"The great civil-rights leader was besieged from all directions that season. Estranged from the White House for his stand against the war in Vietnam. Ridiculed by young blacks who thought him out of touch with the new militancy of guns and separatism. Tormented from within by depression, fatigue and a haunting presentiment of his own death.
In Memphis, death had already come.
Sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker had climbed into the back of one of the old garbage trucks to get out of the rain. But as the vehicle rumbled along, the hydraulic ram that compacted the trash started on its own. Cole and Walker were crushed. Just like garbage.
The men had complained for years about that truck in particular, about raggedy, malfunctioning old trucks in general. The city never listened. Now it gave each man's widow one month's salary — likely less than $300 — added $500 apiece, and called it square. Burial expenses alone were $900 a man.
'They felt a garbage man wasn't nothing,' Nickelberry said. 'And they figured they could treat us any way they wanted to treat us."'
~~Leonard Pitts, Miami Herald~~
As we approach the 40th anniversary of that terrible and tragic day in A-merry-ca's history, let's not forget why Dr. King was in Memphis in the first place. He was there fighting for economic justice for trash collectors in the city of Memphis. Fighting a battle for people who were down trodden, overlooked and spit on by a city, and the white power structure that ran it.
But make no mistake, 40 years later, not much has changed. As I look around my hometown of Philadelphia, I can see the look of despair and hopelessness in the faces of the working poor. Mothers who have to take the bus to the suburbs in order to take care of wealthy old white women and clean up their shit. Or old men who have to work in $7 an hour security guard jobs in the most dangerous parts of our city to supplement their meager social security checks.
So while Tom Brokaw runs around doing the television circuit, and profiting from King's death with his pabulum filled books and television specials. And while we as A-merry-cans stick out our chests because we have our first black Presidential candidate with a shot at winning the big house. Just remember that there is unspeakable shit happening in our cities every day, and it's looking more and more like Dr. King's dream will never be realized.
Oh well, back to the party: "YES WE CAN", "YES WE CAN", YES WE CAN".
71 comments:
Thoughtful and insightful. Thanks.
FN: I respectfully disagree. It's easy to say nothing's changed if you have never had to live under Jim Crow. I read a quote from an old civil rights war horse who said that people who say that nothing's changed since Jim Crow weren't there.
There's lots more work to do but the big mistake was for anyone to think that discrimination went away after the 1960's. It didn't. It changed. Life is better for many black people but it is also worse for some.
Many black people no longer value education and achievement. It used to be the way out of living on the margins. Now, it is sneered at.
Today, you won't be lynched or forced to sit in the balcony but you can be shot to death for having a pizza someone else wants. Or not giving up your wallet fast enough.
I'm actually very disheartened on this anniversary. Only 46% of youth gradcuate from Oakland schools. And the black on black slaughter continues.
Tnings are better for some. Things are worse for others. Some of it is because of insttutional racism, some of it is just plain self hatred and giving up.
I believe the black middle class is delusional about what how bad things are and what we need to do. It's like watching a wind up toy run into a brick wall over and over and over and over...
If MLK were alive today, I can't believe he would happy.
"Mothers who have to take the bus to the suburbs in order to take care of wealthy old white women and clean up their shit."
Why not just say wealthy old women, why throw in the "white". I am a director in a non-profit human service agency who has some white staff who clean up some black clients "shit" for ten bucks an hour. Shit is shit and cleaning it is no fun, but its got to be done. Its usually done by those who need the money white or black.
The working poor are represented by all races and are largely forgotten by all races.
Field,
I am afraid you may be correct.
"Why not just say wealthy old women, why throw in the "white".'
David, that's a fair question, and here is why: Because the women I am talking about ARE cleaning up after old white women. I mean that's just a fact. I am referring of course to elderly people who live in our nursing homes in Philadelphia's suburbs, and wealthy people who can afford their own home health care aid to come into their homes. Now if someone can show me otherwise I will stand corrected, but I doubt if they will be able to.
Hey man, that's just how I write, I call it as I see it.
WCS, you make some good points. And trust me, that's another post for another time. We (black folks) need to seriously get our shit together. And we can blame "whitey" until the cows come home, but nothing will change until we do. I suppose whether things have gotten better is all relative and it depends on where you stand in life. But there is no doubt that more personal responsibility is needed as well.
However, I will say this. I have spoken to people who did live under Jim Crow, and they say it's worse now. So go figure.
In Response To West Coast Story Respectful and Thought Provoking Comment....
(excerpted from my blog; uvbc.blogspot.com)
There are a great number of individual success stories in African American history. However my contention is that when the greater African American community was finally allowed the freedom to choose either to live in and build up our traditional communities (like our Asian and our other ethnic brothers and sisters) or embrace the de-facto rugged individualism found in the suburbs, most of us choose the latter. We did nothing to collectively ensure the health and well being of our traditional urban communities. Once we achieved equal rights, the vast majority of attorneys, doctors, nurses, educators, griots, and entrepreneurs left urban America for the suburbs and all of the resources they provided went with them. What was left was essentially nothing; and nothing from nothing leaves nothing. Or in the case of urban America, nothing from nothing equaled a void that was filled with overt poverty, ignorance, and government mandated dysfunction called welfare and aid to dependent children.
The African American exodus exacerbated what was already (due to slavery, segregation and discrimination) a fragile cultural ecosystem and it eventually collapsed upon its own weight. If the greater African American community had taken the approach that my Father had taken in ensuring that his "community" of porters, cooks, and dining car waiters had the infrastructural support mechanism to achieve success, we would not have totally dysfunctional urban communities today.
Any culture and/or socio-economic system that does not materially support the fundamental right of all of its people to at least have an equal opportunity to pursue excellence through education, employment, and entrepreneurship within their community disenfranchises the vast majority of those that could have possibly achieved at a high level and disproportionately handicaps (both mentally and socially) those that achieve despite the lack of support.
Hey Field,
Thanks for keeping it real. King died in Memphis because he knew that integration was a zero sum game without finishing the economic struggle. Too many people think we can focus on cleaning up our communities and allow white institutionalized racists and racism to continue as is. There has to be a struggle against both black foolishness and white racism whether it is upfront in your face or subliminal in our jobs and workplaces, schools, and laws. I get tired of people forgetting what King gave his life for in Memphis. He was not speaking about no damn dream in Memphis, because he knew the reality of race and economics in America. Hell he stated himself that "With Selma and the voting rights bill one era of our struggle came to a close and a new era came into being. Now our struggle is for genuine equality, which means economic equality. For we know that it isn't enough to integrate lunch counters. What does if profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn't earn enough money to buy a hamburger and cup of coffee?"
Interesting website on Fox News
http://foxattacks.com/blog/572-fox-attacks-black-america
I would like to say the assault started on the black community before the end of Jim Crow. Most black communities were economically heterogeneous. In southern cities, with the advent of Urban Renewal and the building of the highway system, the exodus to the suburbs started. They were segregated, but none the less it began the separation of class in the black community. This changed communities.
Quite often the poor were made poorer, because what the did get for their property left them unable to get similar housing. Most new housing or what was affordable was sub-standard. Many had no option but to move in public housing.
Once the flight had begun, middle class blacks took on the words of whites, blaming poverty on the victim and assigning low values to the poor. An example, when new public housing was built, the top soil was bulldozed and new sod or new soil was not put in to grow grass. They planted grass in red clay, so the grass needed an awful lot of fertilizer and watering to stay alive. Many blacks blamed the residents, "you know poor people don't how to take care of their yards;" even though it was common ground and the responsibility of the housing administration.
Now this happened during Jim Crow. Even when the black middle class were concerned about racism and equality, their push toward being acceptable Negroes, created a class divide; as if being poor diminished their worthiness.
Thanks for the post, field:
I know about Jim Crow. I was born in the 1950's and grew up in Atlanta in the sixties. Although the worst was over, it was still there when I was growing up in; and all of us kids could still see the effect it had on our dads, uncles and relatives and other black males in the community.
I saw older Blacks women leave their community to work on "massas" kitchen. The big secret was that, occasionally, it was required that they work in his bedroom too, if you know what I mean.
I saw black men leave their community to work for white men and come back home, head bowed, body bent from lifting too heavy a load for too little pay.
Every summer I would go live with relatives on the South side of Chicago. Before putting me on the bus, my dad would say, "Son, always look a man in the eye." I only learned what it meant when I became an adult: that, when talking to white men, black men were not allowed to look white men in the eyes. This was viewed as a rebellious act, a black men thinking he was equal, a black man showing no fear. So they had to hold their heads down. They also couldn't talk to white women. In some areas of Georgia, if a white woman was walking toward him, on the same side of the street, the black man had to cross the street. So the water fountains, cafe and restaurants and swimming pools with "Whites" and "Coloreds" weren't the half of it. It was the every-day humiliation and psychological castration of black men that was so oppressive. That's why, when the black men died, the women closest to them (the wife, his sisters, his grandmother, etc.) would often say he died of a broken heart. They didn't mean died of a lost love, but of lost respect.
Now, much of Atlanta is run by black people. It has a burgeoning middle class and some of the best colleges in the country, many run by blacks. And many whites are afraid to look black men in the eyes. Some cross the street out of fear of black men.
Some problems still remain, but a lot has changed. Blessings.
Where I live, it's a class struggle. It doesn't matter what race you are anymore. If you're part of the working poor, your screwed.
I live on the outskirts of what is considered the 'hood of my city, meaning I hear and see the police cars and then the ambluances, but they drive past my place before they arrive at their destination a few blocks down the street.
I see the desperation in my neighborhood every day. Businesses go under quite frequently. One strip mall now has five tenants and eight empty suites. I also see couples sometimes working three jobs to pay the bills, working longer hours, and not getting any further ahead than when they had only one or two jobs eight years ago.
Some people I know get their groceries from the local food bank. I have never seen anything like it in my life. Working families should never have to do this when they bust their ass to do the right thing.
When I go grocery shopping, I see more people than ever using WIC checks to pay for groceries for their children, and all of those shoppers are Blacks and Latinos.
The available jobs where I live don't pay any better than what most of us have, so we're stuck doing what we're doing for a living, no matter how much we hate it. I barely get by with my sales job, and not because I suck at it. I'm actually quite good. The problem is that the job pays $20,000 less a year than what it did just two years ago and I also had decent health insurance with a very low co-pay.
Meanwhile, my company recorded record profits and the CEO got a fat bonus.
Field, the anger is there but now it knows no racial boundaries. All we can do is vote for the O-man and then wait for things to get better. With Clinton and McCain in office, it won't.
If I have to put up with four more years of this shit, I'll be learning how to sing "Oh Canada" in English and French real quick.
@Field:
I have spoken to people who did live under Jim Crow, and they say it's worse now.
I think it depends on how you define progress. I lived under Jim Crow, and I would say there's been progress.
But, I would also concede, there's been setbacks.
@David Sullivan:
[wealthy old white women vs. wealthy old women]
I guess the phrase ("wealthy old white women") is redundant. "Wealthy old women" would, more often than not, connote "wealthy white women."
Yesterday, it was "typical white woman", now today it's "wealthy white women."
And we're told we're color sensitive?!!
@David Sullivan:
[wealthy old white women vs. wealthy old women]
I guess the phrase ("wealthy old white women") is redundant. "Wealthy old women" would, more often than not, connote "wealthy white women."
Yesterday, it was "typical white woman", now today it's "wealthy white women."
And we're told we're color sensitive?!!
fuck all white people,i can only hope to live long enough to see em all die.
Field who in America hasn't profit off of King's death?
heru and hathor, you both made some great comments saying pretty much the same thing. The effects of Black flight from inner city neighborhoods was devastating both socially and economically.
This is why I get upset at some of our so called black leaders. Some of these clowns line their own pockets and keep getting up. They could care less about what happens in some of our communities.
Thanks for that MacDaddy.
My Dad used to tell me stories about when he visited A-merry-ca and the indignities that he would suffer in the South. It's why as soon as he got his education he got up, and never came back here to live. To him, Jamaica might be a Third World country, but it was home, and the people running the country looked like him.
I hear some of the stories about the things that Mrs. Field's father and grandfather went through in Louisiana, and honestly, I don't know if I could have done it.
cal tejano, I agree. ALL poor people suffer together now, it doesn't matter what race you belong to. It's more about class now than anything else. I just wish that we could get poor working class white folks to realize that and work with poor black and brown people. Trust me, that's the last thing politricksters want.
Damn anon. 4:33AM, you have some anger issues my man. You shouldn't hate all white people, black people, or anyone else. That s not a healthy emotion. Besides, there are some white folks out here who really get it, and who really want this shit to work. I think the folks who visit tis site are a perfect example of that. Some of the comments I have read here from them were eye opening, and they give me some hope for the future.
[I sound like the "O" man now]
jjbrock, I won't even touch that question.:) But I sense a future post there.
@anon 4:33AM:
"fuck all white people,i can only hope to live long enough to see em all die."
I'm sorry my man that you used my post to vent your venom.
You just don't know better; if you did, you'd do better.
For all the pain you've felt in your life, I empathize, but hating on whites not gonna ease it one iota.
Bro, most of us blacks here in this country have inherited some white blood (and that probably include you, too).
Now, if you go wishing whites all dead, a large portion of the black community is gonna go down with them.
I sure hope that's not what you want.
FN: I know that most of the women in Nursing Homes are white, but as a director in a non-profit I see examples daily of people of all races working cooperatively and the one thing they all have in common, they are working their ass off for little money. The sad thing is that in order to move up you have to do meanial jobs to raise your kids to give them the opportunity to get better jobs through schooling and exposure to positive influences. I wasn't pissed off about you saying "white women", I just think that poverty is not just a black issue.
Dr. King's dream will be realized.
Lastfirstplace:
I am color sensitive.
I grew up extremely poor in a mixed neighborhood and am well aware of how the color of my skin affects others. I have zero white guilt because I grew up poorer than any black family that I knew and my family came here way after slavwery was abolished. That said, I have seen first hand my black friends being subjected to verbal and emotional abuse that I've never understood, so I can totally empathise with the anger and resentment that many black folk harbor for white folk.
I just want us to be careful when we throw generalizations around using "black" or "white" because the only way that things will change is if we look at everyone as an individual, not part of a group.
To Anon: Embrace your hate. Own it. Relish it. It'll kill you long before all of us "white" people die. Enjoy.
hi there-
i think it important to note that Dr. King's dream has become what he feared. we have been integrated into a burning house. the house is ablaze!
in my words, "integration" is not only to hallucinate it is also where one finds extremely dependant, well behaved, fearful slaves with little to no black love. it is a complete and utter nightmare.
jim crow laws simply look different. it is the new improved "diverse" version. there has been a jim crow reconstruction and new deal. jim crow today means that we must never ever make white folks uncomfortable. since we are so "integrated" and you can't get away from white folks these days, black folks must not speak truthfully or candidly. ever. unfortunately, it is the truth that makes white folks uncomfortable. truth makes black folks uncomfortable too for that matter; and very scared.
being pro-black is unacceptable. especially in a position of power where you might actually be able to do something to help the black masses. this rule by the way applies only to black people. most black folks fall in with the status quo because most have been so brainwashed/conditioned that they believe their blessings come from white folks not God. in fact, quite a few black folks WORSHIP a white man image. those that don't think it makes a difference have never given it real thought. if you can't figure out why God must be depicted that way...here's a clue---white supremacy.
you can tell these people that i have bought into the god quality of white folks. i am not trying to be funny nor mean; however they usually make statements like:
"Now, if you go wishing whites all dead, a large portion of the black community is gonna go down with them."
??????????????? if white folks disappeared it would not mean the end for black folks. africa and africans existed well, educated, civilized, productive,cultured and prosperous before whites exited caves and invaded the scene. because i know who i am, i know should they all disappear (and birth rate wise they are working on it right now) i with my ultra black rich skin, genetically dominant, dna coiled hair will be more than fine.
people we are not in competition with white folks---a brief stroll through history and looking around with open eyes today will reveal that we are at war with casualties mounting daily. we are in fact losing miserably. we aren't even paying attention much less in it to win it. until we unite and get in it to win it; like all the other groups not hell bent on integrating and procreating themselves out of existence---we are just "complaining" and running our mouths.
possible solution:
know your history that you might know yourself that you might know your enemy. only then will we have a fighting chance at liberation.
p.s. it is sheer lunacy to think, expect, or desire your historical enemy to teach you who you are. they know the truth of who they are can also be found in your history as none of this is new business. and we know how much they love telling the truth! not. think about it. black folks need to wake up and stop dreaming...now.
for what it is worth...
blessings all,
focusedpurpose
Mr. Field Negro - I notice that you are not a fan of Alphonso Jackson, the recently departed HUD Secretary. You mention that he was helping his friends and bulling people.
I wonder if you realize that the two main charges against him were
1) Allegedly assisting a Black contractor a deal in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast - the very same thing that the Congressional Democratic Black Caucus and the Civil Rights Industry had been complaining about.
2) You live in Philadelphia. You should be aware of Kenny Gamble and his efforts to redevelop hundreds of formerly abandoned properties thus providing homes for people - mostly Black people. The 'friend' that you speak of Alphonso Jackson helping is Kenny Gamble.
I should also note that just this week a judge who heard the lawsuit put forth by the Philadelphia Housing Authory tossed the suit saying that the Federal HUD acted in line with Philly as they have with out agencies regarding the requirement for handicapped access in its facilities.
Now we have White liberals Patty Murray and Chris Dodd leading the way (along with you and other Negroes) in throwing this man under the bus.
Field Negro - I wish that I would see you and others have the very same passion and outrage for the elected officials that you are inclined to support. I am originally from Philadelphia - this grand 80% Democratic city. Certain operatives spend more time attacking Black people who ARE NOT EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS because they don't support the agenda that you do. At the same time there is an abundance of Black and Democratic officials that you have voted for that you all seem silent upon.
Was Ron White and the others who took food out of the mouths of the young people in Philly via the kickbacks from the Recreation Department contracts called HOUSE NEGROS by you or others?
i meant:
you can tell these people that have bought into the god quality...
i don't advocate wasting time and good energy wishing white folks dead. they have mad scientists working diligently to counter their low birth rates, genetic recessiveness, fertility drugs (you can have a litter), and doing away with abortion. maintaining white supremacy is on the list of things to do all day every day, in case people thought it was just a fluke that the system has endured and is so well preserved.
i would like to say as well that i reject white folks admonishing others to see them as individuals when as a group they enjoy white skin privilege. in addition to work overtime to malign other groups---not individuals---regularly. protest that! it was often times the poorest white folks that gave black folks the most violent hell. yesterday and today. the really rich white folks just make sure they get richer at the expense of black folks. i suppose it makes poor whites feel better about being in the "have nots" tiny boat with black folks and others. clinging to that white skin privilege... when i see the multitude of poor white folks in the street protesting with the other poor people against the oppressive murderous systems a.k.a. "tradition"...it will literally be a new day. until then...
thanks for an interesting post.
blessings to all,
focusedpurpose
While I agree with most of the comments on this board and David, you made a good one that gave me food for thought, the only thing going through my mind regarding Dr. King's legacy is this:
How many "get yo' shyt together" lectures are we going to hear before we actually take the action to get our shyt together?
Every year, either Tavis Smiley, Al Sharpton, Jesse, or some other well-meaning African-American comes along and gives Black Americans that "get yo' shyt together" lecture, and leaves out one salient fact:
HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT GETTING THEIR SHYT TOGETHER WHEN THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TAUGHT?
If you're taught how to get yo' shyt together, the question does not apply, unless, you're screwing up and you don't know WHY you're screwing up.
You can't tell a person to "get their shyt together" if you're not going to show them HOW. But once you have, and they refuse to get their shyt together, you have to move on to someone who's ready to get their shyt together.
Dr. King was 40 years ahead of his time. People were more willing to be complacent rather than do whatever was necessary to get their shyt together. I think about all the Black preachers who helped Jim Crow run this brotha out of town when he came to give those "I have a dream" speeches.
"I have a Dream" was code for telling Black people to "get their shyt together".
That's how my father interpreted it and that's how he and my mother taught that to me and my brothers.
They laid the foundation - after that, it was up to US to get it together or leave it alone.
It starts in the mind and soul before it can be carried out in the physical and the real.
We can either determine whether we're ready to "get our shyt together" or leaving it alone. For me, I can't afford to leave it alone - life is hard enough without making every effort to get my shyt together and keep it together.
I don't know if I made sense, but thanks for letting me share.
Ok Focused, so you are saying we are at war? Then why shouldn't I go down to WalMart, get a gun and start mowing down black people?
But wait, where do I draw the line? Do I kill everyone who is darker than me? Do I kill everyone with pigment? Do I kill just African Americans and let the dudes that just came here from Africa live. Should I kill all the Hispanics and Asians, I mean that yellow skin is not quite my color.
What about them I-Taliians, they look pretty dark to me. Should I kill all the "Wiggers"? Should I kill Black sympathizers?
My trigger finger is getting itchy, let me know who to start with.
Field, There are lots of good people who are out there EVERY SINGLE DAY sacrificing to help others acheive some level of comfort.
How about a little respect and a word for them?!:
http://sagacioushillbilly.blogspot.com/2008/03/picture-tells-thousand-stories.html
Mr. Obama has said over and over "if you work and have a job in America, you should not be poor. Nobody else besides John Edwards has articulated those thoughts, so yea, I think I'll go "back to the party."
YES WE CAN!
Good job Field. You stirred up one lelluva pot of shit!
Blogging don't get no better 'n that!
Not to change the subject, but did anybody see Judge Marvin Arrington on CNN last night with Cooper Anderson? Dude kicked out the white people in his courtroom to talk to the young black folks about what are they doing to themselves..my guess is repeat offenders, new ones that do stupid shit..Me personally I think that was the best thing he could have done. Sometimes you just get tired of seeing young black males plastered all over the news for some of the stupid choices they make. Sometimes you get tired of some black people of thinking that it’s wrong to act white if you seek an education. I can go on and on but I definitely can understand his frustration.
Field, i know you know change is created from the bottom up -- not top down, so your last line referencing the motto of the "O" campaign is uncalled for. i'm sure it's your classic satire at work, but still (and i don't think you're one of 'em) but there are many colored folks undermining is candidacy by saying he won't change shit and i don't here those comments about white folks running for office-- 'tis all!
One of the Borg Queen's surrogates, former Clinton administration special counsel Lanny Davis had this to say on FOX Noise about Barack Obama:
"If Barack Obama wins the popular vote and all of the delegates, there will have to be a powerful argument, based on facts, that the national polls show that he cannot defeat John McCain… I certainly am making the argument that if he cannot defeat John McCain, it’s up to the Super Delegates to vote for the nominee who can.”
Facts? What facts? Every poll shows Obama kicking the old coot McCain's ass back to Arizona in the General Election.
And what is it with these Borg Queen surrogates who can't stay away from FOX?
'people who say that nothing's changed since Jim Crow weren't there.'
jim crow has definitely changed faces since the era of our elders, he has not, however, changed objectives. the days of blatant lynch mobbing and colored only signs have passed (to a degree). however jim crow thrives in corporate media, and within the legal and educational systems. just listen to the radio or turn on the television any time of the day and you will certainly get a 'nigga's still ain't shit' psa over the airwaves. why? because so called black radio and t.v. is controlled by whites who's first priority is money and could give a fuck less about us and or children. and speaking of our kids; walk into a classroom in any predominantly black inner city school in america and ask the children how many of them know someone in prison, on parole or on probation. then, watch the hands fly up. why? because the prison system is just a mask for the new legal form of slavery in this country and black people are its easiest targets. why? a very inadequate education system and a serious imbalance in the justice system. those of us who have snatched up a tiny piece of something that we must struggle daily to hold on to; be it a decent job with a steady cash flow, a place to live, a car to drive--or whatever your 'piece' looks like--we, are not the rule in black america. we are the exceptions. much to our misfortune jim crow never stopped; only changed faces. he just went from being the big white bully that tormented our elders (but pushed them into action) becoming the slow, steady, immobilizing mind fuck that we know today.
Christopher, I agree. The Borg Queen is beyond suspicion and Fake News is probably the only outlet they can go to in getting attention.
Even MSNBC is starting to pass on them, because they are realizing what a joke she, her minions and her campaign has become.
The CBC sistas, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, and Sheila Jackson-Lee, are getting earfuls from their districts who overwhelmingly went for Obama, and they are letting these reps know they're going to be faced with payback for supporting Clinton over Obama.
Get out the popcorn...
@big.black.kittykat said...
cosign
FN: "But make no mistake, 40 years later, not much has changed. As I look around my hometown of Philadelphia, I can see the look of despair and hopelessness in the faces of the working poor."
Come on FN that is quite disingenuous to say the least. Think about the history of change in this country: Slaves in Jamestown 1619 to the end of the CW(246 years), from Reconstruction and the institution of Jim Crow to the 1964 Civil Rights Laws (99 more years) and now 40 years since the death of King. Progress has most certainly occurred--though the robust change that people desire is necessarily slow for a variety of reasons. Mindfulness of the insidious nature of racism must always inform our thoughts and actions because it is the foundation upon which this country rests. However, we must certainly not diminish or disparage the progress that has been made no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
The history of humankind is littered with examples of the poor's desperation and hopelessness, but make no mistake I certainly know that the life I live today is not comparable to the life my mother and grandmother lived in 1968--and that my friend is real progress.
@David..... all I can say is, "Oh my people, my people...." Please dont get pissed when you hear the anger..... notice what is about YOU and know what is not..... and then do something to challenge it all!
As a white, middle aged, female.... who is INVISIBLE on the streets, who could blow shit up without anyone noticing or remembering me.... as a lesbian who feels the slings and arrows of homophobia.... as someone who recognizes that my experience gives me a sense, but not the realities of daily, institutional, white supremacy... that if I worked for you cleanin the shit, that I would STILL have a much easier time finding a bank in my neighborhood to cash that paycheck and open that account...
What I know to be true, is the boat described by "focusedpurpose" to be shared by the poor and working class whites with folks of color is not tiny... in fact, it is a fucking HUGE ship! The reality is that the owning class has convinced us all that it is small boat and we all gotta fight each other to keep from drowning.... and they do it by convincing us through the lie of "work hard and you can join me in the ranks of the rich" when in reality, that is a bunch of bullshit for most of us... but JUST IN CASE... we wont really go after them.... (buy your lottery ticket this week!??)
We are all distracted and/or exhausted by bein over-worked, underpaid, and deluged with faux-entertainment to destract us from seriously dealing....
Something to say from a "white perspective"... as incredulous as this seems, white folks are carefully trained to NOT SEE privelege! They are told that their experience/reality is the norm and that those that are not makin it are not doing so because of their own personal failings.... nothing to do with institutional systems in place.... thus often the disbelief... and then when reminded, sense of impotence, cause hey we didnt create it so we don't know how to fix it reaction"
Truth be told... we ARE in this together... and I for one am fighting like hell!
[quote]As I look around my hometown of Philadelphia, I can see the look of despair and hopelessness in the faces of the working poor. Mothers who have to take the bus to the suburbs in order to take care of wealthy old white women and clean up their shit. Or old men who have to work in $7 an hour security guard jobs in the most dangerous parts of our city to supplement their meager social security checks.[/quote]
Quite interesting statement Field Negro. (PS - I am glad to have found the link to Christian Progressive Liberal's blog once again. I thought that Christians set an example with their language? But I digress)
The last time I went to 61st and Jefferson St where I grew up I saw more UNEMPLOYED MINDS than I did see unemployed labor. The change in this block could not be more dramatic. "Renter" mentality has replaced "ownership" with regards to the upkeep of the common areas.
Field Negro - as I scroll down the "Democratic Party" advertisement on the right hand side of your blog I must ask you - Do you see any connection AT ALL between the GROWTH IN POWER of this party within the City of Philadelphia and other 80% Democratic cities (Baltimore, Milwaukee, Newark, Camden, Trenton, Cleveland, Detroit, DC, New Orleans, etc, etc, etc) and the disconnection of the BLACK POLITICAL ACTIVISM that is present today?
You see - Originally Black Advocates fought for our legitimate freedom, rights and economic opportunity. With the oppressive forces squarely within our faces telegraphing their opinions of us it was too easy to figure out who the enemy was. Out of this movement came the strategy that was voiced by Bayard Ruskin. After King's death various Black leaders got together and came up with the strategy for "Where Do We Go From Here?".
Ruskin famously said that Black people will gain power over our communities and promote our own best interests by 1) getting our people elected, 2) as Democrats, 3) in elected seats over our community. It is clear that the front end portions that required our people to do something was successful. There are now more people of our own choosing than ever before in office presiding over our governments, our schools, our police forces. There are more Democrats represent the Black community than ever before.
It would appear that we have arrived at the destiny that was vocalized by Bayard Rusking in 1968, right after King's death.
Unfortunately the modern conditions only indicate HOW FLAWED THIS PLAN WAS. Sadly the Black political operative has largely forgotten what he was originally striving for. He began to hate his party's ENEMY more than he LOVED HIMSELF (ie: tried to obtain benefit for himself). He got in to the position that he was fearful of towing a hard line by making demands of his PARTY because he feared that in doing so the enemy Republican might win - to a greater extent than he saw that as the key voting block he could drive a hard bargain.
Sadly the worst case condition is now among the cities where we are most concentrated. With Philadelphia, for example - a Black person living in West Philadelphia has
a Democrat City Councilman
a Democrat Mayor
a Demcorat Majority city council
a Democrat State Rep
a Democrat State Senator
a Democrat US Rep
one of two US Senatators is a Democrat
a Democrat Governor
a Democrat Majority US House
a Democrat Majority US Senate
and if the Demos take the White House in 2008 this person in West Philly will have a Democratic President.
THEORETICALLY - the stars have aligned for the "Democrat who is Black". But wait Field Negro! Even you have not been out in the sun that long working the fields to believe that this change at the Federal level is going to radically reform the city of Philadelphia. Certainly not in 4 years, certainly not in 8.
We must now step back and ask WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY GETTING OUT OF YOUR CHEERLEADING? We see that you don't like Republicans. You don't like Fox News (oh I am sorry - I am a Black guy - that's Faux News).
The strategic mistake is that as you were ordering your forces to fight against your Conservative enemies - you never prepared them to have an ORGANIC economy in Philadelphia where this city would produce its own jobs as the evil capitalist that were polluting the Deleware and the Schuylkill (see I still know how to spell it after all these years) had departed town, leaving you to manage things among yourselves.
Now of course - after hearing this the conclusion is that I am advocating the Republican Party. To this I ask - who said that this is a BINARY choice? For me it is not a matter of "democrat or republican". For the Black community that is really looking for SOLUTIONS 40 years after Martin's death it must be a choice of WHAT IS WORKING and WHAT IS FAILING TO WORK - having us move closer to our collective goals.
Much of these elements are not even a function of the American political system. Far more mileage can be obtained by ordering ourselves INTERNALLY.
Check out the latest edition of "Bill Moyers Journal" in which he talks about the Kerner Report on poverty. After the Eisenhower Foundation did a 40 year follow up - much is the same in these cities - these same cities that have no evil Republican administrations.
It seems that after having purged "the enemy" someone forgot to do the planning for MANAGEMENT and DEVELOPMENT. (Sounds a lot like Bush in Iraq - doesn't it?)
Again the question must be asked: What is the real objective of the Black political activism of 2008? Surely it can't possibly be to "work in the best interests of the Black community". With so much representation but such tepid results one would have a difficult time PROVING that this is actually the case.
CPL: "The CBC sistas, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, and Sheila Jackson-Lee, are getting earfuls from their districts who overwhelmingly went for Obama, and they are letting these reps know they're going to be faced with payback for supporting Clinton over Obama.
Get out the popcorn..."
There is a video clip of Jackson-Lee getting booed while making a speech at a Dem Convention at TSU I believe. Also looks like Rangel is having to eat a little bit of crow after an article was written about him in The Black Star News.
I definitely think they might face some comp in the next election.
http://www.khou.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=231349
http://blackstarnews.com/?c=117&a=4278
Jody: What bank wouldn't let you open an account? If you got money they let you in.
Are you saying that Focused is right and this is a war?
and Jody don't play the "lesbian card", I live in Northampton, Mass. You know what I'm saying...lol
Bill Cosby would tell them to pull up their pants and get over it. Many blacks have profited from MLK's death as well. Jessie Jackson owes his entire existence to that day..
@David... my point is that in most neighborhoods in Philly that are either racially mixed and/or are predominantly white... there ARE banks... in parts of North and West Philly... all you find are check cashing joints and NO banks to cash that check. And, there has been much written on redlining and other banking practices that are blatant examples of institutional racism that exists TODAY.
My point about the boat is we should not be at war with each other.. we are not each other's enemies... as King was killed questioning economic disparity... so should we all be asking "What is Economic Justice?" What would economic justice look like? How do we get it? where do we start together to achieve it?
[quote]The CBC sistas, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, and Sheila Jackson-Lee, are getting earfuls from their districts who overwhelmingly went for Obama, and they are letting these reps know they're going to be faced with payback for supporting Clinton over Obama.
[/quote]
It is interesting t see the various Black Democrats who have turned against Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Shelia Jackson Lee in particular. I recall that in the year 2006 both of these Black women told of the great possibilities to come from the Democratic take over of the House and Senate. There were to be a number of Black chairmen of various committees who were going to "make us proud".
It is interesting to see how the current "handkerchief headed Negroes" as they are now called for supporting Hillary back then was an elegant silk scarf back then when they were advocating for Blacks to support the Democrats.
Funny how things change.
Still no accountability for where all of them have ultimately lead our community - or failed there in.
What are you ultimately working for? Do you even know?
Yo Field,
I second this statement and add ain't much change here in Memphis 40 yrs hence. Just more crime, more disparity, and lot less love.
Jody: I get you now. Thanks for the explination :)
[quote]I second this statement and add ain't much change here in Memphis 40 yrs hence. Just more crime, more disparity, and lot less love.[/quote]
You for got "more of the people who YOU VOTED FOR" in power.
Is there something perverted about this?
Maybe JUST VOTING is not the solution that it was sold to be?
I was in Memphis late last year. They were plotting on a new teen curfew and the current mayor had just got elected to his 5th term, beating the Democrat that he was running against. He was also a Democrat.
The spectacle of Sheila Jackson-Lee getting booed in her hometown of Houston, TX by a stadium of Obamaholics is a thing of beauty!
Christopher,
Sheila Jackson Lee got shouted down with the words Obama Obama Obama!
She gave an interview saying -- she couldn't go back on her word to support Hillary & what would people think of her if she did that!
She'll soon find out from her constituents! :)
These people voted for Obama 90/10 & they're angry at Sheila right now!
Constructive Feedback, you do anything but. I've already explained about my use of superlatives to you, but obviously you are either a dominionist who wants to pick fights, and are not overly concerned about my being "saved", or you know I come correct with facts and evidence, and in the face of that, you decide to attack when you have no ammunition to come at me with.
Get in where you fit in. I'm glad you found your way back to my blog, but I have some advice for you; PONTIFICATE ON YOUR OWN BLOG.
The bloggers and visitors here would greatly appreciate it and moreso, if you come in with insightful comments.
If Dr. Wright can say God should Damn America (and he's right), I am more than in my place to ask about how many "get yo' shyt together" lectures we need to hear before we actually get our acts together.
If you're a Christian that's weak in the faith and are getting sidetracked by my language, for that I do apologize, because as a Christian, I'm not supposed to get you off track - I'm to encourage you. However, when all you want to do is pick fights, you make encouraging you that much more difficult.
Peace and Blessings.
The American revolution was started with grievances less than what the Negro has endured. There was no argument as to whether the colonist were more freer than their British counterparts. After all they had more freedom to practice their religion. One principle, as stated in the Declaration of Independence was all that's necessary.
An argument about progress is inconsequential, King's challenge is still ours.
Big Black Kitty Kat: YOu are right about what you will find in today's urban schools. But make no mistake, a lot of it is by choice. Oakland schools SUCK and BLOW but you can still learn to read and write. There's a story in today's paper about a kid in high school with incredible grades, sick mother, helping to raise his younger brothers and sisters and this kid's future is nothing but bright because his mother is behind him and he wants a better life. A lot of young people have non functional parents (and I'm not talking about substance abusers, just clueless checked out parents) who don't keep up with what their kids do and won't hear a discouraging word about their kids no matter what. That, my child, is a choice. When 46% of kids don't graduate from Oakland schools, that is hell and gone beyond poor broke down families. There are poor broke down parents who are supporting their kids to find a better way.
All I'm saying is this: Racism is alive and well. But if it ended tomorrow, poof!, presto no more bigotry, black folks would still be killing each other over a slice of pizza or a pair of shoes, and proud to be nonfunctionally illiterate. Culturally, we have embraced underachievement and this is where it took us. We assume that all anti social behavior springs from poverty or desperation. I submit it also comes from boredom and laziness. Recent story about Berkeley High School kids, mostly white middle class, taking pride in crashing parties and completing destroying the host home. We always assume anti social behavior is because someone has been victimized. We never want to consider the asshole factor, to put it bluntly.
I'm tired of urban chaos being blamed on poor people. There are too many non poor who come to the urban core to act out in ways they can't at home. Poor people don't have cars, they don't own cell phones, they own, expensive clothes and jewelry, they don't own Ipods, and they don't drink latte smatte poo poo chi chi coffee from Starbucks. Get over this nonsense, already.
If we don't take ownership of what has happened in our community, it will never get right.
Kid is shot and killed by cops, the "witnesses" say it was an execution. Never mind the kid had a sawed off rifle in his pants that he pulled out in front of the cops. His parents, his father, says he's not a gang banger. So what are to make of it when at his shrine on the sidewalk, two more kids are found with fully automatic military style weapons? And at his memorial service at a Catholic church, a 13-year-old is shot to death in a drive-by in front of the church? Because he was NOT a gang banger? Puuhhhhhlllllleeeeezzzzz. Checked out parents. Kid's dead and people want to elevate this urban terrorist to a some kind of martyr. I'm so sick of this shite.
hi there-
"David Sullivan said...
Ok Focused, so you are saying we are at war? Then why shouldn't I go down to WalMart, get a gun and start mowing down black people?"
David, i am feeling charitable and committed to working on patience today:-) for this reason alone i will make the effort to shine the light of understanding for you.
unless you are in the ruling single digit percent of the shot callers in the u.s.---which i am going to say that based on your previous comments that you are not---you and the rest of the masses have the same enemy.
be really clear. in the sick silence and "wait! chage takes time" mindset held by most american white folks (and scary black folks) they have not heeded the wisdom of Dr. King:
"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere".
america has been turned into a big plantation. all people that are not in that ruling class are in fact enslaved. if you pay attention you will see that white americans are pretty much only left with white skin privilege. as a result they foolishly distract themselves with blackface, nooses, and reviving king kong, etc. etc. while civil liberties, the constitution, bill of rights, american sovereignty(sp?:-) are all being chipped away for them. for black folks all of the above was shredded when the first slave ship (named Jesus) landed on this soil. we are accustomed to being unapologetically treated less than human and first class citizens in this land of the free and home of the brave. as well as dealing with indignant, often times murderous willful ignorance when we bother to speak the truth.
if black folks would wake up we are better prepared than anyone else on the planet. my commitment to telling the truth is born of love for humanity. it comes in all colors. my focus is black folks. i am not sorry. charity begins at home and travels abroad. if you would like check out a piece i wrote on this subject awhile back: Dear Dr. King- feel free.
white supremacy/racism, classism, religious persecution, immigrant dehumanization, homophobia, and the many distractions go on and on...
...they are mere distractions and ways to keep the plantation masses divided and conquered. the divide between the haves and the have nots grows wider and wider in the interim. while we (all people) fight over the crumbs the fat cats kick down to us.
maybe instead of fighting over who gets to be in the little pathetic "have nots" boat we would be better served to unite (all people) in equality minus the isms and other dumb stuff and take the huge luxury liner inhabited by the hand full of corrupt power elite. a stroll through history indicates that this has been needed and successfully done when the same conditions we are seeing have manifested themselves.
black skin is not your enemy my friend. i invite you to really check out zeitgeist, weather seeding, u.s. concentration camps, etc etc. go down the rabbit hole of information. this is the information age which is why the clueless state of most makes me want to laugh...to keep from crying. stop looking to the msm to tell you the truth. it is not in their best financial interest. humanity loses time after time where the love of money exists. arm yourself with truth; it won't be pleasant and comfortable---this is why so few do it. learn real american history and maybe when you get to Walmart (might want to support a little mom and pop business--big corporation=enemy) you will be angry the most if white at people that look like you. black skin enemies are very few and getting less since the pitiful excuse for reparations a.k.a. affirmative action is being dismantled. which incidentally was more beneficial to white women than any other group of citizens. just like the non-white folks are really angry and sick of corrupt, scared to death, violent white folks. non-whites world wide!
p.s. i am extra pissed at people of color world wide who for a nominal fee help inflict genocide, mentacide, homicide and immense suffering on people that look like them. they would be my first targets...just kidding...patriot act:-) ok, not really, i meant it! we are all dying for sure. scary cowards get stomped by history.
my focus is getting black folks to love, accept and respect themselves. may i suggest you get more white folks to learn the truth and tell it? act on it? this will make us all free.
hope that helps to clarify...
blessings,
focusedpurpose
Jody-
i responded to David and came back to the comments. i just read yours and must say:
we are saying the same thing in different ways. we are not in disagreement at all. the boat is tiny the people crammed in it are many. so instead of getting a luxury liner or at least a bigger boat; we fight to kick people out of the little boat.
this is my take as a gloriously nappy black black woman that is sitting under my black man at the bottom. your vantage from the privileged top may be different but the same in truth...of course our filters would be different.
i am a fan of truth. it doesn't matter who speaks it.
i salute your courage to the truth. i stand in an "ism" free solidarity with you.
Field, interesting post. i am encouraged by the views of others. all americans are not clueless.
blessings to all,
focusedpurpose
"Mr. Field Negro - I notice that you are not a fan of Alphonso Jackson, the recently departed HUD Secretary. You mention that he was helping his friends and bulling people.
I wonder if you realize that the two main charges against him were.."
I am quite aware of what the charges were, and I am quite familliar with the story. Kenny Gamble happens to be doing some good things, but even KG can't just get land that he didn't pay fair market value for. And your boy just can't hold back funds from PHA because he didn't give the land to KG. Now Carl Green happens to be a friend of mine so I am trying not to blog about this story. But trust me on this one, your boy Alphonso has some issues.
I see you have also done your homework with politics here in Philly. You are right with your list about the dems controlling the offices that you mention. But you forgot one thing. The repubs control the courts, and the biggest money maker in this city, the parking authority. So think about that when you start pointing fingers at the dems. BTW, the Parking Auth who your beloved repubs control held back millions of dollars from our public schools. You seem to want blacks here to align themselves with repubs. Quck question for you; do you think the blacks in this city (or any other city) becamse democrats by accident? Irish Catholic republican wards in the Northeast and other parts of the city for example, are quite comfortable with the status quo, so try and infiltrate the republican power structure in my fair city and see just how far you will get. FYI, it doesn't matter whether you are repub or democrat in this city, it's all about money and who gives the most of it. Do a little more research on your Philly politcs and then get back to me. And maybe we will talk a little more then.
"We must now step back and ask WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY GETTING OUT OF YOUR CHEERLEADING? We see that you don't like Republicans. You don't like Fox News (oh I am sorry - I am a Black guy - that's Faux News)."
Well, FAKE NEWS, FIX NEWS, FUCK NEWS...it doesn't matter, we all know who you mean. And you would be correct; I don't particularly like republicans. I don't believe in going where I am not wanted. "CHEERLEADING"? Okay, call it what you will, but I am not sure who you are accusing me of cheerleading for, since I am as hard on this site on dems as I am on repubs. But hey, we all see the world how we want to see it.
"Funny how things change.
Still no accountability for where all of them have ultimately lead our community - or failed there in.
What are you ultimately working for? Do you even know?"
Yes, as a matter of fact I do know. I am working to keep black conservative thought where it belongs, in the house.
BTW, pontificate here all you want, but be careful, the sun gets hot sometmes.
Great comments focused..., and you too david, I am feeling the communication and dialogue. See, just what A-merry-ca needs, black folks and white folks having an honest and open discussion with each other.
@focusedpurpose:
"you can tell these people that i have bought into the god quality of white folks. i am not trying to be funny nor mean; however they usually make statements like:
"Now, if you go wishing whites all dead, a large portion of the black community is gonna go down with them."
My Bible tells me that God created man in His image, after His likeness.
Seems to me, then, we all possess the "God quality," white, black or any other nationality, race, or ethnicity.
One of the points, by the way, that Rev. Wright was making in one of his so-called racist rants.
focusedpurpose you took my quote out of context.
What I said is this:
@lastisfirstplace:
Bro, most of us blacks here in this country have inherited some white blood (and that probably include you, too).
Now, if you go wishing whites all dead, a large portion of the black community is gonna go down with them.
If the response is to kill all white people as an answer to the anger anon was feeling, then that part of us that's white will have to be destroyed as well.
My statement sought to point out the ludicrousness of wanting to kill all whites as a solution to the race problem in this country.
How you saw it as some deference to white superiority only you know.
"just what A-merry-ca needs, black folks and white folks having an honest and open discussion with each other."
Amen Field. Amen.
I'm feelin it. It's good.
The Klanservatives, moreover, are stronger NOW than they were in the later years of Dr. King's life. They are absolutely setting absolutely racist policies in this country, because they are the power that kept the monkey in his throne.
[quote]Constructive Feedback, you do anything but. I've already explained about my use of superlatives to you, but obviously you are either a dominionist who wants to pick fights, and are not overly concerned about my being "saved", or you know I come correct with facts and evidence, and in the face of that, you decide to attack when you have no ammunition to come at me with.[/quote]
CPL:
I have read through many of your blogs. You are a CHARACTER ASSASSIN and quite intolerant despite being a self proclaimed "progressive".
CPL: It is not that I want to "pick a fight" with you. It is that I want you to be more responsible and accountable for the rhetoric and agenda that you pontificate on your sites. It seems that only people who agree with you avoid attack from you.
I only ask that you provide a FRAMEWORK of measurement for your beliefs upon which you judge these other people. This would allow others to evaluate YOUR FAVORED PEOPLE to see if they measure up to these standards.
Just as with Field Negro's side bar Democratic love fest, Conservative attack gallery - none of this is going to address the problem that he even admits blankets the city of Philadelphia - an 80% Democratic city.
It is not that your "facts" that I have problems with CPL. I have a problem with your SELECTIVE FACTS that you bring forth. As with the Pacific Network News - it is my belief that one who cherry picks FACTS in their presentation while leaving broad areas of other facts are in realty telling HALF TRUTHS. If you assemble 2 half truths to make one whole truth there is also one WHOLE LIE left on the floor that you are ignoring.
Regarding your 'saved status' this is between you and your God. I since you call yourself a "Christian" and include this in your own moniker , however I just thought it odd that you would use such language and have such a character assassin style about you. Then again - there are all types of Christian churches out there with a variety of tenants that they operate with - I suppose.
[quote]And your boy just can't hold back funds from PHA because he didn't give the land to KG.[/quote]
Again the judge rulled on Monday that the witholding of the funds were justified and in line with the accountability shown with other HAs around the country. Philly HA failed to abide by the mandates that were specified in receiving the funds.
Again though - I find it interesting that (the now scorned) Shelia Jackson Lee, for example, when she escoriated the Black Assistant Attorney General over Jena LA for not symbolically using the fact that he is BLACK to push beyond what the norm is yet when it comes to Alphonso Jackson - the two key charges against him in which the White Democrats attack him over is with helping a Black contractor to get a contract on the Gulf Coast AND assisting the highly respected Kenny Gambel to obtain land for development in a Black community. The same Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah who ALSO attempted to intervene with PHA on behalf of Gambel launched an attack on Jackson for his deeds in the situation. Is there any greater hypocrisy than this? Clearly some people have their "Permanet Friends and Permanent Party membership" placed higher than their community's "Permanent Interests".
I only ask "Democrats who are Black" to switch to "Black people who are Democrats". I have no problem with the Democratic party - they do their job of retaining power very effectively. I have a problem with Black people who FUSE, CONFUSE AND CONFLATE their community's interests with that of the Demoratic Party. They are NOT the same.
There is no greater definition of a "Sellout" than this. Just because it is POPULARLY ACCEPTED to do so among the people does not change the damaging impact that it has upon our community. Philadelphia is a poster child for this point.
I see you have also done your homework with politics here in Philly. You are right with your list about the dems controlling the offices that you mention. But you forgot one thing. The repubs control the courts, and the biggest money maker in this city, the parking authority. So think about that when you start pointing fingers at the dems. BTW, the Parking Auth who your beloved repubs control held back millions of dollars from our public schools. You seem to want blacks here to align themselves with repubs. Quck question for you; do you think the blacks in this city (or any other city) becamse democrats by accident? Irish Catholic republican wards in the Northeast and other parts of the city for example, are quite comfortable with the status quo, so try and infiltrate the republican power structure in my fair city and see just how far you will get. FYI, it doesn't matter whether you are repub or democrat in this city, it's all about money and who gives the most of it. Do a little more research on your Philly politcs and then get back to me. And maybe we will talk a little more then.
"We must now step back and ask WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY GETTING OUT OF YOUR CHEERLEADING? We see that you don't like Republicans. You don't like Fox News (oh I am sorry - I am a Black guy - that's Faux News)."
Well, FAKE NEWS, FIX NEWS, FUCK NEWS...it doesn't matter, we all know who you mean. And you would be correct; I don't particularly like republicans. I don't believe in going where I am not wanted. "CHEERLEADING"? Okay, call it what you will, but I am not sure who you are accusing me of cheerleading for, since I am as hard on this site on dems as I am on repubs. But hey, we all see the world how we want to see it.
"Funny how things change.
Still no accountability for where all of them have ultimately lead our community - or failed there in.
What are you ultimately working for? Do you even know?"
Yes, as a matter of fact I do know. I am working to keep black conservative thought where it belongs, in the house.
BTW, pontificate here all you want, but be careful, the sun gets hot sometmes.
[quote] The repubs control the courts, and the biggest money maker in this city, the parking authority. So think about that when you start pointing fingers at the dems. BTW, the Parking Auth who your beloved repubs control held back millions of dollars from our public schools.[/qoute]
Field Negro - if we were to stack rank the PROBLEMS that are faced by the Philadelphia Public School system - I assure you that the money held back by the Parking Authority (I'll have to take your word on it) would not appear in the top 5 list of challenges. This district was close to state take over years ago. As I run through the list of former marquee high schools in the city too many of them are mere shells of themselves according to the people who I know in my birth town.
[quote]You seem to want blacks here to align themselves with repubs.[/quote]
I have no idea how you have arrived at this conclusion. I only said that we need to eliminate the binary choice of "Democrat and Republican" and instead shift to a mandate of "Is it working" or "is it not working". If anything the need is to remove loyalty to a certain IDEOLOGY when the IDEOLOGY HAS FAILED YOU. Instead identify the goals, reverse engineer the steps toward that goal and MANAGE the people that you place in power to guide the masses along the path. I did not mention an AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTY. I still wonder which party the Asians that are growing their retail presence in both Black and White communities where I live are loyal to. It appears to be NEITHER.
[quote] Quck question for you; do you think the blacks in this city (or any other city) becamse democrats by accident? Irish Catholic republican wards in the Northeast and other parts of the city for example, are quite comfortable with the status quo, so try and infiltrate the republican power structure in my fair city and see just how far you will get. FYI, it doesn't matter whether you are repub or democrat in this city, it's all about money and who gives the most of it. Do a little more research on your Philly politcs and then get back to me. And maybe we will talk a little more then.[/quote]
Dude - I am beyond "Philly". Though I monitor "Radio Times" on NPR which often talks about Philly politics and other ills - I am interested in PATTERN MATCHING. This same pattern in Philly is in existence in Detroit, Baltimore, Cleveland and elsewhere. Again you keep mentioning REPUBLICAN. The radio host for "Radio Times" said that someone needs to hold a mirror up to the nose of the Republican Party in Philadelphia to see if it is still breathing. On the same episode an otherwise liberal opinion writer for the Philly Enquirer said that he saw the need for the Republican Party to come back because of the corruption that is taking place in this single party dominated system. Where as a party mate is not likely to expose the depths of corruption in the system a partisan adversary would. He is planning on writing a book for Black Philadelphians about the corruption. Where as many Blacks have the opinion "White folks were corrupt for decades - why are you all hating on our people now that they are in power". His book is going to translate the COSTS of allowing corruption into how this impacts them personally. The money paid in kickbacks during the Ron White Recreation Department contracts scandal could have kept 3 community centers opened.
[quote]
Well, FAKE NEWS, FIX NEWS, FUCK NEWS...it doesn't matter, we all know who you mean. And you would be correct; I don't particularly like republicans. I don't believe in going where I am not wanted. "CHEERLEADING"? Okay, call it what you will, but I am not sure who you are accusing me of cheerleading for, since I am as hard on this site on dems as I am on repubs. But hey, we all see the world how we want to see it.
[/quote]
I will have to take a wait and see before I settle upon a final opinion.
AGAIN the issue is NOT Republican and Democrat. If indeed you have an interest of forwarding the attainment of "Black Best interests" in our communities then any such person would focus on that which has the greatest impact upon this said community. I don't need for you to agree with me ideologically. However - when I see certain Black operatives spend 90% of their time on conservatives when THERE ARE FEW IF ANY CONSERVATIVES governing their local SCHOOLS, their mayors office, their city council and their police forces.....it becomes clear to me that they are more ideologes than they have an interest in real change.
I am not stating that this is the case with you necessarily - I don't know you as of yet.
[quote]
Yes, as a matter of fact I do know. I am working to keep black conservative thought where it belongs, in the house.
BTW, pontificate here all you want, but be careful, the sun gets hot sometmes.
[/quote]
In the "house" is fine Field Negro. I only ask that you consider the PROPORTIONALITY of this threat that causes you to lose sleep at night. More significant than the "conservative" thought that needs to be 'kept in the house' is the rampant imbededness of the Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive Fundamentalist Racism Chaser in so many areas with little accountability and few expectations. There simply is no contest between the two - for those who are intellectually honest that is.
"I have no idea how you have arrived at this conclusion. I only said that we need to eliminate the binary choice of "Democrat and Republican" and instead shift to a mandate of "Is it working" or "is it not working". If anything the need is to remove loyalty to a certain IDEOLOGY when the IDEOLOGY HAS FAILED YOU. Instead identify the goals, reverse engineer the steps toward that goal and MANAGE the people that you place in power to guide the masses along the path."
I agree with you there. But when you say that you are "beyond Philly" I am not exactly sure what that means. Is there some new school urban political movement that I am not aware of?
"don't need for you to agree with me ideologically. However - when I see certain Black operatives spend 90% of their time on conservatives when THERE ARE FEW IF ANY CONSERVATIVES governing their local SCHOOLS, their mayors office, their city council and their police forces.....it becomes clear to me that they are more ideologes than they have an interest in real change.."
That is an incorrect statement. Governing the schools, the mayor's offices etc. is one thing, having the money to pay for the things you want to do is quite another. Believe it or not a lot of the funding for programs in this city and others still comes from the state and the federal government. So what you are saying makes for a nice sound bite. But in reality it just doesn't work that way.
Don't worry about the republican party in Philly, they love the numbers just the way they are. --It just means that there are less jobs that the people who hold the real power in their party have to find for their constituents.
"n the "house" is fine Field Negro. I only ask that you consider the PROPORTIONALITY of this threat that causes you to lose sleep at night."
I never lose sleep at night ;)
@ west coast:
make no mistake about it, i am not here to let US off the hook for where we are socially. and to clarify, i never equated violence with poverty and victimization. but the schools that suck and blow-all over the nation-are mostly populated by people of color, and the nice gushy college prep schools are populated by the folks with money (white folk).
and where there is money, there is a greater chance that you will have the tools at your right hand to take advantage of creating opportunities--whether you decide to use them or not. the fact of the matter is, the playing field is not equal and never has been for black people in america. that's not to excuse the 'asshole' tendencies that exist with in every race, but why is it that the violence exists so prominently in ours? think of all the social and political circumstances that have affected black people historically throughout america. from slavery, to poll taxes, to share cropping, to it being leagal to kill a black person for looking wrong. add to that econmic disempowement with no hope for reversal. don't let your mind just graze over the thoughts, do your best to go there mentally. now, keep two things in mind: we are just about two generations from this shit, and i am speaking from the perspective of one with roots in the deep south. with that said, please understand that i take the position that the things affecting our communities presently didn't start five or ten years ago. shit has been eroding us as a people for a long time now. but as the times have changed the ways that we effect and are affected have changed as well. but what's the same is the limited amount of control black people have/take/given (however you choose to look at it) of the most important elements of our lives: our media and how our children are educated. like you said in your post, a lot of parents are checked out. that has allowed politics to put educators at the mercy of children--i'm a teacher by the way. i actually got cursed at today by a 5th grader, who won't be suspended mush less have his little ass whipped (by his momma AND the school administrator--like back in the day). furthermore, it is not that black people don't value education and intellect, but what is mandatory for the classroom now is outdated, inacurate and irrelevant. so not only do we have a generation of kids who have no discipline or respect for the people around them, but they're bored as hell to boot. all i am saying is, this shit is outta control, and through our children we are seeing a manifestion what years oppression from america and 40 years of inaction from black people looks like.
lastisfirst-
i apologize you feel your words were taken out of context:-(
for the record, the white blood in my veins was imposed not inherited. i speak only for myself and out of honor for my ancestors.
we are created in the image of God. depicting Jesus despite the geography and descriptions as eurocentric is nothing short of devilish, in my opinion. judas as black---uh, white supremacy.
my confession that i am standing on is: if all white folks disappeared i would be more than fine. it is a perk of dominance.
i really tried to be clear that it was not my intention to be mean or funny. offending you was not my intent:-)
blessings in abundance,
focusedpurpose
Constructive Feedback:
Either you back up the charge about how my facts are "selective" or just quit talking to me. Period.
I don't see character assassination when I report what I know to be facts; therefore, your point is moot and not even based in evidence, but your own point of view. That's what we all do here.
As for challenging me on my Christianity, you have no right to challenge me at all, seeing as you have not come forward with a declaration of your own beliefs in God or not.
I think I will not spend my time responding to you, since you don't appear to respect what I have to say.
You said:
But make no mistake, 40 years later, not much has changed. As I look around my hometown of Philadelphia, I can see the look of despair and hopelessness in the faces of the working poor. Mothers who have to take the bus to the suburbs in order to take care of wealthy old white women and clean up their shit. Or old men who have to work in $7 an hour security guard jobs in the most dangerous parts of our city to supplement their meager social security checks.
I say:
This is what Reverend Jerimiah Wright was talking about too.
40 years later, not much has changed, I in Memphis alot and it seems to be kind of backwards. I can say that thay have a black city and county mayor, and many blacks have nice job and live in great neighborhoods. There is still a problem there with race issues, and it seems that all the businesses that pay well are ran by whites with plenty of black doing the work, remember. Memphis is a major distribution center.
@focusedpurpose:
[blessings in abundance]
And the same to you. I'm satisfied with the clarification.
as an older man i have seen many changes for the better
It's really unfortunate that yes it does continue and will. I am from a Caribbean background and I have seen many women in my family cleaning up after old white women and men to make ends meet so its extremely true . I am a young black woman and RACISM EXIST because I have experienced it more times than I can count. I am college educated and have been past over for jobs to someone who doesn't look the way I do. So much has changed we can have bentleys and stay in 5 star hotels now "WOW" I see it ever day as you mentioned Mr. Field and it hurts to see on a daily basis in my neighborhood of Brooklyn so many young brothers on the corner selling a dime bag to eat because they made those choices and feel their are no more they have. No excuse for what we have become we simple decided to lay down and give up everything we spent so long trying to make "them" see we are worth a damn. I am simple tired of it.
To those previously unaware, iit is a situation that seems unfathomable: There is no pension for the Memphis sanitation workers.
Those same men -- whose groundbreaking strike in 1968 lasted 65 days, brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to town and who are now accorded with honor and esteem at everything from NBA games to academic conferences -- those same men, when they retire, get nothing more from the City of Memphis.
According to Lorene Essex, the city's director of human resources, the city in 1999 did in fact move to put sanitation workers back into the pension system, to be effective on Jan. 1, 2000. However, she said, the Social Security Administration ruled that the employees covered by Social Security were not able to then transfer back into the city pension system.
[quote]it is not that black people don't value education and intellect, but what is mandatory for the classroom now is outdated, inacurate and irrelevant. so not only do we have a generation of kids who have no discipline or respect for the people around them, but they're bored as hell to boot[/quote]
Big.Black.KittyKat:
I hear what you are saying in your post.
Let me ask you though - If we accept the notion that the schools that most Blacks attend have an outmoded set of practicies and are out of alignment with what will make our children competitive in the world of tomorrow......how do you reconsile this with the fact that many Black Elected Officials and many Black Educational Operatives are OPPOSED TO shifting even ONE BLACK STUDENT out of this public school system that has these characteristics and also are opposed to fundamentally reforming that same system GO UNPUNISHED BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY that is demadning change? I stress the word "UNPUNISHED" because this is exactly the case.
Let me interject my viewpoint. When you get close to the educational debate those who seek to DEFEND the "education distribution system" of today will always talk about 1) MONEY and 2) How The White Folks In the Suburbs have it good!
In my view, their goal is to REFOCUS the "chase" that Black people will be placed in from a focus on OUR SCHOOLS over to a focus on THESE OTHER SCHOOLS - demanding that WE get the same as THEY. Few of these same people seeking to redirect our attention have any sort of MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES to achieve these outcomes that they so covet in these other areas - even if we control for the funding differences.
What of the DISCIPLINE POLICY differences that punish infractions? This has nothing to do with FUNDING. Will the Black educational activist support the enforcement of certain policies or will they look for PATTERNS that might show discriminatory practicies as their main focus?
At the end of the day, we can all debate and prioritize our key talking points. The fact remains - what ever is in place IS NOT WORKING!!! Change needs to take place.
Me, who is an observer of and an analyst of those who claim to have POWER WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY am going to make note that these same people who are in POWER also are in power because they have the POPULAR support of the people who voted them into office. These are the same people who are COMPLAINING!!!
When the consumers of these educational services - the students and their parents who have the right to VOTE begin to align their VOTE with their expected outcomes AND ALSO do THEIR PART in betweeen elections (assist with homework, attend PTA, etc) then the fact remains that they have little to complain about - THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO INSURE THAT THE CURRENT OUTCOMES WILL PERSIST IN THE FUTURE.
[quote]Either you back up the charge about how my facts are "selective" or just quit talking to me. Period.
I don't see character assassination when I report what I know to be facts; therefore, your point is moot and not even based in evidence, but your own point of view. That's what we all do here.
As for challenging me on my Christianity, you have no right to challenge me at all, seeing as you have not come forward with a declaration of your own beliefs in God or not.
I think I will not spend my time responding to you, since you don't appear to respect what I have to say.
[/quote]
CHRISTIAN Progressive Liberal:
Please accept my apologies. I withdrawl my claims that you are a "character assassin". I will only form my opinion of what I see from you going forward.
I was not attempting to challenge your Christianity. At the end of the day you as a Christian have a relationship with God through Jesus and this is for you to determine if you are in line with that which the bible indicates. I am of the opinion that someone who labels themself a "Christian" a "Muslim" or even a "pediatrician" in doing so binds themselves to the common tenants of that which is represented in the label that they ascribe to. I don't believe that it is "judgment" for me or anyone to measure a Christian against this ruler. In fact a person who is a pediatrician should submit herself to such inspection and then be willing to document her own actions in the operating room with regard to the reference that all pediatricians operate by.
This indirect reference that is hopefully documented and open to the public so that no one can manipulate it removes the subjectivism from the commentary. Instead of telling the person that they are wrong - you can point to this reference that both are bound to and ask the person IF they believe that they are in line.
I do respect what you have to say CPL. I don't have to agree with you in order to respect what you have to say, however. When you have two or more people who disagree with each other this raises the importance to have STRUCTURED debates, frameworks that all parties can operate within AND, hopefully some COMMON OBJECTIVES that all who choose to enter into debate can agree that they are working within.
You see CPL - when I reviewed your line up of blogs that you either directly control, contribute articles to or, as in this case, post upon - I thought that I saw a certain pattern in your agenda. Since I am inclined to disagree with at least some of your ideological viewpoints I see the need for me, you and everyone else to be clear on what our OBJECTIVES ARE AS A PEOPLE first. Then as we have our debates we can have more substantive outcomes that go beyond "My side is better than your side because we are more POPULAR"....despite the fact that in this POPULARLITY the people are still suffering greatly.
I hope that you will continue to talk with me and not see it as a waste of your time due to any lack of respect.
Things are better for some, just not for everyone. The black middle class is proportinally larger. Proportinally, fewer blacks are poor but there is still disproportionate poverty among black people. I'm not sure what you think will happen if you concede that things are beter. "things are better" does not mean that "things are all fixed." It just means things are better. There's still a lot to do but things are better.
It's easy to mock those who are older and lived under medieval at best conditions when you haven't had that experience. Even Rev. Wright can come and go as he pleases. I appreciate his bitterness, I have some of my own. But things are still better.
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