You said it!

Obama’s father’s day appeal to black men struck a cord with me.  He  said "They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it,"

Obama took the risk to speak up

His call to black men is for them to take ownership of the conditions in which they find themselves.  He is not attacking them for their failures, as much as pointing out that the only way anything will change is for us to take ownership of the things we can. He goes on to say, "We can't simply write these problems off to past injustices. Those injustices are real. There's a reason our families are in disrepair ... but we can't keep using that as an excuse."

The Victim role

What he is saying is that staying in the Victim role and complaining about the injustices in our country does not empower anyone. He says, making the choice “to demand the best from themselves and their children” is what is called for, not staying in the Victim place and blaming society for all the problems.

Ownership

I have not always been sure I agree with what Obama has to say, but this time I am sure. I like hearing from someone in power recognizing that all of us, no matter how downtrodden, have the power to take Ownership of their lives and circumstances. You have no idea how many of my clients who have been badly abused feel trapped and unable to take Ownership of their lives because of the injustices they have suffered.  Any time you believe you have no choices and that you are trapped in a condition beyond your control you are in the Victim role.

Taking Ownership by “demanding the best” from ourselves and our children truly changes everything.

What do you think?

Is Obama right in his call to black fathers? Is this not true for all of us?

Comment below.