Bad stretch for some Black folks (and one similarly identified) lately!

Man! Since I last posted, there's been whole lot of what sister blogger, Cinie, would definitely call - "distractions!" While I agree with her that they are indeed distractions from the pressing issues of health care, the economy, unemployment, homelessness, education, continued Bush-era policies of preventive detention, possibly a new "surge" in Afghanistan if McChrystal's report is taken seriously, troops still in Iraq, etc., etc., IMHO, it is largely those "distractions," dressed up as "Love of country" or some other silly thing, that continue to keep us from making progress on those pressing issues.

Along with all the other Cinie-identified distractions since the Changeling came on the scene, these recent ones speak to THE biggest issue we have yet to seriously address not only in this country - but the world. Now you know which one I'm talking about. Yeah, that pesky, big ole pink elephant we keep wedged in the corner just so we can say it no longer exists that begins with "Rac-" and ends in "-ism."

Since I've been gone for a minute and there are quite a few of those distractions that I'd like to address, I think I'll just catch-up in a few posts rather than one long one. Let's start with this one:

Tuesday, September 8
The Changeling gives his speech to American school kids and the response, leading up to and after, was quite interesting given our "post-racial nation" status and all. An interesting email exchange with my nephew that night pretty much sums up what I think. For some perspective, he is my husband's, sister's 29 year-old son:

Am I the only one who relates the fact that people are pissed off about Barry's speech today to the deeply rooted racism in this country???!!!! I've asked a lot of people (smart people) and nobody thinks that it's cause he's "black"... everyone says it's political (party specific), would people get that pissed if Clinton was speaking to them. This is fucked up, why are people so scared?

I've gotta hear your opinion on this...

Hope all's well,
love you,

I sent this reply:

Hardly. But who – even those “smart people” you’ve asked – will come out and say it? None. I don’t even like the guy, but it’s pretty clear (after listening to it) there’s no political-party-specific nothing for them to have their panties in a knot about. If anything, through my lens anyway, there were other things. Even though plenty of them didn’t like Clinton, they’d be happy to have him speaking to them. There are plenty of reasons people are so scared because whether they own it or not, they know what has gone on in this country, and for whose benefit. But the trip is, they really don’t have to be scared because the supposed, conspiracy-inspired, “Willie Lynch” plan was pretty much successful. There’s no threat of any kind of real “revolution” not like the 60s & 70s.
All’s well, take care

The next day, I got my emailed post-notification from the Friends of Justice (FOJ) which included this: "Arlington School Board shields students from their President." I thought he'd be interested so I forwarded it to him. Here's what I said regarding the speech:

The 2nd post here’s interesting and related to your question about Obama talking to school kids and “Why are people so scared?” They’re afraid because deeply ingrained, systemic foot-on-neck shit like this has been, and despite The Changeling, still is SOP in America. It’s just that now, Klansmen wear Armani suits instead of pointy little hats, and they make laws, and reward systems that maintain those SOPs - disproportionately - to the benefit of others in America who look like them. And those beneficiaries, whether personally involved, or not, are complicit by their silence while enjoying the privilege.

As I said before, not since the 60s & 70s, has white America seen Black America mad as hell and not taking it anymore. It scared them (Watts Riots, DC riots, etc, etc) back then – even though they were tearing up their own damn neighborhoods! They were able to contain them before – with all that Byrne $$$ flowing how could they not? – their fear, is that they might not be able to do it now, should they rise up. Hell, there’s a media-identified Black man in the Big House! Trust me, there are plenty who believe he is the beginning of Black domination (payback). They’re afraid of “The Fire Next Time.” (read it?)...

The next day, I got another FOJ notification containing this post, "Rapper Corey Miller Case Spotlights Jury Law's Openly Racist Origins," which I also forwarded to him saying:

After I hit send, realized I wanted to add, in addition to what I said...there is also a huge fear of losing the “Supremacy” and the privilege so long enjoyed. Got this post from FOJ this morning. The second part, on C-Murder, is a perfect example of what I meant (the first part is interesting too, but the 2nd goes straight to the heart of your question and should give you some context. Really interesting read.

It was - particularly the included-in-the-body-of-the-post and linked-to-directly, Bowen brief section (i) entitled, "The Use of of Non-Unanimous Juries in Louisiana has an Ignoble Past." Based on the research of transplanted-to-Louisiana Australian lawyer, Richard Bourke, this section begins thusly:

"Louisiana’s majority verdict system was introduced in 1898 by a Constitution explicitly designed to disenfranchise the African-American population and enshrine white power."

If you can read the documented statements of those "lawmakers" of the day and not smell fear of losing supremacy and privilege coupled with the arrogance of knowing they had the power to protect those things - I'll give you a nickel. That, my friends, is what racism really is - fear, and the power to materially affect the lives of those of whom you are afraid. Black people ne-e-ver had it like that in America.

Let's be clear, while I can accept the premise that some of us are, in fact, prejudiced, I totally reject that we are racist because as a people, we lack the "power to materially affect" element - until now. (Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Just joshin' ya come on! Based on the Changeling's performance to date, white folks don't have anything to worry about.)

I'd sent him so much stuff, he replied:

"Cool thanks, I got my reading cut out for me, give me a few days to digest."

He's still digesting.

Later, I saw this video in the comments over at The Confluence while perusing blogs. I saved it because I knew I'd use it for something:



Hey Lar, THIS is what they're afraid of though they won't admit it - "Obamaindoctrination!"( I have to admit, I found that whole thing pret-t-t-y damn creepy myself! Not to mention sad.)

By Friday, the Houston Star-Telegram had run this, Arlington superintendent apologizes for not showing Obama's speech. Isn't that how it always goes? Insult, then empty apology; insult, then more empty apologies?

And the beat goes on...