Donna Brazile: "Don't Ever Put Me In The Back Of The Bus!"

At this weekend's New Yorker Festival, Donna Brazile had some frank words on the "If I Were Running This Campaign" panel, with Donna Brazile, Alex Castellanos, Ed Rollins, Joe Trippi, and moderator Jeff Toobin. According to NYer fest blogger Justin Vogt, when Toobin asked Brazile for some closing thoughts she definitely had a few:

I'm gonna say it and get it off my chest, because for the next thirty days, I'm gonna be the best Catholic woman ever....As a child who grew up in the segregated Deep South, we've come so far in this country....But I remember when I used to get on the bus: my mother would tell me, "Donna, when you get on the bus, you and your brothers go all the way to the back, and don't look at anybody." We have changed. This is a more tolerant, open, progressive society. And yet, we're having this conversation because [Obama] is biracial. He spent nine months in the womb of a white woman. He was raised...by his white grandparents...He got out of school and went to Harvard, and all of a sudden he's "uppity" and there's something wrong with him? What is wrong with us?...You can vote against him, but don't ever put me in the back of the bus. I'm not going to the back of the bus! I'm not going to be afraid! My black skin does not make me inferior! And may I add: being a female does not make me dumb!

As the audience cheered and applauded, she finished up: "Don't let people trick you, and distract you and divide you...Don't let no one take us back! Because many of us are not going back— we're going forward! And come with us!"

Pretty powerful stuff.

Update: Here is the video!

Donna's World [New Yorker Festival Blog]

Comments

[rswift]

Donna, It is good to see our black women to stand -up for justice and equality, but this a special and unique situation to see our brother Obama to move towards presidency, I think it's God"s will. To share some good news, recently through DNA testing I found out that my results was a match to the LUO tribe of Kenya whereby Barack's father was born. I can feel the kinship through my thoughts and my connection to this tribe and the mother land, Africa....­.Thanks...­RS

[Dailyfare]

A-the freak-men.

[anthonylee]

Let the church say . . . "Amen"!

[ProudOmega]

Thank you my sister for making it ..'Plain".. ..my grand-mother did the same thing for me and my sister ( getting on the bus) .. Come May 2009 she will be 104...... This vote in November will be cast in honor for her, all those other grand mothers who have gone on...But never gave -up.... Looking towards heaven knowing that one day " A Change would come"..

[gigi09]

Thanks Donna...I am NOT going to the back of the bus! No more, ENOUGH!

[isi]

Wow. I have never heard an excerpt of a speech by Donna Brazille.. She is really inspiring! Lets hear more from Ms. Brazille.

[Vee]

You got that right Donna, being a woman does not make me dumb.
We're moving forward. Let's make sure there are a whole lot more people who are looking forward voting this year than those who are stuck in the past.

[glesslib]

Andrew Sullivan was talking about this today, Oct. 8. That's why I had to come back and read her comments. Blacks in American society put up with junk every day that white people can't even imagine, I'm sure. It must be infuriating. She's some terrific lady. I wish that, as a society, we could learn to treat all our members with the dignity they deserve, without even thinking about color.

Perhaps my grandchildren, who are growing up rapidly, will be able to close the book on all other types of thinking.

[siney]

a class act...

and to this day, despite seeing her on television all throughout the primaries and now the general election, i still do not know if she was with obama since day one or with hillary then obama...

[whoajack]

Obama. She broke with the Clintons for Gore. She was his Campaign Director in 2000. The First Black / Woman to direct the campaign of a Nominee.

And then went out on her own. She is a role-model for ALL Americans on all accounts. The woman is just out of this world!

Go Donna Girl!

[SayNoBHO]

Good job Donna. You are a great role model for young PEOPLE of all races and backgrounds. You and Rachel Maddow are my favorite people to listen to on TV (besides Obama).

[njborne]

I think she's so sexy!

[dkuz09]

Go Donna! Always been a fan!!

[jmpfjoy]

I'm a fan of Donna Brazile!

[HamboneandFlippy]

She's got guts. If only the democratic party had half the strength of character as Donna Brazile . . .

[AllenPapapetrou]

Barbara Jordan and Donna Brazile - we could a lot more like them!