African Americans and Sen. Barack Obama
Sen. Barack Obama campaigns in Denver, CO.
Source: Getty Images
Last week we talked about women and the candidacy of Sen. Hillary Clinton. Today, we'll focus on African Americans and Sen. Barack Obama. There's no question that his campaign has already made history -- he's the first African American candidate to be included among the front-runners for a major party nomination. But his candidacy also stirs complex feelings within the black community. If you're an African American voter, how do you feel about the possibility that an African American may be elected president? Are you excited? Afraid? Do you feel an obligation to vote for him?
Scott Cameron
1:59 PM ET
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01-31-2008
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Shaky Ground
In the second hour, we're focusing on upward mobility, especially among African Americans. As Gwen wrote in her post, a new Pew survey from 2007 indicates that "45% of African Americans who were born into middle class families during the 1960s are currently doing worse economically than their parents."
The show centers on one question, which we're asking our audience at Morgan State University in Baltimore, and you, listening to the radio, reading this blog:
Will you do better than your parents?
If your parents scrimped and saved to pave the way for you to go to school, to get a good job, to go to grad. school, to get a better job, did it pay off? And parents, if you scrimped and saved to pave the way for your kids to go to school, to get a good job, to go to grad. school, to get a better job, was it worth it? What worked? And what didn't?
John Morton, Managing Director of Economic Policy at the Pew Charitable Trust, will join us, to take us through those numbers Gwen cited. Who is doing well? Who isn't? Why is that? And why is the "American Dream" so elusive for so many people? And we'll hear from Ellis Cose, a contributing editor and columnist for Newsweek.
David Gura
1:58 PM ET
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01-31-2008
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Singing Morgan State
The Morgan State University Choir is it. If you don't know about them already, prepare to be amazed. Their accomplishments are too numerous to count, but they've performed all over the world; sung at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center; and won Emmy's for Maryland Public Television... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. What's more, our very own beloved director Gwen Outen sang there as a college student, under Dr. Nathan Carter, one of the most prestigious conductors, composers, and arrangers in choral music. Pretty great. Feel free to sing their praises in the comments section!
Sarah Handel
1:57 PM ET
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01-31-2008
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January 31st Show
I'm happy to blog about our "coming up" show today, because, as I type this, I am sitting on the campus of my alma mater, where we are broadcasting Talk of the Nation today. Our show will be coming to you from the Carl Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. It's an incredible trip to be here and it's always a thrill to broadcast in front of a live audience, especially when your former professors are sprinkled throughout the crowd. Here's what we'll be discussing today:
For our entire first hour, we will talk about the effect Barack Obama's presidential candidacy has on the black community. We'll be hearing from students in the audience, and we want to hear from you as well. Remember back in the day when you "pshawed" the thought of ever seeing a black presidential candidate in your lifetime? Well, here we are. So now that the moment has arrived, how do you feel about it? What does your dinner table conversation sound like? Are you excited about his run? Downright scared? A little nervous that he may disappoint? What do you hear people of an older generation saying? And what if, after all this hoopla, he doesn't win? We want to hear your thoughts. And we'll try to explore this issue from as many angles as possible.
We recently got wind of a startling statistic. Last year, the Pew Charitable Trust reported that that 45% of African Americans who were born into middle class families during the 1960s are currently doing worse economically than their parents. Not only that, but if African Americans have reached middle class status, they're standing on shaky ground. In our second hour, we will ask you and the students here at Morgan what their hopes are of surpassing their parents... And we'll ask parents what their expectations for their children are. And at the end of the hour, we're going to hear from the Morgan State University Choir. Now, if you haven't heard this choir before, your ears are in for something good!!! And if you HAVE heard them before, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I used to be a member of the choir under the leadership of Dr. Nathan Carter, who passed away in 2004. I was the one standing in the back row with tears streaming down my face because, without fail, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They are now under the direction of Dr. Eric Conway and they haven't lost a beat. The choir is usually around 150 strong, but today, we'll hear the voices of about 50 of them. Please enjoy what you hear. If I may say so myself, Morgan still sounds absolutely glorious!!!!
Gwen Outen
11:43 AM ET
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01-31-2008
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The Smoking Band*
B-more! Charm City! The Greatest City In America! We're in Baltimore, Maryland, at Morgan State University today -- better known as my home for five years -- I'm an erstwhile WYPR producer, Towson and JHU alumna. There are a lot of connections today -- our fabulous director Gwen Outen is a Morgan alumna herself. I spent the night last night, enjoying old friends, and getting a good night's sleep, but I can promise you, tonight -- sleep is the last thing on my mind. It's the last night you can smoke at a bar in Baltimore. Now, I quit the nasty habit when I moved to D.C.; but I have very fond memories of nights spent over Maker's Mark at a series of wonderful Baltimore dive bars. I was in school for creative writing; there's nothing like a smoke and a bourbon to make you feel literary -- and of course, for making it impossible to actually be literate. A lot of novels were designed and never born in the Charles Village Pub. (Not just novels -- campaigns. Yeesh.) In any case, I'm going to fling myself off the wagon for one night only here in Bawlmor. It's the last night for that particular kind of nostalgia; and I'm gonna get some smoke in my eyes.**
*The last night of "The Smoking Band." One night only.
**It goes without saying -- don't try this at home. It'll kill ya.
Barrie Hardymon
10:01 AM ET
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01-31-2008
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