The Audacity of Tired Feet: Barack Obama, the CBC, & Bedroom Slippers

Barack Obama has a lot of nerve telling the Congressional Black Caucus – and by extension Black America – to “stop complaining.” Negro please! I don’t know how you might feel about it, but this is totally unacceptable, and beyond the pale.

I mean, I didn’t hear him tell the Israeli’s to stop complaining last week. But no, as usual, there’s different standard when it comes to addressing Black folks by America’s first Black president. I mean, didn’t we see this as to expected since his “Father’s Day” speech while standing in a Black church of all places? I mean hell, it’s not like we have a powerhouse like AIPAC backing us up or funnelling campaign funds, right? All we got is the CBC, and NAACP with their tired feet.

Sorry, but that’s slave catcher behavior to me.. But hey, at least it’s good to finally get to know that the societal ills – such as chronic unemployment – of the Black community can be solved by simply removing those bedroom slippers. I mean the president does have a point; some of you Negroes have gotten a lil’ bit too comfortable in our 3-year-old post-racial society. Some of you also egregiously underestimate the severity of our economic condition of Black America.

This from Dr. Wilmer Leon via The Root:

Harvard Law School professor Randall Kennedy recently penned an opinion piece for CNN entitled“Why Obama’s Black Critics Are Wrong.” He contends that President Obama’s African-American critics have focused on his “racial bona fides” and that “throughout President Barack Obama’s political career, he has been dogged by … accusations that he is not ‘black enough.’ ” I respect Kennedy and appreciate his contributions to scholarship, but in this instance his analysis is unsupported by the data.

There is a very troubling pattern developing within certain segments of the African-American community, a concerted effort to silence those who are offering honest, valid and well-thought-out criticism of the Obama administration. Kennedy has joined a growing number of African Americans, such as radio hosts Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey andprofessor Melissa Harris-Perry, who are more focused on personal sentiment than policy.

African Americans can ill afford to base their analysis of President Obama on the politics of sentiment. Like every other political constituency, we must stay focused on policy outcomes that work to further the best interests of the African-American community. We should not have permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.

I wouldn’t dare suggest that president Obama is unaware of this fact – I’m sure he knows the statistics and reads this site everyday. However, in the last few days I’ve seen our collective divided on this recent fracas. Which isn’t really surprising since the polarized effect of the Obama presidency has played itself out but in no uncertain terms like Kwame’s polka-dots. Here in Black America, everyone is suddenly concerned or interested in the thoughts of Black folks on the performance of president Obama. Clearly it’s against protocol to have an opposing view, right?

This i why there is so much media scrutiny of his recent admonishment of Black folks where he commanded them to “stop complaining,” as any other-worldy revered and celebrated deity would. Yes, it’s plain and simple, and Barack has spoken.  Never mind that there is a double standard applied to Black folks in America who have always been viewed as an anti-American bunch of whiners. Truth is, America is tired of the noise; and Massa Barack has spoken.

Yes, and it’s time for you people to get in line; yes, drink the Kool-Aid. After all, don’t y’all see that even with holes in his shoes our president is doing as much as he can?  Don’t you understand, that like Black folks, he’s limited because of his skin color? Hell, I thought that was obvious.

For the record, I agree with Tavis Smiley in the following; however, I realize that Black folk speaking truth to power has become somewhat like a treasonous act these days. I mean once upon a time Black folks were killed by “certain people” for engaging in this courageous act. Today however, one could be assassinated by his or her own for doing the same while “certain people” sit back and laugh. But I suppose this is yet another one of those post-racial teachable moment. A moment for which I am truly appreciative. Let’s face it: knowing where one stands is important, no?

Finally,  a now very famous and beloved American president said the following, at a time when things weren’t so great economically for Black folks:

“It doesn’t do good to open doors for someone who doesn’t have the price to get in. If he has the price, he may not need the laws. There is no law saying the Negro has to live in Harlem or Watts” – Ronald Reagan

I can’t help but to wonder: should the GOP suceed in winning the presidency and a majority in both houses of government, does the “stop complaining” rule still apply? More importantly, are we going to be hypocritical with our critiques then? No joke, y’all; I’m gonna need someone to tell me how long to act. After all, I’d hate to upset the apple cart by refusing to be one of these safe Negroes.