By Toni Terrell
The Answer Editor-n-Chief

Las Vegas Urban League supporters swallowed a bitter pill with their lunch at the Paris Hotel and Casino as CNN’s Roland Martin asked “Where the hell have you been?”

The keynote speaker for the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day last month, the CNN analyst didn’t allow his Master's degree in Christian Communications from Louisiana Baptist University to keep him from jabbing at the conscious of lunch attendants to “stand up and do something.”

In his compelling speech – Recess is Over - to the more than 300 attendants, Martin force-fed listeners with staggering statistics regarding our countries state of existence. “President Obama has already made history, let’s face that. But the Obama movement we had when 69 billion people voted for him has turned into an Obama moment,” he pointed out.

“In his speech, he said ‘we can’ 47 times letting you know that ‘I can’t do this alone, I need you with me.’ But we’ve been sitting back like we’re watching a parade go by. At some point the people who were with him in November 2008 have to ask themselves, ‘Where have I been?’” Martin said.

The nationally-syndicated columnist and host of Washington Watch with Roland Martin, a one-hour Sunday morning news show on TV One Cable Network, jammed food-for-thought down the throats of Obama supporters when he called for a show of hands of all who voted for our current president.

“So you’re part of the 69 billion people who voted for him. There were 59 billion who did not. Do you think they left the country and moved to Canada? Now how many of you have attended a healthcare town hall meeting? (33 hands went up) Where the hell have you been,” Martin asked.

“How can you say it’s about advancement and you don’t even show up? Were you supporting him or were you supporting an idea? Were you supporting him or were you supporting an agenda?” asked Martin.
Named by Ebony Magazine in 2008 and 2009 as one of the 150 most influential African Americans in the U.S., Martin was recipient of NAACP Image Awards for interviews he conducted with First Lady Michelle Obama (2009) and the former U.S. Senator Barack Obama (2008).

Featured as the guest speaker for the Luncheon to observe the 100-year legacy of the National Urban League, the nation's oldest civil rights organization – Martin brought the professional flavor of the event to the forefront of the political taste buds in the room. “If you are a politician, or you’re running for office stand up,” he beckoned. “If you came to pass out flyers and buttons or to get votes - you had better take the equal opportunity portion of this lunch serious,” he insisted.

“Put your mouth where your presence is. I don’t care whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, I just want people to stand up and do something. It is nice to come out and have dinner, take pictures and all that. But this should be seen as an opportunity to recommit yourself to the vision of what this organization stands for,” said Martin, who was recognized as one of the top 50 political pundits by the Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom and was awarded the 2008 President's Award by the National Association of Black Journalists for his work in multiple media platforms.

Martin also dished up a health dessert to bankers in attendance as he addressed the inequality of lending practices toward small businesses, and minority owned and operated businesses. “You play a part in this two. Sitting back and not fighting for what is right cannot work,” Martin argued.

“You have to use your authority and say ‘we’re not going to allow people to be ignored in this process. I will use my authority,’” said the provocative analyst, who is featured frequently on various CNN news shows including Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull, The Situation Room, Anderson Cooper 360 and the Tom Joyner Morning Show where he is senior analyst.

Martin, inducted into the Texas A&M University Journalism Hall of Honor in 2008, shoved constant reminders to listeners of their roles in the process and challenged guests through every bite of lunch. “We have an opportunity to change the direction of this country, but we have to make a conscious decision to become a part of the solution,” he said.

In keeping with his spiritual roots, the author of “Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith” journeyed to the Bible in capturing the taste of teamwork. “In Nehemiah, chapter two – the Bible talks about how Nehemiah went on a quest to rebuild the wall. He didn’t do it alone, he had help. And when he began to build, he had some haters but he learned how to handle them.

“Roll your sleeves up and get to work and if you don’t want to work, get the hell out of the way for those of us who do,” the luncheon speaker said in closing.
Proceeds from the EOD Luncheon will go to support Urban League programs to serve deserving citizens in Southern Nevada.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Urban League (LVCCUL) is an affiliate of the National Urban League, which was founded in 1910. The LVCCUL was established in 2004 and is the largest community action agency in Nevada.  Its mission is to empower communities and ensure equal opportunity for low-income people.  This mission is achieved through the delivery of social services and economic assistance to individuals and families seeking to attain self-sufficiency.  The agency is funded, in part, by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.  For more information, please visit www.lvccul.org.