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http://www.npr.org/blogs/codes...o-discussion-on-race

As soon as he made his remarks on race Friday, President Obama was part of an intense conversation around the nation.

In dozens of cities across the country on Saturday, protesters held coordinated rallies and vigils over the not-guilty verdict in the shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Many African-Americans insist that understanding the context for black distress over the Zimmerman verdict is key to honest discussions about race.

In Washington, D.C., Djems Wolf Narcisse was visiting the Martin Luther King Memorial. He was not at the D.C. protest, but he does say that few white Americans can understand why black Americans don't look at race the same way they do.

"You know we're not looked upon as the people who fought for this country; we're looked upon as the burden of this country," he says.

White Americans, Narcisse says, probably didn't get the president's story of being followed while shopping because it isn't part of their experience, as it is his.
President Obama, left, and Attorney General Eric Holder are silhouetted as they atend the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Capitol Hill on May 15. In recent days, both Holder and now Obama have talked openly about their experiences as black men in America.

"That's what you gotta think about," he says. "When you walk into a store, do they follow you around? Have you ever had that happen to you?"
Protesters in support of Trayvon Martin march across the Brooklyn Bridge after attending a rally organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton on Sunday in New York City.

In Atlanta, Emory University professor Tyrone Forman likes that Obama encouraged white Americans to consider what might happen if the situation were reversed. What, Forman asks, if Trayvon Martin had been Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg — who also wears hoodies, just as Treyvon did the night he was killed?

"We can imagine a very different scenario would have transpired that evening in Sanford, Florida," Forman said. "And I think it's that context that President Obama was alluding to, and trying to open a conversation about."

Included in that conversation are Stand Your Ground laws, which many view as unevenly applied. Stand Your Ground was not used in the Zimmerman case, but many felt it played an uspoken role in the trial. It was very much on the minds of protesters around the country, like Ashley Franklin, in Los Angeles.

"I feel like Stand Your Ground laws are something tangible that you can grab hold to, and try to change, right?" Franklin says. "But I think that's much larger than just Stand Your Ground laws. It's more systemic."

She says that until all America gets that the system treats some of its citizens differently from others, the problem will persist.

For some people, understanding how different life outside the mainstream can be is a challenge.

Journalist Sylvester Monroe grew up in one of Chicago's toughest projects, light years away from the critics who say the president is ignoring black violence and crime. Monroe's book, Brothers, chronicles how hard it is for poor young black men to buy into — let alone achieve — the American Dream. He liked that the president admitted crime is a problem in many black communities while giving context to the problem.

"Yes, it is absolutely true that a disproportionate number of crimes are committed by young black men — but he said there's a reason for that," Monroe said. "Not an excuse. A reason."
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Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Originally Posted by ribbit:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:


       

Blacks "welcome" the racist obama into the "race war" and this is news?

 

only a racist would see him to be a racist

================================

Does that opinion go for all the blacks that call all whites racist?? 

You should look at it from both sides I suppose, but blacks are still living with the past. It hasn't been that long since they were under their Owners control, not even allowed to read or write (or vote.) I think maybe they still harbor some resentment and concern for who really wants to maintain the upper hand.

Originally Posted by ribbit:
 

You should look at it from both sides I suppose, but blacks are still living with the past. It hasn't been that long since they were under their Owners control, not even allowed to read or write (or vote.) I think maybe they still harbor some resentment and concern for who really wants to maintain the upper hand.

 

How easy it is to forget who sold them into slavery in the first place.  I guess the 'white' man is the easiest and closest to blame.  Its also easy to forget that it was a minority of people who actually 'owned' slaves.

 

The real issue is their treatment as second class citizens, both then and now.  

 

As for who actually wants to maintain the 'upper hand' - maybe you should follow the money.  Its not the average white guy that wants to maintain the upper hand.  Its the politicians and the Al Sharptons.  They either get rich off the race issue or use it as a distraction to keep the average citizen away from the issues that affect the country.  

 

Watch this black preacher talk about the issue.  How much of negativity toward black youth is based on prejudice / racism and how much is based on the image that many of them present of themselves?  If nothing else, start listening at about 1:50.  If a black preacher worries about the person in the elevator with him, how does anyone expect the rest of the community to have a positive view of them?  Other than the preachers thoughts (since so many here are non religious), how do we change that perception?          

 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9...ch%3Fv%3D9CUNUVhzFAQ

 

 

Until the minorities acknowledge that there is a problem within the ranks of their race causing deaths, fatherless homes, not obtaining education, expecting passes on a lot of things that they feel are their due, demanding free housing and money and blaming others for their own deeds there can be no honest discussion. When white people claim they are being wrongly treated and accuse anyone who does not agree with them as racist there will be not healing. Don't call me a racist and not have anything to back that up with. Flimsy innuendos are the mark of an  person tying to justify their own prejudice feelings to draw attention away from themselves. Anyone who says whites are racist is sounding like an empty tin can rolling down a dirt road. A lot of noise but for sure it is empty and not worth listening to.

You should look at it from both sides I suppose, but blacks are still living with the past. It hasn't been that long since they were under their Owners control, not even allowed to read or write (or vote.) I think maybe they still harbor some resentment and concern for who really wants to maintain the upper hand

 

====================

If they've been under an "owner's control" I'd sure love to meet them. They'd be over 150 years old. Same goes for them being able to read and write, they've been able to do that for as long as they've been here. This is what gets to me, the complete ignorance of historical facts, or the willingness to ignore true history and rewrite it to suit the agenda of people like you. As far as them being able to vote and hold office, you might want to research that and get back to me, after you "learn yourself something" as the saying goes. Not all blacks are descended from slaves, just as few whites are descended from slave owners. But that doesn't stop every black person in this country from claiming they came from slaves, and claiming all whites came from slave owners. My ancestors were native american, not a slave owner in the bunch, yet you and any black person that sees me would claim that my ancestors owned, oppressed, and held back the black man. As my family elders told me, they were too busy trying to live themselves to hold back anyone, and had no interest in doing so either. I've never benefited in ONE way by blacks being "surpressed", it's quite the opposite, being considered a white person, anything I have had to come from my efforts, because I'm not an entitled black person that has had every program under the sun at their disposal. So again, does the opinion that only a racist would call someone else a racist go for all the blacks that call every non-black person a racist? 

I have been profiled!  Several years ago banks were being robbed by a slender white male wearing a hooded sweatshirt, ball cap and sunglasses.  The Bank Independent that I visited one bright, cool, fall day was in a trailer.  They would unlock the door when you rang a bell to let you in.  I was wearing, you guessed it, hooded sweatshirt, ball cap and sunglasses.  As I walked up to the door I heard it click, thinking they had unlocked the door for me I reached to open it.  It was locked!  I was mad, they know me!  I come here every week!  When I looked in the rear view mirror to back out, I saw why they would not let me in.  I looked very similar to the picture that was on tv and in the papers.  I took off my hood, hat and sunglasses and went through the drive through.  I told the teller I did not blame him, I would not have opened the door either.  I guess if I had been black I could have sued the bank.  As it was, it was funny to me.  But the teller was still profiling me, should my feelings be hurt?

I am very light-skinned and am glad he commented on the subject.  Yes, there is racism in every shade and culture since stereotypes and bad experiences happen.  

 

I have lived in several neighborhoods in my life where different shades of people lived, and my dark-skinned friends were treated with suspicion many times while I was treated nicely.  I could have been a thug and they were nice kids, but because their skin happened to be dark brown and mine is rather pink/light I was allowed in or left to wander a store, while they were followed or told to wait outside.  

 

So that was a long time ago?  Some of it was.  Some wasn't.  I can drive through a rich neighborhood and get waves or smiles despite the fact that I could be casing the neighborhood, but my dark friends get suspicious glances and hard looks.  And no, most people aren't out to rob people, and most black people aren't criminals just as all white people are cool, trustworthy, or awesome and honest.

 

Being a white person is a different experience today and always has been in this country, whether anyone wants to hear that or not.  It is reality and yes, I think it does help to have a conversation about it and for those of us who aren't in that situation to learn how it does feel.  I would be a bit ticked off too if everywhere I went I were seen as BLACK instead of black.  It affects job searches, finances, and daily life, and although it is no excuse to not try and work hard, it can sometimes make it a different challenge than one has being white.  I make no excuses for bad acts, but am just pointing out that perhaps instead of condemning people who want to share their experiences and work together to reach understanding it might help us to just listen and consider the stories and experiences so we can see where others are coming from on all "sides".  

 

Again, I am not excusing bad behavior or criminal acts...just saying I am glad to hear people actually expressing how they feel in respectful speech instead of being angry and silent so the stereotypes all continue.  I hear plenty of nasty comments and veiled racism from whites, I hear it from blacks toward whites as well.  It is all unfortunate.

You know what it is not always your skin tone that matters.  One of my black friends went to the Air Force Academy and looks like a officer and gentleman and his brother has tats, dreadlocks and dresses like a gangster.  The gangster dressing brother gets mad because people treat him so different than his brother, your personal appearance and dress do effect how people view and interact with you.

Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:

You know what it is not always your skin tone that matters.  One of my black friends went to the Air Force Academy and looks like a officer and gentleman and his brother has tats, dreadlocks and dresses like a gangster.  The gangster dressing brother gets mad because people treat him so different than his brother, your personal appearance and dress do effect how people view and interact with you.

 

+++

 

Paraphrasing...

 

A man should be judged by the content of his character rather than the color of his skin ~ MLK.

 

Right on.

 

Originally Posted by frog:

I am very light-skinned and am glad he commented on the subject.  Yes, there is racism in every shade and culture since stereotypes and bad experiences happen.  

 

I have lived in several neighborhoods in my life where different shades of people lived, and my dark-skinned friends were treated with suspicion many times while I was treated nicely.  I could have been a thug and they were nice kids, but because their skin happened to be dark brown and mine is rather pink/light I was allowed in or left to wander a store, while they were followed or told to wait outside.  

 

So that was a long time ago?  Some of it was.  Some wasn't.  I can drive through a rich neighborhood and get waves or smiles despite the fact that I could be casing the neighborhood, but my dark friends get suspicious glances and hard looks.  And no, most people aren't out to rob people, and most black people aren't criminals just as all white people are cool, trustworthy, or awesome and honest.

 

Being a white person is a different experience today and always has been in this country, whether anyone wants to hear that or not.  It is reality and yes, I think it does help to have a conversation about it and for those of us who aren't in that situation to learn how it does feel.  I would be a bit ticked off too if everywhere I went I were seen as BLACK instead of black.  It affects job searches, finances, and daily life, and although it is no excuse to not try and work hard, it can sometimes make it a different challenge than one has being white.  I make no excuses for bad acts, but am just pointing out that perhaps instead of condemning people who want to share their experiences and work together to reach understanding it might help us to just listen and consider the stories and experiences so we can see where others are coming from on all "sides".  

 

Again, I am not excusing bad behavior or criminal acts...just saying I am glad to hear people actually expressing how they feel in respectful speech instead of being angry and silent so the stereotypes all continue.  I hear plenty of nasty comments and veiled racism from whites, I hear it from blacks toward whites as well.  It is all unfortunate.


Nice post frog.

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