by BAR executive editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley The horrific numbers don't lie. "Entire neighborhoods" of African Americans "have been destroyed by high numbers of foreclosures, which effect not only homeowners, but also renters who are made homeless." Yet President Obama offers nothing - nothing! - in terms of programs specifically designed to ameliorate Black America's disproportionate pain. "This is the day of reckoning for the black citizens of this nation, who must soon decide if they will voice their grievances or silence and diminish themselves for the sake of a man who cares so little about them
Freedom Rider: Economic Disaster for Black America
by BAR executive editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley
“Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed by high numbers of foreclosures.”
There is now no place of refuge from the actions of rapacious banksters who stole trillions of dollars from the public. New York City was never a real estate bubble hot spot in the way that Florida and California were. Yet like a contagious disease, the foreclosure crisis continues to spread. It has now arrived in the New York City area in full force, and black homeowners and renters are the biggest victims.
As always, racism makes black Americans more vulnerable to economic downturns. Redlining forces black workers, even those with sufficient income and credit, into mortgage plans given only at subprime rates. Now the bursting of the real estate bubble has driven down the value of real estate, leaving a community with only property as a source of wealth in a particularly weakened state. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed by high numbers of foreclosures, which effect not only homeowners, but also renters who are made homeless. Ordinarily secure homeowners are also victimized by falling property values.
It is extremely unlikely that black Americans’ uniquely terrible situation will ever be addressed by the president most of them love so much. He steadfastly continues to leave them and their agenda items off of the political table. At his 100 days press conference, the president was asked about high rates of unemployment in the black community, exemplified by the nearly 50% rate for black men in New York: “My question tonight is given this unique and desperate circumstance, what specific policies [italics mine] can you point to that will target these communities? And what's a timetable for us to see tangible results?”
“Obama’s foreclosure prevention plan is woefully inadequate.”
Obama not only ignored the crux of the question but replied in some sort of odd, indecipherable double speak. “Well, keep in mind that every step we're taking is designed to help all people. But folks who are most vulnerable are most likely to be helped because they need the most help.” He made reference to black and Latino unemployment when BET reporter Andre Showell specifically asked about African Americans. Obama then went into “rising tide lifts all boats” mode and bragged that his inadequate stimulus plan would help all of the unemployed.If the president has no desire to address the specific needs of the black unemployed, he will be equally unresponsive to the needs of homeowners in foreclosure. His foreclosure prevention plan is woefully inadequate and has done little to stem the tide of financial destruction.
Despite blatant propaganda about “green shoots” and positive “stress tests,” the fundamentals of the economy are bad and not getting any better. Black America is looking at a catastrophe in terms of losses of jobs and wealth but is not predisposed to speak up and confront the man whose photo hangs on the walls of their living rooms.
Saving the American automobile industry would have been a means of strengthening a large segment of the black community. Instead the Obama administration has forced the auto industry to disappear from this country and import cars from foreign countries. General Motors alone will lose 140 out of 175 black owned dealerships as part of its bankruptcy plan along with thousands of jobs, many of them employing African American workers who are not likely to find comparable employment if any at all.
“General Motors alone will lose 140 out of 175 black owned dealerships.”
The day of economic reckoning is appearing early on in the Obama administration, and not just for the president. This is the day of reckoning for the black citizens of this nation, who must soon decide if they will voice their grievances or silence and diminish themselves for the sake of a man who cares so little about them.
The president can do more to prevent foreclosure, he does not have to favor finance capital to such an extent that he destroys manufacturing capital and the jobs that go with it. In short, he could do something for the group of people who give him such unswerving support. On election day in 2008, many of the African Americans who jammed polling places to vote were doing so for the very first time in their lives. Such was the appeal of seeing a black president, even one who ignored the needs of people who idolize him.
Before the Obama rise to power, black voters would at least complain that the Democratic Party took them for granted. There was sustained debate about how to make that party more responsive to its most loyal constituency. Now the Democrats are let off the hook entirely because a brown-skinned man is in the White House. People in danger of losing jobs and homes have decided that a politician’s career is more important than their very survival. At the hour of their greatest need black Americans have willfully muted themselves and will be the first in line to go over the precipice of economic well being.
Margaret Kimberley's Freedom Rider column appears weekly in BAR. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City, and can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgandaReport.Com.
Comments
Wow! You hit on right on the spot!
We blacks are the losers in every dimension. We must learn to fight for our own interest too or be squeezed to extinction. talking about Asians, lets keep in mind that they have now taken the least of what remained in our motherland "africa". So bad that our people are being are under genocide all over the globe. Actually we need this identity politics to preserve our carcasses.
black owned vs. minority owned
Not that it matters a whole lot, but in your post you claim that it is 'black' dealerships that are being closed, but the article that you linked to says that 140 of 170 'minority' owned dealerships will be closed. If one goes to namad.org, you will see a black person, a hispanic person, and an asian person pictured at the top of the page. Minority does not mean only black people. I'll grant you that namad may be made of up primarily black people. Obama is hurting minorities, he isn't just singling the african american community out.
Ideological alignment not skin color alignment
Why oh why do people foolishly believe that skin colour somehow indicates that someone empathises with their circumstances. Look at the number of 'bounty bars' that have already served 'the man'. Colin Powell, Condeleeza Rice and others.
These people and representatives from other minority groups would not be allowed into the inner cabal were they not of the same mindset as those from the oppressive regime. They are there solely to lead people who erroneously believe that they represent their social group along the government line. Barak Obama is the ultimate expression of this.
Align yourselves with ideology not physical appearance.
There is no proven correlation.
Obama is a tragedy
It's a goddamn tragedy.
This business of getting behind (s)elected 'leaders" because they share an ethnic/racial/whatever identity is poison.
Identity politics is the power structure's method of throwing scraps to the masses, while maintaining power with their subservient "diversity."
Christ, Colin Powell, Clarence Thomas, Alberto Gonzalez, Condoleeza Rice, Elaine Chao. When will people get it?
I do get it what you are
I do get it what you are trying to point out. But I would give him more time to prove his worth as the elected President of our nation.
Unfortunately, I also suffered some losses in the search engine optimization services industry I am in as the last economin crisis has an aftershock for providers like me.
I am still optimistic that all industries will recover fully soon enough. I am still keeping my fingers crossed to recover from this economic setback.
Poison how?
When you talk about "identity politics, keep in mind that you constantly comment on articles on a site called "Black Agenda Report". If Afrikans in this country did not have SOME group who understood "identity politics", well where would we be? Most likely, stilll shackled on the platation, because the poor and working class, UNSHACKLED whites would be trying to convince us about "class division".
It's amazing how the Chinese(and most Asians) practice "identity politics" and seem to be doing pretty well........extremely well, especially compared to those who AREN'T. LATIN American nations........trying to solidify a union amongst themselves for THEIR benefit? Sounds like "identity politics" are working pretty well down south. So much so, that Amerikkka is scared as shyt and are now "negotiating" with the 'dreaded' nation of Cuba. From the 'Jews' of the 60's to the Arabs of today, Afrikan/Black neighborhoods have been under someone else's economic control. Koreans(may my half-Korean sister forgive me) run ALL of the clothing stores, beauty supply stores, nail salons, etc. However, Afrikans in Amerikkka aren't supposed to look out for themselves because it's poison? I guess.....
I am always amused when our confused Brothas and Sistahs, plus our white 'comrades', preach against 'identity politics'. Every other ethnic group is buzzing around us picking off of our almost dead carcasses, but somehow we shouldn't lookout for OUR OWN self-interests.
With 'friends & comrades' like that, no wonder we have been asleep for so long..
you hit it on the spot.
We blacks are the losers in every dimension. We must learn to fight for our own interest too or be squeezed to extinction. talking about Asians, lets keep in mind that they have now taken the least of what remained in our motherland "africa". So bad that our people are being are under genocide all over the globe. Actually we need this identity politics to preserve our carcasses.
Poison How?
It isn't complicated, and I never said ethnic/racial communities shouldn't organize for their own interests.
But, you didn't notice that Clarence Thomas or Alberto Gonzalez or Elaine Chao DON'T SERVE THAT FUNCTION.
Neither do the Obama's in our political world.
They hijack it for the benefit of their corporate masters. And feel-good diversity bullshit.
If their job is to put you to sleep, Obama is succeeding brilliantly.
That's poison.
There's plenty of "white comrades" cheering identity politics, especially in the republican party pushing assholes like Clarence Thomas, Kenneth Blackwell or Michael Steele. The Democrats aren't much different. Wouldn't trust them to wash my drawers.
Judge Obama like we would judge McCain or Bush, and it don't look good. A little class solidarity wouldn't hurt either. Then we can stop cheering for the Cliff Huxtables of the world.
In "Inheriting an Empire" (Dec 20 2008) Mumia Abu-Jamal, recalls the ascension of Rome's African emperor, Septimius Severus, who's "power went to extend empire, not to change it."
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/02/18557853.php
Sound familiar?
A more entertaining comparison to the emperor can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bePlpRG9yg
PS: Latin Americans are very class conscious and have vibrant, powerful labor movements aligned with indigineous communities, They aren't scared to IDENTIFY as WORKERS, rather than identify with elitists who happen to have a similar racial appearance. Seems to be working for them.
Pray for the mother of all
Pray for the mother of all Bimbo eruptions (preferably a blond one) or the mother of all scandal "gates." This is the only slim chance of jolting the idiots out of their adoration stupor and into realizing how they're being hustled.
For What It's Worth
I linked to this excellent analysis in my own blog today.
http://www.consumertrap.com/?p=1203
Thanks!
What Next?
A marvelous piece as usual from Ms. Kimberley.
This man is destroying the livelihood of hundreds of people and he is still being worshipped like he is a god. Does he have ANY idea how many people and products are linked to automobiles? To force GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy FOR NO REASON (see: Why GM Matters-Inside the Race to Transform an American Icon -author William J. Holstein) means he is forcing more people into unemployment. He has callously destroyed more jobs than anyone I can think of. Waiting for the protests and howls!
Yes, our nation is going towards the destruciton.
Yes, there is no doubt in it that our nation is going towards the destruction bucasue of our govt policies, a lot of poeple are loosing their jobs, which can be result in increase of crimes as well, i think govt need to put efforts and invest money to save our drowing economy instead of wasting money to other countries wars. A reppresentitive of a survey firm was saying that people from all fields are loosing their jobs due to this crises. I was working for a web hosting company six months back, they kick me out during down sizing, then i start providing mcse certification trainings personally at home, after loosing my job, i am still trying but failed to get some good job. I dont why; but still govt is putting dont care condition to solve this economical crises.
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