Reparations Will Protect Us from Obama's Naiveté

Ok...if you read the blogosphere you'll see many people outraged that Obama has voiced his opposition to Reparations. Now, I definitely understand why he made that stance. As Jeremiah Wright said, "Barack Obama is a politician, and he does what politicians do." How can we believe that he would say anything different?

Now, what Senator Obama says sounds nice. And, frankly as US President that is the most we can - and should - expect him to say. Nevertheless, we must understand that in this instance a rising tide may raise all boats, but some boats will still be sinking.

Reparations will protect us from Obama's naiveté. If one person stands 5'6" and another at only 5', and we put them both on the same 4" platform, the first person will remain 6 inches taller than the other, right? That is the shortsightedness of Senator Obama's thinking on this issue.

Black people are at a disadvantage. Those in the race of capitalism do not need any head starts. If indeed the race goes to the swift, why not find ways to put everyone at the same starting point and let competition determine who wins?

So, reparations will protect us from Obama's naiveté. Because, there is no way that programs to help "all" Americans will ultimately benefit Black Americans. For, through programs to benefit all Americans, Black Americans will continue to be behind...we will continue to be at a disadvantage.

Yet, I am not one to call for greater government intervention into the affairs of Black People. I believe that greater intervention comes at the detriment of our community. Ultimately, the solution will come from within ourselves. Especially being of the minority, there is no way that the Federal Government will ever do anything for the distinct benefit of our interests.

We must remember, Senator Obama is running for President of America...not of Black America. And, he will not do anything specific for Blacks simply because he's Black. The only way he will be justified in doing anything specific for Blacks is if the Black Community is active and engaged, forcing Obama to address our concerns.

Reparations will protect us from Obama's naiveté because if we as Black people put all our hopes in him, we will be lost. As Professor Vernellia Randall said to The Huffington Post: aid to the poor in general won't close the gaps poor blacks would still trail poor whites, and middle-class blacks would still lag behind middle-class whites. Instead, assistance must be aimed directly at the people facing the after-effects of slavery and Jim Crow laws.

The best response for obtaining reparations comes from the Late Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie:

The people themselves must come to realize their own difficulties in the development of their community and try to solve them by collective participation following an order of priority and taking their potentiality into account.

It is well known to you all that recognizing one's problems and striving hard to challenge them is a mark of an attempt at self-sufficiency. Self help in the benefits to be acquired through education, will save the individual from asking someone's assistance.

It is our responsibility to do the work necessary to obtain reparations. To be fixed by someone else would only replace one form of dependence with another. So no, I do not want Senator Obama to endorse a government sponsored reparations plan - not yet. We're not ready...and frankly that would let society off the hook. But, I will say that the Senator's public statement is quite shortsighted.

Come and Get Your Reparations!