Basic Black Live: The Black Agenda

TWO MONTHS AGO PRESIDENT OBAMA
MET WITH A GROUP OF PROMINENT
AFRICAN AMERICANS TO DISCUSS
JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.
SINCE THEN, ONE OF THE MOST
PROVOCATIVE QUESTIONS OF THE
POST-CIVIL RIGHTS ERA CONTINUES
TO BE ASKED: WHAT IS THE BLACK
AGENDA?
TONIGHT, REVEREND RAY HANDY, KIM
McLARIN, WRITER IN RESIDENCE,
EMERSON COLLEGE.
CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF THE
CALLIE CROSSLEY SHOW, WGBH, 89.7
CHARLES OGLETREE PROFESSOR OF
LAW, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.
AND DARNELL WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR THE URBAN LEAGUE OF
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
>> LET ME JUST LAY IT OUT AND
ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT BLACK
FOLKS HAVE HAVING A BLACK AGENDA.
SHOULD THERE BE ONE?
>> YES.
>> AND WHY?
>> BECAUSE WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN HERE FOR HUNDREDS OF
YEARS.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO GO, WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO.
AND ANY IDEA OF MOVING FORWARD
YOU NEED AN AGENDA.
YOU NEED A PLAN, AS DARNELL
SAID.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT WE HAVE
TO HAVE A PLAN.
IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO FIND
OURSELVES-- AS WE'VE SEEN
OURSELVES-- CONFLICTING WITH
EACH OTHER, FIGHTING WITH EACH
OTHER AND MAKE NOTHING PROGRESS.
>> HOW DO WE MODIFY THE BLACK
AGENDA TO BE MORE FROM AN URBAN
LEAGUE'S PERSPECTIVE TO BE MORE
OF AN URBAN AGENDA.
IT USED TO BE THE BLACK
COMMUNITY WAS SOMEWHAT
MONOLITHIC.
NOW WE HAVE LATINOS AND ASIANS
LIVING WITHIN OUR SPHERE.
SO HOW DO WE ADDRESS THOSE SAME
CORE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING
THEM BY FOCUSING JUST ON THE
BLACK AGENDA?
SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD
LOOK AT IT FOR AN URBAN AGENDA,
WHICH HAS THE SAME COMPONENTS OF
A BLACK AGENDA.
>> SO DARNELL IS TRYING TO
DEFINE THE AGENDA.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE?
>> I THINK IN A WAY YOU'RE
GETTING AT SOMETHING I THINK
THAT'S IMPORTANT, WHICH IS I
WOULD ARGUE THERE DOES NEED TO
BE A BLACK AGENDA.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT HAS TO HAVE
ENCAPSULATE IT HAD NOTION THAT
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING
CANNOT BE DONE IN ISOLATION.
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
LIVING RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US,
OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE FACING
SIMILAR ISSUES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WE'VE EVEN GOT ISSUES WITHIN
THE GROUP WE'VE GOT TO TALK
ABOUT.
CLASS ISSUES THAT WE NEVER QUITE
GET TO OR REALLY DISCUSS AND SO
ON.
SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S A...
THAT AGENDA HAS TO BE BROADER.
IT'S GOT TO LOOK AT A MUCH... IN
FACT, I'D ARGUE IT'S GOT TO BE
GLOBAL, RAN THEALLY, NOT JUST
NATIONALMENT IT'S GOT TO BE
GLOBAL.
>> I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M NOT
SURE URBAN AGENDA CAPTURES IT.
MAYBE IT START THERE IS BUT
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS IN
SUBURBS AND THEY NEED TO FIGURE
OUT HOW DO WE DEAL IN THIS
COMMUNITY?
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE RURAL,
THE FARMERS, BLACK FARMERS WHO
HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
FOR DECADES.
THEY DON'T HAVE AN URBAN AGENDA
BUT THEY HAVE A BLACK AGENDA.
WHY CAN'T WE GET GOVERNMENT
MONEY LIKE EVERY OTHER FARMER IN
THE WORLD WHEN WE HAVE THE SAME
QUALIFICATIONS, THE SAME
CREDENTIALS AND THE SAME NEEDS
AND NOW THINK FOR SOME SUPPORT
THEY'RE GETTING $2 BILLION.
THIS IS A 50-YEAR PROBLEM OF
OPPRESSION AND WE DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW, WE KNOW FROM OUR PARENTS,
THAT THERE WERE BLACK FARMERS
DOING THE VERY SAME THING.
WE THINK FARMING IS A WHITE
THING, IT'S A GLOBAL THING, IT'S
A NATIONAL THING AND PEOPLE WERE
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
SO I THINK IT HAS TO BE A BLACK
AGENDA THAT HAS A GLOBAL
CONNOTATION.
BECAUSE IT ALSO RELATED TO
HAITI.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HAITI.
WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO
THAT.
THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
KATRINA.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AFRICA WITH
ISSUES OF NUTRITION, ISSUES OF
ENVIRONMENT, ALL THAT IS PART OF
THE AGENDA AND WE NEED TO DEAL
WITH IN THE ONE RESPECT OR
ANOTHER.
>> BUT IN THE OLD DAYS, SO TO
SPEAK, THERE WAS ONE AGENDA,
KIM, AND FOR WHEREVER WE WERE IN
THE WORLD, WE WERE JUST TRYING
TO GET FREE.
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
>> STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO
GET FREE, THAT WAS THE DEAL.
SO EVERYBODY CAN SIGN OFF ON
THAT.
WELL, NOW THE WAY CHARLES HAS
JUST OUTLINED IT, HOW MANY
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THERE ARE
UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT
ISSUES THERE ARE.
HOW CAN THERE BE ONE AGENDA?
>> WELL, THERE ARE STILL ISSUES.
I MEAN, IT IS CHALLENGING, I
AGREE WITH BOTH OF OUR... ALL
THREE OF OUR ESTEEMED GUESTS.
I'M SO INTIMIDATED SITTING HERE.
(LAUGHTER).
>> OH, YEAH.
SURE.
(LAUGHTER).
>> BUT THERE ARE ISSUES,
ESPECIALLY I AGREE WITH
PROFESSOR OGLETREE BECAUSE THERE
ARE ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO OUR
COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
THAT AFFECTS CHILDREN...
CHILDREN OF COLOR, BLACK
CHILDREN, NOT JUST URBAN
CHILDREN BUT SUBURBAN CHILDREN.
SO THERE ARE STILL PARTICULAR
ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO AGREE
WITH, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY WE
SHOULDN'T ALSO BE DEALING WITH
URBAN ISSUES THAT AFFECT LATINOS
AND CLASS ISSUES.
I MEAN, AMERICA REALLY NEEDS TO
HAVE A LINED AGENDA.
A POVERTY AGENDA, URBAN AGENDA
BUT WE AS A PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE
A BLACK AGENDA.
AND IT DOES STILL HAVE TO DO DO
WITH GETTING FREE, IT'S JUST A
DIFFERENT CONNOTATION.
>> ARE WE REALLY JUST SAYING HOW
DO WE FRAME THE QUESTION OF THE
BLACK AGENDA?
BECAUSE IF I THINK ABOUT
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING
AND HEALTH CARE, THOSE ARE THE
FOUR CRITICAL AREAS THAT I THINK
WHETHER YOU HERE IN SUBURBS,
URBAN, WHEREVER ACROSS EVEN IN
HAITI OR IN AFRICA, THOSE ARE
THE FOUR CRITICAL COMPONENTS
THAT MAKE UP.
SO THE REAL QUESTION IS THAT HOW
DO WE FIND THE RIGHT FORMULA OR
STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH
THOSE IN A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND
CONSISTENT WAY.
THAT'S HOW I'M COMING AT IT.
BUT THE REASON WHY I SAY URBAN,
THAT'S WHAT I KNOW.
I'VE BEEN TO THESE OTHER PLACES
AND I'VE SEEN THE POVERTY AND
THE ELGCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE SO
STRIKINGLY REAL.
BUT THEN WHAT'S THE PROPER
FRAMEWORK FOR US TO SAY THAT WE
HAVE CONSISTENCY AND PASSION
AROUND MAKING THE CHANGE.
>> THERE ARE THOSE WHO MIGHT
SUGGEST THAT TIME OVER FOR
HAVING A BLACK AGENDA.
THERE OUGHT TO BE, MAYBE, AN
URBAN AGENDA IN GENERAL.
MAYBE THERE OUGHT TO BE AN
AGENDA FOR ALL GOOD AMERICANS TO
COME TOGETHER TO WORK TOWARD
BETTER EDUCATION, BETTER HOUSE.
BUT BLACK AGENDA?
WHY ARE WE SEPARATING OURSELVES,
SOME WOULD SAY?
>> THEY'RE NOT INCONSISTENT.
THE WHOLE IDEA-- AND THIS IS
WHERE I AGREE WITH DARNELL WHEN
HE TALKS ABOUT THE URBAN
AGENDA-- THE CENTER TO A LOT OF
THIS IS JOBS.
IF YOU HAVE JOBS YOU CAN OWN A
HOME.
IF YOU HAVE A HOME YOU CAN SEND
KIDS TO SCHOOL.
IF YOU CAN SEND THEM SCHOOL YOU
CAN GET HEALTH CARE, RIGHT?
SO THE JOBS PART OF IT I AGREE
WITH.
URBAN MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT TERM,
BUT JOBS, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE
EXPERIENCED VERY RECENTLY THE
REAL SENSE.
MY SENSE IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE
CAREFUL NOT TO SAY THAT THIS IS
A UNIVERSAL KUMBAYA AGENDA THAT
EMBRACES EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT
WON'T WORK.
AND WE'LL BE THE ONES RIGHT NOW
UNEMPLOYMENT IT'S BAD BUT IT'S
WORSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
EDUCATION?
BAD, BUT WORSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HEALTH CARE?
BAD, BUT WORSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE AN
AGENDA TO FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS,
I THINK, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THEM.
>> WELL?
>> WELL I WOULD JUST SAY ALSO I
VERY MUCH RELATE TO THE NOTION
THAT GROUP IDENTIFICATION SHOULD
NOT BE A SOURCE OF BARRIER,
SEPARATION.
BUT I THINK THE NOTION YOU CAN
ESCAPE IT IS KIND OF A SOLUTION
AT BEST.
THAT'S PARTICULARLY TRUE IF YOU
TALK ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS.
THE REALITY IS WE'RE AN
IDENTIFIABLE GROUP.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BLEND IN
TYPICALLY.
TWO, THERE'S A SPECIFIC HISTORY
HERE THAT'S PRETTY PROFOUND AND
STILL HAS ITS IMPACT.
THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BECOME AN
EXCUSE FOR EVERY ISSUE OR BECOME
A WAY OF EVADING RESPONSIBILITY
BUT TO IGNORE THAT HISTORY, I
THINK, IS TO REALLY DOOM
YOURSELF ON SOME RESPECTS TO
FAILURE.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I THINK,
TALKING ABOUT A BLACK AGENDA
MAKES SENSE.
WHAT MAKES IT MUCH MORE
COMPLICATED IS, AS YOU SAY, AT
ONE POINT THE GOAL WAS VERY
CLEAR.
LOOK I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO
VOTE.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL
REASONABLY.
I WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF
BEING LYNCHED.
THERE WERE VERY BASIC... WHAT
PEOPLE MIGHT CALL SORT OF HAS
LOW LEVEL ONE NEEDS.
WE'RE NOW STARTING TO TALK ABOUT
MOVING FURTHER UP THAT MATTER
THAT'S WHY I THINK CONVERSATION
GET MRS.... GETS MORE CLEAR.
>> WE WERE RESPONDING TO AN
ANTIBLACK AGENDA.
SLAVERY IS AN ANTIBLACK AGENDA.
JIM CROW SEGREGATION.
WE COULDN'T SLEEP AT THE HOTEL
OR DRINK AT A CERTAIN FOUNTAIN,
WE COULDN'T GET HEALTH CARE
INSURANCE.
AND THAT WAS AN ANTIBLACK
AGENDA.
AND THE BLACK AGENDA IS NOT
AGAINST SOMEBODY ELSE, IT'S IN A
SENSE LET'S THINK OF FAVORABLY
ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO CHANGE
THE PARADIGM THAT SAYS THAT
WE'RE EXCLUDED.
NOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT QUALIFIED
OR IN NEED, BUT JUST BECAUSE THE
COLOR OF OUR SKIN.
I'M GLAD YOU SAY BLACK, BECAUSE
IF YOU THINK ABOUT POLICE
BRUTALITY, RIGHT?
IT'S BLACK.
IT'S NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER AMADOU
DIALLO OR ABNER WILLIAM WAS AN
AFRICAN AMERICAN OR AFRICAN.
OSCAR GRANT.
>> PEOPLE ATTACKED IN NEW YORK.
>> RIGHT.
WHO WERE BLACK, RIGHT?
LATER WE FIND OUT THEIR
NATIONALITY.
BUT IT'S THE BLACKNESS THAT
STRIKES PEOPLE AS SOMETHING
THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
ALL OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED IT
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
>> FACES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
WELL.
>> SO YOU KNOW THE REASON THAT
THIS CONVERSATION IS A HOT TOPIC
RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A
HOT TOP NICK MANY PLACES ABOUT
WHO SHOULD SET THE AGENDA,
THERE'S SOME FIGHTING GOING ON
UP IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHO
SHOULD LEAD THE AGENDA.
MOST PARTICULARLY BETWEEN
REVEREND AL SHARPTON AND TAVIS
SMILEY AND THEY DRAGGED YOU A
LITTLE BIT INTO IT.
(LAUGHTER)
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
WHO GETS TO SET THE AGENDA?
THAT TO ME IS OF CONCERN.
>> I LOVE THIS.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT... I LOVE THIS
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH US HAVING A PUBLIC
DEBATE ABOUT WHAT IS...
>> THIS WASN'T NO DEBATE, THIS
WAS A BIG OLE FIGHT.
(LAUGHTER).
>> IT WAS AN UGLY FIGHT, TOO.
>> SLUG FEST.
>> IT OPENED UP A DIALOGUE WE
HAD TO HAVE, RIGHT?
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
>> WHAT'S THE DIALOGUE WE HAD TO
HAVE?
>> THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO GO AND HOW WE'RE
GOING TO GET THERE AND WHO WE
NEED TO DO THAT.
WHAT OPENED UP THE AGENDA FOR
ME, THE GOOD ONE, MY VIEW, WE
CAN'T EXPECT ONE MAN-- PRESIDENT
OBAMA-- TO LEAD US TO THE
PROMISED LAND.
AND REVEREND EUGENE RIVERS SAID
THIS VERY CLASSICALLY.
THERE'S ONE BLACK MAN IN THE
WHITE HOUSE AND ONE MILLION
BLACK MEN IN JAIL.
THAT'S A PRETTY STRONG
STATEMENT.
THAT'S A REALITY CHECK THAT WE
CAN'T REST EVERY ONE OF OUR
HOPES AND DREAM THERE IS.
THAT'S WHAT THE DEBATE ABOUT.
THE PRESIDENT HASN'T DONE THIS
AND THAT, WELL, HE HASN'T DONE A
NUMBER OF THINGS.
BUT WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE?
WHAT HAS WE DONE WITH THE
SUPREME COURT?
WHAT HAVE WE DONE?
SO IT OPENED UP AN IDEA AND MY
SENSE IS THAT ALL THESE BROTHERS
NEED A NICE HUG, RIGHT?
AND A HAND SHAKE BECAUSE WE NEED
TO MOVE FORWARD IN DIFFERENT
WAYS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME AGENDA,
SAME IDEAS ABOUT AGENDA BUT IT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ARE GOING
TO MAKE ANYONE AN OUTCAST
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT
POINT OF VIEW.
>> LET ME JUST SAY, WITH LOVE,
AS THEY WOULD SAY IT FELT LIKE
AN EGO BATTLE.
THERE WAS REVEREND SHARPTON WHO
WAS VERY INSULTED THAT TAVIS
SMILEY WOULD SUGGEST HE'S NOT
WORKING ON A BLACK AGENDA AND
WORKING AT IT FROM A
COMMUNITY-BASED LEVEL AND IN THE
WORDS OF TAVIS SMILEY THAT HE IS
CARRYING THE WATER FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
>> OUCH.
>> THAT WAS PRETTY STRONG
LANGUAGE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND TAVIS SMILEY SAYING ON
THE OTHER HAND, I'M HOLDING THE
PRESIDENT'S FEET TO THE FIRE
BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BE WORKING
ON THE BLACK AGENDA BECAUSE EVEN
IF IT'S ONE BLACK MAN IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, WE-- AFRICAN
AMERICANS, BLACK FOLKS-- WERE
HIS LARGEST CONSTITUENCY.
AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH MAKING HIM
BE THE HEAD OF THE TEAM ON THIS?
>> MARK, BEN JEALOUS AND AL
SHARPTON WERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE
TALKING WITH THE PRESIDENT ON
THESE VERY ISSUES.
OBVIOUSLY TAVIS WAS NOT AT THAT
MEETING.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A
RUB.
I THINK TA +*FS NEEDS TO GET
CREDIT FOR ASSEMBLING, I THINK,
SOME VERY STRONG, THOUGHTFUL
LEADERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> DURING HIS STATE OF THE BLACK
UNION.
>> THE STATE OF THE BLACK UNION.
BUT THE SHORTFALL OF THAT, IN MY
HUMBLE OPINION, IS THAT THERE
WERE NO PROGRAMS OR INITIATIVES
THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THAT.
>> RIGHT.
WHAT CAME OUT OF THOSE?
>> YOU CAN BRING US TO THE
KITCHEN TABLE AND WE CAN TALK TO
THE COWS COME HOME ABOUT WHAT
THE PROBLEMS ARE.
THEN WE GO TO OUR INDIVIDUAL
HOUSES AND THE PROBLEMS STAY THE
SAME.
>> YEAH.
SO WHAT WAS THE ACTION PLAN?
>> WHERE'S THE ACTION PLAN.
WHERE'S THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE INITIATIVES THAT DEAL WITH
THE PROBLEMS?
AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK
COLLECTIVELY WE HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT A BETTER WAY TO GET THAT
DONE.
>> WHAT YOU THINK, KIM?
>> WELL, LET ME CHOOSE MY WORDS
CAREFULLY HERE.
(LAUGHTER)
I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF EGO
INVOLVED HERE.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE ABOUT
TAVIS AND REVEREND AL.
I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS TO
ACCUSE REVEREND AL OF NOT HAVING
THE BEST INTEREST OF BLACK FOLKS
IN MIND.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST TRUE.
AND I THINK AFTER THE VISION HAD
A LITTLE FIELDINGS HURT.
BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
THE BIGGER ISSUE IS I AGREE
COMPLETE WILL I WITH DARNELL.
WE CAN TALK UNTIL THE COWS COME
HOME, WE NEED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC
ACTION PLAN.
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, CORI REFORM,
EDUCATION, ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
AND THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE... I
MEAN, I DO THINK THERE'S A
LEGITIMATE POINT THAT AS A
CONSTITUENT, I DO THINK THE
PRESIDENT IS HAMSTRUNG.
I ASKED PROFESSOR OGLETREE ABOUT
THIS QUESTION WHEN HE WAS
SPEAKING AT THE AFRO-AMERICAN
MUSEUM ABOUT REPARATIONS.
NOT TO GET ON THAT SORE TOPIC.
BUT IN SOME WAYS I DO THINK THE
PRESIDENT IS HAMSTRUNG IN THE
SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT HE CAN
ADDRESS AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN
PRESIDENT.
SO IN SOME WAYS, SIMPLY AS
VOTERS, WOULD WE BE HOLDING
HILLARY CLINTON'S FEET TO THE
FIRE IN A WAY THAT WE CAN NOT
HOLD BARACK OBAMA'S FEET TO THE
FIRE?
I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE
QUESTION TO ASK.
>> BUT, I THINK, I MEAN, IT'S...
THERE'S, I THINK, REAL VALIDITY
FROM BOTH VIEW POINTS.
I THINK WE OFTEN MAKE TOO...
MAYBE THE FLIP SIDES OF THE SAME
COIN.
MISTAKES.
ONE, WE DON'T HOLD POLITICIANS
WHO ARE BLACK ACCOUNTABLE
ENOUGH.
>> I FULLY AGREE WITH THAT.
>> THIS IS NOTHING PERSON, THIS
IS JUST BUSINESS.
HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE
ACCOMPLISH HIS LEGISLATION THAT
WE WANT TO SEE.
HERE'S WHAT WE SEE FUNDED.
WE THOUGH THIS IS GOING TO HAVE
IMPLICATIONS AND, IN FACT, I
THINK YOU DO PEOPLE A FAVOR
BECAUSE PART OF THE WAY YOU MAKE
YOUR POINT IS LOOK, YOU SEE ALL
THOSE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT?
SEE THOSE LETTERS I JUST GOT
THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
ITIS NOTHING PERSONAL.
JUST BUSINESS.
>> THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.
>> ON THE OTHER HAND, TOO, I
THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
THE NOTION... I WOULD ARGUE FOR
THE LAST FEW DECADES, WE'VE PUT
TOO MUCH IN THE POLITICAL
BASKET.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE ENOUGH
ON AN T ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FRONT.
>> BUT DO YOU THINK OUR
EXPECTATIONS ARE... BECAUSE I
THINK WE MISALIGN OUR
EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE A PERSON OF
COLOR IS IN THE SEAT.
AND JUST REAL BRIEF WHEN NELSON
MANDELA WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT
THEY THOUGHT THAT ALL OF THE
SHANTYTOWNS IN SEW SOWETO WAS
GOING TO BE GONE.
THREE PRESIDENTS LATER AND HE'S
STILL GOT THEM.
SO WE HAVE OUR EXPECTATION
SOMETIMES MISALIGNED.
IT'S THE SAME KIND OF FALSE
EXPECTATIONS ON OBAMA, HOW HE'S
GOING TO FIX ALL THE ILLS IN
BACK AMERICA.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S DOABLE.
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE BAD
THING.
I TAUGHT AT MIAMI THIS PAST
FEBRUARY.
AND TALKED TO BLACK STUDENTS
THERE.
DO YOU THINK BARACK OBAMA HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE BLACK
COMMUNITY?
AND STUDENTS SAID NO, WE DON'T
THINK SO.
THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
I SAID WELL IF I BET IF I WENT
TO NORTH MIAMI OR IF I WENT TO
LIBERTY CITY, IF I WENT TO A
BARBERSHOP OR BEAUTY PARLOR OR
WENT TO A CHURCH, PEOPLE WOULD
FEEL DIFFERENT.
THEY WILL SAY I VOTED FOR HIM
BECAUSE I THOUGHT WITH A RECORD
I COULD GET A JOB.
I VOTED FOR HIM BECAUSE I
THOUGHT I COULD GET HEALTH CARE.
I'VE LOST MY JOB, I'VE LOST MY
SUPPORT,ETTE.
>> BUT YOU CAN GET HEALTH CARE.
>> EXACTLY!
>> WELL, SOME.
>> ONE OUT OF FOUR AIN'T BAD,
MAN.
>>
(LAUGHTER).
>> BUT I HOPE THAT PEOPLE DO
HAVE GREATER EXPECTATIONS THAN
THE PRESIDENT CAN MEET.
BUT THAT SAID, WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO?
THE ALTERNATIVE IS IF HE CAN'T
DO IT WHAT CAN I DO IT LOCALLY
TO HELP MAKE THINGS HAPPEN?
I CAN RUN FOR MAYOR AND NOT
EXPECT SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT
FOR ME.
HOW DO WE GET THE PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY, THE COLLECTIVE
COMMUNITY POINT OF VIEW IN HERE
WHICH IS LOST SOME TIME.
WE CAN BLAME BROOM ALL DAY LONG,
BUT WHEN HE'S NOT IN THE OFFICE,
IS SOMEONE ELSE GOING TO DO IT
FOR US?
>> TO YOUR POINT, YOU'RE LIKE DO
BLACK FOLKS NEED A LEADER TO
CARRY OUT THEIR AGENDA?
>> NO!
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET
ACCOMPLISHED?
WHAT'S YOUR PLAN FOR DOING IT?
THEN YOU LOOK AROUND AND ASK WHO
CAN HELP ME DO IT?
WHO CAN HELP ME LOCALLY?
WHO CAN HELP ME AT THE STALE
LEVEL?
WHO CAN HELP ME NATIONALLY?
HOW DO I ALIGN WHAT I'M TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS PLACE NGOR
A BROADER SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES
WITH WHAT'S GOING ON I THINK OF
EDUCATION AS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
I DON'T EXPECT THE PRESIDENT OR
ARNE DUNCAN TO SOLVE THE ISSUE
OF THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP PROBLEM
IN BOSTON BUT IT'S WONDERFUL
BECAUSE I CAN SEE THEY'VE GOTTEN
SOME THINGS GOING THAT ARE
ALIGNED WITH SOME THINGS THAT
ARE HAPPENING HERE.
AND THAT BECOMES A REAL
LEVERAGING POINT FOR US TO, I
THINK, BOTH DEMAND AND TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME THINGS
LOCALLY AROUND OUR KIDS.
THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT THE
POLITICIAN TO DO.
>> OKAY, BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY
THIS.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S CORRECT IN
SAYING, ALL RIGHT, WELL WE HAVE
TO DO SOME THINGS AND YOU HAVE
TO BE... MAKE EVERYBODY BE
ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT THIS IS A BIG... I MEAN,
WE'VE NEVER HAD A BLACK
PRESIDENT BEFORE.
>> SO THIS IS OUR TIME TO GET
IT.
>> HE'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
FROM THE MAYOR OF WHEREVER, YOU
KNOW?
I MEAN, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S
WRONG FOR FOLKS IF THEY FEEL
LIKE, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, NOT
THAT I WANT TO EXPECT ALL THE
SHANTYTOWNS TO GO AWAY AND THAT
I WOULD HAVE A $80,000 JOBS
TOMORROW BUT I EXPECTED
SOMETHING PEOPLE VOTED FOR HIM.
>> EXACTLY.
>> WHAT I'D SAY IS TWO THINGS.
>> POOKKY IS JAMAL NOW.
>> JAMAL GOD UP AND VOTED.
>> I WOULD SAY THERE'S AT LEAST
TWO THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED
THAT ARE INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT.
I'D SAY THE EDUCATION WHICH HAS
NOT GOTTEN VERY MUCH ATTENTION.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT MAY BE
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HEALTH
CARE INITIATIVE.
IF THAT REALLY LINES UP IT COULD
BE A GAME CHANGER NOW THAT BEING
THE CASE YOU OUGHT TO BE
FIGHTING OVER THE CONTRACT...
THE SCHOOL CONTRACT IN YOUR
LOCAL... YOU OUGHT TO BE KEEPING
AN EYE ON WHERE THAT FUNDING IF
IT'S COMING INTO YOUR STATE IF
IT'S GOING AND WHAT IT'S GOING
FOR.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WHEN,
IN FACT, THAT'S NOT HOW IT
HAPPENS.
I THINK OFF PLAN FOR HOW YOU
WANT TO MOVE THINGS AND THEN YOU
ASK HOW DO I ALIGN AND HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO DO WHAT
THEY CAN AT THAT LEVEL SO THAT
IT REINFORCES MY PLAN FOR RIGHT
HERE IN MY COMMUNITY.
>> WHICH MEANS YOU WANT THE
PRESIDENT TO BE STRATEGIC.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> YOU WANT THEM TO USE THE
BULLY PULPIT TO SAY WHAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S
ABLE TO HAVE INCENTIVES FOR
EDUCATION.
HE SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR
EDUCATION AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT
I'LL GIVE YOU INCENTIVES.
TRICE THE TOP WHETHER YOU LIKE
IT OR DISLIKE IT.
INCENTIVES FOR JOBS.
IF YOU HIRE PEOPLE I'LL GIVE YOU
TAX CREDITS.
HE CAN'T SOLVE THE WHOLE PROBLEM
BUT THE IDEA IS THAT WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS HE
CAN DO WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS,
ALL THE THINGS HE CAN DO TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE, BUT HE'S JUST
GOING TO GIVE US THE CARROT,
WHICH IS NOT THE WHOLE SALAD OR
NOT THE WHOLE MEAL.
WE TAKE THAT CARROT AND USE THAT
TO MAKE OTHER THINGS HAPPEN.
>> BUT WE STARTED THIS
CONVERSATION, THOUGH, BY STATING
THAT THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU
HAD IS THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T
INVOLVED IN THE FORMULATION OF
THOSE ISSUES.
SO WE COME BACK TO WHERE WE WERE
THAT IF I'M NOT AT THE TABLE
SETTING THE AGENDA, I'VE GOT AN
ISSUE WITH THE AGENDA.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND I WANT TO FIND OUT, WHAT
SHOULD BE THE LOCAL BLACK AGENDA
GOING ON HERE?
BUT I WANT TO ALERT OUR VIEWERS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO
LIVE STREAM BROADBAND ON YOUR
COMPUTERS SHORTLY SO YOU CAN
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
BECAUSE WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO
TALK.
BUT WHAT IS A LOCAL AGENDA,
MR. DARNELL?
I KNOW YOU'RE ON THAT.
>> IT'S ABOUT JOBS.
IT COMES DOWN PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
THE BEST PROGRAM IS A JOB.
YOU HELP YOURSELF, YOU HELP YOUR
FAMILY, YOU'RE ABLE TO CHANGE
THE FABRIC OF A COMMUNITY AND A
CITY AND A STATE.
THAT ELIMINATES A WHOLE MYRIAD
OF ISSUES WHEN A PERSON IS
GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.
THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, WE HAVE
PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE URBAN
LEAGUE DRESSING UP FOR TRAINING.
THEIR KIDS ARE SAYING, WELL,
DADDY, WHERE YOU GOING?
MOMMY, WHERE YOU GOING?
IT CHANGES THE WHOLE DYNAMICS IN
THE FAMILY.
SO IF WE CAN GET CONNECTION
BETWEEN JOB PLACEMENT AND
PUTTING PEOPLE INTO MEANINGFUL
JOBS WHERE THEY EARN A WAGE THAT
THEY CAN LIVE QUALITY LIVES THEN
I THINK WE CAN MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
>> THAT'S THE KEY "MEANINGFUL."
I'M GLAD YOU SAID "MEANINGFUL
JOBS" BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT.
THIS TIES INTO THE DISCUSSION
THAT WE HAD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
ABOUT CASINOS AND THOSE THAT'S
POTENTIAL JOB SOURCE LOCALLY.
AND SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
ABOUT WHAT KIND OF JOBS THAT WE,
I THINK, PROMOTE.
I THINK JOBS ARE... DO YOU
DISAGREE?
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE THAT HURTS OUR COMMUNITY
DEFINITELY.
>> WE ARE SERVICE-ORIENTED JOBS.
MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING JOBS
ARE GONE.
SO AS WE BECOME MORE CREATIVE IN
THE LIFE BIOTECH SCIENCES JOB.
BUT THAT'S THE EDUCATIONAL...
>> EXACTLY.
AND THE CORI REFORM AND ALL
THESE THINGS ARE CONNECTED.
>> AND I WOULD ALSO ADD,
ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, I THINK IN
THESE ECONOMIC TIMES IT'S NOT
AS... THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PIECE, TOO, I STILL THINK IS
KEY.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
AND I'VE SORT OF SEEN THIS IN A
COUPLE OF INSTANCES,
PARTICULARLY WORKING WITH HIGH
RISK KIDS.
ONE OF THE WAYS WE GOT THEM INTO
THE JOB MARKET WAS TO BE ABLE TO
GO TO LOCAL BUSINESS PEOPLE IN
THAT COMMUNITY WHO UNDERSTOOD
THE DYNAMICS AND WOULD REALLY
WORK WITH THOSE KIDS.
I THINK IT MATTERS IN TERMS OF
KIDS THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE
INTOER IF THEY'RE LOOKING AT
PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM WHO
ACTUALLY RUN BUSINESSES.
AND THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
AND THAT THEY SEE... I'M NOT
SAYING EVERYBODY IN THE
COMMUNITY... ALL BUSINESS OWNERS
HAVE TO BE.
BUT SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS
OUGHT TO LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE IN
THAT COMMUNITY.
>> THAT'S A MENTOR...
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING
ONLINE VERY SHORTLY SO STAY WITH
US THE CONVERSATION WILL
CONTINUE.
YOU WERE SAYING?
>> I WAS JUST SAYING... I WOULD
SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
PERSON... THE POINT ABOUT
MEANINGFUL JOBS.
I THINK SOME JOBS MAY NOT APPEAR
TO BE MEANINGFUL.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
GET MEANINGFUL JOBS.
I'D RATHER HAVE THEM WORKING FOR
WHATEVER THE MINIMUM WAGE IS IF
THEY HAVE A RECORD, PAINTING A
FENCE, CUTTING GRASS THAN NOT
WORKING AT ALL.
>> OH, YEAH.
OH, YEAH.
>> AND THE OTHER POINT, THE $817
BILLION STIMULUS PACKAGE.
THE PRESIDENT WAS PRETTY SHREWD
ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK THE
GOVERNOR AS WELL.
THE IDEA IS THAT YOU CAN EMPLOY
SKILLED WORKERS, SEMISKILLED
WORKERS AND SOMETHING CALLED
UNSKILLED WORKERS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THERE ARE A LOT OF US... IT'S
NOT THAT WE'RE UNSKILLED, WE
WEREN'T ABLE TO JOIN THE UNION,
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE
TRADE.
WE CAN LAY BRICKS, DRIVE
VEHICLES, DO ALL THESE THINGS
AND MY SENSE IS THAT I HOPE WE
DON'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT WE
NEED... EVEN IF IT'S THE BOTTOM
RUNG JOBS, START SOMEWHERE AS
OPPOSED TO SAY I'M NOT GOING TO
GO TO WORK UNTIL I GET $25.
I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD GET
UNMEANINGFUL JOBS.
BUT I'M SAYING WE'VE GOT TO
START WHEREVER WE CAN START.
I'D RATHER HAVE FULL EMPLOYMENT
AT SOME LEVEL THAN 20%
UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE WE CAN'T
GET OR WON'T ACCEPT OR TAKE
THOSE JOBS.
>> WE MAY START AT A POINT...
>> TO MOVE UP AND NOT HAVE THE
BARRIERS.
>> I USE THE WORD JOBS IN ORDER
TO INTRODUCE THE TOPIC.
BUT WE REALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT
CAREER PROGRESSION.
>> RIGHT.
>> THEY THEY START SOMEWHERE.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
TO BE MINDFUL THAT MANY OF THE
BARRIER IT IS A OUR FOLKS ARE
ENCOUNTERING TO GET ON THAT
CAREER PATH, THAT'S WHAT WE
ENCOUNTER.
SO THEY CAN'T GET TO THIS
MEANINGFUL JOB UNTIL WE GET THEM
BEYOND THOSE BARRIERS AND I
THINK CORPS ZI ONE OF THEM.
TRANSPORTATION, CHILD CARE
ISSUES, ATTITUDE.
>> DROPOUT RATES.
>> DROPOUT RATES.
THAT'S EDUCATIONAL.
SO WE REALLY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO GET THEM ON TO THE
CAREER PATH.
>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
I MAY BE THE SKUNK AT THE
PICNIC.
I THINK IN ADDITION TO JOBS WE
HAVE TO ACCEPT THE BURDEN OF
WHAT I CALL CIVIC PARTICIPATION.
I'M TOO BUSINESS STO +*EU GO TO
CHURCH, I'M TOO BUSY TO VOTE,
TOO BUSY TO SIGN A PETITION.
THEY'RE RIGHT, THEY'RE TIRED.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO MULTITASK WHICH
IS NOT AN EASY THING TO SAY.
IF WE'RE WORKING AND NOT VOTING
WE WON'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR
CHILDREN GETTING THAT JOB.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR SOMETHING
BEYOND JUST WORKING.
>> THAT'S A CHICKEN AND EGG KIND
OF THING, THOUGH.
PEOPLE DID RISE TO THE OCCASION.
PEOPLE DID GET OUT AND VOTE.