Black Women on the Move: Leaders of Tomorrow

Black History Month is a great time to remember the leaders of our past and celebrate the warriors of the present.

We've highlighted some of the "Men to Watch" who will probably be the important Black leaders of the next generation. It's time now for the ladies, "Black Women on the Move" who are ready and able to lead.

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Catch the Movie at the Beginning: Meet Julian Castro

Meet San Antonio's mayor Julian Castro and you can see his political rise early in the game. President Obama announced that he will nominate Castro for his cabinet as Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The boyish looking Castro(39) has a twin brother, Joaquin serving in the House of Representatives. Both are poised to become Hispanic leaders in the National Democratic Party. The media is already flooded with information about Julian Castro who is following in the footsteps of his mentor Henry Cisneros, former mayor of San Antonio and HUD Secretary in the Clinton White House. Washington Post's Wonkbook dipped into information about Castro, as did The Fix with 10 Things You Should Know Julian Castro.

You might remember Julian Castro from his inspiring keynote address at the National Democratic Convention. His narrative is much like that of President Obama. Castro is a Mexican-American, doesn't speak Spanish, Roman Catholic, pro-Choice, and he favors Affirmative Action. His bio is due out in 2015. Rumors are already circulating about Castro as a running mate for Hilary Clinton. Hummmm... One thing you know for sure, you are getting into the movie as it starts. It looks like it might be a long ride.

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An A-Worm Strikes Again

Have you heard the term A-worm? Think Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. Think Clive Bundy, Nevada's millionaire welfare cattle rancher. A high school coach refers to a Black player as a "future welfare recipient". New York Policemen refer to West Indian carnival goers as savages, animals and said that someone should drop a bomb on them and wipe them out. Rush Limbaugh called the President an "Oreo Cookie". Are you getting the picture? We're talking about an angry, white, old, Republican or right wing man. The drama never ceases.

Robert Copeland

Police Commissioner Robert Copeland recently was heard calling President of the United States the "N" word.  Mind you his comment was preceded by an obscenity. The residents of Wolfeboro, NY  spoke out and rejected Copeland's comments saying he didn't speak for the town nor did he reflect their sentiments. They demanded his resignation. Copeland stood by his statement, but bowed to pressure from the town, resigning his position.

 

Doug Lamborn

What we continue to learn is that racism is alive and well in the hearts and minds of some people in this country. Some even sit in the hallow halls of the United States Congress. Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado referred to the President as a "tar baby". You can search the media and find numerous examples. You'll even find a Congressman calling President Obama a liar during a State of the Union message. We have seen accepted decorum and due respect dismissed when it come to number 44.



What is surprising is that there are no limits to what some will do to assure themselves of fifteen minutes of media fame and massive support from their like-minded cronies. Elected officials seem to think that spurious comments and name calling is an easy way to collect contributions from donors. Many will say or do anything to get a line of coverage in the press and it seems to pay off. It will take vigilance and dedication to call out these unacceptable acts and statements and ensure that there are consequences for this type of behavior.

Beware, another A-Worm will strike again. Let there be consequences.

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National Urban League: 2013 State of Black America

This week the National Urban League released its 2013 State of Black America report, a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of where black and Latino Americans stand in relation to their white counterparts in the US.

The report documents extraordinary gains in education even as it underscores inequities in employment that continue to be reflected in the income gaps that underwrite so many social factors, effectively detailed in the Equality Index, the National Urban League’s comprehensive model that accounts for education, health, civic engagement, social justice, and economics across race, taking into account age, region, and other factors.

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Romney-Ryan: Selling the Medicare Lie

Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan took the stage in The Villages with his mother Betty Ryan Douglas, 78. The Wisconsin congressman said he saw Medicare's benefits firsthand as a child when his grandmother, with Alzheimer's, moved in with his family. "My mom and I were her two primary caregivers," Ryan said before shifting to his mother and the promise of Medicare for her.

"She planned her retirement around this promise," Ryan said. "That's a promise we have to keep."

"It's not just a program," he added. "It's what my mom relies on."

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YO-YO: Women and Minorities Going Backward

Comic Jimmie "JJ" Walker slamming President Obama and implying that Blacks vote based on race raises my blood pressure. He must agree with the folks in the Hamptons who paid $30,000 per person to attend a fundraiser for Mitt Romney and managed to get media attention to their views that Blacks are less educated, don't understand our (political) system and therefore don't know how to vote on the issues. Resegregation, racial profiling, increasing crime rates, in adequate public schooling, voter suppression, increasing incarceration- so many issues tell me that unless we make good decisions in Election 2012, women and minorities are going backward and YO-YO (you're on your own).

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Political Games: Same Song - Different Day

The country’s facing serious difficulties. Unemployment is at 9 per cent, the housing market is tanking and Americans have lost confidence in the future. The President is fighting back and his Republican opponents are climbing over one another to grab the brass ring.

The GOP candidates take every opportunity to criticize President Obama, promising to make him a “one term president”. Romney went to Nevada where foreclosures are highest in the nation and promised to let the “normal market process” force owners out of their homes and allow the properties to be rented. The candidates have presented their financial proposals, including Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan and Rick Perry’s “flat tax” plan. The rich will get richer and the middle class and the poor will be adversely affected. Bachman and her fellows vow to repeal “Obamacare”, but offer nothing to replace it to solve healthcare issues.

Voters agree with the President and the Democrats on major issues such as ending the Bush tax cutas for the wealthy and preserving Social Security and Medicare. They agree with Republicans that the government should spend less, but seem to doubt that any of the GOP candidates would trim the budget in an intelligent and compassionate way.
Simply not being Obama is not enough. Calls to make Obama a “one term president” aren’t getting the same big response. Many voters realize that Republican candidates are selling the same old policies-trickle-down economics and tax cuts for the rich. Funny, they don’t even try to change their rhetoric. I wonder if they know voters aren’t buying it.

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