BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Women's Issues ATTENTION: A Black Man is Running for President!!

Yes, Phyllis I remember that conversation well. It still haunts me - the image of the herding, then exalting.

The African American, black, negro, colored issue is just as troublesome. It is a different feeling issue, but still, disturbing in it's own right.

With blacks hating blacks who "aren't black enough"; blacks removing themselves from the presence of blacks who are extreme blacks - rappers, etc.; whites who resent the presence of black anger; whites who fear the presence of black anger; blacks who resent they mythical white lack of struggle; whites who want desperately to please the blacks; blacks who feel like citizens who happen to have dark skin; whites who see blacks as citizens who happen to have dark skin; blacks who find power in intimidating whites; whites who feel power in intimidating blacks... The maddening sound of it.

When Gina wrote of her student's horror at terminology of the past, I thought of my son. And my friend. Terrified to say or think anything that may upset their peers. Many white kids in their position uphold the black race as superior, a force to be reckoned with. No matter who is doing it, holding another person hostage to your anger can only give the illusion of respect. True respect comes from good deeds and a spirit of truth.

What the people who believe that intimidation is power, don't know, is that they are gorgeous human beings. If only they would allow it to be so, it would be so. Letting go of anger would not diminish them, it would empower them. Then, it would not be about "the color of their skin, but the content of their character." Dr. Martin Luther King

Shay

Shay, appreciate the "white guilt" comment. I have had that one thrown my way before and it goes all over me. OOOhhhh yea. And Eleise, the "civil war" comment, that was part of my lecture. I likewise believe those days are coming and am glad not to be the only one to have thought it. People kind of look at you like your crazy. And Jeanne, you need to run for president, given your household. I notice you're a Yankee???? And Phyllis, I'm teaching at Bacone University and have ONE Native American in my class and she is level to the core, as I have found most Native Americans to be (to which I totally attribute to the Native American Concept). I told them all to go purchase a copy of "Democracy in America" by de Tocqueville which is my favorite book in this life. You know the young Frenchman and his predictions have been well publicized over the last few years and his observations on race are out of this world. He was very much against any other country adopting a constitution such as ours due to the race issues which existed in the US at that time (he was here for nine months in 1831). Slaves counted as 3/5ths of a person, Native Americans tribes were addressed as sovereigns, but he knew westward expansion would not stop. He wrote "the history and the future of America will forever be tied to skin color. A person's historical status readily ascertained upon a glance at the skin and the natural resentment and power or lack thereof that go with it will remain." That's paraphrased. Skin color is the ultimate giveaway. And so, same as Plessey (separate but equal) who was 7/8ths white, but had dark skin, Obama is "black" even though his mother was white and he was raised by white grandparents. I am so happy that was pointed out by one of you. My dad mentioned it to me last night, I hadn't gone there yet with regards to the implication of it politically.

Just to let you guys know....and I point it out to my students every semester: they sit in the classroom along racial lines. I watch them and it appears to occur "naturally" I do not know why. I asked them about it when they started getting riled up. In response to one student I upset, I told him I'd answer his question if he could articulate to me why exactly he chose to sit where he was sitting in the class. I asked them if they realized they did it or if they even noticed it during class. They all became very, very quiet. Blacks on one side, whites on another. I have about nine black students, seventeen white students and as previously mentioned, one Native American (who sits right in front of me).

Last thing, my twelve year old son asked me recently "would everyone be happier if they had just stayed under the sun where God put them?" Seems to him that if we were all meant to live together peacefully and for "health reasons", God would have given us the same skin according to him or the sun would shine equally over the planet with the same effect "to not have these issues and to be protected from skin cancer." Food for thought. He then asked me about Babel. Yes.......that's my twelve year old. He also wrestles, thank goodness!!!!!!

I grew up in very small rural community, father was a prison warden and the only black people we ever came into contact with until the ninth grade were in prison. There have been some who have tried to make me feel guilty over my upbringing, which will never happen. I do admit it is difficult to find your way when racial issues are addressed in theory only, we didn't have black families over to dinner because there were no black families who lived in our town. I asked black students how many white families came to their houses for dinner. They all answered none. I live in Oklahoma (literally translated "home of the red man") And so . . . . . .

Have a great weekend guys! I am so very happy to be part of BellaOnline. Ciao!!

I remember taking Microbiology in college from one of the most intelligent men (or people period!) I have ever met. He was just a freaking genious - held 3 different PhDs - biology, chemistry, and theology (af all things!) He was an ordained Methodidst minister, too. We had some very interesting classes where he would explain why some things were done in the Old testament made scientific sense, and it was just cool!

But, anyway - back to this topic - he said racially there are only 3 true races Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid. Everyone on earth is made up of parts of these 3, and it would be very difficult to find a person of pure heritage in any of the three races.

The main reason being (and please no one take offense at this analogy, but it is the closest I can think of) just like when you breed purebred dogs, the weaknesses become more and more prominent. The same thing happens with plants, too. Pretty much anything living. The way that farmers make a heartier strain of tomatoes is by cross-straining it with another variety. Mutts tend to be much healthier dogs than say pure bred golden retrievers that have many arthritic and heart problems.

And then you look at people. There is Tay-Sachs that is passed down in the Jewish community, Sickle-Cell anemia in the black community. These are recessive genes. Both parents must carry the gene. So if one of the parents were of a different race - then there would not be the possibility of these diseases.

Then quite honestly, I just look at some of the different people that are bi (or more) racial - and they are beautiful people! Halle Berry, Obama himself is a nice looking man, and of course now my mind is blank on other famous people, but I just think of some of my kid's friends and see the same thing.

There is true strength in unity. Not just political or social - but genetic, too.

It takes a strong person to be gentle.

Touche, Phyllis. And to listen without speaking, to take responsibility for their actions...to admit that what they are doing, isn't working. To turn their focus toward what they do want, as opposed to focusing on what they don't want. Each of these things takes tremendous strength.

Shay

I agree completely, a sensitive man can be a strong man. He would have to be because he cares and feels so strongly for other people. These are the people who seem to get hurt the most.