shemp
11th July 2008, 08:29 AM
Washington Post: Some Activists Have Been Unhappy About Critiques Of Problems In The Black Community (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/11/politics/washingtonpost/main4250508.shtml)
The larger point of Jesse L. Jackson's criticism of Barack Obama -- if not the crude way he expressed it -- touched a nerve among some African American political activists who have been unhappy about the senator 's pointed critiques of absentee fathers and other problems in the black community.
...
But he also told CNN that while he agrees with Obama's arguments that blacks must do more to improve their lot, "the moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care."
Yes, but this need to be met halfway, by African-Americans who take personal responsibilty for their lives. That is sorely lacking.
The report goes on with a slew of the usual African-American "activists" and "experts" who seem to think somehow that telling gangstas, drug abusers and absentee fathers, to clean up their act is "talking down to black people".
Strangely, Al Sharpton seems to get it:
But Al Sharpton, a New York civil rights activist, said Obama has been giving the right message, especially in his Father's Day speech.
"It was a courageous, necessary statement," Sharpton said. "I think people misunderstand. I disagree that he's talking down to black people. The civil rights movement of the 21st century must be government accountability and personal responsibility."
If you want to better your life, you can't sit around bitching about how lousy it is and wait for government to do something about it. There is nothing wrong with some government help, but you've got to meet it halfway and take some personal responsibility for your own situation.
The larger point of Jesse L. Jackson's criticism of Barack Obama -- if not the crude way he expressed it -- touched a nerve among some African American political activists who have been unhappy about the senator 's pointed critiques of absentee fathers and other problems in the black community.
...
But he also told CNN that while he agrees with Obama's arguments that blacks must do more to improve their lot, "the moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care."
Yes, but this need to be met halfway, by African-Americans who take personal responsibilty for their lives. That is sorely lacking.
The report goes on with a slew of the usual African-American "activists" and "experts" who seem to think somehow that telling gangstas, drug abusers and absentee fathers, to clean up their act is "talking down to black people".
Strangely, Al Sharpton seems to get it:
But Al Sharpton, a New York civil rights activist, said Obama has been giving the right message, especially in his Father's Day speech.
"It was a courageous, necessary statement," Sharpton said. "I think people misunderstand. I disagree that he's talking down to black people. The civil rights movement of the 21st century must be government accountability and personal responsibility."
If you want to better your life, you can't sit around bitching about how lousy it is and wait for government to do something about it. There is nothing wrong with some government help, but you've got to meet it halfway and take some personal responsibility for your own situation.