KENNETH

Thanks so much for your response. There's so much to unpack from many sides. But I'm going to make an effort. 1. We have to approach this from enlightened self interest. A lot of wealthy blacks in business still depend on black customers and government contracts. Advancing human and community development among other blacks translates into more employees and customers which is capital and market share. This is business not altruism. None of this is strictly governmental or philanthropic. It's market based. Changing how we think about business and growth is essential because most black businesses are very small. But it's necessary to think and do things on a bigger scale for your own sake. And it makes sense to partner with other blacks where possible. Think about a black barber and hairdresser coming together to build a distribution company with perhaps a black rental property owner. Groups like the National Black Chamber of Commerce can and should be forums to facilitate this kind of action. Despite all the persistent problems and challenges blacks continue to face as entrepreneurs success is possible. The opportunities to grow a company are real both at home and abroad. Think David Steward of World Wide Technologies and Robert Smith of Vista Equity Partners who are bllionaires. 2. Local government and Civil Society play unique and vital roles in business and community development. Think about taxes, zoning, incentives, funding, and contracting decisions by City Officials matter. If and when blacks in these positions make decisions to help black businesses and communities grow that's progress. And white politicians do it every day. We as black people wrongly say among ourselves - Niggas don't help each other. That's not completely true. Think about United Negro College Fund. Black Greek organizations and even black churches with scholarship funds. Name a major black non-profit or group that has went out of business because blacks don't give? We have to scale up and raise awareness among our own about what's available. The same thing is true about all kinds of black individuals and groups working in our communities all the time making a difference. Black people today despite our difficulties have more money, education, expertise, political power, and opportunities than ever. We need a mindset and initiative to leverage the resources we have to benefit ourselves individually and collectively. Sometimes we are too focused on racism and economic injustice worrying about what's lacking or denied us. I'm firmly committed to fighting for our rights. But there are things we can do beyond advocacy and action at the Federal government level to help ourselves immediately on the ground. Black people in the Jim Crow Era did this very thing with far less than we have today. 3. We have to put people, places, and things in perspective to see how progress is possible. Cities where blacks are a majority and dominate local politics like Atlanta, Detroit, or even Jackson Mississippi are centers of opportunity to experiment with all kinds of ideas. Places like Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago are different. But even in the latter possibilities exist. Geoffrey Canada built the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City with mainly private money from wealthy whites like Bill Gates and corporations. That's an important factor. Black thinkers, activists, politicians, and business people need to study his successes and failures and the possibilities and limits of what Geoffrey Canada did. Think about what happens when black voters want change. It's possible to kick out leaders who are too focused on themselves rather than the people. Two examples come to mind. Charles Rangel defeated Adam Clayton Powell in New York in the 1970 Democratic Party primary for Congress. Corey Booker lost the Newark New Jersey Mayoral race to Sharpe James the sixteen year incumbent in 2002. But Booker returned in 2006 to beat the candidate backed by the retiring James- Deputy Mayor Ronald Rice. Ultimately there are no guarantees or easy answers. But blacks must be persistent and think differently about the challenges we face. We might try and fail doing different things. However failure is guaranteed if we do nothing at all. Now is the time a kind of black pragmatism that includes advocacy, protest, national, state, local government, entrepreneurial, human, and community development.

I think you make a good point. However Americans won't do anything about gross economic inequality and oligarchy unless they recognize these are systemic not individual problems. Moreover until they believe politics and government can advance the public good, it will be business as usual.

I think this is the case. Thanks for responding.

There are Black majority cities in America like Atlanta, Detroit, Baltimore, and even Jackson Mississippi. What if Black politicians at the municipal level began working with wealthy black entrepreneurs to develop and diversity local economies especially disadvantaged neighborhoods ? Think about it. What if we pooled public and private resources to replicate what Geoffrey Canada did with the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City ? After all a good start early in life in a livable environment comes before any kind of academic achievement or entrepreneurial success. Right? Secondly, what if black business people and politicians formed public/private partnerships to seek out new sources of investment like Chinese, Middle Eastern, and West African ? Third, maybe we need real democracy in black politics which means independent thought and action that challenges the Black Democratic Leadership Establishment. I'm not saying move to the Republican Right. But demand more from our so called leaders. If you can't provide viable solutions to problems like crime, violence, poverty, academic failure, and the racial wealth gap then you get voted out. So what's keeping us from doing these things ? 1. We don't live together and aren't forced to work and strive together inspite of our class, political, or status differences the way Jim Crow and DeFacto residential segregation forced us too. 2. Middle and upper income blacks have their own priorities even among individuals that differ from poor and workingclass blacks. Race, blackness, and struggling against racism don't matter as much anymore or in the same way to all black people. 3. Black business and professional people aren't necessarily always concerned with advancing black people collectively. Elected officials and political insiders often benefit themselves and their cronies. And the Black Capitalist is no different from the white one if he's a major player. The Black Capitalist is about maximizing profit. They only help other blacks if there's money to be made. So this is my non expert take on things.

Troy I read Eugene Robinson's book several years ago and found it very insightful and thought provoking on issues of race, community, class, and identity. With that in mind I think Black people in America are more complicated and diverse than ever. Depending on age, income, and education there are differences in our Perceptions of Race and Racism. Ideas of freedom, protest, self help, integration, separation, and community no longer resonate with many black people. Things are different now. The Baby Boomers and Gen X myself in the latter see things and care about things younger people don't. That can be very bad or very good. Maybe the best we can hope for is that black people just keep living and striving individually and collectively. Whether it's separation or integration may not matter.

Joy Reid could make money with a YouTube Channel or web show like Roland Martin that's absolutely the case. Moreover with her salary from Reid Out on MSNBC I doubt she's hurting as much as the average person who loses a job.

Of course I'm of the view that we should fight all this stuff. However there's never anything wrong with self help. Here's what I think : 1. Black people own and start all kinds of businesses all the time. Most of them are very small and don't employ many people. We need to get into growth industries to make money off everybody and create wealth and opportunities. The idea of thriving self contained local ethnic neighborhood based economy as the road to freedom will not work. That's been over. 2. In cities where blacks have political clout and successful companies like Atlanta or others we need to focus on community development with black businesses central to that effort. However it's not enough just to make some blacks richer and part of the elitist 1%. We need look at pulling up all blacks as the focus of public policy in mostly black cities like Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Washington DC. 3. If white people don't respect us or our rights then black businesses people, activists, and politicians need to start looking to strategic partnerships with foreigners to do things. We need to also look at boycotts and financial pressure.

There's no outcry by black people or anyone else because the white man did the dirty work. He made a sick person who annoyed and made us uncomfortable go away. It's very difficult dealing with mentally sick people especially if they are unwilling or too often unable to get help. A lot of us are struggling with our own issues and trying to survive economically. We don't want or need the added burden that comes with family or friends who mentally sick. The simple fact is we are selfish. That's a sin. Yes I said it. It's a sin according to God's word the Bible. The wages of sin is death. They could have ignored the man or restrained him without killing him. However they were selfish and vain only concerned with themselves so instead they killed him. You know what I'm a sinner too because I wrongly think somebody should kill that white man for what he did because once again the criminal justice system has failed us.

Remember if you really want what's best for black people including black men or anyone else who works hard Democrats are far from perfect. However you won't get a hearing from the Republican Right including Trump and MAGA with their fake Populism. Black men and women work hard and belong to unions, also work low paying jobs, have good paying Federal jobs, and own all kinds of businesses that benefit from contracts through DEI programs. Trump and Republicans want to undermine organized labor, oppose raising the Minimum Wage, scale back the Federal government, and end DEI initiatives. This hurts all Black people. We can pressure Democrats and get a hearing. The Republican Right doesn't give a damn. They want just enough Black voters to make sure Democrats lose. As far as racists and systemic racism are concerned as I always say there's no substitute for struggle.

Maybe there's no real consensus or even a concern among large numbers of Black voters especially men about race specific policies. How many brothers care about stalled police reform and voting rights legislation in Congress. Are they willing to fight for it ? Did they do anything to press Congress or President Biden or Kamala Harris on such issues ? I bet they didn't. Moreover how many disinterested brothers really are aware of what Biden has done to benefit us through Student Loan Forgiveness or parts of the Inflation Reduction Act. The former gives us badly needed debt relief while the latter creates thousands of new skilled jobs. It's easy to get mad and complain or simply drop out. But too many of us don't want to do the hard work thinking, speaking up, and advocating even when there are setbacks. Often the benefits aren't always immediate. But what's worse is the contempt for and opposition to Black women for doing what we men often refuse to do. Kamala Harris might lose this election in part because alot of us brothers will stay home.

Troy I agree with you that protest and advocacy should lead to concrete change especially law and public policies. Please don't misunderstand my point. But things are different now with technology and people being less attached to community.

I understand what you mean. But we can't give up. It takes persistent effort and adjusting to a new time and different kind of Black community that's not like the one that produced the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

You got that right !

Back in 2020 I wasn't for Kamala Harris as Biden's VP. I felt at the time there were more Progressive Black women in Congress who were better suited like Barbara Lee also from California. But then again I was also for Bernie Sanders until Biden got the nomination. At times she has struggled as Vice President but she's persistent and willing to take the fight to Republicans. Now she's likely to be the Democratic nominee, and if she wins President. What will that mean for Black people? We would benefit from certain policies in a Harris administration just like that of Biden. But it's not likely that Harris will do anything significant that's race specific like Reparations or even the George Floyd Police Reform Act which has stalled in Congress. While some of this can be blamed on systemic racism in the political process and Rightwing Republican obstruction. It's also important to recognize that Kamala Harris like Barack Obama is the kind of Black Politician who came up through the White community not Black Interest group politics. These kinds of Black politicians aren't focused on politics or policy solutions targeted to Blacks like others who come from the Black community. Furthermore the Democratic Party hasn't passed any major policy initiative targeted at Black people since the 1960s. Too often the party is focused on getting and keeping white working class men or white suburban moderates. While we gain some benefits they are never adequate in relation to our support for Democrats or the particular problems we face. Ultimately Black people must be better organized and more willing to hold Harris if she's President and Democrats accountable for not doing certain things. But then Black people at every level need to develop and push for an agenda with specific policies. When it comes to politics you can blame Kamala Harris and Democrats for not doing enough. However we have to take some responsibility ourselves.

Thanks aka for responding to my post. Standing and fighting as a united front win or lose works for the Republican Right every time. Even when they lose a Presidential race they come together to obstruct the Democrat. They just might win again with a lying convicted fellow whose willing to flirt with authoritarianism. Too often Democrats are reactive and defensive due to media narratives, polling, and opposition from the Republican Right. They come off as weak and Standing for nothing while also being too divided. Biden was a fighter who did a lot of good for the country despite being old and slow all along. He was a likable and known quantity which may be especially important with independent swing voters needed to win the election. Kicking him out and going with Harris or anyone else poses a big risk. But I will vote for her.

I hate to see the President forced out because people are driven by the media, polls, and Rightwing Psychological manipulation rather than conviction and a willingness to fight no matter what. But Kamala Harris maybe the nominee unless others come forward at the convention. I hope she won't face opposition.

Beyond the choice of whether to vote for Biden or Trump its important to put the relationship between Black people and the Democratic Party in perspective. If Biden wins there are things Black people will want. If Trump wins then for many black voters it will come down to supporting Democrats in 2028. Of course that depends on how bad four more years of Trump will be for our politics and democracy. It's important to not deny Black agency or legitimate claims on the polity. When we demand things from government it's not begging the " White Man " or being dependent. This isn't their country or their government its ours. Contrary to what Rightwingers and Black Nationalists claim the government has been doing things that helped White people since Independence. But it hasn't done nearly enough for us. We are more than justified considering denial of our rights and material deprivation due to systemic racism. Most Black people who vote support the Democratic Party although more and more Blacks especially younger people are identifying as independents or Republicans. And Democrats need Black voters because most Whites support Republicans. It's often said that Democrats take Blacks for granted and do nothing for us. That's not true. While there's been no major legislation or policy initiative targeted towards Blacks since the 1960s. We benefit from all kinds of government policies that help everyone like the Affordable Care Act. In large urban areas programs that directly benefit Black communities get Federal funds. Black businesses at local, state, and national levels benefit from Federal contracts. All of this is due to support from Democratic politicians both Black and White. Furthermore large numbers of Black people have good paying government jobs. Democrats believe in an active government that helps people and spends money. These things benefit us. However the Democratic Party is not perfect. It needs to do more and be effective in addressing the problems faced by Black people. This is why advocacy and activism are just as important as voting. Just because Democrats are in office at any level doesn't mean they will pursue policies that help us. We need more than representation or symbolism. We have to fight for concrete change through government action even when that means challenging Democrats. Democrats don't do enough for us. But we don't do enough to hold them accountable. We benefit from supporting Democrats. But we won't get more and better until we organize and pressure the party more effectively. Voting is only part of the solution. Black people need grassroots groups like Black Lives Matter. We must also lobby and pool money to form political action committees to flex our power. And we need to use all forms of media to achieve our goals as well. This has to be the approach to Democratic Party politics.

If Biden steps down that's fine. But I don't believe in pressuring him because he's come this far and hasn't ruined the country. Last Thursday night was nothing new. Yes it was really bad. Biden is mentally and physically slow yet he hasn't hurt the country thus far. Meanwhile nobody is saying Donald Trump the convicted felon, Liar, unhinged, reckless, wannabe, dictator should leave the race. Even worse millions of Americans are ready to choose Trump over Biden.

Unlike in the 1970s a lot of CBC members represent majority white districts so they aren't rooted in or mainly focused on the black community or issues that effect us. The problem with AIPAC is that it's a big money special interest group that will go after any Democrat who doesn't uncritically support US policy on Israel.

You can be black and all kinds of things politically speaking. There are Black Democrats, Nationalists, Sepratists, Marxists, Conservatives, Moderates, and Republicans. You might even call yourself a Progressive or Libertarian. But few Black people call themselves Liberal. Even if most Black people vote Democrat they would reject Liberalism. If you're a white Liberal or Black Conservative reading this you might think I'm way off base. But being a Black Democrat is not synonymous with being a Liberal. I'm a Liberal. So what does that mean ? Is it a belief in social justice, equality, and compassion ? Maybe I'm Liberal because I believe in higher taxes for rich people, spending on social programs, and abortion rights. Perhaps I'm Liberal because I value openess, reason, and science. All these things are valid. But none of them are necessarily Liberal in. Liberalism is a form of political thought devoted to the idea of individual liberty (or freedom). You should be left alone to do as you wish until you pose bodily harm to others or interfere with them doing what they want. Secondly, each person should be able to choose. They should be able to follow their own pursuits. How we understand this liberty and its limits is what politics is about. Liberals want people to be free from government and private control. For Liberals individual liberty is upheld by limits on government power, equal rights, and equal opportunity. Tolerance which basically means different people living together and disagreeing without tyranny or killing each other is also a Liberal value. What does any of this mean to me or Black people as a group ? Here's what I think : 1. We need to fight systemic racism and extreme wealth income inequality that hurt blacks collectively so that every black person is more free as an individual. 2. I believe that true liberty is found in preserving and strengthening Black institutions and also pursuing opportunities in the American mainstream. This kind of pluralism is essential to our human, social, economic, and political well-being. 3. While overcoming systemic racism is essential, we can't ignore sexism, homophobia, or transphobia that hinder black women and black LGBTQ people. All Black people must be free collectively and individually. 4. While I think the Democratic Party is better for black people than the GOP. It's far from perfect to say the least. If blacks are going to benefit from being Democrats we must constantly advocate in our own political interests. Democrats including white Liberals don't always help us. This also applies to black elected officials. 5. I have major philosophical and policy differences with Black Moderates, Conservatives, Nationalists, and Socialists. But the kind of Liberalism I believe in is a minority viewpoint among Black people. Liberalism cannot possibly always be right. That means listening and learning from other perspectives. Hopefully we can come together when possible to help ourselves as Black people. I really believe Black people want certain things all Americans want like safety, security, material comfort, health, a better life for our children, respect, a voice in our government, and a life with dignity. The continuing Black struggle for freedom and equality is consistent with Liberalism. It is part of the challenge that any Liberal politics must embrace to make this country better for all.

Our future is what we will fight and work hard to make it. Things in the past like Slavery and Jim Crow Segregation were far worse than what any of us under age seventy can possibly imagine. Things aren't as good as they could or should be. But our situation is far better than it was. It's up to us. Systemic Racism, this prevailing brand of predator Capitalism, and the Trumpist threat to freedom and democracy are challenges that can be met and overcome if we stand strong and get involved. We can restore black marriage, reclaim our neighborhoods from violent crime, and build bigger more lucrative businesses. But this requires us to be better individuals. It means practices real love that corrects, rebukes, encourages, and supports each other as family members and friends. Nothing good is guaranteed. Nothing bad is inevitable.

Black people want freedom and to benefit from living in this society. They don't want to be deprived of rights, opportunity, or material well-being. Whether these things come from living in Black neighborhoods and having black businesses; it can also be found in the White mainstream. That includes elite universities or professional jobs in Corporate America. Black people often feel like we're losing something we need or want. It's not about segregation or assimilation. It's about pluralism and agency. All Black neighborhoods with thriving businesses should be possible along with opportunities in the White mainstream whether it's a job or going to an amusement park like Disney World. It's important to realize that during the era of Jim Crow segregation whites did business in black communities and rented property to blacks. None of this is about optics. It's about power and control with all its benefits. That's what most Blacks want.

We don't value or pay workers like maids, janitors, home health, childcare workers, cashiers, or fast food employees. We wrongly disdain politicians and hate taxes while complaining about how messed up society is because government doesn't take care of people at home over foreigners and immigrants. We idolalize rich people and wealth while never questioning certain negative things it takes to get rich and stay that way. All of this cuts across racial lines and is true of ordinary working people who are the key to changing things. The problem is with all of us to some extent.

Thanks Troy for posting this and making the point. Whites are poor because of exploitation and lack of economic opportunity especially in the suburbs and rural areas. Meanwhile Black people are poor because of systemic racism and economic injustice. We bear the added burden of race. If poor and working class whites could get past racism, anti statism, and a kind of radical individualism there might be a chance to change America for the better. Ultimately Capitalism unless it is reformed in big ways will generate lots of poverty. It has to be free enough generate growth yet restrained to an extent that it's fair and beneficial for everyone not just the rich owners of capital. The problem with Americans, unlike people in Western Europe who wisely embraced Social Democracy, is that we don't like or want that kind of government action to tame Capitalism or spread its benefits. Add racism and its systemic component to this mix and its not hard to see why poverty is such a huge problem in America.

Her sexual orientation has nothing to do with her ability and it's not pulling black people down in any way. LGBTQ people are just as much part of the black community as anybody. We've got to move beyond the idea that authentic blackness whatever that may be is only straight male cisgendered and patriarchal. My only concern is that Barabara Lee whose been in the House for several years and lives in California wasn't chosen. But this woman has a strong background in labor and community organizing in addition to abortion rights. Give her a chance. She might surprise us in a good way.