I hope that the black boys who heard President Barack Obama urge students to make the most of their education yesterday caught the other lesson that was unfolding all around them.

That lesson is also instructive – and it’s one that they can ill afford to miss.

It’s a lesson on how a black man, one armed with smarts and charisma, can do more to embarrass and strike fear into racists than a black man armed with only anger and ignorance.

It’s a lesson on how an educated black man has the power to force his enemies to descend into apoplexy and idiocy in front of the entire world.

And, sadly enough, it’s also a lesson on how far the United States hasn’t come; that for its first black president, cries of “socialist” and “Nazi,” have, in effect, become the new N-word, with rabid partisans like Florida Republican party chairman Jim Greer, in a George Wallace-like fervor, ranting about how Obama's speech would expose children to socialist indoctrination.

That’s the lesson that black boys especially need to absorb – because it’s a preview of what they’ll face in life and how they’ll need to prepare for it.

A recap: Obama, following in the footsteps of two of his predecessors, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, decided to deliver a back-to-school address to the nation’s youth. His speech dealt with themes that Republicans have always claimed to hold dear, like hard work and personal responsibility.

But apparently, to some parents and wing-nut opportunists, a black president simply urging students to do well in school resonated more Maoist than Reaganite. To them, he wasn’t the leader of the free world giving them an assist in encouraging their children to excel, but an egotist looking to brainwash their children and ultimately turn them into spies for the state.

Of course, that’s off-the-chain ludicrous.

But the one thing that racists always count on is that no matter what, when it comes to black men especially, people will automatically believe the worse.

We know this because Greer started frothing about socialism before he even read Obama’s speech – which says a lot. It says that he was so confident that whites would react to the scariness  – much in the way that old white women in elevators clutch their purses when a black man steps in – that he didn’t even bother to do his homework first.

We know this because even after Obama publicized the speech ahead of time – with one minor tweak – many parents still kept their children home. Some schools wimped out and didn’t show the speech.

That boycott wasn’t about the message because absolutely nothing in that speech was political.

It was about the man.

It was about some racist parents not wanting their children to listen to a black president, one who had defied all the stereotypes that they use to feed their own notions of superiority.

They weren’t frightened about Obama spreading socialism, but at the prospect of a charismatic black man challenging their children to think – because if that happened, their children might be less prone to buy into their stupidity.

The good news is that by the end of yesterday, many GOP operatives, including Greer, started backtracking on their earlier statements. After Obama spoke, and after he drew mostly praise and the wing-nuts drew mostly condemnation, they had to.

And therein lies a deeper lesson for young black males.

The lesson is that when they make the most of their education, like Obama did, they will, at least, avoid playing into the stereotypes that racists like the speech boycotters use to write them off.

If they learn how to use their smarts, rather .....

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Very poignant article. It details and describes experiences and actualities that attribute to the origins of racism. Moreover, the manifestations of racism and its effects on the victim and the perpetrator are discussed. More people, black and white, need to listen and discuss these crucial aspects of negativity.

by   
EParish
September 10, 2009, 2:31 pm
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They know of NO responsibility because they do not take ownership or responsibility for anything. The take money out of your check to make them happy. I call it HABGAC. .

That's our right as black americans. True dat.

Brightwood, get to steppin' Ho. After what you did to Jazz last year, you ain't welcome round these parts.

by   
Jiggy5
September 10, 2009, 9:18 am
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LOL
This is Rob from low down RACIST NJ.
To my young brothas and sistas I have 2 questions
1-Still think racisum is a thing of the past?
-Still in the mood to date em? LOL
Rob from low down RACIST NEW JERSEY where racial profiling is STILL the order of the day

by   
Rammer
September 10, 2009, 9:16 am
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EBT Cards = BET cards JAZ your a frigging Nut!...lol, OK so what does HABGAC mean?...should I brace myself for your answer??!!!

by   
Barackie
September 9, 2009, 9:05 pm
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The black youth don't have a base. Every other group does. Pride, sense of community and knowledge of self are important for development of strong adults. In our community only a handful of us become “successful“. I can guarantee you if 93% of AA’s knew who they really were we wouldn’t be in this state. O yea, Obama isn’t one of us. Even if he had two Kenyan parents he wouldn’t apart of our group. Lets step off the race bus.

by   
Mikecockrell
September 9, 2009, 7:41 pm
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JAZFLUTESMITH 2012!!! I got's yo back!!!!

by   
Pollypocket
September 9, 2009, 4:21 pm
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You’ve hit it on the nail Tonyaa. I’m afraid, however, that the lessons here will mostly go unnoticed by many black male youth. Why? Properly deciphering said current events requires a combination of black American experience & wisdom which often comes only with adulthood. As a result, I cannot over emphasize the need for our adult community to engage in the day-to-day education of all black youth by providing a perspective that cannot be learned in the classroom nor any televised news program. At least, thanks to BlackAmericaWeb for helping in this matter.

by   
TonemanWI
September 9, 2009, 3:33 pm
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Jazz I see that you are still annoying the hell out of the posters. They don't know how to take what you say with a grain of salt and keep it moving.
Anyway...How you doin homeboy?

by   
Brightwood1
September 9, 2009, 2:55 pm
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The president's speech was on point, however this goe's more to the parents of these kid's, and that is that you need to be more involved with your child in every aspect of their lives, this is not just about school, but responsiblity of each and everyone of us to raise our children to their best potential and demand it of them........

by   
Wreeves
September 9, 2009, 2:35 pm
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Jazzflutesmith – google the term “full employment” to take a quick primer on macroeconomics. What you suggest will either collapse the economy, create another great depression, or launch the nation into another civil war. A certain class or group of people in a capitalistic economy MUST be kept unemployed to depress wages, control inflation, and to maintain a reserve labor pool for times of world war. America is considered to be at full employment when <6% of working age adults are unemployed. That represents over 16 million people. What do you do with 14 million people that you programmed…

by   
Drwill911
September 9, 2009, 2:33 pm
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…to be unemployed that must have a place to live, food to eat, etc? Should they stop having children simply because the government programmed them to be jobless, thus, taking the wherewithal for them to support their own children? If people would turn off Fixed News, stop listening to republican propaganda, do some research and find out the truth for themselves, we will be equipped to come together and work toward a common solution. But since “conservatives” want to keep things the way they are( but just roll back the clock to the 50’s when white man was king), they keep uneducated people…

by   
Drwill911
September 9, 2009, 2:32 pm
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…fighting against their own BEST interests in support of corporate interests. It is not in YOUR best interest, JAZZ, to have 16 million unhappy, hungry, homeless adults roaming the country. Republican conservatives would have you believe that it is in your best interests but it is not. They would have you believe that EVERYONE can get a job, but that is not true either, not under the system of capitalism. Capital means “top” and ism means belief so “capitalism” is a belief that someone should be on top. This also means that someone must be KEPT on the bottom.

by   
Drwill911
September 9, 2009, 2:32 pm
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Good article Tonya. You didn’t miss any point I need to add, so instead, I’ll spend this comment on another important matter/question. Can anyone think of a way to make “jazzflutesmith” disappear, or does anyone know where he lives? I expect nonsense from racists like jiggy & uncletom. Those klansmen are self-explanatory, they aren’t really a concern. This skinflute/jazzflute is a a whole ‘nother matter.

by   
Sevennotrump
September 9, 2009, 2:31 pm
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I ACTUALLY believe that the children who were present,(according to the news-reel,whom were mostly A.A's),for he president's speech:NEEDED to be there!!! The children,whom were not allowed to watch,were done a GREAT DISSERVICE!!!!
They will continue life, as always in the past,believing that one DOES NOT have to work hard in life to attain certain success;& that THEY will be GIVEN ANYTHING ,BECAUSE OF THEIR ENTITLEMENT!!!!
(so much for our SUPER-NATION,& THAT of our FUTURE LEADERS!!!! ( let's NOT EVEN discuss our education in comparison to that of: China's,Japan's and other countries)!!!!!

by   
Rubinisk
September 9, 2009, 2:13 pm
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The Big Intelligent Question of the Day:
"Who is that n*gger, to tell my(asked the racist-educated parent),ma(asked the racist-un-educated parent),DAMN(really-racist- educated or un-educated parent) child, about education(racist-educated parent),edamacation(racist- un-educated parent)??!!!??
Unfortunately:This question was asked even in those prominent,educated,but--RACIST-households--of course,our-run-of-the-mill-redneck-house-hold;this stinkin' thinkin is a GIVEN!!!!

by   
Rubinisk
September 9, 2009, 1:54 pm
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Make parents of all colours more responsible. BIRTH CONTROL should be a priority, especially when you are indigent. Yesterday at the park playing tennis, I saw 8 pregnant female. Not a ring on any finger. How long do we have to keep paying or other people's children. Then when you send your child off to college, no one listens....craziness.
I hope Obama addresses this issues and stop checks, for real. Or give pregnant females alternatives, MANDATORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by   
Jazflutesmith
September 9, 2009, 1:31 pm
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Brightwood, it is because the government gives them too much. A female can get pregnant, the government will give her an apartment, foodstamps, utility card, and whatever. She can move her ex-con boyfriend in. In my state they give them EBT cards, I call them BET cards to be sarcastic. You give them everything, they don't need to raise children, spank, and manage children. They know of NO responsibility because they do not take ownership or responsibility for anything. The take money out of your check to make them happy. I call it HABGAC. .

by   
Jazflutesmith
September 9, 2009, 1:27 pm
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The next speech should be about having babies by any and everyone and expecting the government to pay the bill. It gets old; giving food stamps out, Section 8 out and everything else. When you have a baby you should be own your own, to bad so sad, find the dad.

by   
Jazflutesmith
September 9, 2009, 1:21 pm
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CAmira
You are so correct!!!

by   
RaaSaa
September 9, 2009, 1:15 pm
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Deep down inside, I believe many whites are more afraid of an intelligent and educated Black man than they are of common street criminals. And people hate what they fear. God bless our President for giving such a wonderful speech.

by   
CAmira
September 9, 2009, 1:03 pm
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Yes, all of this was about a charismatic Black man who has risen above circumstances to achieve what racists whites and Uncle Tom Negros fear the most...Power and Authority. President Barack Obama is the complete package and makes them look like idiots when they lie and try to demonize him. It does not matter what they say, He is still the President of the United States of America!

by   
Brightwood1
September 9, 2009, 12:10 pm
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UncleTom, it is a shame that that a lot of parents are not doing their job and encouraging their students to remain in school and a lot of those parents are WHITE! I see them every semester and they never complete their GED studies! Igues they don't want to have a Black man tell their child what they can't seem to manage to do as parents.

by   
Brightwood1
September 9, 2009, 12:05 pm
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Quita:
I concur with you, children can "achieve success by working hard toward their dreams." President Obama's speech to the students was compelling, encouraging, inspirational and spiritual. I pray that the children take our Commander-In-Chief's words to heart and stay focused on their studies. Through hard work and a positive attitude, dreams are attainable.

by   
Barackie
September 9, 2009, 8:39 am
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ronald reagan use political tactics in his speech back in 1988.also he used the word negro towards a young girl.i remember listening to that speech but i was reading my book until he went off on the tv. i want black boys to be inspired because they are looking up to entertainers and sports crews instead their parents,teachers etc.the lesson is all kids must stay in school so they can survive without getting into trouble and achieve success by working hard towards their dreams.

by   
Quita32
September 9, 2009, 7:22 am
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wow uncletom, some white parents are teaching their children-racism and hatred.stop being hating on a black man who got a education just like current folks.yesterday protest was proving that some folks believes that pres. obama shouldn't never be in office coz he's blacks.look where the gop's stragety is coming from-THE SOUTH!

by   
Quita32
September 9, 2009, 7:16 am
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Great inspiration to those that listened and read the speech..............Parents "Wake Up"....your kids and you all live in "A Different World" !

by   
Kjhenter
September 9, 2009, 6:21 am
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Its actually a shame that BHO felt the need to give this speech. It quite frankly was very conservative in content. But if more parents were being parents then it would be no need for a president or anyone else having to encourage their kids.

by   
Uncletom
September 9, 2009, 5:51 am
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