Obama and Race Relations: Civil Rights Leaders Aren't Satisfied

[Number23]

Snip:

"Some civil rights leaders are frustrated by Obama's refusal to point out how little has actually changed for the average black person—and how much minorities are struggling in the down economy. Black borrowers, for example, were more than twice as likely as whites to receive subprime loans and are losing their homes to foreclosure at much higher rates. But Obama's public pronouncements on the housing crisis have rarely reflected this disparity. "It's not clear the administration has figured out how to engage the public on race," says John Powell, director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University. "A lot of the people around Obama seem to think race is the third rail, and it's best to avoid it. Their major approach is 'We're going to do something for everybody.' But that's not really a solution."

Scary Bit:

But some are beginning to worry that it is conservatives, not civil rights groups, who are seizing the political moment, using the promise of "post-racialism" to try to scale back protections for minorities in the legal system. Race is a central issue in at least four Supreme Court cases in the next term, and there has been a growing chorus on the right demanding the repeal of everything from affirmative action to the Voting Rights Act now that a black man is in the White House.

Article here

The Republican Party may be in utter disarray right now, but with no blacks on the Supreme Court I consider these to be important issues and huge worries. And yes, I'm aware that Clarence Thomas is a Supreme Court justice.

[cali]

1. sorry,no matter how you feel about Thomas, he's black

your OP would have been a lot more compelling without the claim that Thomas isn't black. He is, and that includes his experience growing up. Denying someone's ethnic background is kind of creepy.

[Number23]

2. Does he know that?

Denying someone's ethnic background is kind of creepy.

Use "pitiful" instead of "creepy" and I say that exact thing every time I look at Clarence Thomas.

[cali]

7. whether he knows it or not, isn't the point.

the point is, who are you to say someone who belongs to a certain ethnic group isn't really a member of that group? It's about you, not Thomas. He's African American, deal with it, instead of denying a fact. Can't stand Thomas, but I can't stand him because of his judicial record and personal history, not because "he's not really a black man".

[Number23]

8. And who are you to dictate what someone in an ethnic group can call someone else in THE SAME GROUP??

And why the hell am I burning calories and wasting time having this dumb @ss conversation? And with YOU??

[leftofcool]

3. Civil Rights leaders can stamp their feet all they want to

Obama is a preseident for all people of all colors and all backgrounds. He will do what is best for all, not just one ethnic group. Get a grip Sharpton, it's only been 100 days.

[Jeep789]

4. Under representation on the SC hardly applies solely to blacks

I hardly understand how anyone would be stupid enough to think that Obama (who is half white), Thomas (who is just an egotist) or any individual could represent a people let alone a population. I think Obama represents me better than any President in recent history and I am an over 40, white woman. Who would have guessed?

[Number23]

5. Obama does represent in that he is a symbol to many people

American blacks; Americans of color; people of color all over the world. It is almost impossible to overstate his importance to so many.

One of the reasons he (literally) has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Expectations for him are impossibly high. I was encouraged that at the end of this article, the author states that black leaders are trying their hardest to be patient and give him time on these issues although I strongly suspect this will be hard for some to do.

[Jeep789]

6. As a leftist of left., I am already quite impressed

as is nearly everyone I know (including those on the dark side and they seem to be willing to admit it). Of course, being in CA, maybe the right isn't as hard core as in some places but nobody here sticks up for the Cheney administration any longer and they sure use to. And although they complain about Obama (e.g., raising taxes, spending billions on TARP, etc) , their points are usually easily refuted and have no more substance than those on my side complaining that he hasn't eliminated poverty or solved every problem we have yet.

[Number23]

9. kick