The Unspoken 'Black Code of Conduct' is NOT Helpful!

So Roland Burris was confirmed today; he will take the seat as US Senator, appointed by Illinois Governor "Blago" as he's known in the media. To be clear, it was a bold move on the part of the embattled Governor, but "bold and unexpected" does not make it "wrong and unlawful". I have been absolutely shocked and saddened by the lack of support for Roland Burris' appointment- having nothing to do with Burris himself- but more so for the protectin of his civil rights.

Because President-Elect issued a statement in disagreement, almost immediately upon the announcement of Burris' appointment, it rendered almost ALL of the leaders in the Black community, painfully silent. Al Sharpton was quoted in the Washington Post saying that he did not have a position on the Burris matter and that Black leaders should respect the position of the President. Wow. Now that really concerned me. First, because Rev. Sharpton has built his reputation on taking a position on issues like this, whether or not we agree with his positions, he definitely takes them. Secondly, because I have not ever heard President-Elect Obama ask Black America for a "hall pass" to let him off the hook. In fact, it's quite the opposite. President-Elect Obama has stated, repeatedly, that he expects to be held accountable. His leadership style is to respect all opinions and he has not surrounded himself with people who will only tell him what he wants to hear. He's stated openly that he reads negative press and opposing opinions so he can consider all sides of an issue. It's clear that he leads from the center.

So why then do some Black leaders think there is some honor or appropriateness to not express an opinion that may not be in agreement with President Elect? I use the Roland Burris case as a clear example. Based on my personal and professional contacts, I know that there were a lot of Black folks- with notable profiles- who did agree that Burris should have been seated but did not want to be "the one". As in, "the one" who spoke out in disagreement with President Elect Obama. Even CNN noted that they had "not heard from leaders in the Black community" in the early days of this drama. I fear that this is a cultural approach to dealing with our leaders that could cause our community to be underrepresented in this administration.

President Elect Obama has made it very, very clear that he does not have an agenda specifically for Black America, regardless of being Black. He is the President of the United States. So why then would We respond to him and his decisions differently, because he's Black? I firmly believe that if the President Elect today was not Black and had issued the exact same statement on Burris' appointment, Roland Burris would have received an overwhelming amount of support from Black leaders and would likely have been seated sooner... and that's really too bad.

My fear is that there is an unspoken "Black Code of Conduct" that equates our support with our silence and consent. And yet, nothing could be further from the truth of what President Obama wants or needs. He has never asked for a "pass" from any other community and no other community gives him one. One of the largest group of supporters for Obama were white woman and when they did not see enough top cabinet appointments going to women, they spoke out- loud. Some of the very organizations that endorsed Obama, over Hillary Clinton, early in the campaign came forward to express their concerns about women nominees. Their concerns did NOT mean they no longer supported him, not at all, it meant they were fully vested in his leadership and felt like they had enough of a stake to speak up on an issue that mattered to them... and best believe they will continue to do so.

So if we don't hear or see the administration dealing with issues related to HIV/Aids, Black male incarceration rates, staggering and overwhelming unemployment, growing crime, increasingly poor health in urban communities (and the lists go on), that will not be because President Obama didn't do his job, it will be because we didn't do ours.

Doing our jobs starts with getting over this notion or fear of disagreement or pretending that things are "all good" when they are not. That is ridiculous. President Obama has shown no signs of the Bush "my way or the highway" leadership. It is so critical that we continue fighting for the issues that will help our community and pushing the Obama administration to consider our needs, just as they are considering every other groups' needs- those groups, of course, who are not afraid to speak up.

Marc Morial on President-Elect Barack Obama

November 4, 2008

Statement by Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of
the National Urban League Regarding the Election of President Barack Obama

"After the longest and hardest fought presidential campaign in American history, the votes are now in and Barack Obama has just been elected the 44th President of the United States . The National Urban League and its affiliates congratulate President-elect Obama, Vice-President-elect, Joe Biden, and their families for turning what began as an improbable journey into an historic victory for their party and our country. We welcome the new vision they bring to Washington and pledge to work with them to tackle the nation's deepening domestic challenges, including the epidemic of home foreclosures, the crisis in public education as well as rising unemployment and poverty that have hit middle class and urban Americans especially hard in recent years.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the American people for voting hope over fear and electing the first African American president in our nation's history. This is a watershed moment that renews the nation's founding promise of freedom, equality and opportunity for all. This election has shattered what was once considered an unbreakable glass ceiling that has kept so many generations of minorities and women from dreaming big dreams and reaching their full-potential. Never again will any young boy or girl of color in America be shackled with the awful certainty of "not in my lifetime.

"The National Urban League and its affiliates stand ready on day-one to work with the new Administration, especially in the effort to craft a comprehensive urban agenda that expands opportunity and unleashes the tremendous untapped potential in our cities. But tonight, we simply say congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama and thank you to the American people for this historic new beginning."

# # #

National Urban League ( www.nul.org) - Established in 1910, The National Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League , headquartered in New York City , spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than two million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research

Small Business and the next President

As I watch this 2nd Presidential debate, I am increasingly more frustrated by both candidates and their ever-changing plans. From a small business owner's perspective, it's difficult to navigate the tax and health plans they are discussing; with so much bickering and claims that the other man's plan is faux... what can we really believe?

In the early days of starting a business and hiring your first few employees, a mandate to offer health care coverage would be staggering. I've dealt with these issues and such a mandate would entirely compromise a business owner's ability to produce and grow the product because staffing and employer taxes are often the highest expense line on the P&L. As for the tax increase or the tax cuts, are we really sure what either one of them can or will do once they inherit the $850 billion "rescue" expense?

Personally, I wish there was a complete overhaul of the Presidential election process so that it doesn't require half-a-billion dollars to be elected, or that the person who raises the most money, fastest, doesn't have an advantage, or that the media would be fined by the FCC for non-objective and irrelevant coverage... and my list of recommendations could go on!

I never thought I'd see the day when I would agree with DL Hughley but on Larry King Live a few months ago, he said the bottom line is that they both want to win and they will say just about anything to get your vote. It's very frustrating, especially when, as small business owners, our livelihood is on the line. We need clear plans that are not so divided along party lines, but divided by what's right and wrong for the American people. This is not about an election, it's about our lives and there's no do-over for us.