By PHILIP ELLIOTT, AP
NEW YORK (July 17) - President Barack Obama on Thursday traced his historic rise to power to the vigor and valor of black civil rights leaders, telling the NAACP that the sacrifice of others "began the journey that has led me here." The nation's first black president bluntly warned, though, that racial barriers persist.
"Make no mistake: The pain of discrimination is still felt in America," the president said in honoring the organization's 100th convention.
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16 comments:
Typical Obama, says one things, then passes legislation to keep people unemployed and dependent on the government.
Great speech, great message, said some stuff those particular folks needed to hear.
It would benefit any parent to listen to it.
While the President's comments are welcome, can we stop talking about the black community as if MOST of us are sitting at home collecting welfare? The vast majority of us are either apart of the "blue-collar working class" or living nicely within the upper-class. The attention paid to the plight of the inner-city and inner-small city (ex. Salisbury) give whites and blacks the impression that we are failing as a people and I am quite tired of us being presented by both lib. and conserv. groups as America's pariah.
I grew up in an "upper-lower income" family with 4 kids. I have a bachelor's and am near completion of my doctoral degree. My brother is doing quite well as a registered nurse. My sister bust her hump everyday raising her kids. My girlfriend is a single mother who worked hard to become a homeowner (without gov. assistance) and send her child to college. Most of my African American friends either have went to college, joined the service, or have become entrepreneurs. Black folk are out here every day working just as hard as the next man/woman. Some of us need assistance, just like many whites/latinos/asians; help those people without making it sound as if none of us are working to better ourselves and our country.
8:39 I know what your saying you never hear about people like you because the media and the democrat party wants to have the appearance that blacks can't make it without their help which we know is bunk. The democrat party has given the black family a disservice.
8:51, I agree, but you are missing the other side of the coin. Repubs. have painted us as the "welfare queens in cadillacs" far too long. And you can hear the same sentiment in many of the voices of the Repub. party. Just listen to the words of some of the most prominent Repub. voices (Rush and Hannity) as well as many of the comments on this blog.
8:39
Do you, in your opinion, represent the majority of blacks? I mean, please don't get me wrong, but to me your success and drive is not reflective of the majority of "Colored People". I mean you are totally right in the fact that the Cons and Libs have skewed the truth in many ways, but all I have to do is visit my children's school and observe their "Colored" classmates to get a good idea of the cross section of "Blacks" and their contribution to society. That is unless "Your People" have radically moved to private and home schooling.
Discrimination works BOTH ways. I'm sick and tired of blacks screaming discrimination at every turn!
There has been reverse discrimination going on for a LONG time but nobody talks about it.
In today's society, it doesn't matter if you are black, white, red or green. You have the same opportunities to make your future, unlike in the 60's and prior so why do we STILL have programs geared towards the "so-called" minorities?
Many of the government programs are geared towards non-whites. I know this because I have applied for a few of them and you should have seen the reactions when I applied because I am white! At one point, I firmly believe EVERYTHING was done that could possibly be done to make sure I did not get the benefit of the program. This particular one was buying a house through the USDA Rural Housing program. I jumped through so many hoops and had to spend so much more money that the others (non-whites) in the program with me at the same time. Did I cry out and use the discrimination claim? No, because I wanted a home! There is no doubt in my mind that if I had done so, I would not be a homeowner today through the program!
It's a shame that racism and discrimination still exist no matter who it's against but it does and it appears it always will.
I have many non-white friends and they could not believe what I was experiencing.
8:39 - job well done. Seems to me your family did a great job in raising you and that you are well educated. There are many black families out there just like you.
As a white woman, when I speak of welfare recipients, I certainly do not think of the black community only, however, statistics do show that the majority of those on welfare are black. I have a problem with the welfare program, not the black community. Welfare was created as a stepping stone...since its creation though, that has been lost. Instead of stepping stone it is now an exected way of life, it is a lifestyle, being passed down from generation to generation. No pride in family values, no pride in your home, only expectation of someone else to take care of you. Unfortunately, the political parties have worsened it by their unwarrented promises to either keep it going or revamp it.
As for discrimination...I will not sit here and act as it does not exist. However, I will say that I believe there is no such thing as reverse racism...that is ridiculous. Regardless of the race it toward, it is racism. I feel the same way about affirmitive action as I do about welfare. It was a program designed at a time when it was needed, and it has taken on its own world. Nowhere in any other country will you find schools, celebritory months or days, radio stations, magazines, etc. for one particular race only. And I am not just referring to blacks, in fact, it is all races or religions with the exception of caucasion. In fact, the NAACP in my opinion is one of the most bigoted organizations there is. As long as our country continues to segregate different races and religions this way, racism will exist, regardless of who is on the receiving end. It is not just a black community issue, it is a country wide issue.
Of course discrimination still exists. I feel it everyday when I lose out on hauling jobs to those who have a "minority" contract. The real kicker is that my company should have seniority over many of these privileged companies, but long-time seniority is set aside to account for quotas.
We live in a country where a black (mixed) man can rise to the highest office in the country, a state where the 2nd highest office is held by a black man, and we still have the Minority scholarships and contracts awarded to companies certified as "Minority Business Enterprises".
So yes, there is still discrimination.
Blacks are loyal supporters of the Democrat Party. What I can't understand is why. Since the dems have been the party of choice for blacks the teen pregnancy rate has soared and the number of single parent households has also soared. The goal of the dems,and it seems to have succeeded is to make blacks dependent on government so that they will vote as a block for dems. Now it seems as thought they are turning their attention to hispanics to try to make them dependent also.
Finally someone realizes that just because your Black doesn't mean your a Democrat. I'm a happily married, Black female who also happens to be a business owner and investor. I get so sick of everyone jumping on me because I agree whole heartedly with quite a few Republican views and policies. Black folk need to realize that social programs have done mothing more than make large generation of us who don't work, won't work, have a ton of excuses and think living in a place like Pemberton is okay and going in Giant and paying for groceries with food stamps is okay. IT'S NOT. When I have a child guess what, I have to house, feed and cloth it on my expense. Welfare is the worst thing that could have happened to this country.
Welfare is the worst thing that could have happened to this country.
4:47 PM
Could not agree more! The worst part about it, there is no way to control it. People have been on it so long they would die without it. The government has no control over to stop the abuse. It is a big fiasco.
Personally, I think welfare is a good program...Not because i depended on it at one point but because its a wonderful opportunity for people to better themselves. I was once living on section 8 in Pemberton receiving TCA and foodstamps REFUSING to work a full-time job. However, now 4 1/2 years later I have a bachelors degree in paralegal studies and still studying to be a lawyer online. My point is that when the government is used to help someone live the American Dream by providing a safety net I say "THANK-YOU" because without it I wouldn't have been able to achieve the dreams that I had as a little girl. And I wouldn't be able to look at those teachers who saw me coming to school with dirty clothes, matted hair, and run-down shoes and say "I made it anyway!" I am a successful "colored" girl and I thank-you all who paid taxes to feed me and my 3 children, now I can do it for someone else! Welfare is what you make of it, and welfare recipients are no worse than some of your children who are still living at home in mom and dads basement or who have moved away to college still calling home for grocery money clothes money and money for the rest of their basic and not so basic needs. Some of us need the government to be the parents we have lost and don't think for a second we aren't grateful for the hand-UP we received.
Thats nice 9:03 but what about those of us who made better life choices and want to send our kids to college and cannot afford to?I am married to the father of my child and we both work so there will be no "aid" for our daughter when she wants to go to college.I know of more than one family in the same position.It is a social rather than racial issue.If I kicked my husband out,and quit my job I guess I could go back to college for free-and THAT is what is wrong with the system-it has destroyed the concept of family because women have realized they can have kids with no father in sight and have everything handed to them on a silver platter.If someone is left to raise kids through no fault of their own I am all for them getting help-but we need to stop rewarding women for reproducing with no visible means of support.
9:03-
You stated that while on public assistance you refused to work a full-time job. That's what we with jobs that fund the system have a problem with. I don't mind helping my fellow man out, when they make an effort to help themselves. It's those who think it's their right to be taken care of that I don't think we should help.
My husband and I have worked all our adult lives, and taught that value to our children. Now that I have a son in college, we cannot get any grants to help fund his education because we "make too much". Believe me, we barely break even. But it's people like you who suck off the system that get your education paid for by people like me. I can't send my own son to college without taking out loans, but I can pay for people like you and your children. Where's the justification in that?
Couldn't help but notice his accent changed to southern black baptist minister, chameleon that he seems to be.
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