I was giggling when I saw this article because Barack was at another black church in Chicago today (hasn't he learned?). He spoke at Apostolic Church of God, or as my mother said,
the other black bougie church. Naturally, his message was about fathers and, specifically, absentee fathers. Having grown up with my own deadbeat dad, I appreciate the message. But, was he
preaching to the choir?Barack Obama celebrated Father’s Day by calling on black fathers, who he said are “missing from too many lives and too many homes,” to become active in raising their children.
art.
Black fathers are “missing from too many lives and too many homes,” Barack Obama said Sunday.
“They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it,” the Democratic presidential candidate said Sunday at a largely black church in his hometown.
Reminding the congregation of his firsthand experience growing up without a father, Obama said he was lucky to have loving grandparents who helped his mother. He got support, second chances and scholarships that helped him get an education. Obama’s father left when he was 2.
“A lot of children don’t get those chances. There is no margin for error in their lives,” said Obama, an Illinois senator.
“I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle — that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls,” added Obama, whose daughters, Sasha and Malia, and his wife, Michelle, watched from the audience.
He’s already saying these things from a position of authority to people who finally need to hear them. The force will be magnified a thousand fold when he is president.
I guess I don't agree with Oliver's statement above. I don't think the people who need to hear it were there or listening. Neither the rants of Bill Cosby or the diplomatic words of Obama will turn this tide in the black community (which seems to be spreading like wildfire to other communities as well). Barack becoming president most certainly won't. He's not a god and he's not a magician.
Further, it's not just about families splitting up and the dad failing to pay child support and/or participate - as was the case with my father. Watch any television court show or daytime "talk" show (ala Maury Povich) and you will see an endless stream of men and women who are breeding recklessly, irresponsibly, mindlessly and dangerously - quite often with multiple people. There is no relationship to speak of in the first place so there is little to no hope that any kind of family will be created from these unions. I'm not sure what can be done to end this cycle that, most certainly, is just producing fodder for an ever expanding privatized prison system. I do know that an Obama presidency will not cure that.
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But back to Apostolic, I guess Bishop Brazier better get ready for the right wing to scour through his sermons looking for a sound bite that makes him sound angry and racist. I have to laugh again because, as with Trinity, I've been to that church too. My little heathen behind certainly gets around, huh)?
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