Be not surprised that I am turned politician. The whole town is immersed in politics.
I think there has been a lack of full cooperation from too many people in the Muslim community.
I think that the anti-Semitic problem in the British Muslim community is worse than among the community at large.
I don't understand Chicago, but I really do hope that the Commander-in-Chief addresses his home town. I think those young kids don't see outside their small box. I think they don't see outside their circumstances, so they kind of resort to anything.
I'm involved in issues, and issues are about grass-roots politics.
Stray cattle roam every lane and alley, but we are building cow shelters and trying to resolve the problem.
Anyone who classifies his grievances under the label of ‘human rights’ violations, those grievances can then be brought into the United Nations and be discussed by people all over the world. For as long as you call it ‘civil rights,’ your only allies can be the people in the next community, many of whom are responsible for your grievance.
We have problems which will be addressed by Haitians.
When I was in the Senate, I had eight great years working with the community on major issues, trying to deal with problems that people brought to my attention. That's certainly what I intend to do as president. I think that is what President Obama has done.
A lot of unemployed families were moved to Hastings, and places were built for them. They're communities of unemployed people. It's been difficult dealing with that.
I feel it's part of my job to make the problems of the poor compelling.
It's unfortunate that myself, as a black man, cannot care about the issues that impact the black community without being seeing as a race-baiter or without being seen as someone who doesn't care about any other ethnic groups.
Emboldened by the progress the Republican National Committee has made to ensure we are effectively engaging the Hispanic community year-round. It's important our party listens to voters' concerns and shares our proven principles, offering real solutions to the issues facing all communities.
[It's] difficult to engage people in politics when they believe that what really matters is where they personally stand.
When I served as a prosecutor, I saw firsthand the many injustices that are embedded in our communities. But I also saw the difference it can make in someone's life when they have someone to stand up and fight for them.
My neighborhood is fairly white, yet the local middle school is all black. It is bad. It is very bad.
The fact is that there is a serious problem of extremism with minority groups within Muslim communities.
Inequality is the cause of all local movements.
In a neighborhood, as in life, a clean bandage is much, much better than a raw or festering wound.
Barack is at a level where he can't - no matter how much he wants to or how much we want him to - he's not going to come take out our garbage, so to speak. He can't be the garbage man and the president. He can't be the mayor and the alderman. He can't fill all those roles. So I always push for local, local activity on the political scene.
When things happen socially in our community, as artists, we've got the right to exercise our voices if we choose to, use our powers for good.
We have to come together and speak honestly about what the barriers are within our community - and then tear them down. It's really that simple.
When a black Jacksonian looks about his home community, he sees a city of over 150,000, of which 40% is Negro, in which there is not a single Negro policeman or policewoman, school crossing guard, or fireman.
I'm the one who gets called up about a problem. I'm the one who gets called up about the street lighting and the abandoned car. I'm the one who gets blamed if the police don't arrive. I'm the one they blame if a city truck is broken down.
The temptations are great to simply retreat to the domain of private life and give up on our public problems.
