Dr. Boyce Discusses Problems with Henry Louis Gates' Analysis

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. recently wrote an interesting piece for the New York Times called, "Ending the Slavery Blame Game." In the piece, Gates effectively argues that the fight for reparations is convoluted and somewhat mitigated by the fact that African elites participated in the slave trade. While describing complex business deals made between some African leadership and the Europeans who brought Africans to the New World, it almost appears as though Gates is saying that this disturbing relationship somehow undermines the right of African-Americans to hold our government accountable for its involvement in crimes committed against our people.

At very least, I am under the assumption that by "ending the slavery blame game," Gates is arguing that we should stop blaming the United States government and white America for the rape, murder, castration, lynching and beating of our ancestors.

Sorry Dr. Gates, but I must respectfully (or perhaps not so respectfully) disagree. If a young girl is sold into prostitution by her own parents, the pimp must still pay for the suffering he caused the young woman. He can't simply say, "Her parents made a deal with me, so you should stop the blame game."

In other words, the United States, as a broad and powerful industrial entity, benefited from slavery to the tune of several trillion dollars. Much of this wealth was passed down from one white man to another, and was always out of the grasp of the black men, women and children who gave their lives on American soil in order to earn it. As a result, the median net worth of the African-American family is roughly one-tenth that of white American families and we have consistently higher unemployment due to our inability to create jobs, since white Americans own most businesses. These facts hold true without regard to how the African-American holocaust started in the first place. They also hold true because wealth and power are commodities that are passed down inter-generationally, and we missed out on all of this because we were slaves. What occurred after we left Africa can and must be considered independently from what happened while our forefathers were in the mother land.

 

 

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Michelle Obama Gets Criticized for Staff Size

from Yahoo News 

In the past it's been almost a tradition for America's first ladies to catch flack from their husbands' political opponents over the size of their staffs, and Michelle Obama certainly hasn't been exempt from that. Criticism of her "massive" staff has popped up on email chains, blogs, and chat rooms. But what are the facts regarding how many people are under her employ, and how does the size of her staff compare to that of past first ladies?

On July 1st of this year, the Obama White House posted the Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff on its official blog. A minor uproar over the first lady's staff size ensued. One critic atCanadianFreePress.com accused the president's wife of employing an "unprecedented number of staffers" for someone who "doesn’t perform any official duties," while a widely circulated chain email reported that "there has never been anyone in the White House at any time that has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady’s social life." Many other critics of the Obama administration expressed similar sentiments.

 

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Visit Your Black World

Politically Correct Terms for Men and Women

Here are some funny jokes that are equally humiliating to both men and women. In this climate of political correctness, perhaps we all need a little bit of this.

And furthermore...

POLITICALLY CORRECT TERMINOLOGIES, FOR WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN:
1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK" - She is a "BREASTED AMERICAN."

2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER" - She is "VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."

3. She is not "EASY" - She is "HORIZONTALLY ACCESSIBLE."

4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE" - She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE
INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."

5. She has not "BEEN AROUND" - She is a "PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."

6. She is not an "AIRHEAD" - She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."

7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY" - She gets "CHEMICALLY
INCONVENIENCED."

8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS" - She is "MEDICALLY ENHANCED."

9. She does not "NAG" you - She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."

10. She is not a "TRAMP" - She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."

11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS" - She is "PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."

12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER" - She is a "LOW COST PROVIDER."


POLITICALLY CORRECT TERMINOLOGIES, FOR WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT MEN:

1. He does not have a "BEER GUT" - He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN
STORAGE FACILITY."

2. He is not a "BAD DANCER" - He is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."

3. He does not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME" - He "INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE
DESTINATIONS."

4. He is not "BALDING" - He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."

5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER" - He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL
RELATIONSHIPS."

6. He does not get "FALLING-DOWN DRUNK" - He becomes "ACCIDENTALLY
HORIZONTAL."

7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS" - He develops a case of
"RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."

8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG" - He has "SWINE EMPATHY."

9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT" - He is "RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."

10. He is not "HORNY" - He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."

11. It's not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants - It is
simply "REAR CLEAVAGE."

Up Close and Personal With Senator Barack Obama

Up Close and Personal With Senator Barack Obama

This video interview of Senator Obama is awesome. Tavis Smiley interviewed Barack on October 18, 2007. Tavis appears supportive, proud, and loving during the entire interview.

During the interview with Tavis Senator Obama addressed questions on the lack of black support, concerns about his safety, his campaign strategy, his experience, health insurance etc.

After viewing this video one wonders what really happened to change Travis Smiley’s attitude from the interviewer on this video and the Tavis voicing his comments on the Tom Joyner Morning Show on February 12, 2008.

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined."

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

http://politics.yourblackworld.com/2008/02/i-believe-obamas-hope-and-change_12.html

Senator Obama’s Message of Hope and Change Part II

For the last month or so I have been listening to “The Tom Joyner’s Morning Show” in Houston. Today while listening to the show I was surprised at the tone of Tavis Smiley’s comments. His tone appeared to be very defensive and anti-Obama.

Tavis discussed what it means to be a free man in America. I am assuming (and we know what that means) that he was clarifying his right to his own opinions about the upcoming primaries and the candidates.

Most black people would agree that Tavis has the right to voice his personal opinions on any issue. Being free in America also gives me a right to disagree with Mr. Smiley on this particular issue.

I am a true Obama supporter. One of the ways that I have shown my support for him and his historic quest for the Presidency is expressing that fact on this site. Additionally, this past Saturday I was involved in grass root politics for the first time in my life.

A group of enthusiastic black women and I reported to Thomas Brooks’ home in Sugar Land, TX for three hours of door-to-door canvassing for Obama. Our group consisted of 16 females and Mr. Brooks.

On Sunday I wore by “Texans For Obama 2008” T-shirt to the 12 pm church service at Windsor Village United Methodist Church. I wore the Obama shirt to recruit others to join the movement to elect Obama. I was successful in my mission because several members of the church expressed their desire to get involved.

The writer (norman 922) who posted the following comment on another site has expressed my sentiments towards Tavis’s latest commentary on “The Tom Joyner’s Morning Show."

Senator Obama's Choices: Cater to Tavis' Ego or Run for President?
By: norman922/12/2008 7:19:33 AM

"It's clearer than ever that Tavis Smiley is ego-tripping. By his estimation, attending his forum--with limited exposure--is more of test to loyal to Black folks than winning the presidency and effecting REAL policy that can change the trajectory of millions of lives. PLEASE! We all love the annual forum, but has there been any measurable outcome with the exception of Tavis selling books? After today, Senator Obama is facing an uphill battle in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. He cannot afford to be NOT campaigning for even day. But Tavis would have Black folks believe that him not taking a day off from campaigning to attend HIS forum is an insult to ALL Black folks. Hillary Clinton can afford to take a day off for a number of reasons: she's leading in the polls in all three of the aforementioned states; her husband will be campaigning for her (and a better campaigner than her) and she needs to make inroads with African American. Tavis really needs to back the hell up! Let Senator Obama do what he needs to do: campaign NON-STOP until he wins this nomination."

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined."

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

Senator Obama’s Message of Hope and Change

I believe in Obama's Message of Hope and Change. I suggest that those of you who are judging Obama’s tactics and motives so harshly channel your energy in getting answers from the Bush Administration.

In 2001 Vice President Cheney and his buddies in oil, gas, and energy businesses met behind closed doors. After meeting for months the elite group announced a National Energy Plan. For years Cheney has refused lower court orders to turn over the records of the energy policy task force and/or a list of who attended the meetings.

In 2006 Exxon profits were 39.5 billion dollars. On February 1, 2008, the Associate Press reported that Exxon Mobil posted annual profit of 40.6 billion dollars in 2007. The oil company that produces only 3 percent of the world’s oil credits it astronomical profits to a well-run global diverse operation that’s investing billions to find more energy supplies. Exxon distributed 35.6 billion dollars to shareholders in 2007 through dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.

Do you believe that Exxon Mobil’s executives were in attendance at Cheney’s secret meetings? Do you believe that Exxon should have also credit the Bush Administration for its record profits? Who do you think received those record dividends? How much tax money did the federal government collect on the 35.6 billion dollar dividends?

Exxon’s 41 billion dollar profit for 2007, it just one example which demonstrates that everything is controlled by the person who occupies the Oval Office. Therefore, if it is true that “the Obama campaign has perverted the concept of hope by wedding it to a dangerous politics of compromise, concession, and cunning” I say well done.



Obama has developed a win- win strategy for himself and for all Americans. We should take Obama at his word. I believe that he is doing what is needed to get elected. After he is elected he can propose and implement the changes that will address and improve the lives of all Americans.

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined.”
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

http://scholar.yourblackworld.com/2008/02/barack-obama-not-my-kind-of-hope-dr.html