Comments on: The Pinnacle?

By: Anthony W

Anthony W — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:32:11 +0000

Everyone was happy for the brother and purchased a picture of him to hang next to their MLK picture, but it’s still B.A.U (Business As Usual) for the black community. Perception equals reality. When a black kid sees a millionaire black person on TV or in print, nine times out of ten it is going to be an athlete or entertainer.

By: Oliver Willis

Oliver Willis — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:53:49 +0000

1 Obama is worth about 500 Kobe Bryants. I don’t think its possible for non-black Americans to get the realignment of thinking this has caused for black Americans.

By: Anthony W

Anthony W — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:22:01 +0000

I agree with Z_adura. Obama is a real feel good story but at the end of the day it’s one Obama up against the music industry and sports. Can anyone even name twelve black millionaires that aren’t in sports or the entertainment industry off the top of their head without going to the internet for help?

By: anotherbozo

anotherbozo — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:10:31 +0000

“As in Clarence Thomas following Thurgood Marshall.”

Ouch! Let’s hope the American electorate never stoops THAT low. Oh, wait…

By: Duros62

Duros62 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:50:43 +0000

Also, if you count your own state’s legislature, House and Senate, there are more jobs available in that economic sector than the NBA and NFL combined;

And you could play in the NBA or the NFL and STILL go into politics. Very seldom the other way round.

By: Oliver Willis

Oliver Willis — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:40:04 +0000

Can you imagine hearing, “You’re good, but you’re no Obama.”

As in Clarence Thomas following Thurgood Marshall.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:38:39 +0000

I’ve been using this argument for a while. Roughly: if you aim at playing in the NBA, and get to 18 or 19 and haven’t’ been signed to a team, you’re pretty much screwed (unless an overseas team/league picks you up). If you aim at running for the Senate or House, if you’re not in the running by 35 or 40, you’ve still got a skill set (e.g., law degree, experience in local gov’t, etc) that can be used for a wide variety of things.

Also, if you count your own state’s legislature, House and Senate, there are more jobs available in that economic sector than the NBA and NFL combined; add in high-ranking staff members and think-tank sinecures, and there’s no comparison.

By: anotherbozo

anotherbozo — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:53:34 +0000

“Kind of like Jesus’s brother.”

Better than George Bush Sr.’s son, let’s hope.

By: Duros62

Duros62 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:13:01 +0000

Can you imagine hearing, “You’re good, but you’re no Obama.”

Kind of like Jesus’s brother.

By: z_adura

z_adura — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:33:57 +0000

Interesting. To me, it feels like African-Americans are at historic lows, but I live in Oakland, California so my perspective might be a bit different.

By: anotherbozo

anotherbozo — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:29:49 +0000

One of the great phrases of the election: “the FIRST black president…” implying, natürliche, lots more to follow. Even given the inevitable disappointments with Obama, (I have some already, ie, DOJ’s positions on wiretapping legislation and lawsuits), I’d hate to be the second. He’s setting the bar pretty high. Can you imagine hearing, “You’re good, but you’re no Obama.”

By: yo mama

yo mama — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:12:38 +0000

One of the good things about the Obamas. I think we all should admit that.