(StephenJSmith.com--Murfreesboro, TN) Critiques of President Barack Obama and his commitment to address addressing the economic, educational, and societal disparities president in the Black community are not recent news.  However, throughout the past 18 months, voices from prominent Black leaders and intellectuals have spoken out in both support and opposition of the Obama administration’s lack of an agenda for the impoverished and disenfranchised members of Blacks in America.

From television and radio personality Tavis Smiley’s call for a “Black Agenda” in 2010 to Dr. Cornel West’s statements last week accusing Obama of essentially being a “white man in black skin,” the criticisms of both Obama’s policies and blackness have been thrown in the ring of public discussion.  From what began as a unwavering loyalty and dedication to the support of President Obama and all for which he stands has now become what seems to be a house divided when discussing Black sentiments toward the Obama administration and the presidential agenda that isn’t as progressive as they believed it would be.

As with most widely debated issues in the Black community, a grasp of the proper context in which to frame this debate can go a long way. 

What factors over time created the varying perspectives within the Black community related to President Obama and his efforts to aid Black people? Are the critiques of Obama made by today’s “Black leadership” coming from the right places, or are the detracting statements simply the result of bruised egos?

These are the kinds of questions we all must ascertain if we are to aid in the progression of the debate, as opposed to contributing to its dilution.

The truth of the matter is this:  Barack Obama is the President of the United States, not the President of Black America.  Is there more that can be done to address the educational woes that plague Black communities across the country? Probably so, but the increase in funding for federal student loans (which had a disproportionately positive impact on African-American students) and an executive order to increase HBCU funding by $98 million prove that the educational deficiencies within the Black community are not being ignored.

Could he make the effort to meet more frequently with members of the Congressional Black Caucus? I believe so.  However, I hardly believe Obama’s lack of frequent meetings with CBC membership translates as him not being connected to the needs of the Black community.  While he may not meet with the CBC legislators as much as they may desire, Obama has plenty of people working to maintain the pulse of what goes on in all minority communities: Asian-American, Hispanic, Indian American, Native American, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon, and, yes, the Black community.

Remember, before we as people raise our voices to say President Obama is not addressing what we call “Black issues,” ask yourself what are YOU doing to address these “Black issues” you come across more frequently than he does.  Are you attending your local city council meetings, asking the questions to which your community needs answers?  How often do you practice and promote sound fiscal responsibility in your daily life?

We must remember that for change to occur with any issue in the Black community, beginning with looking in the mirror is paramount to accomplishing our goals.  We have to wake up from the “Black President euphoria” and realize that the first person of color elected as the Leader of the Free World does not absolve us of our responsibilities as a people, nor does it provide us a scapegoat for all that ails our communities.  The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can see positive results from which we all can reap the benefits.

Consider this: After President Obama’s second term in office ends in 2016 (which isn’t very far way), what will we do then? Go back to blaming the “White Man?” -_-
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Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, is applauded by Princeton Professor Cornel West, far left, as he takes the stage at the Martin Luther King Day March to the Dome in Columbia, S.C., Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) AP
Stephen Smith is a recent graduate fromt the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with degrees in Political Science and Africana Studies.  He is currently working in Tennessee as a Field Organizer for Organizing for America.  In 2009, he created StephenJSmith.com, a fully-interactive site featuring the latest world news, blogs, interviews, social commentary, and preferred readings.  He can be contacted at stephen.smith1911@gmail.com.
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We, as African-Americans, know all too well the struggles our families have faced throughout many generations.  From the initial separation of our families during the slave trade to today's extremely high divorce rates, the list of reasons why African-American families are in its current state seem insurmountable.

However, I am a strong believer in the idea that you have to start SOMEWHERE...and, in my opinion, that somewhere is with the presence (or lack thereof) of the African-American father figure in the household. 

The statements you hear in the clip above reflect the attitudes and mindsets of many African-Americans, young and old...that the presence of the African-American male in the African-American family has no value. This ideology leaves one burning question in my mind: "HOW DID WE LET THINGS GET THIS BAD???"

In other cultures, the male is the centerpiece of the family...the unquestioned leader.  The father is respected by his wife and children, and the way he leads his household and provides for his family shape the way his children lead their households, setting a pattern for future generations to follow. 

Whenever the father was absent, uncles or other men in the community would serve as role models, grooming young boys to become men, and giving young girls a shining example of the type of man they should want to marry and be led by.

No matter what culture or ethnic group you study, while the role of the female may vary in its importance, the unwavering figure in family governance is the male.

Why can this not be said about today's African-American culture? There are many different things we can point to, but, realistically, we are past the finger-pointing stage.

Being real with ourselves and taking meaningful action has been LONG overdue for African-American people. We must realize that before we talk about America's discriminatory practices or what the Obama administration can do for us, we have to get our own house in order, starting with addressing the role of the African-American male.
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