Black Anger Does Not Surprise, Bother Me, Absence Of Black Anger Would

Slavery was and is something to be angry about. Segregation was and is something to be angry about. Persistent racism was and is something to be angry about. Like Mahatma Gandhi said, I'd rather people engaged in nonviolent action to seek liberation, but if it is between violence and apathy, I'd rather they took violent action for liberation.

This Jeremiah Wright dude is totally nonthreatening. He could not swat a fly if he wanted to. That is what I see on his face. This dude is harmless. From day one I have been amazed with the reaction to Wright. I have watched bemused. He just spoke a few angry words. It is not like he tried to incite violence, or even political action.

Church is where black people gather. And they need an outlet to vent anger. If it is the emotion of anger that disqualifies someone, Bill Clinton is the most disqualified person in America. That guy is prone to intense outbursts of anger on a daily basis. He gets red and blue. He never had a staffer he did not yell at. Wright never got that angry. So it can not be that the emotion of anger is what is illegitimate.

So what are you saying? The reason Wright got angry is what bothers you? How do you propose he react to his personal experiences in segregation and continued racism? Is he supposed to give you a Kodak smile in response? Racism is something to be angry about.

There are legitimate and illegitimate ways to express anger. Violence is not legitimate. Verbal expression is legitimate. Wright engaged in verbal expression. His words circulating in YouTube videos were recorded when noone, not even Barack knew Barack was going to run for president. And from what I gather, such outbursts are the norm rather than the exception in black churches. Is it news to white people that black people are angry?

But I must admit Wright's choice of words are kind of sort of unsavory for a mass audience. But you are taking it out of context. Wright never imagined the mass attention that his words have been getting. The guy is a deer in the headlights. He is like, holy. He is a little confused. Barack gave a speech saying he does not intend to disown Wright, but Wright misunderstood and thought Barack is giving him the shaft. That is someone confused with the mass attention. He is not used to being famous. Noone really is. To be associated with a president to be is quite a challenging proposition.

Black anger is no surprise as long as racism is persistent like it is today. But we can debate about:

1. Legitimate expressions of anger at racism.
2. Ways to end racism.
   

You can't be like but, da, why are you even angry in the first place? That has been white America's reaction. Too many whities want a symbolic black guy in the White House. They don't want to have to do the hard work of confronting racism in their hearts, minds and institutions.

Suddenly you have Karl Rove jumping up and down the street. I never believed you, Karl, when you said you were retiring. You got out of the White House so you could dip into the 2008 drama. Looks like race is one of your favorite topics to talk about. Mine too. I think we are going to have a blast, between you and me.

In The News

After Break With Ex-Pastor, Obama Tries to Move On New York Times

The Obama-Wright divorce MSNBC

Putting Jeremiah Wright and patriotism in perspective San Francisco Chronicle, USA

San Diego Union Tribune

Putting Jeremiah Wright and patriotism in perspective San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 1 hour ago Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's former pastor, which said: "God damn America!" Obama's now-famous speech, concerning race and the intemperate words of his ... Video: Obama's Former Pastor Speaks to NAACP AssociatedPressJeremiah Wright: Barack Obama’s Savior? Forbes Wright and wrong guardian.co.uk NPR - MSNBC all 1,312 news articles »

Voice of America

Father Raymond J. de Souza on Jeremiah Wright: Giving God the ... National Post, Canada - 5 hours ago Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Sunday night in Detroit. The black church in America has long lived between the glory and the blues, between the ecstasy of ... A Strained Wright-Obama Bond Finally Snaps New York Times Friend who used to attend Jeremiah Wright's church stands up for ... Dallas Morning News Timeline of Barack Obama's relationship with Jeremiah Wright The Associated Press Tulsa World - HipHopDX all 317 news articles »

OverTheLimit.info

Obama Expresses Outrage Over Former Pastor Jeremiah Wright's Comments U.S. News & World Report, DC - 10 hours ago Jeremiah Wright Tuesday and cast his former pastor from his house. One day after Wright's defiant and incendiary performance at the National Press Club, ... Yoni Goldstein on Jeremiah Wright's hateful vindictiveness and how ... National Post Black pastors speak out on Wright's statements Newsday Jeremiah Wright - Hillary Supporter? Houston Chronicle FOXNews - Village Voice all 674 news articles »

BET

Sen. Barack Obama with the Rev Jeremiah Wright FOXNews - 8 hours ago Jeremiah Wright travels around the country on a speaking tour and as Sen. Barack Obama tries to distance himself from the controversial pastor, ... Can Obama close the door on Wright? CNN Roundup: Jeremiah Wright spreads his wings Los Angeles Times Wright’s rant goes on Boston Herald Kansas City Star - Detroit Free Press all 217 news articles »

TV3 News

TRANSCRIPT: Obama Press Conference on Jeremiah Wright FOXNews - Apr 29, 2008 I’ve known Reverend Wright for almost 20 yrs. The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 yrs ago. His comments were not only divisive and ... Mr. Obama and Rev. Wright New York Times Wright and Obama Cosmopolis The Many Faces of John McCain Yahoo! News Media Matters for America - Atlantic Online all 118 news articles »

Spiegel Online

Time to take a breather, Rev. Wright Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - 8 hours ago ... postured his response to say : ”The most recent attack on the black church, it is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright, it is an attack on the black church. ... Does Obama Get It Wright? Washington Post Obama Says He Is Outraged By Wright's "Rants" U.S. News & World Report Not Wanted on the Voyage: Bama Drops Wright Overboard Pacific Free Press CBS2 Chicago - ABC Online all 70 news articles »

Boston Globe

Obama Seeks to Re-Focus Presidential Campaign Voice of America - 6 hours ago ... his political footing Wednesday in the US presidential campaign, one day after denouncing his controversial former pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. ... Today on the presidential campaign trail The Associated Press Pastor is a ranter, says irate Obama Melbourne Herald Sun Wright's comments were divisive and destructive: Obama NDTV.com WBKO - Media Monitors Network all 2,216 news articles »

John Bloom sticks up for the Rev. Jeremiah Wright -- Joe Bob says ... Dallas Morning News, TX - 8 hours ago Jeremiah Wright -- Joe Bob says check it out Longtimers may remember the regular column "Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-in" written by John Bloom of the late ...

GetReligion

How Jeremiah Wright Found Religion TIME - Apr 29, 2008 Jeremiah Wright Jr. of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, first drew headlines for his fiery sermons, Barack Obama responded with a graceful speech ... What is Liberation Theology? Washington Post Wright does Obama wrong Chicago Tribune Rev. Jeremiah Wright has reclaimed the spotlight. Forbes CBS2 Chicago - CNSNews.com all 42 news articles »

New York Magazine

Bill Clinton Versus Jeremiah Wright: Which Loose Cannon is Louder? New York Magazine, USA - 14 hours ago Jeremiah Wright is a hatemonger. He hates America. It is patently obvious." No telling what could happen if he roves White House hallways once again. ... Hillary Clinton on O’Reilly: Wright is Offensive FOXNews The Hillary Factor Washington Post The Moyers-Wright interview: let’s see more Blogger News Network

Brooklyn Is Africa, Queens Asia, Bronx Latin America, Manhattan Is Europe

Jay Leno: "Well, the State Department announced today the most dangerous place in the world, no longer the Mideast; it is now between Reverend Jeremiah Wright and a microphone."

It really is not that clear cut at all. It is all mixed up. But I think it would be fair to say overall that Brooklyn is Africa, Queens is Asia, Bronx is Latin America, and Manhattan is Europe.

This thought hit me a few days back.

New York City is the Amazon forest of humanity. Every possible human life form can be found here. People from every town on earth live in this city.

Shanghai has the skyscrapers, but not this city's diversity. It is a celebration.

Bombay is the New York City of India. Shanghai is the New York City of China.

You put America, Europe and Africa together, and you get India. That is how big India is. India is a very diverse country linguistically and religiously. So Bombay is more like New York City than Shanghai.

Moscow is the most expensive city on earth, it is not New York City. But Moscow is a city white like snow. By the way an investor in my startup, a relative, the richest Nepali on earth just became Russia's Manager Of The Year.

Mahato conferred Russia's 'Manager of the Year'

This is going to be an urban century. Urban life will be the norm in every country. Big cities in different countries might relate to each other more than they might relate to other parts of their own countries.

The wireless broadband craze is going to start in the big cities of the world. It will be like when the first light bulbs went up in Manhattan.

This is to be a brave new century. We can make it a win win situation for populations across the world. The last century was one of major wars. This can be a democracy and prosperity century.

Outsourcing Anxieties: The Internet Metaphor

There are political kinks that need to be straightened out, sure. But futuristic, optimistic outlooks should make the task relatively easy.

My Third World People Don't Get To Vote In This City

I am in a relatively weak social muscles phase of my life right now. It feels like recuperation. The zombie existence of intense 2.0 work into Nepal's democracy and social justice movements has taken its toll, but now I am trying to get some jog and talk going. People are fun. I am rediscovering people. Otherwise during the intense Nepal phase I would show up for events in Manhattan, mostly organized by the various political groups, and for the most part it would feel like I were devouring a YouTube video or a website. I was always ready to swing right back to being in front of the screen.

Nobel Peace Prize 2008: Making A Case For Nepal (2)
Nobel Peace Prize 2008: Making A Case For Nepal

2.0 is for real, it has been the same 2.0 for Obama, and 2.0 is central to my startup. But 5.0 is a higher plane of existence, and there is no 2.0 without 5.0. There is enormous magic to face time. Face time is the ultimate interactive experience, it is not screen time on the internet.

Web 5.0: Face Time
A Web 3.0 Manifesto

If you think of 5.0 as technology, as I like to, then it is not hard to imagine how the center of gravity of the tech industry is going to shift from Silicon Valley to Silicon City. New York City will beat everyone else on content creation. This is where the people are. I am trying to get into the picks and shovels business.

Silicon City

Windows 2000 and Windows 95 are different creatures. By 5.0 as technology I mean the same thing. Face time among the post-ISMs individuals is the ultimate experience. That is Windows XP, Windows Vista, what have you.

A Few Diagrams

In a city that is 60% nonwhite, with the best public transportation system in the world, with no legal segregation or apartheid, if you find yourself in a setting that is 90% plus white and it is not a private, social gathering, you got to ask: what are the forces at work?

You can't have an ambitious startup like I do and not realize the importance of knowledge in wealth creation. The institutions of democracy and market are dazzling. But we can create more legroom for the traditionally marginalized. No technological razzmatazz is going to hide the social and political progress not yet made. That applies to women, and minorities, and gays, and the disabled, the poor, the disenfranchised.

I have been learning from Obama 2008. The guy has an almost spiritual appeal. His talk of the new kind of politics, the politics of hope, positive politics, I must admit I started out skeptical. But he knows something I don't. And his way seems to be working wonderfully. I think his biracial birth helps him understand the folly of the two major races in this country that have been at the loggerheads.

I think I will try and work hard to look for positive ways. I might start by writing about all the fascinating years of my life for my online autobiography. Every single year has been fascinating. Phase one was raving and ranting. Phase two, let it be about a more complete picture, the other 90%.

Wealth is created out of thin air.

Barack almost took Brooklyn. Hillary beat him by a measly 2%. 2%, dang, where's all that 2% at?

Brooklyn is Africa. The son of Africa almost carried Brooklyn. Black America's salvation lies in modern day Africa, not in the history of slavery and segregation.

Jay Leno: "Of course, the Republicans will not let this Reverend Wright controversy die. You know, they're trying to keep it in the news. Like, today they said for the wedding of President Bush's daughter, he's going to be the minister."

In The News

Obama's campaign hit by pastor row The Press Association Clinton has a narrow 21 superdelegate lead while Obama has outdistanced Clinton 1,729.5 to 1,595.5 overall. ..... With only nine state and territorial contests remaining, Clinton cannot achieve the 2,025 delegate count needed for the nomination without capturing most of the superdelegates who remain uncommitted.

Obama Says He Is Outraged By Wright's "Rants" U.S. News & World Report, USA Jay Leno: "MSNBC is reporting that the Department of Homeland Security wants all 80 million of America's recreational boaters to be on the lookout for terrorists in small boats trying to explode a nuclear bomb. I don't believe it. What are we paying, $50 billion a year for homeland security? All they can come up with is three drunks on a waverunner in Lake Havasu?" ........ David Letterman: "How about that John McCain? ... I like John McCain. He looks like the kind of guy that walks into Circuit City and says, 'Do you have typewriter ribbons?'" ...... "a visibly angered" Obama "accused his former pastor of enjoying his recent three-day media blitz...at the expense of the campaign and the issues that confront voters." ...... "At Obama's Chicago headquarters, top aides were trying to avoid an internal meltdown over the Wright fallout. 'Nobody even wants to talk about it. It's a disaster,' said one source, who noted that a usually upbeat headquarters was fighting off its worst morale problem since the primaries began." ........ McCain "dismissed his rivals' proposals for universal health care as riddled with 'inefficiency, irrationality and uncontrolled costs.'" ..... 'Anyone, anyone, who voted for either of us should be absolutely committed to voting for the other' in the general election ....... Obama leading Sen. Hillary Clinton 47%-45% ........ "The Democratic primary is going to be decided by non-Democrats. .... "while the president's approval ratings are low, the ratings for Congress are lower still."

Carter gives Obama approval The Age, Australia calling for the bitter Democratic nomination battle to end on the day of the final primaries on June 3.

Race, Class, Gender, Globalization And 2008

The social issues are all rather hard to deal with. The identity issues are hard to deal with. I don't know what exactly Obama said in San Francisco at a private dinner but he got reported as saying that people in small town Pennsylvania are bitter and so they cling to guns and religion.

Like James Carville said, Pennsylvania is Philly and Pittsburgh, with Alabama in between. And there are no blacks in this particular version of Alabama.

The poor everywhere are extra susceptible to identity politics and prejudices. Guns and religion were there before the outsourcing of industrial jobs, guns and religion were there before industrialization, but people do cling extra tight to them when the times go rough. A lot of people don't know Barack's mother was a cutting edge anthropologist. She did microfinance work decades before Yunus got the Nobel for the same.

The reaction was one of defensiveness. You calling me poor? You calling me desperate? You calling me white? The media churn on the issue was so total that Obama 2008's millions in TV ads got drowned out.

It is hard to engage the electorate on social issues. Most people feel their particular worldview is cutting edge and they have no viewpoint they need to change. Roe V Wade was 1973, and the pro-choice agenda is still hot. Progress on social issues tends to be slow.

What to do?

1. Turn the class issue into one on globalization and how to tackle it best.
2. Inject the gender issue full force. That will put Hillary on the defensive. She desires to quietly squeak by, she does not seek to talk gender.
   
3. Address race. That one was a speech about Jeremiah Wright. Now tell the people how you will take race relations in America to the next level. (JFK, Obama Parallels: Catholic, Black)
   

Hillary's momentum from her nine point PA victory is a little unsettling. It will help to get a little paranoid.

Ground Rule: When you get hit, you hit back. The new kind of politics does not change that. What it does change is you don't get nasty when hitting back. When you don't hit back, people think you got hit and you did not even notice.

The Working Class Are Hurt By Special Interests And Lobbyists' Money
Hillary Is Seeking The Green Party Nomination
Taking Race Head On: A Speech
Lessons From PA: Race And Globalization Must Be Addressed
Gender Talk: Coming At It From The Future
Skyward Bound
Philly Debate: Quick Impressions During
Nobel Peace Prize 2008: Making A Case For Nepal (2)
Sexism Bothers Me Directly
Outsourcing Anxieties: The Internet Metaphor

In The News

Bush to address Americans' financial fears CNN
Clinton surges way ahead of McCain in latest poll Hindu
Rev. Wright more than Obama's former pastor CNN

Iranian President’s Visit Tests India New York Times
Wright's Remarks Leave Obama Wounded U.S. News & World Report
Obama’s Wright Response New York Times
Why Wright Doesn't Hurt Obama's Shot at the Nomination Newsweek
What's new: Is the Obama camp right about Wright? USA Today
Pastor's rebuttals fuel troubles for Obama Boston Globe led McCain by nine points in what is perhaps the best news her campaign has seen or heard in the last several weeks .... Both Democrats were roughly even with 71-year-old McCain in the previous poll about three weeks ago. .... 30 per cent of Clinton backers and 21 per cent of Obama's maintaining that they will vote for McCain if their preferred candidate did not get nominated. ....... Governor of North Carolina Mike Easley, a superdelegate, announced his support to her.
Clinton Tip-Toes Around Rev. Wright Issue ABC News
Clinton drives home her Lincoln-Douglas debate idea and Obama ... Los Angeles Times
Clinton Could Ease Racial Tensions Wall Street Journal

Obama Team Remains Unshaken CBS News, USA The Plan, a blueprint devised 15 months ago ....... Her campaign, ensconced in a Washington suburb, has experienced two major staff shakeups fueled by high-level staff rivalries, shifting strategies and an unusual degree of finger-pointing. ..... a candidate intolerant of infighting, a clear line of authority and a healthy distance from the city they want to take over. ....... 2000, who presided over a loyal, linear and leakless operation in Austin ........ “Intense loyalty to and belief in the candidate,” Jordan said, citing the similarities. “Simple, clear lines of authority with real discipline among the staff and consultants. Deep, talented teams. Maybe most importantly, candidates who trust their campaign, who understand what they’re doing, who deliver as well as demand loyalty, who intuitively relate to and handle their campaigns with just the right touch.” ........ the rival Democratic campaigns are a study in contrasts. ........ Obama strategist David Axelrod is the anti-Penn. ....... the low-key and well-liked Axelrod ........ run on change, win Iowa and then embark on a national campaign aimed at maximizing their delegate count. ......... a demeanor like Obama’s, tends to avoid highs or lows. ...... block out the din and the whims of the 24-hour cable news culture. ....... there should be only intentional leaks, and disputes must be dealt with in-house ....... we feel confident in the plan and we are still ahead

Obama on Rev. Wright: "He Does Not Speak for Me" Washington Post "I have said before and I will repeat again that some of the comments that Rev. Wright have made offend me and I understand why they've offended the American people," Obama said ........ Obama seemed determined to wrench his campaign back to the basic messages ...... "Having politicians bickering back and forth doesn't help you," Obama said. "Having them worrying about superdelegates doesn't help you. This election is not about me. It's not about Senator Clinton. It's not about John McCain. It's about you. It's about your struggles, your hopes and dreams."