***Scroll down for clarification update. I jumped back into the frying pan!***
Race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race. Are you as tired of talking, hearing, and reading about it as I am?
This post is about race. Sorry. 
Mainstream media are obsessed with it. Once our future biracial president moves into the White House, they’ll be even more obsessed. It’s going to get sickeningly worse.
And liberals. Don’t get me started on them. Skin color diversity just for the sake of skin color diversity is what many care about it, not diverse thoughts, ideas, perspectives, or even the person covered by the skin. No grand theories about why this is so. I just have firsthand knowledge to testify that it’s true.
Race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race , race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race. No matter how hard I try, I can’t avoid the topic. Even when I want to avoid it, I find myself mentioning it. For instance, I’m not a huge fan of country music, but I started listening to Rissi Palmer’s brand of country because: 1) I like the sound; and 2) I like that she’s a black woman in a genre not typically associated with black performers.
Bringing up someone’s race certainly isn’t evil, but part of my mission in life is to get people to see past it. While I don’t go out of my way to avoid mentioning someone’s race (though I should), I try as much as humanly possible to see past it myself. Sometimes a person’s race is relevant; most of the time, it is not.
It’s all very complicated.
Which brings me back to…race. I’m in agreement with those who question the existence of Black Entertainment Television (BET), black beauty pageants, black awards shows, etc., because I don’t think Americans should separate themselves this way. But as this is America, there is freedom of association. Blacks are free to associate only with blacks and form private black-only organizations. And as this is America, I am free to express my dissent!
When I first heard that former congressman J.C. Watts was forming a black news network, I was a bit disappointed. I’m not sure how conservative Watts is, but he is a Republican. My standards for Republicans tend to be higher. Why does a man who knows how divisive race is and has gone against the grain to become a Republican politician want to start a black news network? Watts said:
“Our community features millions of people with all kinds of backgrounds. There’s a much broader segment of the population than what we see in mainstream news.”
I think his heart is in the right place. Watts wants to show the diversity of thought among blacks in America, something we typically don’t see in mainstream media or on reprehensible BET. Is forming a black-themed network the way to do it?
I agree with my friend and columnist Mychal Massie, who’s even chastised me about focusing too much on “black.” What is black news? Mychal asks. He writes:
“There are things that happen to black people in black communities that don’t really have an impact on the rest of America, but that doesn’t mean they should be provincial to black America. News happening in America is American news, and it should be everyone’s concern.
“When Hurricane Katrina destroyed the overwhelmingly-black Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, it was reported as an American story and not just for blacks. Likewise, the recent tornadoes in predominantly-white Iowa are not just a concern for white America.
“There is quite simply no purely black news just like there is not a purely black sun, moon and stars. There are certainly aspects of stories that may be of more interest to people of a certain race, but it does not justify setting up separate but equal news networks by race in order to discuss it.
“Division among the races is a favorite topic of the major media. How are we going to overcome divisions if blacks are supposed to have their own channel for news and the current news channels are to be regarded as only expressing the views of the white majority?”
As I alluded, Watts is trying to do something good, but I think the price is too high. We need less focus on race in this country, not more, even if the black-focused news is positive. Integrate it with everything else. Why break out “black news”?
Race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race , race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race. Will we ever overcome it?
Addendum: I don’t know about “overcoming” race, but I think less about it when I’m around other Christians, as I’m sure God intended. See The Body.
By the way, don’t call me “African American” or use it in the comment section, because I loathe the term. As I wrote in a previous bio: “It is offensive to me. There is no such color, race, or nationality. I am an American of African descent.”
Think about it. It is senseless to refer to a black person as an “African American” unless he/she is an American citizen who was born in Africa.
Update: Here we go. When you blog about a “controversial” topic, there’s bound to be misunderstandings, so don’t misunderstand me. I appreciate diversity of skin color. I don’t have a problem being black or being around blacks. My issue is the constant harping on race and the attention it gets at the expense of everything else. A commenter, who happens to be my sister, wrote:
Race can not be avoided. It is a beautiful thing God has created. It is this fallen world that has made it a problem. If we all come from God’s perspective, it’s a beautiful thing. I love to be at events where there are like-minded people in all kinds of different colors, shapes and sizes. Look for the good and beauty in what God has created. Don’t throw it away because mankind has corrupted it.
Agreed! It is totally unrealistic to expect people not to see differences. That is not what this post is about. When we let those differences define us, however, that’s where I see a problem. A black news network? Come on, people. Black news? But hey, this is just one woman’s opinion. Take it with a proverbial grain of salt.
Keep this is mind: When supporting/advocating a “black” this or a “black” that, you have no moral leg to stand on or coherent argument in your arsenal to oppose a “white” this or “white” that. Double standards are nasty things. Stay away from them.
{ 43 comments }
Did you ever hear Thabiti Anyabwile’s talk about race (among other things) at the Together for the Gospel 2008 conference? Very thought-provoking. Let’s see if your comment section supports linking:
HERE.
The link works. I’ll give it a listen.
Coolio. And, further:
I think I’m quite with you. But of course, what I think doesn’t count because I’m, you know, evil. But every time I hear something like that, I invariably think, “…and if someone started a ‘White News Network,’ we’d call him a…?”
Well, the first word that comes to mind when wanting to describe you La Shawn is neither African American or Black. The first word is beautiful.
Dang … I am good huh?
Yeah, you’re good!
La Shawn:
I read your blog frequently because I want hear from Christians who (like myself) have stumbled once or twice along the way.
RE: this post. You wrote, “…race. I can’t avoid the topic. Even when I want to avoid it, I find myself mentioning it. For instance, I’m not a huge fan of country music, but I started listening to Rissi Palmer’s brand of country because: 1) I like the sound; and 2) I like that she’s a black woman in a genre not typically associated with black performers.”
Playing Devils Advocate here…If I usually dislike hip-hop but started listening to “House of Pain” because they were white, am I being racist (yes I know HoP is defunct but I just don’t know any current white hip-hop performers)?
I love your blog and your point of view on religion, politics, and life in general. Please keep up the good work!
“Think about it. It is senseless to refer to a black person as an “African American” unless he/she is an American citizen who was born in Africa.”
I have had this discussion with co-workers and members of my church so many times…I once told a black co-worker that if he insisted that I call him “African-American”, he was going to have to call me “Euro-American”. His response? “That’s silly. You are not from Europe.”
Sigh.
El Gee, of course you’re not a “racist” for being attracted to/curious about a rap group because its members are white.
woot! Go me!
Race can not be avoided. It is a beautiful thing God has created. It is this fallen world that has made it a problem. If we all come from God’s perspective, it’s a beautiful thing. I love to be at events where there are like-minded people in all kinds of different colors, shapes and sizes. Look for the good and beauty in what God has created. Dont throw it away because mankind has corrupted it.
No offense Lashawn, but why do you come off very “angry” when it comes to anything identifying as black….it seems self-loathing. I have no issue with Watts starting his network. I’d rather see a black news network started than another video program with those silly rappers. And before judging, let’s see what the content will be. I don’t see why any white person would be upset about it either. The last time I checked, the Neo-Con’s new’s source, FOX News, was showing more negative stories about people of color than positive so I welcome hearing about news from other ethnic perspectives plus their anchors are not ethnically diverse reflecting the true landscape of our Nation.
You think my tone is angry? Obviously, you haven’t been reading my blog very long. This is mild compared to how I used to be. Mellowing in middle age. And take my word for it: myself is the last person I loathe. – Admin
Oh I loooooove the addendum about the term “African American”. I hate it. I was born here, thank you very much.
I’m always surprised when I ask the question, “What do you call a person with white skin who was born and raised in Zimbabwe and immigrated to the US? African-American!!!” So many people say “No!” It’s so weird!
He’s forming a Black NEWS network, not another BET or any other such network, you DO realize that, right?
IF such a network existed, then a lot of the ignorance amongst mainstream society regarding certain aspects of non-white culture would be mitigated.
Don’t act like things that are of relevance to non-whites get reported with great frequency, MUCH LESS with much compassion and objectivity, La Shawn.
And it’s a matter of semantics.. black, African-American..whatever. Call it what you want, but reality of it is that there are white people.. and there is everyone else. (Which is why I generally use the term “non-white”)
It’s not what you call yourself, it’s how you are generally classified and regarded. I think Barack Obama is a prime example of this.
Pedat Ebediyah.
Meona Goodday–
Ha ha! You are so right! My husband used to work with a white woman who had immigrated from Africa, and she did indeed call herself African-American.
What I hate is news stories that call an unknown person “African-American” when they have no way of knowing if that person either is an American or has any heritage from Africa. That doesn’t make sense.
Which is why, I suppose, the MSM does it.
thebigdoddy–
Are you a member of the KKK? Isn’t that their belief–there are white people and then there’s everyone else?
No Trish,
I am not.
Follow the logic of what I’m saying.
“If you do not understand ‘white’ supremacy (as racism)-what it is, and how it works-everything else that you understand, will only confuse you”.
Dr. Neely Fuller Jr.
Words are tools..
http://www.counter-racism.com/cgi-bin/work-study/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=fcc27d0595f8ce8f7976c9421671a02c
I always thought “African-American” was stupid, because I knew some black women who were living in America but were British citizens. You can’t call them African-American, but if you also can’t call them “black” because suddenly it’s not nice anymore, then what…? Even black is a misnomer, because most black people are really brown. And most white people are really pink or tan.
I’m SO CONFUSED!!!
hr — ….it seems self-loathing
I no more define myself by my skin-color than by my eye-color, and no more gravitate to self-identified “blue-eye” groupings than to self-identified “pinky-tan skin” groupings.
Does that buy me a self-loathing tag, too?
I’ll tell you a little story.
I’ve been a “Resident” of the Second Life virtual world for over two years now. A few months after I joined, I met a lady, depicted as a white, redheaded female “avatar,” when I helped “rescue” her from another user harassing her. She and I developed a close friendship, and eventually a “partnership” (a virtual-world marriage).
Some time thereafter, she revealed to me that, in real life, she was a black woman. She asked me if I wanted to continue in the partnership under these circumstances. I had no hesitation in telling her, “You stick, I stick.” She changed her avatar so that it had a skin tone more closely matching her real-life one; it didn’t matter one bit to me, as it didn’t change the person I knew she was. (Though I complimented her on how she looked in the new skin, of course.)
Since then, we have always maintained a firm friendship, in which we converse by voice frequently. (She’s married, though, and, at the time we first met, I was too, so we understand each other in that respect. I sometimes advise her husband on technical issues, too.) We have a business in the Second Life world, and we have expanded our association to other massively-multiplayer games. She and I watch out for each other, such as when her home burned down or during the drama of my wife leaving and moving overseas (but that’s another story).
I’ve said before that I took what Dr. King had to say at face value. With my friend, I knew “the content of her character” before I knew the color of her skin. And it just underscores how little, in the end, that color really matters.
Lashawn….I’ve been reading your blog for two years. Like I said, please don’t take offense…but when it comes to your ethnicity you come of as very self-loathing. As if nothing is ever good enough if it’s not approved of by a neo-conservative viewpoint (ala Michelle Malkin). There are many things about the black community that I am not pleased with (I’m black), but there are many other things that I take pride in. It just appears that you have a subconscious disdain and anger based upon your writings and over the top race baiting opinions. JC Watts is exercising his right for freedom of press and I believe taking a positive step in penetrating the black community with news information pertaining to the group he’s trying to reach versus the mind dulling influx of just sports and music.
Reading for two years? Interesting, interesting. Curious, though. Why are you reading the blog of someone you consider a self-loather with “disdain and anger” and “over the top race baiting opinions”? – Admin
[blinks at hr doing it again]
[looks to see whether comment 20 is an exact copy of comment 11; it isn't, exactly]
[looks to see if comment 18 is still visible; it is]
[blinks again, and shakes head]
Just wanted to say that as usual, I agree with you, La Shawn. And I have no idea where those couple folks are getting the idea that you are “self-loathing” or “coming off angry.” I found this post to be as reasonable as ever.
On this I fully agree with you. But there is a lot of entrenched racism in the mainstream media… and it would be such a step forward if the media at large did more to implement the changes you speak of (integration), so that people like Watts won’t feel the need to create segregated networks out of what I assume is a sense of hopelessness at the situation that perhaps blacks and other nonwhites are ignored by other media. I would prefer a society that looks beyond race… but its not done either by denial or ignoring nonwhite races, nor is it done by patronizingly obsessing over race or how “diverse” nonwhites are. Great post!
I didn’t have a problem with J.C. Watts starting a black network – I had more of a problem of him lately refusing to say anything critical of Obama when Obama has so many er…questionable friends. I too wonder how conservative J.C. Watts has become. Over the years I have listened to him support the conservative adgenda. Lately though it seems he doesn’t outright say he supports Obama, but he refuses to be critical of him in any way. Maybe he is just trying to draw an audience and doenst want to scare off the audience he is seeking which is probably going to be a majority of liberal listeners at least at first. Oh, and thanks Lashawn for a great blog.
Thank you Lucy, and that is my point exactly.
As well, La Shawn I get that in the Media (which bloggers, even YOU) are a part of, it’s cool to have provocative “lead-ins”, but your “JC Watts and the Skin Color Network” one is frivolous, to say the least.
JC Watts is not my kinda conservative (as most are really not) but give the man some props for what he’s trying to do.
I think even the most whitewashed “black conservative” can (or should be able to) see how things go down in the MSM.
Moreover, I think that “black conservatives” need to take a more mature and honest look a their fellow white conservatives that they amire so much, their mediums of expression, the participants in those mediums; and snap out of it.
When I engage on conservative blogs all I see are the dull and lackluster sentiments of the antebellum spirit of America and the musings of people who are apologists for global patriarchal white supremacy. And don’t get me started on those who claim to be on the “religious right” who happen to be white conservatives. These people are cowards and POOR witnesses for Y’Shua the Messiah, and are quite obtuse in observance of the two greatest commandments given by our Master.
Until they have proven to me, in word and deed, that they:
Love Yahweh
and
Love their Neighbors – ALL of them – even the ‘BLACK’ ones, then I can’t but consider them much better than the so-called ‘heathens’ they want to bring to Christ.
How do you like them apples?
And yes, I AM casting stones and passing judgment. I have scripture (in Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, and Aramaic) to back up everything I’m saying too.
Pedat Ebediyah – Servant of Yahweh and NOT a follower sinful and ungodly partisan politics.
It’s obvious to me that the media likes to talk about slave ships, chains and whips
or black crime, welfare mothers, and Jessy the race pimp.
And, it doesn’t matter what side of the “Talk Line” you’re on
You’ll find yourself trapped behind the chalk line being drawn
And the media massa is doing all the snapping.
thebigdoddy–
I didn’t see your comment from yesterday, so let me respond to it now.
You speak in the manner of a white supremacist. You say, “There are white people and there’s everyone else.” That seems to be a claim that ALL white people are white supremacists, and that you are superior to all white people. Illustrative of that is your claim of “patriarchal global white supremacy.” If what you see on conservative sites is what you claim to see, then you are seeing things that aren’t there.
When you prove yourself without hate and bigotry, you will have the right to demand that others prove themselves to you. Of course, if you were without hate, you wouldn’t be making such a demand in the first place.
I wish you would truly take an honest look at yourself, and at the people you have falsely condemned. I do not, however, expect it.
Remember what they say about pointing fingers.
Well Trish thank you for your comments, but I will dissent.
I have the Oracles of Yahweh on MY side and that trumps anything else..
And HATE, according to His Word, (not yours or mine) has it’s place..
Ecclesiates 3:1 says:
For every matter there is an appointed time,even a time for every pursuit under the heavens:
which INCLUDES verse 8, which says:
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for battle, and a time for peace.
And I have white people under my care and charge in the synagogue, in the community, the workplace, and in many Christian fellowships. They know, by my personal demonstration what Father Yahweh expects of HIS (which is key) people, and they are accountable to BE it, LIVE it, SPREAD it, and DEFEND it. Being one of HIS trumps being AMERICAN. Trumps being WHITE or NON-WHITE. Trumps being RICH or POOR. And trumps the label of “Christian”, because the Bible is not a Christian book, it’s for ALL of mankind, and there are people who are HIS, that don’t call themselves anything but HIS.
So seeing as that there are white people that are HIS, and since HIS people love HIM and keep his commandments, then if I hated those people, Trish, that means I hate HIM, by YOUR logic, which is FALSE.
Trish says:
“You speak in the manner of a white supremacist. You say, “There are white people and there’s everyone else.” ”
Pedat says:
In the system of global patriarchal white supremacy, that’s how the classifications go. If you don’t understand that, then this is not the forum for you to get that understanding. One day you’ll observe that logic and follow it.
Trish says:
“That seems to be a claim that ALL white people are white supremacists, and that you are superior to all white people. Illustrative of that is your claim of “patriarchal global white supremacy.” If what you see on conservative sites is what you claim to see, then you are seeing things that aren’t there.”
Pedat says:
The white people who love Yahweh and know Him and who are his true people are NOT white supremacists, nor will they be named amongst them. For example, Tim Wise exemplifies, in word and deed, what truly righteous (SAVED, Christian) white people (heck and even non-white people!) SHOULD be exemplifying. Tim Wise IS one of Yahweh’s people, BUT he’s never claimed to be Christian. Imagine that!?
Moreover, you are not in a position to tell me what I see and don’t see, ANYWHERE. I get invited to observe and participate in diverse places on-line and off-line. On CHRISTIAN message boards, especially regarding matters of politics, and exponentially more regarding issues of social justice, I DO NOT see the precepts of His word being leaned on OR applied in those matters. It’s quite disgusting and pathetic, to be honest.
Trish says:
“When you prove yourself without hate and bigotry, you will have the right to demand that others prove themselves to you. Of course, if you were without hate, you wouldn’t be making such a demand in the first place.”
I don’t HAVE to prove anything to YOU if I don’t want to.
Again, I have the right to speak out against ANYTHING that exalts itself against the knowlege of Yahweh my Elohim. And I can PROVE that it does, when needed, Trish.
Trish says:
“I wish you would truly take an honest look at yourself, and at the people you have falsely condemned. I do not, however, expect it.”
Pedat says:
I am never going to apologize for speaking out against carnality and ignorance of the two greatest commandments. Ever. Sorry.
Trish says:
“Remember what they say about pointing fingers.”
Pedat says:
As a Servant, I am not without sin. This is a no-brainer. But TWO things I DO:
I love Yahweh.
I love justice and correctness at all times in all places in the known universe for all people without exception.
I will open my mouth and confess it, and by the labor of my hands, I will show it to anyone who feels the same. But if you DON’T confess it, and you DON’T show it, then you DON’T feel the same, and as such Yahweh’s Words condemn you, NOT ME.
And Trish, I have been around. I have tested His Word in open forums and in real-life communities. Far too many people deny Him before they deny their ethnicity and their partisan ethic. If you don’t believe it then you just don’t.
When I dated a few black ladies in the 70s &
80s, I do not recall wondering if they were
African Americans or whatever. And I think
in those days I just called them Sheryl or
some other name. I do remember pushing Sheryls
arm with my finger to see if the color faded and then comes back like when I get a tan. She
said,
“Michael, it doesnt work like that.”
I dont think this means anything.
OK. Michael again. Since we’re going public
about race, I’ll say it here. All Black people
like me. You can admit it Lashawn. Example.
Frank worked for me at my bus company. Do I
have to add he’s black? So I’m down at the
court vouching for him to get his drivers
license back…standing beside him as he starts
talking to the Judge…LYING LYING LYING to her…
Well, I happen to know thats the one thing
Judges reaaaaly dont like so when she excused
us to take care of the other folks I just went
to my car and hid hoping the Judge wasnt going
to send the police for me after she caught
Frank in his lies. Cause it’s 100% I’m not
lying for Frank in court. About 1 hour later, here
comes Frank ambling out with a big smile and
his new drivers license. Hahahahahaha
Frank you a****le. And in Pensacola [1960
Im a Marine in flight school]
I’m in a little boat dock eatery & 4 Navcads
[Naval Cadets...Not commissioned yet until
they finish flight training & get their wings]
come in in their whites. [one black kid]
Two minutes later, out they go. I ask my southern guy pal what that was about and he said, “They refused to serve him because he’s black”
So I say, we cant eat here and tell the manager
in loud voice. You cant kick Navcads out
and we left without paying.
See, Lashawn… I was p**sed off that they
refused guys in MY CLAN… Naval Aviators.
I think that’s the extent of my civil rights
activities. But you like me anyway, Lashawn.
Thanks for the Post La Shawn, I am a frequent reader of Ed Gilbreath’s blog and I got to your blog through him. Here is my thing with J.C. Watts – who as I last recall is pretty conservative republican. I also agree, and ask the question why we don’t just integrate the news. That seems to go much further and becoming one nation, seeking reconciliation and true understand. But I think that there are a couple factors in play that still give evidence to the need of a Black news channel.
1- I don’t think that mainstream media really wants to integrate some of that news and have honest conversation about issues effecting black America. There is still an essence of ignorance, a non-physical “white flight” from issues concerning blacks (particularly those that are affecting urban blacks. I think that in his Heart JC would love for their to be more integration in news, but he perhaps feels as if mainstream media is not ready for it. Here is an example from pop-culture. Tyler Perry’s House of Payne is one of the most watch and enjoyed show by Black Americans. But it gets ripped apart by most white commentators and if Tyler Perry tried to go the traditional route and shoot a pilot then try to get a contract (he made the first season and said, make it happen), he would not be on TV right now.
2- B.E.T. is horrible!! What started off as a network for Black people to freely express themselves (because of the media isolation I spoke of in point 1), as become a non-informative, sex driven, uncreative, waste of a network. B.E.T. could have been something great if once other networks saw it catching on decided that it wanted some of that programming on their stations. If that would have happened and B.E.T. died because programming done by black folk was decentralized, I would praise B.E.T. In reality it did produce some stars. Jamie Foxx and the Waynes brothers really jumped off because of what people saw on B.E.T. If Watts wants to create a network, which will show the mainstream media that there is a market for “black programming”, let him do that. Then perhaps they will integrate that programming and those programs will just become normal.
I’m with you – there shouldn’t be a need to separate but… I see it this way: For a number of reasons (some well understood, most are not) I’ve come to the conclusion that many Black people in America are Asssociative Groupers. We tend to associate primarily with others like us. I think other groups of people do it too, but we’re news makers it seems.
Just among my middle class Black Friends, most don’t participate in events or watch news programs or do ANYTHING that isn’t specifically “black focused”. Crazy. Especially because the things they do and enjoy and want to know about isn’t a Black specific thing, but they have become accustomed to being marketed in this very specific way – The Black Marketing Scheme.
I welcome the idea of a black news network and so do many others. Some welcome it because they see the opportunity to get more news about Black progress or issues out there. (And you’re right, “what is black news”). But more important to me, I see it as a very real opportunity that more Black people will actually consume some REAL news (not entertainment news) and actually get more Black people -from every SES level – engaging in a more meaningful discourse about issues.
The article below at Townhall says “Black Conservatives are conflicted on Obama”.
http://www.townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2008/06/14/black_conservatives_conflicted_on_obama_campaign
It basically says Armstrong Williams, who has never voted for a Democrat for President, is strongly considering Obama as well as J.C. Watts.
Michael Steel from Maryland on the other hand is going to do everything he can to defeat Obama.
Interesting. That would confirm my suspicions of J.C. Watts.
Does race trump a persons principals? Probably on both sides for some.
To Matt Larson:
It’s not PROBABLY on both sides for some..
It’s DEFINITELY on both sides for MOST.
I am a little confused about this case your making LaShawn. For the past year or so you blogged about record companies demise and niche marketing for musicians. So that now when JC Watts decides to build a network geared toward a niche market(Black Folks) political views you have a problem with with his strategy or the just the idea. Two things come to mind when I see your obvious lack of consistency “The crab barrel syndrome” and/or a large dose of the dreaded H word. This case of sheer inconsistency begs the question is your social and political views merely about the adsence paycheck or and open and honest discussion?
To be accurate, my mother is an American citizen who was born in Africa. My mom is a white person, would you call her an afro american? Geeze guys, its the human race. We are children of our heavenly father. Brothers and sisters, friends who merely have not met yet. Us humans can find motes to fight about. It is not a kind reflection of ourselves
LaShawn,
You are spot on. My sister in law is also sick of being called an ‘African American’. It is refreshing to come to your site and read this. Not very many people have the guts to say what you have said.
Does anybody remember the newscaster who, while covering a story from (if memory serves) Nigeria said something to the effect of “this young African-American boy” before stutteringly catching herself?
INDOCTRINATED!
I remember that. Idiocy at its worst.
I don’t know what’s happening to J.C. Watts, but this makes me wonder:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080614/ap_on_el_pr/black_conservatives_obama
J.C. Watts, a former Oklahoma congressman who once was part of the GOP House leadership, said he’s thinking of voting for Obama. Watts said he’s still a Republican, but he criticizes his party for neglecting the black community. Black Republicans, he said, have to concede that while they might not agree with Democrats on issues, at least that party reaches out to them.
Oops. I just left a comment on Baldilocks blog where I referred to myself as an “Italian American”, even though I wasn’t born in Italy.
I have often thought more along the lines that I’m an American of Italian descent, but it’s easier to say it the other way.
In any case, I’ll make sure to respect La Shawn’s wishes on the subject when referring to her.
For me, you can just call me that old, mean looking, white dude. Everyone else does.
Greg,
I heard the J.C. Watts say on the radio that Republicans need to reach out more to the black community as well. And while that may be true – its not what J.C. Watts was saying a few years ago! Below he is asked that question directly and he just said for Republicans to do what they have been doing:
http://www.onfuego.com/ksheinin/?vid=4
So it seems Watts is a front runner. When “times are good” and polls are with you no changes are needed, but when the polls are down then all along Republicans have not been reaching out.
But I would like to see Republicans reach out more to religious blacks and small business blacks and the younger crowd – they can be picked off…
But to vote for a candidate just because of race when it conflicts with your values is rather lame in my book. I liked J.C. Watts and I still do but he doesnt get the respect from me that he used to. It makes you wonder if Obamas disgusting votes on the Born Alive bill where it was OK for him for a baby of a botched abortion where the baby LIVES is denied health care to save them or his gross stance on procedues such as partial birth abortion have no bearing on his decision! Race trumps all.
I am a white conservative and no way would I vote for a white liberal Democrat over a black Republican – even if that black republican was a RINO in the John McCain mold.
Well in that interview above, if you want to call it that, JC Watts was very obtuse and dismissive.
He’s just as disinterested in expanding the Republican party as the rest of them and the idea of being “conservative” this or “conservative” that is really a matter of semantics.
Non-whites on a great many issues are just as – if not more – conservative as white folks. They just don’t trust republicans. And they won’t until they get the felling that the racist/white supremacist element no longer has such a strong influence on that party.
Matt Larson says:
“But I would like to see Republicans reach out more to religious blacks and small business blacks and the younger crowd – they can be picked off…”
This is very true – not necessarily by party affiliation and nomenclature, but in general PRACTICE.
What many non-whites can and should learn is that you can be and live as a fiscal and social conservative and still love ALL your neighbors, regardless of their race or class. Just because the Republican party fundamentally doesn’t share that view, doesn’t mean you have to compromise your spiritual identity to be accepted by them (or ANY party). I know that there are very many non-whites who, because of their SPIRITUAL identity, vote Independent/Conservative/Libertarian, but are reluctant to identify with mainstream Republicans because of that “element” I mentioned before.
The problem is that “element” also exists within the Democratic party and amongst elitist and self-aggrandizing liberals who are just as foul and racist as those on the other side of the aisle. Observe how the Democratic party has become so divided over their own two candidates.
Oddly enough, why JC Watts and the others are considering voting for Senator Obama is quite puzzling. As a non-white, I’ve taken interest in this matter from a human behavioral standpoint, not because of the process.
I’ve observed a lot of very sad affairs amidst all of this, and though I wouldn’t vote for Senator Obama, I still think his run was necessary to expose some things about America and it’s citizens and it’s quite ugly indeed – yet necessary.
This is a very sad election year for mainstream (Repub/Demo) voters because of the very poor choices.
For Libs, Independents and Green Party folks, it’s just all symbolic as usual, I suppose..
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