Michael Wilbon: No African Americans in funeral lines for RR

[buycitgo]

Michael Wilbon, columnist for Washington Post/ESPN, said this on the radio today.

Peeking in a few times at the procession in Simi Valley, I saw two African Americans in line

he also made the point that the reason is obvious why there won't be many in DC, where there are a LOT more African Americans than in the White Man's valley in CA

and, that, when Clinton dies, there will be a whole lot

thoughts?

[AspenRose]

1. Republicans don't care.

They don't care if blacks aren't in line for Reagan. They say they are for inclusion but they aren't.

I think if they saw a lot of blacks in line for Reagan, they'd grab their purses/check to see if they still had their wallets, like the paranoid racists they are.

[physioex]

3. But....But...

They gave out soo much government cheese for the poor...

[Karenina]

17. Need to get some PR folks out there

to pass out little packets of ketchup! Yeah. THAT'S the ticket! ;-)

[sampsonblk]

5. I Know What the Freepers will say about this

"Afr-Americans are stupid and they let themselves be led around by crooks like Sharpton and Jackson."

I am near enough to have gone to this event today. I wouldn't go there at gunpoint. No Reagan for me. Although I hope he rests in peace. But I ain't crying even one tear for him.

[AspenRose]

7. The correct phrase is

"they want to stay enslaved on the Democratic plantation.":eyes:

[cmf]

2. Well, duh

We didn't care for him then, and we don't care for him now. Like the repugs care, anyway.

[Cat Atomic]

4. That's actually praise in Republican circles, you know.

[patdem]

6. My Sig Other is black and he noticed no blacks to see reagan

then suddenly he said...no...there's a black.....then .....never mind...he is just a guard!!!! LOL...blacks have no love for reagan!!!

[lonewolf0507]

8. You are absolutely right

I am in Washington DC and Mr. Wilburn is absolutely correct. It can also be noted that there are no Asian or Hispanics either. I wonder why. Could it be his policies were not in the best interest of minorities.

[buycitgo]

9. welcome, lone wolf!

I lived in Arlington when he was inaugurated

my GF forced me to go to that, as well as the hostage buses, when they paraded them through downtown DC

we also went to the fireworks show that night (that was cool....we layed down on ground right at base of GW memorial)

but...the inaugural made me SICK to my stomach

physically ill

if I were there today, though, I think I might make the trip, just to complete the circle.....maybe do something impolite at the casket, just for fun.....pull out my Bush mask, maybe?

[MisterP]

18. what'd it cost again? $2-3M?

[tnlefty]

10. Will Rice, Powell and Paige be ordered to get in line????

On a lighter note - I wouldn't stand in line either.

[notadmblnd]

11. you're right. I'm looking at it now and the only

African Americans I see are either security or marching along with the casket.

[mopaul]

12. only black man i saw was a soldier with machine gun and dog

sniffing for terrorists and grave pissers i assume

[Vickers]

20. "sniffing for terrorists and grave pissers"

Bwahahahaha!

[Bandit]

13. This is Simi valley after all

I would be very surprized if any blacks ever go to Simi Valley for anything let alone Ronald Reagan.

[notadmblnd]

14. No, we're in washington D. C. right now.

nt

[justjones]

16. Yeah, the last time a black person was in Simi.....

was Rodney during the King trial and look what happened.....

There's no love for black folks in Simi, but the feelings are mutual.

[justjones]

15. I think African-Americans would show up if it were an open casket......

but only to verify Reagan was dead. I may have considered it myself seeing that my home town is close to Simi Valley.

But I think black folks don't see the point of waiting hours in line to see a flag draped coffin. It's more like a symbolic gesture of bowing at a king on his throne, except the throne is empty and the king is dead.

Nope, we will pass on this one and wait to show our respect for those leaders who respected our communities like JFK, MLK, RFK, Malcolm X, and Clinton when the time comes, which is hopefully far from today. That's just to name a few.

Old Ronnie boy was never a considered a friend to the black community in life, so it goes in death. Nevertheless, may he rest in peace.

[buycitgo]

19. front page in Chicago Trib.......DC blacks couldn't care less

WASHINGTON -- The television at the MLK Community Barber Shop won't be tuned to Ronald Reagan's funeral on Friday. And it doesn't appear that any of the regulars will make the 15-minute subway ride over to the Capitol to pay respects.

The death of the celebrated conservative leader has been received in this inner-city neighborhood of shuttered shop windows and shattered dreams in much the same way that residents here feel Reagan treated the urban poor while he was president: with indifference.

The mid-1980s economic boom that much of the country fondly associates with Reagan passed by Anacostia--a poverty-plagued, mostly African-American community separated by a polluted river from the gleaming white-marble buildings that hold the seats of American political power.

Their feelings about Reagan find strong echoes throughout liberal America, which decries Reagan's policies while expressing sympathy at his death. Though he won powerful majorities--including a 49-state rout in 1984--a substantial segment of the public also strongly disagreed with him on education, the environment, abortion and civil rights, views that now help to complete a fuller portrait of the 40th president.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0406090151jun09,1,6062642.story?coll=chi-printnews-hed