Whether you agree with the tactics of the three women grabbed the microphone in Seattle (for the record I don't), I think an event celebrating the anniversary of the passage of Social Security was exactly the right event for people of color to make their voices heard loud and clear. Why? Because in order for FDR to get the Southern Democratic votes he needed to pass social security the bill was designed in a way to exclude people of color, in particular African-Americas. Much like FDR had to let anti-lynching legislation die and had to design many of his job programs to also exclude people of color in order to get those same votes for the New Deal legislation he wanted.
Given that I think people of color, in particular African-Americans are right to say we will not wait our turn again.
On a related note about the white progressive community that, according to Kos' own statistics, is over-represented on this board. I am not African-American but I often wonder how it looks to our AA members that a go to meme on this board is Obama needs to be more like FDR. After all FDR didn't compromise and he welcomed their hate while Obama is the caver-in-chief. Not only is that an inaccurate reading of history but it also downplays that, more than once, FDR bargained the rights of people of color to get the votes he needed. To me it has an air of FDR, a white man, compromising away rights and protections for people of color was okay because the end (Social Security, New deal jobs programs) justified the means while Obama making compromises that gets us an imperfect solution to health coverage makes him weak and stupid even thought that imperfect solution has been a big benefit to people of color.
To me it seems like two different standards are used in judging each mans' accomplishments. Now it could be that people don't know the compromises FDR had to make and are letting a nostalgic view of history along with an unrealistic view on what the President can accomplish inform their opinions but, as a I said I do wonder how it looks that the same standard isn't used for both men.
