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Comments

• [1] Dag Sheepshanks from Brooklyn Public Library GAP November 16, 2007 - 11:29AM

  She is right. Its about time someone said it. Thats why I had to leave Upstate NY. Imagine being made to feel your a walking charity case. There are just as many incompentent white persons as the stereotype is of black persons.

  
  
• [2] Elizabeth Neblett from New Jersey November 16, 2007 - 11:31AM

  I think Michelle Obama is right, but this weekend I'm going to an orientation for volunteers for Obama. I've heard on other WNYC shows that some African Americans aren't supporting him out of fear of what might happen if an African American is elected. I think we have to take the chance, and what a great message we'll be sending to the world if someone of his diverse background is elected.

  
  
• [3] ab November 16, 2007 - 11:32AM

  I think she has a point but I'm not so sure it's believing that someone else is better as opposed to an acknowledgement of the all too real racism in this country that is likely to prevent a person of color being elected President....

  She may be right though...that assumption may play out to make it a reality.

  I agree with the caller however....her comment does presuppose that black people all vote and think...or should think in a monolithic manner...which is just not thr truth

  
  
• [4] Phyllis from New Jersey November 16, 2007 - 11:40AM

  I think her comments about the experiences of black Americans are absolutely correct. Many of us feel we achieve despite societal expectations. However, I think she oversimplifies the thought processes in choosing an appropriate presidential candidate. Give us credit for making our decision based on factors other than race - we are in fact a thoughtful people who want the best person for the job regardless of their race. We also must live in this country after the election.

  
  
• [5] Paul from Brooklyn November 16, 2007 - 11:46AM

  OK. So to fight racism, all black people must vote for the black candidate. Is that what I'm suppose to be understanding here? I don't even have the words to critique this insanity.

  
  
• [6] Laurance Splitter from Manhattan November 16, 2007 - 11:58AM

  Thank you Debbie Nathan! At last! Someone with the courage to come on air and begin, at least, to explode some of the myths about so-called "child pornography", particularly relating to teenagers and the internet.

  Whether one agrees with this speaker or not, I interpret her basic point to be that this society needs to have the debate and not run away from it because everyone is terrified by the right wing religious loonies.

  We should ask ourselves "Do we want young people to be able to think for themselves or do we want to go on pretending that they live in a world where issues like sexuality simply do not exist?"

  
  
• [7] Dag Sheepshanks from Brooklyn Public Library GAP November 16, 2007 - 11:59AM

  The thing Paul is that throughout this countrys history people have used ethnic identity to vote for and establish their political power. Kennedy did it, LaGuardia did it, Huey Long did it. So why is it a problem for the black community to do it? You expect the black community to act rationally and vote based on issues. Granted that makes sense, but Irish Catholics voted for Kennedy solely because he was one. LaGuardia the same, because he was Italian. I m sure somewhere in Wisconsin or Minnesota someone got elected because he was a Swede or a Dane or a German.

  
  
• [8] Dag Sheepshanks from Brooklyn Public Library GAP November 16, 2007 - 12:04PM

  And to Elizabeth, I m not sure that black people arent supporting Obama. I think that is what we are being told in order to diminish our support for an Obama campaign and get behind a Clinton nomination. I, for one, wont vote for Hillary Clinton for dog warden. If it comes down to Clinton vs. Guiliani, then I ll be voting for the Communist candidate.

  And the truth in her assumptions lie in the "facts" that blacks are recorded as committing more crimes in the USA. There is no proof of that. The verifiable proof is that POOR persons commit more crime. And also to equate a criminal conviction with a criminal commission is specious. Many people(not all but quite a few, look at Rikers Island for example) are detained or imprisoned because of poverty not actual guilt. A good lawyer gets you bail and great legal advice. Public defenders dont.

  
  
• [9] Weldon Hosten from Brooklyn NY November 16, 2007 - 12:06PM

  I agree with Michelles comment. As a black man I agree that we as a people were significantly disenfranchise and due to the struggles and sacrifices of people like Martin Luther and others we have gotten to where we are today. However, we must be steadfast and change our outlook and try to let go of our 400 years brutal past and look forward to the future. We need to address issues instead of masking everything that happens to a black person a race based issue. Life is like a relay and we must pass the batton to our next generation better prepared financially, academically and most importantly create a positive impact as a people. It is about time we stop blaming people for our mistakes. Look at the chinese people, they have been through the similar struggles like us and they have rebounded to earn respect the world over. That was not the way we perceive them a few decades ago.

  
  
• [10] Watching You November 16, 2007 - 03:30PM

  The callers for this segment with a single exception ( the first caller) did not answer the questions offered in the discussion.

  Instead most callers related their particular upbringing, success, volunteer work and parental influence, it was infuriating to listen to their ramblings.

  Many successful black people pretend race and colorism issues were not a deterrent to their personal success.

  A lot of people pretend to not see color as if colorism and racism is no longer an issue because THEY have determined race and skin color isnt an issue.

  Michelle Obama is asking a pertinent question.

  If race and color is no longer an issue in our society, when is the time to an elect a President who is Black or Latino or Asian or female?

  note, I can not vote for Clinton because she gave her support to the war.