Congress Determines Only White Women Need Paycheck Fairness!

Tomorrow, Congress will vote on a so-called "Paycheck Fairness Act."  The Bill is supposed to address disparities in pay.  However, the Bill only refers to gender disparity.  When I called Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro's (D-CT-3) office, I asked if I was misreading the Bill or if it only addressed gender disparities.  The lady responsible for the Paycheck Fairness Act stated that it - in fact - dealt only with gender disparities, but that in doing so it would cover Black, Latino and Asian women.

Hunh?!  How so?  Must be that Congress has determined that only White women need paycheck fairness!

Reparations means that we refuse to believe the hype!  Look at this chart detailing pay disparities.

The Wage Gap, by Gender and Race

(median annual earnings of black men and women, Hispanic men and women, and white women as a percentage of white men's median annual earnings)

Year	White men	Black men	Hispanic men	White women	Black women	Hispanic women
1970	100%	69.0%	n.a.	58.7%	48.2%	n.a.
1975	100	74.3	72.1%	57.5	55.4	49.3%
1980	100	70.7	70.8	58.9	55.7	50.5
1985	100	69.7	68.0	63.0	57.1	52.1
1990	100	73.1	66.3	69.4	62.5	54.3
1992	100	72.6	63.3	70.0	64.0	55.4
1994	100	75.1	64.3	71.6	63.0	55.6
1995	100	75.9	63.3	71.2	64.2	53.4
1996	100	80.0	63.9	73.3	65.1	56.6
1997	100	75.1	61.4	71.9	62.6	53.9
1998	100	74.9	61.6	72.6	62.6	53.1
1999	100	80.6	61.6	71.6	65.0	52.1
2000	100	78.2	63.4	72.2	64.6	52.8
2003	100	78.2	63.3	75.6	65.4	54.3
2004	100	74.5	63.2	76.7	68.4	56.9
2006	100	72.1	57.5	73.5	63.6	51.7

Source: U.S. Current Population Survey and the National Committee on Pay Equity.

Clearly, Black men are earning less than White women.  And, Black women are earning substantially less than White women.  Surely, the Paycheck Fairness Act will do nothing for Black men - as Rep. Rosa DeLauro's office told me.  But, how will the Paycheck Fairness Act really help Black women?

Maybe I'm stupid (some will surely say I am).  But, it seems to me that the most this act would do is raise the pay of Black women to equity with Black men.  Truly that is a start.  But then once White women are on par with White men, we'd be left with the racial pay gap.  Am I missing something?

Must be that Congress has determined that only White women need paycheck fairness!

People want to say that reparations isn't needed.  But, here is a clear example - and this is not Affirmative Action.  It is not a handout.  It is fairness.  When Congress looks at the pay disparity between the genders they agree that something must be urgently done.  Yet, either they have not even looked at the pay disparity between the races or they don't think that something must be urgently done.  Again, as I was told by Rep. Rosa DeLauro's staffer: it (racial pay gap) is an important issue, but it is not dealt with by the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Presently, I'm waiting on Congressional Black Caucus Executive Director Patrice Willoughby to respond to my question about why the Congressional Black Caucus chose not to address this oversight.  Or, do they agree that only White women need paycheck fairness?

Email the Congressional Black Caucus, or call: 202.226.9776 and let them know that you want them to call for the Paycheck Fairness Act to be amended to include racial disparities!  Unless you agree that only White women need paycheck fairness...

Come and get your reparations!   

Reparations Will Free Us from the Burden of Misleaders

After a long hiatus, last night we had the re-emergence of "Reparative Talk Radio!" The topic for discussion was: "Must We Wait Until They Die?" And, the issue at hand (born of Jesse Jackson's comments) was how to deal with the hoard of misleaders and irrelevant organizations of the Black Establishment that are preventing the progress of the people. The answer is that: reparations will free us from the burden of misleaders.

Here's the show:

Reparations Means Black People MUST Realize Their Political Clout

I am listening to the election coverage on CNN tonight and it is amazing. And, like "Dap" in School Daze, I am in your face shouting: "WAKE UP!!!!!"

Again, Malcolm X told us:

"The Black man in North America was sickest of all politically...a ten-million Black vote bloc could be the deciding balance of power in American politics..."

Reparations means Black people must realize their political clout. And, we are seeing the manifestations of that Black vote bloc. It is indeed proving to be the deciding balance of power in this Democratic Primary.

But, we also see that the Democrats do not want to see this power exercised. I mean: look how they repay your loyalty. Black folks have been die-hard Democrats for decades now. Yet, despite the leads held by Senator Obama the Party is still considering overturning the will of the people and stripping the Black man of the nomination. Why is this Primary still going? Just think if a White man were in Senator Obama's position...just think if Hillary Clinton was in Obama's position: how many of you believe this election would still be going?

Do not be hoodwinked. Do not be bamboozled. Do not be run a muck. Reparations means Black people must realize their political clout. And, realizing this power means that we begin to flex our new-found muscles. We need to flex our muscles on those Black Congressmen and women who have overturned the will of the people. As Black Caucus members, they claim to represent the Black Community. But, the Black Community has overwhelmingly chosen Senator Obama. They have not. When their terms are up, we need to put them out of office.

For too long, Black Leadership has stifled the Community to support their own careers. They have been able to do this because Black Leadership has doubted the power of a unified Black vote. They have doubted that the Black Community could stand united. Yet, all across this Country we have proved them wrong.

We have defied the stereotypes and broken the trends. And so, reparations means Black people must realize their political clout. It means we must use that clout for the benefit of the Black Community. You and I have the power to change our community...to empower our people...not to the detriment of another people, but for the benefit of our people. And, that is reparations.

Senator Obama talks about people who cannot wait four more years of the "politics of the past." Well, I am here to tell you "why we can't wait." We cannot wait four more years for a government and political structure to take us into account. We cannot wait for another election cycle for politicians to act as if they care about the Black Community. We cannot wait another moment that will galvanize the Black Community to seize hold of our own destiny.

We must stop looking for the government to do for us. We have to quit expecting these politicians to have our best interests at heart. Now is our time to assert ourselves as an independent people, part and parcel of America, and unashamed of our identity and our people.

We must wake up! Because, right before our eyes we see the Democratic Party begging to find a way to strip this nomination from the Black man. As White Conservative Bill Bennett said on CNN tonight, how do you tell him that he is leading in every dimension - except superdelegates (for now) - and take this nomination away from him? The fact that Black leaders are standing by and watching this happen is astounding. We must take notice.

We must realize our power and use it to change the political and economic landscape for the benefit of the Black Community.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations, Albert Wynn and the Bigger Picture

I'm certain everyone has heard about the disgrace of congressman Albert Wynn (little "c" on purpose). If not, check this out.

Now, it is bad enough that Albert Wynn has no qualms with ethical improprieties. But, because we're after our reparations: let us look the implications for the Black Community.

On their website, the Congressional Black Caucus salutes Mr. Wynn for his years of "dedicated and earnest service to his constituents." Well, his constituents were largely Black, and middle-class (at best). However, he is heading to a lobbying firm that is not geared around social interests, but energy concerns. Mr. Wynn is the Chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, and many fear he may be selling his elective position on the committee for personal/corporate benefit.

But, maybe this move is not simply for personal benefit. Maybe he is looking out for others on the Congressional Black Caucus? After all, their press release praising Mr. Wynn's service also said, "We look forward to working with him as he embarks on a new career."

Before this story broke, I was already looking into the CBC. I found it strange that Mr. Wynn is the head of the CBC's Political Action Committee, where the mission is: to increase the number of African Americans in Congress; to support non-Black candidates who champion our interests; and to promote African American participation in the political process—with a special emphasis on young voters. I thought it was strange because the head of the PAC was unable to execute the mission for himself. Or maybe: was he acknowledging that he does not champion our interests?

Reparations demands that we see the bigger picture. What does this say about the CBC? Do they mean what they say (when they praise Al Wynn)? Or, are they simply saying what sounds good (when they claim to champion our interests)?

What does this say about their PAC? To validate the PAC's mission they say: "We achieve this mission by pooling political contributions from people like you and using the money to make our voice heard in key campaigns." But, can we really trust them with our money? Can we trust them to use it wisely? We need to watch them all closely.

Reparations means that we must hold our so-called leaders accountable. The buildup of this web is our fault, and is ours to untangle. So, we should contact Ms. Keiana Barrett at 202.226.8119 and see how they feel about their March 28 release in light of these revelations on Mr. Wynn. We should also contact the CBC's Political Action Committee and ask them for transparency and a clear accounting of monies raised and how they were used.

These leaders make their rise at the expense of the people. While supposedly doing the peoples business, they organize for their pockets. We must end the free ride, now.

Come and Get Your Reparations!