"The People's History Of Black America - 1964 Through 2111"

My response to retired journalist Jack White as he speculates how historians 100 years from now will view President Obama:

Dear Mr White:

It is common knowledge that "to the victor goes the spoils" and thus the victor gets to write HIS version of history. Then you have Howard Zinn who wrote the "PEOPLE' version of history - from their perspective and NOT from the state's view.

After watching "Hard Times At Douglass High" the other day I would like to fuse your claims about some future generation's analysis of TODAY with what I viewed being executed in the name of the great "Frederick Douglass" - a Black man who ABSENT FORMAL EDUCATION - went on to master the English language, oratory skills and apply it to the most critical issue of his day.

Since BLACK PEOPLE did not initiate our STRUGGLE in order to analyze the PORTRAITS UPON THE WALL that hang in some government building's rotunda - let us do a "BLACK PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF BLACK PEOPLE CIRCA 2011".

Mr White - supposed a student who matriculated through Frederick Douglass High School in 2111 was asked to do research on "What Happened To The Black Community - Between The "Civil Rights Act" being signed and TODAY - the year 2111. Then President Obama is NOT the central focus - as you suggest. His presidency becomes a MILE MARKER, evidence of our FREEDOM. Evidence of America moving closer to inspect one's character over his skin color. We did not STRUGGLE to elected a Black president. We STRUGGLED FOR education, prosperity, justice on our streets. (Note: The presence of people who hate Obama because of his skin color proves that "America is RACIST" no more than the evidence of MURDER executed by some people proves that we are a "Nation Of Killers". We will ALWAYS have racists, killers and "The Poor Will Always Be With You". Jesus told me this.)

Mr White - With a school official stating that the average Douglass 12th grader having a 7th grade reading competency - how well do you figure they will be able to articulate OUR present actions which will be HER history - 100 years from now? Will he be able to translate his PRIDE in Obama upon a piece of paper, carrying forth the goal of COMMUNICATION of his research to others? It seems to me, Mr White, having SQUANDERED this function of the schools that FAVORABLE PEOPLE now run - our voices will be SILENCED in a more effective manner than any "Book Burning" could do. A book that is never written need not be burned.

Do you see that YOU, Eugene Robinson, Dr Burton, Cord Jefferson and others are so interested in PROMOTING OBAMA - that you ultimately FAIL to focus on OUR ORIGINAL PURPOSE as a people in desiring a BLACK (Progressive) POLITICAL CLASS.

If Howard Zinn - a darling on the left - showed his AUDACITY by daring to talk to the PEOPLE and record the impact of the policies and actions that we see in standard history books - how does it feel to you - that YOU now play the role of the 'Establishment' and that there needs to be a COUNTER-HISTORY done to YOUR works which captures the voice of the PEOPLE and not the PRESIDENT?