Jan. 26, 2015

President Obama Calls for Reform of the Criminal Justice System

Jan. 25, 2015

Welcome Back, President Obama
By Julianne Malveaux

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - President Barack Obama knocked it out of the park during the State of the Union Address.  He was strong, progressive, firm, and relaxed.  He was almost cocky as he offered a few jokes, smugly announced that he would have no more elections, and just generally exuded confidence.  He didn’t do the kumbaya thing much; instead, he laid our his priorities to a Republican congress that will likely block much of what he proposed, especially when it comes to raising taxes on the wealthy to support his free community college program.  President Obama “threw down” in the 70-minute address that was frequently punctuated by applause.  In a couple of instances the Republicans withheld applause, but his confidence suggested that whether they offered applause or withheld it was of no matter to him.

Michelle Obama wasn’t playing either.  While she has usually worn her trademark sleeveless dresses with pearls, once a puffy skirt, once with long sleeves.  The shift look certainly flatters her figure and her toned arms tout her fitness.  Her two-piece tweed suit, though, was a business suit.  It reminded us that she is a lawyer (with a nod and a wink to CBS hit show “The Good Wife”), in addition to being a stylish First Lady.  Hopefully, the business attire signals that she will take care of business in the next two years.  Her “Get Fit” initiate is much needed, and her partnership with Jill Biden to focus on military families is consistent with the President’s in providing jobs and other assistance for veterans.  In these last two years, perhaps the First Lady can spread her wings and focus on the work and family issues she lived and that so many women juggle.  I hope for too much, I think, when I suggest that she deal with the gender pay gap, but that is also an issue that would benefit from her attention.

Perhaps I quibble, but while the President highlighted efforts to benefit the middle class, he mentioned poverty just once.  There are 45.3 million people who lived in poverty in 2013, the last year for which data are available.  The rates are 9.7 percent for whites, 12.3 percent for Asian-Americans, 25.3 percent for Hispanics, and a whopping 27.2 percent for African-Americans.  In mentioning poverty without mentioning that some experience poverty differently than others; he failed to put a tiny pin in his own celebration.  I wouldn’t expect him to mention race explicitly, but he could have said, “And while poverty rates are falling, one in four families in some communities still experience poverty.

Similarly, the President justifiably touted falling unemployment; and he has much to crow about since the unemployment rate has fallen steadily in 2014, from 6.7 percent a year ago, to 5.6 percent in December.  The decrease has been across the board, among African-Americans and Hispanic as well.  But there are 700,000 fewer people in the labor market than a year ago, indicating that more people are entering the labor market in response to its perceived strength.  Without indicating race, the President might have talked about the high unemployment rates among some groups.

As I say, perhaps I quibble.  Presidents often offer a laundry list of issues, with few getting more than a couple sentences worth of attention.  Still, since the economic success story is one that the President correctly touted, it would have been appropriate for him to simply mention the unevenness of recovery.  And since the Affordable Care Act is a successful part of the Obama legacy, with nearly 7 million more people enrolling in the program, and some of the 2014 glitches eliminated, it would have been appropriate to mention it, specifically and in depth.  Some might consider it a way to wave a red flag in the faces of Republicans, but in some ways the speech was a red flag anyway.

When I listened to the State of the Union address, I thought “this is the Obama I voted for – twice, the Obama that was but a rising star in 2004, whose rousing speech at the Boston convention propelled him to national attention.”  This Obama seemed Presidential, not conciliatory.  He stood by the Executive Orders he issued in 2014, and indicated that he might use his veto pen if Congress attempted to overturn his effort.

As he did in Boston, the President ended on a unifying note, in a line that he has used often, “We are more than red states and blue states, we are the United States of America.”  He was motivated when he said, “let’s state the work right now”.  Bravo, Mr. President.  I’m not the only one who will quibble, and I’m not the only one who will offer kudos. Welcome back!

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author based in Washington, D.C.

January 25, 2015

The State of the Union is a Tale of Two Americas
By Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The State of the Union is a tale of two Americas.  One America has unprecedented income, profits and wealth, while the other America’s real unemployment rate is over 11 percent, wages and income for basic workers are frozen in place, poverty is growing and the disparity in income and wealth between the haves and have-nots has not been this big since the Great Depression.

First, the American people must commend President Obama for what he has achieved in spite of Republican opposition that has resisted everything he has proposed and there is every indication that they will continue to oppose his proposals tonight.  But his direction is sound and should be supported.

He proposes to eliminate the biggest tax loopholes and ensure that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations pay their fair share.  As the president knows, the top 1 percent and major corporations are enjoying a historic period of prosperity, while the wages of the average American family have flat-lined.  He proposes to use the savings produced by these measures to reinvest in the education and other needs of the middle class.  He is proposing to make the first two years at a community college free, which would include more students in economic need.  After a record 58 months of continuous economic growth in which the official unemployment rate has fallen to 5.6 percent, he is focused on raising the minimum wage, lifting the income of average workers and providing paid sick days for all.  The number of uninsured Americans is at an all-time low, health care costs are falling, in coalition with China he’s taken important steps toward curbing climate change and he has moved forward on reforming our immigration system.  He has ended a U.S. fighting role in Iraq and Afghanistan, is graduating reducing the prisoners held in Guantanamo and taken dramatic steps to normalize relations with Cuba.  He is challenging the huge sums of money in our politics fostered by the Citizens United decision and vows to protect voting rights.  He has vowed to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid for future generations.

Now that Republicans are in charge of the House and Senate they have wasted no time in attacking Social Security, attempting to derail President Obama’s immigration plan and destroy his achievement of the Affordable Care Act.  Tomorrow, rather than respond to the positive agenda of President Obama, they will continue their negative agenda and vote to make abortion choice more difficult.

Second, however, the American people must also challenge President Obama on several fronts.  We need a comprehensive urban policy.  Tax hikes for the wealthy and tax cuts for the middle class do not address the zones of catastrophic housing foreclosures, vacant lots, poverty, dysfunctional schools, closing emergency rooms and hospitals, and urban abandonment present in today’s America.  Dr. King was right - we need direct investments.  President Obama must not only defend voting rights using the present “structure” of our voting system - states rights and local control.  In his 2013 State of the Union Address, President Obama announced a plan to convene a commission on improving the voting experience of Americans. Yet since then, 21 state legislatures have proposed and passed a range of laws that make it harder for some people to vote – including restrictive photo ID requirements, cuts to early voting and limitations on same-day registration. The President should support adding a right to vote amendment to the U.S. Constitution so that every American has, not just a “state right” to vote, but a fundamental individual citizenship right to vote, with Congress having the authority to establish a uniform national voting system with common sense minimum standards.  The American people must also insist that the President fight for police reform that includes more than just car and body cameras.

So we must commend and challenge President Obama at the same time.  Commend him for moving in the right direction and challenge him to do even more.

Jan. 25, 2015

As the Struggle Continues
By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.  

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - A few days ago, many people were discussing what the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. meant to them.  I was pleased to be a part of a commemorative program where young people between 12 and 17 were questioned about their experiences with civil rights, diversity and communicating with others.  Their responses were surprisingly pleasant—and a bit brilliant.  Without delving into detail, I can say these youth affirmed my confidence that, despite protests to the contrary, large numbers of our youth are prepared or preparing to represent us well in the future.

Listening to these youth, I was reminded that young people were at the forefront of the old Civil Rights Movement.  Along with their adult counterparts, they faced the dogs, hoses and billyclubs with equal amounts of courage, composure, and character.  Embracing a purpose greater than their own personal security, many of them rebelled against the fears of their parents and decided to sneak away from home to participate.  Over black & white television broadcasts and theatrical newsreels, the world saw their bravery and the malignancy of those standing in opposition of their receiving justice and the full rights of citizenship.

Unquestionably, some youth take the freedoms and the struggles endured to achieve them for granted, but, these many years after the old Civil Rights Movement, we see the emergence of a new generation of youth who are dedicated to principles of freedom and equality.  Once again, youth stand in sacrifice for the greater good.

We are still blessed to have young people risking their lives and futures to work for changes that are desperately needed—especially changes related to police/community relations.  They are the 'tip of the spear' in the fight for economic justice. It's the youth who are conspicuous in their picketing of corporate Goliaths - like McDonalds and Wal-Mart - for decent wages and benefits.  Risking being fired, they walk off the job in large and small groups for the right to a 'living' wage.

On the hottest days of this past summer and the coldest days of winter, young people have braved the elements, marched, and spoken out to say, “Black Lives Matter.”  The groups are diverse, and young people are speaking louder and more effectively than many adults.

Young people don’t often receive their rightful thanks, but I am proud of many of the young people with whom I have come in contact and observed—those who rose up over the murder of Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and many others.  Despite institutional obstacles, they still seek justice for these murdered young men. In that process, their work is raising the consciousness of all races, cultures and ages inspiring action that demonstrates to others that “Black Lives Matter.”

Whether sparked by the release of the movie Selma or by frustration arising from the status quo, young protesters are proving they understand the cause for which many lived and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died.  Once again, they see the need to be involved in making changes.  Moreover, our youth are coming to the realization that we can never rest in the fight for justice and equality.  They understand that 'rest' and 'complacency' are two words which have no place in the lexicon of Civil Rights.  They realize that there are those who, if given a chance, would strip all of the achievements that we have earned and enjoy.

We adults must encourage the engagement of our youth.  We must welcome young people who want to be involved in making a better world.  Let us walk with them and share the wisdom we have—while allowing them to develop into the leaders they are capable of becoming, as the struggle continues.

Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. 202/678-6788. www.nationalcongressbw.org.