Comments and reflections on “What Black Folks Need Now”

I have been getting quite a bit of feedback and substantive comments on the recent Huffington Post piece I wrote late last week (one of my most important I think) entitled "What Black Folks Need Now."  Here is a snapshot of some of that feedback…  Let me know what YOU think.  Let me hear your voice.

Mr. Bryant…

I couldn't agree more!  Thanks for being a sane, rational, common sense voice in the midst of our so-called intellectual African-American brethren.  Indeed, our President must remain the President of all the American people–no matter their ethnic background.  I wonder if these folks would feel the same if a declared Gay President had been elected?  Should he cater to and make special policies, showing favoritism for people of the Gay community? I doubt if they would approve of that.  President Obama has proven to be a strong, steady, intelligent man.  He is besieged on all sides by all kinds of people while he works so hard trying to fix all these problems he inherited. Instead of so much public disrespect, picking apart of every darn thing, why aren't more people voicing the fact he needs our prayerful support –so that he may make wise decisions?  Where is THAT voice?  I haven't seen or heard it anywhere–sadly not even from the Black Christian communities.  Let us actively pray as much as we actively criticize.

–FloJaye

Great article!!  I’m glad someone finally expressed the sentiment of the example you gave about if we had a Latino president and he only served the needs of the Latino.  Of course, Blacks would be the first to raise hell!  As you pointed out. . .if Mr. Obama is a good president, that means he’s serving the interest of all Americans, and Blacks would ultimately benefit.  Thanks.

 

D. Yvonne

Finally someone gets it.  Hooray!

 

We need to keep our children in school and motivate them  any way we can to excel in academics, network building, business building, relationship building, etc. We need to encourage the adults to be responsible for their children and train them up to be able to do the above, successfully. We need to come together as a community and help each other excel.  Those who have, helping those who do not; and those who do not, NEVER taking any help for granted as a right (destructive sense of entitlement)

 

My 2 cents

 

Mary

Hi John,
  
Excellent article on black leaders.  My maternal grandparents were Italian immigrants.  Most Italian immigrants lived in a little Italy Ghetto at that time but my grandparents did not.  They spoke very broken English but always lived and worked (he was a shoemaker and had his own little shop in downtown Erie, Pa.).  Rain or snow he walked 5 miles to work everyday , never drove a car, and would not  accept a ride when people offered, even when he was 90.
 
As a kid I always thought it was great that while they were financially poor they did not seek to live in  "little Italy" and the clientele of his little shop were diverse ethnically.
 
When you spoke of some black leaders being in a certain mindset and how they need to break out of it I thought it applies to a lot of other ethnic groups as well and some special interest groups also.  Kind of "groupy think" based on ethnic identity and some misguided concept of self interest for their group.
 
Here is my point, yes we need financial literacy but I would complete that sentence (in your own brilliant words of course) “we need financial literacy coupled with a cultural shift to a can do, never, never quit, and glass half full state of mind.  This educational and cultural shift can change the world for disadvataged folks, like it has for millions of disadvantaged immigrants throughout our countries history.
 
In my mind you and OHI have always had a dual message – education and changing the culture of failure that exists among poorer folks.
 
Great article – keep up the good work.
 
Best Regards,
Gary

John,

Great piece. It hasn't been politically correct for me to say, but I have found it objectionable to suggest that the President, because of his/her race, should favor any group. He/she is elected to represent all. More important, I agree with your promotion of self-determination. Not that disadvantaged people (of any race, nationality, etc.) shouldn't get an assist, but it should be in the form of a "hand up, not a hand out" as you've often said.

Dave 

I thought you did a very good service to the black community by writing the below email.  Hopefully, this will inspire other black leaders to encourage their communities to rise to the challenge and do what they can to help themselves and each other.

Regards,
Paul