What are your thoughts on the State Of The Union address??

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The president, along with wife Michelle Obama and daughter Malia, joined other volunteers at Browne Education Center in Washington.

During brief remarks, the president said there was no better way to honor King than to do something on behalf of others. He also acknowledged the controversy surrounding a quote on the new MLK memorial in Washington, which is being changed amid criticism that it did not accurately reflect King’s words.

“What he really said was all of us can be a drum major for service, all of us can be a drum major for justice,” Obama said. “There is nobody who can’t serve, nobody who can’t help somebody else.”

The inscription on the King memorial, located on the National Mall, currently reads: “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.” The phrase is modified from a sermon known as the “Drum Major Instinct“, which King delivered just two months before he was assassinated in 1968.

In the speech, King’s words seem more modest than the paraphrased inscription: “Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

After meeting with volunteers, the Obamas headed to the school library to help build bookshelves and a reading corner for students. The president and first lady were then put to work painting two King quotes on the library walls.

The president stood on a chair and carefully used blue paint to write the phrase “The time is always right to do what is right.” Mrs. Obama painted the words “I have a dream.”

This was the third year in a row the Obamas have participated in a service project on the King holiday.

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I don’t know about you but I’m happy the war is OVER. What are your thoughts??

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There is a sextape floating around of the late great Tupac Shakur, TMZ has obtained images from the sextape which shows Tupac getting fellatio from a random female. There are several other women and men in the photo. No word on whose shopping the tape around. I want to know why are they releasing the tape now? Also ladies do you want to see the tape??

Soulful singer Adele has canceled her 10 city SOLD OUT Us tour because doctors ordered her on vocal rest. There is hemorrhage on her vocal chords and if she isnt careful she could lose her voice all together. Hoping for a speedy recovery and when she reschedules the tour hopefully it stops in St. Louis this time

Singer Lauryn Hill is being sued by a former stylist becuase she didnt pay or return the clothes the stylist sent her for her 2007 European tour. The stylist states Lauryn kept the clothes for 3 months and only returned 30% of the clothing. I just want to know why it took 4 years to sue someone?

S/O to President Barack Obama he was in St. Louis yesterday speaking at 2 fundraisers about Congress, the enviroment, jobs & more.

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A lot of Blacks working in corporate or other professional fields do too.

It’s not a complaint… I’m just stating my reality. But there’s something that happens when you deal with a lot of non-Blacks and then jump back into Black surroundings. I make references that I know other Negroes will have a much higher chance of understanding. I speak in terms of “we” and speak of a shared ancestral struggle that brings on occasion a familiarity and sense of camaraderie that doesn’t automatically come when dealing with non-Blacks. It’s something I almost didn’t take notice of until I recently saw President Obama speak at the CBCF Gala in Washington, DC.

The 44th President of the United States is nothing if not a gifted orator. He takes queues from all the great performers; from presidents to preachers to stand up comedians. The President understands timing and the milking of a moment for maximum effect. But for all his amazing skill it seems to only amplify when he is surrounded by an audience of Black folk.

Not African-Americans. Black folk

The President has a way about him when dealing with other Black folks in various situations. (Remember when Obama saw Queen Latifah a few years ago and greeted her with a “What Up, Queen?” in a Chicago style drawl?) His speech at the Congressional Black Caucus Gala was no exception. From facial expressions to heavy preacher rhetoric and pacing — Obama dropped a hot 16 for the Caucus Gala attendees (a friend asked when he finished his speech “Did he just drop the mic?) and they responded with cheers and applause.

For a President who is supposedly losing his “Black base” he sure seemed to have them eating out of the palm of his hand on Saturday night.

More coverage of the CBC Convention here.

President Obama, who has been traveling  the country on his “Pass This Bill” tour hit all his major talking points at the Gala. He mocked the GOP for being “pro” many of the things in the Jobs Bill right up until he suggested it. “Y’all used to like building roads.” Obama delivered with attitude and a rare sense of authentic annoyance that seemed less rehearsed and more unleashed. He continued his supposed “class warfare” by pointing out the rich should pay their fair share. But Obama hinted at the troubling time that he’s been having with the CBC. “I listen to some of y’all…” he said with a defiant look in his eye.

Obama walked in the room with what seemed to be a frustration at the questioning he’s received about his policies when it comes to Black Americans — which as of late has been coming directly from the CBC. His method of dealing? Spelling out what he’s already done but SAYING “African-American” when he did it.  This came with applause and screams of “That’s right.” He pointed out the 17% unemployment rate amongst Blacks and that this Jobs Bill would help Black Americans and all Americans — but he needed help to get it passed. This was a direct response to some of the Black caucus members, like Rep. Maxine Waters, who specifically stated at the conference that it wouldn’t/couldn’t pass

“I expect all of you to march with me and press on. Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. Stop complaining, stop grumbling, stop crying. We are going to press on. We’ve got work to do, CBC.”

That wasn’t aimed at Black People as the Associated Press claimed. That was for the CBC itself. If the members weren’t happy about his commentary they probably didn’t want to say it to the audience that was screaming with glee as he delivered those parting words. Obama spoke to the audience not simply as a President to the nation–but with the comfort of one speaking to family. When he said “we” it wasn’t as in “We, Americans…” it was “We, Black Folks…” bringing a sense of camaraderie that not only did the audience need, but Obama probably needed himself.

Elon James White co-hosts the widely popular podcast Blacking It Up! which airs live Mon-Thurs 1:30pm ET. Follow Elon James White on Twitter  @elonjames

During the interview, Smiley is unapologetic about his criticism of Obama saying, “My job has always been to hold presidents accountable to the best interest of all Americans but specifically and unapologetically for [African-Americans].”

“It’s just funny to me that people get more riled up and more excited and more angry about what I may or may not say about the president than they do about the crisis in black boys. If Negroes could get half as mad at what black boys are enduring as they do when Cornel West or Tavis Smiley says something, we might get something done.”

Read more at The Grio.

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Hear what President Obama had to say about unemployment being twice as high in the Black community, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. monument, and his reaction to being harshly criticized by African American leaders like Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornell West in this clip from MyHoustonMajic.com.

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