[youtube id=”txT49bYGZHo”] 08/18/2013 (press release: almonjer) // Detroit, Michigan, USA // Jerome Almon
In a scathing open letter to President Obama, a prominent member of the Black community questions the comments the President made concerning the Trayvon Martin verdict. “The Letter” accuses African American celebrities, activists, and politicians of exploiting the teen’s death to promote products and themselves (http://socialawareness2013.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/letter-to-president-obama/). At the heart of “The Letter” are media reports from prominent outlets such as the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC), Rolling Stone magazine, Canada.com, the NY Daily News, Billboard magazine, and TMZ, that provide evidence that Black celebrities are insincere in their support of the Trayvon Martin family. “The Letter” notes that the actions of the Black celebrities were opposite of the actions the legendary Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan in an identical circumstance. The correspondence also calls on President Obama to do what his Presidential idol would do, and pardon Marissa Alexander.
“The Letter” specifically names Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Congressman Bobby Rush, Jay Z, Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, Spike Lee, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Beyoncé as being at the forefront of the controversy. “The Letter” also directly questions President Obama’s support of these individuals considering the gravity of the situation. “The Letter’s” author warns the President that he is being misled to the point that his legacy is being threatened. “The Letter” cites the words of President Obama upon his inauguration, the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?,” and the actions of Mr. Obama’s hero, President Lincoln under similar circumstances as proof that the President is on the wrong track concerning the issue. The President’s actions are also noted to be counter to the actions of the other great American Presidents, George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, and John Kennedy with similar issues.
“The Letter” cites Detroit’s economic collapse as an event caused specifically by Black leaders, and lack of accountability placed on these leaders by African Americans. “The Letter” also notes that Detroit represents President Obama’s Katrina and 9/11 rolled into one, and threatens to sink the President’s administration in the way those events, the Iraq War, and Wall Street collapse sank the Presidency of President George W. Bush. Detroit is showcased in the open letter as the definition of state Black America and epitome of everything wrong within the African America community and culture.
“The Letter” is to be followed by “The Letter II” which addresses the recent racial profiling controversy of Oprah Winfrey, the incident involving NHL Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, rapper Eminem, sports mogul’s Dan Gilbert and Mike Ilitch, and solutions to the issues surrounding the “stand your ground” laws and most viable, real world solutions to the massive problems afflicting Black America.
