Black Americans for Real Change

 
 

William Owens

Historic opportunities deserve much praise and much pause. Americans should laud the possibility of the first Black American President, but they should also contemplate the qualities and vision of that prospective President; and more importantly what these would mean for the potential of another Black American President.

I ask the 92% of Black Americans, and the many White Americans who want to prove they are not racist, what will you say or do when Obama doesn’t deliver?  

Not too many of us are ready to face the hard facts of what an Obama Administration would bring: historically high tax increases, more nanny state programs that nurture dependency on government, a health care program that would bankrupt the federal government, an energy policy that would make us more dependent on foreign oil, a slashed national defense, and a less secure country.  In other words, Obama’s “Change” is a code word for Jimmy Carter.

Obama has capitalized on his skin color, counting on Black Americans to vote for him simply because he is “Black.”  When the issues are at the forefront, Obama’s poll numbers go down and his race rhetoric heats up.  In Pennsylvania on Saturday, reeling from a charged RNC Convention, Obama told his audience, “I know that the temptation is to say, …You know, 'he’s got funny name,' You know, 'we’re not sure about him,'...And that’s what the Republicans, when they say, 'This isn’t about issues, it’s about personalities,' what they’re really saying is, 'We’re going to try to scare people about Barack. So we’re going to say that you know, maybe he’s got Muslim connections or we’re going to say that, you know, he hangs out with radicals or he’s not patriotic.'”

Obama’s dependence on identity politics could prove disastrous for the future of Black political leaders.  A failed Obama administration has the potential to create a racial backlash.  Those who voted for Obama, based simply on his “Blackness”, could easily become disheartened and blame his failings simply on his skin color.

Black-Americans deserve better representation.  We deserve a person who has proven their loyalty to their heritage, to their country and to their neighbor.  Unfortunately, Obama has not provided these, and Black America is blindly settling for less.  Now is not the time for us to cash in on this type of representation of the first Black President.  Let’s hold.  Let’s be patient.  Let’s wait.  

 


Comments

Dallas

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:09:05

Forget the Heritage thing just look at his voting record. I asked a very conservative (in the past) american who happends to have forefathers from west Africa if they would vote for T. Kennedy or B. Boxer for anything and they said No i ask why they said because their "Stances" where Non logical and not good for long term prosperity and Morality. Then i dared them to Check out Mr. Obama's voting record and not His Speeches. I don't know if they did or not but if they did they would have to admitt that to continue to support Him would only be because of ethnicity.

 

disillusioned_german

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:21:28

I find it reassuring that you have found the courage to warn people (not just Black people) about Barack Obama and what he stands for. I have a lot of Black friends who don't want entitlement or government hand-outs. They have proved that the racial barriers have (thankfully) pretty much fallen and I think that's a wonderful sign for America. Thank you very much for putting your finger on the issues and kudos to you for being so outspoken! I believe there's a lot more we will learn about Barack Obama and his misguided policies.

 

Gloria Evans

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:26:05

I was able to hear the broadcast today on KYCC, Point of View from Stockton, Ca. I am puzzled because you are making it seem like Obama would have the world in his hands to do whatever he pleases with our nation. Well, as you may know California passed the law/bill to endorse homosexual marriages this year. Now they say as California goes so goes the rest of the Country. Did Obama have anything to do with this? I don't think so. If I am wrong please point me to the evidence. It appears that the Repulicans has taken us down this dark, dreary road of failures in our country. Because of my own personal experiences(never been on welfare), I feel the new word for racist is Republican. We all need the Grace of God ask Jonah, Moses and others that God had to change and then use. Maybe you have not experienced this grace but have been your own savior. It is sad for our own race to keep fighting each other for the sake of self righteousness and not Godliness. If you do not have anything positive to say then you definitely should not become a sell out for those who want to keep us in oppression and will never be comfortable with our progression. The one thing I did not hear you speak of was the alternative and what policies they represent. When the blind lead the blind everybody fall in the whole. McCain has mentioned the black community and show little interest just to keep his nose clean. How will his policies help the American people especially Black Americans who most Republicans still think are not a people? Although we all should be able to be left alone and build our lives as best we can, we all should know that is not what everybody wants. If that was the case, the Hispanic community(illegal immigrants) would not be able to come to America and spend our tax dollars and trash our country while the Black community struggle with imprisonment, poverty, racism, higher costs for insurance and the list goes on. Nobody seems to think that is wrong. We helped build this country, made our bad decisions and only God can give us the chance to correct our problems because those who make policies now are not thinking about our family or future. But that does not mean that we turn our nose up because we have been brainwashed to think we can not think for ourselves. To be honest I can not believe you are able to publish a negative book about someone else who is still living and get monies for the work. I have to go for now but will continue my discussion at a later time.

 

Sharon@Shaw

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:43:04

I have been reading previous comments and I am saddened. People obviously don’t know the history of our great country. I keep hearing comments like “the Republican party is racist”. But, the Republican Party was started to prevent slavery from spreading to the new territories in the United States. The Democratic Party was for the spread of slavery. The Republican Party helped with the Civil rights movement, even Dr. Martin Luther King was a Republican. President Nixon tried to intercede on behalf of southern blacks against their white oppressors. The Democrats had a stronghold in the southern states throughout the civil rights movement. They wanted to keep segregation alive. It’s sad to see that Americans today are being lied to about our history and are happy to accept the lies without checking into the facts. Instead of letting God to be our moral compass we are allowing others to define who we and what we believe.

 

Craig T. Greenlee

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:59:59

This whole episode of Barack Obama reminds me of a scene from the movie Malcolm X when Malcolm (played by Denzel) was making a stump speech. He said: (black people) have been "hoodwinked and bamboozled." Initially, my wife and I supported Obama (went to a campaign opening, fundraiser and even bought some campaign buttons and T-shirts). After doing some research on him, I feel like I''ve been suckered. I'm of the opinion that black pastors and black church congregations around the country are in the same category.
Bottom line is that Barack Obama is a valid testimony of what shrewd marketing can produce. Obama's rise to prominence reminds of the following lyrics to a song by Gil Scot-Heron in the '80s called "Madison Avenue:
"They can sell sand to a man living on the desert
They can sell tuna to the Chicken of the Sea
You are surrounded and confounded and dumbfounded by the happenings yes it's true
It's Madison Avenue"

 

Ann

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:10:40

 

Steve Owen

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:39:14

William - the election is just a month away. Do you have plans to speak out publically in a very powerful way to reach the country with your powerful message. Time is running out and America needs to hear you speak out big time!!!! Why not a huge rally somewhere! America needs to hear that not all of black America is supporting Obama!! We need to hear what you have to say,l my friend, before it is too late and Obama is elected! Americans who are red, yellow, black and white are being deceived by this man Obama.... God help us!!!!

 

Hunter7Taylor

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:06:45

Mr. Owens thank you for writing the book Obama Why Black America Should Have Doubts. Often African-Americans are perceived as a mass instead of as individuals with different beliefs. I am one of the 8% of AAs that does not align herself with the "groupthink" philosophy.

This is not a Democrat/Republican issue. This is a matter of proof and, in Obama's case, the glaring lack of proof. In the second paragraph, you ask what others will do if Barack Obama does not deliver, well he hasn't. A simple review of his voting record shows that he has not delivered in the past and, more than likely, will not deliver in the future. He has landed on the wrong side of issues such as taxes, abortion, national defense, etc. when he has bothered to vote. One of the best indicators of future behavior is past behavior. America needs a Commander-in-Chief that will take a stand, eliminate the rhetoric and let America know what he believes regardless of the popular opinion of the day.

 

Wilson

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:25:52

This website is disturbing. Most of your comments are disturbing as well. You sit where you are and espouse the Republican rhetoric as if the Republican Party has done so much for Blacks. Maybe your are to wealthy to relate to what most Blacks are going through or you just don't care.

To support McCain and Plain you think our country will be better off than Obama and Biden is disconcerting at best.

I am not for everything that Obama is for nor did I support him in the beginning of the primaries, but I do now. Maybe you are better off now than you were 8 years ago, if you are God Bless You.

While you are looking at the voting record of Obama take a look at the voting record of Jessie Helm, Trent Lott, and Strom Thurmond as well.

 

Kelly

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:48:40

I am sooooo thankful for your standing. People automatically assume that if you're black, you're an Obama supporter. I beg to differ. One of our children asked their grandparents who they were voting for and they proudly stated "Obama". My nine year old then went on to say "grandad, you should look at his voting record, did you know he believe's in killing babies". Regardless, their grandparents, who are in ministry proudly voted for him in early elections. I also need to mention, having experienced the abortion process as a teen, it is humiliating as well as degrading. I don't believe people know the full extent of what happens to you emotionally, physically and spiritually. They fail to mention the torment that comes along with hearing your dead child cry. Only the grace of God and the blood of Jesus can and did free me! We are the only race of people that are not multiplying, but yet we'll vote for a man that we believe will increase us financially. I have been doing research for the past few months on both nominees. I can't watch mainstream media because it's too upsetting to know the information is right under our noses but for the most part people are too lazy to search out this "media appointed" moses that they think are going to deliver them. I too found out in my research that if 40% of Americans don't even pay taxes, how in the world will the 95% benefit? Obama's campaign is banking on the emotions, ignorance and hype of uninformed people. It sounds harsh but it's the truth. I also found out about the history of both parties. This was an eye opener for me. I had no idea that the KKK was formed from the Democratic party! Don't stop what you're doing. I pray for an open door for you before the elections that will allow people to second guess or atleast have the opportunity to research before making their vote.

 



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