Which "Black America" is Rev. Wright talking about?
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
April 29, 2008 9:00am CST
I've lived in 11 US states. I've experienced the local culture and flavor of the West, Midwest, and the South. I've served in the U.S. Army and the National Guards of 3 states.
I've run ambulance in the worst government projects in Atlanta, done disaster recovery in Miami/Homestead and was "bussed" to a high school 12 miles from my neighborhood because there wasn't enough "White Americans" at Tarpon Springs High School.
I've had the National Guard patrolling the halls of my high school because of race riots, and attended another high school in Utah where there was only 1 Black student.
In other words, I've been around and seen a lot for a 45 year old white guy.
What I have never seen is this characature, monolithic "Black America" that Rev. Wright seems to see everywhere.
I've known Black people who were rich, poor, dirt poor; gangbangers, laborers, managers and executives. I've worked with firefighters, EMTs, policeman, soldiers, factory workers and business owners, who happen to be Black.
When I was in the slums, I saw Black people, White People, Hispanic people and Arabic people. I've heard them all complain about not getting a break.
To ingnorant racists like Rev. Wright, things are tough all over, but only all over "Black America". If you're skin isn't Black then you may be living in squalor, but you're still don't have it as bad as your Black next door neighor... or even the rich Black folks on the other side of the tracks.
People like Rev. Wright, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton make me sick! They capitalize on racism, then point their stinky finger as if they have been wronged.
The only difference between these bigots and people like David Duke and Sen. Byrd is, those two no longer where the hoods and sheet.
5 people like this
6 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
29 Apr 08
"To ingnorant racists like Rev. Wright."
I have a real problem with the quote above from your post. Not that I'm defending Rev. Wright. I'm not. He is a racist and worse. But he is not ignorant. I've listened to Rev. Wright defend himself on the radio. He is brillant. Rev. Wright knows exactly what he is doing. He probably laughs about it all the way to the bank. Rev. Wright is one of those brillant people who loves showing off how smart he is by making persuasive specious arguements. The more people he can fool, the smarter he feels. Rev. Wright is expert and making nonsense sound reasonable. It is best to try to ignore these kind of people.
4 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
29 Apr 08
I stand corrected. To make fun of them is better.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Apr 08
"It is best to try to ignore these kind of people. \"
Or make fun of them ;~D
1 person likes this
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
29 Apr 08
I tend to agree, if it wasn't for these people keeping racism alive, there would be very little of it in America.
Racism is what keeps these people in business, it is how they make their living.
For Wright to say that what he preaches is normal for a Black church, then it is no wonder that Blacks think they are being discriminated against.
The reason Blacks think of themselves as victims is because of the victimization being preached by these charlatans.
The only way America is ever going to be free of racial division is if these racists either change their message to one of empowerment, pride, and personal responsibility... or shut the hell up.
They are the cause of the problem, not the solution.
These people are just as racist as the KKK or the White Supremacists could ever hope to be and they deserve the same utter contempt.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Apr 08
Yup! I remember using that comparisan in another forum one time. A girl who used to be in the KKK came back and asked me why I give a washed up organization like that so much credit. lol
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
29 Apr 08
It does no one any good to tell them they are a victim.. All that sort of thing does is keep them from overcoming their challenges (which we all have).. and accomplishing good things in life! It keeps them down! I enjoyed reading about your experiences.. and seems much more realistic. This other stuff is just very divisive! And does no good for anyone (except for Rev Wright! and his very affluent lifestyle.)
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Apr 08
Of course it keeps them down... and that is the point.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Thanks to people like him, we, Americans, sadly, still have racism. In the 21st Century, in the United States of America, racism still exist. Why? I thought that we were over this. I thought that this country was growing out of this. I guess not.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 Apr 08
There is a whole industry based around perpetuating racism in America. Wright is one of the robber barons of that industry.
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
29 Apr 08
Show me a case similar to the police shootings of Amadou Diallo or Sean Bell, or a time when young white men were stopped on the side of the road & asked to drop their pants like young black men in Boston experienced in the late 80s and then I'll agree with you that being white or being black in America makes no difference in how you can expected to be treated.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Apr 08
I'll agree that one person experience in America is different from another. I'll even agree that there are problems sometimes race is the problem. However, when people go around saying that their brand of suffereing is worse than anyone else's, I have to question that.
Yes, I did use examples from the distant past, why? Because slavery is the distant past, but Black people still try to claim that they suffer because of it.
I think we actually agree on most of this, we just have different ways of looking at it.
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
30 Apr 08
My life growing up could rival any "Poor Me no matter what race you are", I personally don't care to bring race into the issue. I could lay down and wallow in my past, or I can pick myself up and show all those people who made fun of me because I was poor, called me names that would have looked bad even compared to the "N" word, and told me I would never amount to anything, just how wrong they were. That is what I chose to do, am I rich now? No but I eat everyday, when I was a child I didn't, I have cloths that belong to me, not someone elses cast offs. See it is all in how you define yourself as far as I'm concerned. Do you think that a black policeman, never racially profiles a white person, or other ethnic race, I am not gullible enough to think this doesn't go on with all races, but do I think it is all black policeman, no. Individuals are going to do what they do, no matter what race they are. It is what is inside someone, not the color of their skin. I feel like blacks were in a way blessed to be brought to this country. Yes they had it rough for a hundred or more years, but look how things have changed. Anyone in this country can be blessed, and prosper, but you can't lay back and wait for someone to give you a million dollars for how your ancestors were treated, you have to go out and make your own blessings, and more important, you will never have a future, if you live in the past. Blessings
1 person likes this
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
30 Apr 08
eden32 just so you are aware I am on the outskirts of Soston and have raised 2 boys, never mind the 80's this is happening now. It isn't about the color of ones skin. My boys were harrassed on a daily basis and brought into the police station at least once a month for no reason. They do not have police records to this day and they are 22 and 25. Never once finding anything on them. So you are aware this happens to all of us not just the "Black American". Oh and did I tell you that we are white?
1 person likes this
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
29 Apr 08
Ted, Did you see The View this morning? Wow they had Newt Gingrich on there, and he had a most interesting take on the relationship between Obama, and Wright. He said he thinks that Wright is deliberately trying to hurt Obama now, because he is running for President, and that will no longer fit the beat down black syndrome, that Wright preaches. Listening to him, and the ladies go back and forth, I must say he made a lot of sense. He also said he felt that the reason Wright is doing this now is to further his own agenda, and get his name in the head lines, after 45 years of preaching his rhetoric. If you can pull the show up and watch it, it will be well worth it.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Apr 08
I haven't had tv for about 3 or 4 years now. At first I missed it like crazy, now, even when I'm in a hotel room or somewhere with it, I only end up watching crime dramas.. lol
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I think you can look it up at ABC.com and watch it there.
