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Tag Archive for ‘Obama’

Obama: We Will Meet the Challenges that Face Us

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

From Protest to Politics: the Future of the Civil Rights Movement

Bayard Rustin is most closely identified as the master strategist behind the successful 1963 March on Washington. A consummate behind-the-scenes civil and human rights campaigner, Mr. Rustin labored in the trenches, took part in marches, sit-ins and demonstrations and initially guided Rev. Martin Luther King’s first steps as the civil rights and political leader that he was to become.

VISA says: Alleluia, Amen, Black is Beautiful. Yikes!

Just as the United States was readying itself to celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King’s birthday and Barack Hussein Obama’s ascendance to the Presidency, VISA, the credit card company jumped on the bandwagon without missing a beat. With a full-page ad in Sunday’s NY Times Magazine, it introduced the “exclusive VISA Black Card.”

Martin Luther King: First Among Equals

Since that faithful day in 1955 when he stepped forward to speak on behalf of the clergy and lead the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, Martin Luther King never ceased to inspire the struggle for civil and human rights in the United States and the rest of the world. He made many speeches in the 13 years that followed his arrival on the political scene, the most famous and remembered being “I have a dream,” the speech he made in August 1963 in Washington before what was then the largest crowd that had assembled to advocate for civil rights and equality for all

Bush to Haitians: Nyet on TPS

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff dispatched a letter to President René Préval of Haiti telling him that after carefully considering his request for the granting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians living under the color of law in the United States, he would deny it. Chertoff signed the letter on December 19, but the letter was not sent to Haiti until 11 days later on December 30, according to reliable sources.

Our climb will be even steeper than expected

The most memorable sentence in Barack Obama’s speech on election night in Chicago is the following: “Our climb will be steep.” Then, it appeared that in deference to the Reverend Martin Luther King and all the civil rights leaders who preceded him and made possible his victory at the polls, Obama meant to say that though he’s reached the mountaintop there were still miles to go before we all rose to the top.

Gaspard in the White House – Take 2

Gaspard will be the President’s liaison to the constituency that elected him (unions, grassroots organizations, citizens groups, etc), and his eyes and ears with respect to everyone out there who expects their needs, wants and expectations to be met.

When Obama Became Black, But Not Lwo or African

S.M. Sangmpam captures the sentiments I expressed long ago about Barack Obama, the young man with the strange first, middle and last name who defied stereotypes to rise above the fray and pull millions behind his bid for the presidency of the United States. This article is an important reminder that there’s been a constant effort to pigeonhole the new President.

Haitian-American Patrick Gaspard to Be White House Political Director

The Daily News broke the story that Patrick Gaspard will take over the White House political office that really got a bad name when Karl Rove presided over its operations. Times have indeed changed in America.

Our Climb Will Be Steep

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

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