard, with all of the other announced Democratic candidates at the time, so many people, so
many people, said publicly, that Tavis is stacking the deck in Obama’s favor. Black college. Black
book. Black audience. Black journalists. Black moderator. “Smiley is stacking the deck for
Obama,” they said.
The Washington Post Editorial Board said that to me to my face. “Aren’t you stacking the deck for
Mr. Obama?” Now, eight months later, another simple invitation, along with all the other
remaining viable candidates, and now he’s being boxed in by me?
Respectfully, that dog just won’t hunt. Because by that logic, at this point in the campaign, any
gathering of Black thought-leaders, opinion-makers and influencers who invite Senator Obama to
appear on stage at a nationally televised event, that invitation --- in and of itself, given that logic ---
would be tantamount to “boxing him in.”
This was simply an invitation, nothing more. There has not been, there is not now, nor will there
be, any effort on my part to snap on the Obama campaign, or the McCain campaign or the
Huckabee campaign, if they choose not to attend. It was just an invitation to him and every other
candidate. Accept or reject. An invitation, nothing more, nothing less.
I’ve lost count now of how many debates the Democrats have had to address other issues that, in
fact, do matter to us. But I can tell you exactly how many times they’ve gathered to specifically
address our issues. There is no comparison.
Point number five. Senator Obama is on a mission. As he suggested in his letter, his mission is to
become the next President of the United States. And I ain’t mad at him. As I’ve said before, and I’ll
say it again, I revel in his historic run for the White House. As a Black man, I celebrate his past
accomplishments. I celebrate his future aspirations.
Respectfully, I knew Barack Obama long before most of us learned to pronounce his name
correctly. So long ago, in fact, that years ago Barack Obama was working with the kids in my
Foundation, speaking to them about leadership development way back when.
I have no personal animus toward Barack Obama.
To quote that great philosopher, George Wallace, “I love him and there ain’t nothing he can do
about it!” That said, I love Black people, too. And I have a vocation. I have a calling. I have a
purpose. And since this ain’t just about me, you have a purpose too. You have a calling, you have a
vocation as well.
And I would hope, this morning, that at the center of our collective calling, is an unconditional love
for Black people. His job right now is to get elected. Our job is to do our part to ensure that
whoever gets elected will be held accountable to the issues that matter most to Black people.
And in that regard, all that I have ever tried to do, with the media platforms, including this one, that
I have been blessed to have access to, is to attempt to speak a love language, to ask critical
questions, to engage in sober assessment and to counsel wise enthusiasm.
If Barack Obama is your candidate, I ain’t mad at you! If Hillary Clinton is your candidate, I ain’t
mad at you! I am not personally in the endorsement business. My small part is to engage in
Socratic questioning. As a Black person, a member of the media, I’ve said many times on this
program, my job is to ask questions, raise issues, address topics, and profile people that otherwise
wouldn’t get that kind of air play.
Now, as the old folk used to say, “I done spoke my piece.”
Senator Clinton has decided to join us. Senator Obama has decided not to. Senator McCain and
Governor Huckabee, we shall see.
But once again, it has never, ever been about them. It has always been about us. We cannot
confuse candidates with the cause. The cause of suffering Black people who are catching hell every
day.
So, I personally; I can only speak for Tavis, I personally have no intention, no interest in discussing
this matter beyond this commentary no matter what’s said about me. Except to promote the
Symposium, which I’ve done every year for almost 10 years now.
I’m told by the folk in the Lt. Governor’s office in Louisiana that it looks like we will have the
largest gathering of volunteers for a single day next Friday on our Day of Service, since Katrina hit
back in 2005. That’s what matters. Loving and serving everyday Black people.
Our conversation next Saturday promises to be spirited, soulful and inspiring.
Finally this morning, as I always say...today, more than ever...love wins. Love wins. Love wins.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
4 comments:
As global unrest defines its presence in every ethnic walk of life, the African American is left defenseless and friendless in the 21st century. Without a friend on the Planet Earth the African American is left pondering what can or should we be doing to avert what appears to be our inevitable demise.
Faced with total decimation and certain annihilation African Americans continue to waste valuable time, energy and resources talking and asking questions. Nowhere on Planet Earth is this more apparent than "The 2008 Covenant with Black America Question and Answer Conference."
The Covenant with Black America Question and Answer Conference was a prime example of wasted resources, time and energy.
The only question that really needs an answer is: What is there to talk about when the health covenant is the only covenant being remotely pursued out of the book's ten covenants?
Health is the only covenant being remotely pursued because the remaining nine covenants are out of the realm of African American courage. It is impossible for the proponents of The Covenant with Black America to achieve the remaining nine covenants without great courage and self-sacrifice.
Premise
The book "Covenant with Black America" lists ten covenants to be pursued by African Americans until completion, realization and perfection. The covenants are: Health, Education, Criminal Justice, Police Accountability, Affordable Neighborhoods, Voting, Rural Development, Economic Prosperity, Environmental Justice and the Digital Divide.
Theoretically fulfilling these covenants are suppose to bring African Americans to a better station in life and insure our inhabitants upon the Planet Earth with justice, equality, parity and economic stability based on wealth, health and education.
The "talking strategy"
The strategy to realize the 10 covenants beyond talk is to travel from state to state, town to town to talk and talk. The Covenant with Black America talkathon featuring "The State of Black America" has evolved to include "The Covenant with Black America Q and A Conference."
The Covenant with Black America Question and Answer Conference is for the expressed purpose of exponentially increasing the talk and thereby publicly declaring that the increased talking proves to the public at large that "The Covenant with Black America" is in action.
Undefined intelligence/logic
The logic of the "talking strategy" is inherently flawed because increased talking only evidences and proves the opposite. Talking does not prove that the Covenant with Black America is in action but actually proves that "The Covenant With Black America is missing in action
Crucial component is missing
The "talking strategy" is missing the killer application component needed for practical application. Without a killer application to activate practical application it is wholly impossible to manifest the covenants. Increased talking only amounts to double talking and more questions.
Practical Application
While "The Covenant with Black America" is scheduling, profiling and grandstanding; people, corporations, cities and municipalities are improving the lives of African Americans in real time.
In real time the "Earthlink" Internet providers are closing the digital divide by furnishing computers and peripherals to African American battered women shelters and schools nationwide with no questions asked.
Alderman in the city of Chicago are pushing ahead of the Mayor's modest requirement for affordable housing and choosing to confront developers head-on with no questions asked.
Useless in real time
The book "The Covenant with Black America" is useless in real time applications because the book derives from black professional opinions that form a book of rhetorically useless essays. The Covenant with Black America is of no significant or relevant consequence when integrated in real time because it has no killer application.
Every book, device or product that professes to improve or enhance life must possess a killer application to activate practical application. For instance: a cell phone may calculate numbers, download songs and take pictures but the killer application to the device is its ability to complete a phone call. "The Covenant with Black America book" is impotent and useless without a killer application. In real time the black professionals involved with "The Covenant with Black America" have more questions than they have answers.
For example: In real time, the Covenant With Black America black professionals have concertedly open their presentations with questions.
For example: Angela Blackwell-Are, Cornell West- Can, Farah Griffen-Is , Eddie Glaude- How, And Stephanie Robinson- Should.
Don't ask for what you lack the courage to take.
Without a killer application it is impossible for "The Covenant with Black America" to effect change in real time because in real time other races and ethnic groups already stake claim, heritage and birthright to the covenants listed in the book.
Other races, ethnic groups and corporations already claim and profess to have generations of steep history in law enforcement, education/technology, geology and economics. No self-respecting race or ethnic group is going to allow without challenge the descendents of slaves to rise up and reshape, replace or take their history, industry, legacy or claim to fame.
No African American of sound mind and body would be willing to lay down their lives, lose their homes or have their bank accounts frozen and seized while trying to exact the covenants when clearly the books authors, architects, and preservationist are asking for something that they don't have the courage nor are prepared to take.
The "State of Black America" ultimately rests upon the State of African Americans. In order to achieve equality, parity and economic stability for African Americans the Covenant with Black America diehards and grandstanders need courage and self-sacrifice. The book authors, architects, and preservationists don't posess the courage to commit to do whatever it takes to succeed. It is for this reason that "The Covenant With Black America is declared Missing in Action."
It is a waste of time, energy and resources for African Americans to pursue "The Covenants with Black America." Any African American depending on "The Covenant with Black America" is without help, hope or refuge. If you talk the talk but lack the courage to walk the walk then there is absolutely nothing to talk about.
There is nothing more daunting, debilitating, depressing or demoralizing to the human spirit than realizing that the people you expect to have the knowledge, education, resources and strategy is themselves void of any real courage or workable plan of action beyond talking and asking questions.
ENOCH MUBARAK
WWW.MUBARAKINTER-PRIZES.COM
I think he wouldn't attend something of Tavis, when Tavis endorses Hilary, that would be the ONLY reason Hilary even showed up
I believe Tavis' heart is in the right place, but it seems that if one has a different perspective he wants to take his ball and go home. Barack maybe should have attended, but right or wrong, his campaign decided to not allow him to become the "black candidate". Tavis took the snub personally. Remember, MSM would have linked Barack to any and every perceived "negative" statement from the panel or comment from the audience. As far as the covenant, there's nothing wrong with talking. It's the first step in doing anything collectively. A plan has to be laid out. Now if that is all that happens, then brother Mubarak is right. But I think both talk and action are not mutually exclusive. I say let the talkers talk and the actors act. As a media talent, Tavis is a talker by definition. Mubarak sounds like a doer. We need both doing what they do. Caution: with the platform he has Tavis has to be more careful of what he puts out. People do listen. In 2004, while Tom Joyner actively registered voters, Tavis (feeling rejected)called for black voters to stay home. That was irresponsible and demonstrates myopia. He calls for accountability, so he must be. Brother Mubarak keep up the positive action and let's try to broaden the network of the doers through already established and new channels. I'm going to your sight NOW!
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