I heard Russell Simmons (I think that's right,) on Larry King or something the other night. It's a culture thing, and I have no real problem with it. I don't like ANY rap. I don't call it music, songs, or anything of the type. It's NOT.... it's RAP!

But, I understand the context of the "rap" under discussion here. I barely had a twinge of distaste when I heard it. It was to be expected. I don't think they are trying to rebuild barriers. I didn't think what they said was racist.

They were expressing the reality that the policies that affect their lives have always been set by a white man and mostly a white administration. I hope they are not expecting too much CHANGE in that area, because I believe Obama will govern fairly and equally.... not playing favorites or making restitution.

But, I STILL believe it was more an expression of PRIDE in their race, and the achievement of the impossible dream. Contrary to what the Rev said, I don't believe it was pride in the context of "superiority" over another race. It is the pride that leads to empowerment.

Let's face reality. MANY Americans have shown (on this board as well,) their belief that Blacks have had an entitlement culture, based on the idea that they were VICTIMS. What better way to HELP them lift themselves out of this mindset, than to empower them to BELIEVE that they are and can be equal participants and citizens in this great country?

Many will CLAIM that they have believed so all along. But that is because they never walked a mile in a Black person's shoes.

I hope the admins will allow this post to remain, and the discussion as a whole. I believe it is very civil so far, and to cut it off would give credence to the new Attorney General's assessment that, in matters of race, we are a country of cowards. I personally disagree.

I believe we ARE beyond that. I believe this election proved it. But, there is no doubt that this election will spark a national discussion on the issue. And I welcome that discussion.

Did I think that the "rap" under discussion was in bad taste? Yes. (So were the WWII posters that disparaged the Japanese and called them "Nips.") I just didn't see a racial overtone in them.

I DID, however, see a racial overtone in the FoxNews "report" about them. They were just WAITING for such an example to PROVE what they believed about "those people" and how they would react to having one of their own elected as POTUS.

To their credit, up until that report, I thought FoxNews handled the situation quite professionally. Much more so than MSNBC handled the election and the farewell to President Bush.

Surely SOME of you didn't SEE it the way I did. That's fine. This is just MHO!!

Hobo

 

That is the point many have been trying to make. Until people stop taking pride in and/or demonstrating hatred for any race then planetary racism will always exist in some form.

The only race people need to be concerned with is the human race.

Yes it was a historical moment for America when even a 1/2 black person was elected POTUS just like it will be one with we elect our first female POTUS, but IMHO it is long past time for people to be more concerned about electing the right person to the job instead of focusing on skin color and/or gender.

When the day comes a person is only defined by his/her actions will be the day I will celebrate.

 

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson don't seem to want to get involved unless there are camera's around and money on the table. Both have made a career of shaking down companies who would rather pay them off rather than have them organize a bunch of protesters picketing their business accusing them of some perceived racial injustice.

 

Mr. Sharpton and Mr. Jackson would rather have a photo op then tackle a real issue. Crime in the hood? They cant be bothered with that. Old white man says "nappy headed hoes" and they want him fired. They dont want racial equality. They would be out of a job and they cant have that.

 

And Hobo, You dont like rap music. You LOVE it! I heard you singing "Rapper Delight" You a real OG dawg.

 

The main thing these guys want is money. They want any excuse at all to extort money out of a company or individual. These rappers say much worse about blacks and they are given a pass. A white guy says the something and he is crucified. I saw some of those basketball players interviewed and they didn't think much about it until Al Sharpton and his group got involved. One guy who deserves a lot of respect but gets a lot of flack from the black community is Bill Cosby. He tells it like it is and is more interested in doing good and changing attitudes than standing in front of a camera or shaking down people.

If you really want to change attitudes then take skin color out of the equation. If your skin color is black you are not an African-American unless you were born in Africa and became an American citizen. If you were born in America then you are an American PERIOD. Adding hyphens and names only continues to divide us as a people and country. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and others use that to further their personal agenda's. They perpetuate the entitlement mentality in the black community and isolate those from the white community. We are all different. It is character that determines who we are, not our skin color. It is a shame that so many will buy in the the Sharpton/Jackson agenda. It would be much better if they bought into the Bill Cosby agenda of personal responsibility and self reliance.

 

There will be division because people see themselves as separate. When all recially-oriented organizations come together (for instance, why does a town need the "Chamber of Commerce" AND the "Hispanic Chamber of Commerce"), to serve the common purpose, maybe there will be a chance. Although it would be discrimination for the "Chamber of Commerce" to only employ "whites", I highly doubt there is a white person employed at the "Hispanic Chamber of Commerce". Pretty soon, there will have been enough mixing of races that we might all finally get along. However, there will always be plenty of stupid people so there will always be tons of fear and prejudice.

 

Well you have the Black Caucus in congress, Black Entertainment Network, Miss Black America and a number of other racist organizations that if you substituted the word black with white would have a public outcry. We will never totally eliminate racism in the world. It has been with us about ever since the beginning of time. As long as there are organizations that promote racism such as those listed we will continue to divide this country. Divide and conquer. It is much easier to control people who are divided. It is much different to attempt to divide those with a common purpose. These organizations such as the Black Caucus and Black Chamber of Commerce are supported by white dollars such as the Chamber of Commerce. We don't need more than one organization. I don't think our tax dollars need to support racist organizations such as the Black Caucus. I also don't think my membership dues should go to support racist organizations such as the Black Chamber of Commerce. We should have a common purpose. I find it ironic that when a white person says something it has one meaning and a black person saying the same thing is considered differently. We are all Americans. We should act like it rather than having different countries within the country.

 

GMAN you said it perfectly! Bill Cosby is one of the few blacks actually the only black figure I look up to! I know I listen to everything he says and it's the truth! We have to start taking responsibility for our own actions and I say get rid of black history month and have 365 24/7 American History Year! Celebrate being Americans all the time not all that hypenated bull crap that they spew out to us!

 

That was going to be my next question. How do you feel, as a young black man, about what Mr. Jackson and Sharpton have to say? Do you think you need these two gentlemen to make something of yourself? Better yet, Do these gentlemen need to be the self appointed representatives of blacks?

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