I was once hanging out with a black friend who I played in a band with. We were on a tour, visiting places we had never been before and I began to notice something that never occurred to me as a white boy, a certain vibe that is shared among black people that reminded me of the vibe I feel when I meet fellow musicians, a vibe of an inherent understanding, a commonality of experience that is simply there, a priori, before words and before specifics of class, career, and religion are even known or discussed. I asked my friend about this observation and what he said at the time has stuck with me so I will paraphrase his wisdom for my fellow Kossacks because I feel it is an important understanding to keep in mind when contemplating the news part of this diary:
"When I walk into a club or restaurant and see a Black man or woman, I see a Brother or Sister first. I may end up not liking or wanting to hang with them, but still, they are a part of our family. We have shared with our ancestors and elders the same struggles and injustices, we've been subject to distrust and fear from people in power. Pulled over or harassed because the color of our skin is seen to be an easy bet on the crime lottery. All African-Americans are descendants of the poorest and most neglected of American families and only in the last few generations have we been allowed to participate openly and empower ourselves with proper education and even then, we are expected to adopt to the culture of those who have little respect for what we can contribute on our own terms, with our own values of community and family, raising our kids, and what we consider to be quality of life. In short we all have been disenfranchised in one way or another and that brings forth an empathy and shared struggle that makes us family."
Keep that thought in your mind as you review this latest report on a Dean appearance in Chicago at a Rainbow/PUSH Coalition conference. Some will be aware that Rainbow/PUSH is calling to reauthorize and extend provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act set to expire in 2007. Dean in turn has called out the GOP on this issue and properly labeled them as hypocrites for pretending to reach out to Black voters while essentially supporting disenfranchisement- particularly of the ones who aren't willing to adopt the values of their former oppressors (greedy Capitalism and fearful, divisive and authoritarian religious values) unless they support reauthorizing certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act that expire in 2007. Here is Dean quoted by the Chicago Tribune.
"I think it's hypocritical for the Republicans to pretend to reach out to the African-American community unless they say they are going to reauthorize what gave the African-American community political power," Dean said in an interview. "I'd love to have the president say whether he's going to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act."
Then Dean pulls out his bat and swings for the fence...
"The chairman of the Republican Party, as you know, has made a big deal about attracting African-American voters," Dean said to people attending the conference. "And this is a litmus test. If you aren't going to support the extension of the Voting Rights Act, I don't know what right you have to go to a black church and show your face."
SMACK!! outta the park. I love this guy!
An interesting note. Google news currently shows three reports on this story. Chicago Trib headline-
Dean blasts GOP over voting rights
While the Kansas City Star and Barre Montpelier Times of Argus, VT both use this misleading and provocative for the exact same report -
Dean criticizes GOP's courting of black voters
Draw your own conclusions on that sneaky spin.
Bottom line. Democrats are the party that put it all on the line in order to do what is right. Enfranchisement of our African-American Brothers and Sisters has cost us the south as well as many other areas of politics and we all know where the fleeing bigots went. Good riddance. The GOP has not earned ANY credibility that they are interested in all Blacks, just the ones that will support their agenda. Dean called them out. Let's see if they have the guts to respond.