Marian's Blog

"After New Orleans" - Bush and his 'Haves' and 'Have Mores': Race and Class in the US, Americas, the World

“... Here we have the haves and the have mores. Some call you the elite; I call you my base.” That was George W. Bush announcing his truth at a Republican black-tie event in 2000. Try to visualise the past week if a few dozen of Bush's "base" had been trapped in post-Katrina New Orleans. A lot is being said - ANO ("after New Orleans") - about "race" and "class." A few folks and even a few Blacks are talking as though race and class were unrelated. What folly. Who's kidding whom? From Austria to Aruba to Asheville, NC - not only would that premise be untrue, it's what some of us call a bald-faced lie. This is not to say there are no upper middle class or rich Black folk in the USA. (Are those Black Americans "upper middle class" or "rich" compared to the majority of other Blacks? Or to Whites? ... A huge difference.) But a wealthy minority among Black Americans is another topic. And compared to rich whites, almost no rich Black Americans have inherited wealth. Most of them (not every last one) worked, saved, and invested for their wealth. They also must've been lucky. In a more global context, by and large, unlike some wealthy white Americans living abroad, those affluent Blacks buying exclusive real estate in Paris, Zurich or Central London are not Black Americans. I'm guessing most are continental Africans. Perhaps some are of Caribbean origin. Perhaps also Arab Blacks. I digress once again. The last thing is not the main point but I want to ask: Was even one Black person - one Black American from the USA (other than maybe a waiter) - in the room the night Bush bragged to his haves and have mores? I seriously doubt it. There is video of that crowd. The most famous version is included in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911. I'm sure there's a list; somebody knows who was there. In the context of a "Who's Who of Class in America", some of us would be darned curious to know who was there.

From New Orleans to Food Crisis in Niger: No One Saves Us but Ourselves

Now that Louisiana native, General Russel Honore (who is Black) is bringing some water, food and healing to New Orleans... The National Black Catholic Congress website has a long and important article on the food crisis in Niger. If there's an object lesson to be learned from the humanitarian debacle of New Orleans it is that the way these "just happen to be Black" people are being treated in New Orleans (Louisiana) - and all over Mississippi and Alabama - is the way basically the rest of the world treats all of Africa every day. Except maybe in Africa more of the (often rich) African politicians and policymakers who also are directly responsible "just happen to be Black."

Africa: Sudan visit from Black Bush official Rice; how about Niger & Somalia?

Well it's about time someone from the US government actually went to Khartoum. And apparently during Sec. Rice's arrival there was some kind of 'scuffle' between Sudanese security and some of her staff, for which the Sudanese foreign minister is said to have apologised. Next she should go west to Niger where so many people and children are starving to death. And she could then travel back east again to Somalia... But sadly she won't. These people never spend more than a few lousy hours in Africa. The MSM news always seem to be reporting some profiling Bush administration official "popping into" Iraq. So why won't they pop on over to Somalia? The way in which US broadcast news media do not report Africa on a regular basis is embarrassing and frightening - and also irresponsible - not to mention pretty idiotic. And in "mainstream" media in the USA you basically never hear the names or anything about the work in and on Africa of Salih Booker and his organisation, or TransAfrica or most anyone else.

Black High school Econ teacher leaves $2 mill to Prairie View A&M

In the so-called mainstream media no one but no one documents Black American (or other Black) philanthropy. Perhaps most insulting, many aren't even aware our philanthropy exists not to mention the fact that in the US at least, our assistance does not benefit only Black people. Salatheia Bryant's article about frugal public school teacher Whitlowe Green is from the Houston Chronicle website. "Whitlowe R. Green wore second-hand clothing, purchased out-of-date meats, shopped at auctions and stopped talking to a relative for two years because of a $6.76 debt." He served the community as an economics teacher in the Houston Independent School District (HISD). When he retired in 1983 he earned $28,000 a year. (The same year I left Laredo, Texas.) When Green started teaching in 1937 his yearly pay was $700. Most of his teaching career was spent teaching economics at Houston's Yates High School. As one friend remembered him: "When you go to the counter to pay the bill he'd kind of slow down and let you get ahead. He played poor. He was just a regular guy." Mr. Green was 88 when he died of cancer in 2002. He graduated from Prairie View A&M in 1936. Read the rest of Salatheia Bryant's fascinating and humbling story here.

Congressman Major Owens warns Democrats; Fred. K.C. Price & Republicans target some Issues + Black Conservative Churches.

"I am frightened by what is happening," said Rep. Major R. Owens, an 11-term Democratic congressman from New York who has been conferring with colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus [of the U.S. Congress]. "Our party is in grave danger. This Republican movement is going to expand exponentially unless we do something." Major - Congressman Owens - (photo here) is talking about what I am now naming the BCCA - "Black Conservative Contract on America."

Democrat Major Owens, Brooklyn, New York

"The "Black Contract With America on Moral Values," "...unveiled... in Los Angeles... designed to help African American churches gain influence in the Republican Party and promote socially conservative legislation." "... In addition to such conservative GOP priorities as allowing workers to create private Social Security accounts and banning same-sex marriage, the Jackson contract deals with some potentially dicey issues for Republicans — such as restoring rights to former felons. The contract, Jackson said, combines the Bible-based elements of the traditionally Republican and Democratic platforms.

"... Even if it rises 5 percentage points, [Democrat Major] Owens said, "the Democratic Party will be paralyzed."

"Highlights" of what I, Marian, shall call the Black Conservative Contract On America include (according to L.A. Times):

"Marriage: Focus on prohibiting same-sex marriage; Wealth creation: private Social Security investment accounts and encouraging homeownership; Education: School vouchers, charter schools and boosting black enrollment in higher education; Prison reform: a "Second Chance Act," reentry programs and laws restoring the rights of felons; Africa: Intervention in Sudan and penalties against corporations that explore for oil in the region; Healthcare: Including programs to cover the poor." Read the entire article: "GOP Sees A Future in Black Churches" by Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten in the L.A. Times.

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Franklin Raines: Ex-Fannie Mae Head Exits Like A Fat Rat

Filed under 'Black leader$ who at the very least can easily afford to start a University'... When I saw this I knew I had to blog it. All these years the handlers gave us this guy as Mr. Mild-mannered. I do realise that occasionally I have to claim - or at least acknowledge - persons like this, just like the regular Black folks. This guy's retirement package reminds me of some African so-called "leaders". Franklin RAINE$ - I mean Raines - headed of "Fannie Mae" a well-known US government-run agency (the Federal National Mortgage Association) that's supposed to be about helping less advantaged Americans get financing to buy their own home.  Now Franklin has quit, apparently a step ahead of being asked to leave. Instead he walks away with over 1oo.000 dollars a month for the rest of his life. How do you swing that?? I'd call that public service; wouldn't you? Self serving, publicly. Meanwhile most folks are just trying to eat, educate their kids if they've got 'em & keep a roof over their heads; not to mention those of us doing this as Women heads of Families.

From the Associated Press: Ex-Fannie Mae chief to get $114K a month, by Laurie Kellman, Associated Press Writer.

WASHINGTON -- Franklin Raines, who was forced out as Fannie Mae's chief executive after five years, is slated to receive a monthly pension of more than $114,000 for life, according to documents the mortgage lending giant filed Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The documents also reveal that Raines has deferred compensation of $8.7 million to be paid out through 2020 and owns more than $5.5 million in Fannie Mae's stock.

Federal regulators have asked Fannie Mae to hold off paying out any compensation to Raines until they have time to investigate the package, and whether it was appropriate for the federally chartered lender to let Raines retire early rather than be dismissed.

An additional point of contention is Raines' retirement date. According to the filing, "Mr. Raines has asserted" to Fannie Mae that his retirement is effective June 22 - enabling him to receive an additional $600,000 in salary. That scenario also would add $100,000 to Raines' post-retirement monthly payment. In the filing, Fannie Mae did not agree to those terms.

Either way, Raines is slated to take home more than $1.3 million annually, plus benefits such as life and health insurance... read the rest here