Some Blacks believe Sonia Sotomayor will be a friend to Blacks but others question her sincerity and her ability to look beyond her Hispanic Heritage. Unless Sonia Sotomayor decides to have a fist fight with her soon to be comrades on the Supreme Court, she is sure to be confirmed.  That is unless Republican hopefuls find a way to get the swered wordsmith and legal scholar to be less than what she has portrayed herself to be, capable and competent.  Sotomayor will become the first Hispanic justice on the bench. 

Upon learning of President Obama’s selection, Republicans moved swiftly to find out more about Sotomayor—who she was and where had she come from.  It was as if there must exist some “special place” where all sanctioned talent must be held until ready. As I watch conservatives and liberals sometime get frustration in the cool manner that has become associated with Sotomayor, it began to remind me of our community. 

Her selection of was obviously a surprise, a talent ready, but not ordained at “that level.”  Conservatives, moved fast to fill the television stations with counterarguments and the newspapers and blogs with questionable editorial thought, all designed to plant the question of doubt.  They knew she was qualified, but Sotomayor was not the usual choice.

So how is this like our community? We have mastered the gamesmanship of mainstream politics and created our own special place, where we anoint talent?
We embrace the veracity and eloquence of speech and encourage self-determination for all communities of color and then with or without notice the “Police of Talent Anointed,” swoop down like vultures on prey for the attack at the sight of new or unsanctioned talent in our own communities.

It just seems to me that, in a climate where we all stood in line and made sure that Obama would be elected the first African-American president, we would take better care of those around us who have worked to help build our community. What will it say for the future of this city if everyone, I mean everyone that works to invest in our community and rises to a level of potential leadership is cut down for sake of local boardroom politics? 
How will we use them? How will we value their contribution? Who will continue or want to step into those roles after those they watch work in the community are all cut down?

After an era of criticizing the flight of our talented African-Americans who went into corporate America by calling them “sell-outs” and claiming that they did not give back, it seems that some of you have come out of the corporate structure and joined the ranks of the nay-sayers and are waiting a final curtain call.
                                         Carmen