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


  • Community Control of Police is a Right and Necessity
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Community Control of Police is a Right and Necessity
    12 Oct 2020
    In response to protests, the eastern North Carolina city of Greenville has discontinued its ties to the Pentagon’s infamous 1033 program that funnels military weapons and equipment to local police.
  •  Beware the Movement’s “Controlled Opposition”
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Beware the Movement’s “Controlled Opposition”
    12 Oct 2020
    Shannon Jones, of Bronxites for NYPD Accountability, who was among 250 people arrested at a massive police assault on protesters, June 4, warns that some corporate foundation-funde
  • Bidens and Trumps, Foxes and Wolves
    Glen Ford, BAR Executive Editor
    Bidens and Trumps, Foxes and Wolves
    08 Oct 2020
    The fox and wolf parties – both corporate canines – debate how best to acclimate the masses to their deepening state of precarity.
  • Freedom Rider: Liberal Sympathy for Trump
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist
    Freedom Rider: Liberal Sympathy for Trump
    07 Oct 2020
    If Ava Duvernay really believes Trump is a white supremacist, why wish him well?  
  • Debate Lesson: 2020 Election is a Great Corporate Thug-a-thon
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    Debate Lesson: 2020 Election is a Great Corporate Thug-a-thon
    07 Oct 2020
    Trump and Biden avoided policy because neither had anything to offer the masses of people.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us