Posted on 08/01/2013 5:55:10 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
"Today... I'm proud to be an American.”
– Robert Zimmerman Jr., on Twitter, following his brother's acquittal
An ABC News-Washington Post poll reveals that a full two-thirds of white Americans believe that Trayvon Martin’s killing was justifiable. Therefore, that same two-thirds of white folks also believe that George Zimmerman's acquittal in the second degree murder trial against him was also justifiable.
Historian and activist Paul Street writes in BlackAgendaReport.com that these poll numbers reflect the “separateness in perspective that reflects very real, savage, and profound, literal segregation” of the races in America.
“That’s a lot more than just the segment of the white population that’s Republican or Tea Party. There’s a lot of Democrats in there, and that probably includes a whole bunch of ‘liberals.’ This isn’t just about cracker whites in the South.”
Street is also author of The Empire’s New Clothes: Barack Obama and the Real World of Power.
As Street indicates, on the other hand, the same ABC-Washington Post poll shows that 86 percent of black Americans disagree with the jury's verdict. Blacks wholeheartedly support the bringing of federal civil rights violations charges against Zimmerman. Eighty-six percent.
Opinion
In any statistics course in any university, one of the first thing one learns is that polls represent only a “snapshot” of that particular sample's thinking at that particular time.
Not so in this case, however.
This poll highlights an ongoing and pervasive “divide” between the “races” as to the question of “race.” For example, this poll also shows that most white people do not believe that “race” played much of a role in the Zimmerman trial at all; while black people see race as the absolute and defining issue in the matter.
And, despite (or perhaps because of) President Obama's recent framing of the killing of Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman's acquittal as based in “racial profiling,” most white folks reject this characterization, while most black folks welcome it.
So, what's really going on?
Those white poll respondents who agree with the Zimmerman verdict have little or no personal experience grounded in oppression solely because of the color of their skins. It is just plainly, simply, damn near impossible for them to even imagine such a thing. They have gone through life believing – experiencing – the “American Dream” as a lived reality, something that is achievable if only they work hard enough, obey the law, and treat everybody right.
The black experience is a whole different kettle of fish, however. For black people in this nation-state, the color of their skins has always – always – being the singlemost defining characteristic that determined their social, political and economic outcomes vis-a-vis a white-dominated society. No amount of education, hard work, or honest dealing with others has ever changed this dynamic for the masses of black people.
Individuals, yes. Certain, select black individuals – usually those who must disavow any relationship with “blackness” – are allowed a modicum of success outside the black paradigm.
And so these poll results are not particularly surprising.
So black people must retrench and regroup. It goes without saying that this has not been a particularly good period for civil rights.
What we are witnessing is a long, slow old-style “white backlash” and white retrenchment into a new-style white supremacy. Many simply cannot accept or stand Obama's black presence in their “White” House.” Overwhelming approval of the Zimmerman verdict is just one, therefore, among many ways and means of expressing that distasteful reality.
As the saying goes, “It is what it is.”
The Author
your point?
The media distortion is a large part of it. People don’t tend to dig to get behind stories like this.
I was thinking of the greater public forum not one on one personal relationships. I don’t talk to any libs I know on a personal level. They have all forbidden it.
Not sure if they also experience racial division (between blacks and whites)...if so, it's certainly not as evident as what we are seeing, here.
Wish we could all be "American" first, whatever else you might be, after that :(
“Historian and activist Paul Street writes in BlackAgendaReport.com that these poll numbers reflect the “separateness in perspective that reflects very real, savage, and profound, literal segregation” of the races in America.
“That’s a lot more than just the segment of the white population that’s Republican or Tea Party. There’s a lot of Democrats in there, and that probably includes a whole bunch of ‘liberals.’ This isn’t just about cracker whites in the South.”
I especially like how the phrase “cracker whites” is said so easily by this guy, without any second thoughts about how his racist language might sound to those of who may or may not be “cracker whites”, all while knowing he will never be called out for such language.
Actually, I think that Obama is half African, and half Caucasian, while Zimmerman is indeed one eighth African, three eighths mixed Spanish and Native South American (though maybe more the former), and half Caucasian.
I was going to post a pic of a gorgeous Korean girl but there are too many to choose from.
Many simply cannot accept or stand Obama’s ignorant, arrogant, incompetent, vacationing, Golfing, Homosexual, anti-American presence in their “White” House.”
Black has nothing to do with it.
But while I am at it the One third of whites that are on the side of that drug dealing little sneak thief must have mental issues.
He should take this test, if he’s so smart:
BLACK POLITICAL HISTORY: THE UNTOLD STORY
NOTE: All answers are “b.”
1. What Party was founded as the anti-slavery Party and fought to free blacks from slavery?
[ ] a. Democratic Party
[ ] b. Republican Party
2. What was the Party of Abraham Lincoln who signed the emancipation proclamation that resulted in the Juneteenth celebrations that occur in black communities today?
[ ] a. Democratic Party
[ ] b. Republican Party
3. What Party passed the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution granting blacks freedom, citizenship, and the right to vote?
[ ] a. Democratic Party
[ ] b. Republican Party
(take the rest of the test, Mr. Dyer Jr., and read up on Ret. Col. Frances Rice, a brilliant black woman, member of the NBRA.)
http://www.nbra.info/DYK-HistoryTest
yes
Or it could just be that the prosecution didn't prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. You know, like the overwhelming majority of criminal attorneys (regardless of race) concluded.
I think I’m beginning to understand the absence of common sense in the Zimmerman case. And that’s frightening.
Zimmerman is black. He’s more black than Obama.
According to Nixon’s affirmative action program, 1 black great-grandparent makes you black.
Zimmerman has a black grandparent. Obama has a black great-great-grandparent.
Obama’s not black.
Damn straight, Skippy.
Oh, really? I'd like the author to name me a place where a black man has to fear walking down a street because of the color of his skin. Because I can name dozens of places where a white man does. That, my friends, is oppression any way you cut it, and pretending otherwise isn't going to make it so.
>>>Not sure if they also experience racial division (between blacks and whites)...if so, it’s certainly not as evident as what we are seeing, here.<<<
In UK older natural born blacks aren’t too much different from whites. Immigrant newcomers from places like Somalia and their children are another story. I guess it has something to do with islam.
Best boss I ever had was a black man who eventually promoted me to the position directly under his over several other blacks.
He said I worked for the position and earned it. The others just expected it. As I told him one night after work that he had earned my respect on top of the obedience I would show any superior.
---------------------
Very true. I've witnessed a sea of change in comments sections on the internet over the past several years. White people are simply fed up of being endlessly accused of racism, especially after they feel that they've put in a much better effort than black people at living together peacefully without discriminating.
It doesn’t matter because Obama identifies as a black man. Period.
Whining is a choice, melanin concentration is not.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.