Dobbs on Chicago violence: Black community needs to "fix the problem" and "quit whining"
From the October 8 edition of United Stations Radio Network's The Lou Dobbs Show:
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DOBBS: Here's Phillip Jackson of the Black Star Project, the Chicago-based educational reform organization, who isn't too happy with Mr. Obama.
JACKSON [audio clip]: They have asked us to be vigilant, diligent, and persistent when it comes to the education and social welfare of our children. Again I say: Here we are. They have told us time and time again that we are responsible for our children and that we are the ones responsible for the current situation and for the violence. They have told us that. If that is so, why are we here and they are somewhere else?
DOBBS: Wrong, Mr. Jackson. No, that's -- you got the wrong questions, partner. Why in the world are you failing your children? Why in the world aren't the people of Chicago up in arms to stop this? Why isn't the black community in South Chicago stopping this? Why aren't you stopping the culture that would prevent young men and women going to high school scared to death because they live in a culture that says you do not, you do not tell the police who is harming their friends, their neighbors, their family?
What are you doing, Mr. Jackson? And who are you to give us a speech on, "Why are you there and we're here?" Mr. Jackson, you are part of the problem. Now you've got to decide if you're going to be part of the solution and quit whining about where Arne Duncan and Eric Holder are, because, partner, they're going to leave town. They live in Washington now. And you better understand that's your town, it's your community, it's your people. You better take care of them. And it's time to quit looking for excuses and start doing something.
You know, I've had a belly full of Eric Holder, the attorney general. He says, you know, that we are essentially a nation of cowards when it comes to race. Well, let me tell you, he's essentially a coward when it comes to confronting reality and dealing with the issue. If he had any guts, he'd stand up and say, instead of that, "This is not a black problem, this isn't a Chicago problem" -- Holder, partner, you're the attorney general. You're in Chicago because that's where the problem is. It is a Chicago problem. It is a black community problem. And part of the problem is the black community is not being responsible, and I mean turning heaven and earth to protect our children. Our children. They're our future. And we have just witnessed a 16-year-old honor student be beaten to death in the streets of Chicago.
I don't want to hear your excuses. I don't want to hear your lame nonsense about how much money you need to save the next life. You have it in your power -- the black churches, the black school leaders, the black community leaders, the black community organizers, the black parents of that community. Fix the problem. Quit whining, quit looking to someone else for the solution, and by God, let's move ahead.
And yes, you deserve the help of Eric Holder, the attorney general, and Arne Duncan. Arne Duncan, the education secretary who was your head of education in Chicago. This is his failure as well. But if you don't stand up, no one else will.
I've got a lot to say to Mr. Jackson. You are certainly part of the problem. You're not part of the solution, and until you, as a community activist, understand that this has happened on your watch without seemingly protest or result, you are the problem. It is time for you to become part of the solution, and quit whining about President Obama, for God's sake.
You do a lot of finger pointing, you make a lot of noise, but do you actually have a solution to propose? Because I didn't hear one.
I will say, it does sound like he's going down, and if he did what it is said he did, he should be tossed into the clink. Break the law, go to jail.
I laugh at all black folks who think Obama is going to change their lives. They need to change their lives because of Obama. This is the same with all these countries that are ruled by dictators. they really thought after the invasion of Iraq the USA would save them. People just need inspiration to get rid of the dirty. After that they can fight the real race battles because they still exist. That's if they haven't killed each other off first.
Why would you look towards washington to encourage graduation? Encourage good behavior? Don't they know that the t.v. and movies have no influence on kids and the government has no control over what is on t.v. or the movies? Don't they know that government doesn't destroy families and don't have anything to do with the condition of schools and the curriculum?
1) The post suggests sarcasm. It's wiser to ask if someone is serious than to declare them a bigot.
2) For as much time as ETRW posts here, he should probably know the handle "Barry Bonds" and the general nature of his posts. Barry isn't a newbie.
Cancer patients should just remove their own tumors with barbecue tongs instead of whining to the gummint about "research"!
And, on a serious note, Lou Dobbs should stop whining in general because no one gives a good fiddler's fart.
Bill Cosby has said pretty much the EXACT same things as Dobbs!
The black community can't rely on Holder, Obama, or anyone else to solve problems in our community. Sure, it would help, but ultimately we need to take responsibility for what has become of our culture.
Bill Cosby has said pretty much the EXACT same things as Dobbs!
The black community can't rely on Holder, Obama, or anyone else to solve problems in our community. Sure, it would help, but ultimately we need to take responsibility for what has become of our culture.
But more to the point, Dobbs seems to be criticizing Philip Jackson for trying to do exactly what Dobbs thinks he should be doing: organizing people and trying to solve the education gap beginning at the community level by involving parents and families. So if Jackson and others take no action, they're blamed for poverty and poor schools; and when Jackson and others do take action, they're told to shut up about their problems and stop complaining.