Remember this?

“Rev.” Al Sharpton, Marc Morial, Ben Jealous and other so-called black leaders trudged through a blizzard to meet with President Obama about the black agenda. They got nothing.

The imagery of black folks standing out in the cold was as poignant then as it is now.

Before and since the blizzard summit, President Obama made it clear that he has no black agenda. According to Obama, one tide lifts all ships, and with that one melodious lie, Obama marginalized all who’d pushed for a black agenda by reframing them as entitlement seekers.

Since that time, both Jealous and Morial have been largely silent in the debate, and “Rev.” Al Sharpton has been quoted as saying that Obama should not “ballyhoo” a black agenda.

“Rev.” Sharpton has not only disavowed any ballyhooing, he’s now on the side of the President and has shifted the brunt of the blame to the black caucus and black people.

According to all concerned, Obama shouldn’t and doesn’t have a black agenda. But guess what? Mr. Obama now has a brown agenda.

The blog Anderson@Large reports the following;

“… the disappearing black middle class is not on policymakers’ agenda. Instead, the White House is convening a Hispanic Policy Conference:

On Monday July 11th and Tuesday July 12th, the White House will host a Hispanic Policy Conference, bringing community leaders from across the country together with a broad range of White House and Cabinet officials for an in-depth series of interactive workshops and substantive conversations on the Administration’s efforts as they relate to the Hispanic community.”

Someone should’ve told Al Sharpton, Ben Jealous, and Marc Morial that closed mouths don’t get fed.  Unlike the black community, the Hispanic community has REAL representation.  Their representatives understand that Barack Obama’s idea of immigration reform is deportation acceleration.   Unlike “Rev.” Al Sharpton who tucked his tail when reproached by Obama, Rep. Gutierrez has called on Obama to complete his promise. Rep. Gutierrez made it clear in an interview with Andrea Mitchell that he could not offer Obama his full support unless Obama did the same for the Latino community.

This is part of the reason why President Obama was met with anger during his visit to Puerto Rico. But can you imagine that happening in Harlem? Until it does, we’re in trouble.

Related articles

• Sharpton, Cornel West and What Real Accountability Would Look Like (alternet.org)
• via black agenda report: al shartpon & msnbc shrink the black agenda (breakingbrown.com)
• Rev. Al Sharpton, the “refined agitator” (cbsnews.com)
• melissa harris perry: thoughts on spooks and doors (breakingbrown.com)