Are We ready for a Black President?

[quote=TheWatcher;786406]Im not saying that anyones plight is worse .... but its bad enough for Black people to Choose to make our plight visible.

What plight? What is America (the Government, not the people) doing wrong?

I personally believe that the Native American Asians and other oppressed peoples should stand up and make their own grievances known and visible.

My question is: What GOOD does that do?

Its not wrong for black people to stand up and talk about Black issues and fight for the issues that face our community.

But YOUR community is OUR community. Things are only segragated because of individual people and their own personal choices.

You mention that Other communities had had issues as well. I absolutely agree and if they want their issues in the lime light then stand up, protest, start dialog and rise up as a community together and make someone listen to you.

Listen to....who? The individual who won't let the past go, or the group as a whole who needs help?

As black people have done, and remember the Germans ran the Concentration camps not Americans. I am speaking on the faults of this country towards my people not to trivialize or Diminish the struggles of any other community.

I understand, but it seems that there is no solution. You want there to be an answer and there isn't. This country is young compared to every other country out there. It did horrible things in its youth that can never be repaired. However, we are working to civilize ourselves. That's the growth I'm talking about.

Here we are looking at a black man and a woman for presidential candidates. To me, I don't care about race - but the fact that many others are also saying that it doesn't matter means the stepping stones laid by your ancestors, as well as my own female counterparts, have made a tremendous difference.

All I'm asking is that we not sweep events under the rug, but try to stop seeing the past as something that needs fixing. We're here because of our past, and for better or worse it is what it is. We can't go back, and living in the past only prevents us from going forward.

So, how do we move forward?

Its wasn't as widespread as people wanted it to be but there are records of African tribes being paid in the slave trade when i find a reference to this i will post it

That's fine, and a reference would be great (as I posted, they did sell "each other" -- it was a form of punishment, penince, a way to get rid of PoW, etc.) But I'm still curious about your response to the first of the two posts.

I forgot to add the most important thing to my post: I am absolutely ready for a black president, and nearly everyone I know (with the exception of older, set-in-their-ways, die-hard "traditional" folks) seems to feel the same way.

That said, I'm not sure it should be Barack Obama.

I could not have agreed more. You're my hero now, by the way. haha.

There recently was an extended program on Discovery Channel, which took us to the very shipping point from the West Coast of Africa....and direct references to the tribes of Africans who captured and sold other Africans to the Europeans. The building still stands.

There are references I've come across, of the bondage traders and slaver masters of the Arabs who raided for their slaves into Africa.

There are ample references in the Bible of slaves in many lands. There is a huge record of Romans using African slaves.

I just don't have the time to dig into references and links.

Slave trade predated US by thousands of years, and African slavery was not just a European OR US invention.

Hell, my ancestors were Russian/Scandinavian. THEIR records don't survive before the boats to America, so I'm more rootless than Kunta Kinte.....and I know about prejudice against them due to their culture, languages, foods and religious beliefs.....as well as prejudice against ME in my own life experience.....but that is another story....

My point is, no one I know is a slave. No one I know has ever owned slaves. I'm certainly not going to assume an air of "400 years guilt" for something none of my ancestors or myself was ever part of.


I'm still waiting for US reparations for sending Swedes to North Dakota...

No worries Jack. I'm not saying it didn't happen, in fact I said it did, but under different premises than we colloquially accept. If we ask your average guy on the street what the progression of slavery looked like, they probably couldn't even tell you, or it might be more about families selling their unwated babies for milk money, children selling their elderly parents, people being randomly stolen in the night. Etc. Sure, there may have been some of that going on eventually, once it became such a booming international market, but I don't think it's common understanding that most of this was the result of tribal wars (PoWs, etc.), punishment, etc. And a LOT of people think like 100% of slavery was Africa selling its own people, which I've never seen ANYTHING to validate, even though I've seen a lot to invalidate it.

My original point is -- it's not something "this country" can be blamed for. Even the black people here will have roots between Africa and America.

Let me know when that happens, I will have DH get us hooked up!

lol jack you got me dying over here...lol
no one is asking all white people to pay for slavery in this county but blacks cant walk away from the issue either. Its still a sore spot for us and will continue to be for a long time. all we can do is how that more discussions like this can be held and that somewhere we can find a solution.

I'm not even in America, but GO Barack Obama!!! [I've been watching American news]

I am with everyone else on our future president, Don't care if he is a she or if they are black, white, purple or green. I just want a president that can make change in many different areas. I also am with everyone else on thinking alot of the prejidice is from older people. I have 2 daughters and one dated a white guy that was horrible and I hated him and I would choke him today if I had a chance and my other daughter dates any race and she came home one day and told me she met a guy that she really liked and that he was black and what did I think of that and I said I don't care what color he is as long as they are a good person and they make you happy. The only thing that I don't understand about the African Americans and maybe The Watcher can help me understand this. Why is it when a jury conficts a black person or a black person goes to jail, there is a protest and it was because they were black? This is something that is vey hard for me to understand.

Watcher, I'm just curious-are you familiar with Leonard Pitts, Jr.? If not, he writes a column at the Miami Herald. It frequently touches on race and politics. He's won a Pulitzer; he also has a website Leonard Pitts Jr.. Actually, I would recommend him to anyone who appreciates good editorial writing; the kind that makes you think, even when you don't agree with it!

I am sorry but I don't think there will ever be a solution. It can not be undone. Just like no one can bring my ancestors back from hallocaust.

No but we can work on tolerance and understanding and working towards making some kind of mends with the people whom this country has hurt and/or tormented.

COmpletely agree!

I agree that a competent president is favorable right now.

Not to bring up the Iraq War, just saying... WHY do we (as a government) think we can solve problems that people have warred and fought over for thousands of years? Nuff said!

As an educator, I feel that we are really placed in an unusual position. We are to provide UNBIASED information about all those who are in the US. That being said, it is difficult to teach to those idealistic standards because we are so busy teaching standards and to 'test' that is is darned near impossible to give each and every perspective. Several years ago, I taught in a very diverse school (near Ft. Knox) and found it very interesting that the students who met me, automatically assumed that I wouldn't treat them fairly, regardless of their skin color. I also grew up in a very diverse school, but it was a rural, very middle class environment. I was taught to treat people fairly, regardless of color, shape, height, maturity, etc. That being said, when I entered my own classroom, I worked very hard to treat the kids like I wanted to be treated. Eventually, the students started to lose the 'chip' on their shoulder with me. But, I was pretty stringent in my desire to ensure students spoke to each other in a respectful way.

All this being said, I really do think we are ready for diversity in the Oval Office. BUT, I haven't made the ultimate decision as to whom I will be voting for in the primaries. I do know I will be voting democratically. I will investigate the candidates, regardless of their skin color, SEX or lack of hair or whatever. I want someone who will work to make America worthy of my pride and will re-establish this great nation to respect amid our wacky world.