The Black Elephant in the Room

The political milestones for people of color continue.

Michael Steele, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, has been selected as the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee. According to the AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Steele was elected Republican National Committee chairman on Friday, defeating the incumbent party chief and three other challengers over six rounds of voting to become the first black to lead the GOP.

The former Maryland lieutenant governor takes over a beleaguered GOP as Republicans seek to rebound from back-to-back defeats in national elections that gave Democrats control of Congress and the White House.

“As a little boy growing up in this town, this is awesome,” said Steele, the most moderate candidate in the field and considered an outsider because he’s not a committee member.

In a brief acceptance speech, the new GOP chairman struck a tone of inclusiveness.

“We’re going to say to friend and foe alike: We want you to be a part of us, we want you to with be with us, and for those who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over,” Steele said.

He won 91 votes out of a possible 168 in the sixth round. A simple majority of 85 was needed, but it took six rounds for Steele to win.

This move was not only another step in the right direction for the country, but it was notably significant for Republicans.  For starters, this puts the GOP in a much better position to recapture moderate voters who have slowly moved away from the party. While much of the attention typically falls on the Democrats and their inability to dent Republican electoral strongholds in the South, the 2008 election was more of a referendum on the GOP. No two ways about it: they were  flat-out embarrassed in just about every part of the country. Voters who should have been all but secured found themselves on Team Obama during the general election. Additonally, Republicans were losing House and Senate seats all over the South, clearly an indication that their ability to connect with moderates was severely compromised. However, having someone like Steele - who, by the way, has hinted at adopting a 50-state strategy – should make things interesting in future elections. 

Also, I think Michael Steele will bring a new and objective definition to a decidedly one-faced party. I appreciated when he essentially cosigned with Colin Powell’s earth-shattering sentiments on MTP; when he emphasized the “image problem” facing his party.  For much too long, the party has been co-opted by a lone group of idealogues who promote certain things which are in direct contradiction to ideologies of the more  sensible conservatives and moderates out there.  With Steele, the GOP could transform into the party who would rather provide healthcare than bomb other countries, who would commit themselves to defending the lives of living as much as the lives of the unborn, who could devote more to aiding the needy and less to aiding the greedy.

Finally, this was an important move toward more diversity in politics. While Colin and Condi were some of the most important faces in the Bush Adminstration, that was not enough to quell the doubts that Republicans had the potential for diversity. It will take the Republicans a while to shake the images of all-white rallies and racist comments from the likes of Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and – most recently – former RNC chair candidate, Chip Saltsman. But having a person like Steele as the face of the RNC is a certainly a step in the right direction. It’s not likely that an entire wave of black people will break ranks with the Democrats in favor of Steele and his GOP friends. Recall this year’s Republican National Convention where less than 2% of the delegates were black. But for people who were looking for the Republicans to embrace diversity, Steele’s selection could not have come at a better time. 

President Obama managed to secure a staggering 95% of the black electorate. With black people generally subscribing to the Democratic Party, that level of support was to be expected. But it was still approximately 3 points higher than what Gore received in 2000 and closer to 7 points more than John Kerry. Add to that, the fact that black people turned out in record numbers. Quite frankly, black people became a group the GOP can no longer afford to ignore.   

Admittedly, there was something enjoyable about watching the GOP crash and burn during the 2006 midterm elections and the 2008 general election. But I also recognize that multiple parties are necessary for a healthy democracy to flourish. That said, I’m interested to see if the appointment of Michael Steele will do anything to help the GOP reclaim the political authority they recently boasted.

I guess we’ll find out in 2010.

- ACL

A Murderous Economy

I thought after hearing about the killing at VT, I was done with depressing news for the next month. Wrong again.

Earlier this week a Los Angeles resident, apparently dejected over losing his job, killed his wife and his five children before taking his own life.  Authorities indicated that among the dead were an 8-year-old girl and two sets of twins — 5-year-old girls and 2-year-old boys. Read more about this horrible story here.

When I hear about vicious killings like this, I try to have an open mind even when my anger urges me to do otherwise. But I simply cannot understand how losing a job should automatically become a death sentence. What’s worse is that this man did not simply enforce a  death sentence on himself, he also carry it out with his loved ones. It’s been rumored that he and his wife planned out this type of scenario in the event that they were driven to this point. But I cannot speak to the veracity of those claims.

Chalk up this tragedy to yet another causualty of job loss. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. It’s not likely to be the last time it happens. I should point out that there is a major difference in some of these stories: Lupoe and his wife were fired from their positions because of fraud. They were not laid off or downsized due to the state of the economy. Still, they faced the prospects of a world without an immediate economic solution. That can lead to just as much despondency as getting laid off.

On the one hand, stories like each of these are pretty predictable. In a country where one’s identity, self-worth, social value are directly tied to their employment status, education, etc., people unable to live up to certain expectations are probably more likely to commit acts like this. But I simply cannot fathom – perhaps as a product of my privilege as a person happily employed - ever arriving at the point where I would choose death over unemployment. I make no bones about it: I love my job (I wish I made more money, but I’m good…). But in the event that if I lost everything tomorrow – heaven forbid – I would like to believe that I would not go on a killing spree; especially when the victims are those I hold dear the most.

Please remember the family in your prayers.

- ACL

Is Virginia Tech cursed?

Methinks so. No less than two years after the tragic and unforgettable shooting on the Virginia Tech campus, something like this happens:

Xin Yang’s head was cut off with a kitchen knife, just weeks after arriving in the United States from China to study accounting.

Her alleged attacker, Haiyang Zhu, also from China, was arrested at the scene by an officer who arrived less than a minute after receiving an emergency call.

On January 7, he wrote on a Chinese-language blog he had been so frustrated over stock losses and other problems that he thought “only of killing someone or committing suicide”.

Miss Xin, 22, was believed to have been having coffee with Haiyang in the campus Au Bon Pain cafe.

Seven witnesses from the cafe have said there was no argument or shouting prior to the killing on Wednesday at 7pm.

The officer on the scene reported finding 25-year-old Haiyang holding her head in his hand, according to a police affidavit.

He has been charged with first-degree murder.

It is understood the pair had recently made friends and PhD student Haiyang was listed as one of Miss Xin’s emergency contacts, according to university records.

He was not known to the university team who deal with mentally disturbed students.

Virginia Tech president Charles Steger said the killing had stirred up memories of the 2007 massacre.

“Once again we are challenged as a community to offer support to one another as we process this recent event. Once again we will rise to the occasion,” he said.

My heart hurts for the Yang family. I simply cannot imagine having to receive the news that my loved one was brutally killed in a school cafeteria because of another person’s stock portfolio.

Sometimes I’m glad I’m not God. Sending some people to an eternal torment would be all too easy for me.

Please keep the VT student body, the Yang family, and the Zhu family in your prayers.

- ACL

The DC Divas

Sorry DC Divas. You’ve been replaced.

It took President Obama’s inauguration for me to figure it out, but now I remember why I can’t stand Mariah Carey and Beyonce.

That’s it. As you were.

- ACL

Lift Every Voice and STING!

How could anything starting off with lyrics from Lift Every Voice and Sing wind up being so disasterous?

I distinctly remember the controversy brewing a few weeks ago when it was announced that Pastor Rick Warren would deliever the invocation at President Obama’s inauguration. But in the end, the controversy actually came from the other guy. For your viewing pleasure, here is Rev. Methuselah Lowery sharing what was supposed to be an enlightening and stirring benediction:

Words cannot begin to express the level of abject capitulation I have with old vanguards of the past like Rev. Lowery. While many black folks have openly embraced candid and inept ministrations like this as a refreshing divergence from “being polite”, I see it as an unfortunate move overshadowing the significance of the day. As I mentioned in my previous post, we should never lose sight of the fact that – for centuries – folks have used their blood, sweat, and tears as currency, purchasing the future that we enjoy today. I remain committed to that philosophy. But honoring past deeds does not mean that I have to pardon the misdeeds of the present-day.

“Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back; when brown can stick around; when yellow will be mellow; when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right…”

One of the pictures forever etched in my mind will be the dazed look from a white spectator next to me. While thousands of people all around me shared some kind of inside joke, my eyes stayed fixed on this bewildered woman. For the briefest of moments, she turned in my direction; though I’m sure she did not notice me noticing her. I immediately turned away, embarrased to look at her. Perhaps more than anything, I was hurt for her.

During the long ride back to Michigan, several thoughts raced in my head. I thought about the woman next to me and – perhaps – the thousands of  other anonymous white people who took part in this event with the expectation of joining in on the joyous celebration. I thought about the sense of depreciation that must have been theirs as they listened to a prayer wholly bereft of any acknowledgment of their role in the phenomenon we know as Obama. I thought about the white brothers and sisters with whom I had the pleasure of working during the election. The same people who had doors slammed in their faces while preaching the Gospel of Obama. The same people with whom I traveled to neighboring cities and states. The same people whose voices were heard in the voting booths. The same people who shared in the solemn pride of hearing the words “President Barack Obama.” Obama’s win was not merely a victory for people of color. Indeed, it was a victory for us all. But by lumping white people into a group who apparently has an inability to “…embrace what is right…”, Rev. Lowery’s flaggellating words trumped their involvement in history.

I suspect that there were just as many white people who found Lowery’s prayer entertaining as there were white people who saw it as something which outraged their moral sensibilities. Similarly, I am sure that it was not Lowery’s intention to monolithically place all white people in the same group. But this was neither the time nor the place to allow residual indignation from past events to surface. We were celebrating the historic election of a person of color to the highest office in the land; an election which could have never taken place without some of the same people being attacked – directly or indirectly – by this man’s words. As I said on another blog, if after that spectacle, white people decided to pack up, leave the event, and give up on standing alongside black people, they would be justified. They are stuck in a perpetual conundrum best summed up in one phrase:

“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

- ACL

Inauguration: The Day After

Standing in freezing temperatures, jammed packed in the National Mall like sardines, and with feet swelling from standing in one place for hours, I finally heard the words I never thought I’d hear a person of color say in my lifetime: “I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…” Well, at least it went sort of like that. President Obama arguably pulled off the first Bushism of his tenure while initially stammering through the oath. But in his defense, it was ridiculously cold and he was in front of almost 2 million people in one place; let alone the tens – perhaps hundreds - of millions watching around the globe. The occasional nervous stammer is expected. But I digress.

One linguistic episode aside,  this inauguration ceremony reflects one of the most important moments in the history of this country. This moment is directly defiant to the shameful years of our past and is a signpost for a promising future. People of all ages, races, and backgrounds gathered to watch this event unfold; an event which emphatically closed the door on America’s once prevalent and adolescent mindset that only a certain kind of person could be President. Now being ushering in is a new wave of hope and confidence.

But now, it’s the day after. The confetti has been swept away. It’s back to work we go.

For us to truly recognize the significance of the day and of this time in our history, a different type of thinking and practice is necessary. For starters, this event must make us more conscious of the shameful history paving the way for us to arrive at this point. The process for putting a man like Barack Obama in this position did not start with the inaugural ceremonies. It did not start with an impressive Election Day victory. It did not start with Obama accepting his party’s nomination for President. His propellant victory in Iowa was not where the movement started. For that matter, not even Obama announcing his intentions to run on that cold day two years ago began this process. These moments merely underscored a chain of events tracing back decades.  The inauguration of President Obama was a fulfillment of entire centuries-worth of anonymous people not remembered in history books, but who were crucial to what we are enjoying today. They suffered, fought, and died for an event in which they would never take part. We owe this all to them by honoring them using a multipronged approach.

First as we commemorate this as a critical point in our nation’s maturation, it is important that this does not simply become the period at the end of a sentence. I pray that as a nation we do not allow Obama’s election to become the impetus for complacency. While I am thrilled that America has finally opened its arms to the reality of a person of color, it was certainly not an unconditional acceptance. I’ve hinted before that weight of an unpopular predecessor was carried by the McCain/Palin ticket; only to be magnified when the economy collapsed. At that point, an Obama victory was almost inevitable. Besides all of that, Obama had to be a certain kind of candidate during his run. Any endorsement of Jeremiah Wright’s statements, for instance (comments on which I and most black people in this country actually cosign to some extent) would have spelled immediate defeat in a general election. Though I suspect Obama truly wanted to find solvency with the issue of race by parting from the discussion altogether, had he even wanted to engage in some of the difficult conservations about this nation and race relations, McCain would have no doubt been the man being sworn in yesterday. This reality underscores an important point: we have progressed significantly with race relations, but we still have a long ways to go.

Secondly, I think it is crucial that we not get so effusively sentimental about Obama’s victory that we forget to be critical of his performance. The overwhelming issues facing this nation are only temporarily absolved by this euphoric moment. Poverty and economic hardships, violence, racism, homophobia, anti-intellectualism, and a host of other issues continue to be staples  in the American structure. Before victory can truly be claimed, these things must come to an end. What President Obama does to address these things will be the ultimate measure of this moments’ significance. In his defense, we tend to place blame on Presidents without also recognizing the role Congress plays. But with the supporting cast he has, President Obama has a lot working for him. But if he cannot produce positive results during his tenure, we may only be celebrating the historic election of a captain on a sinking ship.

Of course, we cannot lay this all at the feet of Obama alone. Challenging him to be an effective leader must be met with our own self-imposed challenge to be better citizens. As citizens, we have an obligation to be equally as critical of Obama’s performance as we were of President Bush’s. We must not be so enamored by the ceremoniousness of all things Obama that we forget he’s supposed to be our President. After all, we are fresh off the heels of a miserable decade in our political history that could have been avoided had we used sensible criticism of our President instead of mawkish adoration. This all demands that we not stay politically blinded until we vote again. This calls for something much greater than that.

This leads me to my final point: we should not find ourselves in the position of resting on our laurels now that Obama is officially president. Instead of wasting this opportunity by accepting a docile and unassuming role in the change we are seeking, we should make a conscious decision to be involved. The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now. To be sure, a history-making inauguration of the first president of color makes the challenges we face no less difficult to surmount. But it should at the very least trigger a belief that we can face and defeat the obstacles we face daily. We can all be a little more motivated to healing this world.

To volunteer.

To improve our communities.

To mentor our young.

To reach out to the poorest and more marginalized among us.

To exhibit the same pride and connection that allowed us to endure throughout the generations.

Our history has not culminated at this moment. If anything, this is only the next step in the process.

- ACL

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Once again, this post will mirror some of my Misc. news pieces, but with another new twist. This time, my post will discuss random news while paying homage to one of my favorite Westerns.

The Good:

Captain Chesley Sullenberger: If ever there was a person with immeasurable valor, he would have to take a backseat to Capt. Sullenberger. The intrepid captain of the good ship US Airwaves Autobus A320 has become an instant celebrity after preventing what would have been a disaster. Using his skills and experience as a pilot, he was able to successful land the plane in the Hudson River after it experienced technical problems. After facing the mind-numbing task of landing a plane in a body of water, he and his crew still had the wherewithal to confront the chaotic problem of getting everyone off.

I fly often. So much in fact, that I get get overly confident that I will arrive to my destination without incident. But there are so many potential dangers that we face as we hit the skies. This is another example of how sudden things can occur.

All the same, God’s hand was definitely involved in this miraculous display. And indeed, all the credit in the world should be bestowed on Mr. Sullenberger and his crew. The next time I fly, I think I might personally request him. 

The Heading God’s Call Activist group: Normally, religious groups make me cringe because their message usually involves a great of dogmatism and oppressive undertone. But this group’s message underscores the rampant violence in Philadelphia. Specifically, they are calling gun retailers to intensify their processes for selling guns, especially considering the risk of those guns falling in the hands of criminals. This movement is being done in response to local and state legistature being slow to act.

Gun fanatics and anti-gun zealots have argued the relationship between guns and crime to the ground. So speaking directly to their talking points is inconsequential. But I will do, at least, is give this group kudos for making some attempt – albeit potentially ineffective – to curb the violence plaguing the City of Brotherly Slayings. Whether or not their efforts are beneficial; or even sensible; is for you to decide.

Hamas and Israel (pending): For the time being, we can rejoice. Hamas and Israel have temporarily accepted a cease-fire agreement. Combat has been suspended after a 22-day assault on each other; culminating in the deaths of hundreds of people; including an unacceptable amount of civilian casualties.

I don’t expect for either side to stay in my “Good” category for long, considering all the conditions placed on the cease fire. Hamas wants Israel to leave Gaza. Israel plans to stay put. All told, I simply don’t believe there is any possible hope of lasting peace and reconciliation until Israel offers Palestinians sovereignty in Gaza. Plain and simple.

The Bad:

Sheila Dixon: I am at my wits end with corrupt and unscrupulous black politicians and the mawkish electorate who vote them in. Add to that list, one Sheila Dixon. By taking over $15,000 in gifts for which she was not entitled; including gift cards intened for needy families, she is now charged with 12 counts of felony thefts, fraud, and perjury.

President George W. Bush: This goes without saying. Besides, I’ve been preaching this same sermon for the past eight years. But what has been of particular interest with President Bush deals more with his departure than his tenure.

I don’t know if the rest of you caught it, but President Bush became the odds on favorite for Head Shaker of the Year during his final press conference. This press conference (or “interrogation”, based on the grilling he received), he made several tepid attempts to save his legacy for future historians. Facing questions about everything from Iraq and “Mission Accomplished”, to Katrina, to the miserable economy, this latest duck-n-d dodge performance given by the good President from Texas was his most classic. Dodging wing-tip shoes is one thing. This dude had to dodge Timberlands this time.

In true Dubya form, he never actually owned up to his mistakes. Instead, all he did was cite a few instances where a couple of things here and there could have been done differently. Not once did he accept his role in the mess left for the next person up to bat.

John Tanner: Author of a 2004 mail, indicating that he likes his coffee Mary Frances Berry style: black and bitter. See the DOJ report (page 47 for the courtesy of those who don’t want to read the entire report). For any of you who remember, Tanner was also the same guy who resigned from his post in the Civil Rights division of the DOJ, after declaring that voter ID laws discriminate more against the elderly than they do against African-Americans since African-Americans die younger.

I am not going to follow suit with many other people of color and make this an issue of race. Obviously with the black reference, the temptation is there. But I will refrain. Instead, I see this as – quite frankly – an insensitive and inappropriate statement for a person, especially one working in an area of civil rights, to make. What makes this particularly noteworthy and irksome is his lame attempt at any apology.

The Ugly:

Roland Burris: Despite my predictions to the contrary, it looks like Roland Burris may be seated after all. Like many other people, I find it upsetting that Burris would accept a controversial appointment from an openly corrupt governor. What’s worse is that issues of race were somehow injected into this story.

But what makes this an “ugly” story instead of a “bad” story was best summed up by another Roland. CNN’s Roland Martin provided arguably the most sound commentary to be found about this issue. In a nutshell, this is a system of our own doing. Like it or not, gubernatorial appointments to the U.S. Senate are supported by law. If we don’t like it, we should change it.

Circuit City: Circuit City, a once major technology retailer, is on its last leg. Facing a looming economy and an unanticipated lagging behind competitors like Best Buy, Circuit is closing shop in all of its U.S. stories, slashing over 30,000 jobs. It does not appear that Canadian stores will be affected as of now, but time may change that.

While this might be good news for people looking to get a 42 inch flatscreen TV for a good bargin, it represents the growing list of casualties of the economic collapse.

Me (for going to the Inauguration): Crammed up with millions of other spectators. Standing in the cold for 12 hours. The 10-12 hour ride to DC by bus. The extra 10-12 hours returning home. And for what? To watch a jumbotron? I could’ve had the same experience (actually, a more comfortable experience) watching this at home. Instead, I’m stuck returning a favor to a colleague by playing chaperone to a bunch of students. Oh joy.

Let this serve as a reminder: Never owe anybody anything! When your number is called to return their favor, you can expect some bizarre and undesirable request. Don’t put yourself in the position.

Well, that’s it for now. As I just mentioned, I’m off the inauguration tomorrow. Due to heightened security, I don’t plan on bringing my laptop with me. But I’ll blog about this event when I return. For those of you who are attending, have safe travels to and from. For those of you who will not be attending, I’m jealous.

See you on the flip side.

- ACL