Seems that if black folks can't take a little heart-felt and good-spirited criticism from legendary black comedians, then they should definitely look forward to it coming from the White House. That is if Barack gets in. For Father's Day, the presidential hopeful made a speech at Chicago's largest black church blasting black America on a number of its social ills. Among those: black fathers who won't except responsibility and raise their children.
"They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it."
And the pathology of underachievement and mediocrity:
“Don’t get carried away with that eighth-grade graduation... You’re supposed to graduate from eighth grade.”
In a New York Times, piece on the speech reporter Julie Bosman made an observant note that on the campaign trail last February Obama took a mostly-black audience to task on the issue of nutrition:
“I know how hard it is to get kids to eat properly,” Mr. Obama said. “But I also know that folks are letting our children drink eight sodas a day, which some parents do, or, you know, eat a bag of potato chips for lunch. Buy a little desk or put that child at the kitchen table. Watch them do their homework.”
Now, don't get me wrong. I, too, think the panacea for what ails black folks, in part, is a healthy dose of do-for-self and take-responsibility-for-self. But I find it very interesting that there is no—and will be no— uproar from black public intellectuals over Barack's very public chastisement of those in the black lower class. Especially from Michael Eric Dyson, who's based part of his hype around publicly browbeating Bill Cosby for the infamous pound cake speech. After all, there's no difference from what the Cos' said and what Barack is saying...Or is it? Is it that since he's running for president and Dyson is one of his celebrity supporters. (And, oh, there's no book money to be made or street cred in trashing a black man who might win the highest office in the country.)
Either way, it's been every interesting to see the growth of the get-off-your-asses-black-people-movement that seems to be catching on in the 21st Century (thanks, Million Man March). It's gonna be even more interesting to see the public reaction to a black man living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue saying, "Niggas, please get it together."
5 comments:
Cosby was right and it's the right message no matter who says it. Dyson and company were mad because Cosby was telling them, your generation of fathers [parents] dropped the ball... and no one likes to be told they're to blame.
OJL | http://limachips.com
it seems to me the difference lies in the fact that Cosby places blame on rappers for the social depravation of the African American lower class. Obama stops short of this-- not sure if thats because he's of a different generation and knows it's not that simple or that was part of his speech that you missed in your lovely summation- thanks:). and we know that Dyson is the defender of all things rap, so as long as Obama doesn't shit on the word mutherfucker, Dyson's got his back.
From what I remember, Cosby a few dumb things (like his comments about the name Muhammad) but I think I had more of a problem with the tone and audience of his initial declaration. I haven't heard the audio of Obama's speech, so I don't know if it was delivered in a similar matter.
Like you said, Dyson can't get money out of bashing Obama. Dyson once said something interesting about public intellectuals such as himself, "we profit while we prophet." I always think about that when I read his works or hear him speak. I definitely don't think he's all about the money, but I think money is an issue in situations such as this one.
Glad to see bros checking these psuedo intellectuals like Dyson. Not saying that Dyson isn't an intelligent man, he is just blinded by the $$$ opportunity to fill the gap that been created by the fall of Jesse and Al. Dyson saw how they got paid and he is trying to be the next guy to wear the crown. As a people, I think that we have grown intellectually, and we are now ready to step out of the victim role and change the dialogue... without having a "leader" or "spokesperson". We don't need folks to keep making excuses for behavior that is crippling our community. It's about each individual making better choices...not excuses.
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