A New Civil Rights Movement [NYT/Bob Herbert: Blacks must change their BEHAVIOR]

The NYT ^ | Dec. 26, 2005 | Bob Herbert

[summer]

Call me crazy, but I felt like I was reading an editorial written by someone from FR when I read Bob Herbert's column today! It sounds like he is lamenting the total lack of black leadership, and telling blacks to get their act together for the benefit of their kids by changing their own BEHAVIOR. I was really amazed. Anyone else read his editorial today? And feel the same way I did??

[keithtoo]

Bob mush of had an Epiphany (pardon the pun).

[summer]

This is not the first column he has written like this; he just had another one the other day, criticizing hip hop and rap artists. Today he went off about how a black 17 year old drop out he met had no idea why school would be beneficial. herbert also criticized black men for having kids and abandoning them. Really, his column today was like something out of FR.

[summer]

I just have to say it was worth the price of the NYT to read his column today. I would never usually say something like that. But it was worth it. I hope the people who most need to hear his message might somehow find out about it, too. Maybe Bill O'Reilly will invite him on as a guest or something. I don't think Oprah will.

[goldstategop]

I doubt he's converted from being a liberal. In this situation the usual trope is blacks are victims of whites and society. Whatever trouble they have has nothing to do with them. Naturally, the only fix is more government programs.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[rdb3]

I'm glad that Mr. Herbert has said this. But it can't be a one-time event. If so, he'll remain a hypocrite.

[summer]

Nope. No victim talk at all.

[summer]

You should read it. It was quite a departure for him. I felt like I was reading a political ad for the GOP.

[EveningStar]

ping

[rdb3]

You should read it. It was quite a departure for him. I felt like I was reading a political ad for the GOP.

I'd love to read it all, but I'm not subscribing to anything of The New York Times.

[luvbach1]

...total lack of black leadership.

So true unless you call Jesse Hijackson, Al Shartongue, and Harry Belacommie leaders worthy of the name. Of course there are a significant number of black conservatives who could provide good leadership but who don't have the ear of the the average black person (largely thanks to the aforementioned) and who are thus never called upon.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Ala Bill Cosby, perhaps?

[summer]

Well, maybe the next time you're in a public library, you can take a look at it. You'll be amazed at what he wrote.

[dk/coro]

Hebert's piece give provides us a new definition of:

" A voice in the wilderness."

Let's hold our breath while one of our national pols steps up to the plate! Or, how about a miracle -- Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton! *S*

[thoughtomator]

This can't be from Bob "Official Spokesman of the Whiny Victim Culture" Herbert.

Invasion of the body snatchers, maybe? Another guy of the same name?

[summer]

I really wish I could post the whole editorial. No one would ever guess it was written by Bob Herbert. No one.

[NativeNewYorker]

The irony here is that NO ONE who needs to change their behavior will read this. It's behind the Times' price-discrimination "select" subscription wall. How funny is this?

[Cicero]

It is pretty astonishing to see Herbert saying this and the Times printing it. The leftists have spent the past 70 or 80 years egging blacks on to behave as badly as possible so they can reap the advantages.

Nothing anyone else can do will straighten blacks out. They must do it themselves, like any other group of people. Which means, among other things, that they have to stop playing Democrat games and consider what is best for themselves.

[Clemenza]

Anyone who has spent time on the A or 1/9 trains when "school" gets out know exactly what Mr. Herbert is talking about.

The NY Times still s-cks. Thankfully, my father FINALLY canceled his subscription after 35 years.

[rdb3]

This can't be from Bob "Official Spokesman of the Whiny Victim Culture" Herbert.

Invasion of the body snatchers, maybe? Another guy of the same name?

I don't know. But being the eternal optimist that I am, maybe he's through the looking glass now. Time will tell.