Controversy About "The Black Agenda"

[Smiley and West]

Sharpton vs West Exclusive: West goes behind the scenes of his MSNBC debate with Rev. Al Sharpton.     As we draw closer to the election year, the topic of a Black Agenda, or lack thereof, remains at the center of much heated discourse amongst public intellectuals and political pundits.  Recently Dr. Cornel West and Rev. Al Sharpton – two of America’s most respected Black leaders – engaged in such a debate on MSNBC with Ed Schutlz.  Although the conversation was torrid, the subject of a Black Agenda is gaining more attention. West: There is a context in the nation that a criticism of President Obama is an attempt to support right wing vicious attacks. The recent heated exchange with my dear brother Al Sharpton is not primarily about him, me or even the President.  What’s the focus: How we fight for poor and working people. Tune in to Smiley & West this weekend as I reflect more on the subject.   For Dr. West's Full Statement, visit  www.CornelWest.com

[lisa swytzer]

everyone is taking care of them watch rick steves your plate is pack full i am sure the internet understands the the word miniplate they know it well jesus i will have you be ignorate

[lisa swytzer]

thank you lets live a want to watch the animals from a safe place in africa honeymoon there the animals must live africans must have there life but they do not have to steal and kill to live where also means you do not have to rich to be happy!! happy also the black agenda

[Mustafa Ansari]

Dr. West, Mr. Smiley, and our political representatives have been reduced to mere gesturers, who can only pursue 'indignation politics' bereft of any plausible self-sustaining economic remedies. Their political assessments have been made tangential by consistent rulings of the Supreme Court. They/we wrongly surmise and limit our possibilities out of the wrong assumptions that we are a 'simple minority', and that they/we have to accept the 'apartheid categorizations' of white people and the 'crumbs of diversity'. Which pales in fact to the several Trillion dollar remedy of a self-determining status. It is unfortunate that the apartheid educational system cannot prepare these most otherwise brilliant professional who cannot envision a vision of America with "indigenous zones".  African Americans are a distinct 'political and ethnic' identity who have the right to the land that exceeds most of the people called "Indians", who are actually more 'Caucasian' than 'Indigenous because of the 'apartheid' categories emanating from the 'one drop rule'. As slave descendants we must arise above the type of 'self-demeaning' politics articulated by most of our otherwise brilliant lawyers, professors, and activists. I hope Dr. West and Mr. Smiliey allow us the opportunity to articulate the propositions of our international lawyers and then have the courage to join us in our push for a "indigenous status plebiscite".American Institute of Human Rights

[lisa swytzer]

CHOCOLATE CITIES DETROIT HARLEM NEW ORLEANS WHO ELSE WANTS TO BE A CHOCLATE CITY BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA

[lisa swytzer]

IF WE HAVE OUR CITY WE CAN MAKE OUR DEMANDS OBAMA IS NOT OUR FATHER WE WILL TAKE CARE OF US OBAMA WILL AGKNOWLEGE OUR DAMANDS TO BE COUNTED AND OUR RIGHTS WILL EQUAL THE PLAYING FIELD

[jrsteele]

The violent take it by force...until we unite on levels of the cival rights ere its gonna be like that camel tryn to go through the pin h*** of a needle. Altough I was only a jot in those days the energy you heard and felt made one want to get-up and take it by force! Big ups to my brothas Smiley,Sharpton,West,Cosby,and your momma; who keeps the agenda in the light.

We need those black superheroes back those ,energetic no nonsense fearless brothas; Garvey,King,Malcom X, Chuck D, KRS 1, Amistade,Bob Marley your daddy. We need that 1 person that we all can unite too and with!

This thing is moumental to the future of this black agenda; white agenda sure ain't givin-a-dam most any way. We all got them oppinions about this issue that issue.

When we gone get this mass exoudus of the black agenda into the fabric of all people, who by any means necessary are willing to step up to the plate for the whole collective...the violent take it by force!

 

up for that down stroke

[Onaje Lott]

This isn't an "Us vs Them" thing, so to make it out to be that way only speaks to an individuals on lack of perspective and desire to see all people rise above the nonsense...

 

It does have a feel like a line has been or is soon to be drawn...I remember the initial back lash Tavis took for his early concern about some of the positions that the President was taking. It was reduced to jealousy, indignation and general "crabs in the barrel" mentality...I even started to look at Tavis differently...once the figurehead of this togetherness movement of people that seemed to truly think/do for the betterment of our community in a nation that never made it a priority to becoming a malcontent of his own support structure...

 

I don't think this is the case...People seem so fanatical about things that they can't find a way to be critical and supportive in one action...It isn't that hard. We do it as (GOOD) parents, spouses, and friends. It isn't negative to hold a mirror up to Obama or remind him of what he once stood on. If for nothing else to have him plainly speak to his change of rationale or share new experiences that have lead to a decision that comes across as uncharacteristic...

 

I like the discourse. I don't like that it is being spent and mutated into a tear among the few community focused leaders. I hope Sharpton isn't reflecting the "New Negro" mentality that is willing to accept less for the whole as long as he himself has greater access to promote and market his brand. In the same way I hope Tavis and Dr. West aren't taking this anti-fan perspective (which is best) for Obama and many things that are of Government too far. It is one thing to warn and hold accountable, but there should always be balance.

 

I look forward to being more informed on what this is about and where it will go.

[Mustafa Ansari]

Brother Steele, I was not talking about force. Indigenous status recognition is an 'election' through an insular voting process in our barbershops. salons, churches and mosques. Force is unnecessary unless the US goes "Gaddafi" on us, which the US can hardly do after its presentations to the UN of Libya.

[Bijan]

Dr. West has been a voice for the poor and the poor have been ignored by our president. The so called black agenda is one that benefits poor and working class people of all race, something that is not a priority in our two party system. If Obama claimed he is any different from his mouthpiece predecessors, he must accept a critique of his priorities. Too often Obama and his supporters are concerned about what the right wing think of him and acts accordingly. 

Ikalean Wilkerson said:

I think Dr. West and Smiley see our President as only a BLACK President who they want to do nothing but Black agendas.  President Omama is America's people and must do what he can for the people and as much as he can for the Black community incognito.  I am tired of West and Smiley with there anger directed against the President.  They need to try to find ways to get along and find solutions to the Black Communities problems.  We can't get problems solved with that type of bickering.  As a race of people we just can't seem to come together even with our differences like other races of people.  Why not? 

[Mustafa Ansari]

Ikalean, I don't think that you know that President Obama, directed the U.S to withdraw from the United Nations Elimination of Racism Convention last July in the Hague. These were talks that concerned the U.S obligation and debt to us as a result of Human Rights violations....so your understanding of the racial politics of the President is not clear

 

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Onaje,

Much appreciated. Incrementally, we can now begin to hope for some semblance of informed discourse on matters of commonality and national importance. All of this was beginning to sound like another day at the barber's. 

 

 

 

Onaje Lott said:

This isn't an "Us vs Them" thing, so to make it out to be that way only speaks to an individuals on lack of perspective and desire to see all people rise above the nonsense...

 

It does have a feel like a line has been or is soon to be drawn...I remember the initial back lash Tavis took for his early concern about some of the positions that the President was taking. It was reduced to jealousy, indignation and general "crabs in the barrel" mentality...I even started to look at Tavis differently...once the figurehead of this togetherness movement of people that seemed to truly think/do for the betterment of our community in a nation that never made it a priority to becoming a malcontent of his own support structure...

 

I don't think this is the case...People seem so fanatical about things that they can't find a way to be critical and supportive in one action...It isn't that hard. We do it as (GOOD) parents, spouses, and friends. It isn't negative to hold a mirror up to Obama or remind him of what he once stood on. If for nothing else to have him plainly speak to his change of rationale or share new experiences that have lead to a decision that comes across as uncharacteristic...

 

I like the discourse. I don't like that it is being spent and mutated into a tear among the few community focused leaders. I hope Sharpton isn't reflecting the "New Negro" mentality that is willing to accept less for the whole as long as he himself has greater access to promote and market his brand. In the same way I hope Tavis and Dr. West aren't taking this anti-fan perspective (which is best) for Obama and many things that are of Government too far. It is one thing to warn and hold accountable, but there should always be balance.

 

I look forward to being more informed on what this is about and where it will go.

[lisa swytzer]

this was not said for disgussion either you want to help black people or you don't i said black i did not say anyone else some people not invited to a party only black people is in this talk BLACK AGENDA now who wants a chocolate city!!!! yea !!! because i is free and this is what i is want to see yes or no will be good if you do not like it tooo bad!!!!!