CNN: "Black Men In The Age Of Obama" - "It Has Changed The Way We Are Looked At"

Constructive Feedback: "We Need Less Symbolism, More Organic Change"

The conservative blogger in Atlanta metro, Ga., argues that the symbolism of U.S. President Barack Obama for black American men doesn't replace the need for on-the-ground work to improve black men's lives: "CNN Special - Black Men in the Age of President Obama Some time in the future books, research papers and plays will be written about this mythical time that we are living in. Some future historian will look back at this time that we are living in 'After Obama' and inspect how things have 'changed'. While the normal presidential historians will do the standard research - there will be motivation by social researchers and African-American studies researchers to focus upon the Black Community. I hope and pray that this blog and the daily headlines in the communities where we live are available for their research because the truth must be told. The truth is 'Obama is doing what a president can do.' This is separate and distinct from what is happening 'Within The Black Community'. This piece about CNN and all of the other Obama 'Magical Gravitational Pull By Induction' upon Black America is nothing more than the HOPES of Black America put into narrative form. There [are] far fewer defined processes regarding how all that is hoped to happen will happen than what can be justified by the anticipation. This first year in office has had a cooling effect among many."

He continues his commentary about the upcoming CNN show: "Since this CNN show i[s] focused upon Black men - the sad truth is that [what] is present when Bishop T.D. Jakes holds his 'MegaFest' in the Georgia Dome is true: The main people who we need to hear the 'gospel of Obama' are tuned out and are into their own world. The street pirates who were motivated on November 4th are back to assaulting people. The 'pirates in training' who are housed in the same classrooms with other students that are willing to learn did not get motivated by seeing Barack Obama as had been predicted. They are still 'confiscating instruction time' from them. Bottom line - While I really do appreciate the attention that CNN has bestowed upon Blacks and Latinos these 'good news' stories are not all that is needed to affect change."

He argues for a human resource management model to create organic change: "At present the powers that be which influence the Black community, in my opinion, have little interest in submitting themselves to such a structure and instruction. It is too clear that one fact is the case - In the presence of a d[y]sfunctional management structure those who can make emotional laden appeals, drawing upon their present favorable views by the people typically win the bulk of the benefit for their own interests. It is incumbent upon the Black Community to wrest control from those who have their selfish interests in place and who have proven via time that they seek to empower the centralized system rather than the individual people. Many of these people seek to place our community in the state of being 'In Receipt Of Benefit' rather than being conscious of the importance of having the attainment of goals of the people being put upon the backs of the masses. We gain proficiency and order by mobilizing the human resources that we have at our disposal in support of these macro goals."

Duane Brayboy: "Race Talk Friday"

The conservative blogger in Atlanta metro, Ga., discusses the CNN special: "While no one cannot deny the historical nature of his presidency (based on his race alone), he is still a politician. Black men are still Black men. Black women are still Black women. Black children are still Black children. We paid taxes before he was elected and we are definitely paying taxes now that he is President. I think it is important to point this out because there has been this ongoing trend in politics to seal the fate of the entire Black race in the envelope of politics. When Jewish, Irish, Italian, and politicians of other ethnic backgrounds are elected to office, how often to we see discussions on how that politician’s rise to power is going to uplift that particular race?"

He continues: "Now the Kennedys certainly were not the first Irish-American family to enter into politics, but they are the most famous. How often have we seen specials or discussions on how Irish American men feel provoked to now take care of their families? During the days of John and Robert Kennedy, were there any studies conducted claiming that the grades of Irish-American kids suddenly shot up alongside the Kennedy[s'] rise to prominence? You can take out 'Irish' and replace it with any other non-Black group you wish and you will see that Blacks as a whole are the only ones who are portrayed with an umbilical cord connected to elected officials. For us, the stakes are portrayed to be much higher for us: If the wrong person gets elected, Jim Crow, Willie Lynch, Bull Connor will all emerge from the grave and surround us like the corpses in Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller' video. If the right person is in office, forget the fact that unemployment is through the roof, forget the fact that we are fighting wars on two fronts, forget the fact that the economy is struggling – we’s gots our self-esteem, thanks to Obama."