Yesterday I did a quick post asking what exactly does “Post-Racial” really mean as it applies to America. This is a term that has been kicked around since Obama won and to me sounds very vague.
Today, I happened to come across a Youtube video featuring Tavis Smilely who briefly dealt with this issue.
“…Obama’s election is not the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream. It is another down payment on the dream.”
Then he goes on to quote Cornell West: “America, with Obama’s election is now less racist.”
I don’t like the the guilt game he is playing here because it never ends. In other words, in the age where every fart, sneeze and hiccup from White folks can be construed as form of racism, WHO exactly has the ability to declare that all debts have been paid in full? Jesse? Al? NAACP? CBC?
Nobody can put a fair price on slavery. Yet there are those out there like Smiley who despite their many opportunities and successes (and the fact that they never experienced slavery), they are committed to adding items to our bill against Whites.
Much of what Smiley has put out there regarding self-reliance in the Black community I am in complete agreement. But if the underline message behind his rhetoric hinges on Whites paying off some bill whose amount changes with every discussion on race, I have to take issue with that premise.
Been a while but I see that you are still wrong as ever. Maybe this will help. If your child is molested and the person goes to prison for 40 years is your child any less affected because this person has served his/ her time. I think not. The reality is that yes we have come a long way in the country when dealing with race. But racism is systematic and continues to prevail. In a world where a young black man can be shot by the police while laying on the ground. In a world were young black boys disproportionately drop out of school. Yes a case can be made that this is an issue of wealth or the lack thereof. However, it does not preclude one from keeping his or her eye on the race issue. America with all its greatness is still the only country that was founded with the idea to create a permanent underclass. Therefore, one does not need to have been a slave to feel enslaved in these Americas. Clearly, I am an American through and through. Wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world (okay maybe St. Kitts but who can blame me)But I am also fundamentally aware that racism is alive and well.
S. Cain
He isn’t adding to the bill, he’s keeping the memory of the bill fresh. He isn’t opening the wounds, he’s saying don’t forget how that scar got there.
http://www.blackinformant.com Duane
In a world where a young black man can be shot by the police while laying on the ground.
Chicago just ended the year a little over 500 homicide–most of which were Black on Black incidents. Compare that number to the number of incidents were a White cop unjustly shot a Black kid DUE TO RACISM. Seems to me we have bigger fish to fry here. Yes, you deal with the cop, but again racist cops are no where near the head of the pack of things that are killing our young people.
In a world were young black boys disproportionately drop out of school.
Due to racism?
But I am also fundamentally aware that racism is alive and well.
Me too! I am also fundamentally aware that farts are alive and well, too. You will always have racism in some form at any moment across the globe. Fortunately, America has made great strides moving away from this mess where Black folks can still make it despite the opinions of a few. Those who typically tow the AMERIKKKA rhetoric are nothing more than fart-sniffers. While the rest of us have the sense enough to isolate the offender and move on with life, these folks are right there getting their sniff on while complaining about air quality.
Oh, BTW, I am ALWAYS RIGHT (LOL!)
Saudia
1st of all I must enlighten you once again Black on black crime needs to put into context. People in general commit crimes against their own. Asians kill Asians, whites kill whites, Hispanics kill Hispanic. We are not killing each other at any higher rate than any other group. It just so happens that there are less of us. STILL yes 500 murders in my fair city is far to many. But my dear friend that was not the topic at hand.
Yes children dropping out of school is both and economic and a race issue.
I don’t know how to rebut the fart sniffer thing.
The funny thing is that I agree that far too many of us rest on the fact that racism is alive and allow that to be our ceiling in life. But ask yourself this question. When you were told as child that you could be anything that you wanted to be Did you truly believe it. Or did you like me think that there were limitations on far a black man could get in this country. I don’t subscribe to the AmeriKKKa theory. I do know that right now in some back wooded country po dunk town a group of white men are plotting to harm this nations 1st black president simply because he is black. And until those type of people are eradicated from this country the debt has yet to be paid in full.
http://www.blackinformant.com Duane
But my dear friend that was not the topic at hand.
You are right. Perspective is the topic at hand.
When you were told as child that you could be anything that you wanted to be Did you truly believe it.
Yes. I’m about a few million dollars shy right now, but I can assure you that there is no White man or systematic racism holding me or my family back.
I do know that right now in some back wooded country po dunk town a group of white men are plotting to harm this nations 1st black president simply because he is black.
This is exactly what I am talking about. No matter how much protection Obama has, a group of racist White men with guns pose more of a threat to you than the thousands of Negroes out there who would gun down Obama in a second just because he is Black. This kind of thinking will always empower this tiny minority.
Michael Post
You are so right Duane: This kind of thinking will always empower this tiny minority.
The “Post-Racial” Thing
by Duane on January 13th, 2009 at 2:58 pmYesterday I did a quick post asking what exactly does “Post-Racial” really mean as it applies to America. This is a term that has been kicked around since Obama won and to me sounds very vague.
Today, I happened to come across a Youtube video featuring Tavis Smilely who briefly dealt with this issue.
“…Obama’s election is not the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream. It is another down payment on the dream.”
Then he goes on to quote Cornell West: “America, with Obama’s election is now less racist.”
I don’t like the the guilt game he is playing here because it never ends. In other words, in the age where every fart, sneeze and hiccup from White folks can be construed as form of racism, WHO exactly has the ability to declare that all debts have been paid in full? Jesse? Al? NAACP? CBC?
Nobody can put a fair price on slavery. Yet there are those out there like Smiley who despite their many opportunities and successes (and the fact that they never experienced slavery), they are committed to adding items to our bill against Whites.
Much of what Smiley has put out there regarding self-reliance in the Black community I am in complete agreement. But if the underline message behind his rhetoric hinges on Whites paying off some bill whose amount changes with every discussion on race, I have to take issue with that premise.