Michael Eric Dyson: Welcome to the Club!

I spent a lot of time during 2008 holding up a yield sign to those African Americans who wanted to anoint Barack Obama as the answer to all of our prayers. While I understand racial politics as well as almost anyone, I was concerned about his steadfast unwillingness to speak directly to Black issues during the campaign, other than the "fathers should step up" refrain that, while true, sheds no new light on the subject. I understood the game he was playing and why it was necessary (the country hasn't come as far as some would suggest and he couldn't be overly identifiably Black and win the presidency). I got crushed in some quarters for having the temerity to write that Obama might be accepting Black votes while leaving Black issues by the side of the road.

While my politics and those of the President are similar (I am probably to his left ideologically), I was not willing to just drink the Kool-Aid because his skin-color is also similar. I think all elected officials at all levels should be pushed into dealing with sticky issues and that voters should not go soft because they like the candidate. You don’t get anything in politics just by voting for someone. You get something by demanding action and making it clear to the winner that his or her continued employment will require action on a range of issues. That can't happen if you're taken by the siren song of someone's voice or enraptured by one's smile, as so many African Americans have been.

As an African American scholar of political science and public policy, I was shocked at the lack of critical analysis that was offered by some other Black professors and activists during the campaign and since the Inauguration. Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson was among President Obama’s earliest Black supporters among prominent Blacks. He campaigned for Obama (and despite living in D.C. hasn't yet been invited to the Big House) and shouted down people like me who wanted specifics. Dyson, while certainly still a supporter, appears to be opening his eyes on Obama. Check out this video

President Obama is a 180 degree improvement over his predecessor, the corrupt George W. Bush (who should be in jail right now!). I want him to be a paragon of political progressiveness. But he's not perfect and I’m not surprised as Dyson appears to be. President’s govern as they campaigned barring some unforeseen crisis. We got little during the campaign. We’ll get little during his presidency unless there is some kind of crisis (Katrina, riots, etc.).

Anyway, MED – welcome to the club.  What should we do to make sure we aren't left holding the bag in the end?