Advice to My Black Son if He’s Being Followed

Since it continues to be asked in the past week in news interviews and during protests I thought I would share the advice I would give my son if he finds himself being followed while walking home from the store, like Trayvon Martin did.

GO HOME!

 

…or to the home of the nearest friend or relative. And to any parent who would advise their teen to turn and confront the follower I would say you are telling your kid to put themselves in potential danger versus doing what they were doing before detecting a follower.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

What would Martin Luther King say and do?

President Lyndon B. Johnson and Rev. Dr. Marti...

Martin Luther King at White House meet with President Lydon Johnson

On this day when we commemorate the life of the great Martin Luther King Jr. I wonder what he would think of the actions of today’s leaders and of society as a whole. I am conflicted about how I would answer that.

I think its odd how two people can listen to the same thing and hear two different things. There is no question MLK wanted economic equality for all and for aid and assistance being provided for all of the most disadvantaged. “Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”- Martin Luther King Jr.

In my case the life and speeches of Doctor King left me with one resonating theme, self-reliance and self-determination. Sure he wanted whites to quit oppressing black people, and beating and murdering them as well, by the way. But he mostly wanted to get them out of the way. He wanted black people to have the same economic opportunities of white people and to strive and struggle for their own level of success. “Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” – MLK

So what would Dr. King think of the Tea Party movement and it’s message of responsible government spending, and individual liberty? Would he embrace the Occupy movement and steer their seemingly rudderless ship? What would he think of Barrack Obama, our nations first black President?

What I’m certain of is that he would be heard and he would not be happy about much of what happens today. I’m sure that the intractable positions taken by Democrats and Republicans in Congress would disgust him and he would urge mutual compromise. I am absolutely certain he would reject Obama’s constant, unrelenting class warfare. And while supporting the Occupy movement I’m sure he would sharpen their message so that they didn’t sound and look like the dirty, ungrateful, whiny sons and daughters of privilege that so many of them appear to be.

What do you think. What would King say and do today. Tell me and let’s make this a discussion in which Martin would be proud.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Racism and Obama. For better or worse?

“My prayer is that Obama’s soaring rhetorical skills truly inspire Americans toward the better angels in our nature. And that the symbolism of a black man in the highest office in the land ends forever what little racism still exists, or the claims that racism is the cause of victimization of the African-American community in this country.”

November 5, 2008

ME

Official photographic portrait of US President...

Our President: Barrack Obama.

I wrote those words three years ago in a blog called “The New President” in which I made what I thought was an obvious statement that our nation could no longer be looked upon by its toughest inner critics as a racist nation. In the article I wrote that no predominantly white nation in world history had ever elected a person of color as their head, their president, their leader. In writing that blog the day after Barrack Obama‘s election to the most powerful office in the world I was complimentary and optimistic. Pointing out, perhaps naively, that Obama would be judged as were the 43 white men who preceded him in the office; by his accomplishments and not by the color of his skin.

It seems I may have been wrong. I’m beginning to think it’s entirely possible that Obama could be the ignition to a worsening of race relations in this country. How bad could it get? Let me put it this way: I’m fearful. I am fearful that Obama’s defeat in 11 months will be blamed on racism rather than on his failed leadership, and policies.

Yesterday a friend with whom I have profound political disagreements posted an article onto Facebook that she referred to as “the truth”. The article was called “Racism and President Obama”. In the first sentence the author, who calls themselves Jueseppi B., alleges that the United States became the model for a racist nation the day Obama was sworn in.

Though I provide a link to the article in this blog I don’t recommend reading it. It’s nothing but an idiotic racist rant. By someone in love with government hand outs and jobs all around, apparently for all his African-American friends. Unfortunately his view is increasingly common. It’s a common tactic by the political black community to scream racism every time something goes wrong for one of their own. It’s silly and lacks imagination and intelligence to presume that a nation is a model of racism when it’s population is made up of 12.6% blacks and that same nation has a black leader.

Racism still does exist in this country and its repugnant. Sadly these imbeciles who harbor such hateful views far too often reside on the right or conservative side of the political spectrum. And far too often Americans with better hearts and minds fail to loudly condemn the bigotry that is quite often directed at our President. And the problem with these facts is that you give aid and comfort to the black racists who paint all white people with the same broad brush.

This used to be a racist country. And in fairness to those who still look for it, institutional, government sanctioned racism existed during the lifetimes of most African-Americans or their parents. Thank God, and some very strong people, it does not any more.

But speaking as a white person with no racism or love of Obama I am fed up with racism being thrown out as a reason for opposing our President, or for opposing the type of governmentprograms that create an entitlement mentality and diminish personal fortitude and commitment. It’s and old song that needs to change. What is sad is that, like the boy who cried wolf, every time racism is falsely cited as the cause for a black persons failure white Americans are hardened against such claims in the future including the legitimate ones. And that’s wrong.

English: This is the long form birth certifica...

Oabama's long form birth certificate

ALL Americans should have soundly condemned the “Birther” movement against Obama and the subtle racism that was not-so-hidden in the claims that the President wasn’t born here. ALL Americans should condemn the Photoshop images of Obama made to look like some tribal medicine man. Avoid posting them on social media or waving them at demonstrations. If you can’t see the racism in such images YOU really are a bigot or an insensitive jerk.

Lastly accept that jerks like I just described DO exist and probably always will. Just like the racist Pastor Jeremiah Wright, there are always extremes on every side of an issue. But quit calling our nation and by implication all Conservative white people racist. It doesn’t help your cause.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

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