What does a “debate” which takes place solidly on the left end of the political spectrum sound like? As Obama’s presidency approaches its one year mark what can be said of it? Dedrick Muhammad and Jared Ball were invited to lead this discussion hosted by Morgan State University’s Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. While the national conversation is stifled, held between the narrow limits of corporate interests on one hand and a soft liberalism on the other, this discussion attempted to press those boundaries by focusing first on the African American community. From there varying perspectives of the Black left were developed as the point of departure for a more broad exploration of the almost one year mark of Obama’s presidency. Can/should Black people be critical of Obama? What are the benefits for Black people and the world to Obama’s presidency? What next steps should be taken? What material changes have occurred or might yet occur as a result of Obama’s election?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Discussions framed within the context of left-right politics have, before they begin, surrendered the outcomes to referees who control the the scoreboard, the goal posts and the rules. The issues that are really on the table now can better be viewed as common sense vs. insanity.
The Bush years ushered in the absolute surrender to insanity, the Obama administration codifies and legitimizes that environment, and insanity becomes the new reality.
Re-authorize the Patriot Act? War in Afghanistan to keep America safe? Health Care reform that guarantees a profit boost to an industry that annually kills over 40,000 people to protect profits. A mandate to force people who can’t afford health insurance to buy health insurance (at higher prices) or face federal criminal indictment.
Left – Right? Seems more like life and death to me. It’s not politics, it’s common sense.
Black people will support and celebrate Obama because he is doing what most of us have been doing since we got here; make white people feel comfortable to our own psychological, economical, and political detriment. We did this because it helped us to survive the brutality we have experienced at their hands and that we know they are capable of; we continue to do this because practice makes perfect.
Psychologically, Obama being in the presidential office is the ultimate prize for that kind sacrifice – a salve to slow our confrontation of the reality; economically and politically our gains will be naught.