Comments on: Hard out here for a Black American http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/ Mon, 08 Dec 2014 10:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 By: BobbyV http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-517 Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:20:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-517 I’d always thought overt racism was characteristic of the poorly educated southern crackers. In the more progressive northern states, remnants of racial bias could be found littering the hushed conversations of cultured people. Our covert racism was assuaged by our false belief that the Civil Right Act, like some religious indulgence, restored our collective soul to its original state of innocence, absolved of the sinful triptych of slavery, miscegenation, and Jim Crow.

You wrote, “For me, dropping the term racist from our lexicon weakens our ability to call everyone to the task of being accountable for inequality.” It is not possible that in attaching the racist label to everyone, you dilute the power of that label to shame? Or are you purposely attempting to transform our response to that label from one of a defensive nature to a response that engenders a more thoughtful analysis of our responsibilities in promoting social progress?

Let America Be America Again

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath–
America will be!

Langston Hughes

]]> By: BobbyV http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-522 Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:20:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-522 I’d always thought overt racism was characteristic of the poorly educated southern crackers. In the more progressive northern states, remnants of racial bias could be found littering the hushed conversations of cultured people. Our covert racism was assuaged by our false belief that the Civil Right Act, like some religious indulgence, restored our collective soul to its original state of innocence, absolved of the sinful triptych of slavery, miscegenation, and Jim Crow. You wrote, “For me, dropping the term racist from our lexicon weakens our ability to call everyone to the task of being accountable for inequality.” It is not possible that in attaching the racist label to everyone, you dilute the power of that label to shame? Or are you purposely attempting to transform our response to that label from one of a defensive nature to a response that engenders a more thoughtful analysis of our responsibilities in promoting social progress?Let America Be America AgainO, yes,I say it plain,America never was America to me,And yet I swear this oath–America will be!Langston Hughes

]]> By: Dumi http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-516 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:07:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-516 Flat Out, I can always count on you to be clear on your position!!!!

Nikki, so let’s be the Black folks who don’t turn our backs on Black folks.

Chetly, yeah the world is still moving… but the question is where are we going.

]]> By: Dumi http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-521 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:07:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-521 Flat Out, I can always count on you to be clear on your position!!!!Nikki, so let’s be the Black folks who don’t turn our backs on Black folks.Chetly, yeah the world is still moving… but the question is where are we going.

]]> By: Chetly Zarko http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-515 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:27:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-515 Alas, Prop 2 is in effect but quantum mechanics hasn’t ceased, the universe continues to operate, and U-M hasn’t been turned into radioactive salts.

]]> By: Chetly Zarko http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-520 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:27:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-520 Alas, Prop 2 is in effect but quantum mechanics hasn’t ceased, the universe continues to operate, and U-M hasn’t been turned into radioactive salts.

]]> By: Nikki P. http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-514 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:50:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-514 I second flat-out! You’re not alone. Screw it. Let em’ alllll in. Screw O, Screw Patterson, Screw Ward,. Triflin’ so and sos. It’s a daymmmn shame. (I’m so not in a good mood.)

Yeah Black Messiah has lost her dang on mind. I’m atonished at people’s loyalty to her despite her comments. I can’t disagree with her cause she’s a rich philanthropist??? I don’t have a us vs them mentality. I’m not mad at my African sisters for getting help. I love them. I’m mad Big O thought she had to down our youth to rationalize love my sistas over there. Did she discuss this with her PR person before she spoke? They should be fired.

All my family could talk about when I went home was how its hard out it for a sista and brotha and they’re pretty optimistic folk. Folks in my family who are not political at ALL were talking about proposal 2 and of course the Miss America incident hehe. They recognize times gettin rough.

Dumi-No disrespect to the departed but I ‘m so feeling you about James and Gerald.

Alright I’m done.

]]> By: Nikki P. http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-519 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:50:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-519 I second flat-out! You’re not alone. Screw it. Let em’ alllll in. Screw O, Screw Patterson, Screw Ward,. Triflin’ so and sos. It’s a daymmmn shame. (I’m so not in a good mood.) Yeah Black Messiah has lost her dang on mind. I’m atonished at people’s loyalty to her despite her comments. I can’t disagree with her cause she’s a rich philanthropist??? I don’t have a us vs them mentality. I’m not mad at my African sisters for getting help. I love them. I’m mad Big O thought she had to down our youth to rationalize love my sistas over there. Did she discuss this with her PR person before she spoke? They should be fired. All my family could talk about when I went home was how its hard out it for a sista and brotha and they’re pretty optimistic folk. Folks in my family who are not political at ALL were talking about proposal 2 and of course the Miss America incident hehe. They recognize times gettin rough. Dumi-No disrespect to the departed but I ‘m so feeling you about James and Gerald. Alright I’m done.

]]> By: Flat-Out http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-513 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:28:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-513 All that diplomacy stuff, all that hat-in-hand thanking of Mary Sue (thanks for nuthin’) was like casting pearls before swine.

50 years ago, “Please, Please, Please” was a big hit.

But those days are supposed to be over.

Maybe I’m all alone on this, but…

I’d just rally flat-out, in front of the Union, for total, 100% open admissions for every brother and sister who graduates from any Michigan high school.

But you knew I’d say that.

]]> By: Flat-Out http://uptownnotes.com/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-518 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:28:00 +0000 http://www.professorlewis.com/blog-dev/hard-out-here-for-a-black-american/#comment-518 All that diplomacy stuff, all that hat-in-hand thanking of Mary Sue (thanks for nuthin’) was like casting pearls before swine.50 years ago, “Please, Please, Please” was a big hit.But those days are supposed to be over.Maybe I’m all alone on this, but… I’d just rally flat-out, in front of the Union, for total, 100% open admissions for every brother and sister who graduates from any Michigan high school.But you knew I’d say that.

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