Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

Is Barack Obama Good For Black People? The Great Debate in Harlem, Part 2 of 2
Bill Quigley
12 Aug 2009
🖨️ Print Article
On June 25, hundreds of black America's formost thnkers and doers gathered at St. Mary's Church in Harlem NY to ask and answer the question of whether Barack Obama was good or bad for black America. We here present some of the 5 to 7 minute presentations pro and con on whether Barack Obama is good for black America. Click the flash players to listen to or the mics to download them in MP3 format.

Glen Ford

The fact, says Dr. Jared Ball of Morgan State University and voxunion.com, is that Barack Obama did not emerge from the struggle of our people for peace and justice.  He has been imposed upon us by outside forces in answer to that struggle, not in fulfillment of it..

Charles Barron

 

While NY City Councilman Charles Barron disagrees with some of Obama's policies, he seems to draw a line around those who disagree with the president, calling them “intellectuals” who he says, do the hood no good.

 

Dr. Marimba Ani

Give the brotha a break?  Dr. Marimba Ani doesn't think we should give the American empire a break.  If anything, she notes, having a black man sitting in the big chair makes it harder to fight.

Charles Barron

 

argues that Barack Obama represents incremental but significant change, and even though the election was eight months ago, reaches back to compare Obama with McCain.

 

 

Viola Plummer

Barack Obama is a “yes we can” symbol of national unity for black people, says Viola Plummer.

.

 

Diop Olugbala

 

 

The Uhuru Movement's Diop Olugbala argues that a lesser evil is still quite evil. We can, he insists, do better.

 

Click here for part one of the Great Debate in Harlem, with Glen Ford, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Nellie Bailey and Dr. Gloria Browne Marshall

 

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • US Launched 251 Military Interventions Since 1991, and 469 Since 1798
    Benjamin Norton
    US Launched 251 Military Interventions Since 1991, and 469 Since 1798
    21 Sep 2022
    The U.S. has interfered in the affairs of other nations since 1798 with more than 250 military interventions in the last 30 years alone. 
  • Black Agenda Radio September 16, 2022
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Black Agenda Radio September 16, 2022
    16 Sep 2022
    Black politics in San Francisco Part 2, FBI surveillance of Aretha Franklin, and how the U.S. drives conflicts in Horn of Africa nations.
  • Black Politics in San Francisco, Part 2
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Black Politics in San Francisco, Part 2
    16 Sep 2022
    Jemma Decristo is a community organizer in San Francisco, where a Black mayor, London Breed, continues neo-liberal and pro-police policies and where gentrification and displacement continue. She…
  • FBI Surveillance of Aretha Franklin
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    FBI Surveillance of Aretha Franklin
    16 Sep 2022
    Afeni is a community organizer and writer who is co-authoring an article soon to appear in Rolling Stone about FBI surveillance of Aretha Franklin. Afeni is joining us from Washington DC.
  • The U.S. Instigates Conflict in the Horn of Africa
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    The U.S. Instigates Conflict in the Horn of Africa
    16 Sep 2022
    Thomas C. Mountain is an historian and educator known as a widely published independent journalist in Africa. He explains U.S. interference against Ethiopia and Eritrea and how the TPLF, Tigray…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us