I figured it was only a matter of time before some news organization would weigh in on how black men were living up to their man duties a year after voters put one of them in the White House.

So CNN recently visited a Dallas barber shop and some social service organizations to gauge the Obama phenomena; to see whether the nation’s first black president had inspired more of them to become better fathers and mentors, and to see themselves as pillars, and not pebbles, of their communities.

It seemed as if he had – somewhat.

The Dallas barber shop guys said that after Obama was elected, seven of them joined Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America. Nationally, 800 more black men have become big brothers since last November, a spokeswoman told CNN.

Me, I think CNN should have talked to the brothers hanging out on the corners and in the parks.

If they had, perhaps they would have learned a truth that transcends sound bites; that while Obama’s victory represents the potential and the hopes of many black men who have been pushed to society’s margins, the obstacles he’s grappled with since taking office are a reminder as to why so many of them have, either consciously or subconsciously, chosen to remain there.

That's why I believe that one of the best things that Obama’s ascendancy can do for black men is to influence many of them to move away from the fringes. Too many racists have grown comfortable with them being there.

We know this by looking at Obama’s first year. It has been filled with promise. But it has also been filled with the kind of grief that tends to be reserved for ambitious black men who forget their place.

One of the most frequent criticisms about his health care overhaul plans, for example, tend to come from people who believe he’s moving too fast – a criticism that is rarely directed toward white men.

By daring to overhaul our dysfunctional health care system, Obama’s GOP detractors in Congress and their teabagging cohorts don’t see him as courageous. They see him as a black man in over his head.

They’re also relying on the rest of the public to see Obama that way; to let him be president as long as he doesn’t dare use the power that comes along with it.

In other words, some people would rather reduce him to a token than actually let him achieve something.

Then there’s the intense scrutiny; the tendency to cast every action, no matter how benign, as proof that Obama isn’t up to task of leading the free world. His handshake and deep bow to Emperor Akihito in Tokyo is seen as a sign of naiveté and a willingness to portray the United States as a subservient nation instead of a superpower.

No matter that former President Nixon bowed to Emperor Hirohito in 1971, and that former president George W. Bush kissed and held hands with the Saudi king – something that smacks more of subservience than a bow.

Besides, we bowed to Japan a long time when we started replacing our Fords and Magnavoxes with their Toyotas and Sonys.

So black men who’ve acquiesced to spending their days on corners instead of looking for work see how Obama is treated. And for many, his struggles remind them of the struggles that await them and threaten to emasculate them if they dare step out of the reality that they’ve defined for themselves.

In their reality, they get to prove themselves as men through the number of children they have without bothering with getting a square job – a job that might require them .....

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The final lesson black men must learn from the president is how to keep his family together despite all of the hardships that we have to endure in the world. Once we come home and shut the door, we can shut the world out, refuel off of our family’s love and be strengthened to face the next day.

by   
Drwill911
November 22, 2009, 11:27 pm
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It is my belief that the main thing brothers should learn from President Obama is that IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN LIFE EVEN IF IT IS AS LOFTY AS BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IF--and I repeat--IF THEY ARE WILLING TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES GREATLY, AND COMMIT THEMSELVES TO SERVE THE WHOLE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, WHILE AVOIDING DIVISIVE RHETORIC, AND REMAIN COURAGEOUS AND UPRIGHT IN FACE OF ALL OPPOSITION. And that's just for starters.
Bobby Richardson
Phila, PA
Bobby Richardson Books
bobbyrichardson.vpweb.com

by   
Bwebspinner
November 22, 2009, 7:02 pm
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Sorry, but BLK AMERICANS should 1st realize that Mr OBAMA IS NOT JSUT A BLK MAN, BUT HE IS 1st A MUSLIM. AND... with that being the first fact of TRUTH, they should learn to HONOR THEIR CULTURE & HEIRITAGE! 2nd OWN UP TO THE TRUTH BY JUST BEING HONEST & THEN RESPONIBLE FOR UR ACTIONS.

by   
Leolioness44
November 22, 2009, 8:10 am
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Great article! And although many black men were already living their lives as respectful, God fearing men long before President Obama was the president, there are still so many more that aren't. Maybe having a young black president will help those who are lost see something in themselves that is worth striving to live the 'good life'.

by   
Tchkds
November 21, 2009, 5:33 pm
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cont'd

Nevertheless, the prophecies in the Bible are coming true, and the more you harden your heart, the harder it is to eventually find Jesus Christ.

This site is a Christian site, and all the black leaders who accomplished the rights we have today were/are Christian. Malcolm X was a firebrand/Hollywood, but he never really accomplished anything for us and was killed by his own. That's not to demean Malcolm's legacy, but its the truth.

Athiesm does nothing but give you a reason to deny the Bible. If you believe the Big Bang Thoery is true, that proves all my points.

by   
A_day_in_the_life
November 21, 2009, 2:01 pm
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Take heed of that Broughtwaprice. I wouldnt tell you if I never thought it was important for you to know.

I may be acting like a scrub myself, but Im doing it in order to get you to open your eyes and stop denying these undeniable truths.

There will most likely never be a coming together of black people. There's never been a time in history where we've been left undisturbed.

...see cont'd

by   
A_day_in_the_life
November 21, 2009, 1:52 pm
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The Bible says that the end of this world will come with the destruction of Israel by her enemies. The prophecies also tell of worldwide bloodshed @ that time

As you know, hatred of the Jews is growing due to the financial crisis, and racism particularly against black people is growing.

The opposition to the healthcare bill is a de-facto euthanasia argument, where whites want to stop the numbers of minorities being born. If it is passed, we may see civil war within the US.

Unrest in the US = instability in the world as we are Israels only true defenders.

by   
A_day_in_the_life
November 21, 2009, 1:47 pm
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Why dont you check again whether I used it in the same sentence SCRUB.

Like I said the first time, you'll be spending your afterlife in HELL with Hitler etc.

Much more, atheists like you believe in a random "big bang", a theory created by WHITE MEN which pushes the subtle ideal (in the overall scheme of evolution) that black people are INFERIOR sub-standard humans who are stuck in savagery.

So if you wanna prostrate yourself to atheism aka white supremacism (as they both go hand-in-hand) then be my guest. You've been warned.

by   
A_day_in_the_life
November 21, 2009, 1:34 pm
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I did not know a Christian could use God, bible and**** in the same sentence. LOL, You represent Christianity well....You are exactly proof of how it started and how it wll end...Go get it! LOL
You are funny as hell...IAreal live moonbat LOL

by   
Broughtwaprice
November 20, 2009, 1:54 pm
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Its obvious that the fruitcake Broughtwaprice has never opened up a Bible like all the other FRUITCAKE atheists.

Like I said YOU SCRUB-A$$ B!tch aka BroughtwaPrice, youre dumb-a$$ shares the same worldly opinion as HITLER, STALIN, all White Supremacist Organizations, and every other Organization which believes black folk are a sub-standard species of human.

I, nor any black person in this world aint no sub-NOTHING; whether in Magnolia Project, the Congo, or Overtown 305 aka Dade County.

So you can your lame-a$$ view of the world and go join those white supremacist, you SCRUB

by   
A_day_in_the_life
November 20, 2009, 11:41 am
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Pound- Most of what you said is correct. The part about the Prez "got elected by more white than black" is misleading. Election results show less than half (43 %) of the white electorate voted for him while he received over 90% percent of the black electorate vote. President Obama was elected mostly due to the poor economy (erosion of the middle class). Check the numbers before and after the banking meltdown.

by   
Dopamine
November 20, 2009, 8:21 am
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Brothers??HUH Guess I am leaving the herd.Just becasue someone has the same skin tone as me does not make him my brother...wow I msut be really changing..guess I treat people like they treat me regardless of color...but i still like all the sheep..it's a cute herd.

by   
Player
November 20, 2009, 4:34 am
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Getting back to the point of the article, we might want to consider this:
A Black Man named Barack Obama is the elected president of the most powerful country on the planet, he got elected during a time of heightened fear of anything****ociated with Muslims and Islam, and he got elected by more white people than black. He dared against all logical reasoning.
THERE ARE NO MORE EXCUSES!

by   
Poundsa
November 19, 2009, 4:33 pm
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7, I thought I done chased your azz out of here once.

by   
Jiggy5
November 19, 2009, 11:30 am
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Sevennotrump- I agree with Brought that religion should stay out of the conversation. The U.S. was founded on the concept of FREEDOM of religion. Religious crusades have killed more people than any person that proclaimed to be an atheist. Spirituality and religion are separate and the two should not be confused. If the church was doing its job there would be a lot LESS homeless people in this country and less WARS… I DOUBT Jesus wanted the slaughter of humans in his name…

by   
Dopamine
November 19, 2009, 10:20 am
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Brought…: There is only ONE God, accordingly there is only ONE religion, which is more than a ritualistic practice, it’s a way of life. Ergo, real RELIGION never enslaved anyone. All slavery in history was instituted from Hatred, selfishness, personal laziness & a feeling of I’m better than you. NONE OF THAT is from God. Slavery is of the devil, those who enslave are ALWAYS servants of Satan.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 19, 2009, 9:17 am
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Dumb**** ****! LOL...It was religious that ensllave you...I do not know who "our people is:, because I do not claim ignorant niccas, such as yourself,.

by   
Broughtwaprice
November 19, 2009, 12:09 am
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Broughtwaprice.

Your outlook lacks a foundation - a compass - a ROCK; one which the tumult of the Earth cannot sweep the away.

Atheism is the ULTIMATE EVIL of this world, & your religious foundation - or lack thereof - amounts to nothing more than emptiness & denial. It is what has caused the great calamity bestowed upon our people.

You share your Atheist beliefs with Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Darwin - people who saw black folk as "sub-human". Id rather share mine with Jesus, MLK, Harriet Tubman, and Mahalia Jackson; among others

by   
A_day_in_the_life
November 18, 2009, 10:07 pm
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We should keep religion out of it, because until we right ourselves, our communities, each other...We will continue to be like the Jews in exodus, denied the promise land until when stop treating each other like white people have treated us...And so far "religion people" Black or White are the most vile, backbiting, destructiive.. You gotta live the word not quote. We have survived Slavery, Peonage Era, Jim Crow...Now we must redefine our own culture, values and moral compass...Or the white man/racism is no longer our more pressing issues.

by   
Broughtwaprice
November 18, 2009, 2:04 pm
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Not only Black men, but Black people should realize from President Obama. One, white folks/racism is neverending, but do not let that defeat you and become the end of you or become self-destructive amongst their many plans to stop you from becoming a President Obama of your own self, business, family..Black Women should learn from Michelle Obama that attitude, loudness, backbiting is not what makes a Black Woman or mother.

by   
Broughtwaprice
November 18, 2009, 2:00 pm
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A teaching that God created Black people to be servants of whites is BS straight from the mouth of Satan. No wonder it was easy for some to believe racists ARE the devil. They lie like the devil & hate like the devil. Of course Ham was an African, as were Adam and as are ALL MEN. Man was created in AFRICA! The curse of Ham relates to EGYPT’S enslavement of Hebrews. It has NOTHING to do with racists kidnapping Blacks from Africa, & NO ONE who follows God thinks it does.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 18, 2009, 1:33 pm
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Dopamine: “Christians” have never believed that BS about Blacks being the descendants of Ham & destined by God to be servants. That’s the teaching of RACISTS like, uncletom, Jerry Falwell & other Klansmen who CALL THEMSELVES Christians & are willing to use the name of Christ, God, Allah, Buddha, Confucius, or anyone else to advance their racist position. Christian means= like Christ (or follower of Christ). Christ taught we should serve others, that the first would be last & the last would be first. Matt 12:45 & John 13th chapter.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 18, 2009, 1:27 pm
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The Bible has been used throughout history to justify slavery. "Speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives in February 1836, James Henry Hammond of South Carolina declared, “The doom of Ham has been branded on the form and feature of his African Descendants." Christians traditionally believed that Canaan had settled in Africa. The dark skin of Africans became****ociated with this "curse of Ham." Thus slavery of Africans became religiously justifiable. Knowledge is power…

by   
Dopamine
November 18, 2009, 10:56 am
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I didnt need Obama to make me a better black man, nor did I have a father around to give me something to look up too. I made a CHOICE. But I was also guided in a direction in which God planned himself. But lets not make the mistake, Obama makes me reevalute how much more better I can become. God said , my people or lost for lack of knowledge. You cant change a nation over nite or a people, be be incourage that God still sends a light. And as far as the Klansmen, let them be about the devils woirk, for the Lord said Vengence is mine!

by   
Monti_30
November 18, 2009, 10:09 am
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I was talking to a 45 year old man the other day who said he blamed himself for not finishing high school, which he knew would have given him better job opportunities. I suggested to him that it wasn't too late to try to earn a GED, which would give him more job options. His response was that books aren't his thing. I didn't ask him if he had reading problems, but there are also volunteers who teach people to read. You can help some people, but most people's habits and ideas are ingrained by adulthood. A black President won't change those folks.

by   
CAmira
November 18, 2009, 9:54 am
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This was a very insightful article. Many Black males are raised with a false sense of reality. They receive misinformation concerning their history and place in America which ends in disappointment or disillusionment. Some have the will to defeat adversity while others lose hope. This is not about RELIGION. Knowledge is the cure for ails of ignorance. Just because you have never been incarcerated or have no children out of wedlock doesn’t make you better. What have you done to help your community and end the cycle?

by   
Dopamine
November 18, 2009, 9:30 am
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Incidentally, Klansman, you may be 45, but YOU ARN’T BLACK. YOU are a racist pig. I’m 42, I was raised in a violent project, but unlike others, I had two (very poor) but loving parents. That probably contributed to me breaking away from the gangbanger, drug dealer lifestyle. Yet, it DIDN’T prevent me from entering it. Others don’t have a good male example in the home so seize them where you find them. BE LIKE OBAMA!

by   
Sevennotrump
November 18, 2009, 9:12 am
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The Klansman Bob Jones Jr. claims to be a Christian & IS president of a supposedly Christian college. He made a rule that white girls could not have physical contact with Black males, (i.e. dancing) on campus property. That rule was only lifted when Clinton threatened to pull their federal support. So Uncletom, SCREW U & the rest of the Klan with your claims of being Christian. Yes, All GDs, Crips & everyone under the FOLK umbrella, be more like Obama.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 18, 2009, 9:03 am
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Not the MOST hypocritical comment from the klansman “uncletom”, about equal with all his other hypocritical CRAP! The apostle Paul (a Jew) told other Jews, “Be followers of me….” [NIVersion] “I urge you to be imitators of me….” This is A VERY GOOD ARTICLE, that’s why it irritates the klansman. The Klan has for years tried to MIS-use the bible, to push their racist agenda.
The Klansman Jerry Falwell claimed to be a Christian minister, he taught that Blacks were descendants of Ham & were destined by God to be servants.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 18, 2009, 9:01 am
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@A Day
Secular Humanism is a belief that man can achieve perfection by his/her own efforts. Expanded further by secular humanist in politics, that if the "right" people are elected then they can best make decisions for the populous. I weird way I can guess Ms. Weathersbee's intention. But as 45 y.o. black man, I have never been to jail and don't have any out of wedlock children. I did NOT need Obama to model after. That came from my own father. My cynicism lies in the fact that every solution for black society should NOT come from DC. Much ratther we should impact the culture there.

by   
Uncletom
November 18, 2009, 8:54 am
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