The other day someone was talking on one of the many shows where people do nothing but, well, talk—and the discussion centered around what you needed to do to regain the support and confidence of your black voters, because without them you would not be re-elected in 2012. Okay, they may be on to something because last poll I saw your popularity is hovering around 39%.
I watch the news and read the paper, keeping up with all the wars, famine, economic troubles, unemployment, possibility of a double recession, and it’s just maddening. Seriously, what can ONE man do to fix all of this mess? Then I visit various blogs, websites, Facebook, and Twitter, and people just don’t seem to care. So I got to thinking, what motivates people, really gets them upset, outraged, and ready to answer the call to action. I mean there has to be something that gets their blood boiling and their fists pumping…RIGHT?
Just today there is talk about civil unrest in Israel, Syria, and Libya, and my community is lackadaisical and awfully silent, so maybe this is just too far removed for them to feel a need to care. So I turned my focus to Africa where millions are starving due to widespread famine. The worst hit is war-torn Somalia where mothers are facing the unthinkable decision of which child will live. And Haiti, still trying to rebuild from a devastating earthquake 18 months ago…still I hear Crickets.
Slowly I move from international news to national news to see if I can hear a buzz of some sort. No not about Jay-Z popping champagne bottles to the tune of $250,000, or the rumors that Kim K’s wedding this weekend costs an estimated $10 million. I’m talking, the Dow opening today, and quickly dropping over 500 points. New weekly unemployment claims rising above 400,000, just a week after falling to below 395,000. The postal service considering 120,000 job cuts, while employees for Verizon are striking in a fight against the telecommunications giant attempts to pass unreasonable benefit costs on to them as they struggle to make ends meet in this economic downturn….CRICKETS, still.
With some 14 million Americans out of work, corporations reeling in multi-billion dollar profits—but not hiring, a move to end unions spreading across the nation, the drastic cuts to social services for the poor and in-need starting to surface; surely those who would be affected the most are ready to revolt…yet, CRICKETS.
Oh my, did I leave out education, I apologize, my kids are done but I still must care for future generations to come…schools are reopening around the country and the graduation rate for black students remains appalling. Cuts to education, penalties against teachers for ill-prepared children who perform poorly, and no repercussions for parents who are not doing their part to ensure their kids succeed…and CRICKETS!
So what is it that I think it will take to re-energize the black voter and get them fighting mad? Truly, it isn’t rocket science, just a quaint little observation I’ve made following trending topics. So here it is, ARE YOU READY?
President Obama, I think if you want to see the black community get upset, outraged, and ready to do battle; you’re going to need a Republican, but preferably a member of the Tea-Party to make some sort of negative comment about Tyler Perry, maybe him portraying Alex Cross in the upcoming James Patterson flick I, ALEX—or better yet, Lion’s Gate decision to give Perry his own network; and then follow it up with criticism about the movie “The Help.” Then and only then will we see some movement on the political front. But you’re going to have to act fast and seize the moment because if those chicks from VH-1 realize that you’re getting more attention than them, there may be a SITUATION of epic proportions that may include referring to the first lady as a b@it%h, huge anti-Obama flag earrings, water splashing, glass tossing, and the biggest WMD of all time…T-SHIRT’S declaring you, our beloved president, a non-MF’ing FACTOR! IJS
Much Love,
Tracy
Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. Her third novel, The Red Bear Society, is scheduled for a fall 2011 release. For additional information on the author and her work, visit www.TracyLDarity.com
