And BTW, I’d love to know where Obama got the cred. It certainly wasn’t from his white middle class upbringing.
Not true. DC is straight democrat because its constituents aren’t stupid to vote against their interest, it has nothing to do with transferring wealth to the area. The area may be populated by anti-government cockroaches but the voting majority is mostly African-American. If DC were used as a bellwether, Nixon, Reagan, nor the Bushes would’ve been elected.
- Honesty
That is their interest, bringing more money into DC. The gentrification of DC caused by all these riches is certainly not in African-American voters’ interest.
Perhaps by growing up knowing that every time he stepped into a store, he was being watched as if he intended to shoplift. Or maybe he saw people lock their car doors while driving past him. The people who looked at him with suspicion were unaware that he was being raised by a white mother.
See, DC is no longer majority black, yet still intensely Democrat. That’s because if you’re wealthy enough to live there, the Democrats are certainly your friends:
Who are you to say its not in their interest? They know their interests better than you do. Many blacks welcome economic development and are getting a peice of it - they don’t all want to stay poor so nothing will change.
And by pointing out that gentrification is occurring and yet blacks in DC haven’t abandoned the Democrats for it, you weaken your own point.
That gives him no clue regarding the problems of inner city black males, unless we assume their problems are caused entirely by being watched too closely in convenience stores or having ladies be afraid of them. And Jesse Jackson too, of course.
I did make a lousy argument there. What I should have said is that a lot of African-American activists are unhappy about the gentrification, but that won’t stop them from voting Democrat, even though Democratic policies are causing the gentrification.
Not that the African-American vote will matter in DC for much longer. In 20 years, DC is going to look a lot like Idaho.
Whether ridiculous or not (and its, of course, cherry-picked), this is right-wing whining. Getting accused of racism is not that big a deal. Being a victim of racism is. Accusations of racism, especially when brought up by a member of a historically oppressed group, must be taken seriously. The right wing (in general) uses the occasional specious accusations to weasel out of taking responsibility for absolutely any racist speech at all.
You’re not getting it. It’s “white privilege” to assume that an accusation of racism against a white person is false until proven otherwise. That doesn’t mean we should assume it’s true – but we should take it seriously, and not make presumptions without evidence. In the case of Ryan’s statement, there is plenty of evidence. I don’t know what’s in his heart, but what he said can be reasonably interpreted as “black people are lazy”, which is a racist statement.
Is there a potato crop coming in? Are you seriously suggesting DC will turn red? This might be your greatest hit ever, do tell!
The Salon article has nothing to do with presuming guilt with no evidence. It’s (partially) about how white privilege means that accusations of racism against white people are often not taken seriously, and/or are assumed to be false, and they should be taken seriously (and not assumed to be false).
It is wrong to presume that an accusation of racism is false. That doesn’t mean it’s right to presume it is true.
Certainly it can be, but it’s not here.
It’s perfectly appropriate for any individual to be concerned about any other individual or group of individuals. It’s the assumptions and actions that are often wrong… but concern (and compassion) are good things.
There’s lots of white people that can help make things better, so I hope these particular white people stay involved. Lots of black people too. And others.
As far as the people you’re describing (undoubtedly a significant number of Americans, though far from a majority, in my opinion), I think they are shrinking in number and will continue to shrink.
It will never turn red, but it’s well on it’s way to turning white. DC cant turn red because bringing money to DC will always be the primary interest of DC regardless of its racial makeup.
Of course it is, because nobody is trying to say it’s an everyday thing.
That’s fucking absurd!
You’re saying you wouldn’t care if you were falsely accused of racism? If you think racism is evil, how can you not care about being accused of evil? I don’t buy this, and nobody else should either.
Would you say that, for instance, false accusation of rape is no big deal too, simply because being raped is worse?
And do you not see how false accusations of racism, like rape, only hurt real victims?
Do you think being fired for using a word that has nothing to do with race is okay?
Exactly my point. Except it’s not more than “occasional.”
Sigh.
No, that’s a presumption of innocence that ALL people should have (though you threw in “false” there - more like “unproven.”)
Nobody is saying otherwise.
Come on, adaher. They’re voting for city council. They have no voting representation in Congress, so they can’t vote for anyone who can bring money back to DC. You’re stretching this one alot.
It pretty much said exactly that.
But are they? I don’t think so. I think more often they are assumed to be guilty.
I didn’t use “false.” Nor did Salon.
‘It’s not what he doesn’t know that bothers me, it’s what he knows for sure just ain’t so.“
- Mark Twain (attrib.)
Sure, because they will vote for a Democrat who opposes those policies in the Democratic primary, rather than for a Republican.
Where will the black people go? Idaho?
Where have they gone so far? I can’t say I know where they went, but they are definitely shrinking in DC.
Sure, it would suck, if it was public and broadcast (assuming I’m a public figure). Still not that big a deal, because if it’s a false accusation I’d get past it. Getting accused of racism on the internet? Barely registers.
Compared to rape, false accusations of rape are no big deal. Sure, it would suck big time to get falsely accused of rape – but if I didn’t do it, then it’s extremely likely that I’d clear my name (hell, with the bias against rape accusers in today’s justice system, even if I did it I’d have a decent chance of clearing my name).
Sure, they hurt, but not nearly as much (tiny, tiny fraction!) as real racism and rape. I’m actually glad you brought up the comparison to rape – I was thinking about how they really have a lot in common.
No, that would suck, but it’s a lot less common then getting fired for racist reasons. My concern over this problem is teeny-tiny compared to my concern for the problem of racism, because the damage to people and to society is teeny-tiny in comparison.