He's disrespected African youth all the over the world repeatedly and consistently for the last decade. Anyone who says he hasn't just isn't paying any attention to what's been going on. For examples we can start by talking about his lame and manipulative national talk about racism in 2008, shortly after his election as president. Incidents of white supremacy e.g. people acting out because they refused to accept his presidency, was the reason for his "state address" in the first place, but he used it, not to hold the overwhelming majority of European (white) people accountable for their racism. In fact, he never said anything during that speech to hold even a single European accountable to anything. Instead, he spent time talking about the necessity of young African men to be responsible parents. Well, actually, he spoke about African men in general, but the way he addressed the topic clearly played to the stereotype of young African men, producing babies everywhere they go, while taking care of none of them. Besides the fact that despite racist beliefs, non-African men abandon their children proportionately to African men, he felt the need to single out our men ,while saying nothing at all about the dominant, entitled, selfish, and criminal denial of white supremacy that the overwhelming majority of white people practice which was the real reason why his speech resulted in the first place. And, you can miss us with rebuttals about how important that message is to our young men. Calling us out on a national stage (something he claims to be against) isn't the way to deliver that message. A much more effective approach is that employed by those of us who are African fathers who are genuinely concerned about our youth e.g. working with them in consistent (not manipulative sound bite) ways.
Then, we should talk about the speech he gave after Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, and other National Football League (NFL) players began protesting the so-called national anthem to bring attention to police terrorists who murder us down in the streets with impunity. In that pathetic speech, instead of speaking to the millions of white people who are upset that their stupid sports games are forced to acknowledge this legitimate political protest instead of being upset that we are being gunned down like roaches, he chose instead to single out Colin Kaepernick, asking him to consider the feelings of military families. Not the feelings of African parents, African mothers, Indigenous mothers, who are losing their children just because our children exist, but feelings for military families who's relatives go overseas and fight wars that devastate innocent people specifically to fatten the pockets of corporations who are striving to steal all of those people's resources. Then, to add insult to injury, after the current U.S. empire chief came out with racist and unprincipled attacks against these NFL players designed to appeal to his sick base of supporters, nary a peep was heard about that from Obama. At least nothing as pointed and direct as his criticisms of us.
Most recently, Obama decided to attempt a very half-assed and uninformed attack against the movement cultures of our young people by accusing them of focusing more on attacking people than building productive work. Of course, attacking any level of movement building is easy target work, but as Huey P. Newton correctly said "no participation, no right to observation." Since Obama is not affiliated and working in any African or otherwise grassroots activist organization, and despite the propaganda of his initial campaign messaging, he never has, his thoughts and opinions on how our youth organize our work is worthless. Especially since his critique represented the same tired passive aggressive blame the victims approach that defines every conversation on the topic facilitated within bourgeoisie circles in this country. His biggest crime in this speech was his violation of Kwame Ture's clear edit that no analysis of our conditions is complete unless the enemy is included in that analysis. You cannot speak to the culture of us attacking each other, call outs, etc., without also discussing this government's historic practice of undermining our people and our movements, the intensity of class struggle, and this society's alienation of activists for justice. All of those things are major contributors to the contradictions existing within our movements and they always have been.
And those examples are just a few from the U.S. We will expand internationally and talk now about how Obama's work within his administration to bolster the African Command military program in Africa has developed up to 100 U.S. military installations throughout the African continent during the time of his presidency. Despite the propaganda that these installations exist to bring "democracy" to Africa, anyone plugging into that weak and tired line can offer absolutely no evidence to demonstrate how these installations have done a single thing to secure the life of a single African child. What this military presence has done is serve to effectively eradicate the efforts by the former Libyan Arab Jamihiriya to provide potable drinking water to the millions of people living in countries bordering and inhabiting the Sahara desert regions. This presence has created dangerous attack drone facilities in Niger with potential to build other worthless (to the people of Africa) sites throughout the continent. What this presence has also done is provide regimes from the Congo to Rwanda to Nigeria and Ghana the training and capacity, in conjunction with the criminal and violent Israeli zionist regime, with resources to facilitate counter insurgency methods and tactics against the people. This training is taking place because although most people in the U.S. don't have a clue, Africa is on fire. From the Sudan to Azania (South Africa) to Ethiopia, to Zimbabwe, our people are rising up in righteous indignation against the oppressive practices of capitalist companies who control African governments (through neo-colonialist tractics) which are overwhelmingly oppressive to the people while stealing African resources in the process. These uprisings are being facilitated by youth and women so by developing the apparatus that is working to silence our people at home in Africa, Obama is thumbing his nose at the masses of African youth who strive to bring dignity to our people. The same can be said for his administration's support for oppressive policies against the Haitian people that have created the conditions for mass uprisings taking place there currently. And, as usual, in Haiti, like everywhere else in the world, youth, African youth, are at the forefront of the fight for African self-determination.
There is no confusion here about why Obama does what he does. Despite his physical appearance and the emotionally charged way so many of our people within the U.S. wish to see him, he is an international representative of the worldwide bourgeoisie. He and Michelle speak, act, and respond in accordance to those interests with everything they do. Attacking the wicked and contradictory racism of the masses of European people in the U.S. doesn't serve the interests of imperialism and that's why he never does that. Repressing and keeping the masses of African people at bay is a priority requirement for imperialism's safety and that's why he consistently plays his role in performing that function. He may be much more personable and polite than Trump in doing it, but like Malcolm said, that's only the difference between the approach of the fox or the wolf. Both are going to eat you up at the end of the day.
So, obviously, this piece isn't going to be directed at him or anyone, African or otherwise, who happen to occupy his oppressive class. Instead, this piece is directed at the masses of Africans, particularly those within the U.S., who continue to buy into his act. They do so because we are so oppressed by capitalism that even the slightest recognition from the system that oppresses us causes some of us to respond as if progress is being made. Its a sick and dysfunctional relationship similar to that of an abused party and how they relate to their abuser. Constantly seeking approval from the person (or system) that abuses you while ignoring the sound advice and support of those who genuinely have your interests at heart. This is us. Most of us are perfectly willing to ignore and/or justify all of the glaring contradictions I've identified here simply because we wish to continue the fantasy symbol of people who look like us being in power in this country. Despite the fact their existence brings absolutely no power to the masses of African people, some of us still have such a strong desire to have that image in existence, despite the consequences it causes for humanity. What we have to examine is why we respond this way. Part of it is class struggle. Some of us desire to be where the Obamas are so that is the appeal. Those people we consider cheerleaders for the bourgeoisie class so we aren't speaking to them. Others of us are sincerely confused and support bourgeoisie black nationalist beliefs that we can strive to integrate into worldwide capitalism and carve out a niche for us to co-exist with the people oppressing us. We can coexist with the system built and maintained on our oppression. Those are the people where massive political education work is needed.
For the record, I have more in common with a European man sleeping in a dumpster than I ever will have with the Obamas, on any level. And most of you reading this, your families, your friends, co-workers, and everyone you know. This is also true whether you recognize it or not. This system though. It relies on your refusal to accept that reality to keep itself firmly with its foot on our collective necks. Until we are prepared as a people to let go of this sick and dysfunctional infatuation we have with the bourgeoisie who look like us, we will continue to unwittingly contribute to our further demise.
Then, we should talk about the speech he gave after Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, and other National Football League (NFL) players began protesting the so-called national anthem to bring attention to police terrorists who murder us down in the streets with impunity. In that pathetic speech, instead of speaking to the millions of white people who are upset that their stupid sports games are forced to acknowledge this legitimate political protest instead of being upset that we are being gunned down like roaches, he chose instead to single out Colin Kaepernick, asking him to consider the feelings of military families. Not the feelings of African parents, African mothers, Indigenous mothers, who are losing their children just because our children exist, but feelings for military families who's relatives go overseas and fight wars that devastate innocent people specifically to fatten the pockets of corporations who are striving to steal all of those people's resources. Then, to add insult to injury, after the current U.S. empire chief came out with racist and unprincipled attacks against these NFL players designed to appeal to his sick base of supporters, nary a peep was heard about that from Obama. At least nothing as pointed and direct as his criticisms of us.
Most recently, Obama decided to attempt a very half-assed and uninformed attack against the movement cultures of our young people by accusing them of focusing more on attacking people than building productive work. Of course, attacking any level of movement building is easy target work, but as Huey P. Newton correctly said "no participation, no right to observation." Since Obama is not affiliated and working in any African or otherwise grassroots activist organization, and despite the propaganda of his initial campaign messaging, he never has, his thoughts and opinions on how our youth organize our work is worthless. Especially since his critique represented the same tired passive aggressive blame the victims approach that defines every conversation on the topic facilitated within bourgeoisie circles in this country. His biggest crime in this speech was his violation of Kwame Ture's clear edit that no analysis of our conditions is complete unless the enemy is included in that analysis. You cannot speak to the culture of us attacking each other, call outs, etc., without also discussing this government's historic practice of undermining our people and our movements, the intensity of class struggle, and this society's alienation of activists for justice. All of those things are major contributors to the contradictions existing within our movements and they always have been.
And those examples are just a few from the U.S. We will expand internationally and talk now about how Obama's work within his administration to bolster the African Command military program in Africa has developed up to 100 U.S. military installations throughout the African continent during the time of his presidency. Despite the propaganda that these installations exist to bring "democracy" to Africa, anyone plugging into that weak and tired line can offer absolutely no evidence to demonstrate how these installations have done a single thing to secure the life of a single African child. What this military presence has done is serve to effectively eradicate the efforts by the former Libyan Arab Jamihiriya to provide potable drinking water to the millions of people living in countries bordering and inhabiting the Sahara desert regions. This presence has created dangerous attack drone facilities in Niger with potential to build other worthless (to the people of Africa) sites throughout the continent. What this presence has also done is provide regimes from the Congo to Rwanda to Nigeria and Ghana the training and capacity, in conjunction with the criminal and violent Israeli zionist regime, with resources to facilitate counter insurgency methods and tactics against the people. This training is taking place because although most people in the U.S. don't have a clue, Africa is on fire. From the Sudan to Azania (South Africa) to Ethiopia, to Zimbabwe, our people are rising up in righteous indignation against the oppressive practices of capitalist companies who control African governments (through neo-colonialist tractics) which are overwhelmingly oppressive to the people while stealing African resources in the process. These uprisings are being facilitated by youth and women so by developing the apparatus that is working to silence our people at home in Africa, Obama is thumbing his nose at the masses of African youth who strive to bring dignity to our people. The same can be said for his administration's support for oppressive policies against the Haitian people that have created the conditions for mass uprisings taking place there currently. And, as usual, in Haiti, like everywhere else in the world, youth, African youth, are at the forefront of the fight for African self-determination.
There is no confusion here about why Obama does what he does. Despite his physical appearance and the emotionally charged way so many of our people within the U.S. wish to see him, he is an international representative of the worldwide bourgeoisie. He and Michelle speak, act, and respond in accordance to those interests with everything they do. Attacking the wicked and contradictory racism of the masses of European people in the U.S. doesn't serve the interests of imperialism and that's why he never does that. Repressing and keeping the masses of African people at bay is a priority requirement for imperialism's safety and that's why he consistently plays his role in performing that function. He may be much more personable and polite than Trump in doing it, but like Malcolm said, that's only the difference between the approach of the fox or the wolf. Both are going to eat you up at the end of the day.
So, obviously, this piece isn't going to be directed at him or anyone, African or otherwise, who happen to occupy his oppressive class. Instead, this piece is directed at the masses of Africans, particularly those within the U.S., who continue to buy into his act. They do so because we are so oppressed by capitalism that even the slightest recognition from the system that oppresses us causes some of us to respond as if progress is being made. Its a sick and dysfunctional relationship similar to that of an abused party and how they relate to their abuser. Constantly seeking approval from the person (or system) that abuses you while ignoring the sound advice and support of those who genuinely have your interests at heart. This is us. Most of us are perfectly willing to ignore and/or justify all of the glaring contradictions I've identified here simply because we wish to continue the fantasy symbol of people who look like us being in power in this country. Despite the fact their existence brings absolutely no power to the masses of African people, some of us still have such a strong desire to have that image in existence, despite the consequences it causes for humanity. What we have to examine is why we respond this way. Part of it is class struggle. Some of us desire to be where the Obamas are so that is the appeal. Those people we consider cheerleaders for the bourgeoisie class so we aren't speaking to them. Others of us are sincerely confused and support bourgeoisie black nationalist beliefs that we can strive to integrate into worldwide capitalism and carve out a niche for us to co-exist with the people oppressing us. We can coexist with the system built and maintained on our oppression. Those are the people where massive political education work is needed.
For the record, I have more in common with a European man sleeping in a dumpster than I ever will have with the Obamas, on any level. And most of you reading this, your families, your friends, co-workers, and everyone you know. This is also true whether you recognize it or not. This system though. It relies on your refusal to accept that reality to keep itself firmly with its foot on our collective necks. Until we are prepared as a people to let go of this sick and dysfunctional infatuation we have with the bourgeoisie who look like us, we will continue to unwittingly contribute to our further demise.
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