Submitted for our consideration in the daily pundit round-up was an article titled "What Ails the Black Body Politic." It was introduced as "addressing" what ails as though the assumption that the grievances contained within reflected actual ailment rather than an opinion that the observations within it suggest that something is actually ailing the black body politic. If it had been an article titled "what ails progressives" then I would have thought "addressing what ails progressives" snark. However, the tone of many recent articles, diaries and comments suggest that much of this community likely agrees that something is actually ailing the black body politic.
He starts off with economic statistics for blacks -- to inform who -- I don't know. Who hasn't known for decades that negative economic indicators for blacks were much higher than whites? This is supposed to enhance his argument that black people should be agitating even more. Perhaps he doesn't realize that people don't agitate over the numbers -- they agitate over the circumstances. Furthermore -- they agitate because they want to see something done to improve those circumstances. Sometimes -- they're not even sure what that something is -- they just want some indication that we're trying to alleviate those circumstances. Mr. Thindwa is of the opinion that the direction the Obama administration takes will depend on popular pressure.
Well, Mr. Thindwa, President Obama is far from being a stupid man. He knows what those circumstances are. He's made it perfectly clear by his life's work that he cares and hopes to change those circumstances. Have you considered the possibility that you don't see as many black people "agitating" because many of them are satisfied that President Obama is committed to trying to improve those circumstances? I can speak only about myself -- but I feel comfortable enough in this opinion that I believe I can say that the majority of the black body politic doesn't believe President Obama is so stupid that we need to constantly remind him of the poor. I think it also safe to say that most of the black body politic is not stupid enough to need constant reminders from him that he's aware and engaged. In your everyday life -- do you nag somebody about something you trust they're aware of and working on? Do you think we're like children -- that we must keep asking "are we there, yet" when we know the journey is long and the driver is doing a satisfactory job?
Now -- I agree with Mr. Thindwa that the old tradition is being challenged. Unlike Mr. Thindwa -- I'm thrilled to see it. While there certainly have been some amazing black leaders in our history -- there have also been some who were not so amazing. Mr. Thindwa apparently believes that merely invoking the name of Dr. King imparts to him and others the character of Dr. King's activities. Well, Mr. Thindwa -- it does not. Dr. King used the tools he thought best suited to the task. It was a different time with different circumstances. We'll never know if Dr. King would have reached into his toolbox for other tools as circumstances changed -- but I believe that we saw evidence that he did in fact change and adapt as the need arose. You and folks like Tavis Smiley and Cornel West would have us continue to use one set of tools for every task.
Mr. Thindwa -- Dr. King never asked the government to heal black America and I don't know of him ever begging for anything. Dr. King stood up and demanded from the government only those things that nature entitles to all men. He demanded that white America respect us as people. He demanded that white America respect the Vietnamese as people. Dr. King didn't have a "black agenda" -- he had a people agenda. His vision included all people -- not just black people. He demanded only that all people be allowed equal freedom and opportunity. He demanded only that the government stop doing things that get in the way of our life, liberty and happiness and that we have equal opportunity to have our voices heard.
The US government cannot undo the sins of the past and make black America whole again. Things were taken from us that can never be replaced. Our identity was taken from us -- our roots -- our grounding. Our souls were wounded. Even when we were slaves -- the masters may have had control over whether or not we got medical attention -- but even with attention -- our bodies had to heal themselves. No picket sign or protest against the government can force the government to give us what we need because what we need most is to heal. We could all live in mansions and not be healed -- so begging the government for more money and more programs won't do it. Your tradition is outdated. Put your picket sign down and head into a troubled community and try to find a way to help yourself and others heal. If you don't know how -- what makes you think the president and congress know how? If you're too afraid to head into those communities -- what makes you think that more money can buy the bravery to do it?
Mr. Thindwa -- I suggest to you that the black body politic's not following the lead of those people you deem "black leaders" does not indicate any ailment on their part. That you believed that most other black people thought as you did and looked to people you believed to be "leaders" as leaders suggests that something has been ailing you -- perhaps a self-centric worldview that gave you a distorted picture of reality. Barack Obama has never called me up and told me to "bash" the traditional leaders you speak of. I bash them because I don't like them. I didn't bash them before because with no better option and with them not actively working against me and what I wanted -- I had no reason to. But now that there's somebody up there who represents me -- you're trying to tear him down. You're trying to tell me I'm "ailing" because I choose him over you.
Now -- I feel kinda badly about being "disrespectful" toward what I call "the old guard" -- but they're disrespecting me. They think I'm so stupid as to just be over-excited about a black president. Guess what -- old guard? I have never supported any other black candidate for president. I'm excited about Barack Obama because Barack Obama is the kind of leader -- period -- that I've wished for my entire life -- and I'm not young. I hope to never see another "massa I'll work to get you the votes you need if you promise to toss us more crumbs, with a bigger portion for me" type "black leader" handed the microphone again. I hope that from now on -- we see more people step up into a new tradition -- a tradition that embraces and builds on the Barack Obama style politics.
Now -- I'm not the leader of anything. I represent myself -- only. I don't know what other black folks are thinking. I just want Thindwa and other folks of similar mind to strike this black woman off their list of people they think should be with them. I should be where I want to be -- and I have absolutely no desire to be over there trapped in a pathetic attempt to cover past hits from the 60's with the tantrum throwing gimme, gimme, gimme crew.
Mr. Thindwa -- if you happen to think up a brand new tune that's sure to be a hit -- call me. Don't bother me anymore trying to sell me copies of the same old record you didn't even bother to try to put on current media. I don't even own a turntable -- anymore.