Posted on 09/28/2001 7:03:50 AM PDT by mafree
That's right. So much for the socialist notions of 'all the oppressed peoples of the world have to unite'! The terrorists just want to kill Americans-it doesn't matter what color, creed or nationality.
That's right. So much for the socialist notions of 'all the oppressed peoples of the world have to unite'! The terrorists just want to kill Americans-it doesn't matter what color, creed or nationality.
Slight correction- Jesse's foreign policy is his and his alone. I never heard or read one black person ask him to do anything about it or care much about his opinion on the matter. Support for him within the black community is always mixed.
Fantastic observation. Does that mean the idea of reparations goes by the wayside????
Probably not for some but it has receded in importance since 9/11. I have, though, heard a few blacks say they'll fight if they get reparations. IMO, that isn't the reason to fight but that's how they feel.
..That's just it...most blacks are good,decent, hardworking people. Hell, I don't have to tell you that... But unless you work or live with these folks, you don't get to see it. There are many whites who don't see it (and in some case refuse to see it). In some cases its just a matter of exposure.
Yes, and when all you are exposed to is the news or most of what passes for entertainment, you are likely to come away feeling negative about blacks. If you are not exposed to other blacks you will lean more towards lumping all blacks in the same category. When the day comes that you meet a black person who is contrary to some belief you have about them don't be too surprised and don't try to put that person back into the box of some stereotype or another. That is the surest way to alienate that black person and make him or her feel that maybe the blacks who cling to victimology are right.
Basically, I feel what you have posted is true and no, you are not being arrogant. Quite the contrry, I feel you have tried to understand things a little better and I must give you credit for that.
Point taken. But I haven't heard any Black leaders disavowing him and his tactics. Maybe I'm just not aware of same but I stay pretty tuned-in. If that debate is going on within the ranks of Black organizations, their leaders need to start speaking out.
I sometimes wonder if it's a generational thing. I have been working side-by-side with many African-Americans for years, and I've found that those who are now in their 50's and even 60's are the salt of the earth. In fact, until he retired, the democratically elected president of our local union was an African-American, as were three out of five members of the negotiating committee. This in a shop that is 90% white males.
This is the generation that experienced real racism and discrimination, but they show no bitterness - they speak eloquently and movingly of "the struggle", and they're just happy that things have changed so much for the better. Many of their children, however, are of a different mindset. It pains these hard-working older blacks to see their kids feel like they're owed something, and that they're constantly looking to find discrimination and racism where none exists.
Point taken. But I haven't heard any Black leaders disavowing him and his tactics. Maybe I'm just not aware of same but I stay pretty tuned-in. If that debate is going on within the ranks of Black organizations, their leaders need to start speaking out.
You and I might wish that black leaders would start criticizing JJ over this (or anything else) if they don't agree with him but it isn't likely for a couple of reasons:
1. With some exceptions, black leadership doesn't spend a lot of time publicly disavowing each other. One reason is that there is a belief that black folks should keep such disagreements behind closed doors.
2. They feel JJ is not speaking for them so why bother. Some of them don't think JJ has enough of a real following to matter.
3. They don't want to be pressured to condemn JJ just because they are black.
Now the clear exception to this is black conservative leadership but even most of them don't spend a lot of time criticizing JJ, Al, and those like them. Jesse Peterson is the most notable exceptions.
Why does this happen? IMO, one reason is because even black conservatives don't want their criticisms of other black leaders used to peg them as "self-hating," "Uncle Toms," etc.
Maybe all of the above makes for a stifling enviroment but that's the way I see things right now.
mafree, thanks for the great post - I've seen the renewed patriotism in the black community as well, and it warms my heart. In fact, the "best" patriotic display I've seen so far was Sept. 12, where a flag of a size that might have once draped someone's coffin was displayed at a black home on my way to work - now THAT is meaning.
Speaking to the issue of Jesse Jackson, I think part of the problem is the media - if you watch television, (and especially if you also don't talk to very many black folks) you'd think that JJ spoke for all black people, and most or all of them agreed with him.
I think I understand your point about "even black conservatives don't want their criticisms of other black leaders used to peg them as "self-hating," "Uncle Toms," etc." but I wonder if, to an extent, they are not depriving the young people of other points of view and other role models? Or do these differing viewpoints get more of an airing within the black community?
Yesterday some of my (high school aged) black students were very surprised to find that President Bush's National Security Advisor is a very attractive & intelligent black lady named Condoleeza Rice. The kids were impressed - I was surprised they didn't know that already.
cheers,
Richard F.
You are right. The media does contribute to the problem by not airing an alternate black viewpoint. It also doesn't help when many, especially whites whose day-to-day contact with a cross-section of black folks is limited, come away assuming that all blacks agree with JJ or let JJ speak for them.
Part of the problem here is the tendency of many to believe that there is or should be one "black leader." A lot of people don't take time to examine the differences even among some black "leaders" like JJ, Sharpton, Farrakhan, the NAACP, etc.
IMO, the best thing is to not assume that a black person accepts any particular person as a leader unless he or she sends a clear signal that it is so.
One reason why so many of your students may not have heard of Condi is because she mostly appears on the news or on news shows and your students may not be watching them. I think she should do what Colin Powell has done and seek/accept speaking engagements in the schools.
Your words give me joy.
Thank you so much.
Richard F.
Again, I think the media contributes heavily to that problem - when a diversity of black opinions isn't presented - and when people continually hear that black people tend to vote 90% Democratic, I think people who aren't around many black people tend to think they all think alike.
IMO, the best thing is to not assume that a black person accepts any particular person as a leader unless he or she sends a clear signal that it is so.
You're correct of course.
I think [Condi Rice] should do what Colin Powell has done and seek/accept speaking engagements in the schools.
That's a great idea! I wonder if she'd come if she were invited?? (I intend to find out if our school will invite her!)
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