acanthus's Comments (128)

“This is a good example of how even liberals can internalize right-wing framing. He wasn't "kicked out of the party". He lost a primary election. That's not being kicked out of the party.”

“It means exactly what I said, yemaya. He doesn't want them to publically denounce the act, he wants them to denounce their religion, and the people who practice it, including themselves. Black people get the same treatment from people like "TX Independent". Why should uansari or any other Muslim American be required to let his/her coworkers know anything, any more than a white person should have let his/her coworkers know anything about how they feel about Tim McVeigh, for instance?”

“"...but the failures of America's Muslim to pubicly denounce some of these acts has always been my gripe"

What you really mean is your gripe is that they don't publically denounce themselves and their religion. Once again, as a black man, I can relate to Muslims when I read rhetoric like this.”

“"And all of those basket cases were previously exploited by Europeans and Americans, instead of being left alone to develop at their own pace."

Exactly. Thank you.”

“It's not a false division. Many of you KNOW you're being taken advantage of, but you can't help responding exactly like the powerful want you to every time they wave the idea that a black person may get something in front of your faces. Who are you trying to BS? You don't want to make common cause.”

“No, you want to go back to the 1950's. I get it.”

“False equivalence.”

“No, it's true that they're arrested, tried, and convicted of crimes at a relatively low rate, and when they are convicted, they are much more likely to get probation.”

“Exactly, Valkyrie. That's exactly what he expects.”

“Yes...one out of the 12 who were there with guns. And?”

“If saying what he said set back "race relations", then they weren't all that good to begin with, and some complacent black people need to see that. What are "race relations", anyway? I get the sense that to a lot of whites (like you, zezel), "race relations" is just a measure of how much blacks are or aren't complaing about racism at any given point in time. It has nothing to do with how much racism is actually happening. If blacks are percieved as not complaining a lot, then "race relations" are good. If we are complaining, they're bad.

I don't give a damn about "race relations". I care about black advancement, first and foremost.”

“You candor is appreciated. Now, if you can just get more of your bretheren to drop the masks, and say what they REALLY feel, it would help a lot.”

“The media aren't talking a whole lot about Crowley's falsification of his arrest report, are they? I think it spolis the narrative.”

“Thank you, gvnn.”

“I actually sort of agree with tnias. There is no meaningful conversation to be had between blacks and whites in America. As someone stated above, the goal of white America is to maintain its hegemony, get blacks to accept that hegemony, and to be satisfied with whatever white America aloows them to have. The real conversation should be had among black people, and the goal of it should be to come to the understanding that there isn't, and never will be a post-racial America, and given that circumstance, the goal should also be coming up with ways for US to survive and thrive, despite the continuing maintenance of white hegemony.”

“You're right, Ed. It's all about maintaining hegemony.”

“Well said, MM.”

“"Keep throwing that card and this country will become even more divided then it is."

If black America has to become a nation of groveling Uncle Toms to keep the nation from being "divided", then...it will just have to remain divided.”

“He doesn't deny being confrontational. He has the right to be confrontational, even though he's black. No, really.”

“Yes, there was racisl profiling. If Crowley had seen a frail, cane-carrying white man in his late fifties at the door, he never would have considered him to be a suspect.”

“That's something you don't get to dictate...sorry.”

“"The majority of Americans want the law enforced. That includes black Americans. Unfortunately the leaders of the black community or any community don't have the courage to stand up to this invasion."

Ok, let's see...the majority of blacks see it as you (a xenophobic white) do, but they are quiet about it beciase their "leaders" are telling them to be quiet? That's very telling on your part. In your mind, blacks don't posses personal agency. That sort of attitude is one reason you don't see a whole lot of blacks weighing in on the illegal immigrant situation. We know that nativists like you don't really consider us to be natives, either.”

“"...personal responsibility and good parenting espoused by President Obama, and Bill Cosby is exactly what is needed."

...along with telling blacks that they have to be in it to compete and win...as a people.”

“...what else id needed is for blacks to understand that racism will never go away, it will always be necessary to fight it, and that the best way to fight it is to truly take the fight to the opponent- that is, recognize that the world has always been about competition, and that we need compete, both individually, and collectively as a people. We care to care about our collective selves first and foremost, and focus on getting what we, as a people, need and want, rather than getting so hung up on arguring with hegemonic whites (and their black surrogates) about whether or not racism still exists, or who and what is or isn't racist. If we think it's racist, then it is. We have enough experience to make that determination. But, we spend so much time and emotion arguring with whites about it, we distract ourselves from focusing on outcomes...for us. As a people. Everyone says that we are, or should be one..."just American", but don't be fooled...we're the only ones who tend to actually believe it. Everyone else is just saying it...while knowing better.”

“"As long as racism exists, the NAACP will be necessary. As long as discrimination exists, the NAACP will be necessary. As long as prejudice and stereotyping exists, the NAACP will be necessary".


Exactly. Thank you.”