I have had ENOUGH of the way Black people are treated in the USA

[Thtwudbeme]

Actually, I had had enough twenty years ago, but was always quiet about it...why? I don't know...I am vocal with people I know, but quiet with strangers.

No excuse anymore...I am fucking pissed as shit.

This shit in the South is RIGHTLY called Genocide at this point. This goddamned so called response by the pathetic stupid bastards in the fed. Govt. is racist shit.

If there is a DUer on here that disagrees with me, then that person needs to read up on, and educate themselves about institutionalized racism before they dare post on my thread...because while I am in the shower cooling off, my husband will be happy to rip them a new one.

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. No disagreement here

I have eyes.

[Melodybe]

19. kick and nominated, A fucking men

[blossomstar]

2. Also had it in NC

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. Welcome to DU blossomstar

:)

[wli]

4. I used the 'g' word myself. n/t

[noiretextatique]

5. well...there it is

what do the starving people need? why military police, of course.

[distantearlywarning]

6. Agreed.

Never felt like this before about racism.

My eyes have been opened by all of the desperate black faces on TV. These people are our neighbors and our countrymen and the way they have been treated is beyond appalling. It's shameful and disgusting.

I was also struck by all of the elderly of all races. It was pretty obvious who the "disposable" people are in this country.

[wildeyed]

7. Yep, you can pretty much see where our priorities lie.

Disgrace Disgrace Disgrace

[kineneb]

8. agreed

BushCo sees them as non-humans, perhaps even non-living. I am sooo pissed with the whole "rescue" effort. Spare the wealthy whites R's and stick it to the poor blacks D's. And I am about as white as one can get without being albino. Those people are My people, not the greedy bastards.

Blessed are the poor...

I want to cry.:cry:

[Jeanette in FL]

9. Me too

Years ago when someone would tell a racial joke, I went from the sheepish giggle to the I don't find that funny at all, to throwing a person out of my house to the point now I will not tolerate it at all with a history lesson to follow. The next person that tells me why can't black people get over slavery I will probably kill them. This has brought the racial issue front and center for all to see

[Thtwudbeme]

11. Right there with you,

my husband almost walked into another person's office and punched them in the face today for talking about the "idiots that weren't smart enough to leave..."

[Tigress DEM]

38. We had a person on the local radio with the talking point....

Don't use my tax dollars to rebuild, it will just happen again.

The DJ let the guy talk but blasted the point of view, saying that if some freak blizzard hit MN with 80" of snow and crushed buildings all over that this guy would probably just say "they're only a bunch of stupid farmers who chose to live there ....."

I thought that was beneficial in a way... when I talk to people about all the crazy shit the freepers say it's hard to get people to believe it. It's good to get it on record that these people are seriously bent.

Mainstream America wants the MLK's dream to come true but as long as these innuendos and slights are hidden, there is a difficulty getting mobilization against a vague sense of inequity. As long as "COPS" shows that all the bad guys are people of color or dumb whites then people feel justified letting bad things happen to good people because it could have been some honest mistake.

I don't know if I give BushCo the credit of having any sort of intelligence that would be required to actually consciously go after genocide. If you looked the word up in the dictionary and explained it to him, he'd still be clueless, but if there were DEMs to be evacuated, I'm sure they feel the more that die the better.

I say this because black or white or polka dot, WE THE PEOPLE STAND together against this senseless slaughter.

You're probably right, it's probably in Bush's agenda to kill off through national minded neglect and bias as many poor black people as possible and cuckhold enough of the ones high up in politics to make it seem like he's their new best friend.

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcmp&rqsdta=11020401017141

Orleans, 442 of 442
NOV 2, 2004
Votes for Kerry 152,610
Votes for Bush 42,847

[Prodemsouth]

10. No disagreement from me. I am a White southerner. I know when

people, that would be politicians and propagandist are trying to stroke racist sentiments in me.

[Double T]

12. Racism and stereotyping are just plain ignorance......

and unfortunately it is passed on from one generation to the next. I wish there was a way to break the chain, it would be a much better world.

[JohnnyBoots]

13. Good Couple it seems like, you two n/t

[shireen]

14. can someone explain this?

What the hell are these Republicans thinking?
Clarence Thomas
Michael Steele (Lt. Gov. MD)
J. C. Watts (former member of Congress, OK)
Condoleeza Rice

I wonder how they're feeling tonight.


I can't bring myself to include Colin Powell in this list -- he once said he believes in the Republican Party of Lincoln's day, which was nothing like today's Republican lunatics. Colin, did you actually think you could change your party?!

[[e-mail]]

40. they are rich black people and I'd spit on them

sorry
but they should be screaming and they are not
f them toooooooooooooooooo
the Repug's have no SHAME

[magnolia]

52. I once read an article about some prominent black people.

It was about Condi actually and her "specialness". It said that some prominent black people want to keep blacks down because it makes their personal accomplishment bigger. Using Condi as an example: if blacks, whites, men and women were all completely equal, then her position wouldn't be a big deal. As a black woman it's a huge deal. She would lose her "specialness" if all blacks came up.

[existentialist]

15. Not only do you NOT get disagreement.

I would say that the other posts here in aggregate pretty much prove your point--beyond doubt.

So after we accept the fact that we are all extremely upset, what can we do about it?

[Thtwudbeme]

18. Well....I am going to start by being vocal

at all times, all places...

AND carry a sign that says "Bush you racist SOB..." and something else added at the protest in DC.

Aside from that, I am not sure yet. But, something.

Stephanie

[Tigress DEM]

41. Good ideas!

Hope to see you in DC. Are you going to meetup on Sat Night?

[Bouncy Ball]

20. Start by speaking up.

Never abide racist remarks, attitudes or behavior when you witness it. Point it out. Loudly, if need be. Repeatedly, if need be.

[bonito]

22. I agree, that's the real issue that MUST be dealt with.

[SmokingJacket]

16. No, you are right.

Why the obvious is denied is beyond me...

[Bouncy Ball]

17. I've had enough of it my whole life.

I wasn't raised to be racist, thank God. That's one thing my parents did VERY right.

One thing I will tell all of you here: you can do something very simple but very powerful to start taking action--you can open your mouth and speak up.

If you are ever in a situation where someone says something racist, I don't care if it's the fanciest dinner party imaginable, I don't care if it's your doctor, whoever, OPEN YOUR MOUTH and speak up. Counter it. Say SOMETHING.

When someone says something racist (usually "disguised" as a "joke"), I don't worry about what people think--I simply cannot sit there and fume. Silence equals consent. I've gotten up and left social functions because the racism was being tossed around. As a white person, other white people seem to think I will agree with them on it, they ASSume I am racist like them, but I'm not and they find out real quick that I'm not.

Oh and before I left, I made sure everyone knew why I was leaving.

I've ended friendships with people I found out were racist, and I let them know why.

Same goes for homophobic remarks and attitudes, btw.

Don't ABIDE it. Speak up.

[HEyHEY]

21. I know it's disgusting - when my mother notices something like that

It's bad...she's usually not very political

[blondeatlast]

23. I've only experienced it secondhand (hubby and son have brown skin)

but since meeting my wonderful husband, I've felt its sting in the looks, the whispered comments, the outright vicious stares--and I'm lucky. My experience is nothing on what my husband and son have experienced.

Perhaps once the hell on earth is overcome, it can be a chance for healing--but the anger this blonde, blue-eyed white woman feels over what has occurred is palpable.

To my sisters and brothers of color--I am so, so very sorry. I wish to hell I could believe this is all accidental, but I fear that the situation has been exploited for the most evil and despicable reasons.

Just know that we do love you. It ain't much, but it's what we've always got.

I'm so damn sorry about this.

[G_j]

24. me too!!

The prison industrial complex is the most glaring example for me. Every study done has shown that blacks and whites are treated differently in the justice system.

Blacks are denied loans, get higher interest rates etc. etc.

Then there are the Blacks denied voting rights in FLA. only a few scant years after the Voting Rights Act passed. Remember the shameful scene in F-9/11?
Yet we have a boatload of DU "liberals" who would rather blame Nader than address this most basic civil rights issue.

The CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) is continually ignored (yes HERE also!)
The Republican supported coup in Haiti is not news or worth discussion. Then so called liberals deny we live in a racist culture.
-And I haven't even addressed the KKK loving Republicans!
Yea, I'm sick of it too!! :puke:

[bonito]

25. An ear for my story? anyone.

I don't know if anyone thinks of my grandfather anymore, but he was such a loving man. I was born in 52 he passed in 59. They say I was he's favorite. I remember the long walks with him in the city blocks we'd stop at the cobbler the dry cleaners just about all the shops if not all along the way just to check in and say hello, we had many of these, and finding things along the way a penny here a penny there. I used to wake him every morning jumping on his chest and forcing his eyes open till he got up. I remember us sharing a can of sardines now and then, finding ru barb, picking apples or grapes or just burning the leaves in the fall. No one could have had a better grandfather than I, or ever will. Then I remember my grandmother told us that he had cancer one day, and we were not to tell him, the next morning I as usual jumped up on he's chest pryied open he's eyes and said "gampy you have cancer" I never saw him wake up so fast. not long after that he was gone for long bouts at a time in the hospital. fast forward 50 years, looking at old family pictures with my wife and friends there were photos of my "gampy" and he's sister, And they revealed to me that they were not white, it was quite obvious I know, but I never, never, thought of my grandfather as a color. so I just want to say to everyone, have mercy .Peace.

[G_j]

28. what a beautiful story

thank you so much for sharing that. :-)

just a note, born in '51, I have been a musician most of my life.
One day when I was about 18, I had a sort of revelation when looking through my record collection. I had never really consciously realized that many of my records were by black artists. Then later as I played music with various people, I became aware that music had dissolved many barriers for me, as I didn't really perceive color as important.
Not sure what the point is, except that I deeply love music and that is one reason.

[Tigress DEM]

44. The people you love don't have any particular color... they just ARE...

I think that is really cool. Wouldn't it be great if someday there were children who would be playing side by side all colors and nationalities (like a Star Trek episode) and if someone made a comment that implied one of the kids there was different because of the color of their skin the kids would all start laughing at that "silly person" who doesn't know the simple facts of DNA.

[Tomee450]

26. I feel the same way.

A black woman, originally from Ghana, called into C-Span this morning to say that she doesn't like the way blacks are treated here and she worries about her daughter. She said that she is thinking about relocating when she gets her degree. This incident has reinforced the belief held by many black people that they are a very vulnerable minority in this country, that they cannot trust the government. I've heard the word genocide mentioned several times today. I know of African Americans who have left this country, some going to Canada, others to Europe and Africa. None want to return.

[bpilgrim]

27. I am SICK-N-TIRED and i ain't taking it NO MORE!!!

any apologist for this regime it's supporters and especially the BARBARIC non-response is gonna get a verbal a$$ kicking from me, online or off, bet!

give'm hell Thtwudbeme :toast:

peace

[Thtwudbeme]

30. I am trying my best

but need to do more offline.

I am seriously pissed

[Tigress DEM]

43. Also.... give people the choice of "distancing themselves" from these apes

I'm visualizing such a HUGE level of disgust with all things rethuglican that more and more people will simply move out of that party because they can't trust them anymore.

What killed me today, and I have to watch my dosage of truth sometimes was the part in the Air America timeline where 20 countries offered their help on Wednesday and the administration said, "Not right now, wait until we ask." I've had a sick headache today anyway, but I was nearly ready to puke when I heard that.

[MadeinOhio]

29. They ARE racist pieces of shit I agree.

Lets hope the Texans and others who take these people in for shelter, learn from them not to be racist and to accept other types of people as they would accept their neighbor.

[Walt Starr]

31. No disagreements from this white boy

I grew up in a small all white town in SouthEastern Indiana. I know how fucked up white people are. The racism I saw in that small town was abhorrent.

[Turn CO Blue]

32. Someone else tonight wrote that it's become embarrassing

to be white, well-fed and economically grounded. I feel almost guilty or something. I could barely eat tonight. And throwing money at the Red Cross doesn't help that feeling. I want to do something. I want things to change. I want a real social safety net. I want those babies on TV to get the opportunity to study the stars, or law, or become butchers, bakers or candlestick-makers if they so choose.

I want to shake my fellow honkeys and say, "Wake up! Wake up! It just appears that things are fair and equal, but we know deep down that they're not. They're not. Let's change it!"

[JanMichael]

34. I've felt sick to my stomach too.

I normally walk around alreay angry at our fucked up social/economic system but this is actually making me sick.

I've had two honest conversations with Black men today (At work) that I'd never talked to before and the whole time I felt like I was ready to puke.

I spilled my guts about what I think of this crap and they agreed but I know that they probably thought I was just another guilty white boy that'll do nothing more than work up some impressionable kid that'll end up in handcuffs.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

33. www.tolerance.org

anyone who thinks there's no issue needs to go there and take the tests and explore their hidden biases.

[AmBlue]

35. Southern Poverty Law Center's websites

are a valuable resource. They have a second website: www.teachingtolerance.org If you are an educator, please go visit and see what of their materials you might consider introducing into your curriculum. I donate to SPLC and it is one of the charities I hold most dear.

I'm with all of you. Racism must END.

[La Coliniere]

36. It is sickening, I agree.

Although I'm not Black, I've always been able to put my feet in their shoes. As well as Native Americans, Latinos, all of God's humanity. Hell, I can even imagine what it must feel like to be a steer waiting for the stun gun. It's called empathy, a virtue bestowed upon me by Mom and Dad. Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad. A virtue, by the way, sorely lacking in many Americans, especially republcan'ts.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

37. I said earlier that if it had been Plano, Texas swamped in a flash flood,

people would NOT have had to wait 5 days for rescue.

[McCamy Taylor]

39. NO is Genocide on LIve TV. The UN should step in. I am serious.

I keep praying that Castro will send in boats to rescue these people, cause our own government sure as hell isnt going to. Or maybe the French government can send in its fleet. France and New Orleans have a long close relationshop.

[Tigress DEM]

45. 20 countries offered aid on Wednesday, but BushCo said, "No thanks"

At least that's what I heard on Air America Radio and they are seldom mistaken about those things. It made me so sick to my stomach I couldn't listen any more.

[Tinoire]

42. Me too. Long ago. But thank you for saying it so loudly because

racism is an ugly thing that America had better confront and soon.

Healing the Soul of America : Reclaiming Our Voices as Spiritual Citizens... by Marianne Williamson

Thanks

[Cleita]

46. The entitled will have to help change this.

I am not pointing fingers at white people, because I have seen many white people living on the edge too. But those who think that they can step over other people and ignore them because they think they are "lazy" need a reality check for their responsibility.

Poor people need a helping hand no matter what their demographic is. We all have to help them.

[UTUSN]

47. Add Me n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

48. kick

[earth mom]

49. Martin Luther King Jr. is rolling over in his grave.

I really thought we'd come a helluva lot further than this!

:cry:

[durutti]

50. You're absolutely right.

But many whites will still deny the reality of racism. It's very, very sad.

[Hello_Kitty]

51. I've been silent in the face of racism too

No more. Not when I'm watching people die before my very eyes because of it. I'm calling it out when I hear it. I've already told off a guy at work. I don't care if they are friends, family, my boss, or they were nice to me in some way.

You ever noticed how a lot of times racists will unveil it not just when they are in a safe place - y'know, none of THOSE people around - but also when you are in a place where it would be extrememly awkward to confront them about it? The last time this happened was when I went to Tucson with a friend to go visit a friend of hers. We're from Phoenix. We were spending the night there so we were sitting around her house getting tipsy. She seemed pretty cool, though she and her b/f were Repugs. For "economic" reasons they said. They liked their tax cuts. Ok, whatever. I didn't bother to engage them. But then they proceeded to make disparaging comments about various ethnicities. I bit my tongue and so did my friend. I think they could tell I was uncomfortable because the subject got changed. I felt like shit for not saying anything but it wasn't like I could just drive away. Both my friend and I had been drinking. I honestly think on some level those Freeper assholes were intentionally imposing their opinions on us because we were a captive audience.

But you know what? I should have told them both to fuck off and slept in my car.

[zippy890]

53. no buses at all, let alone back seats

governmental racism caused the failure in New Orleans. No evacuation plans for the urban poor, who are black, disabled, elderly.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RACISM

[StellaBlue]

54. Shining City on a Hill

So... we have always been fed (and, largely, believed) all the propaganda, from John Winthrop on down, about American being a City on a Hill, a beacon of freedom to the world. I think this partly comes out of the 'new Jerusalem' complex that the English have historically had, which is also blatantly ridiculous and disproved by their own history.

In my own personal opnion, not only is this an oligarchy like all other governments, around the world, throughout history, almost without exception, but this nation has always been the OPPOSITE of the myth. We are NOT a City on a Hill. We were founded on genocide, slavery, corruption, and maintaining the status quo for the elite (also known as 'founding fathers').

Our inheritance is racism, misogyny, intolerance, war, religious zeal (I would say 'misplaced', but I think religious zeal is by definition opposed to human feeling and decency).......

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

58. Great points. Excellent post> Welcome to DU, StellaBlue

:hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

55. I think a lot of people (espeically white) are waking up.

[StellaBlue]

56. And

Not to defend that thug W, but as a Texan, and a Texan who once actually worked for the state in close proximity to W during his tenure as governor of Texas, and having seen him on many occasions, I don't think he is racist, not in the usual sense... perhaps by extension. Of the people he is 'against' (ie us normal folks, not his 'base'), the majority of black people unfortunately fall into that category.

He is just an elitist, that's all. If you're rich and corrupt and black, he won't have a problem with you. If you are not corrupt, working, and white, and you resent his policies, like so many of us here at DU, he DOES have a problem with you. Err... he would, if he realized we existed.

This all makes me sick. I know I am not alone.

But my point is, that I disagree. Unlike some stereotypical Southern rednick racist idiots, W is not 'racist'. I have never heard anyone say anything about him making racist remarks in private or anything of that sort. I have heard, however, that he has eben seen drinking beer at a wedding....... haha

[StellaBlue]

57. Speaking of racism, though...

A member of my family, upon hearing about the rapes on FOX radio, said to me and another family member:

"Nawww... that's not the same thing as it would be if it was a bunch of white people in the Superdome or wherever... blacks don't think about rape like whites do, those black women, they don't think it's rape, and black men have a different attitude to sex, they have a different culture."

Since I have one brain cell functioning, I was obviously appalled by this kind of ignorant statement, so I responded, "WHAT?! I can assure you, as a WOMAN, that no WOMAN wants to be raped, and no BLACK WOMAN, therefore, wants to be raped. And perhaps by your standards, black people are generally more 'promiscuous' than whites, according to white standards, and I think a lot of that might a result of slavery and how their families were broken up over and over for centuries. But rape is rape and no woman wants to be raped, that's ridiculous! Black women were raped by the 'master' for 400 years in this country, I don't think they want to be raped by other black men now, either!"

This whole rape issue really sickens me, though. I mean, haven't these people been through ENOUGH? Then they have to go, desperately, somewhere, for refuge - only to be RAPED? Any man who would do that under these circumstances is, in fact, an animal. And if it happened to me, I would find a broken piece of plastic and stab him to death when he dared fall asleep. Meanwhile, where are the majority of non-raping men? Are they just standing by and letting this happen? WTF?!

[Behind the Aegis]

59. Not just African-Americans, but all minorities!

All minorities and women are treated with disdain in this country, quite often. Look at the hate directed at gays! Look at the hate directed at Hispanics and Latinos! Look at the hate directed at Jews! This country is filled with hate-mongers and the hated...it is a bad mix. One only needs to look at the hate crime stats from the FBI to see that blacks are on the receiving end of the most malicious hate. No other group comes close to the numbers of hate crimes directed at African-Americans. It is shameful!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

60. I've been fed up for years. NOW I'm beyond fed up.

n/t

[donheld]

61. The US racism is now out in the open for the world to see

There's no way around it now. Anyone in any nation that's been watching what's been going on has to see US for exactly what it is. I am and we all should be totally ashamed of what is so obvious to the world now.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

62. Racism Is A Blight Upon The Land...

But you can not discount the effect of classism in this tragedy....

For the most part people of means fled New Orleans and poor folks of all colors were left behind....


Sixty five percent of black folks live above the poverty line; poverty and being black are not synonymous...


If New Orleans was comprised of poor whites we would have seen some of the same problems....