What Community Organizing Means to Me

For those of you who are politically and socially aware, I don't have to tell you what members of the Republican party said about community organizing and community organizers at their convention. In essence, these folks belittled Sen. Obama's work in organizing poor communities in the South Side of Chicago. These folks totally offended me and should have offended every self-respecting American in this country.

I was raised with the understanding that I had an obligation to give back to my community in some shape or form. My first experience in performing community service was through my church's young people's department. My sister and I would spend occassional weekends feeding the homeless and singing to the elderly during Christmas. By the time I was a teenanger, my sister and I had the wherewithall to organize relief centers at our church. In 1992, immediately after the Los Angeles riots, I watched my 17 year old sister single-handedly spearhead a food distribution program at our church.

Today, my service to humankind takes different forms. I mentored a young lady who gradutated from Wayne State University and who is currently awaiting admission to a joint MBA/JD program. There are a hosts of other things I've done. But the point I want to make is that I knew that there was no way to uplift my community, the black community, unless I did something. What the Republicans essentially said last week was that not only are we intentionally failing poor and urban communities, but for those of you in a position to help these communities, you shouldn't be helping them either. I read on a blog recently that if you ever wondered whether the Republican's neglect of Americans during Hurrican Katrina was intentional or not, their mockery of Sen. Obama's service to his community at their convention last week should answer that question for you.

Folks, lets get it in gear and get organized. To repeat an African proverb that I learned in college and never forgot, "The essence of life is SERVICE to humanity." Thank God for all of those grandmothers who fed and still feed poor people in our communities. Thank you to my father who at 62 and retired spends his time tutoring young black children at public schools in our community. To paraphrase my aunts, mother and other women I know, "one monkey [or Republican] don't stop no show." We must continue to do what the true elite will never do and that is serve our communities. In the words of Molly Bell, a beautiful community organizer in the City of Los Angeles, "The Struggle Continues, But to God be the Glory!"

Don't Focus on the Redneck Sitcom Called Sarah Palin

I have to remind myself of this challenge. Senator McCain chose Sarah Palin as his VP nominee because he believed that she would electrify the Republican base. This is the same group that President George Bush used to secure (no let me tell the truth - steal) the 2000 Presidency. That base is made up of evangelicals and what are commonly referred to as "rednecks".

It is clear that the term "redneck" is no longer an insult with the word being the title of award winning country singer Gretchen Wilson's chart-topping song "Redneck Woman". Some white folks even refer to themselves and each other as rednecks as did the baby's father of one of Sarah's teenaged daughter in his myspace page. This group is and probably always will be the base of the Republican Party. Ms. Palin simply got the base excited and electrified. I commend her on doing what she was called to do.

Senator Obama cannot and should not count on tapping into this scary base. To me, it would be like him expecting and working to get the Ku Klux Klan vote. I believe that Senator Obama needs to continue to focus on the issues, allow Joe Biden to do his work on Ms. Palin and attempt to tap into the independent vote which I would hope is a bit more intelligent than that of the evangelical or the redneck vote. Each party has its base and at this point both parties are trying to get the independent vote and a small portion of groups that typically support the other party. For Barack Obama, the groups that he needs to tap into are the fiscal conservatives, libertarians, and other smart undecided traditionally Republican voters who have accepted the truth about the last eight years under the George Bush regime.

That said, Barack Obama must stay focused. Spending the next 60 days focusing on a soap opera is good for McCain. This major distraction is good for McCain because it allows him to take the focus away from the terrible economy which the Bush regime has refused to own and which McCain would undoubtedly continue. So folks, lets not take our eyes off the prize. Let Joe and the other Obama surrogates deal with Sarah "Caribou Barbie" Palin. Allow Barack to focus on the issues and on the terrible Bush presidency which would undoubtedly continue if McCain is elected. And also, lets put our time and money where our mouth is. I donated more money on today and decided to voluteer my time with the Obama campaign to see him elected in November.

Author Toni Morrison Endorses Sen. Obama for President

In a beautiful and well written letter, author Toni Morrison endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States. As most of us know, Obama is a black American man with a Kenyan father and a mother from Kansas. Hopefully, this will put to rest folks belief that in referring to former President Bill Clinton as "the first Black President" she meant her statement to be taken literally. Morrison made the statement to say that Clinton, in his presidency, had to deal with all of the attacks that are typically propelled against black men no matter how accomplished and intelligent they are. Morrison's endorsement of Obama and letter should put to rest this long-held misinterpretation of her true intent. Here is the endorsement letter:

Dear Senator Obama,

This letter represents a first for me--a public endorsement of a Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it.

May I describe to you my thoughts?I have admired Senator Clinton for years. Her knowledge always seemed to me exhaustive; her negotiation of politics expert. However I am more compelled by the quality of mind (as far as I can measure it) of a candidate. I cared little for her gender as a source of my admiration, and the little I did care was based on the fact that no liberal woman has ever ruled in America. Only conservative or "new-centrist" ones are allowed into that realm. Nor do I care very much for your race[s]. I would not support you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me "proud."

In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair and old age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning is insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each ravaged tree in the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape that feeds and surrounds it.

Wisdom is a gift; you can't train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the workplace--that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but not wisdom.When, I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed? Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who truly thinks of his country's citizens as "we," not "they"? Someone who understands what it will take to help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it desperately needs to become in the world?

Our future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor, and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to abandon their nostalgia for the womb.There have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man for this time.

Good luck to you and to us,
Toni Morrison
(SOURCE).

Just the Facts Ma'am

Just the Facts Ma'am: Sen. Barack Obama's South Carolina Victory Over Sen. Hillary Clinton

I will not be providing an editorial or commentary on the facts surrounding Sen. Barrack Obama's first place victory in the South Carolina Primary on yesterday. There are media pundits and bloggers who believe that Obama's victory in South Carolina means that he is now been declared the "black candidate" and accordingly cannot win the Democratic nomination or the general election in November. There is another school of thought that claims that Obama, in his land-slide victory against Sen. Hillary Clinton, has proven that he is a unifying candidate who can bring people of various backgrounds together. It's my opinion that the facts speak for themselves. Here they are:

Sen. Obama: 55% (295,091)
Sen. Clinton: 26% (141,128)
John Edwards: 18% (93,552)

Sen. Obama won 52% of the vote of young white voters age 18-35.

Sen. Obama won 27% of white male vote, compared to Clinton's 28% and Edwards' 45%.

In Greenville County, which has a higher average income and a more educated populace than the statewide average and which is 78 percent white, Obama won by a resounding 22 percentage points.

Sen. Obama's margin of victory over Sen. Clinton was 28 percentage points.

Total turnout for Democrats in their primary was greater than the turnout for the Republican primary in the state of South Carolina, which is one of the most loyal Republican in the nation.

Four years ago about 290,000 Democrats voted in the state's primary: Saturday Obama alone got more than that number of voters.

Sen. Obama received more votes thatn John McCain and Mike Huckabee combined (279,723).

With Sen. Obama in the race, the Democratic turnout was twice that of 2004 (532,000 to 280,000). http://http//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22859254/?GT1=10755.

The Obama Baby Does My Heart Good!

I must tell you that it is wonderful time to observe the current U.S. presidential race. For the first time in American history an African American has a serious chance of becoming the next President of the United States. As a black woman, it makes me proud, invigorated and encouraged to see Barack Obama contending for our Country's highest political office. To see Michelle Obama and their two little girls by his side simply warms my heart.

I haven't decided upon a candidate to support yet because I would like to know more about the Senator's position on issues of importance to me like the deployment of troops from Iraq, education reform, healthcare, violence in urban communities and national drug policy just to name a few. But it is great nonetheless to see him as a viable candidate in this presidential race.

My sister sent me this picture of my nephew in his Obama gear. Isn't he cute? I can't help but be grateful when I think that this baby has the same promise and potential as that of Senator Obama. When I look at the picture of my nephew and think of the fact that Barack Obama is being seriously considered for United States presidency, I'm reminded that Martin Luther King, Jr.'s hope that people not be judged by the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character is coming to fruition. For those of you who believe that I am saying that racism no longer exist. Stop. I'm not saying that at all. As a Black woman who has worked in law firms and lived in America I know that it exist. I also know that you cannot let anybody tell you what you can and cannot accomplish. Contrary to former President Bill Clinton's assertion, it is not a "fairytale" for a highly intelligent attorney, Senator and former community organizer who happens to be black to believe that he is the best person to help move this country forward.

Rather than listen to naysayers, Barack Obama presses forward in his bid for the White House. Therefore, I am overjoyed that my nephew has the same opportunities in this Country as that of Barack Obama provided that he let no man define him, but rather defines himself. So that's why it does my heart good to see Barack Obama in this race and to see my nephew in his Obama baby t-shirt. Now, may the best person win.

Change or Experience: Which Quality Is More Important to You?

Illinois Senator Barack Obama argues that he is the presidential candidate for change. While New York Senator Hillary Clinton labels herself as the candidate with experience. If I had to choose one of the two qualities in a leader, I would choose change. There is a saying, that nothing in the world is constant but change. A person's ability to embrace change puts him or her ahead of those who buckle under pressure when presented with change.

Arguably, one could say that Senator Clinton's decision to give President Bush unfettered power to wage war against Iraq was an example of buckling under pressure, and thus an example where experience proved futile. In my opinion, she did not want to be labeled unpatriotic as was the unfair label given to Congresswoman Barbara Lee for voting against the war in Iraq and refusing to abdicate her power to the executive branch.

It is undisputed that both candidates are extremely intelligent people. Both have ivy league degress (which I guess shouldn't be the standard for intelligence when we have Presidents with such degrees who have proven themselves to be absolute idiots), and were extremely accomplished lawyers before deciding to enter the political arena. But it seems that Senator Clinton did not exercise her experience at a time when it was dire. Therefore, it seems that those with all the experience, especially George "Dubya" Bush are responsible for the present state of our country.

The United States has had twenty years of "experience" through both the Bush and Clinton White House (four years of Daddy Bush, eight years of Bill and eight years of Dubya) the ultimate result of which is extreme party-polarization, Iraq, No Child Left Behind and distant reminders of the whole Monica Lewinsky scandle and Bill's resulting impeachment. Enough is enough. I like Senator Clinton, but her failure to exercise good judgment at a time when it was crucial is telling. Anyone with experience and good judgment knows that you never give away your power. Such a decision is inconsistent with our system of checks and balances. Barack Obama can't do any worse than good ole' Dubya and Senator Clinton in all of their experience. So I vote for change.