In the 1960’s, we demanded that that system change; now, we just want to play it like the roulette wheel. What happened to our imagination, our creativity? You ask, “suppose we do build a global independent powerhouse. What then?” What then, as if thinking about something better than this imperialistic, militarist, racist, fascist police state is not worth the time or effort. This is truly incredible to me.

There are two things I didn’t say in my comment. I didn’t make any reference to Senator Obama, and second, I didn’t say that changing the system was a bad thing. My point was that changing the system presumes that the same system will stand. Yes, the United States could be better, but at the end of the day, it will still be the United States.

I still don’t see the change you’re talking about as possible. As long as the nation-state remains the chief method of organizing a political community – on a large scale – then in order to affect serious, system shaking change, you’d probably have to resort to violence.

Which really isn’t a good thing.

According to Time.com, until recently Clinton and Obama were virtually tied for the Black vote in South Carolina, 36% Clinton vs Obama 34%. The current numbers are now something like 57% for Obama, 27% for Hillary Clinton. (Rasmussen, 12/06/07) The majority of the Black media outlets (George Wilson, Mark Thompson, the Power) that I’ve been listening to have ranged from “continued skepticism” to “entrenched dislike” for Obama’s candidacy. The problem is not that many Black Americans are suffering from a case of “magical voting” syndrome. Just the opposite.

You state,”At the point that Florida occurred, black folks should have organized around that in the manner Malcolm spoke of in Message to the Grassroots: we should have shut this country down, not let the business of the government proceed until that crime was punished. Period.”

So my question is, “Why aren’t you advocating for us to FULLy participate??” Fully implies exercising all of our power as US citizens including the actions you list in your post. It’s funny, because this conversation originally started with your post over at the ‘spear entitled, “To Vote or not to Vote?” Then you quickly proceed to jump any person with the gall to say I thin we should vote!” Free, you’re the one being disingenuous! Tell me honestly, was voting ever really an option for you? Our right to vote is sacred and don’t you dare gloss over the sacrifice that Southern Blacks went through fighting Jim Crow to give us that right. When we vote, we vote for our own stated reasons. You’ve no right to tell me what my vote represents. This is the Afrospear. A think tank for Black folks and safe place for us to hash out our opinions and positions on the issues. There are no deaf, dumb, or blind people here. Just brothers and sisters willing to act.

It sounds to me like you’re giving up. You’re not advocating any actions in this piece. Just playing that old “how could you want a piece of this poisonous pie” crap, even though no one has said that’s what they want. Please stop.

Barbecue or mildew, what do you want to DO? You’ve got a captive audience here and we’ve all go a desire to unite in 2008. So, do we vote for Barack, or do we…? Grace and Peace.

References:
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/12/obama_the_black_vote.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/17/poll.blacks.democrats/index.html
http://www.charleston.net/news/2007/dec/26/clinton_obama_battle_black_vote25889/

Why don’t we FIND/CREATE an alternative rather than merely pulling the lever, sitting back and hoping that Obama or some other person will save us? Yes, the system is the only game in town because we refuse to think beyond it. And if we can’t think beyond it, we certainly won’t build anything to challenge it or develop an alternative to it.

In the 1960′s, we demanded that that system change; now, we just want to play it like the roulette wheel. What happened to our imagination, our creativity? You ask, “suppose we do build a global independent powerhouse. What then?” What then, as if thinking about something better than this imperialistic, militarist, racist, fascist police state is not worth the time or effort. This is truly incredible to me.

Martin Luther King, right before he died, had an incredibly on-point analysis of the United States, how it would have to be changed at the roots, etc. But, we ignore that vision (which is totally valid) and the vision of the other courageous women and men who understood where they lived; we pretend that America is la-la land, a democracy, or, we simply want our pie and the hell with the Iraqi, the Indonesian, the Sudanese, the Mexican who is getting fucked by this government in order for us to get poisonous pie. Not to mention the black folks in the good old US of A – behind bars or with crackpipes in their hands. I’m sure Obama will free all the political prisoners.

I’m really in shock at how easily we fall prey to a pretty, colored package. I’m shocked that we are so myopic. I’m shocked that we are so un-idealistic. But I shouldn’t be because we are bred to be deaf, dumb and blind.

As it stands, the “system” is the only game in town for the forseeable future, and it is in our best interest to wrest from it power, influence and the benefits that come with both. Even if voting in a presidential election were meaningless (which it isn’t), then at the very least, demonstrating power is the first step towards taking power.

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I don’t see where anyone said that Obama is trying to lead us. I definitely did not. In his own words, he claims to be trying to lead America.

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If heard this line before, and it is a tired one. When Obama speaks of “one America” he is affirming his vision of a unified America. Now you may or may not agree with that vision, but one thing for certain, you can not credibly tell me that he is trying to say that Black America does not exist. If we’re going to criticize the man, then let’s deal with substance.

His platform is broad but easy to identify — he is the candidate of change. His position on all of the major issues has been defined for well over 3 years for anyone who took even a cursory look. The question of addressing Black issues is not so easy. In the past, Black candidates have run “symbolic” campaigns. Working to get our issues into the mainstream consciousness. Obama believes that he will be the next president and is therefore purposely running in such a way as to avoid being labeled a “Black” candidate. Agree or disagree, but that is what he is doing.

BTW, there is only one candidate in either party with any credentials of working directly in our community.

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By the way, do you really believe that there is some parcel of soil within the boundary of the continental U.S. that is “truly independent”? Do you not understand the history of reservations? Are you not aware of the history of slavery between Black and Native peoples?? (rhetorical) Of course not, and no one believes Black people will be receiving, or taking by force, any portion of American land and making their own independent nation on it. So why is this still discussed? Honestly, I’m curious.

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There is no in-between Free. In-between is no man’s land. Where brothers go to jail or worse for half-steppin’ and playing right into their hand. We’ve got to stop giving brothers bad advice. How many wealthy, young brothers have been laid low by the IRS?? You believe that it is more likely Black folks will organize themselves in a movement to resist paying taxes in order to enforce a moral position, but you find it impossible to believe that Black folks can exert themselves upon the political process in order to bring about a desired result!?! That’s what I call the audacity of hope!

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Now these are solutions, and I agree with them whole heartedly and have written on Black self-determination in the past. But tell me how this is counter to what I already wrote in my first response? To “participate fully” includes all of what you have fleshed out here and more. To participate includes what Kala Nation describes as “being free and independent and making both parties court our vote.” But first you’ve got to participate at all!

When I say that there is no in-between I simply mean this: I am tired of hearing Black people say nothing is going to change so why try. I’m tired of Black people jumping on the first glimmer of hope they see in their brother’s eye. You’re right Free, they stole the election in 2000 and 2004. What are You going to do about it?? Get mad when brothers say we need to vote? Nah. Instead, I say let’s participate fully. Let’s organize and get our people on the board of elections in these crucial swing states. Let’s get together on the off election years and put a strategy together. You fill in the blank and make your move.

Either that or quit America. I may, oneday. But NOT today. Right now I feel like fighting – so that’s what I’m going to do.

OBAMA IN ’08!!!!

By blending the interests of our people in with the larger white mass, when many of us KNOW that we have problems specific to our people…that is disingenous at best. We have had black people run for President before; the critical issue is what platform are they running on? If they run from black issues now, why would they take them up if they get elected?

Belize: I strongly disagree that there are only two options. That sentiment is indicative of why we are where we are as a people. The in-between could be following the lead of the Lakota’s and moving to Nebraska on their “independent” land and out of this house of bondage. The Lakota have already said they’d welcome us.

The in-between could be tax resistance, organizing ourselves and refusing to pay for the bloody, imperial exploitation and murder of Iraqis, Somalis…not to mention, the shredding of the Constitution and the ‘surveillance/Co-Intelpro’ state that now exists.

It could be working on our fractured black infrastructure: We could buy black wherever possible. Concentrate on breaking down the ‘Willie Lynch syndrome’ within and creating stronger interpersonal relationships, working relationships with each other; we could barter and share, create ‘intentional communties’ (lots of info on the web about that) instead of defaulting to some nuclear family ideal that makes us the greatest consumers on the planet and the least likely to own a corner hot dog stand. We could begin addressing issues like these and we’d have a real impact, too.

How many of us realize that they stole both the 2000 and 2004 presdential elections. (I can provide plenty of resources to prove it) If voting didn’t work then, why will it work now? We didn’t even contest the election thievery. We need to organize around REALITY. Joseph Stalin said quite accurately that those who vote decide nothing; those who count the votes decide everything.

Even if Obama wins, you’d have to ignore what he actually says which is that he’ll be a slave to capital. I don’t care whether the overseer is white or black, just get me off the plantation. And if our so-called leaders aren’t leading us off the plantation, they aren’t leaders worthy of following.

To simply not vote, but still stay a part of the machine is to give in to whatever the next man wants without even putting up a fight.

Final point, more than anything else, it is essential to bring Barack Obama to political power this November. We have more sway with him than with any other politician. You vote your own self interests, and this November I’m backing Obama.

As a black people all we have in this day, with the issues plaguing our communities from house foreclosures, poor quality of education, to basic economic inequality, is hope. I know I am sounding like an optimist here, but I have always believed that if you are not attempting to be apart of a solution then you are apart of the problem. I do not qualify as a guru on exactly what the solution is, but I see a brother who is attempting to lead us and I am willing to give him a chance.

So, for 2008 if given the opportunity I am voting black, with Senator Barrack Obama.