Posts Tagged ‘community’
Obama the President for everyone except Black people
Obama the President for everyone except Black people by Kevin Johnson As President Barack Obama begins his second term, there is something noticeably different about his new cabinet - the absence of African-American leaders and advisors. The Congressional Black Caucus chair, Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio recently sent the president a letter stating, “You have publicly expressed your commitment to retaining diversity within your cabinet. However, the people you have chosen to appoint in this new term have hardly been reflective of this country’s diversity.” When one compares President Obama to his predecessors, the decrease in African-American appointments is astounding. In American presidential history, President William Jefferson Clinton has been, by far, the most [...]
Why Organize? Problems and Promise in the Inner City by Barack Obama
WHY ORGANIZE? Problems and promise in the inner city by Barack Obama Over the past five years, I’ve often had a difficult time explaining my profession to folks. Typical is a remark a public school administrative aide made to me one bleak January morning, while I waited to deliver some flyers to a group of confused and angry parents who had discovered the presence of asbestos in their school. “Listen, Obama,” she began. “You’re a bright young man, Obama. You went to college, didn’t you?” I nodded. “I just cannot understand why a bright young man like you would go to college, get that degree and become a community organizer.” “Why’s that?” “’Cause the pay is low, the hours is long, and don’t nobody appreciate you.” She shook her head [...]
