For about three months now, television mogul/comedian Byron Allen has publicly expressed his disgust with President Barack Obama’s lack of leadership. In an article on the Huffington Post, Allen details why he’s mad at President Obama, the government, and the economic treatment of African-Americans. He also listed several ways for the government to exercise their power in order to make changes that could be beneficial for the sustainability of Black people and their communities. Well, recently Bryon Allen met face-to-face with President Obama at Tyler Perry’s estate. Perry held a $30,000 (per ticket) fundraising event for the Democratic National Committee. According to TMZ… Byron Allen approached the President with a shocking conversation and told President Obama Thursday evening that he must address the racism in this country. He told the President he cannot allow AT&T to buy DirecTV for $67.5 billion when the President of AT&T was caught calling us “N*****” and AT&T covered it up for close to two years. The President was completely shocked by the statement. Allen continued to tell the President, “The institutionalized racism is so widespread that America feels it is okay to kill us without consequences. It is so blatant. The lack of economic inclusion is out of control.” He further added, “Charter is seeking to buy Time Warner Cable for $55 billion and they do not have any 100% African American-owned cable networks on their cable systems and no women or African Americans on their Board of Directors.” Byron Allen then gave the President a letter that included the article he recently wrote and was published by the Huffington Post — 8 Solutions to Fix the Great American Crisis. The article outlines how economic inclusion for African Americans will help stop the racism in this country which has officially become the great American crisis. “President Obama promised to read the letter and continue the conversation in detail,” says Allen. The next morning President Obama appeared on Marc Maron’s podcast and stated many of the thoughts that Allen shared with the President the night before. Byron Allen has aggressively put pressure on President Obama to address the racism and economic genocide against African Americans in America. “Black America cannot continue to die while white corporate America conveniently ignores the crisis and perpetuates the economic genocide,” said Allen. After reading Byron Allen’s “8 Solutions to Fix the Great American Crisis,” I wholeheartedly agree. What struck a nerve, however, was Allen’s thoughts on institutionalized racism. From my own personal experience of working in corporate America, I saw this with my own eyes. Companies I worked for only allowed 2 or 3 Blacks to occupy executive management seats at a time. Young adults – the leaders of our future who were excellent employees with numerous degrees and work experience – were less likely to be promoted to management positions. Due to the “Good Ole Boy” network, which is very prevalent here in the South, minorities are not treated fairly when it comes to wages or job opportunities…period! For Byron Allen to speak out to President Obama directly, is good. Although President Obama’s presidency is soon coming to an end, there’s still time left to get the ball rolling on a few solutions. But, tackling the Corporate infrastructure should be first and foremost. The only way Blacks can survive and put money back into their communities is by having a job. I believe if we see a positive change there, all other atrocities will slowly disappear. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? DOES BYRON ALLEN MAKE A VALID POINT?
