Where does Barack Obama stand on black issues?

I am still on the fence about Obama. I need to know how he feels about Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, reparations, minority hiring, etc. Can anybody give me any answers with credible sources here?

Public Comments

1. If you read his speeches, Obama seems to be very much in favor of unity and bipartisanship; and judging from polls, "black issues" seem to be pretty similar to everyone else's. He is just as much white as he is black - it's odd, but in this country, we still have this notion of "one drop" where if you have any other race but white in your heritage, you are identified with that one. Al Sharpton seems to dislike Barack Obama: http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/3/12/104632.shtml Obama is being endorsed by Jackson, and seems to like him: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/29/politics/main2627147.shtml Interesting quote from above: "In his best-selling memoir, “Dreams From My Father,” Obama said he couldn't even get in the door at national civil rights groups when he was younger. He wrote letters to them after graduating from Columbia University but said none responded." As to his stances on issues (from http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm and http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Civil_Rights.htm): No black or white America--just United States of America "A line in my speech at the 04 Democratic National Convention struck a chord. "There is not a black American and white American and Latino America and Asian American--there is the United States of America." For them, it seems to capture a vision of America finally freed from the past of Jim Crow and slavery, Japanese internment camps and Mexican braceros, workplace tensions and cultural conflict--an America that fulfills Dr. King's promise that we be judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character. I have no choice but to believe this vision. As the child of a black man and white woman, born in the melting pot of Hawaii, with a sister who is half-Indonesian, but who is usually mistaken for Mexican, and a brother-in-law and niece of Chinese descent, with some relatives who resemble Margaret Thatcher and others who could pass for Bernie Mac, I never had the option of restricting my loyalties on the basis of race or measuring my worth on the basis of tribe. Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.231 Oct 1, 2006" African-Americans vote Democratic because of issue stances "I don't think the Democratic Party takes the African-American voters for granted. I'm happy that the president spoke at the Urban League. He should have spoke at the NAACP. I want Republicans to compete for the African-American vote. They're not getting the African-American vote not because African-Americans aren't open-minded, but because Democrats have consistently championed those issues-civil rights, voting rights, concern for working families-that are of greatest concern to African-American voters. Source: Meet The Press, NBC News Jul 25, 2004" Supports affirmative action in colleges and government "Indicate the principles you support concerning affirmative action. Should state government agencies take race and sex into account in the following sectors? Q: College and university admissions? A: Yes Q: Public employment A: Yes Q: State contracting? A: Yes. Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998 " The civil rights movement was a success "As segregated as Chicago was, as strained as race relations were, the success of the civil rights movement had at least created some overlap between communities, more room to maneuver for people like me. I could work in the black community as an organizer or a lawyer and still live in a high rise downtown. Or the other way around: I could work in a blue-chip law firm but live in the South Side and buy a big house, drive a nice car, make my donations to the NAACP, speak at local high schools. Source: Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama, p.254 Aug 1, 1996 " Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. "Obama scores 100% by the NAACP on affirmative action OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005-2006 NAACP scores as follows: * 0% - 33%: anti-affirmative-action stance (approx. 177 members) * 34% - 84%: mixed record on affirmative-action (approx. 96 members) * 85%-100%: pro-affirmative-action stance (approx. 190 members) About the NAACP (from their website, www.naacp.org): The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has worked over the years to support and promote our country's civil rights agenda. Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has worked tirelessly to end racial discrimination while also ensuring the political, social, and economic equality of all people. The Association will continue this mission through its policy initiatives and advocacy programs at the local, state, and national levels. From the ballot box to the classroom, the dedicated workers, organizers, and leaders who forged this great organization and maintain its status as a champion of social justice, fought long and hard to ensure that the voices of African Americans would be heard. For nearly one hundred years, it has been the talent and tenacity of NAACP members that has saved lives and changed many negative aspects of American society. Source: NAACP website 06n-NAACP on Dec 31, 2006"
2. Jackson and Sharpton have not thrown support behind Obama yet because they want something in return-that is positive change for black issues ie: black males incarcerated, lack of jobs ect. Obama and Sharpton had a little dispute. Some say Sharpton is jealous of Obama and is afraid he will be pushed aside if obama is elected. Since 14% of the population is black, I think there are other issues that the president needs to address-like the economy, war, healthcare etc. Not to minimize the problems among the black community, however there are other races in this country that have issues-hispanics, native americans, asians, arabs. We cannot have a president that concentrates on just one race.