What would Martin Luther King Jr. think of the policies of Barack Obama?

Debrak, you are talking crap, does living in inner poverty, around black, havin poor education and other hardship makes one a black, is that the attribute of a black man. Don't we have poor white living in inner poverty, living around whites, going to inexpensive college and does that make them black. They are white. Infact, from what you are saying no american is a black, wanna know what is like to be black, come down to africa.

We are talking about the AMERICAN BLACK EXPERIENCE. Not the African experience. There is a BIG difference. Just as all whites do not have the same heritage or opportunities, so it is with the blacks here in the USA. They don't all think alike nor have they all been supportive of Mr. Obama. Mr. Obama played on being black to get elected, so his 'blackness' is fair game for discussion. Don't come here saying that just because you are black, you know what it's like in my country, to be black! There are many factors at work here in America as I'm sure there are in Africa. My point is, Mr. Obama lived with his white grandparents, not with the black side of his family. When he DID live with his black relatives, it was not in America, but in INdonesia. He did not have the experiences common to many blacks in the United States. There are many blacks here who are starting to feel the same way I am, you just don't here of them in the press. Bet you think it makes me a racist to state the obvious? Don't YOU come to ME with that CRAP.

Your response brought a few things to my mind. I remember when it was against the law in most parts of the country to marry or have children with a person of another race. And both races often would not accept a mixed child. We have progressed in that respect. But I also remember that most of the black people I worked with in the 90's were very against mixed race relationships. They felt that whites were attempting to 'dilute' the black race with their white blood. Here we have a president who allows himself to be presented as a 'black' man, yet he's never really had the experience of living as most black people in this country have lived. He attended school in Indonesia, he lived in Hawaii, a state with many differing races living side by side comfortably (less overt racism), went to a expensive college, never experienced the inner city or poverty, never had to work for a living, and yet the blacks call him one of their own. I may be wrong in this assumption, but to me he has lived a life free from what most would call American racism. It may be just that I do not care for his trying to play up his 'blackness' when he really hasn't a clue to what the black race in America has experienced, as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps I am wrong. I agree with you that we are a long way off from having a color blind society. My experience with racism has taught me that whites are not the only ones who are racist, though it is not politically correct to say so. I would find it very uncomfortable to go back to Gary, IN and live...to say the least. To me that is a side of all this no one wants to talk about...that anger is still very pronounced in black culture, against whites. Neither side thinks of the other as PEOPLE who may be a person of character, we are still all very quick to stereotype others. I also think there is no way to legislate what a person thinks or feels. We all have our frame of reference, our world view is shaped by what we have lived through. I think it is good to educate people on how to see past the stereotypes as Mr. King did, but until BOTH sides begin thinking in terms of 'human race' instead of black or white race...we will never see the dream realized.

I think he understood politics and human nature. He appealed to what is good in the human heart, tried to get us to see that we all want the same things for ourselves and our families. It kinda makes me upset that some will bring Rev. King up as if he would agree with the entire spectrum of black thought...and I don't think he would. He was fist a Christian...and it was his Christian faith that inspired his message of non violence and the integrity and responsibility of the individual. He was also a patriotic man from what I've heard in his words...he truly believed America at it's core was good. Else he would not have reminded us of the founding documents and encouraged the government to live up to them. What Mr. Obama seems to be saying is that we should be ashamed of being American...that government needs to take care of every body and that any one speaking out in opposition to him is dangerous. He seems to feel as Rev. Jeremiah Wright taught rather than what Rev. Martin Luther King taught, despite his assurances otherwise.

I don't think it's been long enough for us to draw such conclusions. I was quite embarrassed to be American under the previous administration, but it isn't time to know, really, as yet. Most things haven't had time to work through their cycles.

I understand about being embarrassed under Bush. But are you not embarrassed when our president calls us names and apologizes for our existence while visiting with those of a religion who have attempted many times to conquer and convert the West...through the ages? You do not have to respond if you don't want to, it is not my intention to argue. I respect you and am only trying to get people to think. Thank you for all your responses to my discussions. I appreciate you very much.

Oh I was just joking about the "if we we even have to have this discussion" part... I would hope King wouldn't have sat through those sermons. But I think perhaps Obama could have sat through them and understood why the reverend felt that way without actually agreeing with everything he was saying.

We all are happy that we have progressed that far. I have not seen one blog or comment that speaks ill of him because he is black. I have seen plenty of blogs and articles that ask some tough questions of his character. I guess my point is...Would Martin Luther King sit through a Jeremiah Wright service for twenty years?

What part of the last paragraph tempted you to not respond? Why?