Should there be a Presidential Black Agenda?

Brehs, times are hard.

If you're anything like me, you've probably been unemployed for at least a little bit during the past few years. President Obama takes a lot of heat regarding the economy, some of it fair (his extension of the Bush Tax Cuts) and some of it unfair (inheriting one of the worst economies in U.S. history).




Brehs, attend. If you're a melanin-heavy breh like me, things are probably a little bit harder for you. Black unemployment rates are, on average, double that of whites. Even if you're qualified and experienced, you still could have a hard time finding employment at all, never mind a fulfilling and financially stable 9-5 (Skrippin' don't count, unless that's your dream job).

Well, the CBC is fed up, and they called the President out following his speech at the CBC awards dinner. Peep the vid below:



Rep. Waters said that with her chest, y'all. But the refrain is familiar, and one that stings even more because of Black people's expectations of their Black president (especially after Troy Davis).

He's been accused of meeting the needs of many other groups, but not black people specifically. There are those who defend him, citing investments the President has made that positively effect black communities and address black concerns.

A black agenda, one that explicitly targets issues central to African American communitiesm would get the President a one way ticket back to Chicago. He can barely pass bills that are central to Americans regardless of race. Congress would block black legislation so quickly and cleanly that they'd be a first round draft pick in the NFL next year. Yes, I'm a bit sad that the President takes a hands of stance to matters of race, but perception in politics is just as important as policy. (yes, I alliterated the shit outta that.) Obama appearing anything other than a race-neutral, (or at least black neutral) President would cause immense political harm.

Still, I wish he had said something, anything regarding Troy Davis. Not showing up on an issue that, for the most part, galvanized black America could lead to a significant drop in the black vote in 2012. At the very least, he's disillusioned his black base.

But what do y'all think?

A Breh Wants to Know: Should there be an explicit black presidential agenda, critics be damned, or should the president continue to pass legislation that addresses the concerns of greater social problems?