Melissa Harris Lacewell penned "Why blacks are more optimistic about race" for Friday's Philadelphia Inquirer. As might be expected, the associate professor of politics and African American studies at Princeton University and author of the breathlessly anticipated "Sister Citizen: A Text for Colored Girls Who've Considered Politics When Being Strong Isn't Enough," is very, very happy with Barack Obama. But readers may be at least mildly surprised at what she considers the highlight of his inauguration:
But the best part of Jan. 20 was that Barack and Michelle got out of the bulletproof black Cadillac and walked the streets -- and no one shot at them. I know we are not allowed to say it, but one reason black people believe race relations have improved in America is because Obama lived through the primaries, the election, the inauguration, and now through 100 days.
She claims "we are not allowed to say it," yet then does exactly that. She goes on to cite various Obama acts that she deems accomplishments. Closing Guantanamo, signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, capping executive pay, and performing a "deft move of racial defiance by proxy" through attorney general Eric Holder's terming the U.S. a nation of cowards are some of the highlights. Others came when he "dapped up" Hugo Chavez, "hung out" in Canada, "fired the head of General Motors, something most people didn't even know an American president could do," and "established serious street cred."
But even all this wasn't enough:
Even though he was changing the world, he found time to play ball with his advisers, filled out an NCAA bracket, and had a beer at a Wizards game. This is what we call being on the grind but remembering to keep it real.
And if that weren't enough, Obama actually "kept his campaign promise to his daughters and got them a dog."
All in all, "it was a great 100 days. And did I mention nobody shot at him?"
Yes, you did, professor. Not all of America shares your wonder at that.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Reagan was shot
May 3, 2009 - 10:59 ET by QueenMumReagan was shot at.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
SAME OLE BALONEY AND FALSE PREMISES
May 3, 2009 - 14:22 ET by reelman46Maybe one day the "black" community will save itself from its lingering moral cancer ...76% fornication families and the whole moral lapse bit...there will NO moral leadership beyond some feints by The Dufus...all the democrats ever want is your vote.
How can a serial liar from a broken home raised in a hate-filled secular socialist crowd ever be expected to sincerely lead us in any moral way? Behold the 5 tax cheats as just an opener. The Dufus is a piece of work...and you thought Klinton was the holder of all the political lying records?
Realize 90% of the national damage by this inept radical is ahead of us.
We can only be spared much of it by a miracle in the next congressional election. Just wait until the tax and inflation phase sets in...wow...talk about the smiling liar looking for someone to blame then. The polls will turn ugly and the media will tire of diaper-changing their man. Its all so ugly.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
Lefties Assassinate
May 3, 2009 - 11:05 ET by slickwillie2001If you survey all Presidential assassinations and credible attempts, you will see the great majority of them come from left-wing nutjobs. The left is far more likely to break the law to advance their agenda than conservatives. For conservatives it's that pesky 'respect for law and order' thing that keeps them from taking the law into their hands.
PS This article may have been written just to troll for racist responses.
Trolling
May 3, 2009 - 11:10 ET by Mike BatesPS This article may have been written just to troll for racist responses.
Gee, I thought libs were above such tactics. Or at least think they are.
Well I did respond
May 3, 2009 - 12:51 ET by HeavyChevyIf it's approved (doubt it) look for a response from ChevyLT1.
A Professor at Princeton?
May 3, 2009 - 11:09 ET by delmarIt sounds like something that could've been written by an 8th grader at an inner city school in Chicago.
Hey Mike. Do you think that
May 3, 2009 - 11:12 ET by QueenMumHey Mike. Do you think that Barack would have had the courage to throw out the first pitch at Yankee stadium on Oct. 30, 2001?
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Probably, QM
May 3, 2009 - 11:14 ET by Mike BatesDo you think that Barack would have had the courage to throw out the first pitch at Yankee stadium on Oct. 30, 2001?
As long as he could bring along his trusty teleprompter.
Ha! I'd be more impressed
May 3, 2009 - 11:21 ET by QueenMumHa!
I'd be more impressed if Barack walked the streets of South Chicago dressed in saggy pants and a black hoodie - alone and unarmed.
BTW, does anyone know if B.O. has a tatoo? That would be SO cool. ;)
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Yes, that brings up a point that I'm always amazed with,
May 3, 2009 - 11:52 ET by WhoIsJohnGalt...which is the notion of prejudice and the left wing's notion of it.
When the issue of gangsta' dress (or any extreme type of dress, such as flamboyantly gay dress habits or any such identity/image garb) is brought mainstream, and we on the right are told that we can't prejudge an individual because of such dressing habits, and how wrong such prejudging is, and how it shows that we're racist/homophobic/intolerant, etc., the point that pundits on our side fail to make is;
Why is it acceptable for these groups of individuals seek the approval of their peers by dressing in a very specific manner, but is unacceptable for us more conservative types to disapprove of it? After all, aren't these groups intentionally seeking the positive prejudice of their peers by dressing/acting in a particular way?
So their sought-after type of prejudice is good, but the unintended (or maybe intended, but not acknowledged) type of prejudice that they elicit from us is bad...
Idiotic, the left's view of tolerance.
Some facts to ponder from
May 3, 2009 - 12:15 ET by QueenMumSome facts to ponder from the Dept. of Justice.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
I read that page.
May 3, 2009 - 12:28 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltIt's factual, no conclusions drawn, as one would expect.
How long before Eric Holder's AG office gets to place a paragraph of conclusion, along the lines of; "...because of the racist nature of American society, blah, blah, blah."?
intentionally seeking the positive prejudice of their peers
May 3, 2009 - 12:45 ET by Mike BatesAfter all, aren't these groups intentionally seeking the positive prejudice of their peers by dressing/acting in a particular way?
Not to mention that it just feels so darn good.
I still don't see how one can outrun
May 3, 2009 - 12:50 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltthe police (or the "Po-po", to use their current vernacular) with one's ridiculously oversized trousers around one's knees.
current vernacular
May 3, 2009 - 12:54 ET by Mike Batesor the "Po-po", to use their current vernacular
I must be getting very old. When did "pigs" fall out of favor?
God help us...
May 3, 2009 - 11:32 ET by ThalpyGod help us. Melissa Harris-Lacewell teaches what? Where? I suppose lost to her is the fact that somewhere in the background and in the foreground there were countless patriots watching in every direction. There were countless hours of preparation, profiling of all kinds, fighter support, and all of the rest too extensive to mention--all in support of the President of the United States and his safety.
How can we protect our children from Melissa Harris-Lacewell?
If you're as square as I
May 3, 2009 - 14:29 ET by Mike BatesOK, OK, so no one is. But if you're even close, you might not be familiar with "dap" as used by Melissa Harris Lacewell. The Urban Dictionary defines the word.
Obama actually "kept his campaign promise to his
May 3, 2009 - 11:39 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltdaughters and got them a dog."
Well, it's nice to see where the author's priorities lie.
Obama keeps campaign pledge
May 3, 2009 - 12:51 ET by Mike BatesBut wasn't it supposed to be a shelter dog? ABC News:
Did Obama Break a Pledge to Adopt a Rescue Dog?
The promises that don't
May 4, 2009 - 08:41 ET by freecitizenThe promises that don't expire are kept with a caveat.
Liberal: remove all that's Right, and this is what's Left.
"All in all, 'it was a
May 3, 2009 - 11:44 ET by R D Helm"All in all, 'it was a great 100 days...'"
Really?
In 100 days, while the government and the MSM had most of America distracted, Obama managed to accelerate this country's rush into bankruptcy, begin the government takeover of our financial and health care systems, take effective control of two of our three auto makers, and is about to go after dissent on the airwaves of America.
I can't wait to see what the next hundred days is going to bring us.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
If, Dave,
May 3, 2009 - 12:56 ET by Mike Batesyou're an associate professor of politics and African American studies at Princeton University and author of the breathlessly anticipated "Sister Citizen: A Text for Colored Girls Who've Considered Politics When Being Strong Isn't Enough," it was a great 100 days.
For the rest of us (those paying attention anyway), not so much.
Michael,
May 3, 2009 - 14:45 ET by R D HelmI think perfesser Melissa Harris Lacewell needs to get out more.
A LOT more.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Barack Antoinette
May 3, 2009 - 12:04 ET by slickwillie2001It's also this President that wants poor kids out of the exclusive DC private schools where his precious darlings attend. He wants them to go to the DC public schools where they will be in danger, all because he is bought and paid for by the unions. There no army of Secret Service for those kids.
Yes, he's a real man of the people, as long as you are the right kind of people.
"fired the head of
May 3, 2009 - 12:18 ET by QueenMum"fired the head of General Motors, something most people didn't even know an American president could do,"
Sadly, "most people didn't even know" that this is something an American president is not authorized to do under our Constitution.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Sadly, "most people didn't
May 4, 2009 - 06:31 ET by Dan The Man 2Sadly, "most people didn't even know" that this is something an
American president is not authorized to do under our Constitution
But if the governent pays for it and "owns" it then .... But the government should not own any private enterprise, ever. I blame Bush for this.
In Related News
May 3, 2009 - 12:32 ET by serfer62OHbama finds Chrysler One makes a great drive-by car...
Yes, blacks are still being shot in 2009
May 3, 2009 - 13:01 ET by krendler...and about 99% of the shooting of blacks is being done by other blacks. Now THERE is something you're not allowed to say in front of the PC Extremists: Blacks murder blacks on a daily basis, by the dozens. But on the left, it's still all about "bad, racist whitey".
Identity politics
May 3, 2009 - 13:29 ET by wiwfIdentity politics anyone?
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Thank you, those were my
May 3, 2009 - 21:17 ET by Radical1979Thank you, those were my first thoughts when I read the article. I'm tired of being blamed for all the bad things that happen to black people when they do it to themselves.
I understand your frustration Radical1979
May 3, 2009 - 21:48 ET by HeavyChevybut if its any consolation not all blacks blame you for all that ails us. some of us actually do take responsibility for our actions.
taking responsibility for our actions
May 3, 2009 - 21:53 ET by Mike BatesRegardless of race, that's an all too rare quality. It's just too easy and tempting to blame our fate on someone else.
Oh but HC...the msm along
May 3, 2009 - 22:06 ET by bigtimerOh but HC...the msm along with the leftist party do not want to hear from you and those with you whatsoever...if they do it is far and few in-between, and those they have on their shows are constantly interrupted or attempted to be ridiculed...same tactics they use for all of us that don't follow their Doctrine...I've aged with this from my youth...it has been a maddening, frustrating agenda to watch in my lifetime too...and see it come to fruition to-boot.
Past sad....while the world seems to be spinning out of control with any sanity whatsoever...
I've never seen anything like what is going on now...something else, something to I wonder if we even have any control of anymore.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Evening BT
May 3, 2009 - 22:45 ET by HeavyChevyWhat I see is fear plain and simple. All the attacks, the verbal abuses, the constant whining is just fear. At first I thought maybe the MSM and these other fruit flavored leftist groups out there are just relishing in the fact that they won but I don't think so. Something got them so scared that they feel the need to stay on the attack.
I think things are not turning out like Obama and the MSM planned. Even though it seems like the MSM is holding all the marbles something just seems out of place and I do believe in time that "something" may reveal itself.
Oooh HC... I just had a
May 3, 2009 - 22:50 ET by bigtimerOooh HC...
I just had a chill run through me reading part of your post...can't explain it, just had to tell you...anyway, I agree with your summation...more than you know, just glad you stated it like you did.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Maybe its a good sign BT
May 3, 2009 - 23:12 ET by HeavyChevyGoodnight...er...Morning! I have a busy day ahead of me.
HC
May 3, 2009 - 23:28 ET by bigtimerNight friend...I'm buttoning things up here too...been a long week-end and a busy day tomorrow right off the bat.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
**HeavyChevy
May 3, 2009 - 22:58 ET by pelicanmarshI think things are not turning out like Obama and the MSM planned.
Even though it seems like the MSM is holding all the marbles something
just seems out of place and I do believe in time that "something" may
reveal itself.
Heavy, this is a thought-provoking idea. I like what your cooking. I hope other folks are liking it, as well, because that certain "something" you mentioned is not too far off in the future.
I'm just saying...
Real eyes realize real lies. Machine Head
Pelicanmarsh
May 4, 2009 - 06:25 ET by HeavyChevyThat is my only rational right now. If everything is going as planned you would expect them to be a little more calm, cool and a hell of a lot more smug and not running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off.
I guess only time will tell.
crime
May 3, 2009 - 13:59 ET by 1uncleThe high percentage of murders,shootings crime is done by black people. Democrats and left-wing media has led them to believe white people are to blame for their plight. Their problem is not getting an education. I hope it is not impossible. It is their only hope. Demcrats buying their vote can only do so much.
A Cornell West
May 3, 2009 - 14:32 ET by jwm45A Cornell West protege?
This is reality as seen through a hip-hop prism
Cornel West protege
May 3, 2009 - 14:41 ET by Mike BatesI've seen Cornel on TV and know he's really out there. But I get a kick out of him.
Somehow, I don't think I'd find Melissa Harris Lacewell nearly as appealing.
Not shot at?
May 3, 2009 - 23:05 ET by ToddonCapeCodThis is a very strange column.
But... also Ms. Lacewell should also bear in mind that by January 20th, most conservatives and/or Republicans had hightailed it out of DC, counting the cash that they overcharged the Obama-zombies for using their apartments, homes, condos, etc.
So..... technically, if Obama had been shot, it would have been by one of his own
Outstanding!
May 4, 2009 - 03:34 ET by bknownstGood job by Comrade President 0. He kept 1 campaign promise to his kids - one I think is expected of every President to have a dog at the White House. Unfortunately he has broken every campaign promise made to the American people, but who's counting, certainly not the propaganda arm of the Democommuist party known as the media. Wonder how long it will take until the media tell us about the quality of his bowel movements with glowing praise about how exceptional they are and they don't stink like ordinary humans. All hail comrade 0.
Our Community-Organize-In-Chief
May 4, 2009 - 08:13 ET by QueenMumMaybe Obama could loan some of his personal security protection to the kids in his adopted hometown. Just goes to show you how successful he was with his community organizing. Looks like the street thugs are better organized.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand