by Mel Reeves

The New York Times magazine predicts that Black
politics will fade into "mainstream" American politics as happened with the
Italians and Irish, conveniently forgetting that "the Irish and Italian machines
were white!" Moreover, the article seems to maintain that "electoral politics
is the primary form of black political struggle" when "the most significant
black struggle has occurred in the streets." Black electoral politicians aren't
rated too highly in the ‘hood. "If asked to name black heroes off the top of
their heads, most blacks would instantly nominate Martin Luther King Jr. and
Malcolm X - neither of whom held elective office."

by
Diop Olugbala, International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement

The Uhuru Movement, which forced Barack Obama to
defend his record in Black America at a campaign stop in Florida, are preparing
for their national convention, next month. Party spokesman Diop Olugbala says
the candidate has a lot more to answer for. "If anyone looks
seriously at the positions, programs and advisors of Barack Obama, they will
see that he does not stand for any kind of real change, but for the defense of
the same old status quo, with a new face." The Uhuru Movement works toward an
"independent political agenda" that addresses in depth the question, "what
about the black community?"

by Raymond Suttner

South Africa is in a state of high excitement at the
changing of the guard in the African National Congress, the ruling party. But
the author wonders "Why is there little real debate over the country's problems
and alternatives?" More pointedly, "Why
is there a conscious blindness to [new ANC leader Jacob Gedleyihlekisa] Zuma's actual positions?" At this juncture, an open
debate is more needed than ever. "We fought not only for the ANC to rule but
for the freedom to speak our minds, even if that should lead us to conclusions
that differ from the ANC leadership."

by BAR executive editor
Glen Ford

The Sunday magazine of the nation's most influential
newspaper predicts that Black politics as we know it is headed for extinction,
that Barack Obama's "brand of ‘race-neutrality' shows Black politics is
obsolete, and should be abandoned." Of course, that's wishful thinking from a
hostile quarter, based on assumptions that all Black politics is electoral,
Blacks are becoming more conservative, and a generational crisis deeply divides
Black America - none of which is true. However, Blacks have been set up for a
fall. "To the extent that African Americans expect more from Barack Obama than
they got from Bill Clinton, they will be devastatingly disappointed."

A Review of the Policy Proposals by Fred Moseley

In this "worst housing crisis since the Great
Depression," the presidential candidates have had disappointingly little to
say" that should be of encouragement to homeowners facing foreclosure. Under
current conditions, "up to five million homeowners" - ten percent of the
national total - "would lose their homes due to foreclosure over the next few
years." Yet much of the legislative action on Capitol Hill is geared to
rescuing the lenders who created the problem. Two principles should guide
government policy: "(1) homeowners should be allowed to stay in their homes;
and (2) there should be no bailouts for the lenders."

by John Maxwell

The author, with nearly 60 years of reporting
under his belt, reflects on the state of journalistic freedom in his native
Jamaica and elsewhere in the world. Mr. Maxwell is keen to distinguish between
the "freedom" of the owners to publish what they wish, and the individual
reporter's obligation and right to tell the truth. "In the western world
journalists can mostly say what they want, as long as they agree with the
positions of their publishers." The worst abusers of reporters' rights are often
their bosses, who "will defend their corporate right to speak, but not mine nor
that of any other independent journalist."