Old Glory's New Appeal To Blacks

The Black World Today (Originally written for Alternet) ^ | 9/28/01 | Lee Hubbard

[mafree]

I can definitely corroborate an increased patriotic fervor in the black community since 9/11. Hopefully, it will turn into some positive moves to wean blacks away from victim politics.

I really hope those of you on FR who, IMO, fixate on blacks only when they riot and do other bad things read this and see another side of black life. It's always been there.

[mafree]

FYI--feel free to bump others.

[eureka!]

bump

[Molly Pitcher]

Wonderful post, mafree. Thanks so much!

[Constitution Day]

BUMP. Great article.

[dighton]

I really hope those of you on FR who, IMO, fixate on blacks only when they riot and do other bad things read this and see another side of black life. It's always been there.

A good suggestion.

England has a new king

GI haunted by hero friend he had to kill

[LarryLied]

Mafree...thanks for the post. I know this in my heart and I know it in reality.

[Sloth]

Some African Americans, like Boots of the rap group The Coup, attribute many African Americans' uncritical embrace of patriotism to the emotional fervor of this specific moment in American history...

You'd think these people would have the sense not to draw attention to themselves after this:

[duffi]

I am really glad to read this article. I live in a new neighborhood that is racially diverse, where I sold houses to many black families who are my neighbors and friends. Our housing development is adorned with flags,banners and ribbons of red white and blue except on the houses of the black families...not one patriotic symbol in the whole neighborhood.I just found that to be very sad.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its their country, too.

[doug from upland]

This nation at this time is the best place in the history of the world in which blacks have ever lived. It is time to shut up, stop whining, and enjoy America.

[Reagan's_Mom]

I'm an American of African or Black descent. I used to prefer "African" or, "African-American," and would accept being called "black," but after 9/11/2001, I must finally admit that I am an American, one who happens to be of Black/African descent.

Your profile says exactly what I was hoping would be one product of this crisis. It is awesome to see people from all backgrounds, including myself, spending more time focused on what is great about this country and a little less on what keeps us apart.

[LisaFab]

Agreed. 100%.

[jgrubbs]

BUMP!!!

[Clemenza]

I am happy to say that reports from friends in Chicago indicate that African Americans are flying the flag with pride. I can only tell you that here in Miami, Cubans and other Latins who are naturalized are flying the flag with pride. Since I do not live in the northern part of Dade County (where most blacks live) I cannot venture an opinion locally.

[blam]

"I can definitely corroborate an increased patriotic fervor in the black community since 9/11."

I've seen it too. In an emotional discussion in my doctor's office (two days after the event) about this subject with some blacks and others, I felt closer to blacks than I have in decades. It was encouraging to hear, 'they attacked us,' from the blacks.

[aristeides]

"It has been rather refreshing for people to put aside differences and for people to rally around things we have together, such as family and faith," said Kweisi Mfume, head of the NAACP on Fox News. "It has united all of our country."

Good that Mfume says the right thing. I wonder why he is apparently not speaking at the Black Congressional Caucus meeting.

[Interesting Times]

I really hope those of you on FR who, IMO, fixate on blacks only when they riot and do other bad things read this and see another side of black life. It's always been there.

Concur, and thanks...

[RayBob]

IMHO, there are two kinds of blacks, just as there are two kinds of whites. There's the hard working, honest, decent, pillar of the community type, and then there's the trash. Whether its black trash or white trash, they are the same. Victim mentality often is part of the picture. The other factors are greed, without the ambition to work to achieve what is wanted, selfishness, ignorance, and a general lack of respect for life or property of others. The vast majority of whites and blacks do not fall into this category.

Unfortunately, there are many whites in rural, Midwestern America whose only exposure to blacks are depictions on television (which even in the black produced shows aimed at a black audience) depict blacks as either criminals or buffoons. The exceptions were few and far between The old Cosby Show (the new one depicts the title character as clownish, albeit a good and decent man) and even Star Trek (Deep Space 9) showed strong, intelligent, decent black men and women. For the most part, you get "The Parkers" and "Martin". Not exactly accurate depictions of black Americans. The other exposure is video footage of riots. These thugs (and that is what they are) do not reflect most blacks, yet, that is the image that many whites retain. The whole "gangsta" rap thing makes it worse. Listen to the songs...many are about violence. They are about rape, murder, the videos glorify the "gangsta" culture. Of course whites who have no real contacts with blacks are going to come away with the mistaken impression that blacks, as a whole, are like that. Especially when it is the popular culture produced by blacks themselves that reinforces that opinion!

When I was a young child, my neighborhood school closed. I was bused to a school in a predominately black neighborhood. The racial mix was close to equal, with whites being a slight minority, and for the first time, I was exposed to blacks on a large scale. I was scared at first, because I had seen depictions of blacks as violent. I saw the news footage of the Black Panthers as it was happening. But you know what? I was wrong. I learned that, yes, there were some thugs among blacks, just as there are among whites, but most were exactly like me. I found growing up that most blacks I came in contact with were good decent people. Most that I have contact with as an adult are good, decent, hardworking men and women with the same dreams, the same hopes and the same fears that I have. Although there are times when I fail, I try to not make judgments based on how someone looks. I try to raise my daughter to see past what's on the outside. I don't make an issue of it with her. She has been around blacks and other ethnicities since she was three and doesn't see any difference...to her the different skin is no more than the different color of eyes or hair; it doesn't matter and it shouldn't.

This article, I fear, is just as guilty of depicting a false image of blacks as the old TV cop shows of the 70s and the gangsta crap of today (crap was a typo, but it works for me!) The "victimhood" in the black community sees the flag as racist or oppressive; most blacks don't; never did, never will. Of those 6,000 killed in the attacks, many were black. The blacks of America aren't angry that blacks died; they are angry that AMERICANS died. They are angry that America was attacked. Black, white, brown, yellow, it doesn't matter. The events of September 11 awoke a patriotism that had fallen silent in many Americans. There are many whites that never hung a flag on their house prior to September 11. Many of those, just like their black brothers, are waving the flag today; they do it because they love America. They do it because they love the freedom and opportunities offered by America. They just never realized how much until someone tried to take it away.

[HELLRAISER II]

"Most Blacks don't realize how great a country we live in." It's nice to hear positive feedback from the Black Community, they have to realize that there was Blacks & Whites and other Nationalities killed in the attacks. Bin Laden does not care what color you are, he want's to kill us all. We have to get rid of the Reparations groups and other Race dividing crap out of our way, We are Americans period. Our sons & daughters & possibly all of us will be fighting soon and it won't matter what color you are. In war you have depend on your group and if your group consists of different races, so what were all brothers & sisters taking care of each other and that person you thought was a racist, may just save your life.