Wednesday, July 21, 2010

And this is why the NAACP can stop sending me solicitations...

NAACP Statement on the resignation of Shirley Sherrod:
With regard to the initial media coverage of the resignation of USDA Official Shirley Sherrod, we have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party Activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias. 
Having reviewed the full tape, spoken to Ms. Sherrod, and most importantly heard the testimony of the white farmers mentioned in this story, we now believe the organization that edited the documents did so with the intention of deceiving millions of Americans. (emphasis mine)

When they start acting, instead of reacting - maybe I'll take them seriously.  "Snookered??"  Really??    (Who says that?)  Besides, shouldn't you have done all that shit in the second paragraph, BEFORE you put this out???

NAACP Slams Shirley Sherrod's Actions as 'Shameful':

"We are appalled by her actions, just as we are with abuses of power against farmers of color and female farmers. 
"Her actions were shameful. While she went on to explain in the story that she ultimately realized her mistake, as well as the common predicament of working people of all races, she gave no indication she had attempted to right the wrong she had done to this man."
First of all, let's just call it what it really is - Fox News just made a big, damn fool of you guys! And you fell for it - hook, line and sinker, tripping all over yourselves trying to look all Changeling-decreed "post-racial" with that knee-jerk, slamming of this sister for being honest about how she felt. You guys were in such a damn hurry to distance yourselves from this woman, that you initially MISSED the "teachable moment" she was trying to share!

Hell, if more of our people were truly honest about how they felt, maybe we could have a real conversation about race in this country!  But no-o-o, most of us just keep wearing that damn mask, tilting at windmills Don Quixote-style (instead of resolving to address the real issues with which our community struggles), being twisted in the wind by white folk, hell-bent on keeping that foot-on-neck scenario firmly in place by any means necessary. {smdh}

What she admitted feeling, was nothing short of what I, and I'm certain, plenty other Black folk would have felt - if we're honest.  And what she did, after feeling that, was again, nothing short of what I, and I'm certain, plenty other Black folk would have done in the end - the right damn thing.  It just blows my mind, that after damn-near 400 years (and counting) of white supremacy in this country, not only do plenty white folk still think that we don't have a right to our feelings - plenty of us do too!

Second of all, isn't this JULY?  This NAACP banquet (That's right - NAACP banquet!) happened in March!?!  But Mr. Jealous only got appalled, and felt all this shame about it now?   Please.  He should be appalled and ashamed that he got suckered into that knee-jerk statement.

There was no excuse for that attack.  None.  And they shouldn't have fired her (because we all know - that's what "agreeing to accept a resignation" really means).  Even though the tape had been edited, they still (I'm convinced, unwittingly - because that's not what they were looking for in the first place) left in the "teachable moment!":




It's obvious from the video, that she felt she was among "her own," having one of those conversations a lot of Black folk never have in "mixed company" (and never admit to having at all!). But c'mon ya'll - she had to know the cameras were rolling! Apparently, she didn't care to keep "wearing the damn mask" - preferring instead, to share an important, personal and necessary "teachable moment" with her people, in a way she was sure they'd feel and understand.  She was probably confident that if the shit hit the fan, her president, the NAACP and her kinfolk - at the very least - would "get it" and stand with her. As it turns out - that last part was her real mistake.

I've pretty much stopped watching the news in general, and CNN in particular but, I just had to put this video here:



See why I stopped watching CNN?  Have they no real researchers on staff? Look at how they killed the man while he was riding around on his Peterbilt!!

A-a-anyway, I posted the video because: 1) her, "if the staff were free to tell you" around the :58 click provides - despite all their blather about transparency - a very telling peek into how the Changeling's administration is no different than Shrub's or anybody else's, and 2) Eloise Spooner's call illustrates the importance of the "teachable moment" that Mr. Jealous, et al initially missed - because they chose to immediately believe the "lying eyes" of racist white men before even talking to the sister (patriarchy, after all is patriarchy) and they were too quick to "rush to judgement."

Instead of all these resolutions decreeing the obvious, young Mr. Jealous would do well to take a step back and stop - as the beautiful, "young, gifted and Black" Sunni Patterson says in the video below - "mistaking mimicry for mastery, or pretending for knowing."  Stop, as she says, giving "in to the empty threats and scare tactics of the powerless ones" and learn to "be faithful, strategic, victorious and free."  Maybe then, I'll actually open one of those solicitations for membership that keep coming in the mail - and respond.




UPDATE I:  Sherrod has her say!  Reminds me of another "Shirley" sister-warrior - Ms. Chisholm would be proud!

UPDATE II:  Yeah, the Changeling would have you believe it's the lunatics running the asylum.  Please!  As Jason Linkins so succinctly points out here - he's the HLIC (Head Lunatic In Charge)!:  Shirley Sherrod Scandal: How The White House Is Backing Away From The Decision To Fire Her.

9 comments:

Clifton said...

I have been trying to avoid much of this foolishness too but this one was just ridiculous. One of the reasons stuff like this can happen is because this country has made the racial conversation so simplistic that all a lot of people needed to see was the few seconds of the clip when she made the tongue and cheek statement and the verdict was in.

Meanwhile, millions of people of all color are out of work and struggling. It's been a great year.

DebC said...

Hey Cliff, how've you been? How's the family? How's your daughter enjoying school?

Man, I just couldn't ignore how all these men just threw this sister under the damn bus without so much as a "Let's talk about this." Black women sure are expendable in these United States - still.

Hell, this was an NAACP banquet! You'd think Jealous would've searched some archive some-damn-where and watched the whole thing before opening his mouth and inserting his foot!

I don't think the racial conversation has been made simplistic in this country - there IS no racial conversation in this country because nobody wants to feel uncomfortable!

And I don't think her comments were tongue-in-cheek, I think she meant every word of it - and rightfully so. She was trying to share a lesson, but as you said - all people needed to see was the snippet for them to go off half-cocked. I listened to the whole thing (courtesy of - the NAACP!) and posted it. I'm telling you, it's worth a listen. This woman is full of that "field-working Mama's" wisdom that Sunni Patterson spoke about in that last clip. It's a damn shame and a disgrace the way she was treated in the last 24 hours.

Yes, it's been a rough year for a lot of folks - and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon - despite this "jobs" bill. I can just imagine what it's like there in New Orleans after - what is it - 2-3 months of this BP bullshit? I don't know when we're going to get "mad as hell and not take it anymore." Something's gotta give...

The Fabulous Kitty Glendower said...

because they chose to immediately believe the "lying eyes" of racist white men before even talking to the sister (patriarchy, after all is patriarchy) and they were too quick to "rush to judgement."

No questions asked. Just fire the woman. How can Obama or Jealous not call themselves anything but a puppet?

DebC said...

Hey Miss Kitty!!! How the hell are you?? How's the "holiday" going?

I know right?! She's driving dodwn the road and gets a damn MESSAGE??? Punk-asses didn't even have the courtesy to look her in the damn face!

Neither Obama nor Jealous can say thing to change my damn mind. This shit is slavery redux with patriarchy in full effect! The massuh, who LET the Changeling's ass live in the Big House, sent said most loyal & grateful House Negro to get that Field Negro wench in check - quick! Jealous, an Overseer "in the field" - though he's got a better position than the Field Negroes (shit he's got a horse named "NAACP" AND a whip!) - figures his best chance of getting out of dealing so closely with them in that damn hot sun and continue to find favor with the massuh is to be in lock-step with the massuh's HNIC. So of course, the wench had to go.

I don't know what she'll decide, but I wouldn't take that damn job back if it were me. I'd sue their assess. I read this today: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/07/22/us_usda_racism_resignation_3/index.html it begins:

"Former Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod said Thursday she wants to discuss racial issues with President Obama, who's "not someone who has experienced some of the things I've experienced in life."

But she also said on morning news shows she feels there is no need for Obama to apologize for her wretched week..."

I believe her to be a phenomenal woman, given her background growing up in the South (I don't know that I'd be able to do what she did if a white man had killed my Daddy!), but that background also worries me when it comes to dealing with Lite Brites like the Changeling.

There's nothing she can tell this man about race that will make him SEE, or DO anything for Black folk. Hell, his damn wife and mother-in-law grew up in SC during Jim Crow! He spent 25 years lurking in Rev. Wright's church! None of that gave him any balls once he was selected, what makes her think it'll matter now?

Blaming the white guy for ALL of this is simply taking the racial route when there's more than enough blame to go around if she looks at the patriarchy of it all. Plenty of her male "skinfolk" jumped on that damn bandwagon! And read this! http://www.salon.com/news/shirley_sherrod/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2010/07/22/obama_calls_sherrod

A 7-minute, pat-on-the-head, damn PHONE CALL(??!!) - talking about this misfortune!?! Lawd have mercy! Gates and Van Jones got way more than that!

I'm hoping she doesn't fall for this shit - but I'm scared she will.

Whew! Thanks for listening to THAT rant, Kitty. Thoughts?

The Fabulous Kitty Glendower said...

And have you heard how there are people saying, "We can't wait to get this behind us." Yeah, funny how when they screw up they want to get it behind them. And I don't care if Ms. Sherrod wants a beer summit or not, I don't appreciate how it has already been concluded that she does not deserve a beer summit.

The Fabulous Kitty Glendower said...

Oh, I always push the niceties aside. I am trying to learn not to do that. It makes me an unlikable person. So here goes.
The summer holiday has gone well. Lots of drama that didn’t get resolved. And more thoughts swirling in my brain how less privilege has to use holidays and vacations to deal with drama. For example, how my niece had to use her vacation to drive from south Texas to Illinois to pick up her stepdaughter after that stepdaughter was spending the summer with her mother. That was the vacation. I’ve spent the days wondering what more I can do with my life. How I can help others more and trying not to be caught up in regret, which is easy to do. See what happens when I try to do the niceties. With me, I have to detach from the person and focus on a topic that has nothing to do with me or when I do talk about me, I talk about me.
Enough with that though, back to Ms. Sherrod; I read somewhere that it is her husband that many racists are afraid of. Something to explore.

How are you doing?

The Fabulous Kitty Glendower said...

Oh yeah that 7 minute pat on the head. You think she could have told him anything in 7 minutes that he hasn't already ignored. I heard one interview where she says Obama has not lived her life. That is like saying the sea is wet.

DebC said...

"And I don't care if Ms. Sherrod wants a beer summit or not, I don't appreciate how it has already been concluded that she does not deserve a beer summit."

Hah! NOBODY say is it better Ms. Fabulous! :-)

"Oh, I always push the niceties aside. I am trying to learn not to do that. It makes me an unlikable person."

I know what you mean (I'm pretty "unlikeable" on a number of fronts these days). Hope you know you're ONLY unlikeable to those who don't want to hear the truth!

"And more thoughts swirling in my brain..."

Oh, I know this tune, Kitty! Once you start seeing shit, you just keep seeing shit! Even when other people act like they don't see the shit! And once you see the shit, at least for me, it sends your brain into a seemingly endless cycle of swirling (or am I just losing my damn mind?!).

" I’ve spent the days wondering what more I can do with my life. How I can help others more and trying not to be caught up in regret, which is easy to do."

Ditto. That one has me damn-near paralyzed - and I don't know why.

" With me, I have to detach from the person and focus on a topic that has nothing to do with me or when I do talk about me, I talk about me."

(What's wrong with talking about you???) Wish I could master the detachment thing sometimes, Kitty. I've never been able to. I always end up talking about me - can't relate to whatever topic I'm responding to unless I do. Makes for trying times sometimes, but I don't know how else to be after 53 years!

"I read somewhere that it is bher husband that many racists are afraid of. Something to explore.

Having been a member of SNCC, I don't doubt they're scared of him - unless of course, he's become John Lewis in his old age. I think I will explore it though. It'd be interesting to see if, when and how he went from "revolutionary," to - ???

"How are you doing?"

Baby it'd take wa-a-a-y too much space to tell you how I'm REALLY doing, so I'll just say - "I'm fine." Is your email address the same? Or can I get it from the site? We can talk - it's been awhile since we have.

"You think she could have told him anything in 7 minutes that he hasn't already ignored."

Hel-l-l-l Na-a-a-w! That's why I said, "There's nothing she can tell this man about race that will make him SEE, or DO anything for Black folk. Hell, his damn wife and mother-in-law grew up in SC during Jim Crow! He spent 25 years lurking in Rev. Wright's church! None of that gave him any balls once he was selected, what makes her think it'll matter now?"

"That is like saying the sea is wet."

No shit! That's why, though the damn Birthers are crazy as hell - they've got a damn point, IMHO!

DebC said...

Kitty, here are a couple interesting links - the last, on the "feared,"Mr. Sherrod:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/21/AR2010072106437.html?wpisrc=nl_most

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/21/AR2010072106437.html?wpisrc=nl_most

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