Understanding the Black Experience
I wrote this awhile back for American Thinker, and decided that for the 4th of July I should post it here. It is written much like parts of my new book The BIG Black Lie, so I hope you enjoy it.
I received an email from a black man who was attempting to convince me that, though I am completely black, I have no experience growing up black in America. The bulk of his theory on my ‘blackness’ was based on the fact that I constantly lampoon Obama in my blog. He counseled me to embrace Obama, as Obama could help me to “rediscover the black experience.” He warned that “whites would never see me, as I see me.”
Touting Obama as the poster child for blackness is a ridiculous notion. Further, the idea that Obama can teach me “blackness” is equally ridiculous. Unlike me, Obama is only half-black — as much white, as he is black. Obama’s formative years were spent mostly in the white world. He was raised by his white grandparents in upper middle-class lifestyle. He attended expensive mostly white private schools in his youth, his education culminating with Harvard.
Like Obama, I am a product of a father who abandoned me. My story departs with Obama in that my father spent most of his adult life incarcerated, bouncing in and out of my life mainly by phone. When my father wasn’t incarcerated, he was strung out — chemically dependent — his drugs of choice being alcohol (a vice he inherited from his father, making me a carrier as well) and crack cocaine (an acquired addiction). Surely a father like this qualifies me for the black condition?
My father’s abandonment of his family necessitated my mother’s move back with her parents — another all too unfortunate circumstance of the black condition. Shortly after my mother returned to live with my maternal grandparents, she would die at the age of 24 from what was supposed to be a “day surgery.”
In yet another parallel to Obama, my grandparents stepped in to raise me after my mother’s death, the difference being that my grandparents were poor. My grandfather worked as a chauffeur and gardener for a wealth family in San Antonio, my grandmother was their cook and maid. Their official designation was “caretakers.” We were relocated to this family’s 25,000 acre ranch in central Texas to take care of their home there. Caretakers don’t make a lot of money, and my grandparents annually salaries were less than $15,000 — combined.
Though I grew up in the country, prior to college I attended school in the town of Brady. Brady is a typical central Texas town. Population when I lived there was 5,557. Today it is just over 6,000 — not a lot of growth over 30 years.
Highway 87 split the city west to east. Blacks lived on the south side, whites on the north for the most part. I shouldn’t have to tell you which side was considered the rich side of town. Hispanics chose sides, based on where they fell on the economic continuum. That highway dividing line was both a racial and economic divide. A line of demarcation, as it were. There were some whites south of Highway 87, but few blacks north. I would learn in my experience in Brady that people were much more interested in economics, then ethnicity — despite the racist reputations of these small southern towns. I straddled that line constantly, having friends on both sides of the divide.
The wealthy family for whom my grandparents worked was rarely there, coming only for hunting parties, and short vacations. They never even visited the town. They came to experience their property as a private luxury retreat. My grandparents did all their shopping for them, hired maintenance people, and so on. Bills were sent to Barfield –their accountant, and bills were paid…on time and in full. To all the merchants in Brady, my family was rich, because we were real. The wealthy family was a ghost.
That was as close of an experience I got to being wealthy in childhood. People in Brady didn’t see me or my family as black, but as a solid family, a pillar of the community. Black was a non sequitur. You could say that we were treated white in Brady, but I say we were treated economically.
Unbeknownst to my grandparents, they made sure that my brother and I got our proper exposure to the poor black experience on our weekend visits to San Antonio. We would leave early Friday, after my grandfather had set up his domino game (for money). We would stay with one of our relatives, usually Uncle Joe and Aunt “Pie”. They were “James and Florida Evans of Good Times” poor. Aunt Pie was my grandmother’s younger sister, and she and Uncle Joe always opened their home to us.
Upon arrival to their home my brother, cousins and I would be dispatched to get Church’s chicken as payback for the hospitality.
My grandfather would leave shortly thereafter, on his “hustle,” and the rest of the family would play some “bid” — “bid” is the black version of bridge. When we weren’t playing bid, we played Spades or “Bones.” Mostly we sat around talking. We talked about everything, including politics, religion, education, celebrity gossip, and so on. The weekend would end, and it was back to the ranch.
While my family was living what I deem the black experience, the person for whom I supposedly should be showing deference was living in Indonesia, then Hawaii — attending private schools. Because of the kindness of my grandparents’ employer, like Obama I was provided the opportunity to attend private high school. I would earn essentially a full-ride to Southern Methodist University, and also received a National Merit Scholarship, the Minnie Stevens Piper Scholarship, and a co-op scholarship from SMU.
No silver spoon kid here. The house I grew up in still belongs to that wealthy white family, inasmuch as most blacks’ homes belong to the banks. No big payday when my grandfather died, and I provide a little extra to my grandmother who is still alive at age 88.
Here’s the wrap:
I was not in the will when my grandparents’ employers died a few years back. No Mr. Deeds story here. No Hollywood ending of sorts, at least not one provided by my wealthy benefactors. But they did leave me wealthy — wealthier than I ever imagined. They showed me the real world that would have only appeared in evening soap operas, like Dynasty and Dallas. I saw daily a life that was dramatically different from mine; yet always in plain sight. A life of “look, don’t touch.” Seeing wealth and wealth creation with my own eyes, made me look at life differently than most. I loved knowing both lives — the lives of rich and poor, not black and white.
What I learned is there is no black experience. There are only the limits to your experiences that you allow in your minds. Obama does not define me as a black man. I did not feel any more proud of Obama becoming president, than I felt for Bush. Sadly, I was less proud.
Finally, I don’t need validation from whites on how to see myself. Frankly I don’t care what whites (or anybody) thinks about me as a black man. I know how I see me. I like what I see-flaws and all.
So, I stand before you America — A proud American…who happens to be black!
That’s my rant!
Happy 4th of July! God bless America!
(c) 2009 Kevin Jackson – The Black Sphere All Rights Reserved
55 Comments »
Sherri Long says:
July 3, 2009 at 5:49 pm
So, I guess this man’s “definition” of black America is what you described in a previous (and excellent) post about slavery being alive and well with our democratic controlled government. The bottom line is this, and I’m paraphrasing a little bit…it doesn’t matter the color of your skin, it’s the content of your character…and Kevin, my friend, you have a fine character. Keep up the good work…I love your posts! Can’t wait to get your book…
Matthew Schumann says:
July 3, 2009 at 6:21 pm
That was really moving. It’s that kind of philosophy that can help ALL Americans, black and white. Color is meaningless, as Sheri said, it’s the content of your character. Keep up the great work!
Dubby says:
July 3, 2009 at 6:51 pm
So who was it that taught you that YOU were responsible for your life and your personal pursuit of happiness, not the government? How did they teach you? And how can we teach this lesson to future generations, white and black?
And how can we get rid of the idea that minorities (not just blacks) can feign offense and get people to bow at their feet because of some perceived “freedom from offense” in the Constitution?
I love how you stretch my mind!
Annie Hamilton says:
July 3, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Kev, that was beautiful. it’s also familiar…it’s exactly how we were conditioned to think as children. (you & I have discussed this before, some time back) their thinking was two-fold: 1) healthy, balanced people judge based on personal values (or like attracts like), regardless of what those values are; liberal OR conservative but not on any other criteria. resorting to superficial judgements is nothing more than a character flaw in the person holding the microscope, no matter who it is and we were NEVER to allow it to be OUR problem. life is short, don’t dick around with the ridiculous, idiotic hypersensitivites of people who WANT to be pissed off. it’s the only thing they know through their own conditioning, regardless of which side of town they hail from.
ok…thanks again, this was amazing as usual. need to pick up your book.
moronpolice says:
July 3, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Great post Kevin. Many americans can relate to it. It is a pity that someone would email you saying that you can learn the “black experience” from Obama. Legal citizens of this country are all americans.. and the american experience should be championed. Keep up the good fight.
John Adams writes to his wife Abigail after 12 colonies pass the Richard Henry Lee resolution on July 2, 1976
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
Have a great 4th of July
maria says:
July 3, 2009 at 9:15 pm
excellent post kevin! i am so sick of blacks who are threatened by those of us who rise above the fray and share a dissenting opinion. we are all just people on this earth having different experiences and different reactions to those experiences. i am so pleased that you put it out there for those of us who can think and speak independently.
Billy Akerman says:
July 3, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Kevin, thank you for your great story. I am not in your position to know what it feels like to grow up black. Reading your post will help me with my children (who are biracial) to see the world as it is and to not fall back on the “race card”
Thank you again and to Ryte Wynger for turning me on to your blog.
Billy
Kevin Jackson says:
July 3, 2009 at 10:20 pm
@Dubby – I am not sure how to answer that, but I encourage you to buy my book.
Kevin Jackson says:
July 3, 2009 at 10:21 pm
@Annie – Thanks for reading my blog, as I always love to get your take. I think you will really enjoy my book, so please get it. I would love to get your “review” of it.
Kevin Jackson says:
July 3, 2009 at 10:22 pm
@moronpolice – Thanks for the kind words. I will keep up the fight!
Kevin Jackson says:
July 3, 2009 at 10:23 pm
@Maria – I do try to speak for many of us. Thank you for the compliment.
Kevin Jackson says:
July 3, 2009 at 10:24 pm
@Billy – RyteWenger is a great person, and I’m glad you found me!
Maggie says:
July 3, 2009 at 10:50 pm
ack my comment was entered under the wrong category 
Keep up the good work
former bond trader says:
July 3, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Great post,Kevin! Brady, TX, that brings back memories. I went to college in Abilene and would sometimes drive through there on the way to Austin to see friends. Is it still the “Heart of Texas”?
Someone told me Tommie Lee Jones is from San Saba,right up the road. Texas is a unique place, that is for sure.
The one thing I did notice about the Lone Star state, though, is the respect for individuality I don’t see in Illinois. Who you are as a person determines where you are going. The problem with being obsessed with race is that, for alot of people, it is their whole identity. They celebrate when someone of their race does something great, but are not doing anything for themselves. Real self-esteem comes from yourself , the sense of accomplishment from actually meeting goals and besting circumstances. Self-esteem cannot be given to anyone, they have to earn it themselves.
The fact that someone would question you about your “blackness” is hilarious. They were mad that you are able to look beyond race and see Obama for what he is. It is also an insult to any man/woman that they are not allowed to look at a situation and make an objective judgement without having to answer to someone about their “legitimacy”. What are they scared of? If you have talent and have done the work, you KNOW you deserve and belong in your postion in life. LIfe is competitive and cruel enough without having your spirit crippled by so-called “leaders” that want to reign you in based on your racial heritage. Yes,we all have limits to our talent and place in this world. But everyone should have the freedom to find that barrier themselves and NEVER let someone determine it for them.
Wow, sorry for the long post, but I feel passionately about this topic. People are happiest when they have the freedom to succeed and fail on their own and blaze their own path. The day we get rid of these “leaders’ and deal with each other individuality based on choice and merit, the better off we will be. Freedom scares alot of people. It not only means that you can do what you want, but also that you are responsible for all of your mistakes. But, do you choose the protected life of a sheep or the risk/reward of a wild Mustang. We have way too many damn sheep in this country and are in desperate need of Mustangs. You, Kevin, are definitely a Mustang!
Always enjoy reading your blog.
Papa Ray says:
July 4, 2009 at 1:38 am
Great post. I’m also glad that I found your blog.
In my long life I have found that those that have the least help reach harder
(and most times farther) for success not only financially but for personal growth.
Education is the key to getting in kids heads, that and a strong sense of family.
But it requires a family that demands personal responsibility and a strong work ethic.
Sadly, that is missing from most kids lives. Our American educational system has been
hijacked by the multicultural (racist) liberals and has been for many years. American history
and pride in America is not taught as it should be. Instead you get the liberal “progressive”
version where America is at fault and that minorities need all the help they can get, the world over.
Then along comes Obama and his backers who seem to be determined to change America
into something that makes me and everybody I know cringe and afraid for our Republic.
Dark times are almost upon us, I’m hoping for the best and preparing for the worse.
Papa Ray
West Texas
Mike G says:
July 4, 2009 at 2:38 am
First of all I want to say, I can relate to losing a parent at a young age. My mother passed away when I was 5 yr’s old. When I read your bio it was similar to reading my own. The only difference is that I am white guy. Like your view, I do not believe we need to emphasize life experiences with color. All people who embrace this nation should be considered Americans above all else. We both lost our mothers at a young age. There is nothing more life changing than that happening. There is no color when it comes to the emotions you go through with that kind of experience. I feel people need to start focusing on peoples similarities instead of their differences all of the time. How else will we be able to move on, and confront the real issues of the day. Life is made up of energy. It can either be used in a positive or negative fashion. Which brings me to the Obama.
Obama is one person who represents his own agenda. To say he has the answer to all problems is ridiculous. In fact, it is plain dangerous. All I hear from him is Apologies for our past. It’s all negative garbage to make us feel guilty. It does not define the positive progress we have made as a nation. Each person who contemplates a stance in politics should take each
issue separately, and evaluate them very carefully. What makes this nation unique is our individuality, and having the choice not to be a follower. Everybody starts off with a clean slate. If you want to grow up to be a leader you can. The tools are available to those who seek to find and utilize them. At one time in history this may have not been true for everyone. Throughout the years we have had people from all spectrums of society and backgrounds fight to change these limitations. This is how the government should function. If enough people stand up they should be heard…
“When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny.”- Thomas Jefferson
This quote above reflects my problem with Obama. He believes in big government. He wants to bailout everyone, so that he can have control of everything. Basically, the goal he has set forth for society is a place where all people will have to answer to government. I can imagine Thomas Jefferson is rolling in his grave right now. We our giving up our liberty without even knowing it. Nothing is ever free. Every time the government gives something labeled free. It means we are getting one step closer to losing our Freedom. It is time to stand up as Americans to this nonsense, and preserve our Liberty.
— Kevin since I found your Blog it has given me new inspiration to speak up. Your ability to overcome the obstacles life has given you shows real character. You tell the truth even when it is unpopular to do so. That’s called Leadership.
Much Respect,
Mike G
Mike G also says:
July 4, 2009 at 4:03 am
Ah… the racial issue. No president can hope to win an election anymore without playing heavily to the race card.
IMO, racism is dead and gone in the USA. Who has time for it anymore? It’s widely accepted that it is an antiquated notion with no means of validation.
Also IMO it’s people like Jesse Jackson, the NAACP and other such “racial-equality” folks (Liberals to a man, mind you) and orgaizations who are the ones keeping this topic alive. They’ve done more to PROMOTE racism in the USA than all the cross-burning, lynch party forming redneck klansmen throughout the history of our nation…and they’ve done it in a fraction of the time.
And why shouldn’t they? Afterall, there’s good money in it.
As always, Kevin, a great article.
Kevin Jackson says:
July 4, 2009 at 11:51 am
@former – Glad to have a fellow Bradyite here! Yes, Texans are different, but in a good way. That is what I love about ALL of America is we all do have “goodness” in our own colloquial ways! Thanks for the comment.
Kevin Jackson says:
July 4, 2009 at 11:52 am
@Mike G – You have given me the HIGHEST compliment, in that I motivated you to speak up! I truly appreciate you writing that. Glad you found my blog, and I encourage you to be more vocal.
ropati says:
July 4, 2009 at 10:49 pm
KEVIN. You got it. The only thing to be learned from Obama is how to be a poser.
FairTaxNancy says:
July 4, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Thanx, Kevin, for sharing your “black experience”. To my way of thinking, it’s been like that for some years now. I grew up in a small town in OH and only two black families lived there, that I know of. I had heard that before my time that blacks had been banned from our municipal swimming pool. But I never saw it. No one in my town treated them any differently in my time, and I’m now a great grandmother. I only knew one member from each of those families; one, a cardiologist and one, a postal worker. We were farmers. They were just like everyone else. I’m white, but who cares?
I get sick and tired of politicians politicizing race. They use it to divide us and I’m not having any of it.
Stormbringer says:
July 5, 2009 at 10:19 am
I’m glad that you grew up to be intelligent instead of liberal.
Pat Dougherty says:
July 5, 2009 at 1:27 pm
You are truly an American! One who earned what he has in the world. You weren’t handed things on a silver platter. This administration wants all of us, black and white, to become dependent on them for everything. We are in serious trouble if we allow this to happen. That is what the Tea Parties are about. We want them to know we are not going to sit by and see our country destroyed. I wish more black people would attend. They are needed there! Until we all come together to bring this country back to its glory, we will all suffer!
Jennifer Turner Fournier says:
July 5, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Jennifer Turner Fournier at 10:35pm July 3
An awesome read. I have shared your opinion for years, especially in remembering my experiences with my grandfather. He was the only dark-skinned person (American Indian) I ever recall seeing, growing up in the farming communities of Clay County AR, though I was never really conscious of the difference as a child. He was a hard-working farmer … Read Morewho would still take on hired-hands that needed the work, despite his own family’s poverty. He seemed a well regarded man with many friends, & I never saw him treated differently. I occassionally wondered, growing older, if I was simply naive to reality. Perhaps I sometimes was, but as I turned around from the front bench of the church on the day of his funeral, it was standing room only in a room full of white folks. I was incredibly touched too see so many I’d never even met, that came to pay their respects. Thanks for sharing your story and your voice. I always enjoy it, and often post it on my own profile.
AAG says:
July 5, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Same thing with hispanics, if you don’t support the ILLEGAL ALIENS then you you are a traitor or hater or whatever stupid term the idiot liberals and illegals want to apply to you. I don’t want them here; they don’t belong here. Come here legally and not like a thief in the night and then we can talk. Just because I have a Spanish surname, others think I support the ILLEGAL ALIENS, well I don’t. I don’t want their crime, illegitimate babies (that we all pay for through the nose), their gangs, the bilingual classes that are anything but, their hatred of the USA, La Raza, their sending back American dollars to their banana republics, taxes paid for their education and housing,and their lack of desire to learn English. My concern is the USA and real Americans that love it not these moochers stealing from the USA. I have advanced degrees thanks to myself and I hate affirmative action; I’m not stupid I get super high grades on tests and don’t need the government to help “poor little me” out.
Obama is a loser, Kevin you aren’t. He is the part white son of an atheist, commusist mom. Obama rode on the Kenyan lapels of his deadbeat father and played the race card. He is the affirmative action choice of idiots. So where are his grades from his school years??? Somehting to hide I gather. Keep telling the truth, Kevin!!! How refreshing; it also hurts the idiot liberals who can’t stand the truth. They hate the truth as much as Jesus; screw them.
Marcia C says:
July 6, 2009 at 4:02 am
The author says.
” My story departs with Obama in that my father spent most of his adult life incarcerated, bouncing in and out of my life mainly by phone. When my father wasn’t incarcerated, he was strung out — chemically dependent — his drugs of choice being alcohol (a vice he inherited from his father, making me a carrier as well) and crack cocaine (an acquired addiction). Surely a father like this qualifies me for the black condition?”
Bush was adicted to both alcohol and cocaine. He even kind of admitted it. He got caught 3 times for DUI. But of course he was never arrested: his family is white and rich.
Rush Limbaugh was addicted to Oxycontin in huge amounts. Rush actually admitted once that whites and blacks commit the same number of crimes per capita, but whites don’t go to prison for it. Then he proved it when he got caught with drugs.
Cindy McCain was not only addicted to Vicodin, which is also a street drug, she stole drugs from the children she said she was helping. John told her to keep her mouth shut about it so it wouldn’t hurt his re-election plans, which meant Cindy went a long time with not even rehab. And of course she didn’t get arrested either,.
Republicans love to talk about drug addict blacks, put the use and abuse of meth, the worst of all drugs is rampant amojng whites in the south. It’s often brewed in back yards with such deadly ingredients as battery acid. And the drug causes sexual hysteria that can lead to parents having sex with their own children.
Bush, who can barely speak English, obviously got Affirmative ACtion for Dim Children of Rich White men. The president of Harvard admitted that the going rate to get your dumb child into Harvard is $10 MILLION. Daddy ponied up the money for his son, who was rejected by the far less prestigious University of Texas that doesn’t take bribes for dim white rich kids.
REcently a lot of white male Republicans have been caught cheating on their wives, in the case of Sandford, the newest one, with many other women. They are also famous for their “Trophy Wiives” – much younger women they dump their kids and their wives for.
The difference is that when white people get caught with drugs, they don’t dont even get arrested, especially if they are affluent – they get rehab. Often very fancy rehabs that they can leave whenever they want to. As a black man the author ought to know that if he really does understand what being black means in America today.
Thanks to the Republican party and its corporate prisons whose CEO’s constantly need more “crimes” and longer sentences so they can make big profits, America now has the distinction of having the most prisoners of any country in the world, both in real numbers and per capita. Apparntly Republicans believe that America is the country that has the most criminals. More even than commie China or Iran.
The author ought to rethink his stance. He makes it pretty clear that he doesn’t like being mixed-race which is why he is saying such things about black people and other biracial Americans.
Marcia C says:
July 6, 2009 at 4:19 am
AAG said: Same thing with hispanics, if you don’t support the ILLEGAL ALIENS then you you are a traitor or hater or whatever stupid term the idiot liberals and illegals want to apply to you.”
Who is it that support the illegals? The rich CEO’s of your party that want cheap labor so they can fire you because you want “too much” money.
Which presidential candidate got caught not once but twice hiring illegals to do his landscaping?
Romney.
Who is it that hire illegals to be cheapo nannies and to take care of their landscape? Rich Republicans.
Maybe you should ask your own Elites why they support illegals.
By the way, the same rightwing CEO’s sent a million or more America jobs to commies in China. Why aren’t you up in arms about that? Why don’t you have the nerve to confront them with that treason that harms the workers of America foir their own wealth?
The Walton Family has accumulated $90 BILLION by using cheapo labor in Commie China. Then they pay their own workers wages that are barely enough to live on, selling often toxic products made in China. Those jobs should be for Americans, not commies.
Thanks to your elites, almost all apple juice comes from commies in China.
In addition to the clothings toothpaste, clothing and furniture we get from commies, almost all the shrimp (frozen) comes from commie Vitetnam.
Why should we be paying to eat and drink food and buy 1009’s of other products from China and Vietnam? And how many AMericans have been killed or harmed from toxic prodcuts from those companies? A lot.
L:et’s demand that corporations bring back America’s capabilithy to make real things and have Americans workers stamp “Made in AMerica” on the products they create for American consumers. An atgrocity: An America flag pin with “Made in China” on the back.
Kevin Jackson says:
July 6, 2009 at 4:21 am
@Marcia C – First, I love when the racist Democrats visit my site, and spew their anti-Black venom. There is not enough substance on which I can comment, but I will point out a few things. First, though Bush struggled at times with English, he not ONE faltered in “Austrian,” which Obama did!
I will make you a bet Marcia C “I didn’t know I was a corn fed, inbred racist.” I bet you that you won’t even admit to voting for Barack “Insane” Obama in a year!
And I offer one piece of advice. Let security know when you are leaving the asylum!
Brant says:
July 6, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Kevin, you rocked the house with this one. Every black person in the U.S. who votes for the Democrats should have this post as required reading.
DaSicilian says:
July 6, 2009 at 3:34 pm
As I stated in a previous bog…I am a racist…I really dislike the white, decadent, effete-ist side of BO…I believed that his black half may be the only real person in side of him…though I’m not so sure anymore…methinks his nose is so far up in the air, he is only smelling rarified air nowadays….
DaSicilian says:
July 6, 2009 at 3:35 pm
As I stated in a previous blog…I am a racist…I really dislike the white, decadent, effete-ist side of BO…I believed that his black half may be the only real person in side of him…though I’m not so sure anymore…methinks his nose is so far up in the air, he is only smelling rarified air nowadays….
Mieke says:
July 6, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Thank you for your story, your current contributions of your blog and your integrity. Perhaps you can join Sarah Palin in her fight against the ‘Harvard elitists’ who think that real Americans would choose them over Sarah Palin. I’m Dutch/Indonesian and I really wanted to be proud of that part of Obama, but there’s something about Islanders that people need to understand. I’m conflicted, because part of me wants to just suck Mangoes and enjoy a peaceful paradise, and another part of me wants to own all the mangoes and ship them to Europe for a profit. I have both heritages in me, and luckily I have a great work ethic and know how to enjoy sucking Mangoes.
An Islander from Indonesia and then Hawaii might choose a college in southern California, and they might even finish up their education on the east coast. But the part that doesn’t ring true is, after Columbia he chooses to seek a position as a community organizer in “Chicago”. An islander would never do that, would never think to do that. Someone PLANTED him in Chicago for some higher education, straight up.
Mike G says:
July 7, 2009 at 2:53 am
Who is this Marcia C? This person probably ended up coming to your site Kevin thinking it was a good liberal source of info. The liberals classic argument against Bush is that he was incompetent. compared to their new hero Obama. If this is true why is it that the only good news to come out lately is our success in Iraq. What has this administration of great hope accomplished so far? Nothing thats what. Any time they do something that half way makes sense is when they follow the lead of the last administration. Their slogan of change and hope has only bankrupted us. All of these stimulus programs are not design for an economic recovery. It’s all based around a far left agenda that caters only to a certain segment of the population. The sad thing for these misguided supporters is that they will get screwed themselves. The reason why is the economic stimulus plan was designed to make all of the money benefit the government , not the citizens. This includes everyone on the bottom barely getting by these days.
The only way out of this mess I feel is to drop all of the new programs trying to be pushed through congress. We need to go back to building more nuclear plants for energy. Also tapping into the oil throughout the country will solve a lot of are states financial problems. Producing tons of new jobs and revenue. The next step, is to make some serious cuts in our budget for programs that just drain the system. All Bigger Government leads to is Bigger Problems. It’s time to Simplify instead of Multiply.
Marcia C stop focusing on your political agenda. I suggest trying to come up with some solid economic solutions. Bush is not in charge anymore, so give up on that argument. Obama is responsible for whatever happens presently, and in the future. I would like to hear back from you in a couple years. Lets see what you think then.
Kevin Jackson says:
July 7, 2009 at 3:01 am
@Da Sicilian – You are one of my favorite racists! Thanks for GREAT comments!
Kevin Jackson says:
July 7, 2009 at 3:02 am
@Mieke – I LOVE mangoes, and would join you in owning the plantation, and selling them for profit!
Kevin Jackson says:
July 7, 2009 at 3:03 am
@Mike G – I don’t even entertain those trolls issues. They are trying to distract from Insane Obama, and hope that we will take a bite of that apple! Not the kid! Thanks for the comments! There is room for you here in the Sphere!
Bama dad says:
July 7, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Kevin:
Heard your speech at the Birmingham, Alabama Tea Party on the 4th of July and have one word for it and you; wow! After the event I stopped by your table, shook your hand and bought your book. Sat down Sunday and read the whole thing. Very good read and I learned a lot. Keep up the good work; we need more true Americans like you in this country. It does not matter who you are, you can make a difference, I can make a difference anyone can make a positive difference in this great nation.
DaSicilian says:
July 7, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Book should be in today…hope I can get to PO to pick it up…can’t wait to crack it open…best of luck with it…
Mike G says:
July 7, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Just ordered your book today Kevin. Thank You for your comment’s…You’re the man! Looking forward to contributing at the Sphere.
slammer says:
July 7, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Being poor white trailer trash from a small dent on the earth in West Virginia, I can’t relate to the black experience. I can relate my own experience. Being a hick from the sticks I have been called inbred,ignorant,racist,and accused of lacking intellect . I don’t think I was a bigot before Nov. 08,but I’m turning into one. I’m really beginning to hate liberals.I was 12 years old when MLK was killed, and at that age and now 41 years later I still don’t see the problem with his dream. Seems to me that it would be a dream any father would want for his children.
Keith Idol says:
July 7, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Kevin:
As a first-time visitor to your site, I have to say that I really enjoyed reading about your experiences and upbringing. I agree 100% with the premise of your piece – there is no “Black Experience.” We are a diverse people with diverse backgrounds and values and I hate the idea of us being considered a monolithic, homogeneous group. That being said, I’m a PROUD OBAMA SUPPORTER! Good Day!!!
IdahoGal says:
July 8, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hey, Kevin! First time visitor, won’t be the last time! Loved your life story – I’ll be looking for your book.
And, thanks for leaving Marcia C’s post up – nothing like reading a liberal loony’s rantings to get a sense of why liberalism is a mental disorder!
I’ll be back!
BlackScorpio says:
July 16, 2009 at 12:19 am
I grew up in Kansas in a mostly white middle-class neighborhood with my parents, four siblings, and my father’s brother (who was going to college at the time and had lots of girlfriends because he looked like a tanned Pat Boone… what can I say, this was the fifties!). There were other Blacks in the neighborhood, and all the kids played together. But, the “discrimination” in the town was mostly economic. As long as you had the money, you could live or go anywhere. I definitely identified with your sentiments on Obama because he does not represent me and I was very, very disappointed that the first Black president has to be him. But, I smiled when I read your explanation for Bid… of which, I must admit, I’m a master playa! LOL I can run to Boston with every hand… guaranteed! LOL
Eric McKenna says:
August 8, 2009 at 3:32 am
Kevin – you are awesome my friend. In every way. As a fellow conservative here in Pittsburgh, PA… it can be a tough road indeed. I really, really enjoy your blog and it's on my daily visit list. Keep it up!!
Dave B says:
August 9, 2009 at 12:49 am
Thank you for the belly laugh I haven't had in quite a long time. I'm just a low to middle class white cop who has to live day to day and paycheck to paycheck. I don't think I've really lived the "white experience" because I work with minority police officers and we (meaning black, white, male, female, asian, hispanic, short, tall, etc) have moved so far beyond the bullsh….t about race relations and "dialogue" that we just shake our heads when the politicians try to dredge up some type of "race" thing. We rely on each other to survive, white officers feel the frustrations of minority officers the same as if it were happening to us, we see the albatross that government has burdened them with and tied around their necks to make sure they never fully get the credit they deserve and are never fully recognized for what they have to do and put up with on a daily basis. We share good and bad experiences, watch out for each other and our kids, and we would risk our own safety for each other. We are just Americans, doing a job and living our lives. We fight like brothers and sisters, insult each other, laugh at each other, and in the final analysis would die for each other. We're just waiting for the rest of America to catch up.
Lisa Johnson says:
September 12, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I think you are kinda funny. You dont have to put others down or praise others in order to make yourself feel better. You are a black man & you will always be one. Sorry to hear you were not proud of Obama becoming president. Your ancestors would have been. Someone should have taught you to love your fellow black man – its ok. I didnt grow up in an all black world either, upper middle class family, but it didnt make me blind to the plight of the poor – black or white. As long as you are happy with yourself, my views dont matter much. Keep up the work you are doing, someone has to be for the other side.
JUBILEE says:
January 27, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Oh puleeeeze, Obama is as much a black american as Schartzenegger is a white american HES AFRICAN AND WHITE AMERICAN people; although his wife and mother ARE true black Americans
Freda Dogers says:
July 3, 2009 at 5:48 pm
let me see…is that the same obama who is only a halfbreed?????? keep up the good work!!