"Wake-Up My Peeps!"

In the first hour of the show today, I played for you in context the remarks by Michelle Obama about why Barack Obama - her husband - is lagging far behind Hillary in the first voting state of Iowa. Hear that hour of the broadcast for free by clicking here.

I was also asked about her comments on my weekly pundit segment on Prime Time Chicago. On my show response ran about 2 to1 of African American Christians in New York who did not think Michelle Obama's comments were valid.

Here's just two of the dozens of e-mail responses I got from those who were listening and their reactions seem to me to say as much as the original comments did.

Both are from African Americans:

Wow. You have absolutely no understanding of context do you?

What Michelle Obama said is nothing new. In fact, it is an issue that I have
dealt with on many occasions on my own radio show.

So if you want to have a dialogue about it, rather than spring to the silly
"blame whitey" nonsense, then do so. But if you took the time to truly
examine what she said, and ask for who know what the hell they are talking
about, you just might learn something!

Roland S. Martin
www.rolandsmartin.com
Author, "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith"
Syndicated columnist, Creators Syndicate
TV One Cable Network Commentator
Host, "The Roland S. Martin Show"
WVON-AM/1690, Chicago, 6am to 9 am CST
CNN Contributor
Special Correspondent, Essence Magazine/Essence.com

Not that I asked for Roland's smarmy response, but what he failed to realize is that I in fact DID have a dialogue on my show about it - with almost exclusively African Americans from all across the New York Metro. Hmmm I wonder if Roland thinks that New York African Americans - aren't REALLY African Americans. You know sort of like Michelle Obama thinking that unless blacks vote for Barack - they're not really blacks either.

A tad bit different tone of response:

Dear Kevin,

Upon hearing your show in it's first half today, the remarks of Mrs.Obama were being discussed.
I attempted to call, finally got thru and was, however, disconnected by the call screener before we began to speak.

Regrettably, Mrs.Obama has, as do many  elitists, liberals and especially aged Social Workers, quasi Pastors and commentators, a vested interest in perpetuating a victim mentality, both within the Afro American community and without.

For those within, the victim mentality acts as an insulator from the challenges of progress, those including the personal failures, the personal persistence and the personal responsibility of victory.

By viewing one's self and an entire race as a victim, the responsibility for intellectual, social and financial progress and responsibility is eradicated, thereby maintaining a status quo, regardless of decades of legislation and social change.

A voting block is so maintained..a faceless, mindless herd of sheep refusing to move out of the darkness into the light.

This crowd responds as a crowd, to tired ideas, to tired men, predictably and easily. Not much thought is necessary to keep a crowd aroused, just a few lightening rod ideas and catch phrases will keep them enflamed. The ultimate goal, to remain enflamed.

 Even more insidious is Mrs. Obama's view of the African American community, that is, not the view of an "us" but rather a "them".

Mrs. Obama speaks not as a member of the community, rather, as an outsider assessing a group mindset, a mindset necessary for her progress and well being, however a mindset removed, and separate from her own and her husbands.

Christians who happen to be African American have heard, if not totally believed, that in Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek.

It is then necessary for every believer, regardless of ethnic back round , gender or social standing, to take up his cross, daily and to plow the field God has given.

There is no white church or black church, only the blood bought church of the redeemed in Jesus Christ.

May God have mercy on us all.
Michael McGovern