In the 2012 presidential election, 93 percent of Blacks voted for President Obama and the Democratic Party. The leaders in the Black community must borrow the Hispanics’ talking points, and say to the president, “We helped you now you help us.” There is no other organized political demographic that supported and delivered votes by over 90 percent. During the election and throughout the president’s first term, there were limited meetings with the Congressional Black Caucus, and very few meetings specifically geared to Black businesses, the physical state of
CALDWELL
Black America, the health of Black America, Blacks and the educational system and prisons and drugs in the Black community. It is my hope that in the President’s second term, he will develop a comprehensive program that is focused on the Black community. Urban communities have unique problems that must be addressed with resources and programs that are sustainable and relevant. Blacks need better jobs, better schools, safer communities and organizations that can communicate and enhance the lives of our children and youth.
In the 2012 presidential election, it appeared that the Black vote did not matter because that coalition was a given. Even though Blacks turned out in record numbers, they were given little attention. Blacks are the President’s most loyal constituency. As the great poet Gwendolyn Brooks said, “Respectfully, somebody has to remind the president day in and day out of the debt he owes Black America. After four years of being sidelined and silenced, it’s time to get loud. We have to be willing to engage even if we are the last of the loud.”
For four years under the Obama administration, Blacks have the highest unemployment percentages and our communities’ wealth is suffering the most in the economy. In many of the urban cities the male unemployment numbers are over 50 percent and there are more single women households living in poverty. It is critical in Obama’s second term that he develops programs that address the poverty, drugs and lack of education in the Black community.
The day after Obama won the election, Hispanic political and business leaders held a national media conference call to make it clear that they saved the president in some key battleground states. A survey of Hispanic voters by the firm Latino Decisions found that Hispanics pushed Obama over the top in Colorado, Florida and Nevada where they turned out in unusually high numbers. It is time that Blacks put pressure on the President and demand more funding for our communities. The state of Black America must be front and center and we must increase the volume of our demands. We helped the President win the election and now he must improve the quality of life for our community.
Roger Caldwell is the CEO of On Point Media Group in Orlando.
By Roger Caldwell
Miami Times contributor
jet38@bellsouth.net
linda simmons
December 11, 2012 at 6:44 pm
OBAMA COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE NOW THAT HE HAS OUR VOTE. THE SAME AS BEFORE. HE DID NOTHING FOR US FROM 2008 TO 2012- AND WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING FOR US UP UNTIL 2016? AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE WE ACCEPT IT. OBAMA IS A POLITICIAN AND THINK BLACKS ARE STUPID.HE FEELS ALL HE HAS TO DO IS WAVE AND WINK AND WE ARE PUTTY IN THE HAND. BUT I DO BELIEVE BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE SOME REAL NOISE AND MAKE HIM TREAT US RIGHT.IF WE DONT HE WONT. THE HISPANICS MAKE NOISE AND HE EVEN GAVE THEM SOMETHING BEFORE THE ELECTION TO LET HIM KNOW THEY MEANT BUSINESS. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY A POLITICIAN WILL LISTEN. MAKE HIM DO SOMETHING BEFORE YOU VOTE. WE ALREADY GAVE HIM AGAIN OUR VOTE WITH NO DEMANDS-NOW WE ARE AT HIS MERCY BUT I HOPE WE CAN GET SOMETHING.
missy2@gmail.com
December 12, 2012 at 9:05 pm
I was a little disappointed with President Obama in his first term, I think he could have been a little more assertive and decisive on certain issues and actions. Overall, he did a good job considering what he had to undertake. I am often confused when Blacks want to know what he is going to do for us, does that mean individually or what? First, he is the President of the United States and for all people. I understand that Black people are often under served to no fault of their own and others are just sitting waiting for “someone” to do something for them. Then we have the hard working Blacks who have prepared themselves to meet the challenges of the future by getting an education, a trade, or by other legal means. We are our worst enemy. Instead of asking what anyone can do for us, we need to first ask what can we do for our self, for example , organizing to stop Black on Black crime in our streets, the thugs are killing babies, the elderly, and anyone else that get in their way. We need to support our teachers, help our children with their school activities instead of going to the schools to to cuss the teaches out or challenge them to a fight. I know from personal experience that some of our police officers are not always right in their actions, but if that is the case handle it the proper way, but if we are to stop the crime in our neighborhoods, we need to work with the police in identifying those who commit crime in an effort to take the criminals off the streets. In the words of President John F. Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. the quote may be a little off, but you get the message. Black people we have a lot to do.
linda simmons
January 5, 2013 at 10:57 am
Missy2, I hear what you are saying but the Hispancis that(many came here illegally) and have done nothing for this country did not have to say what they can do for the country like President Kennedy asked. The hispanics are looking out for themselves and many are not even legal. We are this way due to years of racism and all of us have not been able to get on the right track. It is no secret why many of our men are locked up. Failed education especially for black men, broken families due to mostly economic problems many men have just left than be a failure around their kids. An if dad dont have a job mama going to be on him all the time so many stop comming around especially if he has no job. My thing is this Obama dont care about blacks. Single white woman got free contraception–Gays got Obama to publically endorse abomination- Hispanics got the dream act and many illegal kids can now take more of our jobs. BUT BLACK PEOPLE GOT NOTHING BECAUSE WE DID NOT DEMAND NOTHING AND TWO BECAUSE OBAMA TOOK US FOR GRANTED AND USED US. PERIOD.BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO UP IN HIS FACE EVERY MINUTE BECAUSE HISPANICS DID NOT TAKE OBAMA OVER THE TOP-BLACK PEOPLE DID !! THESE ARE THE FACTS.