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


  •  Black Feminism Informed by “Sensuous Knowledge”
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Feminism Informed by “Sensuous Knowledge”
    11 Jan 2021
    Because of historical exclusion, “Black women’s social and political desires have always had to be shaped outside of the dogmatic and the normative – inside of the liminal, the fugitive and the ima
  •  Black Anarchists Prefer “Non-Hierarchical” Activism
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Anarchists Prefer “Non-Hierarchical” Activism
    11 Jan 2021
    Ebony “Sima Lee” Outlaw, the activist and Marooncast host based in Baltimore, was inspired by “Black anarchists who very much wanted to end imperialism, but chose to do so through
  •  Cops Colluded with Trump Mob at Capitol
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Cops Colluded with Trump Mob at Capitol
    11 Jan 2021
    “If this had been a Black-led effort, it would have been a massacre,” said Mara Vanderheyden, co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice, which is demanding a “fully public” i
  • The Squad Won’t Fight Pelosi and Corporate Power
    Glen Ford, BAR Executive Editor
    The Squad Won’t Fight Pelosi and Corporate Power
    07 Jan 2021
    For the first time in this century, significant numbers of young people of all races are expressing raw hatred for the Democrats and denouncing “The Squad” for collaborating with the oligarchy.
  • Freedom Rider: Let the Black Caucus Be Black
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist
    Freedom Rider: Let the Black Caucus Be Black
    06 Jan 2021
    Black people suffer because they have no real representation in Congress. The Congressional Black Caucus takes its orders from Nancy Pelosi, who serves corporations, not people.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us