If Not Us, Then Who

This article addresses the problems that Detroit faces as it tries to "reinvent". What I gained from it was the reinforcement of the concept that you need all the citizens, city & suburbs, to make cities viable. White flight, black flight, Hispanic migration, all must be addressed, to solve the issues our cities are facing today or will face in the future. An excerpt from the article addresses this notion of mutually dependency
"It may be wishful to think so, but in a city where race is the insidious sword that slices its way into every conversation, this reversal of migration patterns could turn out to be a uniting development — if Detroit gets lucky, and if people of goodwill recognize their mutual dependency. The increasing African-American presence in the wealthier suburbs heightens suburban concern for the city's problems. At the same time, a growing presence of more-affluent whites in the city enhances both the tax base and the perception of progress. "I hate to admit it," native Detroiter Greg Thrasher recently commented on TIME.com Detroit blog, "but I am fully aware that the presence of white folks in America increases the quality of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for nonwhites." He concluded, "It is a reality I have confronted all my life as a Black activist, yet I do hope the return flight is full."

This does not mean a return to the days of Jim Crow, rather a mutual partnership with equal footing that speaks to the greater good that is needed for survival. There will always be opposition at both ends, as this articles illustrates with this excerpt

"In the spring, a prominent local minister declared that the mayor's shrinkage plan amounted to "ethnic cleansing" — an odd (and offensive) charge to throw at an effort proposed by an African-American mayor, his largely African-American planning officials and the African-American consultant who is the project's point person. At one of the community forums where planner Toni Griffin and her city colleagues attempted to explain the planning process, members of a group calling itself By Any Means Necessary vowed to oppose not a specific plan, or a specific sort of plan, but whatever plan emerged."

If when we are in charge & nothing can be accomplished, what are we left with?

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2030761,00.html

This Weekend

Just hang out with these people

TWO YEARS! MAN OR DOG

What is a black man’s life worth these days in an open court? About 24 months in jail, based on the sentence handed out to the transit officer that shot Oscar Grant. Michael Vick received the same amount of time for killing dogs! The judge could have given Johannes Mehserle fourteen years for the manslaughter conviction, but took in consideration the “remorsefulness” of the defendant. Hell, I would be remorseful too if I was a cop looking at fourteen years of jail time! Can you say dead man walking!

No one knows but Johannes Mehserle if he shot Mr. Grant accidentlly or not. It really does not matter. What is at stake here is the message that the judicial system continues to send out that killing a black man is pretty much a non issue. It can be on video, there can be a dozen reliable witnesses, or it can happen in front of your mother. Makes no damn difference

WTF, NOW WHAT

It is day two since the “peoples” sent Obama his 2 year report card. The people sent Democrats packing in droves & are looking to do more damage in 2012, like kicking Obama’s ass to the curb. Wake up people, that Tea Party is looking to hone in on anybody that supports Obama. I still find it interesting that no one focused on the "pluses" that happened in the 2 years, rather than all the misses. Everyone forgot that
• $700.0 billion of the total $789.0 billion stimulus was already on the table from GWB’s watch
• The bailout of the automotive industry saved about another 1mil jobs yesterday & enhanced the survival of the entire industry in the US
• Countless teachers, policemen, firemen, & other critical jobs were saved
• People were actually helped with the programs to modify bad loans/foreclosures etc
• There is a timeframe/process to get our asses out of Iraq, deal with Afgan/Iraq, & all the other crazy ass people/issues out there
• Health reform had to be dealt with whether we like the final product or not

There are many mores examples, but why bother. His O ness is HNIC with the emphasis on the N & that is the something that Obama forgot. He was not listening when the right wing nuts said that they wanted him to fail. Fail in saving troops’ lives, fail in saving homes & jobs, fail in restoring the economy, just get an F in f@#*ing everything. So what if the majority of people suffer; it is the price you pay for not being rich, not being of privilege. The rich & powerful have always been selfish & self centered, especially when it comes the red, the white, & the blue.

I am the last person that ever would use the race card as an issue. I worked, I lived, I competed, in a world where many wanted me to get an F as well, but I never forgot how to survive. His O ness needs to go back to the Southside of Chicago, Third Ward in Houston, Texas, or Harlem New York, to get reconnected to the survival instincts he will need to get re elected. These old white boys are trying to lynch his ass in the name of restoring the country. A degree from Harvard is no match for this kind of fight. O ness needs to get out there & talk to those that put his ass in there & those that can keep him in there. Quit promising the moon & just be honest; if you fuck up, own it & move on. Forget GWB, he was the 1st half, you are the quarterback now. You have a chance to reorganize your team. Get some people that can & will say no & not just nod yes; get some people from Missouri Univ, or Morehouse College, who are smart & not elitist that will keep you grounded. And for God sake, talk to your wife. No one knows you better, your strengths, your weaknesses.

There are many that will follow O ness no matter what. We would just like to be the ones that are able to salute when he turns this shit around. While the race card will still be in the deck, having the Ace of Spade is good enough for me.