Comments on (not)Happy About THIS!: Down for the Cause: Why Black Interests Are Not Be...

I have no words that would not echo your exact sen...

2010-02-26T17:51:59.212-08:00

I have no words that would not echo your exact sentiments so whats the point of me saying anything other than BRA-Fukin-VO! Excellent!

So I had a whole long comment typed that reflected...

2010-01-12T17:05:33.021-08:00

So I had a whole long comment typed that reflected my knowledge on the issue from the standpoint of being an actual researcher, and not just an observer speculating about how the system worked from the outside in...and then my computer went to sleep (low battery). lol

But rather than chop 'n' screw my thoughts to fit in a comment box, I'll just post a response at The Explanation Station (eventually...lmao).

Good topic though, I'm glad you raised it.

Rainmayun I don't believe that there is a cohe...

2010-01-12T15:25:54.833-08:00

Rainmayun I don't believe that there is a cohesive black community and I agree that multiple organizations would have to fill the space. Umbrella organizations aren't all that effective as we've seen. I do think that regardless of whether you are socially conservative (as most blacks are no matter their socio-economic status) or politically liberal, I do think that there are many issues in which the outcome of research would bond us in a particular direction. In other words, right now we are speculating about social conditions, when you have more concrete numbers and examples to deal with things come into perspective and people can more easily determine where their opinions differ and where they don't.

Orig_glamazon you made some great points as well esp. re: grown up jobs and the role of organizations like Urban League. So I don't mind long comments. The other day someone asked me about why I think that black people sort of "end up" in certain careers and that is such a layered question. It bothers me that more of us aren't pursuing our passions in many cases b/c we don't have proper mentorship and guidance.

I don't agree with your implicit premise that ...

2010-01-12T14:25:41.930-08:00

I don't agree with your implicit premise that there is a cohesive black community to begin with. Other factors such as class and income are more important in predicting what needs individuals will express. That said, I do agree that some of the ideas you have are useful. Once upon a time, the NAACP served that role in providing the media a place to go to gather facts and perspective. They have since lost their relevance, in part because of the growing importance of the factors cited above, and left a void waiting to be filled. I think that will happen eventually, but there will be multiple organizations in the space, not just one. For example, many black people of middle or upper income designations hold fairly conservative social viewpoints, but there is no political representation for them because the political powers with that perspective also hold other viewpoints that are abhorrent or incompatible with the beliefs of the black middle and upper class. Sooner or later, someone will step in to get their donations and give them a cohesive voice.

Great post! I do think that many of our civil rig...

2010-01-12T14:17:51.103-08:00

Great post! I do think that many of our civil rights organizations have failed us post –civil rights. I often find myself looking at the NAACP and Urban Leagues across the country as nothing but many a replacement for college extra-curricular activities for lots of young blacks using them as a vehicle to network rather than change. There is not a lot of new thought going on in those meetings, mostly passing down of things we know we need to do. When I was in my mid 20’s I joined HAUL-YP (Houston Area Urban League- Young Professionals) and was severely disappointed in not only the attendance but who was attending. Not nearly enough and a lot of people just trying to pad their resumes and network. No one was trying to start the revolution and as a newlywed I quickly ended up choosing being a wife and building a home over sitting in a class or meeting learning about stuff I could Google.

To me it boils down to both apathy and the inability to “rally the troops” for lack of better words. I think a lot of people thought Obama would change things and rally the troops, but the reality is that Obama is not just OUR leader, if at all; he is the leader of the nation, a big difference even in “post-racial” America. The harder question is how you go from nothing to something quick enough to affect change on a community who needed it yesterday. As blacks many of us are not interested in contributing our wealth in an effort to help Lil KeKe see there is more to life than doing the Southside or even little McKinley to learn there are other things to do professionally than be your standard Doctor or Lawyer. When it comes to professional opportunities we just are not as schooled as others about the many different ways there are to make a buck. And quite of few of us accidentally ended up being what ever it is we are now as grown –ups (I most certainly never muttered the words I want to be a Project/Product Manager when I was 7. A lawyer and Diana Ross, yes!) If I had a nickel for every time my family and childhood acquaintances ask me what it is I do and why do they pay me so much to do it, I’d invest it in creating one of those think tanks you’re talking about. Anywho…

Often, many of us are worried about securing our own first, which I can’t say I see a problem with, I believe we must first establish wealth, and then invest it in changing the landscape of our communities. However while we are establishing wealth, we need to be laying the groundwork on how to invest so the investment both benefits community and our bottom lines, I hate to say it but money talks bullshit walks. I think there would be more traction better minds and better results if money were involved. I do not believe fighting for any cause, means we must get nothing in return financially, like you said look at the white firms and think tanks out there, those people are making money while making changes.

Anyway I’m gonna stop blogging in your comments, what we really need is a plan(s) on how to change the things we want to change. If you are passionate about any of the myriad of problems that are plaguing the Diaspora today, make a plan, share that plan, twerk that plan, ask people what you need to make that plan to happen. Show how this plan will make a better place and fund that plan and provide a return on investment for those that help fund that plan. This is 2010 there are so many bright minds that are just a tweet, e-mail, BBM, text or phone call away. Do informational interviews write business plans about the revolution and then get funding to make it happen. Again, great post, a good way to get people thinking about solving the problem(s) instead of just preaching from the mountain tops.

-OG

@ Choqlate I TOTALLY disagree. We have no idea how...

2010-01-12T13:09:51.182-08:00

@ Choqlate I TOTALLY disagree. We have no idea how difficult it truly is to get funding for certain types of research b/c there has been no concerted effort on the part of specific political organizations to raise funding via other avenues beyond the obvious. Has anyone asked black churches to contribute, for example? That’s why my argument is centered around the function of organizations that are lacking in the black community. Those organizations, via their mission would be 1. To decrease apathy around their particular issue, 2. To raise money and 3. To develop and distribute messaging and research to influence policies. Further, your example of how research comes about is very incomplete. @ and1grad I agree with your statement that people who talk the loudest about these issues are typically those who know the least about the way the system works. Watching Rachel Maddow does not make you a political analyst!

Social statistics are generally a by-product of br...

2010-01-12T12:06:08.786-08:00

Social statistics are generally a by-product of broader studies geared towards comprehending a particular phenomenon of the population at large. Usually, it's difficult to get funding for more narrow studies (e.g. focused specifically on the black community), a direct result of the general public's apathy toward the plight of the African-American. The cure for this apathy is, of course, education...which inexorably brings us back to Twitter. :-D

EXCELLENT article. Probably among the best blogpos...

2010-01-12T12:00:47.223-08:00

EXCELLENT article. Probably among the best blogposts I've read thus far.

Seems like the majority of the people who do the loudest complaining, have the least knowledge of how anything actually works in regards to government. You cant do anything by yourself and if you try, you will fail and possibly embarrass yourself in the process. You make some great points about what the lobbyists, etc. bring to the table & the lack of "diverse" representation. I do have to wonder if we'd all be so apt to applaud Obama's plan to reduce their input to policy were that the case. Personally, I do applaud it because I think their amount of influence is parasitic & that the parties they represent have benefited WAY too much within the last decade. I doubt that would change with regard to a more representative color scheme.

Also, IMO, the reason you dont see much in terms of ACTUAL results in terms of participation is because people talk about race issues just to hear the sound of their own voice. They never extend the conversation beyond useless finger-pointing and chest-thumping. When people start having conversations about race that people of ANOTHER race are actually allowed to participate in, THEN I'll take them seriously. But as long as all they're about is "blame whitey," we will continue to lag behind, sitting in the bleachers while the real players take the field.