Tracking the Stimulus

After many days of debate, deliberation, and indecisiveness there is finally a stimulus package. It totaled about 787 billion dollars of government spending and tax cuts. People on the left of the political aisle hail this as a package that will generate and maintain jobs. They repeat the Obama administration's claim that this package will create or save 3 million jobs. As with all pieces of legislation the other side of the political spectrum has its problems with the package. They claim that it demands the nation continue to spend money although a majority of their spending is borrowed money. They also claim there is not enough tax breaks to small business and individual citizens. These mostly Republican law-makers feel as though they were shut out of the decision making process in creating this package, and argued that for President Obama to be politically non-partisan, they feel this bill was "hi-jacked" by Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and congressional Democrats.

On the state level this bill is also met with mixed reviews. Democratic governors across the nation, praise the bill as they face statewide furloughs and budget shortfalls. Some Republican governors including Alaska's Sarah Palin and Louisiana's Bobby Jindal have gone so far to refuse a portion of the money being given by the federal government. The aforementioned governors don't agree with the permanent expansion of unemployment benefits on a statewide level. They acknowledge that the federal government will pay for the expansions now, but when the stimulus money is no longer there, they worry that they the states will be left footing the bill. Meanwhile Florida governor Charlie Crist has broken from his party to support the President and the stimulus. On a recent appearance on Meet the Press Crist acknowledged he had some concerns about the stimulus but warned that inaction at this critical time would be worst than a bill with some flaws.

Despite all of this, little has been said about the way the bill will impact specific communities. As the nation looks at about a 7% unemployment rate the Black community faces an unemployment at 14%. While about 80% of White Students graduate high school, only around 53% of Black students complete that same level of education. With this type of disparity there is a special and unique need to ensure that the stimulus package is benefiting all Americans the same. The nation as a whole needs help, but the Black community is in a dire state that needs a specific type of attention. Southern Christian Leadership Conference President-Emeritus Joseph Lowery says "when America stubs its toe, Black people break their foot, when America has a cold, Black people have pneumonia." These numbers suggest that Rev. Lowery's words have never been more appropriate.

What needs to happen now is those progressive organizations who worked so hard for President Obama to get elected need to do their part. NAACP chapters on college campuses and in cities and states need to keep track of the money proposed to benefit the urban and rural underserved communities. Organizations such as the National Urban League should not only track but post the flow of capital from the stimulus bill. This is an arena even hip-hop artist should get into. Hip-hop artist are among the best and brightest, if not the best and brightest when it comes to marketing and promotions. They employ street teams to hang posters on lightpoles and flood city streets with promotional materials. They can also employ these same street teams to post information in and around the cities and suburbs as to how money will be coming into and being used in the Black community. Black Churches can contribute by reading the information pertinent to their community during their morning announcements. Fraternities and Sororities can even have moments during their step shows that stop and inform the audience how the stimulus is being used in and around the community.

This is something that every citizen can do. Once the information is spread around, the hope or idea is that people who are struggling in the community can know where to go to get some form of help or aid. Another benefit of knowing is that if the money is not reaching or impacting Black communities, Black voters can be informed and hold their elected politicians accountable for that during the next election. Ultimately this should be something every voter and community should be engaged in. Regardless of their race color or creed. With so drastic of economic times, now more than ever should all citizens, but specifically Black citizens be engaged, aware and active. Now is the time that organizations and groups who advocate on behalf Black Americans stand up and earn their keep. Now is the time that these organizations be of service to humanity.