Obama missed the 60s civil rights movement, but, proves racism is thriving in White House
By D. Lindley Young
Obama wanted to get involved in the Civil Rights movement, but, he was a little late.
The sixties launched the ship or some would argue, put it in dock
The struggle for civil rights has been a long time coming and maybe a long way to go.
The Civil Rights movement had made significant advances through Martin Luther King, Jr., W. E. B. Du Bois, Rosa Parks, James Meredith, Stokely Carmichael, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, Joe Lewis, Jackie Robinson, and Jesse Owens. They made a difference. They were part of a movement. They directly affected substantial change, if not in a lot of peoples' attitude, but in the law.
A series of civil rights demonstrations and crises prompted President John F. Kennedy to take a more active stance and to introduce comprehensive new legislation in 1963 on the issue. In 1964 deadly racial violence erupted in Selma, Alabama.
African-Americans were attacked by police while preparing to march to Montgomery to protest voting rights discrimination. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voter Rights Act to attempt to assure voting rights for African-Americans.
When Obama answered the ad by Jerry Kellman, a social activist, who recruited Obama in Chicago as a community organizer, Obama wanted to be a civil rights leader.
Although Obama was soon made to realize the movement had its birth in the 60s and that he had missed Selma, Montgomery and Martin Luther King, Jr., he never let go of his racial ambitions.
Recently, Obama went to Africa and told the people there to "get over colonialism" and pull themselves together. Then Obama, America's became the first black president to take a tour of Cape Coast Castle, a seaside fortress used by slave traders starting in the 17th century.
He took the opportunity to commit on slavery, noting: "As painful as it is, I think that it helps to teach all of us that we have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that sadly still exist in our world, not just on this continent but in every corner of the globe," Obama said somberly at end of his visit to the compound.
He likened his tour of the slave castle to his visit last month to the site of the former Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald in Germany, saying "it reminds us of the capacity of human beings to commit great evil."
Obama then gave his spe
ech to the NAACP lecturing other blacks on several issues. Then, came Gates- a perfect opportunity to foist himself into the fray to bolster his racial leader credentials, for some. But, what he did was show his racism. The black is always the victim and the police only arrested Gates because he was black. Now, that is racism, not leadership.
Obama automatically concluded without the facts that Gates was a victim of racism and that the police "acted stupidly." This is racism. Snap judgments based upon color.
See: http://www.themoderntribune.com
Obama wanted to get involved in the Civil Rights movement, but, he was a little late.
The sixties launched the ship or some would argue, put it in dock
The struggle for civil rights has been a long time coming and maybe a long way to go.
The Civil Rights movement had made significant advances through Martin Luther King, Jr., W. E. B. Du Bois, Rosa Parks, James Meredith, Stokely Carmichael, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, Joe Lewis, Jackie Robinson, and Jesse Owens. They made a difference. They were part of a movement. They directly affected substantial change, if not in a lot of peoples' attitude, but in the law.
A series of civil rights demonstrations and crises prompted President John F. Kennedy to take a more active stance and to introduce comprehensive new legislation in 1963 on the issue. In 1964 deadly racial violence erupted in Selma, Alabama.
African-Americans were attacked by police while preparing to march to Montgomery to protest voting rights discrimination. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voter Rights Act to attempt to assure voting rights for African-Americans.
When Obama answered the ad by Jerry Kellman, a social activist, who recruited Obama in Chicago as a community organizer, Obama wanted to be a civil rights leader.
Although Obama was soon made to realize the movement had its birth in the 60s and that he had missed Selma, Montgomery and Martin Luther King, Jr., he never let go of his racial ambitions.
Recently, Obama went to Africa and told the people there to "get over colonialism" and pull themselves together. Then Obama, America's became the first black president to take a tour of Cape Coast Castle, a seaside fortress used by slave traders starting in the 17th century.
He took the opportunity to commit on slavery, noting: "As painful as it is, I think that it helps to teach all of us that we have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that sadly still exist in our world, not just on this continent but in every corner of the globe," Obama said somberly at end of his visit to the compound.
He likened his tour of the slave castle to his visit last month to the site of the former Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald in Germany, saying "it reminds us of the capacity of human beings to commit great evil."
Obama then gave his spe
ech to the NAACP lecturing other blacks on several issues. Then, came Gates- a perfect opportunity to foist himself into the fray to bolster his racial leader credentials, for some. But, what he did was show his racism. The black is always the victim and the police only arrested Gates because he was black. Now, that is racism, not leadership.
Obama automatically concluded without the facts that Gates was a victim of racism and that the police "acted stupidly." This is racism. Snap judgments based upon color.
See: http://www.themoderntribune.com
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Did you even listen to his remarks that both parties 'overreacted'?!?
We weren't there, we will never know the words, nuances and actions of the principals. No one who wasn't there will ever know!
But, what I do know is your assertion that Obama engages in racism is but one more example that too many are 'stupidly' casting stones, only adding to the negative chaotic climate.
Your last paragraph is proof of your own distortions and ill-conceived intentions.
July 25, 2009 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't believe obama said what crowley did was racist, just stupid, in that he arrested a man in his own house who had shown ID to that effect. He mentioned the history of inequal treatment of blacks and latinos (he forgot native americans, but almost everyone does) as part of the context. He was right, he was human, and he has nothing to be apologetic for. The timing was bad, but he was asked the question. If lynn sweet hadn't meant to disrupt the health care speech and explanation, she wouldn't have. Of course he has bias about being black in america. To call him racist is just name-calling, and doesn't advance the discussion one iota.
July 25, 2009 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
dickwad
July 25, 2009 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes all it takes is a word. :)
July 25, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, Obama never accused the police officer or Cambridge PD of racism. He accused them of stupidity, and based on the facts, it was stupid to arrest a man in his own home for a non-crime. He also related the history of racial profiling to highlight how Gates might have understandably overreacted.
July 25, 2009 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are a fool.
July 25, 2009 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does Obama bashing pay very well?
July 25, 2009 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I did not hear a racsist subtext to Obama's comments. He suggested cooler heads should have prevailed, and implied it was stupid to arrest a man in his own home who had established his rightful residency. He also pointed out the indisputable fact that this country has a history of problems between police and minority communities, and the fact that more blacks and latinos are disproportionately stopped by cops. Where is the rascism? Do you even understand what racism is? Race, by the way, has no scientific basis, no biologist can looks at your DNA and tell what race you are. It's a sociological convention. Period. It isn't even as sociologically significant as culture as a unifying social nexus. In fact, DNA has established that everyone in the world is descended from a common ancestor, and we all migrated out of Africa. We are ALL Africans. So, let's open our minds to the greater Truth of who we are.
July 26, 2009 12:11 AM | Reply | Permalink