i really feal barack obama on this one every subject is true sense i repersent 1% vout of 50 drop out as an african american and gang violence sense that is wat i learned when i was growing up and i rwally feal that women should be treated better than men sense the was the one who brought us into the world and i feal him on the subject where women should be consider a partner or a wife because if they not u really dont care bout dem and basicly i think black ppl who made big should help out the broke black communitys cause if they did or if they did’nt if they grew up in the postion as a broke walefare family or just a drugt addiction family they should invest to fix the problem instead of being selffish. i see at as if one black american make it they should bring the rest of them up instead not supporten them and letten them result to violence and drugs.

This is a good article. However, it’s ironic that some of the hip-hop artists that are named next to the rules are notorious for promoting this hustler/pimp lifestyle themselves. Part of our problem is our skewed perception of things and this notion that hip-hop is all good. Tupac could have made a stronger more positive statement in his lifetime, but in spite of being well off financially, he insisted on living this thug/gangster lifestyle. And yet many in the African-American community view him as some kind of hero. It would seem to me that as you get older, you should be more embarrassed to behave this way, but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.

You are right on the money honey. Very insiteful and truthful. We as a people have come a long way and need to have more confidence and faith in our ability to lead and influence others. We can use our power for good or evil. Barack Obama chose to use his power for good and by the grace of God has risen to raise us all to higher heights. Each one teach one, and lift as we climb should continue to be our motto and our Aim as a People.
Peace brotha, and many blessings. Love Seajewel

I only have one thing on this… if there is a “fight” to be fought, it is within our individual selves. If we’re fighting for education, wouldn’t we want to give our children the best, but how and with what are we educating ourselves? We can’t just move back into the plantation because the new overseer reminds us of Uncle Obama. We still being educated on the terms of universal ignorance, that being absent of knowledge of self. We won’t go very far, Obama or otherwise, acting like blackface sock puppets, not wondering or caring whose hand is up our rectums, guiding our beliefs,thoughts, motivations and actions.

“The way brothers and sisters is living today is 100% EUROPEAN” Arrested Development, Children Play With Earth

SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME B.S.COMING OUT OF ANOTHER BROS.FAT MOUTH ABOUT WHAT THE LITTLE NEGROES SHOULD DO 2KEEP UP,KNOWING DAMMED WELL IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN.WHEN WILL THE FEW BIG NEGROES AT THE TOP COME TO GRIPS WITH THE FACT THAT SOME R MENT TO BE AT THE BOTTOM(THE BIG FISH EAT UP THE SMALL FISH).

I said that the priveleged blacks IE the blacks at the top have a responsibility to the black community and that it just isn’t about the blacks at the bottom.

that’s a borderline racist idea to say that some people belong at the bottom everybody deserves a chance to become educated and successful in this country..yes we can

Same old song, same old dance—-I for one am surprised that a Columbia Grad does not know the difference between “to and too” as in number three (3)”Put a ring on it.” But I digress: You too have fallen for the lies and use of statistics used to demonize our people. There are three types of lies: Lies, dammed lies and statistics and you above all should be aware of them. Those in control of social thinks tanks and the social agenda keep propagating these lies over and over again and we happily eat them up as they are spoon fed to us. We believe them, when if fact, many of us know of many youth, adults and such who are hard working, are educated, own businesses and take care of their families. Stop feeding on the lies the establishment is supplying you, take the veil off your eyes and minds and open your eyes to see the beauty of our people around you. Yes, there are those that commit crimes and such but “STATISTICALLY” they are a small percentage. Glorify in what we as a people are doing right and I guarantee you, you too will begin to see more and more of the good and less and less of what is wrong….Note: The wrong is always highlighted in order that, that is all you see and expect. I’ll bet you a donut that if all that is right was highlighted in much the same way, that is all you will begin to see—-Blacks have been scapegoated by the system for so long that the tendency is now to scapegoat ourselves…… Such is the insidious trap that has been set.

We don’t need an african american president to tell us that. While Obama’s rise to the white house is great for african americans. It’s not a litmus test for how we should act.

Because let’s not forget Obama had his trials and tribulations and there was no black president for him to look up to. But he still managed to get his life back on the straight and narrow.

People don’t need a black president to tell them that. People who base there pride off of they’re race are weak, I grew up in a crappy neighborhood with what people would call white and black trash so I didn’t identify with race and one man named Mr. Williams at my school a black vice principal picked me up one day from my neiborhood when I should have been in school, he took an interest in me and became a mentor to me when nobody else did. I wasn’t waiting for someone who had the same skin color as me to set me in the right direction, because of him and a few other people in my life I know who I am and who I am and who I identify myself with has nothing to do with race. Barrack Obama has figured this out that is why he is our president he represents everyone in this country.

I AINT PUTTIN MY GUNS OR SWORDS DOWN! SHYT AINT FINNA GET BETTER, WIT YA DUMB ASSES!

it amazes me that it took for President Obama to be come a president for “black folk” to say hey we need to do better. but hey whatever the people clamour for a king.

primarily our station in this country is now, as it has been for a while, in our own hands. I believe President Obama mentioned something called Self Responsibility. If we exercise that teach our children to excercise that and hold our peers to that standard we will rise. But as long as we use our race, our percieved disadvantages, music and everything else under the sun as an excuse progress will be stagnant.

Interesting article, thanks for posting. It is information we have heard before, but hopefully now we can take that knowledge and apply it to everyday life. And if it took President Barack Obama’s historic win to motivate, educate and inspire not only African Americans, but ALL Americans to do something greater, then so be it.

Okay, didn’t Bill Cosby say some of the same things not too long ago, wayyyyyyyy before Barack Obama was even a candidate for President? And didn’t others before Bill Cosby state the same thing? So, if nothing has changed and there have been many positive influential leaders before Barack to try and set a standard and petition the black race as a whole to do better, what makes anyone think that Barack Obama being the president is going to make that much of a big difference? Ignorance and mental slavery are rampant and those mind chains need to be broken before any type of change can occur.

like i been saying all along just because we have a black prez doesn’t mean motherf**kers gonna stop doing the grimy s**t they do. niggas still from or live in the hood and either going do good or bad. so having him is not gonna change nobody or a whole community or city or state only way somebody gonna change is when they fell she need to change.

And to add to my previous comment, as a school teacher who has worked in poverty neighborhoods and tried to give back by providing a quality education, I have learned one thing the hard way: You can put all the positive examples out there all you want to, but if people aren’t willing to work for it and realize that they have to put forth an effort in order for them to reap the benefits,then it’s a lost cause (until they change their mentality). It’s not that they didn’t want the rewards, but they wanted the rewards handed to them. I have a classroom motto that is classic yet remains true. “The only place where rewards come before work is in the dictionary.”

like i been saying all along just because we have a black prez doesn’t mean motherf**kers gonna stop doing the grimy s**t they do. niggas still from or live in the hood and either going do good or bad. so having him is not gonna change nobody or a whole community or city or state only way somebody gonna change is when they feel the need to change

and take that put a ring on it bulls**t some women aint s**t either so please stop always blaming it on the brothers thank you.

Once again its the wackness and the black bill o’rielly report. Lets get off of the whyte mans nuts and say the truth. Obama is prez so aint no excuse to half-step. If there aint no jobs make some, if there aint no love find some, and if you cant get in where you fit in build anew. If you build they will come and if they cant find they way give’em a flyer and see if they show up if not keep it pushin. Same rules new coach. Unless I can trace who my granpaay’s granpappy was I know I wont get reperations so I stay on my grind and do it for the blessing of a brand new day… p.s. aint nothin new

Thank you. I’ve been saying all this for years now. I’m tired of the excuses lets just get it together.

Read my page. Lets encourage each other, lets uplift each other….GET IT TOGETHER MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!!

I see a lot of good points in this article. Some maybe not so plausible. I think the one aspect that shouts and screams at me is that a lot of this would require all of us to work together in order to accomplish the better. However, I’m struck with the realization that some of my ebonicaly speaking counterparts (just speaking real, my ghettofied brothers and sisters) may not want to put forth the effort to work with everyone else…feeling better to maintain the idea and comfort of letting everyone else do the work while they reap the same rewards. It’s just like with foodstamps, I’ve seen too many content with doing just enough to get assistance rather than get off their rear ends (or backs) and work to be part of the community. So I guess the one question remains, how do you get a whole community of blacks, community meaning part of a nation, with all of our different mentalities, strengths and weaknesses, to work together for the better? I like this set of rules. It airs out our dirty laundry, so now we know what needs to be cleaned.

I don’t understand why people think having a Black president will change America… especially how Black people act ??

People are going to be people and if their ignorant and indignant, the rules really don’t mean a thing..

With our Without President obama being in office. African Americans should already know how to present themselves and act as adults. Attitude and striving for sound education and a brighter future should be in alot of African American minds. To help future generations and to erase the negative stereotypes that has been apart of their history for many years.

These rules are common sense.

Excellant post my brother. It is so refresshing to see that we are not alone in our quest for the best. Our people are descendants of Kings and Queens. There will ALWAYS be Court Jesters in the King’s court. We must not focus on the ones who are ignorant and indignant. We must seek out those of US who are focused on positivity (LIKE BARACK) so that we can claim that which is ours. Barack, Will Smith, and Bill Cosby, Martin L. King, and MY FATHER are MY role models. Father to their children, a Husband to their wife, and the HEAD of their household.
PEACE2MYPEEPS…2FINGERS.

I concur with a vast majority of the statements made in this article, however, contrary to popular belief a vasty majority of African Americans are exemplifying those aspects already. Statistics can depict and align with what the writer is trying to convey, so don’t be hypnotized by the numbers. It is my belief that the black community will change when they deem it necessary to change, not because a black man is in office. Although it is great to see my nationality inspired, but the truth is change will not come to American until change comes to one’s self and the saddest part is… most people don’t want to change nor do they see anything wrong with themselves.

Hey, Arent you the MIGHTY CASEY, who had that song “White Girls”?

fucc obama… an besides that, white people gottah change their views for tha most part, not blaccs

Wonderful views. I agree with all of them.

Lets all try to be united and commit to these rules.

For some reason you have people that are resistant to living this way. Like the person who wrote F*** Obama on this blog. It is not that hard to change. We as black people can not continue the track we are on. Some of us are selfish, cold and lost. Dispite how white people feel or even how a few us are unwilling to change I will do my part and you need to do yours.

I am most impressed by the what you would call “intangibles” It’s those very real but none the less seldom seen qualities that create the “part that we don’t see.I love most the fact that we as a people for the most part are affected by the things that have been projected in front of us, I.E. positive imagery such as loving husband, doting father, and man of integrity. The beauty of all of this is really in the fact that although we know as a black nation that he “Reps for us” what in turn happens is that we begin to internalize and therefore subconsciously take on and emulate those values we see displayed, its very powerful although subtle in its approach, therefore it becomes cool to be intelligent, moral,loving, responsible, and have integrity,,,,,,,One love President Obama,,,,,,,,,,,,,P.S Our White brothers and sisters cant help being caught up as well because hes doing it without saying “Hey look, its a black thang,,,,,,,,,peace

[...] New Rules for Blacks in the Obama Era By Casey Gane-McCalla, NewsOne [...]

one more thing, I am sooooooooooooooooo tired of judgemental talented ten percenters saying who’s ig-nor-ant an whos not. I do beleive black wall street was poppin way before billy clint patted negroes on the head for using a fork at the dinner table. Obama would be the first to tell you he is form the south side so you dont forget the Swagger is a blessing not a curse and if you cant feel it because its too ghetto then go back to whever uppity black folks are from, divisive acts and words are for the birds

it should not have taken for Obama to get in office for black people to want to start thinking like this but he did prove to us that anything is possible all we have to do is believe in WE and ourselves and a black person can do anything those rules can stop alot of things if people actually take them seriously and start living better those rules are great

Though I disagree in following the “example” set by Barack and Michelle, I do agree in much of the body of this article. However, we must be careful in following blindly. What will we do if they divorce, find themselves in scandal, what if we find that Mr Obama is more talk than action. What if some of the rumors of hims are found to be true. What if he pulls a Bill Clinton in the white house? What if he leads the country into an even worse disaster….and we all know what will be said. His being black will be noted as the reason. Will we then hold our heads down? We must be careful in being hero worshipers. Nor do I think that we should be trying to raise “little barack and michelle obamas” We should aim at providing the platforms and tools that allow our children and adults to grow into valuable assets to the world whatever that may be. Hero worshipping is one of our biggest problems. Though it is refreshing to see “what appears” to be a very positive fixture in the public eye holding the highest positions of leadership in the country. But let’s be careful in being blind followers of anyone or any group. It is dangerous on so many levels.