Barack Obama; Arrogant or Confident?

The following is another guest post from my wife. Be sure to check out her excellent blog, The “D” Spot Redeux, @ http://thedspotredeux.blogspot.com

Barack Obama: Arrogant or Confident?

By Pamela Hilliard

There is a familiar meme being resurrected from the 2008 Democratic Primaries that Senator Barack Obama is becoming more and more arrogant as the Presidential elections draw closer.  As a former English teacher, I request that you pull out your Webster’s for clarity: ar’-ro-gant (adj.) full of or due to pride; haughty; con’-fi-dent (adj.) certain; sure of oneself.  It seems to me that Senator Obama is extremely confident; confident in his abilities, confident in his policies, confident in his political stances, confident in the people with whom he surrounds himself, confident in his campaign, confident in his readiness for the job of President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Services.

I believe that those who see Obama as arrogant are unpleasantly surprised that a relative newcomer could actually become President of the United States: he’s too young, he’s too inexperienced, it’s not his turn; he’s only been a Senator a few years–how could he be the Democratic nominee? But there is another undercurrent to the label of “arrogant”: that of the “uppity black man”.  As is all too common in America, just about everything can have racial overtones, intended or not, and there is some ugly history that black men were only supposed to go so far, only supposed to ask so many questions, and certainly were not supposed to go against the ruling class.  Barack can be smart, but not “smarter” than, he can have good ideas, but not “better” ideas, he can be right some of the time, but not “most” of the time.

When you're running for Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on Earth, a little confidence helps

Someone who is arrogant shows that arrogance with a “my way or the highway” attitude; with an air of inevitability; even with an “I can do no wrong” aura–forging ahead even when everything points to failure.  People who are arrogant are often later found to be like the Emperor without clothes; the arrogance is actually a cover-up of his or her own insecurities.  Arrogant people dare others to speak or act against them.  Senator Obama did not believe the Democratic nomination was all but his for the taking; therefore he had to devise a superior strategy backed up by a unshakable faith in his vision for America.  That is why his theme never changed; and he did not have to “make up” things to look overly important; he didn’t have to make repeated or major shakeups in his campaign staff because he was sure he chose the right persons for the right reasons the first time.  

Most of the anti-Obama rhetoric has been to portray him as “not quite good enough”, not quite “knowledgeable enough”, and especially not quite “worthy enough” (as in Affirmative Action for black politicians).  Many have tried unsuccessfully to call him a flip-flopper when if they had actually studied his words, they would find out that he has been quite consistent in his views all along.  Many have tried to trip him up with various “guilt-by-associations”, and are surprised when he does not explode or rant and rave against those who try to attack him (the angry black man); even going so far as to compliment those same attackers–another surprise move of confidence.   Many are still trying to find something, anything, that will finally prove that there are skeletons in his closet that will surely bring him down this time.  Those still looking are becoming increasingly fruustrated when they find nothing.

Someone who knows that he has the right vision and judgment, and has seen his vision and judgment borne out to be right with the passage of time has the luxury of being confident.  Someone who is confident that “nothing untoward will be found” doesn’t have to try to hide behind being overly vengeful toward his opponent.  Someone who is confident in his own capabilities does not have to tear down his opponent to try to cement his/her own win. 

As was shown in both the Democratic and Republican Primaries, the candidates who were actually the most arrogant ended up not being the winners.  In the immediate hours and days after the death of Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, most of the candidates were falling all over themselves to get in front of the cameras to show how strong they were in foreign policy. It was a media circus of “look at me! look at me!”  That is arrogance. Most of those candidates had ended their campaigns less than one or two months later.  Only the most quietly confident of the candidates gave respectful condolences (mostly off-camera), and then a few days later explained that what he had outlined in his policy about Pakistan was right all along. That’s confidence. Senator Obama was able to show his prescience about the situation from several months’ previous to that time.  Because of his vision, because of his judgment, he had the confidence to let everyone else fight for attention; he was right all along.

And so what if he's a little arrogant?

Arrogance is full of or due to pride, and pride cometh before a fall.  Confidence is being certain and sure of yourself.  Senator Barack Obama is a confident man.  Senator Barack Obama is a brilliant man.  Senator Barack Obama is a brilliant, confident black man.  He won the Democratic nomination against all odds; he is ahead in the Presidential election polls in most areas because of superior strategy and very hard work starting years ago when he arrived in Chicago in a beat-up car, knowing no one in the city, to take a community organizing job that paid $12,000 a year because he was confident it was the right thing to do.  There’s nothing arrogant or “uppity” about that.

Detroit neighborhoods equal Detroit power

Meanwhile, life goes on, and so does Detroit.

Who knows when the clouds will part and the acid rain will finally stop falling, but in the meantime there are things going on and things to do. In the midst of the current civic crisis - and it is most definitely a crisis, make no mistake about it - it is temptingly easy to laugh and snicker at what is happening here. After all, a mediocre comedy writer could just about make a name for himself using exclusively Detroit material for subject matter.

We don’t need fiction in Detroit. The truth is bizarre enough, thanks.

But the truth isn’t just Kwame, text messages, the city council, and then more Kwame. There are somewhat less than one million other people who live in Detroit - by choice or otherwise - and they have just as much claim on Detroit’s truth as Mayor Kilpatrick or anyone else. Detroit ain’t all about them, but it’s about the rest of us, too. That’s why Arise Detroit! Neighborhoods Day, which is going on today at more than 100 neighborhood-sponsored events all around the city, is so important. It’s because the people in those neighborhoods have stories to tell too.

I do realize I’ve posted about Arise! several times before, but I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think what they were doing is so important for the health and well-being of this city. But Arise! obviously isn’t the only effort focused on repairing the city’s neighborhoods. This is good because it’s going to take an expansive, multi-pronged and, most importantly, consistently cooperative effort utilizing every resource available to fix these neighborhoods.  Too many of them gave up on treading water long ago and are now simply competing to see which of them can hold their breath underwater the longest.

One long-term effort that appears to be making some recognizable headway is the focus of a recent article in Crain’s Detroit Business. The city’s  Next Detroit Neighborhoods Initiative, which actually got started under the Kilpatrick administration in 2007 and was one of the mayor’s better efforts (soon no one will remember or even care how much potential this man had to become a truly great mayor who could have turned this city around), has been attracting literally millions of dollars in funding from private foundations, businesses, and the State. All of these millions of dollars are to be put toward neighborhood revitalization in six specified neighborhoods throughout the city that have been identified as particularly in need.

Detroit's Brightmoor neighborhood has been described as "one of the poorest neighborhoods in the poorest big city in America." --DETROIT NEWS PHOTO

As reported in the Crain’s article, ongoing Next Detroit efforts in the neighborhoods include:

– Home improvement through grants totaling $2.5 million to preserve 80 homes in several of the neighborhoods.

– Vacant lot reclamation in five of the neighborhoods and related projects, including community gardens, tree nurseries, pocket parks, meadow monocultures, creative mowing, semipermanent green space, fencing and public art with $1.7 million in funding.

– Applying for funding to establish safe routes to schools in several of the neighborhoods by focusing on sidewalks, street signs, road work, lighting and further vacant lot reclamation.

If we can save the neighborhoods, we can save the city.

The history of black Detroit

I found this website called the Detroit African American History Project while surfing awhile back and it is absolutely indisensable for anyone who wants to know and understand black Detroit. But even more than that, I think it’s important simply to look at this wealth of information as Detroit history. Not something so much separate from as it is a part of.

And I’m proud to say this phenomenal website was put together locally by the good folks at Wayne State University.

You really need to check this out. Here’s just a taste.

There’s this…

MLK at Cobo --PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTER REUTHER LIBRARY

…and then there’s this…

Bethel AME Church -- PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTER REUTHER LIBRARY

…and then finally this…

Martha Jean the Queen "Baptism" --TONY SPINA COLLECTION COURTESY OF WALTER REUTHER LIBRARY

So what are you still doing here?

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Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick is not Kwame Kilpatrick

OK, I admit I’m biased, but I think my wife’s blog, The D Spot Redeux is the bomb. She’s a great writer and passionate about her  hometown Detroit, where she was born and raised. The following is a guest post she submitted today. Check it out.

 

Guilt By Association Totally Inappropriate

By Pamela Hilliard

There is a primary election coming up in Detroit on Tuesday, August 5 2008.  Several local positions and state legislature and congressional seats are on the ballot.  Although the turnout is expected to be embarrassingly low (less than 20%), the election is very important.  One congressional seat being challenged is that of 13th District Congresswoman and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick.  Does that name sound familiar?  Yes, she is the mother of the embattled Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick; and for the first time in many years, she is fighting to keep her seat: because she is the Mayor’s mother.

Congressional Black Caucus, she serves on the House Appropriations Committe (the only Michigan representative on that committee), the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services, and the Appropriations Subcommitte for Homeland Security.  It takes years of service, political skill, and relationship-building to be appointed to such powerful committees.  When voters go to the polls to make their choice, they should consider the entire personal life and professional accomplishments.  However, there is one challenger to Ms. Kilpatrick who is basing almost her entire campaign on conducting a smear campaign against the Congresswoman because of the alleged misconduct of her son.  This challenger is currently running a distasteful TV commercial mocking the Congresswoman for her support of her son.  The point of this challenger’s campaign, as well as the TV ad, is to paint Congresswoman Kilpatrick with the same brush as her son.  This challenger does not even seem to understand the ramifications of removing someone from such powerful appointments; especially for Michigan…we need all of the financial help we can get from Congress.  New members of Congress are routinely assigned to much less powerful committees; and it takes years to “move up the ladder”.  There is no way this challenger can even begin to have the influence that Ms. Kilpatrick has worked so hard to achieve over the years.Senator Barack Obama just because Rev. Wright was his former pastor, many Democrats (especially those supporting the candidacy of Senator Obama), as well as other fair-minded people, cried “foul”.  It was patently unfair to transfer the imagined “transgressions” of Rev. Wright to Senator Obama.13th Congressional District of Michigan.  I would hope that voters would make their decision based of the reputation of the Congresswoman, not that of her son.

Although this post is not an official endorsement of Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, it is a denouncement of the tactics of one of her challengers.  Back in the spring of 2008, when the mainstream media tainted the name and reputation of Reverend Jeremiah Wright of Chicago based on a 30-second clip of one of his sermons, then tried to condemn

In the same vein, I believe it is patently unfair to try to destroy the Congressional career of Congresswoman Kilpatrick based on the actions of her son.  On the one hand, a mother is expected to support her son; and at the time of the plaintive cry for support that is part of that commercial, the Mayor had not been involved in, or accused of the things he is now.  On the other hand, the Mayor is a grown man, and as such, the Congresswoman cannot be held accountable for the actions of her son even as she supports him as her son and the father of her grandchildren.

As a native Detroiter and (never-miss-an-election) voter, I denounce and reject the smear tactics of one of the challengers to Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick’s seat for the

The sins of the son, not the mother--AP PHOTO BY LAWRENCE JACKSON

Congresswoman Kilpatrick is in her 6th term in the U.S. Congress, and in addition to chairing the

OSF James Brown meets Pavarotti

Now this here? This is a whole different kinda old school guaranteed to blow yo mind. James Brown singin’ “It’s a Man’s World” with the late opera legend Pavarotti. This blew me away when I first checked it out. Really different, and really cool for those who like their musical boundaries stretched beyond the norm.

Enjoy.

SHAMELESS PLUG: READ MY WIFE’S BLOG @ http://thedspotredeux.blogspot.com

Obama is walking on Mars

Obama is on Mars.

OK, now that I’ve got your attention, here’s what I’m getting at; no human being on Earth has been where Barack Obama is right now. Not one. There is no role model for Barack to study, no roadmap to follow, no previous model to emulate. He is, in every sense of the word, a Stranger in a Strange Land.

Not to say he isn’t handling the challenge extremely well. But the plain - and often overlooked - fact of the matter is that what Obama is doing has never, ever been done. This means that he is confronting crises, dilemmas, situations, and dramas that have no answers in the presidential campaign handbook. Which means he has essentially been forced to become a master of jazz improvisation - a Charlie Parker, if you will - in the space of less than two years. And even Charlie could lean on a few notes from Louis Armstrong.

But as an African American man with a white mother from Kansas and an African father raised for a significant portion of his life in Hawaii and Indonesia…? How does such a one prepare for this? How is he supposed to be just precisely exactly black enough for black folks yet not exactly precisely too black for white folks?  How is he supposed to show he cares sufficiently for the problems faced by all Americans, and yet show that he possesses just precisely enough of that extra amount of empathy for the darker tribes deriving from his multiracial heritage? But then at the same time make sure it doesn’t appear he’s being too empathetic to make the white folks suspicious?

You must be that SuperBrother guy, right?

I do realize that just about every columnist and every blogger who even vaguely dabbles in things political feels compelled to comment about Obama at regular intervals, even when there isn’t that much to say. After all, he’s Barack Obama. And in that spirit, I’m doing my best to refrain from posting too frequently about the man because of the sheer volume of words that have already been expended in an attempt to frame him and reframe him and on and on.

Saying all that to say I’m trying to keep this one somewhat brief. But over the past weeks and months I’ve had numerous discussions and debates with both Obama supporters and detractors. And although I can understand some of the arguments by the detractors (I’m very much a supporter) the one thing that I think tends to get missed by those who insist that Obama is drifting too far to the right or is not paying sufficient attention to the issues of black people is that the man is each and every day negotiating his maneuverability in strange and oftentimes hostile territory. There is no one around who can truly tell him the known best move to make when he confronts those ‘alien’ moments that only Barack recognizes for what they are. This is not to say Obama isn’t surrounded by great advisors - probably the best of whom is his wife, Michelle - but at the end of the day he’s left alone on stage with nothing but a horn in his hand, a huge audience, and constant screaming demands to create yet another new and brilliant score using notes that haven’t even been imagined yet.

To expect a flawless composition under these terms and conditions is, well, a bit much. Of course he’s going to make some screw-ups, some of them major. There is no such thing as flawless improvisation, only daring improvisation guided by that peculiar sort of vision amplified by both wisdom and history. After all, the only way to move forward is when the wind is at your back.

Obama is truly walking on Mars.

SHAMELESS PLUG: READ MY WIFE’S BLOG @ http://thedspotredeux.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday: Detroit kids

PHOTO BY NORMAN KOREN -- Taken in 1967

Flint Police Chief locks up youngsters for saggy pants

I hate the saggy pants style. Always will. Maybe it’s generational, maybe it’s because I have no interest in seeing another man’s pants down around his knees. But I can’t stand it.

HOWEVER.

My generational disdain aside, I do believe the only thing crazier than young men walking around with their asses hanging out of their pants is to label such a questionable fashion statement as a criminal offense. Which is what Flint, Michigan’s Chief of Police David Dicks has done. And for which (he claims) he is getting mad love and support from the local community who apparently can’t stop gushing about how wonderful it is that these young (and yes, mostly black) men can now be thrown in jail for wearing their pants too low. So now, as if there aren’t already enough young black males in prison, Flint’s Chief Dicks is making the road from black male adolescence to prison that much wider and more accommodating.

Because make no mistake about it, this is all about targeting black kids. And I couldn’t care less how many churches are jumping up and down shouting hallelujah about this ruling, as if this were some form of tough love that will put young brothers on the path to righteousness. The plain and simple truth is that Dicks is wrong, and the ACLU knows it, which is why they have announced they are willing to take this thing to court just as soon as the first young butt-showing youngster shows up at their office ready to file a complaint.

IS THIS REALLY A CRIME? --Photo Courtesy of Dallas Morning News, Mei-Chun Jau photographer

And if you actually think Dicks is standing on solid footing with this thing, then you need to take a stroll through (pick your favorite summer festival here) and take a glance at what some of these folks are wearing - and not wearing - to beat the heat. To say that young black men are the only ones out there wearing outrageous attire that is possibly guilty of indecent exposure is to say that it’s time for you to get a stronger prescription. Because I’m here to tell you I have had to place palm over mouth to keep recently digested food from exploding through my fingers on many more than one occasion.

The point here is that for Dicks to open this door is to open a floodgate of valid legal challenges that won’t even require that good of a lawyer to navigate successfully. It will certainly be the kind of case that will provide good entertainment value, and that will attract tons of media attention. Why? Because it is an issue easily stupid enough to rank high placement on the evening news; much higher than something that really matters. It’s a great news story in today’s news-free news environment because it provides sufficient diversion from real issues and is guaranteed to fire up the emotions, which makes for good ratings.

I can already here the indignant shouts and screams of those who say this kind of harsh, no-nonsense treatment is needed to stem potential criminal behavior in kids, because this kind of dress surely leads to a life of crime. After all, the style is said to have originated as an act of solidarity with the brothers behind bars who can’t wear belts (Of course, another interpretation has it that the brothers behind bars who wear their pants slung low are the ones who are trying to advertise their ass to an open and captive market. But hey, I wouldn’t know. I’m doing my best to stay on this other side).

Here’s the thing about that supposed connection between low pants and high crime; it is essentially the same accusation that has been made by the older generation about the younger generation for generations, and it’s never been on point. Low-slung pants may make a kid look like an idiot (to some of us adults) and an exhibitionist who doesn’t care whether or not he ever gets hired, but it takes a lot more than low-slung pants to make a kid a criminal.

In short, whatever crime the kid committed, it wasn’t the pants that made him do it.

And if a particular community is offended enough about too many exposed male butts, then there are many other ways for said offended community to deal with it. Beginning with parental involvement. I also wouldn’t be averse to schools having the right to require youngsters to keep their pants up while on school property. Private businesses have the right to enforce a “no saggy pants” policy denying service to anyone dressed in that style, same as the “No shoes, no shirt, no service” signs you’re likely to see in any number of fast food restaurants and elsewhere. Etc.

But to put a kid in jail for saggies? To put a criminal mark on his record for bad fashion choices?

Man, please.

SHAMELESS PLUG FOR MY WIFE: http://thedspotredeux.blogspot.com

Are we done with Mayor Kilpatrick yet?

MAYOR KWAME KILPATRICK -- Photo by Tom Pidgeon for General Motors

“The kids call him Black Gangster,” is what my friend said, as we were sitting together having a drink at a downtown club.

“Black Gangster? Are you serious?”

He nodded, looking as sickly amused as I felt.

“That’s what they’re calling him, man. Black Gangster.”

Personally, I haven’t heard any kids say that, but then I don’t hang around many kids since I’m 50 years old. But still, I don’t know if it’s true or if it’s not. So I’m admitting that up front. My source on this, however, does have a couple of youngsters of his own plus he’s fairly well plugged in. So take it for what it’s worth.

But here’s the thing that gets me, assuming this is really true and some of the kids really do refer to the city’s mayor in those terms; they don’t mean it as a negative. That’s what’s so damned sick about it, as well as depressing. To these kids, who apparently think Mayor Kilpatrick can do no wrong no matter what the evidence shows, the term “Black Gangster” is a term of endearment. Guess it’s another way of saying “mah nigga” or whatever. The more criminal he appears to be, the more they love him because he’s another brother up against the system and giving it the finger like any good brother should.

Right?

Just as a for instance, last week’s big story on Kilpatrick was that he actually assaulted a Sheriff’s Deputy who was legally serving a subpoena to one of his best friends who was thought to be at Kilpatrick’s sister’s house at the time. Turns out Kilpatrick was there when the deputies showed up, according to news reports, and so naturally he rushes out and shoves the deputy off the porch. But not before cursing them out because, well, that’s kinda what any self-respecting black gangster would do. Of course, any reasonably sane grown man elected to represent the best interests of one of the nation’s largest and most distressed cities and who is currently facing eight criminal charges would probably have kept his mouth shut and maybe even ducked into a closet until the whole thing was over.

But then that wouldn’t have been sufficiently gangsta, now would it? Naw. Fuck tha police. That’s the spirit.

So now the mayor has been ordered by the judge not only to pay $7,500 bond money to stay out of jail, but is told he can’t leave town any more without a court hearing. Keep in mind that this isn’t some little street corner thug the judge was admonishing when he said he had thrown folks in jail for much less. This was the mayor of our city.

Meanwhile, we learn that the recall petition wasn’t able to generate enough signatures in time to be placed on the November ballot, although efforts are apparently underway to place it on a special election in February ‘09. I bet if Mayor Gangster had jumped that deputy about a month ago that just might have tipped the balance a bit. Then again, who knows anymore.

Sometimes I wonder if we Detroiters are more interested in being properly entertained than properly governed. Because even without the shoving the deputy off the porch incident, there should have been so many signatures on that petition until they could have unfurled it in one bright, shining Path of Awakening from City Hall all the way to Lansing without repeating one single name.

Then again? Maybe we just don’t think we deserve any better any more. And maybe Kilpatrick knows that…

SHAMELESS PLUG FOR MY WIFE: http://thedspotredeux.blogspot.com

Newt Gingrich analyzes the meltdown of Detroit

Response to Obama, 7: Liberals and the fall of Detroit

I’ve never been a fan of Newt Gingrich and I never will be. This video was sent to me by a friend who knows how much I can’t stand Gingrich but still thought I should watch this video. He was right. Because Gingrich makes some very valid, very discomfiting points about what is happening to Detroit that need to be heard. I definitely do not agree with everything he says here, like suggesting that Detroit is failing as a result of liberal institutions and policies implemented by Democrats. That’s bullshit, and it’s also very simplistic. And obviously partisan. There’s some other misstatements too, but that aside, this is still important enough to be listened to. And in the spirit of listening to all sides, which isn’t always easy for someone like me, check this out.