barack obama

If I Was Thugnificent

by Jose 05.03.2010

Last night, while I got adjusted to my work-sleep schedule, I decided I’d catch the season premiere of Boondocks, a cartoon known as much for its concentration on the African-American experience as its satire and perverseness. In other words, it kicks ass. Last night’s episode focused on the campaign and election of Barack Obama and [...]

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The Education Boogey-Men

by Jose 04.14.2010

Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting educational innovators and thought leaders from throughout the country, people who I either admire for their awesomeness or have pushed my thinking in ways I hadn’t thought of. People like the Teacher Leaders Network and my folks on Facebook and Twitter offer conversations I [...]

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Dear President Obama: The Education Voice Needs A Better Song

by Jose 03.21.2010

This week, I’ll be highlighting the voices of a few, proud, and dedicated bloggers who have an awesome voice and passion for this discussion about education. Please join me as I step back and let these powerful voices speak. Tonight, I give a preamble of sorts. Dear President Barack Obama, This week is the most [...]

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At The End of the Day [The Letters Series]

by Jose 11.18.2009

This week, I’m writing a few more letters to different people, whose names shall be removed from the post, but who nonetheless are amalgamations of real characters. I won’t be mincing words this week, and in these letters, I hope to address some issues I find in education as a whole through these letters. If [...]

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Dear President Obama: The Confidence of the People

by Jose 10.13.2009

Dear President Obama, First, I must congratulate you on becoming the first sitting US President in 90 years to win the Nobel Peace Prize, adding onto an already incredible resume that for any man, much less a Black man in America, should be lauded for. Despite the controversy surrounding the award, the idea that such [...]

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Dear Barack Obama: A Letter from an Urban Math Teacher to His President

by Jose 09.14.2009

Dear President Obama, First, I’d like to thank you for your speech on education last weekend in Arlington, VA to high schoolers. I actually found it rather informative and refreshing to hear a current President talk about topics such as responsibility and effort in school. Your life stories as they pertain to school give a [...]

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Success Is A Process, Not An Event

by Jose 01.21.2009

The following is an excerpt from CNN’s Wolf Blitzer interviewing Former Gen. Colin Powell, who commemorated the inauguration of Barack Obama, our 44th President. BLITZER: Did you ever think, Gen. Powell, that you would be alive to witness this day? POWELL: I didn’t know if I would or I would not. I knew the day [...]

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Before You Become President (Dear Barack Obama)

by Jose 01.15.2009

Dear President-Elect Barack Obama (or whoever handles your mail), Like you, I’m just one man A writer with a vision, a community organizer with dreams Of an America where my President and Governer are Black in skin Wise in their decisions Vigilant in his ways Persistent in his pursuit of justice To do right by [...]

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I Didn’t Vote

by Jose 11.04.2008

I rebelled. I didn’t vote. Well, let me be clear. I didn’t vote for a Christian, a politician, a populist, or any major candidate. I didn’t vote because Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and any other social spaces made me. I didn’t vote because your profile pic, your text message, your constant blogs, and e-mails made me. [...]

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A Better Class of Criminal

by Jose 08.17.2008

Imagine a viable presidential candidate 75-100% funded by the people. Not that that’s going to happen for a generation or two, but let’s imagine that for a second. The idea that the person holding the top public service position in the country would actually be beholden to the people which he / she’s supposed to [...]

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