Our nation owes a great debt to Ms. Shirley Sherrod of the United States Dept of Agriculture. Her professional and personal reputation has been under massive scurrilous multimedia attack. Her grace and dignity "under fire" provide us with a unique opportunity to reset our national moral compass on the issue of race in America.
In previous blogs here, almost a year ago, after the President Obama became involved in the incident between Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge, Mass police officer Sergeant James Crowley, I suggested a national conference or dialogue on race relations might be necessary, sooner rather than later.
Race relations remain the "800 pound gorilla" in the national living rooms of every household in America. Some of us seek to engage it; most of us ignore or pretend it is not there. An incident, like that of Ms. Shirley Sherrod, forces us, once again, to acknowledge the gorilla's presence.
The Obama administration appears to have been intimidated by Fox News and Glenn Beck on issues of race in America. Right-wing activists have had some degree of success in its attacks which resulted in the resignation of Van Jones and the closing down of ACORN.
This recent event involving Shirley Sherrod reinforces two historical phenomena extant in our country:
That there could even be a serious dispute or discussion as to whether the Tea Party had persons at several of its meetings or part of it membership who carried signs evidencing racism is really turning reality on its head. What do those signs and placards shown on television at Tea Party meetings with caricatures of Obama and some of their slogans mean? Are people with common sense being asked to suspend their capacity to think and reason? Did the NAACP make up or characterize the signs that they and the nation see at Tea Party meetings? Are such messages and slogans an expression of their inclusive brotherly love?
Have Obama and his advisors become so timid that they either run away or only belatedly respond to obvious issues of race like they are a live grenade, too dangerous or too hot to handle?
A presidential telephone call to Ms. Sherrod was appropriate and befitting her grace and dignity. However, an invitation to the White House to her and the white farmer's family who thanked her for helping them retain their farm would be public affirmation of the power and endurance of racial reconciliation and redemption. Clearly they were not afraid to confront the "gorilla" in their living room.
Richard (RJ) Eskow: What the President Didn't Seem to Learn From the Shirley Sherrod Incident
The President's remarks about Shirley Sherrod's firing suggest that this "learnable moment" may have been lost. Here's an idea: Don't hide your opponents in a verbal cloud, Mr. President. Name them. Call them out.
Unfortunately, Fox's unabashedly racist agenda betrays their very convenient decision to ignore the fact that President Obama is also white, the blending of which makes him an ideal leader for our country.
Shirley Sherrod is the epitome of grace, patience, intelligence and love of mankind that has, sadly, been missing from not only our media, but also from our Congress. There are countless others of us who value and strive to attain the dignity that Shirley Sherrod embodies. We, too, will be heard. In November at the ballot box.
And it was the case of a white farmer who was about to lose his farm, who got no help from the white elite, that made her realize that rich people don't care about poor people, no matter what their race, but that a black lawyer would help poor people, both black and white.
When we understand that class, not race, is what drives and perpetuates injustice in America, we will stop listening to the voices that tell white people to fear black people. The "southern strategy" will cease to work, and the rulers of America will have to find some new way to hang on their power.
This writer indicates: "Our nation owes a great debt to Ms. Sherrod", okay....but, don't we also owe a great debt to President Obama? Where is the gratitude and support for what President Obama has done for America and Americans in such little time he's been in office? It goes beyond sickening what people have said about him, and saying what they feel he's not doing - which is not enough! How can anyone believe that President Obama doesn't care, far worse, that they didn't protest regarding Bush.
Yes, race is a problem, as is religion. Perhaps it can change one day. But, in this case, if the WH didn't do what they did, they would've been blamed for not acting at all. Will he, and the administration, ever be favored by others?
bar2200: Bush was treated terribly by people, with a lot of name calling, jokes at his expense, protesters with signs depicting him as a monkey, and far worse. Now the Tea Party is being unjustly accused of being racist because they don't agree with Obama's socialist agenda and carry signs comparing him to Hitler. This is not racism, this goes with the territory. Should Obama be given a pass just because he happens to be black? I'm a member of the Tea Party and I am definitely not racist. I had cancer last year and credit my (black) doctor with saving my life. The Tea Party was started in Feb.2009 when CNBC News anchor, Rick Santelli, stood on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on live TV and ranted about the Obama administration's proposal to help homeowners facing foreclosure refinance their mortgages. He suggested having a Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party on April 15, Tax Day, to protest the proposal. There were events in several states, and by that time they were also protesting the $750 billion stimulus package, the bank bailouts, and the health care legislation. It has been gaining momentum ever since. This is why the NAACP has trumped up false charges of racism. How ironic that their very name excludes all but one race. Who is racist?
I am not following you about giving President Obama a pass, but what about giving one a chance? The people voted for him, he won. He's trying to clean a huge mess. Do you appreciate him? I could care less if he was purple with yellow polka dots. He is a highly intelligent man, with a heart of gold.
Higher taxes, as President Obama stated, will be for the wealthy. I was a Hippie/Flower Child, growing up in the 60's, & I know all about protesting - I do not favor the Tea Party. It is so not PEACE, LOVE & HAPPINESS.
It is elites who must go to bat for the less fortunate when the opportunity presents itself.
When Professor Gates was arrested in his home on this wacky charge of 'Disorderly Conduct', the Professor had the responsibility to legally challenge the arrest, and the law supporting the arrest.
Like all good Democrats, he was a coward, and he became an enabler of punk cops like James Crowley when he refused to bring a lawsuit against the police department.
President Obama was correct in his assessment of the arrest of Gates inside his home. Yet, in the end, it is the President who came to look weak.
And it has now happened again in the Shirley Sherrod affair.
Perhaps he did it. Perhaps 'Pimp Boy' did it. Perhaps he ordered it.
Breitbart has a history of being a liar. Once one is known to be a liar, you can NEVER have another converstion with that person, because you have to determine what is truth, and what is not truth. What comes out of the mouth of a liar can NEVER be believed.
Connie, you're much too kind to Breitbart.
If Obama keeps this strategy of capitulating every time Breitbar and Fox points a finger at him. He's going to firing a lot of good people.
How about some backbone?
How about some checking?
How about some healty skeptecism of people with a reputation like Breitbart and his Pimp Boy scam?
Etc. etc.
The atmosphere in this administration seems to be that if the media says it, then it must be true, especially with Fox.
Mr. Obama I am aware of your desire to create a post-racial America. Right now in time "It Aint Gonna Happen". It not easy being the first Black anything. I've been there a couple of times myself.
Mr. Obama your opponents decided 49 years ago that not only would they not support you, but they would oppose you on your every effort even when it's something they previously supported.
Mr. Obama, stop trying to spin the black half of your heritage.
Mr. Obama you are from Chicago, you must stand-up to, push back and realize that you and Democrats have to do it on your own. You will lose the House and shrink your senate spread if you don't use the bully pulpit of your office to call these folks out.
Mr. President Step Up or Step Off
talk about poorly chosen metaphors, this one's a doozy
in other words, i'm not saying the author's racist or anything, just that he hasn't really given a lot of attention to the details of his writing. there's plenty of applicable idioms for his idea, so equating race to a monkey isn't necessary, nor is anything gained by the image that couldn't be gained by an equally suitable cliche. however, to the extent that it could have unintended effects on some readers, it can get in the way of the overall message, and a careful writer should've recognized that pretty quickly.
basically it's lazy writing more than anything else.
talk about poorly chosen metaphors, this one's a doozy "
I noticed that myself. The expression, "800 pound gorilla" comes from the 60s show, Laugh In:
Where does an 80 pound gorilla sleep?
Anywhere he wants!
The cliche Jones was thinking of is "elephant in the room."
Unwilling to allow unfettered competition for white women and jobs , 'keeping blacks in their place' has been the driving force of racism in America to this day.
Any 'honest' dialogue on race must confront this reality. The slow pace of progress on race in America is because we can't get this on the agenda.
Can't have an honest dialogue unless it's included.