For whatever reason, I became a news junkie at an early age. My pre-kindergarten self figured out a joke in the Chicago Tribune comics, and I started hitting on newspapers, et alia, ever since.
One of the most powerful media moments in my existence was reading the Life magazine article "The Cry That Will Be Heard". March 8, 1968 issue. Gordon Park's essay
I was a thirteen year old white person at the time (still am in many senses), who had no idea who Gordon Parks was, but I was utterly astonished at that piece of photojournalism.I constantly re-read that article. It was incredible to me that people had to suffer so much. This was the late 60's, and many of us were becoming aware that our lily-white existence was not so pure.
But there was sense of rebellion at that time, and I honestly believed the cry would be heard.
I can't believe how we got to today.
That famous Life magazine issue is being auctioned off on Ebay, Amazon..."Hope" is a commodity.
I am astounded at the viciousness against African-Americans in the commentators on the GZ trial.
The overwhelming message is "Fuck Black people, you had your chance and you blew it."
I remember when the verdict came in the OJ trial, and my white co-workers weighed in on the question "Does the OJ verdict signal a change in race relations?" And there was an overwhelmingly "Yes"
Incredible that a verdict could change relations you had with African-Americans. As if African-Americans were not individuals that you relate to, but a "group."