As the nation contemplates the various national, state, and local campaigns of 2012, reflecting on the unique dynamic of America in all of its democratic voting glory, the obvious question is as we follow today’s Republican debates and speeches and actions of the president: What will be the mindset of the American voter by summer 2012, especially about the disparity of Black unemployment?
Our power-sharing process stands alone in a world resisting sharing power with “the people.” So why is that resistance still for Blacks in inner cities and rural areas?
There are danger signs coming from cities across the world of steep divides, not only between the haves and the have-nots, but between retired elderly on promised benefits and young workers paying for them thinking those benefits won’t be there when they retire. But the biggest divide reveals the contest between the idea of democratic-based welfare with limits and the idea of centralized, imposed welfare with few limits.
After nearly 30 years of economic and social progress tilted to Whites, we have hit the inevitable cycle of cracks in the economic and social walls of America, cracks widened by a poor education system in cities for Blacks, government-sanctioned gentrification of disbursing Blacks from inner cities, and the retarding of business innovation and new business starts for Blacks barred from being part of “the people.”
The president has tried to deal with this, and in the process has made three mistakes.
The first was in not making jobs legislative priority number one. Had he done so, “the people” would be clamoring for his re-election despite slow economic recovery.
His second was not directing his Department of Justice to investigate sooner those on Wall Street gambling fast, loose and dangerously with America’s economic stability and, by extension, the world’s. It was an error not to challenge their claims that their initiatives and innovations were scientific and “risk-less.”
The most troubling error to me was his not focusing on the reality of the Black-White divide he inherited in education and jobs from the four previous administrations. He had to know we were in big trouble with respect to jobs. He should not have waited so long to change course.
The last three years have been particularly painful to Black America, despite early warnings from the Congressional Black Caucus. There are now more Black Americans unemployed than in January 2009.
Now, the Obama administration is faced with both a hostile Democratic Senate and a hostile Republican House of Representatives. Some who would seemingly rather see this nation go up in flames than see President Obama achieve even minimal success in putting all Americans back to work, not unlike those who voiced the same regarding his predecessor over the Iraq War.
This is an extremely dangerous situation. Impassioned demonstrations are taking place across the world. The PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) and the rest of Europe are in an economic crisis. Blacks must not be forced again to accept the dimming of their light to save the brightness of the lights of others.
This has been an extremely bitter pill for Black Americans to swallow, as they have loved and believed in this president. We understand how treacherous the system can be in this country. Nonetheless, Martin Luther King, Jr. must be more than a giant face on a Mt. Rushmore-like slab of granite with his words etched alongside.
The president must, at some point, pull up his own bootstraps and not fear doing battle with the intentional discrimination tolerated and abetted by the Big Three: corporations, state and local governments. He does not have to apologize for putting at the top of his agenda equal access and equal opportunity for all Americans.
The problem for Black Americans is that they are not on the agendas for economic consideration and opportunity, as seen in reports issued by research groups and thing tanks. As detailed in these columns, it is more than just Black Americans not finding jobs. It is their being systematically barred from good education that is needed to qualify for good jobs. History will show that this place called Minneapolis is an illustration of opportunity denied African Americans by putting barriers in front of them.
People of all colors across this country, including Whites, need jobs, and especially Blacks with two and three times more unemployed. National elections will have great impact on it.
Stay tuned.
Ron Edwards hosts “Black Focus” on Channel 17, MTN-TV, Sundays, 5-6 pm; hosts “Black Focus” on Blog Talk radio Sundays at 3 pm; and co-hosts Blog Talk Radio’s “ON POINT!” Saturdays at 4 pm, providing coverage about Black Minnesota. Order his books at www.BeaconOnTheHill.com. Hear his readings and read his solution papers for community planning and development and “web log” at www.TheMinneapolisStory.com.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.
