Alternatively: should Jews seek to focus on anti-Jewish incidents? That is, should they specifically look for anti-Jewish incidents to focus on?
The Anti-Defamation League “Events on Campus” page, for example, gives lip service to separating the issue of anti-Jewish actions and objections to Israeli policies. It then goes on to provide a list of “incidents” in which well over two thirds are political opposition to Israel with no anti-Jewish rhetoric mentioned, yet the ADL includes them all without actually distinguishing them.
(And I don’t even want to get started on the shrill twits of the Catholic League who rise up in righteous wrath at every joke and slip of the tongue that could only be deemed “anti-Catholic” by the most hypersensitive of paranoid individuals.)
Certainly some groups of blacks may be losing good will by blowing things out of proportion. I’m not sure how “discussing” whether “blacks” should do this aids our understanding of the world. No discussion by outsiders that results in a declaration that they should stop is going to have any effect on the few groups who actually engage in that behavior. The OP appears to be simply an opportunity to wrangle over whether outsiders should bash some vague notion of “blacks” as a group (without having to assert who the members of this nebulous group actually are).
I suppose that it is nice that you have left the ADL (just as I have refused repeated invitations to join the CL), but then, should not the OP be directed toward “Defense Groups: oversensitive or necessary?” As posted, the OP is simply inflammatory. It singles out one small college group from among an entire national population and asks a question in a way that appears to claim that every member of the larger population supports the small group’s goals and programs.
In general I have to agree with you, tomndebb.
This comment, however:
I also found to be fairly inflammatory also and a bit over the top. Guin, while some of december’s premises may have been framed somewhat awkwardly, nowhere have I ever seen that his attitude is anywhere close to what you’ve indicated here.
Frankly, I think december is getting the shaft in this thread. I see the question to be an interesting one. A question I might consider as pretty similar would revolve around narrow interpretations of the bible, and whether this is ever appropriate.
If there are a minority of blacks that have nitpicking as an agenda, the question would be: are they correct in doing so, and should others follow their lead?
Now would that be many white people, many black people, what??? How do you know this to be true? Is there a survey somewhere you can cite?
Jews would make a big fuss about a swastika somewhere.
[QUOTE[**
And, they oppose education vouchers, which most inner city residents support. All the more reason for African-Americans to pursue advancement by the most effective means possible. Black people are affected by the image they present to everyone, including themselves.**[/QUOTE]
So what poll are you talking about that backs up what you’re saying?
I would argue that Black students are less sensitive to slights than White students because it’s something Black people in this country have had to live with, there isn’t a Black person that I know that hasn’t had to deal with a racial slight.
I think the OP raises an interesting question, and a very difficult one to answer. Because as pointed out, there’s a lot to lose either by taking action or not taking it.
The only way I can answer it is by using misogyny/sexism as an analogy, as it’s something I can relate to personally. It irritates and offends the hell out of me hearing a lot of sexist comments and seeing sexist behaviour. However I make an effort to ignore/laugh it off/try to educate the offender in a seemingly “light-hearted” way because I think to get angry, reactive and litigious every time damages the overall cause of women, rather than enhances it.
For me the issue here though is that what he was doing was not deliberately vilifying black americans or presenting them in a negative light. He was dressed up as an black american sporting hero.
Maybe this guy should even be praised by his black american peers for choosing such a public figure to represent? Maybe his choice actually represents the huge progress non-white americans have made, in becoming so mainstream successful on the world stage, that white americans now admire and want to emulate the people they formerly repressed and enslaved?
If so, focusing on his actions as an “insult” and taking offence where none is intended will be negative to the pro-non-white American, anti-racism cause.
**In reality, the NAACP isn’t doing both, nor is the Black Student Union at Rutgers U. That’s a fact. Why not? I could make some guesses; so could you. Try[ul][li]Finite resources,[] immedate impact []It’s easier to complain than to build Encouragement from some with their own agenda, e.g., Democratic Party and some media[/ul][/li][quote]
I doubt this was your intention, this thread smacks of complaining 'bout dem uppity negroes who don’t know how good they have it.:rolleyes:
[/QUOTE]
That may be one more reason why they don’t do both. Suppose a BSU member advocated ignoring some slight, but instead focusing on educational matters. He’d be open to a charge of Uncle Tomism.
I think december has a very good point, and he should not be subject to attack over this thread. This is a question of picking your battles, do you scream to the hills over every slight and insult, or do you focus on the things that will significantly improve your life?
I think that sometimes these organizations focus on symbolic issues rather than concrete issues. The confederate flag thing is a great example. Taking down that flag won’t give a single African American kid a better education, nor will it give anybody a better job, it is totally symbolic. Meanwhile, the flag effort could be focused on other issues that may actually improve people’s lives.
There is also the “boy who cried wolf” syndrome. Constant bleating about every little thing dilutes your message when something more important comes along.
Exactly. In this case, note that the BSU’s goal is not merely to prevent white students from coloring their faces black. They are attempting to use the “insult” as ground for some rewards and as a way to gain power.
You have to keep in mind that organizations like the NAACP do not have the magic answer to big problems like “fixing the schools” or “preventing drug use”.
It would be nice if the NAACP could fix these problems. But these problems are huge. There is little that anyone can do about them without some serious major change. The reason why the NAACP and other organizations don’t focus on these problems is there really isn’t much they can do, and they are likely to lead to a lot of effort put towards a vague and most likely impossible goal.
Chooseing a symbolic target, however, is easier and makes it more likely that you’ll succeed. They actually have a chance in hell at changeing the flag. This is within their power, and would create media attention, which is almost always a good thing.
Big things /little things are matters of perception. Again, it’s not productive for a non member of a group to dictate to that group what they should consider to be ‘big’ or ‘little’.
Consider this:
back in ‘the day’, it was typical for office managers to be male, and the only position w/in an office that was held predominately by females was “secretary” who were often referred to as ‘girls’. “I’ll have my girl set up an appointment” etc. while you may consider the usage of the term ‘girl’ to have been a minor point, I believe (having been there, had it done to me, thanks), that it was a symptom of an underlaying issue, and that by forcing attention on the verbiage, it brought about some level of change in actions.
It was quite easy to treat the ‘girl’ as something insignificant.
NAACP Approves Second Settlement Of Voting Reform Lawsuit In Florida
May 9, 2002
Philadelphia Mayor Street Elected To NAACP Board Of Directors
May 5, 2002
NAACP Expresses Condolences Over Loss Of Former NAACP Chaiman Bill Gibson
May 2, 2002
NAACP Voter Empowerment Program Conducts Voter Registration Drive during Kentucky Derby Festival
April 29, 2002
NAACP Calls For Congressional Passage Of House Sponsored ‘NO FEAR’ Bill
April 29, 2002
NAACP Files Response To Lawsuit Challenging South Carolina Protests
April 22, 2002
Congressman John Lewis Selected For 87th Spingarn Award
April 18, 2002
NAACP Border Patrol Press Conference and demonstration to protest the Confederate Battle Flag being flown on capitol grounds.
April 18, 2002
NAACP To Renew Call Fend To Racial Disparities In Education At 5th Daisy Bates Education Summit In May
April 16, 2002
NAACP Approves Of Passage Of Election Reform Bill
April 12, 2002
NAACP Joins Race Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit Against Cracker Barrel Restaurant Chain
April 11, 2002
NAACP Henry Lee Moon Library and Civil Rights Archive Rededication
April 2, 2002
Mfume Says Mugabe’s Treatment Of Opposition Is Anti - Democratic
March 26, 2002
NAACP Expresses Disappointment At Justice Department
March 26, 2002
Congratulations To Halle Berry And Denzel Washington
March 25, 2002
NAACP To Stage Protest At NCAA Tournament In South Carolina
March 15, 2002
NAACP Satisfied By Senate Rejection Of Pickering Nomination
March 14, 2002
NAACP Opponents Reach New Low With Fraudulent Letter
March 13, 2002
NAACP Urges Maryland Legislature To Adopt Law To Help Families Move Out Of Leaded Rental Property
March 13, 2002
NAACP Will Not Be Deterred In South Carolina By David Duke Led White Supremist
March 11, 2002
NAACP Again Urges Senate To Reject Pickering Nomination
March 6, 2002
NAACP Hosts Its First Job Fair For Ex-Offenders
March 5, 2002
Shirley Pratt Miles Named Region III Director
March 4, 2002
NAACP Reactivates National Prison Project
March 1, 2002
NAACP Demonstrates At South Carolina Welcome Centers
March 1, 2002
Winners Of 33rd NAACP Image Awards Announced
March 1, 2002
NAACP Calls On The Federal Government To Appeal The Court’s Decision To Overturn Convictions Of NYPD Cops Accused Of Torturing Haitian Refugee
March 1, 2002
NAACP Opposes Nonimation Of Gerald Reynolds
February 27, 2002
Bond Re-Elected As NAACP Chairman At Annual Board Meeting February 21, 2002
NAACP Denounces Pickering Confirmation During Press Conference At Annual Meeting
February 19, 2002
President Mfume And Pan Hellenic Leaders Hold Historic Talks February 19, 2002
NAACP Gives Its Highest Corporate Award To UPS
February 15, 2002
NAACP Returns To New York City To Salute Its Citizens And Recommit To Justice And Freedom
February 14, 2002
NAACP Calls for Support of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day NAACP President/CEO to serve as co-spokesperson
February 06 , 2002
Little Richard Named To NAACP Hall Of Fame
Rock n Roll Legend to Receive Honor at 33rd NAACP Image Awards Ceremony
February 05 , 2002
NAACP Calls On State Department To Protest Spanish Police Beating Of A Black Musician In Barcelona
February 05 , 2002
National Security Advisor Condolezza Rice Named Winner Of The President’s Award
January 30 , 2002
NAACP Honors‘BOONDOCKS’ Cartoonist Aaron McGruder To Receive Coveted
January 30 , 2002
NAACP ACT-SO Launches Two New Categories
January 14 , 2002
NAACP Names New Director Of Health Advocacy
January 11 , 2002
2001
NAACP Names New Director Of Administration/Strategic Planning
December 20, 2001
33RD NAACP Image Awards Nominations Announced
December 11, 2001
NAACP Forms National Youth Coalition On Inequities In Higher Education Town Hall Meeting To Frame Strategic Dialogue
December 5, 2001
NAACP Resolves Lawsuit With The Adam’s Mark Hotel Chain Announces End Of Its Economic Boycotts
December 3 , 2001
NAACP Satisfied As Supreme Court Abandons Ruling On Affirmative Action
November 28, 2001
Auburn University Sets Example By Swift Action In The Face Of Racist Student Behavior
November 19, 2001
NAACP Now Accepting Nominations For The 87th Spingarn Medal November 16, 2001
NAACP And Partners Encourage Students And Parents To Prepare For College Now More Than Ever
November 16, 2001
NAACP Calls For Local School Systems, Colleges And Universities To End Racial Disparities Challenges Bush Adminstration
November 14, 2001
NAACP Commends Suspension Of Auburn Fraternity Involved In Racial Incident On Campus
November 14, 2001
NAACP Applauds Auburn’s Swift Move Against Campus Racism
November 9, 2001
NAACP Holds Summit Meeting With Faith Community Leaders
October 31, 2001
NAACP Supprts Reauthorization Of Federal Transportation Bill TEA-21
October 26, 2001
NAACP Moves Annual Board Meeting To New York To Show City Support In Wake Of Terrorist Tragedy
October 26, 2001
NAACP Adopts Policy To Minimize Impact Of Terrorist Attacks On Families And Civil Liberties
October 22, 2001
NAACP Signs New Contract With Mfume
October 22, 2001
NAACP To Join Court Battle On Behalf Of Children Affected By Lead Paint Poisoning
October 4, 2001
NAACP ACT-SO Seeks Aspiring TV Production Talent For Grant Competition Sponsored By ABC, Inc.
September 27, 2001
The NAACP Says Its Work Goes On
September 19, 2001
Mfume Calls Again For American Solidarity
September 18, 2001
NAACP Issues Call For International Days Of Prayer
September 12, 2001
NAACP Hails End Of 30-Year Battle For Low-Income Homes In New Jersey
September 7, 2001
Mfume Disappointed by U.S. Decision to Withdraw from Racism Conference
September 4, 2001
NAACP’s Music Image Awards Show To Air on WB Network Hosted by Brandy and Sinbad
August 22, 2001
NAACP Joins ‘People For’, Eastman Kodak and Ad Council To Spur Parent Involvement in Public Schools: Launches Largest Outreach Ever Geared to African American and Latino Parents
August 21, 2001
Mfume Says Hearst Argyle Pilot is not Conflist of Interest
August 20, 2001
NAACP Encourages Parents To Get More Involved In Their Children’s Education
August 16, 2001
President’s Note on TV Diversity
August 16, 2001
NAACP Television Report Shows Diversity Remains Unfulfilled Goal
August 15, 2001
NAACP Applauds Bush’s Affirmative Action Defense
August 11, 2001
Federal Judge Clears the Way for NAACP Boycott of Adam’s Mark Hotel Chain: Judge denies hotel request for injunction barring demonstrations
August 3, 2001
NAACP Announces"Follow Your Dreams" Essay Contest Winners
July 27, 2001
Mfume Calls Lead Paint Poisoning “The Silent Epidemic”
Will ask for a meeting with President Bush to discuss the issue
July 10, 2001
NAACP Speaks Truth To Power At 92nd Annual Convention
July 13, 2001
MBNA America Lance L. Weaver Chairs 2001-2002 NAACP National Corporate Campaign
July 11, 2001
NAACP Thalheimer Awards 2001 Announced92nd Annual Convention: NAACP Branches, State Conferences and Publications Win Prestigious Honor
July 11, 2001
NAACP Opposses Faith Based Initiative: Emergency resolution approved during 92nd Annual Convention
July 11, 2001
NAACP Convention Delegates Pass Mississippi Confederate Flag Resolution
July 10, 2001
NAACP Honors Excellence in the Department of Defense at 26th Annual Armed Services and Veteran’s Affairs Dinner
July 09, 2001
NAACP Launches Fellows Program For Youth At 92nd Annual Convention In New Orleans
July 09, 2001
NAACP Unveils Voter Empowerment Incentive Campaign At 92nd Annual Convention
NAACP Unveils Dynamic Incentive Awards Program
July 09, 2001
Mfume Addresses Delegates Convention Attendees At The 92nd Annual Convention
July 09, 2001
NAACP Announces Its Partnership With The U.S. Coast Guard At 92nd Annual Convention
July 09, 2001
State of Minority Youth in America Addressed at NAACP Town Hall Meeting at 92nd Annual Convention in New Orleans
July 09, 2001
NAACP Hosts Premier of Poignant film on HIV
July 09, 2001
NAACP to Sponsor Eighth Annual Diversity Job Fair at National Convention in New Orleans
July 08, 2001
ACT-SO Students Win Computers And Cash At The National NAACP Convention In New Orleans 75 Winners Selected From Over 1,000 Participants
July 08, 2001
McDonald’s Presents: Its Showtime at the Apollo Kids Talent Search At NAACP Convention
July 07, 2001
Election Reform
July 07, 2001
NAACP Hosts Program Information Exchange Center as Part of National Convention: Activities will focus on voter empowerment efforts
July 07, 2001
Bond and Mfume Open Annual Convention in New Orleans with a Pledge to Move the NAACP and the Country Forward
July 07, 2001
NAACP Hosts the 17TH Annual Lawyers Continuing Legal Education Seminar at National Convention in New Orleans
July 07, 2001
Mfume says decision on possible boycott in Mississippi to be discussed at national convention
July 06, 2001
Students VIE for cash and prizes in National ACT-SO competitions at NAACP convention
July 06, 2001
20,000 Expected to attend 92nd annual convention
31st Annual Commerce and Industry Show will also be featured
July 05, 2001
Rev. Dr. Gardner Calvin Taylor Presents NAACP’s 86TH Spingarn Award To Vernon Jordan
June 27, 2001
NAACP Co-Sponsors National HIV Testing Day June 27TH
June 24, 2001
BOND Calls For Immediate Halt To Federal Executions
June 14, 2001
MFUME Plans To Visit Sharpton In Jail
June 5, 2001
NAACP To Take New Actions To Increase Television Diversity
May 24, 2001
NAACP Rekindles Fire For Excellence In Education At 4th Biennial Daisy Bates Education Summit U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige Delivered Keynote Address
May 24, 2001
The History Channel Examines The Mystery Of The 364TH What Really Happened to African American Soldiers at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi
May 16, 2001
Chairman Bond Addresses Black Publishers
May 15, 2001
NAACP President Says Justice is Finally Served in Birmingham Case
May 10, 2001
NAACP ACT-SO Youth Entrepreneurs Win Prestigious Business Competition
May 10, 2001
NAACP President Testifies Before Congress Against Federal Employee Discrimination
May 09, 2001
Testimony of Hilary O. Shelton Director, Washington Bureau of the NAACP On Voting Irregularities in the 2000 election and Proposals for Change Before the Senate governmental Affairs Committee
May 09, 2001
NAACP Outraged Over Grand Jury Decision In Cincinnati Police Shooting
May 07, 2001
Judge Greg Mathis Joins NAACP Town Hall On Accountability In Public EducationMay
May 03, 2001
NAACP Urges NCAA To Reconsider Decision On 2002 Playoffs
May 02, 2001
NAACP Calls Town Hall Meeting To Speak Out Against Racism And Racial Intimidation at PENN State
May 01, 2001
NAACP Celebrates Youth Week
April 26, 2001
Board of Directors Orders Harford County, Maryland Branch To Hold a New Election For Officers
April 26, 2001
NAACP to Focus On Housing Bias & Racial Profiling: Dialogue on Issues set for Region IV Conference in MinneapolisApril
April 25, 2001
U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige To Address NAACP Daisy Bates Education Summit
April 25, 2001
NAACP Mourns the Loss of Reverend Leon Sullivan
April 25, 2001
NAACP Asks North Carolina to Commute Robert Bacon Sentence
April 24, 2001
NAACP Calls Mississippi Vote Deeply Disappointing
April 18, 2001
NAACP Commends International Hunt for Missing Child Slave Ship
April 18, 2001
NAACP Urges Ashcroft to Investigate Fatal Cincinnati Shooting
April 11, 2001
NAACP Appeals for Voting Rights for Ex-Felony Offenders
April 4, 2001
Vernon Jordan Awarded 86th. Spingarn Award
April 2, 2001
NAACP Supports University of Michigan Decision to Appeal Courts Decision Striking Down Affirmative Action
March 31, 2001
Mfume Meets With Majority Leader Richard Armey
March 8, 2001
NAACP “Follow Your Dreams” Essay Contest Is Underway
March 6, 2001
Roslyn McCallister Brock Named Youngest and First Female Vice Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors
February 27, 2001
NAACP Mourns the Loss of Darrell Evers, Son of Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams
February 21, 2001
NAACP Leaders Challenge the President and Congress to Seek Common Ground at the 92nd Annual NAACP Meeting
February 17, 2001
NAACP Calls for Fair Compensation to Shinhoster Family
January 29, 2001
Remarks by NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume at Inauguration Protest Rally Saturday January 20, 2001 in Tallahassee, Florida
January 27, 2001
NAACP Will Ask for Civil Rights Charges to be Filed in Sewell Case
January 27, 2001
NAACP Press Release-Statement from Merlie Evers-Williams
January 22, 2001
NAACP Challenges South Carolina Confederate Flag
January 12, 2001
The NAACP Opposes Gail Norton’s Nomination for Secretary of Interior
January 12, 2001
NAACP and National Civil Rights Groups File Florida Voting Rights Lawsuit to Eliminate Unfair Voting Practices
January 10, 2001
NAACP Joins Other Groups in Opposing Ashcroft Nomination
January 9, 2001
NAACP Denounces Chavez Nomination for Top Labor Post
January 5, 2001
NAACP Files Florida Voting Rights Lawsuit
January 5, 2001
Now, as I said earlier, I’m a grad student at Rutgers University and IIRC, the flap about Lawrence happened years ago. The BSU at Rutgers has long dropped the subject and has moved on to other things, like facilitating community and provide social opportunities to black students. Typical services of a student union. If you have PROOF that the BSU is still fussing about Lawerence (especially since he has resigned), I would LOVE to see it, december.
The mission statement of Rutgers BSU (taken from http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~rubsu/index2.htm): The purpose of this organization shall be to reach out to minority students, in order to give them an atmosphere in which they can express their concerns, grievances, and suggestions regarding problems in society-at-large. As well, we aim to promote unity between Rutgers’ minority organizations in order to inspire a social and cultural awareness that will improve realtions within and surrounding the Rutgers community." (Article II, Constitution of the Black Student Union)
Bolding mine.
I excel in what I do too, december. That doesn’t mean I will meekly accept the president of MY university telling ME that I am genetically inferior. You can have the “I’ll show them” attitude while still speaking out against “minor” insults. The two actions aren’t mutually exclusive.
now, now monstro - don’t you see what the problem is?
you’re trying to confuse the issue with facts. december has his ‘impressions’ to rely on. If you wish him to recognize the efforts of the NAACP they should:
accept his priorities (ie, demand more charter schools vs. equality in education)
and
Stop w/the press releases - send them instead to certain favored op/ed writers.
(IOW good job- monstro! )
wring, I complained that the NAACP was not working on two areas I consider to be enormously important: education, and crimes against black people. Not a single NAACP press release in 2002 dealt with either of these areas. In fact, the NAACP opposition to the death penalty may mean an increase in crimes against Black people, since Blacks are more likely to be murder victims than other races are.
Some of the 2001 press releases mention education or students, but they are somewhat scatter shot. There were no press releases decrying the severe educational needs or proposing actions likely to make a significant improvement.
In short, Monstro’s press release list supported my points.
december - MY point is that it’s not up to you to determine what they should be working on, and how.
and, as a matter of fact, I saw a couple of things in their lists that addressed those areas - there was the one about racial disparities in education, the ex offender job fair and frankly the protest about capital punishment is about crime.
The fact that you don’t think these are the priorties is the problem. the additional fact that you don’t see it as a problem is further evidence.
I do not believe that you intend to be offensive and that you certainly don’t see yourself as a racist.
However - for you to continually spout what you think should be the priorty for minorities in the face of what they think should be the priorties, is more than condescending, especially when you continue to couch it in terms of 'well, if they were really interested in addressing the problems of their situation they should do such and such.
If I said I was having problems in my house, and set up various priorities (first, I want to get the kitchen clean, then the living room, then tackle the kids room) and you stepped in and demanded that I rearrange my priorities and set up my standards to match yours, you’d be kicked into the next state w/in seconds.
I’m sure I read somewhere that December was a member of the NAACP for 25 years. Surely that qualifies him to have a say in what they should be working on and how.
“member” (vs. officer etc) = minor amount of say back in the day.
and please note that exactly what I predicted would happen, did. IE that the NAACP wasn’t attending to his ‘pet’ issues in the way he thought best. How utterly condescending. He noted education as an issue but didn’t notice that they spoke out against disparity in education. from other threads, I’ve come to understand that he’s most focused on ‘gee, why don’t they see vouchers as ‘the’ way out of the situation’ even when the data is at best inconclusive.
and crime - gee, the NAACP see the death penalty as a major issue, but december disagrees. This does not constitute the NAACP ignoring issues important to minorities. This consitutes the NAACP ignoring the issues important to december - hardly the same thing.
