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Black Lawmakers Ready to Serve with the 44th President
Published by Pamela Gentry on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 1:38 pm.
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst
Jan. 17, 2009 – It’s official: the newly appointed African-American Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) is not only a member of the Senate, but is now a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. And like his predecessor the only Black lawmaker in the Senate.
California Rep. Barbara Lee (D), chairwomen of the caucus and I spoke Friday and she told me following Burris’s swearing Wednesday: “I invited him and he accepted,” she said.
Lee had authored a letter early in the week on behalf of lawmakers requesting Burris be sworn-in. While the controversy of his appointment was centered on embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the caucus felt the appointment was valid and Burris should be seated.
The 111th Congress will mark a historical number of Black lawmakers’ in House leadership positions. Fifteen subcommittee chairs and four committees will be chaired by African-American. “It’s our moment – and our agenda continues to be the conscience of the Congress,” Lee told me.
Lee said the swearing in of the 44th president will take place just as the caucus celebrates its 40th anniversary. “We’ll continue on the mission of equity and justice,” she said.
On a personal note, Lee said as President Barack Obama is being sworn in, she can’t help but remember those who made it possible. “Obama didn’t just happen overnight, our ancestors before us made it possible” she said.
“My mom couldn’t enter the hospital to deliver me; growing up during segregation I remember my father, a member of the service, not being allowed in restaurants,” she re-called. “This [inauguration] is an exciting moment – we owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Read the comment.
Read and educate your self.
You can see for your self.
The Arabs for thousands of years have traded for black slaves from black chiefs . Black chiefs would make wars own other tribes for wealth and to gain land. Later in history the Arabs introduced trading of black slavery to the Europeans so it was not the Europeans who strated slavery in Africa to say so is inncorrect . And in colonial america there were blacks that did owned white indenture servants and not all blacks were slaves there were indentured servants also.you people can read more about this at wikipedia encyclopedia look for “Aradic slave trade” and go to the UN website and read about slavery go on in africa now with the Arabs.
OBAMA PROVES WHITES
NOT AS PREJUDICED AS WE THOUGHT !
By Greg Jones
(originally written/released March 24, 2008)
” There’s no way America would vote for a black president !…..America’s not ready for a black president.” That has historically been the sentiment and attitude shared by the majority of blacks in America due in part to the fact that we have always been under the assumption that most whites are so prejudiced that a black president in America would just never happen. But one of the most incredible things that has arisen through Barack Obamas campaign has been the vision of mass numbers of white people at each of the Obama rallys showing great love and support for this credible, intelligent, gifted, strong leader….who happens to also be black. It has been incredibly eye-opening and uplifting, and it, for the first time, shows us blacks that we have actually been wrong in our assumption that most whites are prejudiced toward us. Guess what ? Although you do have the exceptions to the rule, the fact is….most whites ARE NOT racist toward blacks. This is a very important revelation. VERY !!!
We, as blacks have held on to our injured history, which we rightfully feel was caused by whites, to such a degree that we have never had the opportunity to see or learn that the prejudiced attitudes of whites does not exist today like it had in the past. We just didn’t know. We knew that a lot of whites like black music. We knew that millions of white women love Oprah, but we thought that was just a ‘woman thing’. But in all honesty, we had no idea, until now, that white people of all ages….even older ones…could be as supportive of a black candidate as they have shown in great mass. We, as blacks have been wrong !
And now, to my black brothers and sisters….It’s time for us to acknowledge this extremely important revelation…In other words….all whites are not prejudiced !!! In fact, MOST whites aren’t ! I know, it’s hard to believe because of our lifetime of thinking differently….but these are the facts. Just look in the eyes of the whites at Obama’s rallys. You see a true warmth, compassion and true support for this man….who is black. What this means is that most whites have risen above the racism of old. Now, it is time for us, as blacks, to rise up as well. Of course, we as blacks will have the specific cases of injustice and prejudice as displayed through examples like Jena 6, Genarlow Wilson, Katrina and the like….and specific cases like those should be dealt with accordingly. In regards to economic, educational and criminal injustices and institutional racism….we still have a long way to go. But we must not continue to allow certain negative occurances to misdirect our minds toward thinking that these negative examples speak for the entire white race. The majority of whites of today are actually on our side !
Obama’s campaign has already won by proving that whites and blacks can not only get along….but can work TOGETHER….toward a better tomorrow…for us all. And guess what my black family….America IS ready !!!
Greg Jones
National Director
Blacks4Barack.org
Update: YES WE DID !
p.s. Special Thanks to the great folks of IOWA !