Speaking at convocation at Hampton College, Barack Obama warned that the Bush administration has provoked a "quiet riot" in black America.
A quiet riot. Now certainly that's the best kind of riot, because no buildings get burned and nobody gets stampeded or knifed or shot. And if it's a really quiet riot, then we don't even have to listen to shouting and can continue to work or read or watch TV without disruption. It would really be nice if all riots could be quiet riots.
Here is Obama: "Those 'quiet riots' that take place every day are born from the same place as the fires and the destruction and the police decked out in riot gear and the deaths," Obama said. "They happen when a sense of disconnect settles in and hope dissipates. Despair takes hold and young people all across this country look at the way the world is and believe that things are never going to get any better."
Much of this I believe is pure nonsense. Obama should consult studies of self-esteem which show that young black males have the highest self-esteem of any group in the country. This may seem odd, but the reason is that self-esteem in these instances is not based on academic achievement. Rather, it is based on other things like atheletic prowess and social prowess. If you want chapter and verse, read my book The End of Racism.
Obama seems to think that if young African Americans feel better about the future, they will do better. In other words, higher self esteem leads to higher achievement. But maybe the equation runs the other way around. When a student can solve the equation and find the amoeba under the microscope, he realizes that he can do this and then his hopes for future success improve. Once people start to do better, they feel better.
Instead of giving us the usual pablum about quiet riots, Obama should be calling African Americans and indeed all Americans to study harder and work harder and achieve something great for themselves and for their country. Mass demonstrations for higher educational standards in the public schools! A riot against the teachers' unions! If Obama is ready to lead in this direction, I am ready to sign up.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. Apparently we need all types, no matter how far "out there" your thought processes take you. And the Hoover Institution of Stanford University is certainly doing its part to supply us with the fringe cases. Simply replace "work or read or watch TV" with "fiddle" in D'Souza's latest report from the frontlines of the war on cogency, and you'll see what it takes to write a well-received blog for the American "conservative" sector: highly-concentrated ignorance.
Dave at 11:22PM on Jun 7th 2007
17. I will definitely vote for Obama. He is offering America reason, and not emotionalism disguised as straight talk. Dinesh is a sensationalist. His comments on slavery are simply silly and disqualifies him as a intellect. Slaves were whipped, castrated, raped and fed unhealthy food. To describe that as being treated well is ridiculous. But he knows there are fools that will buy his book because it supports their racist beliefs. Cunning but not intelligent.
456 at 8:34AM on Jun 8th 2007
18. Here's food for thought: why is it that Mexicans can sneak into our country with nothing but the shirts on their backs and carve out a future for themselves (trust me I've worked in Tree Service and alongside several Mexicans), but these poor black people cannot? Many of these illegal immigrants earn the money to take care of themselves, buy houses, raise children and also send money back to their families in mexico. They receive no government support, no education, and most of them don't even speak our language. I never graduated college, yet by the sweat of my brow and the support of my family, I own my own house and will hopefully have a little something to pass on to my children someday. Maybe the problem is perception? Priorities? Millions of people in this country have pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps, millions have succeeded with lots of help from others. There is plenty of help out there, maybe something else is holding them back. Maybe they are. Maybe not.
Eric at 12:02AM on Jun 9th 2007
19. Stephanie: Obama is Christian. Here is a link for you to look at on his religion http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/obamas-religion-and-schooling/
David at 1:36AM on Jun 9th 2007
20. Hawk07, if I am sad it's because there are dumbos in the world such as yourself.
Hawk07, you are a very pathetic human being. I pity you.
Stephanie at 9:50AM on Jun 9th 2007
21. Thank You, David, for the link, BUT, Obama has a Muslim brother, father, grandfather. I do not want ANY association with Muslims in the U.S. White House. Are you aware of what's been happening over in Western Europe? Muslims are destroying those countries. This is why France elected Sarkozy recently, as it's clear he will address the Muslim invasion and all of the social and political problems associated with that.
I do not want to see the Islamists destroy America. Don't you know the fable of The Camel and The Tent? First, the Camel's got only his head in the Bedouin's tent (ironically, it's a Middle Eastern fable!), then his front leg, other front leg, etc..until finally the whole of the Camel is in the tent and he says to the Bedouin, original owner of the tent, "Get out of my tent." Learn from it. The demographics of Muslims is nothing to ignore as Western Europe has discovered.
As to Hawk07 -HI! WANT SOME MORE AD HOMINEMS? OK - you're a sad, pathetic, jerk with his head in the sand. An ostrich. Did you like that? Want some more ad hominems? Just let me know - I'm ready!
Stephanie at 10:01AM on Jun 9th 2007
22. Dinesh says: "Obama should be calling African Americans and indeed all Americans to
study harder and work harder and achieve something great for themselves and for their country." Strange coincidence - that's just what Obama did!
Please read the 'quiet riot'
speech - not just the AP Coles Notes version: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/06/obama_and_pover.html#more
In the same speech, Obama outlined a 10-part Urban Action plan. I say let's debate what the man actually said !
BTW, this speech was given to a roomful of black Christian clergymen, so Obama put his religious outlook right up front and center.
MississaugaTrini at 2:42AM on Jun 10th 2007
23. It appears to me that the country has been run and governed by a strong white male contingent.And this has not fixxed anything the country is still going broke the middle class is being over taxed and increaseingly being fazed out.I dont need to get into the preception that were a coutry of john wayne types who use scare tactics to hide behind the lets go in and kill'em all mindset.The country needs new leadership and new direction and i don't believe or have faith in another white man for president give hilliary or obama a chance whats the worse that can happen oh,i forgot it already happend....
solomon at 10:28AM on Jul 24th 2007