Stop Look Listen /Or who made you the authority on racism?

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Monday December 20, 2010 · 12:07 PM PST

2010/12/20 · 12:07

With all the diaries going up on racism I figured what the heck, why not throw mine in the mix, after all I understand racism as well as the next guy or gal, right?

Ya dayum skippy I do because I am old, I grew up in a segregated south and I am Black!

Ladies and gentlemen of KOS and I am speaking directly to those of the Caucasian race. You are not, nor will you ever be a true authority on the subject of race. Even Tim Wise whom I greatly admire can not make that claim.

I know with all my heart many of you mean well but the truth is, as long as you pretend to know and understand beyond a shadow of a doubt, what racism is every single time it raises it’s ugly head, all you are doing is making the situation worse, not better.

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN

JupiterIslandGirl

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Friday December 03, 2010 · 12:37 PM PST

2010/12/03 · 12:37

I thought I'd expand on and repeat a comment I made in another diary. It could be considered cheating but oh well, sue me.

Several days ago someone suggested I read Ron Chernow’s biography of Washington. The commenter felt it would enlighten me to the fact,"America and its Founding Fathers were not what the Tea Party want to brainwash you into believing it to have been."

Brainwashed? Me? I found the idea amusing since I’ve always been interested in the thoughts and opinions of the Founding Fathers. Cheesy I know but, I’m fascinated by the inner workings of the minds of mankind, especially the people that make the rules and also, make the music but not necessarily in that order.

I indirectly alluded to the former, in a comment with this response and I’ll paraphrase, I can't remember when or where I read it but, the rich were appointed, not elected as Senators back then. Amazing how inconvenient truths get swept under the rug, eh?

As I’m sure most of you know and according to wikipedia, "The Senate of the United States was formed on the example of the ancient Roman Senate."

Somewhat ironic considering the Roman Senate didn’t allow plebeians to serve. You know plebeians, the common people... and this is where my already published rant begins.

JupiterIslandGirl

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Wednesday March 31, 2010 · 3:35 PM PDT

2010/03/31 · 15:35

Now that I have your attention, Listen Up! as Q would say. When I first discovered Black Kos, I was reluctant about participating. I often get frustrated that we purposely segregate ourselves and initially, I found myself once again frustrated at the desire and need to have a Black Kos. Then one day something snapped and I needed my peeps, folks that could understand the emotional realities of being Black in America. I could not take another minute of trying to explain myself to good White Folk even though I knew that most of them meant well. Oh, and I added that last sentence after some serious thought so as not to offend. I told ya'll that to say this, I also needed a place where I didn’t have to make a lot of qualifying statements, to make non people of color not feel as if they were being persecuted. Sometimes, that’s exactly how things comes across to me. I may be wrong in my thinking then again, I could be right more than most will ever admit but it does too often seem that way.

JupiterIslandGirl

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Tuesday December 15, 2009 · 3:55 PM PST

2009/12/15 · 15:55

I walked away from Daily Kos shortly after the California Proposition 8 vote. I decided I needed a break after I read a rant describing the long, hours and personal money that had been spent in order to GOTV for Barack Obama. A few more rants later and the commenter called Black voters in California the derogatory, "n" word. I'm not easily offended by words. I decided years ago, the only person who will define me, will be me. However, I was offended by what I felt was a denial of understanding. An understanding as to why the word so easily slipped through the poster's subconscious. We all have our dark sides and until we learn to acknowledge it, what we deny, will grow stronger but for now, that will have to be a discussion for another time. I didn’t stick around that day to see how events eventually unfolded. I do not know when or how people finally moved on. I’d like to believe apologies were made, and emotional wounds and hurt feelings were healed.

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