Crucial Debate for Clinton

Hilary Clinton won the first presidential debate on style, not substance.  She proved to the American people she had the temperament and stamina to lead, while Trump was hostile and indecisive.  In the second debate, she must focus on policy or offer a plan to rebuild America instead of pointing out Trump's indiscretions.

The country longs to know which candidate will restore jobs or fight corruption on Wall Street.  Not all Americans have benefited from the so-called recovery, while bank executives and venture capitalists have gained riches.  Voters want a way out of poverty or to hold on to middle-class status.  Clinton must ensure her weary countrymen that she can put the masses back to work by rebuilding the nation's manufacturing base and stopping the flow of jobs abroad.

Although Clinton clearly outmatched Trump on foreign policy during their first showdown, the American people still expect more on the issue of keeping the country safe, not just from international terrorism but common street violence.  It means a comprehensive plan to fight ISIS and stop the violence in Syria, the shock waves of which are being felt everywhere.  Moreover, Clinton needs to confront racism or the new Jim Crow when she debates again and how it relates to poverty, police brutality, or high incarceration rates among people of color that breed discontent in the cities.

Lastly, Clinton cannot allow Trump to upstage her on infrastructure when they meet again.  Democrats have championed rebuilding America's cities since President Carter, while Obama has made it the hallmark of his administration with widespread Republican opposition. Democrats, unlike many conservatives, also believe climate change is real and must be addressed across the aisle.

If Clinton measures up, the election will be hers to lose.

A Critical Choice

Supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders hate that he lost the Democratic nomination and feel he would have been a better presidential candidate than Senator Clinton.  Many have jumped on the third-party bandwagon or thrown their support behind Trump.

Our backs are against the wall in this election,  and we cannot sit idly by and allow someone unworthy of the office to win.

If Trump wins,  the country may never be the same again.  He will unleash old demons or further divide an already fragile nation with his hate-filled rhetoric regarding women,  Hispanics,  and African Americans.  He will also isolate America from her allies as president by cozying up to Russia and China.  The U.S. will no longer be seen by the rest of the world as someone to count on in times of crisis.

A Trump presidency would also send the nation's economy into a tail spend with his outrageous policies.  The country may likely spend trillions building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico,  leaving little behind for entitlements or job creation.  Trump also pledges to triple military spending like in the 80s,  which could spike inflation,  increase the deficit, and lead to higher taxes at a time when most Americans are just getting back on their feet.

I know the American people want to stick it to "the man" or woman this election,  but now is not the time to be cavalier about voting.  Trump has no intention to rebuild the Rust Belt or stop the flow of jobs abroad.  He also won't be able to keep us safe from terrorism due to his blasting of Islam or efforts to build walls between the U.S. and the rest of the world instead of seeking dialogue.  Winning the presidency would represent another notch in Trump's belt,  and if the American people elect him,  they will wake up a year or more down the road and say to themselves,  "Lord,  what have I done?"

Clinton Must Shine in First Presidential Debate

The first presidential debate will be held in two weeks.  Clinton should state clearly to the American people why she should be president and put to rest any questions regarding her character.

She will need to articulate a clear domestic and foreign policy agenda.  Clinton must address Isis,  Syria, and Russia in a way that will convince voters to back her.  The Syrian Civil War is real, while Putin is on the move.  China is also posturing in the East, which could threaten U.S. interests. 

Secretary Clinton also must discuss ways to make the economy work for all Americans, not just those at the top.   African Americans,  for instance,  have not benefited from the recovery, with an unemployment rate twice the national average.  Poor whites,  Native Americans, and America's youth also feel left out in today's marketplace,  which explains Trump's surge.  To win,  Clinton will need the backing of such voting blocs.

Perhaps above all,  Clinton,  the Democratic nominee, must come clean regarding her time as Secretary of State to erase doubt in the minds of U.S. voters.  If using a private email server was improper or jeopardized U.S. security,  she should admit it so the campaign can move past it.  It would boost her poll numbers and throw Trump off his game.  She must also clear up confusion surrounding donations to the Clinton Foundation while serving in Obama's cabinet.

The thought of a Trump presidency is frightening. It is why Secretary Clinton cannot drop the ball in the final stretch of the 2016 election.

Jaheim - I forgot to be your lover

Albany, Georgia Tornado of February 10 1940

Madison High School - Albany, Ga.(1946)

Black Migration Patters

Growing up in the seventies,  I thought most black people lived in small towns in the South and big cities in the North.  I was shocked to learn years later that African Americans can be found in rural and urban areas in other parts of the county and across the border in Canada.

I learned that African Americans established proud communities in upstate New York thanks to the Underground Rail Road during slavery.  Through a covert system of waterways,  safe houses, and trusted allies,  slaves escaped to places like Auburn and Elmira,  New York, as well as small towns scattered throughout the Adirondacks,  where many of their descendants remain today.

Slaves settled in Canada on the final stop of the Underground Rail Road in search of a better way of life.  They built churches,  schools, and businesses in Ontario,  Quebec, and other Canadian Provinces where human bondage didn't exist.

Nearly a Century later, hundreds of thousands of  Black Americans abandoned the South for the North and West during the Great Migration. After fighting to save democracy at home and abroad, African Americans faced a crossword. They not only migrated to Detroit, Chicago, and other big Northern cities but to smaller communities like Akron,  Ohio, and Muskegon,  Michigan, to work in the still and auto industries or forgo the harsh reality of Jim Crow.  Countless others ended up in West Cost towns like Long Beach,  Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Seattle,  where they endured the ups and downs of freedom.

With knowledge of the migration patterns of African Americans,  I now understand the many differences among us and that we are not one-dimensional as many may think.

Clinton's Path to Victory

Hillary Clinton will likely wrap up the Democratic nomination for president in California.  Clinton's next step will be to choose a running mate or someone who can increase her chances in the rust belt states, which may decide the election.  She needs a "game-changer" who can throw the election into political limbo for Trump. 

The possibilities include John Kasich, the Republican governor of Ohio, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former Governor Bill Richards of New Mexico, followed by Vice President Al Gore, or her chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.  All could shake up the race for Clinton. 

Each would dominate Trump on the issues and expand the electorate for Clinton.  Kasich's straight talk on jobs,  infrastructure, and expanded Medicaid for the uninsured would net thousands of votes in Ohio,  Pennsylvania, and the coal-producing state of West Virginia once he switches party allegiance.  And Senator Warren,  who is extremely popular with women,  could bridge the gender gap with her unyielding support of abortion rights,  childcare, and equal pay for all Americans.  She also loathes Trump for his unfair treatment of female officeholders, journalists, and everyday housewives.

In addition,  Sanders,   who preaches free college tuition and a doubling of the minimum wage on the campaign stomp and in the Senate,  would galvanize youth or disenchanted voters in the Fall as Clinton's running mate like at most of his rallies,  something the Clinton campaign desperately needs.

Finally,  Gore and Richardson would bring worldwide expertise to the ticket that Trump cannot match.  As a U.S. Senator and vice president,  Al Gore dealt with heads of state from around the globe and has fought diligently to save the planet from global warming since leaving office. On the other hand, Richardson,  who served as a popular two-term governor of New Mexico,  gained the release of American detainees in Iraq and Korea as a Clinton envoy while serving in Congress.  As a result,  he was appointed U.S. ambassador to The United Nations,  where he negotiated with the Taliban. 

We'll see what the outcome will be in November.

Black Folks Corner

In nearly every city and town in Georgia,  a colored folks' corner existed to keep the black community afloat during Jim Crow. 

Many of these communities survive today, while others have fallen into decay and serve as the starting point for blacks in business, education, and politics. 

Historic Auburn Avenue in Atlanta is a notable example of African American ingenuity. Black-owned hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores, like the Auburn Curb Market, a fire station and high-rise office building, welcomed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights workers on their journey for social justice in the 1960s. It was also a haven for college students and others in the community.  

Near "Sweet Auburn" existed Southwest Hospital, where scores of black doctors practiced their craft there before its final days, saving the lives of many of the poor in the community.

The Atlanta University Center,  which comprises historically black Spelman College, Morehouse College/ School of Medicine, and Atlanta University,  is another black Atlanta landmark.   The Center has educated thousands of black men and women, including students from nearby African neighborhoods like Mechanicsville,  Pittsburgh, and Adair Park,  where African Americans have worked hard to raise families for generations.

Similar communities have flourished in South Georgia since slavery.  In a section of downtown Albany called Harlem,  black-owned businesses enticed visitors for a day of shopping or a night out at a time when other establishments wouldn't.  African American neighborhoods developed nearby with schools and churches like Coachman Park,  named in honor of a 1940s African American female track star.

The Albany Movement,  which was a fight for civil rights in the city from 1961-62 that garnered the support of Dr. Martin Luther King,  Jr.,  also took place in the area with the help of SNCC organizers from historically black Albany State College. 

Harlem received a much-needed facelift following the epic flood of 1994, which devastated black areas of the city. Structures deemed unsafe were demolished or rebuilt on higher ground. Swanky new apartments for moderate—to low-income families were constructed, and a new Civil Rights museum is within walking distance.

African Americans have also built proud communities surrounding Southwest Georgia's largest city.  In neighboring Dawson,  where African Americans make up more than half the population,  black entrepreneurs settled in an area of downtown called the Push, which today consists of barbershops,  taxi stands,  a funeral home, and nightclubs.  African Americans have also been a heavy presence downtown, working,  shopping, and paying bills. 

Prominent black neighborhoods sprung up elsewhere in the city. In the community of Sardis,  an African American hospital served a booming population of African Americans. Also, the segregated high school for blacks was located in the neighborhood of  Carver.  Various shops,  churches, and lodges have also been a fixture in other areas of town.

Similarly, in nearby Cuthbert,  blacks congregated in a separate part of town for business and pleasure during segregation.  On weekends,  young black men shot pool in their best threads at black bars after a long week of picking cotton or punching the clock at the local mill.  Other well-dressed men and women purchased goods or paid debts in businesses owned by blacks and others.

The scene was depicted by well-known artist and Cuthbert native Winfred Lambert in one of his works entitled Colored Folks Corner.  It shows Western Auto and other businesses frequented by African Americans on the town square.  Like in most small towns in the South, Cuthbert's downtown served as a meeting place for people of color.

African Americans in Georgia would also carve out neighborhoods and businesses in other parts of the State to meet the needs of family and friends.

Obama's Lagacy

Now that the Obama Administration is ending,  the time has come to critique the president or his accomplishments since taking office.

Obama made history by becoming the first African American elected president of the United States.  Like those who preceded him,  he has faced challenges at home and abroad.

The president's biggest challenge proved to be the economy at the outset of his presidency.  The housing and auto industry was in total free fall while the unemployment rate crept steadily upward in one of the worst financial crises in American History.

He saved both industries from collapse. He bailed out the big auto companies as a last result,  which prevented the loss of thousands of jobs, and instituted housing reform to keep millions in their homes.

Over time, the unemployment rate started to drop due to the president's policies and consumer confidence.  The president imposed tax breaks and a massive stimulus package to help spur the economy along.  Obama also mandated infrastructure rebuilding in the Economic Recovery Act, which provided paychecks for millions. 

Aside from his handling of the economy, The Affordable Care Act is considered by many to be the greatest accomplishment of the Obama presidency.  It mandates that everyone be covered by health insurance to help drive down costs.  It also prevents companies from denying coverage to anyone with a preexisting health condition.  However,  the president and Democrats in Congress failed to get a public option or government-run program included in the plan due to die-hard Republican opposition.

In addition,  the administration dealt with a massive oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico soon after he took office that caused millions in damages to businesses and wildlife before the White House could get it under control.

The White House also endured ups and downs in foreign policy.  Obama ended the War In Iraq as promised during his first term in office,  which may have perpetuated the rise of Isis.    On the other hand,  The War In Afghanistan lingers on despite the president's inclination to end it.

Also overseas,  the Obama Administration, with its European allies, hit Russia with tough sanctions for invading Ukraine,  which nearly crippled Russia's economy, and bombed Isis training camps in Syria. The administration also seeks a diplomatic resolution to Syria's bloody civil war.

The president has announced a bold agenda for the last year of his presidency. The White House will close Guantanamo Bay,  where the suspected terrorist is being held without due process.  The president also wants to act on gun control and plans further executive action on immigration.

Moreover,  Mr. Obama is gearing up for a head-to-head clash with the G.O.P.  over his right to nominate a justice to succeed the late Anthony Scalia on the Supreme Court.  Republicans believe strongly that the vacancy should be left to the next president since Obama has less than a year left in office.

We will see if the president will achieve his goals and be remembered as one of the great presidents of our generation.