The black community is consistently disappointed with black politicians who don’t use their platform to talk about racism.
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It seems to me black people want what most black politicians aren’t willing to give: an authentic, unapologetic, black perspective on the issues they care about.
For example, after President Barack Obama addressed the shooting of Mike Brown from a make-shift press room in Martha’s Vineyard, black people—including CNN Commentator Marc Lamont Hill—expressed their disappointment over the president’s refusal to acknowledge the racist elephant in the room.
Beyond that, others called out Mr. Obama for not cutting his vacation short and visiting Ferguson to be a calming, authoritative figure. Mr. Ernest Owens, a black writer who contributes to USA Today and The Huffington Post, compared Mr. Obama’s response to Ferguson to the way then President George Bush responded to the folks in New Orleans after Katrina.
Mr. Obama, however, isn’t the only black politician with a national profile who’s drawing criticism from constituents. Michael Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia—who has proven to be a visible ally to Mr. Obama—is often discussed in unfavorable terms by black taxpayers in Philly for his endorsement of the controversial stop-and-frisk law, which he campaigned on during his initial run for the city’s top spot. In addition to Philadelphians angst for the policy perceived as unconstitutional, folks have begun to criticize Mayor Nutter, a democrat, for stalling on a bill that requires his signature to decriminalize marijuana in the nation’s fifth largest city.
Whereas blacks are disproportionately targeted under the drug prohibition, questions quickly arose as to why the mayor, who’s the third black man to every occupy the office, wouldn’t be eager to end the injustice, considering it was him who resurrected the Mayor’s Commission on African-American Males, which was started by Reverend Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., the first black man to reign as Mayor of Philadelphia.
The case of Darrin Manning, the 16 year-old honor student who during a stop-and-frisk in January of this year alleged a white female officer squeezed and ruptured his testicle, also drew criticism from citizens who were outraged at the silence from black politicians.
Philadelphia Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., was the first black male elected official to speak on the record about the issue, calling Darrin Manning “a symptom of a larger problem.”
Councilman Jones, like Seth Williams, Philadelphia’s current and first-ever black District Attorney, admitted to being stopped regularly by police. But instead of challenging the culture of racial profiling, both Councilman Jones and DA Seth Williams seem to understand their role in system and encouraged their constituents to essentially tap dance and smile in order to “make it home” alive.
It’s become clear, at least to me, that black people don’t want to hear from their leaders that they need to make the best of the inevitable. What the black community wants to hear from their black elected officials is for them to admit they’re angry, sad, heartbroken, and will not rest until every boy, girl, man and woman—regardless of their race—can walk down the street without harassment from police.
They want to hear that they, too, lose sleep about tragedies like Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell, Oscar Grant and Mike Brown. What the black community wants to hear from their black elected officials is that America is not post-racial and that we have to proactively work to change the narrative and perception of the black race.
The black community is consistently disappointed because the black faces in offices won’t speak to the real black experiences. So to manage expectations, black folks here are two options: lower your expectations for black politicians or set high expectations for them and the community at large and work collaboratively and proactively to increase the quality of black life in America.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™
This is not meant to be a criticism or a challenge, just something I’m wondering out loud.
I wonder if African American voters are more disillusioned with their political leaders than any other grouping of Americans. My impression (admittedly, as an outsider with little firsthand experience) is that black voters have been expecting very little from black politicians for a very, very long time. I’m not sure their hopes had very far to fall at this point.
All there is IS Talk; there is No Action when Other Politicans NOT- Black will just Get a Pass on being Silent and Won’t Cooperate (See Congres and Every State Government)…. Expectations aren’t High or Low, just Unrealistic
Chris, I think you’re spot on but I would like to add that not only do people need to hear their frustration but maybe more importantly, do something about it. That’s what they were elected to do … too many politicians with lip service.
And the concern should trickle down to the local community leader levels.
I don’t believe that the president should have to go to Missouri but given the caliber of problem,he could have been more visible and vocal.
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2014/07/14/chicago-residents-slam-obama-he-will-go-down-as-worst-president-ever-elected-n1862079
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nirnIV5pfs