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Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, at Tuesday's announcement of the "Nine and a Half Minutes" Campaign

By Doni Morton Glover, www.bmorenews.com

(WASHINGTON – April 9, 2009) - You gotta like this guy. I know I do.

Of course, I’m talking about the President of the United States: Barack Obama.

Granted, the issues facing black America are complicatedly vast, ever perplexing to the naked eye. However, our goal is to focus on practical and viable solutions. Further, we believe that we have to meet the people exactly at their level of need … whatever that might be.

Hence, since that cold day in mid-January 2009 … down the road about 45 minutes from Baltimore, the 44th President of the United States has already started to layout his platform for black America. And his thoughts are similar to ours.

No longer the Gentleman from Illinois, this maverick of a man and his partner/queen of a wife, Michelle, have taken the world by storm. Interestingly, I had the opportunity Tuesday to meet the President’s Senior Adviser, Valerie Jarrett. I say that because a recent article from the black press I read highlighted Jarrett and, among other things, noted just how important she is to both of the Obamas.

Anyway, as I am reviewing emails and news items since Inauguration, I noticed that in less than 12 weeks, the President has already begun addressing much of bmorenews.com’s Black Agenda.

As reiterated time and time again, www.bmorenews.com’s leadership has long ago determined that black business, public education, ex-offender services, universal access to housing and universal access to health care would comprise our black agenda, i.e. our priorities. The goal was to keep them simple and doable.

Granted, the issues facing black America are complicatedly vast, ever perplexing to the naked eye. However, our goal is to focus on practical and viable solutions. Further, we believe that we have to meet the people exactly at their level of need … whatever that might be.

Hence, since that cold day in mid-January 2009 … down the road about 45 minutes from Baltimore, the 44^th President of the United States has already started to layout his platform for black America. And his thoughts are similar to ours.

Now, in no way do we expect President Obama to be a miracle worker. We do believe that so much can be accomplished when increasingly more people are on the same page. 

And, considering how much money has gone to bailout Wall Street, we figure that if even a portion of those billions going to the hardworking, everyday man and woman who are the real backbone of America – positive change is inevitable.

During my visit to the White House Tuesday, a special announcement was made about the President’s focus on HIV/AIDS … beginning with the black community. HIV/AIDS is not the most comfortable subject. All kinds of things go through our minds. Yet, when one thinks about just how this first black President of the USA is going to make a difference, one has to admit that this is a key problematic area for both the black community and America as a whole.

A few weeks ago, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary laid out a plan to begin to deal with the mortgage lending crisis, something we’ve discussed on www.bmorenews.com outlets repeatedly.

On Wednesday, the White House announced plans to create jobs in the burgeoning “green” industry … again, especially for African American workers.

In all three instances, we feel the President is clearly and succinctly demonstrating his love for black people. For this, we are grateful. By the way, according to Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's Chief of Staff, DeMaune Millard, Baltimore City Public Schools received a very hefty amount of money - comparatively - from the President's Stimulus Package. 

Great job, Mr. President. We appreciate the good look!  

Tags: black business, black health, ex-offenders, housing, Politics, public education