Obama Celebrates NAACP's 100th Anniversary

" Some of the civil rights milestone. President Barack Obama tonight helps -- double NAACP celebrate its 100 anniversary. The mr. Obama may face some tough questions and what it is that he's doing to help the African American community particularly given the recession. -- many African Americans face unemployment rate nearly 5% higher than the national average. Join me right now to break it fell down what he can say what is happening Michael Steele he's the chairman of the Republican National Committee. Mark Shawn Evans the founder of the corporate consulting firm and young limited and Fox's contributor and deadly street dot com founder. Mr. Charles -- what. An All-Star lineup was so excited to say the three of you -- hum. There's a lot to talk about Michael let me start with you believe that have been very trying times a very challenging recession particularly for African Americans. In fact if you look at those unemployment rates were talking about. The rate of unemployment is going for African Americans at a far faster pace than white Americans want that happening and what can this president do about it."

" While there there have been systemic issues that have played the black community going back to the great society days since you talkin'. Forty plus years of follow policies that have almost. And trends. This does GAAP if you will between. Black unemployment while unemployment. You know that the jobless rate that the poor education rates etc. And I think that there again systemic issues that have not been addressed in this real concern is beginning to. To bubble up if you will among some African American. Thinkers that who are looking at the public policy and looking at those issues that -- more a directly address. You know support the poor performance in jobs the poor performance and education etc. I think the president has to answer those question at some point he hasn't that today. To press conferences where he's been asked by African American reporters how will this policy specifically to help them address. These systemic issues and and his community. His answers have been very generic they've been very much tied to well if as I help white America I helped black Americans yes and that's not necessarily what -- African Americans -- looking to hear right now."

" You know Charles there have been a lot of articles written here in the New York carrier for people who don't know what is happening York city alone to African American man in the first quarter 2008. Unemployment rate was at five point 7%. Charles plant statistic I -- first quarter 2009415. Point 7%. This is known as the melting pot right what happened."

" Well Michael made a whole lot of good points you know gone back when I was grown up in the seventies you have one period where -- unemployment from young black people. Was 50%. It's a two pronged thing Alexis it's partly the jobs have a lot of like people have in New York City particularly like men in general because men are losing jobs -- across the board at a more rapid rate than women. You know the construction jobs have faded you know a lot of that job that you do with her hands offended and that speaks to what has to be done within them in the black community. You got a two pronged problem that you do have it to two -- Racism is still huge problem I mean anyone who doesn't think it is is because we have a black president or Oprah was worth a billion is out of their minds particularly if someone gets into -- who corporation moves up the latter. It's a huge problem. But will probably is a bigger problem right now is. Blacks are going to have to be a lot more accountable look in America say we need a new game plan and that's what I hope we get from NAACP because he. We can't focus on the victimization as much as how -- we get around this and a lot of that is being honest and Michael touched on that. We have to get our education they're you know work on the educational thing the dropout rates in city's urban cities are skyrocketing. Gas skyrocketing. And that's why the future even looks bleak even if we do have a black president."

" You know it's interesting Marshal on one of the points that Charles need to ease it's empowering yourself. And one of the area is about empowerment. Is about preparing for your financial future. And having announced today and being prepared for these types of situations which many people across this country we're not prepare -- one of those big issues so. It is retirement it what does a community need to deal what is -- double ACP need to say to the members of this organization."

" Well I think that one of the things president Obama's going to focus on this year when he speaks of NAACP will be very similar to what he focused on last year. And that is the role that government and business has and addressing issues of poverty and violence and breaking that cycle. But even more so the second thing he focused on last year was personal responsibility. And it needs to be greater focus on long term savings and understanding how economics work in this country. That's not something that's heavily focused on in communities of color. And financial literacy is extremely important and I hope that the NAACP takes a greater. The focus on economic justice in teaching people how to make better financial decisions teaching them how to understand. Belongs in the paperwork that they're signing so that they don't find themselves in the situation that we're in right now. Charles paying you more small business owner and I am sorry harsh on Charles was shaking his head when -- first started talking about government the role of government and all of that CME."

" Can we start to blame all all of our problems on on them you know the government big business this jutting out there mean spirited they're hurting you. That's ridiculous also the notion that someone doesn't not a going to pay the rent is going to know how to save now that is a huge problem we see what happens all the time. How the -- Mike Tyson be broke up to make informed by a million dollars so. There's no doubt that we haven't."

" I'm Michael Palin camp that we have to work on that but it."

" Michael I go ahead go ahead now I think father is exactly right I've made it out again the government is not the solution for for the -- of fact they have -- assault in the -- they are part of the problem when you when you Kuwait this I mean I've sought a mile neighborhood going up this dependency. On that check every month. The reality of it is you can talk about financial literacy all day long. But if you are not graduating students black students through our system that could not educating them if you're not empowering them. To be able to go into the market to get the job that allowed them to access that that opportunity. That's where all fails you in this fall this fall if you have ten African American students -- starting kindergarten. Only one of them will graduate from high school. "

" 75 there's no way I'm following they're there Hamilton. What government does not -- an agent of change and government is a part of the solution and that's the biggest this it is -- that its years in government. Well what ever party should be need to be more proactive part and the problem that we cat is that. There is been in this. Delegation. Government involvement in a responsible manner. Young people in inner cities and urban America do not have the same access to quality education. And young people in the suburbs and what that does is it produces a site it'll."

" Redemptions and it's -- I don't want their parents don't -- that -- reminiscent cycle and it have to be address I don't yeah."

" I haven't you don't have to be okay don't buckets of -- yeah. Their hands and feet Angela."

" And I'm black people can know everything that's when this country left and ultimately the white man with a government pulled them out of poverty they have the ability to pull themselves out. Okay that's -- that some parts so yeah I hope the book in -- and anyway. You can't well I don't didn't panic that I mean."

" I. Blaming anybody that two of you are blaming other people what I'm saying you need to focus on personal responsibility first and foremost -- of the African American community. To educate African Americans it is a job. To take more responsibility for communities but. There have to be happy in order to bake a cake you have to have the ingredients to work within the first place so we have to have better teachers we have to have better resources. We happen to you these young people an opportunity to succeed in the first place that they can't be competitive in the job -- Michael they can't happen. Well let me just interject."

" Just one last point here I want to give you the last word. A lot of people believe this president became the price in -- states because of a race based speech that he gave them several months before the election. Some believe because he's African American he's being very very careful. About what role he is willing to play in revitalizing the African American community. -- kept putting him in a precarious situation or is it not doesn't need to do war."

" I think there I think there is some truth to that I think there's the sensitivity. If you will by a lot of the people around the president may be in the president's self. That he doesn't come off as you know favoring the black community because he's black. But I'm sorry you cannot and Charles is all right tell us that you cannot step away from the fact that right now the recidivism rate to drop out rate this aids infection rate. The jobless rate the poverty rate in the African American community requires more than just you know lip service concern. These inner cities are are detained because of policies that basically say the government will take care of and I think when you're talking about the funding. Scholarship opportunities here in the District of Columbia for 1700 African American kids who otherwise would be stuck in a failing right out of school that is the root of the problem."

" Okay all right I would like to an eight -- have a role -- that solution as well."

" Okay -- government and we want you funding the money -- the point the administration to funded scholarships for those students."

" Fantastic conversation I'd love to see that read you can join us tomorrow morning after you watch the present."