Rice: Race Still Issue Because Of U.S. "Birth Defect"

Washington Times:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that the United States still has trouble dealing with race because of a national "birth defect" that denied black Americans the opportunities given to whites at the country's very founding.

"Black Americans were a founding population," she said. "Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together -- Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That's not a very pretty reality of our founding."

As a result, Miss Rice told editors and reporters at The Washington Times, "descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that."

Read the whole story: Washington Times

Comments

[Anastasia]

For slaves, because there is no reward for the work they do, the natural incentive becomes to do as little work as possible. It has taken over one hundred years, for many African Americans to throw off their psychological chains, but with Condi Rice and Barack Obama, replacing enslaved ancestors as role models, more blacks will begin the process of coming into their own. As Dr. King said, they "will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope."

Kudos to Condi for speaking out.

[babybabybaby]

what??????­??????????

more from the handbook of "how to be a down low racist"

[NeverRepublican]

Take a look at the dimond industry and tell me slavery isn't still in use today...or the garment industry. This country imports all kinds of goods tht are produced by people with nearly no pay, deplorable working conditions and hours.. doesn't seem to make anyone in this country bat an eye when they use credit cards to pay for all of it.

By the way...rice is black...ho­w did she make it? Answer...l­ike everyone else who MAKES IT HAPPEN. take control of your life...any­one who wants to make a change in their life.

[k6007]

Hear! Hear!

[GrainOSand]

The republicans want to contend they have cornered the market on this idea of self actualization. The whole welfare thing caused some people to get it twisted concerning African Americans. No one is afraid of hard work but people have a tough time with the hard reality of being hated. No one wants a hand out but a hand up off of the ground from the entity that put me on the ground. This is basic courtesy. The welfare programs did much damage to the brown community that it is still trying to recover from. The belief is that this was the plan. Welfare implementation functioned like crack dealing. We will give you the product for free (financial help) and then when you are addicted, we will cut you off leaving you with the shivers and shakes.

The statement about the world's sweat shops is right on. I would also mention the illegal sex trade and how wealthy Americans from this country pack their perversions and fly off to distant world locations to engage in child abuse via their sexual organ and there twisted minds.

[qdog112]

I am sure is very qualified and she is not alone. The fact is, there are far too few examples of those who "made it".Could it be a quota system?

[carmenjonze]

"By the way...rice is black..."

Really? What an astute observation.

"how did she make it? Answer...l­ike everyone else who MAKES IT HAPPEN. take control of your life...any­one who wants to make a change in their life."

What "change" did Condi make in her life? She was born into relative class privilege and went to college where her father (a Black pastor, but the GOOD kind...you know...i.e­. not part of a Black denomination and didn't speak out against segregation) was dean.

People, please get your facts straight about Condi. Not all successful middle class Black people have these Horatio Alger rags-to-riches lives.

[EddieMcWords]

You're comment is racist! Are you saying black people never had a reason to work hard until Rice and Obama rose to national prominence?

I got news for you. Black people work hard. Fact: The majority of welfare recipients are white.

How many black people do you know, you ignorant, fake-liberal turd?

[EddieMcWords]

Seriously. You sound like Jimmy the Greek.

[Sabreen60]

You Said: For slaves, because there is no reward for the work they do, the natural incentive becomes to do as little work as possible. It has taken over one hundred years, for many African Americans to throw off their psychological chains,
**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­*
I hope I am not understanding you or have you completely lost your mind. This country was built on the backs of black people. Slaves worked from can't see to can't see. Even after slavery black women took care of white families and then came home and took care of there own. Many black men worked 2 and 3 jobs in order to survive. Surely, you are not saying that blacks are lazy. Because that's what it sounds like to me.

[PieInTheSky]

Well since its a birth defect ...maybe she qualifies for SSI

[bick]

that birth defect is george bush's fetal-alcohol retardation. now america is special!

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Is that why Regan gave is first campaign speech in the South when he used the term "old time religion" code for the resentment harbored by white middle class Dixicrats against Affirmative Action and Integration, which benefited both Condi Rice and Justice Thomas greatly. The GOP called it the Southern Strategy and a former Democrat; B film actor could deliver the lines to pull it off. People like Rice and Thomas climbed up the ladder on the backs of people like Martin Luther King, and their supporters, both white and black who marched and got their heads bashed in and in some cases murdered, than pulled the pull the ladder up behind them. If it wasn’t for the Civil Rights movement and progressive ideas like Affirmative Action, Clearance Thomas would have had a much more difficult road to walk, yet he hates liberals.

Both Rice and Thomas grew up the Deep South, where just 40 years ago they could not have used the same toilet as a white person, not to mention attend a prestigious university. I find Thomas reprehensible in this regard. Not one positve step in this country, from the advancement of blacks, to woman’s right to vote, abolition of slavery to the end of child labor, could have been achieved without a progressive, sometimes radical agenda that challenged the status quo. Their would be no middle class in the United States if FDR had lost his bid for the presidency against Hoover.

[Jazz42]

I completely agree with Ms Rice.
People who are trashing Ms Rice are bigots. Who have nothing intelligent to say.

[the964kid]

Well, it's amazing that it took this many years to hear these kind of comments from Ms Rice. Living in the George Bush shadow, a place where she decided to reside, doesn't encourage progressive and honest talk of modern racial issues in America. Bush is so awful, many of us forget that there might actually be some 'humans' that work for him. This statement doesn't over-ride all the terrible decisions and actions that Rice made while Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, but at least we see that some small part of her (buried way deep down) has some sense - and isn't going to deny the obvious. I'm not gonna give Condi too much credit for this though, because, like I said in the beginning, she's been surprisingly absent from the national discussion on racial issues.

[FirstShirt]

By all means don't give her credit. It took a republican to appoint her to high office. When was the last black Secretary of State appointed by a democrat? Never? Who appointed the first woman to the Supreme Court? A republican. Who signed the Americans With Disabilities Act? A republican. Who presided over a Supreme Court that held that busing should be used to desegrate schools? A republican. Who enforced that order using federal troops. A republican.

GWB is old news. At least give respect when it is due to those who have succeeded, republican and democrat.

[DANOSC]

Did Condi clear her comments with Fox News before she gave them? It doesn't look like she did and that's a no-no in the Bush administration.

[whatsmyname]

Noooooooo! No Danosc, she didn't and chris wallace will get called in for it, again. Great observatio­n....Book 'em Dano

[AnneOlivia]

"Birth defect" implies "nature," which I dispute. It is not a birth defect; it is a learned attitude that leads to a certain set of behaviors. I'm white, yet I did not learn to be racist (or any other "-ist".)

[ApolloniaCreed]

I'm not sure Condi was impying learned attitudes or behaviors.­.. you might want check up on your "-ists".

[boombox]

She's talking about the "birth" of this nation.

[AnneOlivia]

Really? Well, the way it's extracted, that's not the impression I got.

Anyway, I would say the same analogy applies at the national level. Our founding words say "All men are created equal." Regardless of what our collective/societal actions have been in the years since they were laid down as our founding principle, the words still mean what they meant.

I'd still say that it's a learned behavior and not inherent in our democracy.

[fredamae]

she is right that early America used slaves. i believe Most of us do know that.

i also understand that WE, in the "Here and Now" do not enslave people and We were not "there, then", but today, the Big $$$$$ Corporations her administration supports, Does. just look to your paycheck VS. Big Business profit margins VS. the cost of everything.

Are the pubs that disparate that they have to reach THAT far back to try to fuel the race issue? are "they" finding out, We the People are far advanced of their agenda? I think the public at large does Not experience the divisions they want us to....this does Not include law enforcement and Gov't agencies..­.just ordinary people.

[ljfrommin]

let me get this straight---if a black person does not agree with YOU politically---they are not really black? WOW, what a pack of racists!

[Trittydi]

I agree completely with Ms. Rice on this -(war criminal that she is.)

Another "birth defect" typical of Americans is their greatly diminished chance of affordable and available health care -- and yet another - their greatly diminished chance of getting a college education OR EVEN a proper secondary education - and the increased difficulty of finding a good job. Then add to all that, the diminished quality of life in general experienced by Americans compared to their European counterparts - being born American simply puts its citizens at a distinct disadvantage, even when white.

Another birth-defect from being born American is an increased chance to die in an illegal and militaristic occupation of a foreign country.

However - It turns out that being born a rich white male in America dramatically decreased the odds of all of these ailments.

Also notable - the incidence of these "birth defects" falls dramatically in any other industrialized nation, where the citizens spend even less or equal amounts in government taxes.

*

[MinneapolisBob]

Racism is a birth defect of America? If so, it's one of choice. Just imagine if Black slaves were treated with respect and the equality of Whites from the moment they arrived. At least just as much respect as the European immigrants who arrived on the Mayflower.

If they were, the level of racism which exists today would not be anywhere close to what is now. And our country would be way ahead.

Miss. Rice should know that before entering a war, a country should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Then to have the nerve to blame Iraq for not having things in place before the US invasion, and that's why it's not her and bush's fault things are such a disaster.

Ms. Rice will go down in history as America's first female African-American Secretary of State, but also the worst.
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VOTE! Don't forget the Supreme Court when you do. Protect our rights and freedoms.

[iswearington]

not only that...ima­gine if this nation had did the same thing for blacks after the emancipation proclamation or even after civil and voting rights were passed in the 60 s that they did for the jews after the allied forces defeated nazi germany. 1. they went to every jail...eve­ry konzentraz­ionlager..­.and freed every jew.2. the rounded up the ringleaders and tried them for crimes against humanity at nurnburg. 3. they made the germans pay reparations. the germans are still paying reparation­s.the usa did neither of those things for blacks. they left bvacks in the hands of and under the control of the most virulent racists in the known universe.l­ynchers and murders not only ran for president.­..but they are still sitting on judges benches trying the very people they committed crimes against humanity against.wh­at an abominatio­n.imagine what jewish rabbis would be saying about america if we had left the nazis in power over them after the war ended.thei­r sermons would make reverend wright blush.

[GrainOSand]

Great brief.

[Ed2008]

Very good point!!

Can you imagine a politician saying that?! That shows you how bad the race issue is in this country. People can't even honestly and openly talk about the issue in a unbiased way.

[tgood]

How we do parse history here to fit our agendas. Condi forgets to mention how many whites came to this country as "indentured servants" which was little more than a fancy name for saying we'll pay your way then overwork you, brutalize you for as many years as we dictate.

I do vow to release all my slaves and do penance. Will that please Condi who led a very privileged life ?

[newworldman777]

HuffPost's Pick

If criticizing American racism is considered by some to be "unpatriotic" or "unAmerican," then perhaps we should redefine American patriotism. Many Americans seem to believe that true patriotism requires one to remain silent about America's ugly "secret" regarding the predominately negative treatment of minorities in this country, even though such negative treatment results in residual disadvantages for minorities (not just blacks; they don't have a "monopoly" on victimization by racism in America) that perennially haunt our society. Many Americans want to ignore the obvious problem of racism, and we should not be surprised that the vast majority of those who want to ignore it are those of Western European descent, whose birthright privileges have shielded them from being targeted by racism, resulting in their remaining clueless about the harm that it causes to its victims. It is very revealing that a firmly-entrenched Republican woman of color would finally express her true feelings about how damaging racism has been to blacks in America, indicating that this is not a Republican or Democratic problem. It is an American problem, and we should all be forthright in dealing with it by putting everything on the table for open discussion. Until we do that, then it's a safe bet that this problem will continue to fester, to the detriment of us all.

[hoopesaz]

I don't think it is all that revealing. That it seems so revealing says something to me about how people chose to view all republicans. There's nothing unpatriotic about speaking about the sins of the past and how they continue to affect people today.

But, there are two ways to do everything, including speaking about race. One is to speak of the pain and tell the truths of how it has affected so many. To speak about constructive ways to combat those ill's, while recognizing the difficulty faced in implementing those solutions.

And there is a less constructive way to talk about it as well. A way, that even though it addresses the same hurt, it does so in a way that causes division; in a way that accusses the opposite side; a way that seeks to inflame the anger of the oppressed instead of respectfully recognizing their plight and seeking for better solutions. There is a way to talk about race that, to many, seems to be unpatriotic and hateful.

It's not the reality that makes it so. It's the way in which it is discussed that causes the hurt, anger and division.

[Cautious]

"As a result, Miss Rice told editors and reporters at The Washington Times, "descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that.""

Some of the effects? Like angry preachers? Et tu, Bruta.

[CuriousPerson]

Get a clue, and step away from the talking points.

[Ping]

I think that was what she was trying to say.

[iswearington]

some of us did too get a headstart.­..but the uncle toms like condi...wa­rd connerly and shelby steel...ra­n and told master...w­ho sicced the bloodhounds on us and drug us back.

[degjack]

You miss her point entirely.

She's talking about the ills that continue to plague blacks even today.
If they have to enumerated to you, you are beyond hope.

[earnesttruthseeker]

Great post, 777.

The only thing I'd note is that while other minority groups experience racism in America - it is only blacks who've truly suffered INSTITUTIONALIZED racism via our country's laws and even Constitution (slaves are '3/5ths' of a person).

[JadedAggie]

I would say Native Americans have suffered institutionalized racism along with Blacks. Obviously it was a different from, but they were also segregated and mistreated by the government as the country grew.

[FirstShirt]

You might read some of the history of asians in the US. Japanese weren't allowed to own property in California early in our history.

And, don't forget that scion of the progressive movement Franklin Roosevelt who incarcerated thousands of japanese citizens without due process of law because of their race.

[transendentilist]

You better re-think your position on this. We treated the Native Americans far worse. We practically wiped out their entire race.

[Moshe]

As Jefferson would have said: An honest dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

A blind and unquestioning loyalty to nationalism is not patriotism.

Patriotism is a fidelity to the greater ideals of your Nation, and a personal devotion to realizing those ideals both individually and collectively.

[transendentilist]

PSSST.....­.......Jef­ferson owned slaves.

[jp5472]

There are many ugly American secrets that unfortunately are never discussed, never brought to the surface, never taught in history classes, that hinder this nations growth and understanding of itself. Race is unfortunately one of the most glaringly obvious. I know first hand what I have experienced growing up as an Italian-American (it wasn't pretty at all), yet could never expect to realize the experience that African-American's have gone through. My ancestors did not arrive in chains. I remember in the 80's and early 90's not getting hired because of my Italian last name and olive complexion, but yet surely there are many African-Americans who never even got in the door (and just as surely Asian-Americans, Jews, and any one else who did not fit the WASP mold that clearly was in charge throughout the 400+ years of European settling of this country). This is actually the first item out of Rice that I clearly see as a glimpse into her real self, not the triangulated spin and cleansed message she repeats from the Bush Administration. I actually have found one area I am now able to finally respect her for. Maybe if more leaders of all races within this country speak out about the truth, we will finally have reached a point where continued discussions lead to progress for all involved and all humans will be seen as equal.

[sophiej]

if we're going to talk race -- and we need to -- let's try to remember there were people living on this continent before the Europeans and Africans arrived.
Maybe the "birth defect" is that we stole the entire continent. Not a great beginning for democracy.

[ApolloniaCreed]

I don't think the poster newworldman777 excluded anyone in his post. I believe he used the term "minority" and went on to AA didn't have a monopoly on the problem... perhaps you skimmed. It might be useful to you to have another look.

[Wheatstraw]

That comment has to be the biggest tub of S!#% I have ever seen...a birth defect?...­are you F'ing kidding me. It is statements like this that keeps this issue going. The reason why we cant get past it is because one group does not want to acklnowledge that this event happend and another group will never let the first group forget that this happened.

[newhouse1]

God bless Condi Rice. She personifies what Obama states in his speech regarding the grandmother and the preacher, or deep seated family and societal matters confronting blacks. She's well educated, has early childhood experiences that shaped her attitudes, and chose through an irregular and improbable path to work on a side of the fence that appears contradictory on its face. Even alcoholics have what are termed "moments of clarity" when despite their obvious emotional and physical distress, they are capable of reflective or introspective thoughts that seem at odds with their conditions. That clarity process, as is the one for blacks assimilation into America's fabric, is slow and fraught with imperfections as viewed by the "non-alcoholic," or perhaps more to the point, white American perceptions of how blacks should be thinking about their cohabitation. In many ways, Joe McCarthy worked the “other-side” of the aisle, and despite his warts, the Kennedy’s on the other side stood in stark contrast. Of course, the 2 families were socializing friends, the Kennedy’s attended his funeral, and Irish credibility and political currency was established on both sides of the aisle. Because of Condi and many who preceded her, Barack has established credibility and currency at a higher level than previously possible. It’s all good. But it’s also the hard work of overcoming the birth defect.