Let's Talk About Race: Bucky Barnes

When I had coffee with a friend from high school, we had a nice chat that was inspired by a couple articles.

At The Root, Michael Harriot wrote Where'd All These Woke White People Come From?, which is a truly great article. Here is one tremendous quote (of many):

It’s not that white people don’t care about their friends. It’s that they don’t think about racism. White people are immune to white supremacy so they don’t even consider that some of us are racism-intolerant.

Another interesting article is on Medium by Ramesh A Nagarajah: Reflections from a Token Black Friend. 

Like many of my friends from high school, these two articles caused my friend some pain to think that the experiences and perceptions of her black friends were so different from her experiences and perceptions. As we spoke, a deep literary idea struck my mind.

For decades, one of the most famous deaths in the Marvel universe was that of Captain America's sidekick James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. Ed Brubaker kinda un-killed him in 2005, and when he did this, Brubaker made other important changes to Bucky's backstory. The Star's Kaleon Rahan describes the core of the change in Captain America's sidekick Bucky is one big and bad, bad boy:

"... Brubaker injected some substance into [Bucky]’s history by revealing that his sidekick status was actually a cover-up, and that the US military had bigger plans for him, including black ops stuff that Cap wouldn't have the stomach for."

This is called a retcon. Brubaker changed Bucky's history, and in doing so he changed how we see two characters we always thought we knew. We always thought that Captain America was the squeaky clean defender of liberty who was the critical piece that helped the allies win WWII and Bucky was his kid sidekick. Now, we saw that Cap was too squeaky clean, and Bucky was there to defend him and to do the dirty work that needed to be done. 

This is what many people are dealing with now. All of a sudden, they are seeing perspectives they hadn't seen before, and it's not only changing how they see old friends and past events, but also how they see themselves and current social/political dynamics. Some of my friends are apologizing for what they did or didn't say or do decades ago. One moving example is a friend who said:

"I know a great deal better today and I am working to do better daily."

I hope the message quoted above is true for all of us. It's certainly true for me. Dynamics that helped continue and even deepen hurtful attitudes are everyone's burden. They belong to the white kids who make jokes about race as well as to the black kids who laugh along or brush them off. I'm not saying that the black kids are to blame for racism, but all the things we said and how we reacted to them were the result of entrenched, toxic attitudes. As we look back, we're all seeing things that make us uncomfortable about our own actions and inactions. We need to allow that discomfort to drive us forward.

For years now, I have said that one of the few upsides to being a black man in America is being able to make white folks feel uncomfortable about race. Being comfortable with this role is not something I was strong or self-aware enough to embrace when I was younger, and I cringe when I think of some of my inaction. But now I try to lean in to being an agent of understanding. This is still an area of growth, but I'm working on it.

This national discussion about race is like a huge retcon that is changing how we see our past experiences, relationships, and behaviors. Retcons can be disconcerting, but we can all benefit from digging into them and really grappling with the new understandings they bring. The new Bucky can be a tough character to deal with, but he is a MUCH more interesting and complex character than the old sidekick character. 

Pandemic Silver Linings

The pandemic has been horrible in so many ways. Lives have been lost. Jobs and businesses have been lost. Education gaps have widened. Friends and loved ones have been isolated from one another. 

But allow me to call out a few silver linings:

Seeing Heroes: Nurses. Grocery store workers. Truck drivers. Meat packing plant workers. Farmers. Restaurant staff. The list goes on and on. The rank and file is full of under-appreciated heroes who have stepped up during this crisis. These are the heroes who are pulling us through this -- not our venerated athletes or CEOs.

Appreciating Missing Critical People: Many parents now have much better understanding of what every teacher deals with every day. What about people who clean houses and cut hair and so many other tasks that we value, but were put on hold? During the lockdown, we have been living the old adage that you don't properly value what you have until it is taken away from you.

BLM: George Floyd wasn't the first. Black and brown people have been victims of police brutality before, so why did these protests really gain traction? I think we can thank the pandemic. 

1. Logistics: Traffic is light and parking is easy. 
2. Free Time: Movie theaters and gyms and most other athletic/entertainment venues are closed. Plus, unemployment is around 20%.
3. No Distractions: There are no sports or new movies or other distractions to replace it in the news cycle. The BLM movement is flourishing in the open space created by the pandemic.

Inspiring Change: The wheels of progress in education grind incredibly slowly. The pandemic has the potential to add a big jolt of innovation as schools and educators try to figure out how to make virtual and blended learning work. I imagine that necessity is driving innovation in other areas as well. 

Seeing Flaws in Our Systems: People who depend on their low-paying jobs for their healthcare are either showing up when sick (e.g., Smithfield plant) or losing health coverage. Many CEOs and Presidents and other leaders have made it explicitly clear that they care more about money than they do about the health of the people who toil to enrich them. The pandemic is a stressor that helps us see the flaws in our systems. It doesn't point the way to fixing them, but understanding that something is broken is the first step.

None of these silver linings provide succor to those who have lost loved ones or businesses or jobs or security or comfort. As a society, I am hopeful that we will make changes to our mindsets, relationships, and systems so the legacy of the pandemic will include some good outcomes.

Let's Talk About Race: Racial Covenants and Redlining

There is a ton of history that has been either neglected or misconstrued for decades, and these deficiencies shape how we look at the world. Here is one example.

If you are a fan of letting a free market solve problems and believe that people can and should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, I want you to consider that the "free" markets have actually been rigged for years. Two striking examples of this are racial covenants and redlining. 

Racial Covenants

Racial covenants were tools used by real estate developers to prevent people of color from buying or occupying property. Often just a few lines of text, these covenants were inserted into warranty deeds across the country. -- Mapping Prejudice

Redlining

Redlining was the practice of outlining areas with sizable Black populations in red ink on maps as a warning to mortgage lenders, effectively isolating Black people in areas that would suffer lower levels of investment than their white counterparts. -- Brookings Institution

Why are these things big deals? On one side, they made it much easier for white families to acquire real estate, which is a key aspect of wealth building. On the other side, it made it virtually impossible for black families to pull themselves out of their tough financial situations. These systems created cycles of low property values that led to under-performing schools and businesses, which fed the low-wealth cycle. 

Here are some resources that can help you dig into this poorly known history. 

Articles:

• NPR: A 'Forgotten History' Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America
• Washington Post: To fix our cities, we must reckon with our racist urban past
• Washington Post: Redlining was banned 50 years ago. It’s still hurting minorities today
• City Lab: How the Fair Housing Act Failed Black Homeowners
• The Guardian (via Pocket) has Housing Market Racism Persists Despite ‘Fair Housing’ Laws

Maps/Interactives allow you to dig into the background and maps for your home town.

• Mapping Inequality
• Mapping Prejudice

Teachers might appreciate these education resources:

• Zinn Education Project: How Red Lines Built White Wealth: A Lesson on Housing Segregation in the 20th Century
• Segregated By Design

After barring the doors of prosperity to almost all blacks for close to a century after emancipation, the system can now use economic status (without regard to color) to ensure the continuation of the system's desired effect (e.g., through school district boundaries and funding).

Toxicity vs. The Echo Chamber

First of all, I'd like to apologize to people I have judged. 

I've seen friends say that they are purging their fb feeds of people they no longer want to see. I have respected their choices, but a small part of me often thought "but I value diversity in my feed, and don't want an echo chamber." I have some Trump supporters in my feed, and I have made a conscious effort to keep that diversity. Still, I shouldn't have judged.

Most of the time, it's just fine. We can exchange barbs:

• Benghazi vs. Ukraine
• "Deplorables" vs. "Grab them by the p***y"
• Bloated government vs. The widening wealth gap
• The 2nd amendment is sacred (except the well-regulated militia clause) vs. Gun deaths

The list goes on and on, and it's fine. I value the discourse.

Then one acquaintance posted something that struck me as quite racist ... and another acquaintance posted something even worse. That's when I found that I have a line. We can have reasonable discourse about political, economic, and even some social issues. But I will not allow blatant racism, homophobia, sexism, or other hateful speech in my feed. It's just too toxic.

I defend your right to say stupid and offensive things, but I want no part of them in my fb feed. So ... if you say something that I think is marginal, I might (given your past posts) only pause seeing your stuff for 30 days or I might totally unsubscribe from your crap. 

At one point, I had thought to write a full blog entry ripping apart the idiocy and racism of one post and then a separate entry with a title like "Farewell, J---" (and actually name the person). I've decided against both. I'm just unsubscribing from a few people and posting this heads up to others. I value diversity, but I have no interest in toxicity. 

Let's Talk About Race: Confederate Monuments

So, as states, cities, and even the federal government renew battles around confederate monuments and place names, it's worth revisiting their history.

Many of the statues at the center of Richmond, VA were erected during reconstruction. A friend of mine who lives in Richmond says this about the massive statues at his city's center:

"... These are "maybe we can still get a do-over" statues. Lee's was commissioned in 1875, went up in 1890, all the others followed shortly thereafter."

But many other confederate statues were built much later. Vox's W. Fitzhugh Brundage brings us I've studied the history of Confederate memorials. Here's what to do about them.

Please read the whole thing, but here are a couple subheadings from the article:

• Most monuments went up not immediately after the war, but as Southerners put Jim Crow in place — and Northerners gave up on racial justice
• Some contemporaries linked the monuments to the defense of white supremacy in shockingly explicit terms

Essentially, most confederate monuments were never about reminding ourselves of our history, but were all about white supremacy.

In The Atlantic, Susan Neiman wrote There Are No Nostalgic Nazi Memorials

Americans could learn from how drastically German society has moved away from the nadir of its history.

"... Monuments are neither just about heritage or just about hate. They are values made visible. That’s why we build memorials to some parts of history and ignore others. They embody the ideas we choose to lift up, in the hopes of reminding ourselves and our children that those ideas have been embodied by brave men and women."

Despite the fact that there are no public statues of Hitler or Eichmann or Himler or their compatriots, nobody will forget who they were. Statuary isn't about remembering history. It's about veneration and continuing to win a lost war. White supremacy, slavery, and secession are not values I think we should lift up. 

Every confederate statue, monument, and place name reminds every black person of the evil that was inflicted on their ancestors, and the injustices they endure every day. They also keep alive the confederate/white supremacist spirit. Defenders will tell you that the confederate spirit is about independence and chivalry and mint juleps on the porch. Really, it's about white supremacy. Every confederate statue and icon represents and empowers Patrick Wood Crusius and Dylann Roof and their ilk infinitely more than Scarlett O'Hara.

I like this idea from The Atlantic: A Solution to the Confederate-Monument Problem: Destroying the statues won’t erase the past. Why not let them deteriorate in a public space instead? So, each state would put its statues in a remote location on public land. I recognize that confederate fetishists will maintain them, but I'm OK with that as long as the statues are in the middle of nowhere, and it's illegal to steal them or build anything around them.

On a related note, James Risen at The Intercept has Why is the Army Still Honoring Confederate Generals? Yes, that's a year old, but it's still completely relevant.

"... The base names were products of the same reassertion of Southern white supremacy that prompted the erection of many Confederate statues and monuments."

I hope the politicians can find the strength to purge our public spaces of these tributes that glorify traitors and embolden white supremacists. 

Let's Talk About Race: I'm Fine, but I Worry

A friend of mine (who I won't embarrass by naming) sent me the following message:

"Just checking in on you during all of this craziness. I know my black family is not okay and I just wanted to reach out and say I love you. I can't imagine how emotionally exhausted you are, so no need to respond. Just wanted to send my love and support."

I always knew she was great, but with that message, she took greatness to another level. Wow. Other friends have reached out as well, and each one really touches me. Here is a (somewhat extended) response. It's a little longer than the message I initially replied with, but it's still totally inadequate.

I'm lucky that I have a ton of work to keep me busy, my kids are right here in my house, and I live in a community that is diverse and open and just generally amazing. This is a time when Reston really shines as a beacon of what communities should be.

I am totally fine, but I worry. 

I worry for my nieces and nephew. They are smart, successful 20- and 30-something young adults who were lucky to be born into educated, financially stable families, but they will still face injustices because of the color of their skin and who they love.

I worry about when my kids leave the protection of our home. In August, Boy Kid will head down I-81, past a massive confederate flag that flies about 30 minutes from campus, and live in an apartment that is far from us geographically and socially. His sophomore year at college will be fine, but I still worry.

I worry for all the young black and brown people who are constantly at risk and in fear. George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor weren't the first, and they won't be the last.

I worry about all the black and brown people who have poor healthcare, poor schools, and limited economic mobility because of a system that was actively rigged against their parents and grandparents, and is now more passively (though no less effectively) rigged against them.

Though I could get lost in the worry, I choose to focus on using this opportunity to help people understand, and to prod them to rise up in November. Protests are important, but voting is even more important.

Ramble: Seedless Watermelons Are Evil

OK, so maybe the title is a bit of hyperbole, but this is a moral issue. So-called "seedless" watermelons have taken over and I can't stand them.

First, just because a seed is white doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Saying that white seeds are OK but black seeds are not reminds me of the unfair sentencing guidelines for crack versus powdered cocaine. It's morally reprehensible. White seeds and brown seeds are all still seeds and should be dealt with properly. We can't give the white ones a pass while vilifying the brown ones. Calling watermelons with white seeds "seedless" is like calling a Wall Street investment bank "criminal free." Just because they snort coke instead of smoking crack or fleece high-brow investors instead of knocking over liquor stores doesn't make them guilt free.

Second, the idea that a seedless watermelon is even desirable is not something I can accept. I get that seedless oranges and grapes have their place, but they don't have seeds that are nearly as much fun as real watermelon seeds. Spitting watermelon seeds is a summer pastime that is now a thing of the past thanks to these genetic freaks with anemic white seeds that dribble out of your mouth. I want real seeds that I can send flying through the air.

In short: I like my watermelon seeds like Mrs. Kid likes her man: plump and brown. We all need to rise up and protest the de-brownification of our watermelons.

Race Bait: Slideshows From The Root

A friend from work sent me a link to one of these slideshows from The Root, but I like them all, so here you go....

Would a Black Person Get Away With This?

This is the one she sent.

Black Folks We'd Like To Remove From Black History

I remember seeing this some time ago, but I still like it.

The Blackest White Folks We Know

Nice list.

BTW: How do you like the prefix for this (and future race-oriented) post?

Slavery, Colonization, and Divorce: Buddha Nature at Work

In response to a recent post about big government, Jaeger commented that people in African countries that were recently colonies have no drive or pride, while those who live in huts and were not subjected to strong colonization live in mud huts, but have pride and drive.

The people in mud huts have stayed close to their Buddha nature. I know it seems like hokey, new-age stuff, but I really believe that when we get away from our essential nature, things go wrong.

When Africans were brought to America to be slaves, they were separated from their Buddha nature. When whites colonized Africa, they subjugated the indigenous people and separated them from their Buddha nature.

I am not going to go into a long diatribe on the topic of the ramifications of these departures from their Buddha nature. Rather, I think it's worth noting that the separation is a problem.

This plays out in smaller ways as well. For instance, I know some formerly married couples who are now divorced. In most cases, we outside observers thought they were an odd match in one way or another. Essentially, we all saw a disconnect between each individual and who they were trying to be. Most of these people have returned to type and are trying relationships that keep them closer to who they are at a basic level. This is a good thing.

The more we can understand ourselves and strive for careers and relationships that are consistent with who we are at a very elemental level, the more we can make good, stable situations for ourselves.

Is Affirmative Action Still Relevant?

In a recent opinion piece in the Post, Shelby Steele posits that Affirmative Action Is Just a Distraction. His post-racial position is interesting, but I don't completely buy it.

We blacks know oppression well, but today it is our inexperience with freedom that holds us back almost as relentlessly as oppression once did.

Some who read the piece might think that Steele believes that discrimination no longer exists. I would like to believe this, but I simply can't. I agree that discrimination is not the dominant problem facing black America, but I am quite sure that discrimination exists as well. Oppression held back our forefathers, but we still don't live in a world without discrimination.

On the other hand, Steel says:

Today's "black" problem is underdevelopment, not discrimination.

Amen, brother. Discrimination still exists, but I don't think it is what holds us back. For instance, It's sad that the black New Haven fire fighters didn't score higher on the test, but why did they score so more poorly than their white counterparts? Could there be differences in preparation? Educational level? What about the test?

Could there be racial bias in the test? I suppose so, but what does that look like? I'd like to see an item analysis of the test. What is it that the blacks and Hispanics missed? Were there questions about NASCAR? Was there a swimming component to the test? Were there questions about how to maintain a Prius? In this day and age, I am genuinely interested in what racial bias looks like on a test in a way that is not class/socioeconomic bias. If the only result of Ricci v. DeStefano is for blacks and Hispanics to collectively sigh "oh well, racism is alive and well," then we have all missed an opportunity to learn from a failure. We all need to dig down and figure out the real causes of our squandered opportunities.

Blacks in America have lots of soul-searching to do. What's holding us back? In general, it is not overt racism, but what subtle racism holds us back? How can we help ourselves move forward? Now that the overt racism has faded, I think we need to keep an eye out for more subtle bias, but mostly we have to take the ball and run with it. I am not saying that there is no such thing as racism. I am saying that we need to move forward and take responsibility for our own development. Today's blacks need to seize the opportunities for which our parents and grandparents fought.

Blago Bummer and Mixed Feelings on Sotomayor

Back in December, I said:

I know it's petty of me, but I hope that few black politicians get pulled into this mess.

Oh well. Not only was Jesse Jackson, Jr. implicated, but it looks like Senator Roland Burris is now in it up to his neck as well. It's always disappointing (but hardly surprising) when black politicians shoot themselves in the foot.

On an entirely different topic, I am heartened that some Republicans are condemning (not just distancing themselves from) comments by Rush and Newt about Sonia Sotomayor. She has said some regrettable things in the past, but she seems like a solid jurist.

I'm not sure what I think about Obama's comment that he wanted a justice who could empathize:

...we need somebody who's got the heart — the empathy — to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom.

Thus, we saw the Wall Street Journal's headline proclaiming Sotomayor The 'Empathy' Nominee. Still, when I read Obama's speech in context, I can see his point. I just wish that empathy had been more of a footnote. The Supreme Court is not about empathy. It's about interpreting laws and the constitution.

Inaugural Reaction, Part 3

Early this afternoon, a friend of mine sent an email to a racially diverse group of friends:

It looks like he made it in!

To which another friend replied:

I just got a text that someone saw a pig fly, hell froze over, and then they heard a big crash like glass was breaking. Glad to wake up today and see a 40 year-old dream come true.

I know that many white friends of mine seem to feel like we are already in a post-racial time. They don't see colored water fountains. They know that the law doesn't divide us into black and white. They have black friends. Heck, the smartest, most respected man they know is black ;).

Still, my non-white friends know this is an important moment. The racial environment we are in is more complex than it used to be. It's more like northern racism and less like southern fried racism. Every time a person of color (black, hispanic, asian, etc.) rises to a high position, we all feel like another glass ceiling has been broken, but there are many ceilings still to be broken. The highest profile barrier has been broken, but there are many more still in place.

Donklephant's First Thoughts on the Obama Presidency is a good read. It reminds me of The Onion's piece from election day: Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job.

Update: Mrs. Kid went downtown for the inauguration. Here is a shot she took of the crowd around her. Really a mass of American humanity.

From Inauguration2009

An Auspicious Beginning

Some random thoughts about today's ceremony:

• Of course, things started on CPT. It looks like six minutes late is the new standard. Maybe I should be six minutes late for the next four or eight years. I'll call it "being presidential."
  
• Religion and government should be separate. The benediction wasn't as bad as the convocation, but I'd rather not have any religion in the ceremony.
  
• Aretha Franklin, Yo-Yo Ma, and Itzhak Perlman were all getting it done. The musical interludes were brief but lovely additions to the day.
  
• Obama's speech was great. Brief but inspiring.
• Some day, Boy Kid will be able to go as President Obama to a costume party. My mutt playing a presidential mutt. Truly amazing.
  

Now the real work begins.

Inauguration Day

Mrs. Kid got up at 5:31 to head downtown with her mother. Last night I helped her pick out clothes to keep her warm and I got the camera batteries charged, but today I am sitting at home with the kids watching history on CNN and NBC.

As I watch the coverage, it really strikes me that D.C. is a Chocolate City today. Almost everyone CNN and NBC interviews on The Mall is black, but as the cameras pan back, it seems that most of the people down there are black. When I spoke with Mrs. Kid a little bit ago, she said that at least 3/4 of the people down there on The Mall are black.

Is this a big day for everyone in the U.S.? Certainly. First, the peaceful transfer of power is a time to celebrate the greatness of our democracy. Second, it's the end of an era that many are happy to see pass. Third, our country has huge problems and Obama is bringing great energy and a great attitude to attacking the problems. We all have reason to be hopeful, even if we have varying amounts of pessimism and optimism.

But, it's black folks who have traveled from far and wide to see this event. We are the ones who never thought we'd see this day. It's a huge deal. I don't expect to have a black-ruled country tomorrow. I don't even expect that we really will be on even footing. The financial and corporate worlds are run by the old establishment and things don't change that quickly. Still, Boy and Girl Kid are mutts just like the President. When they look at the world around them, they will see no barriers. This gets us one step closer to Dr. King's dream.

Today's inauguration isn't the final destination. It is a beginning for Obama and it's just another step on the journey for all of us.

OK. Back to watching inauguration coverage with the Kids.

The Race Card

An article: In the Age of Obama, Still Playing the Race Card is spot on. If we black folks want to stop being victimized, we need to stop playing the victim.

A while ago, I hoped that Blago's nastiness wouldn't pull a bunch of black politicians in. It turns out that some black politicians jumped in voluntarily. I would have preferred if one or two corrupt politicians had been caught up in it. Instead, we have black politicians playing the race card and it disappoints (but doesn't surprise) me.

As I celebrate MLK Day, the Blago stuff reminds me of the great speech:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Only when we start believing in this dream can it come true. Here is the speech:

Amen.

Thank Goodness Blagojevich Isn't Black (Too Bad Jesse Jr. Is)

When it came out that Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested for massive corruption, my first reaction was to check a photo and confirm that he is, in fact, not black.

I know it's shallow of me, but I'm a shallow guy. Any time I hear about someone doing something really dumb, I think "please don't let him be black." This happens when I hear about a string of murders, or an athlete making a fool of himself, or some idiot politician. I feel like we black folks get more than our fair share of self-inflicted negative press.

Let's try a short list of the infamous: Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, Plaxico Burress, Mike Tyson, Bobby Brown, Marion Barry, William Jefferson, Kwame Kilpatrick, Michael McGee. I could go on and on and on.

Unfortunately, Jesse Jackson, Jr. (who is quite black) is now entangled in the mess. I know it's petty of me, but I hope that few black politicians get pulled into this mess.

Discussing Racial Issues

The Onion really lives up to its tagline as America's Finest News Source. Ed Bryerley's article entitled American Needs To Have A Superficial Conversation About Race really struck home.

As the major political parties hold their national conventions over the next couple weeks, this sort of article can help us keep things in perspective. I'd like a similar call to superficiality with regard to discussing the economy, energy, and education. Politicians are adept at simplifying these complex issues ad absurdum, but this doesn't make their pithy statements of the nature of the issues or their proposed simplistic solutions valid.

The tough issues facing us are complicated and don't lend themselves to easy, quick solutions. We won't cure the economy with tax rebates. We won't solve our energy problems by pumping more domestic oil. We won't fix our educational system by doubling what we pay teachers or putting a computer in every child's hands. We won't end racism by singing Kumbaya. Big problems require big solutions.

Here's another fun one from The Onion: Portrayal Of Obama As Elitist Hailed As Step Forward For African Americans. BTW: the professor they interview looks like Dick Gregory. Speaking of which:

Dick Gregory is kinda crazy, but I like some of his stuff. He's a great part of the discussion. A bit off on one extreme, but that's ok.

Dr. Bill and Barack

As the Jesse Jackson/Barack Obama tiff erupted recently, it made me think back to Bill Cosby's comments that got him into hot water with some of the black political establishment. I found the full text of Bill Cosby's speech at the 50th Anniversary of Brown vs Board of Education.

Really interesting stuff.

Now look, I’m telling you. It’s not what they’re doing to us. It’s what we’re not doing. 50 percent drop out. These people are fighting hard to be ignorant. There’s no English being spoken, and they’re walking and they’re angry. Oh God, they’re angry and they have pistols and they shoot and they do stupid things.

Here is Obama's Father's Day speech. One of my favorite snippets is:

Yes, we need more money for our schools, and more outstanding teachers in the classroom, and more after school programs for our children. Yes, we need more jobs and more job training and more opportunity in our communities.

But we also need families to raise our children. We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child – it's the courage to raise one.

As I read the transcripts of these two speeches, it struck me that Dr. Bill was full of passion, but he did not really put together the best oratory. Obama delivers on the oratory. Both men can claim early hardship (Cosby grew up on the mean streets of Philly, while Obama's father left when he was 2,) but Obama's delivery really works. His status as an outsider helps him see and speak more clearly about what ails us.

Both men make some good points, but Obama's discourse is more balanced. He is all about shared responsibility: the government has responsibility, but so do individuals. Obama wants all of us to get out and push. We can't just sit back and let the government solve our problems.

Jesse and Barack

Jesse Jackson's recent comments about Barack Obama made me re-read one of my posts from a while ago. Here is a video showing Jesse's comments and some commentary by Juan Williams and some other guy.


Here is a comment from Juan Williams:

This is all about Jesse Jackson wanting Barack Obama to fit into his old time mold of what a black leader is....

No doubt. The nice thing about this conflict is that it helps to bring these issues out into the open. Note that one of the more interesting comments Jackson made was after his comment about Obama "talking down to black people." Jackson said:

I want to cut his nuts out.

OK. So this is a much more base comment. Now to act like a former Psychology major: Does Jackson want to emasculate Obama because he sees Obama's success as indicating his own impotence? These comments whispered when he thought the microphones were off tell us quite a bit about Jackson just as Obama's reaction tells us quite a bit about him. In a speech to the NAACP, Obama shows no signs of backing down:

Now, I know there are some who are saying I've been too tough talking about responsibility. NAACP, I'm here to report I'm not going to stop talking about it.

Fun stuff. Going into my opinions about Obama's discussion is for another post (and yes, when I talk about that, I will refer to Bill Cosby as well), but for now, my point is that I think the dynamic of old guard versus ascending power is interesting.

Music Monday: Crash into the Car Wash

Mrs. Kid and I watched Crash last night and I realized that it is really a re-make.

• A day in various intertwined lives in Los Angeles
• Racial tensions between blacks, whites, and hispanics
• Tensions amongst blacks, some of whom are more militant and some of whom are trying to get along and make it in the white-man's world
  
• Socio-ecomonic conflict between "haves" and "have-nots"
• Musicians being actors
• Cars

Crash is just a slightly more serious version of Car Wash (in which the recently-deceased George Carlin acted.)

Opening scene including Richard Pryor and intra-racial tension


Closing scene with narrated credits