What's interesting is that you don't see a lot of discussion about the Iraq War among black bloggers. That's because we all agree on it and solutions seem obvious. If other bloggers are like me, I am just so sick of talking about it. The difference among black folks is that we were largely against the war before it started and have quietly been protesting it ever since.

Most African-Americans can point to someone they know personally who has been impacted in some way -- negatively -- by this war. Could be a neighbor, relative, classmate, co-worker, relative of a relative. You nah mean. Me -- I've had 2 cousins go over to Iraq. And my cousin's half-sister's husband. This colors our view of those who believe in a wait-and-see or worse yet, a "surge" approach.

Discussions in the black community tend to focus on <span style="font-weight:bold;">Osama bin Laden</span> -- isn't he still at large? -- and on <span style="font-weight:bold;">the Money</span> -- it sure seems like a lot of money is being spent over there in Iraq. How is it that none of that money was seen fit to spend on helping the victims of Katrina or re-building New Orleans? Or on better healthcare, education, poverty, our cities, the environment for folks living right here in the United States?

Still it's critical to talk about it because Democratic candidates looking for black votes will need to speak to us on those terms to be heard. And it also impacts the current national security. Quietly, the military has been dependent for generations on regular enlistment by young black soldiers. Why do you think that the educational and career opportunities are always touted. That's been the lure for young men and women eager to join (or stay in) the middle class.

If the military is 25% black and there's been a 50% drop in the rate of black enlistment, that sounds like a mounting readiness crisis for the U.S. military. BlackMilitaryWorld.com recently polled its audience on this subject:

Recently there has been a significant amount of media attention given to the decline in recruitment levels of blacks in the various branches of the military.  Military officials as well as the national press are seeking reasons for the drop in enlistment levels.

Black Military World.com founder, CDR (Ret.) Gregory Black has been queried about this decline by several national news sources including National Public Radio (NPR), the Boston Globe, and XM Radio.

"There is no doubt that the war in Iraq has played a role, says Black. However, there are other factors that must be considered such as an improved economy with more career and educational options for qualified blacks, and a growing culture of young people who are not connected to the traditional values that many who join the military possess."

A poll on the Blackmilitaryworld.com website asked visitors if the Iraq War has swayed young blacks away from military careers.  Of 113 responders, 73% feel that the war has had a significant role in the nearly 50% drop in black recruitment, with another 17% indicating that the war has had an effect but to a lesser extent. The remaining 10% did not see a clear connection.

There's a recent column over at the Boston Globe by Derrick Z. Jackson that breaks this down:

The drop in African-American enrollment in the military may be as powerful a collective political statement about Iraq as when Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted during the Vietnam War. Before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, major polls showed that African-American support for the invasion was as low as 19 percent, according to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, while white support ran between 58 percent and 73 percent in major polls.

Even today African-Americans by far lead the way in calling the war a mistake. According to Gallup, 85 percent of African Americans say it was a mistake, compared to 53 percent of white Americans. According to Pew, a plurality of white Americans, 49 percent, still say it was the right decision to invade Iraq, compared to 21 percent of African-Americans.

and

This war, launched under false pretenses, now has so little merit that the enrollment of African-Americans in the military may be at its lowest point since the creation of the all-volunteer military in 1973. In 2000, 23.5 percent of Army recruits were African-American. By 2005, the percentage dropped to 13.9 percent. National Public Radio this week quoted a Pentagon statistic that said that African-American propensity to join the military had dropped to 9 percent.

Candidates looking for the black vote, take note.

When I read that the Congressional Black Caucus was considering partnering with FoxNews for another presidential debate, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was one thing to do it in 2004. Perhaps the motive was increased recognition of the CBC among a new audience.

Isn't time to question both the CBC and FoxNews' motives here? Let's first look at FoxNews. These are the same people who have at least twice publicly attacked a CBC member, Barack Obama and got pushed back by other media sources. First there was the consistent, disingenuous linking of Sen. Obama's name with Osama, as in Bin Laden. Newscasters and commentators would repeatedly make a pseudo-Freudian slip..."Sen. Osama...pardon me, I meant to say Obama!" The confusion extended even to photos and captions on TV. This continues today, btw, on Fox and other channels. Then there was the fabricated story that Obama had attended a madrassa in as a child living in Indonesia in order to spread the mis-information that he is a Muslim and not Christian. When confronted, FoxNews blamed the Clinton campaign for spreading the story, thus managing to damage two Democratic contenders with a single blow.

This is just par for the course for the regularly racist, rightwing Fox News. Maybe it's news to some, but the whole point of FoxNews is to deliver a conservative slant on the news. FoxNews is owned by Rupert Murdoch, a well-known conservative moneybags man originally from Australia.

Does Murdoch really have black voters' best interests at heart in sponsoring a presidential debate? Or does he want to appear to be modern and open while creating a forum in which his team can control the outcome. What influence does he want to have over the presidential campaign - one in which Republicans are entering even weaker than they did in 2004 if you go by the TechPresident blog mention rankings?

Murdoch is the same guy who publishes the neoconservative Weekly Standard magazine. According to RightWeb, "Conveniently, every Monday one of Vice President Cheney 's aides stops by the office to pick up 30 copies of the magazine..."

Not only does this hand legitimacy to those who fight regularly against the priorities of our communities, it erodes alliances in the progressive movement and even undercuts the existing African-American owned media outlets like TV1.

Cathy Hughes and her investors including Quincy Jones founded TV1 to provide an alternative to the disgusting, unrepresentative BET. How better to show our new power than supporting a black-owned channel that is trying to provide positive programming that is more representative of our culture. Did you know TV1 is going to re-broadcast Roots during Easter week? Why not have the presidential debate on TV1?

Furthermore, Hughes has proved herself as someone who is on our side. A good old progressive organization the National Council of Negro Women honored her in 2006 with their Uncommon Height Award which is named after stalwart civil rights soldier/saint Dr. Dorothy Height.

I hope no one is taking some kind of under the table kickback from FoxNews at the CBC. I really do. I think our CBC brothers and sisters are better than that though. I want to think that the new CBC wants to show America how strong we really are and represent. Let's hope they make a different choice.

Cross-posted at Jack and Jill Politics

Matt Stoller recently wrote here about the State of Black America conference which takes place annually during Black History Month. Beginning in August 2006, I was invited to write a weekly summary of race and politics in the blogs with a focus on left-leaning bloggers on MyDD and cross-post on my own blog at Jack and Jill Politics. The goals of "Racial Politics This Week -- A Roundup" at the time were:

1. To increase discussion about how race impacts American politics in the progressive blogosphere
   
2. To introduce MyDD readers and bloggers to new perspectives on smaller blogs and build bridges across the racial divide
   
3. To strengthen unity in diversity in what is perceived as a homogenous group of politically-active internet-connected folks
   
4. To build awareness and generate creative thinking among some really smart people (that's you) around race and politics for Election 2006 with an eye to 2008
   

Why is this important? After all, talking about race and U.S. politics is to explore a territory dotted with painful landmines in the national psyche. Race is not easy to talk about. It's not easy for me. I expect for all of us, no matter your ethnicity, talking or even thinking about how race and ethnicity has screwed us up and held us back as a country is difficult.  

For progressives, it is essential that we do a better job understanding this dynamic than our competitors for the nation's hearts and minds. The demographics of our country are changing rapidly. This has the potential to create a solid base of power for progressives if we tap and expand traditional alliances among minorities, liberals, labor and spiritual communities. Costly missteps such as those seen in the 2004 election cycle that will undermine this fragile connection can be avoided with greater awareness and discussion.

The stakes are high.

Crablaw described in a Racial Roundup comment the changing demographics in MD that can be seen across the country:

In Maryland, Steele was (almost) able to take advantage of conditions that will not exist again.

First, African-American, Latino and Asian-American (specifically Korean-American) communities are growing larger, and that will affect redistricting significantly.  Maryland has the second largest Korean-American community in the country by proportion of population...Meanwhile, the old beat-up rural white part of the state is losing population or at least proportion.  The parts that are growing are, with one exception, turning bluer."

Or could turn bluer. Building a strong long term progressive base with minority support is promising, but success is not guaranteed.

I've been looking at Racial Roundups that got over 10 comments to see what struck a nerve. Looking back the comments really vary. There are 2 one comment posts and several that got lots (27, 50, 60) of comments.

People tended to comment on items that they'd seen in the media or the blogs already and were eager to discuss:

-- Candidates you like or hate: esp. Burns, Steele, Cardin, Webb, Donna Edwards (but not Al Wynn), Obama, Ford vs Corker, Dollar Bill Jefferson v. Karen Carter (Again more Carter, less Jefferson)
-- Campaign ads: racist or not
-- Republican racism in general: the concept and history and specific examples like immigration
-- Affirmative action -- the general concept and history but not specific examples like the so-called Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
-- Pop culture and politics: Obama, Oprah, Borat
-- Leading Democrats signifying on race: Dean's comments after the election, the Clinton blogger lunch

Ain't I a Woman?

-- Sojourner Truth

Welcome to Sista Scola in what is becoming Woman Weekend at MyDD. I am Woman, hear me blog. Feel the Femininity. Of course, I too am Jerome Armstrong in reality. It's sort of like Eddie Murphy in the Nutty Professor. I find inspiration for the character of "Jill" in my big butt and bad attitude.

Please Note: This will be my last MyDD post until 2007. In the meantime, I lift a frosty glass of soy egg nog (or as I like to call it -- "snog") to you and wish you the happiest of possible holidays.

Lead Story --

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rounds up Hispanic workers using racial profiling in TX leaving at least 400 child citizens without parents. Just in time for Feliz Navidad. Latina Lista, MigraMatters, Pachacutec @ FireDogLake, and Atrios have the story. I'll let the Unapologetic Mexican guest-blogging at PatriotBoy have the last bitter, satirical word: I Pack the Meat That Todo El Mundo Eats

Congressional Black Caucus Members This Week --

* The Washington Post writes a love letter this week to the most powerful black legislator ever: Prometheus 6 and others comment on Charlie Rangel's (co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus) "awesome" profile.  

* Dollar Bill Jefferson does not re-join Rangel on the Ways and Means committee despite inexplicable appeals from the CBC. (Jack and Jill Politics)

* According to the Washington Times, Nancy Pelosi met with incoming CBC chair Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI) who urged Pelosi to address the astonishing lack of diversity in Hill staffers. Among thousands of staffers, the Times reports that only about 50 minority staffers of any race can be found in Capitol Hill offices.

According to a running joke one House staffer shared with The Times, "the only people who hire blacks and Hispanics around here are blacks, Hispanics and Republicans."

It seems whenever people talk about Barack Obama, they talk about hope. Here's what Shakespeare said about hope:

"The miserable have no other medicine but only hope". - (Measure for Measure: Act III, Scene I)

Enduring what will likely be seen as one of the worst U.S. presidencies in history has been miserable for thoughtful, observant Americans. Perhaps this is what makes this the right time for a man like Obama to dazzle us with his Audacity and Hope. Isn't he in many ways the anti-thesis of Prince George the II? Obama was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He's not stupid. He doesn't stumble over his own tongue. His career has not been pre-programmed and handed to him on a golden plate. Obama represents all that Americans would like America to be -- the land of opportunity in which it does not matter who your parents were or where they came from or how much money or friends they had. The America we all want to believe in promises that the content of your character is what will ultimately determine your success.

Quite a few other things happened this week. Like the Iraq Study Group release, for example. Or the fact that U.S. history was made when a Native American tribe bought a major multi-national corporation for the first time. The most diverse space shuttle crew ever is about to launch. Oh and by the way, the Iraq war is the number one issue for Latino U.S. citizens and non-citizens. That might be in part because Latinos account for the highest number of minority soldiers killed in Iraq.

But when the going gets tough, many Americans like to starfuck. Obama has caught fire as an antidote to what ails the nation. So let's do a quick roundup of what people are saying about Obama at the crossroads of race and politics in America. Embrace the Obamarama.

Latino Bloggers and Obama

Kos wrote this week that "If Obama runs, he wins." It's not an endorsement, just an analysis. It sparked a fair amount of discussion online. Still, does Obama have a problem ahead with Latino voters? Even in Illinois, he took heat for his Nov. vote for the border fence.

Obama defended his position, saying "I am confident that, if you look at my track record, there hasn't been a stronger friend to the Latino community than me." Chicago's CBS2 reports that Obama met with Latino leaders in Illinois and assured them that the vote was "part of a larger strategy". (Source: VivirLatino)

A strategy perhaps to piss off Hispanic voters?

Black Bloggers and Obama

Progressive: African-American Opinion wonders if Obama will end up like Jesse. "Keep Hope Alive", indeed. Republic of T has a good piece on the Obama Bandwagon:

And as it looks like Barack Obama is morphing into the Democrats' Great Black Holy Hope for 2008, I guess I should start now working my way up to a rousing, enthusiastic, heartfelt, "He'll do. Maybe."

Hip-Hop: Byron Crawford takes a poll among his readers and finds that Obama has moved the needle on the possibility that an African-American could become president, but that most still think Hillary would beat Barack.

Conservative: Booker Rising discusses the complex relationship between the descendants of slaves and African immigrants that Sen. Obama's rise has begun to highlight.

This week's theme at the messy cross-section of race and politics in America is fear.

You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.

It is when power is wedded to chronic fear that it becomes formidable.

-- Eric Hoffer, the Longshoreman Philosopher (1902 - 1983)

Fear of Brown People in General

* Oliver Willis and Atrios rap Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) for calling Miami a "Third World Country". Because of all the brown people. The modern GOP must sincerely want to lose all future elections in coming decades since brown people, as evidenced in the recent elections, like to vote. The Latino vote increased by 37% in the 2006 election over 2002. Read more at BlueLatinos.org.

* Rep. Steve "Not the Rev. Martin Luther" King (R-IA) believes that the nation's homicide rate is mostly driven by the illegal brown invasion from the South to the tune of 12 Americans a day. No actual stats to back that up. It's just a funny feeling he has deep inside. Source: CarpetBagger Report

* "Nowhere in Congress are relations between Republicans and Democrats as publicly nasty as the House Intelligence Committee," according to CNN. Well, now there's a new sheriff in town: Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), former Border Patrol agent, Vietnam war vet and helicopter gunner. His appointment is called "historic" and "an important step" by a major Hispanic civil rights organization, National Council of La Raza.

Fear of Black People in General

* Police Brutality roils NYC, angers black bloggers -- and sickens African-Americans in general. Terrence Says compares police brutality to terrorism and also offers a good round up of bloggers, all black men, on the NYPD killing of Sean Bell. Just a question: when was the last time we heard about a white person being shot 50 times by police? When is that much force ever justified against an unarmed person? When exactly will the double standard discontinue?

Fear of Certain Specific Black People

* The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Rep. Maxine Waters' PAC donate big dollars to Dollar Bill Jefferson in LA-02. Too bad they are afraid to support a superior candidate -- Karen Carter, who might actually work a little harder for New Orleans' recovery. Skeptical Brotha, Jack and Jill Politics, MyDD and others are among those writing about the story.

* Wingnuts try to turn Obama to Osama by using his middle name "Hussein". Expect to see more of this. Crooks and Liars has the story.

I saw Borat last night. The movie has its defenders and its detractors. I think that Borat is one of the most subversive movies since Farenheit 9/11. Two different movies to be sure. But like Michael Moore, Sacha Baron Cohen seeks to expose the truth behind the lies we tell ourselves about our country. Borat uncomfortably rips the lid off of what many Americans, unfortunately, really think. There's a lot of humanity and kindness. There is also a lot of racism and anti-Semitism that is casually thrown around. When the frat boys openly wish slavery still existed in America and bemoan the fact that in their minds, minorities actually "have more power", we all know: those drunk jerks speak for far too many. We don't really have the "upper hand" just yet, dipwads, but we're working on it. Like F 9/11, I've got some problems with the movie. But any movie that exposes the dark racist and homophobic underbelly of America and gets people talking about it is ok with me. Also, it's really funny. And just in case you're not sure of Cohen's intentions, know that he has a long history as an civil rights activist (Props: Racialicious). His dissertation at Cambridge, "A Case of Mistaking Identities - the Jewish Black Alliance" focused in part on the 1964 murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner in Mississippi. (Photo: Sepia Mutiny)

But who cares what I think! See it for yourself or tell me what you think in the comments. For what's happening this week at the crossroads of race and politics, check out these quick links:

Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.

Polybius (205 BC - 118 BC), The Histories

This week, race and politics came to a head in the 2006 elections. Chris Bowers has already written about the changing political alliances shaping up in American culture. At the crossroads of race, politics and the blogs, George Allen found his senate career cut short after his "macaca" "joke" was blasted across progressive blogs. His presidential ambitions have gone up in smoke after the video found its way into the mainstream media. The macaca joke provided an perfect opportunity to remind voters about Allen's racist history and offer voters a new alternative in Senator-elect Jim Webb.

As America diversifies and the majority becomes just another minority (at least in some locations), understanding what minority voter priorities and expectations are -- and meeting at least some of them -- will be important to maintaining and building their loyalty over time.

Howard Dean knows it. Here's what he said post-election:

Yesterday was a historic night as well in the African American community. When presented with a choice, the African American community chose Democrats, because the Democratic Party respects the African American community and creates greater opportunities. We are honored that the African American community has again put their faith in the Democratic Party, and proud that Democrats continue to earn their trust. Democrats like Deval Patrick in Massachusetts and Keith Ellison in Minnesota are making history."(Source: Oliver Willis)

Minority voters aren't stupid. Every major black Republican candidate who ran lost. White voters aren't stupid either.

But It's Not Over Yet

We know from the exit polls that concern about corruption was a major motivation driving voters this season. Americans will be watching to see how Democratic leadership distinguishing itself from the lying, cheating, bigoted criminals who just got ejected. There are still a few races being decided. One of them deserves national attention for its symbolism.

There's a run-off election in a district of Louisiana that might look familiar to folks. Remember Katrina? All those black people in New Orleans and selected areas desperate for help from someone. Anyone. Maybe even one of their elected representatives, for instance. Bill Jefferson (D-LA) is the incumbent from this area:LA-02.

Bill Jefferson is a bad man:

Five days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, on September 2, 2005, Rep. Jefferson allegedly used National Guard troops to check in on his home and collect a few belongings - a laptop computer, three suitcases and a large box. By using the National Guard to visit his home and retrieve property -- at a time when the citizens of New Orleans had no such similar opportunities -- Rep. Jefferson appears to have violated House rules.

DavidNYC at the DailyKos:

Jefferson's behavior was so outrageous that the Democratic caucus, in an extremely rare move, stripped him of his committee assignment. An indictment of Jefferson looks very likely. And as one New Orleans native put it, "You find $100,000 in your freezer, I ain't voting for you." Seventy percent of the voters in Louisiana's second Congressional district apparently agree, because Jefferson carried just 30% of the vote yesterday.

Fortunately for us, Louisiana's unusual electoral system mandates a run-off between the top two finishers whenever the winner fails to reach 50%. That means we can give Jefferson the boot he so richly deserves by supporting the second-place finisher, Karen Carter.

DavidNYC puts it best:

This race matters because we need to send a strong message, a message that the Democratic Party won't tolerate corruption on either side of the aisle. Come January, we're finally going to take back the House. But before we do, we need to clean house first. And that's why the Swing State Project, DailyKos and MyDD are officially endorsing Karen Carter in her runoff on Dec. 9th.