Search the web

What the "Heckler" Happened To Obama?

Comments (95)

Presumptive Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama, experienced a backlash during one of his speeches today when he was heckled at a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida by a group of young black men.

Actually, let me rephrase that because I think "heckled" is a strong word. Rather, The men held up a sign saying, "What about the black community Obama?" to get his attention. Then, the crowd began chanting in unison, which gained them an aknowledgement from him. Obama maintained his composure throughout the meeting and calmly answered their questions after his speech.

You may be wondering what questions the men had for the first viable African American presidential candidate. Well, they asked about Jena 6, Sean Bell, and other racial incidents over the past two years about which Obama quickly and eloquently responded.

Now, I am not to going to hype up this incident anymore than CNN and other mainstream media have managed to do. The truth of the matter is that presidential candidates get heckled ALL THE TIME. What I will say is that I think the media is playing this one up especially because it is a case of black men rising up to harass another black man, especially this particular black man.

The incident does give me a bit of pause. I think we, as Black Americans need to realize that Barack Obama is not the PANACEA for black people nor is he able to answer for years of oppression and injustice we have faced.

As president, he will not only have to focus on race relations in this country but he has to fix the jacked-up U.S. economy, and work on mending fences in the Middle East.

We, as black folk, won't be able to have him on speed dial whenever something goes wrong in our neighborhoods.

He will be a busy man, just as past presidents have been. What we can hope for is that he gives us a ring every once in a while, which is more than we have gotten during the last eight years of George W. Bush.

Comments: (95)

Add a comment

Page 1 of 10

Most Commented Articles

Get Closer to BV

  • slider Image
  • slider Image
  • slider Image

Find a Message Board

Find out what members are saying about everyone from Barack to Beyonce. There are nearly 100 forums from which to choose. Click on a category below and discover the right board for you.

Our Lens Sept. 1

    Hector Jackson (C), who impersonates the late US pop star Michael Jackson, gestures while he takes part in the "I do dance Thriller" event which attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest mass "Thriller" dance, in Mexico City, on August 29. Up to 15,000 people are expected to take part in a potentially record breaking mass performance of Michael Jackson's famed "Thriller" dance on the day he would have turned 51.

    Omar Torres, AFP/ Getty Images

    A long line of fire marches west towards the communities of Acton and Sunland-Tujanga on August 31 in Los Angeles, California. At least 18 homes were destroyed and 12,000 more homes and 500 commercial buildings are being threatened in the fire which already took two lives. The wildfire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon near a ranger station and the Angeles Crest Highway above La Canada Flintridge, has forced thousands of evacuations.

    Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

    Venus Williams of the United States reaches for a shot against Vera Dushevina of Russia during day one of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

    Chris McGrath, Getty Images

    A Kenyan Muslim child reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk.

    Sayyid Azim, AP

    Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Discovery is scheduled for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

    Joe Raedle, Getty Images

    Host Vanessa Williams performs with dancer Gilles Marini onstage at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, in Los Angeles, California.

    Jesse Grant, WireImage

    A girl plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Bunol's town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the 'Tomatina' now in its 64th year.

    Alberto Saiz, AP

    Tom Wainaina recounts the events that lead to his being burned over most of his upper body August 26 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Wainaina was burned by a group of men during post-election violence in Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election. Ethnic-tribal violence left over 1,000 people dead. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern, in cooperation with local Kenyan groups, has launched a campaign to provide the urban poor with cash grants to start a business or get back on their feet after suffering disproportionately from post-election violence in 2007. The money is transferred to the recipients via a mobile phone which insures a safe and simple financial transaction to customers who don?t have bank accounts. Wainaina is one of dozens of Kibera residents to receive the assistance of a cash grant. Hairdressers, grocery stores and food vendors are just some of the businesses that have been financed through the program.

    Spencer Platt, Getty Images

    People standing near the grave of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) look at the grave of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) at Arlington National Cemetery August 30, in Arlington, Virginia. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was buried yesterday next to his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) after he died of brain cancer on August 25.

    Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

    US President Barack Obama takes out his daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2nd L) and niece Suhaila Ng (L) to shop in the Alleys general store on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 30, 2009.

    Jewel Samad, AFP/ Getty Images