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February 20, 2009
Are We Afraid to Talk About Race?
Eric Holder scratched at the scab of white supremacy when he used the term, 'Nation of Cowards'. Pat Buchanan went from a respectful discussion with Professor Michael Eric Dyson to a rant where racism is placed on the backs on the Black community. It ain't the first time Buchanan let his true racist feelings about African Americans flow. I have never been a big fan of Dyson ... but, the brother was outstanding in laying out facts and responses to Buchanan. Take a moment to check this video out:
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8 comments:
Dyson did lay it down for Buchanan, but Pat's heard this before. He who has an ear let him hear goes to Pat's issue. He has no ear for this. He's rabid.
Boy what a clip! I added this link to my UMBOP blog post on this topic, but it's a young blog. You won't see any traffic on that link. :-)
I get tired of being told, as a black person, whether I can express anger and being shut down by conservative whites for expressing outrage first (before saying calmer words) at what deserves outrage.
Dyson: The election of one black man in public housing on Pennsylvania Avenue ... LOL. The brothers got quite the quick tongue.
From the whites who are voicing negativity about Holder’s comments, it seems to me as if they are reading it as him saying “whites are cowards”. It's the whole "shoot the messenger" mentality. Holder said “nation” so to me, he is putting it on all of us to help heal the racial wounds in this country.
Although I am leaning towards “yes” in regards to the question you posed, I’m not sure if the conversations will necessarily have all of the elements you listed (professional, honest and calm) at the same time. However, as long as the dialogue is honest, that will be a step forward. One of the reasons I launched a new blog (Diversity Ink) is because I feel that we often talk about race matters, just not to each other. Hopefully, most Americans won’t be so indignant at Holder’s remarks and will realize that we have a long way to go in regards to race relations in this country.
VP - Merci beaucoup for the link love! Every link helps! I look forward to visiting your young blog very often in the coming days and weeks. I think that your feeling is shared by many folks of African descent in this country...
Malcolm - I agree with your assessment ... we are getting better, but we have not yet arrived. Holder spoke it loud and strong ... and it is a shame that some white folks took it personally. I look forward to visiting your new blog...
I watched this heated discussion as it unfolded. It was quite a piece of live television! I was not surprised that Pat came out like he did. After having viewed him on several of MSNBC's different news venues, I realize that he is definitely an old school thinker on a variety of topics.
I think that it is difficult to have a discussion about race. It happens daily and on many different levels. Holder hit the nail on the head he declared that this is a nation of cowards. I did not take that to be solely centered around white people. We need to have a serious discussion about our black on black racist tendencies as well.
I also think that we lack a real understanding about white guilt as people of color. Just like I believe that there is a gap in their understanding about how people of color feel towards the "majority" population.
There could be meaningful diaglouge occurring. It would be great to have an opportunity to interchange ideas and feelings on the subject of race relations in America.
As I hear Renee at Womanist Musings say, 'If it ain't about you, don't make it about you'.
The whining and defensive reactions com9ng from whites about the AG's comments tell me that he plucked a nerve that needed to be plucked.
Just as we don't understand the depth of 'white guilt', whites truly don't understand the depth of our post-traumatic anger over slavery.
I've also heard other minority groups increasingly chime in with the 'it ain't about y'all meme', referring to the centuries old dissfest between Blacks and whites.
Lady D and Monica - I wonder if there is more that we can do as bloggers to help uplift the discussion on race? That is something that I wonder about in light of Mr. Holder's comments...
Thanks Village. Verite Parlant hipped me to it and I was looking for this! You guys gave me a thought.
Revvy Rev - Take the idea and run with it brotha!
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