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Oscar Nominations – Who Will Win
This is a sweet day for me. I know a few of the Oscar nominees, personally. I mean, I know them know them. Like we break bread, shared the same shower [not at the same time – hehe] and I literally spoke to one yesterday afternoon [I’m lying about that, but it felt good saying…
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Obama's Special Guests
“Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions—who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.” —President Barack…
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Is Class the New Black?
Over at Mother Jones, Debra Dickerson has a powerful and insightful essay on why the age of President Barack Obama means that “Class is the New Black.” Her thesis seems to rest on the idea that the heretofore invisible black middle class—which comprises some 40 percent of the US African-American population—has had mainstream exposure for the…
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Congratulations Are In Order
Ever since last summer, when Barack Obama became the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, black friends have told me myriad stories about non-black people smilingly congratulating them. “He could become president!” they enthused. Could and did. But he didn’t become president of black America: He became president of the United States of America—all of…
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Our First 40 Days
Sometimes new politics means more than just new voters, new leaders and new policies. There are times when it serves as the spark for something more. Now is that time for African Americans. There is a call out there for a ”Festive 40-Day Fast for the Future.” The idea is to establish and achieve a…
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Who Didn't See This Coming?
In the hate-to-say-we-told-you-so category, Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn has vowed to hold up Eric Holder’s nomination to be attorney general because he’s scared Holder will prosecute Bush functionaries for torturing people. Holder, who would be the first black AG, refused in his nomination hearings last week to say he wouldn’t pursue prosecutions. After days…
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A Sacred Effort
“Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.” —Elizabeth Alexander, “Praise Song for…
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Of Kennedys and H.N.I.C.s
What a brave new world we really do live in, where formerly obscure African American political figures decide the fates of wealthy scions of former presidents—or maybe not. Announcing Thursday morning that she has withdrawn her name from consideration for appointment to fill New York’s vacant U.S. Senate seat, Caroline Kennedy has surely spared herself…
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I Do Solemnly Swear, Really!!
Chief Justice John Roberts re-administered the oath of office to President Obama Wednesday night in a move that Obama aides described as an ‘abundance of caution,’ after the Roberts took one said one word out of sequence while leading Obama in the oath on Tuesday. No one was really questioning whether Obama was president, but…
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At Last — The First Dance
The Buzz has hardly been able to get anything done. Since this video of the First Dance hit YouTube and The Daily Beast, it’s been on repeat all day. If you haven’t seen it twenty times, stop what you’re doing and watch the electricity between our president and first lady. All in attendance at the…