From Martin Luther to Martin Lawrence. Is Cornel West A Joke?

Was I the only person who thought Cornel West was the closest America had come to producing the next Martin Luther King?  The soulful witticism.  The socratic dance.  The effortless maneuvers through complex thoughts.  Amidst acknowledging the grim todays and tomorrows for those home and abroad, he never stop telling us about the virtues of love, hope, and faith.

Then the first black president of the United States was elected.

All of a sudden we didn’t know if Brother West was a friend or foe.   You’ve heard the  quotes – “[Obama is a] black mascot for wall street, a republican in black face.”  Oh Lawd!

The only normal response to that statement is a punch in the face. I mean does Cornel have a hype man or a true friend.  Did him and Tavis Smiley kick back in recliners, pop open a $4.99 bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos and say, “I think we should fla’duck this president up.  Yeah Yeah Yeah.  And we can do it too. Between the two of us we can amass the angriest PBSers, NPRers, and left handed males between the ages of 38 and 45 that order carmel machiato at the local co-op coffee shop and turn this country around.”

But is President Obama responsible for Cornel and Smiley’s disgust? I detest the rumor that Cornel West is upset solely because he was not invited to any of the inaugural events during Obama’s 2008 victory.  Cornel West campaigned, advocated, and publicly supported Barack Obama when he was just a senator.  I think that is worthy of a White House invite.  Wouldn’t you be mad if you weren’t recognized?

A similar rumor is that Tavis Smiley is upset because Barack Obama did not attend the annual State of The Black Union sessions. Again I ask, wouldn’t you be mad if you were the most popular black face in public news for 20 years and the first black President refused to speak at a large venue that is for black folks and by black folks?

I understand the President’s position. He stayed away because he did not want to be viewed like, you know, one of them types of black folks.  You know the kind that’s always making excuses, preaching with a hooping cough, and wears baggy suits with fat pin stripes.  Umm Umm.  Embarrassing.

Just because I understand it it doesn’t mean I agree with it.  The president refuses to speak directly on a unique set of issues blacks face. I can only guess why?  The president speaks at Hispanic events to discuss fair wages, immigration, and access to college.  And he should.  They’re Americans too.  But he should also declare a state of emergency in his home state of Chicago because there are more murders there than Iraq (500 Chicago, 379 Iraq).  I been there.  I was scurred and I’m saying I was scurred.  Poverty in America is at an all time high amongst whites, hispanics, blacks, and mainly women.

I want the President to be called out on that.  Good job Tavis.  Good job Cornel.  But I don’t want the man to be called a wall street minstrel show.  Bad job Tavis. Bad job Cornel.  I like fighters.  I encourage Tavis and Cornel to fight more and fight louder.  But I would advise them to hire a Public Relations Representative and a Political Strategist because unfortunately the name calling is making them look less like their hero Martin Luther King and more like a Martin Lawrence joke.  And it’s getting harder and harder to defend them around my friends.

QUESTION – Is the best strategy one of aggression or humble persistence?

 

Related Info:

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/9/tavis_smiley_cornel_west_on_the

http://www.theroot.com/buzz/cornel-west-obama-republican-blackface

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