Thank you for the words. I wish we weren't still able to have this conversation in 2010, but here we are. I think we all knew that whenever the first President of color was elected, this would happen. One would hope that the nightmare racist/conservative fanatics are in their last gasp, the way a cockroach sprayed with Raid will struggle and kick mightily before finally succumbing. That's what many people try to believe. Sadly, I don't think these are death throes. I think we see in people as relatively young as Palin, Rand Paul, Bob Jendal and others that this backward-looking, desperate need to preserve the worst of America is alive, well, and unfortunately long-lived.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kenneth" <kin...@yahoo.com> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 9:44:10 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Georgia Teacher Under Fire for Kids' Klan Robes Keith, That was on of the most profound explanations of the modern struggle for Civil Rights and the importance of education of History as it pertains to the Conservative/ Tea Party Movement and their argument against so-called Big Goverment and for states rights. It does seem that so many people are in the dark as to what the basis of the Conservative argument is (ie the Civil War). It seems ironic that the party of Lincoln (who signed the Emancipation and sought to initiate programs to somewhat balance the playing field for former slaves), are now so adament against anything that would lift up people of color and therfore all of America.Thank you for putting things into context. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Martin Baxter <martinbaxt...@...> wrote: > > (standing ovation) > > On Thu, May 27, 2010 at 1:00 AM, Keith Johnson <keithbjohn...@...>wrote: > > > > > > > I agree. Every generation runs into this "young folks don't appreciate what > > they have" problem. It's so difficult to teach young people their history, > > and an appreciation for the struggles the ancestors went through. You have > > to balance how much time is spent on teaching about the past, for fear of > > either making them cynical or turning them off their history, vs. try to be > > forward-thinking only, and risk them losing their appreciation for what > > came > > before. But we have to teach kids of all colors just how hard won our > > freedoms our, how fragile they still are, and how quickly we could actually > > lose them if not diligent. > > > > Along the terms of racism, I was listening to a Tea Party lady on NPR > > yesterday defending Rand Paul's belief that all privately owned > > institutions > > should be free of federal Civil Rights judgement. At first I thought the > > lady was just going to say "all government stay out of private business", > > but she was worse than that. The lady actually said that the *states* alone > > should decide Civil Rights in such cases. Individual states, she believes, > > should decide what and how they'll do any kind of Civil Rights enforcement. > > And her reasoning? That federally applied laws lke this *punish* the states > > where racism doesn't exist! So, those mythical states where there's *no* > > racism in privately owned businesses are someone punished by a law that > > goes > > after racism in privately owned businesss? Huh? > > > > Listening to her--as I've listened to Paul and other conservative > > Libertarians and Republicans--I realized I was hearing the same old States' > > rights argument that's been around since the founding of the Republic. This > > lady all but wanted to bring back the Articles of Confederation. These are > > the battles we fought after the Revolution, and leadng up to the Civil War. > > And make no mistake: this is not* solely about government spending. This is > > about a growing panic that people of color are gaining too much power, so > > Tea Partiers and their supporters are trying to weaken the federal > > governmnt > > so the states can individually become as paranoid, xenophobic, and racist > > as > > they want. (Witness Arizona). > > > > I was stunned at how retro and dangerous the substance of these arguments > > is becoming. I wonder how many of our young people get the danger? How can > > they if they're not taught the past, not versed in the struggles and the > > hatred that was fought back then? How can they get the pernicious > > undercurrent of these "I want my country back" speeches if they can't hear > > in them the echoes of speeches past? That's why we have to keep teaching > > each new generation to remember the past, and vow to never let it repeat > > itself. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Martin Baxter" <martinbaxt...@...> > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 4:54:49 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Georgia Teacher Under Fire for Kids' Klan > > Robes > > > > > > > > "I had students who came into class believing that every bit of racism, > > sexism, etc. should be available for joking and that such joking is a sign > > of progress." > > > > I cannot BEGIN to say how sad and horribly frightening that is. > > > > On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Tracy Curtis <tlcurti...@...>wrote: > > > >> > >> > >> I'm not surprised by the reactions so many people are having to the > >> student who was alarmed. One thing that seems really constant is that > >> somehow there is this crazy belief that black people are not ever afraid > >> of > >> white people. I see this in the classes I teach. The Atlanta article's > >> comments show that they seem to think his response was simply to start > >> trouble. > >> > >> I also agree with Martin that we've gotten lax. I had students who came > >> into class believing that every bit of racism, sexism, etc. should be > >> available for joking and that such joking is a sign of progress. They had > >> trouble seeing the effects of numbers, context, fear, etc and certainly > >> couldn't believe that people might tolerate some of their behavior out of > >> fear. > >> > >> Since I've been here in Madison, I've heard from several people with > >> children in schools that their non-white kids are encouraged to tolerate > >> slurs and poor treatment more generally. And when I sat with some students > >> for a discussion centered around Spike Lee's Bamboozled, one of the > >> questions I got was essentially, why can't we all use slurs? They seemed > >> shocked when I turned it back to them and asked why they would want to do > >> that, and even more shocked when I told them I don't use them myself and > >> am > >> certainly not looking for that privilege from Latinos, Asian Americans > >> etc. > >> > >> > >> On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 10:06 AM, Martin Baxter <martinbaxt...@...>wrote: > >> > >>> > >>> > >>> This was in Danville, Virginny, Keith, Thuh Las' Capital of Thuh > >>> Con-Fed'racy. And the racism is still intact, trust me. When I was back > >>> there back in '91 to bury my maternal grandmother, I ran into a White > >>> woman > >>> who, when we were fellow students, couldn't keep her eyes (or hands off > >>> me). > >>> When she took sight of me, in a department store, she couldn't get away > >>> fast > >>> enough. > >>> > >>> > >>> On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Keith Johnson < > >>> keithbjohn...@...> wrote: > >>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> It might be where you went to school, or simply that back in the day > >>>> whites were more conscious and careful of potentially offending blacks > >>>> in > >>>> some areas. Now maybe we've gotten a bit lax, as the whole idea that > >>>> everyone's fully equal and those racist days are long gone is often > >>>> being > >>>> put forward... > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> ----- Original Message ----- > >>>> From: "Martin Baxter" <martinbaxt...@...> > >>>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > >>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 6:37:10 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > >>>> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Georgia Teacher Under Fire for Kids' Klan > >>>> Robes > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Keith, it's bewildering to me. I went to predominately White schools my > >>>> entire life until college, was often the only face of color in the room. > >>>> I > >>>> didn't often get hit with incidents of racism, but my teachers did > >>>> protect > >>>> me when they arose, taking the time to explain things to those who > >>>> offended. > >>>> > >>>> On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 1:18 AM, Keith Johnson < > >>>> keithbjohn...@...> wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> I'm amazed at how blithely people want to dismiss things like this as > >>>>> "politcal correctness", or "well-intentioned mistakes". I'm not saying > >>>>> burn > >>>>> the school down or anything, but come on: saying the kid overracted to > >>>>> seeing four people walking through the lunchroom dressed in full Klan > >>>>> robes? > >>>>> Only in a ninety-four percent white area: had they tried that down my > >>>>> way, > >>>>> I'm sorry to say the kids would have probably gotten jacked. It's > >>>>> reasons > >>>>> like this why I'm not a fan of black kids going to overwhelmingly white > >>>>> schools, especially in overwhelmingly white areas: there's a lack of > >>>>> sensitivity and awareness sometimes that can't be easily taught. It is > >>>>> inconceivable that a teacher of any race wouldn't think to inform her > >>>>> principal that she was using Klan robes for a film at school. It's less > >>>>> understandable that it never crossed her mind that marching them > >>>>> through the > >>>>> school might cause some issues. Yet it happened because the teacher and > >>>>> all > >>>>> the parents and kids are simply not tuned in to the world that blacks > >>>>> have > >>>>> endured, or the painful legacies that still linger. How does one teach > >>>>> common sense in the face of such woeful ignorance? She was > >>>>> well-intentioned, > >>>>> but clueless as hell. > >>>>> > >>>>> What bothers me, what is the continuing strugge we have with issues of > >>>>> race, gender, etc., is the lack of consideration by people who can't > >>>>> seem to > >>>>> consider things outside their own experiences. You shouldn't have to be > >>>>> black to get this. I bet if the kids had been dressed like Union > >>>>> soldiers > >>>>> on the way to burn Atlanta, some of these "get over it" parents would > >>>>> see > >>>>> things differently. I bet if they'd worn SS uniforms, even non-Jewish > >>>>> whites > >>>>> would have been more sympathetic to any outrage. What if four big black > >>>>> brothers had marched by with fake guns and knives, saying they were > >>>>> going to > >>>>> re-enact a slave revolt where some whites were killed? Think the > >>>>> parents > >>>>> would be seeing "get over it"? > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> The sad thing is, that we so often only seem to sympathize and > >>>>> empathize when it's something that directly affects our little > >>>>> racial/gender/ethnic/political group. Does the teacher need to be > >>>>> fired? Do > >>>>> we need to march? Probably not, but a conversation definitely needs to > >>>>> be > >>>>> had here. The former NAACP head who says it's a tempest in a teapot > >>>>> just > >>>>> sounds old and tired to me... > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> ************************************************** > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> By Kristi E. Swartz <kswa...@...> > >>>>> > >>>>> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution > >>>>> > >>>>> The reaction from last week's Lumpkin County High School history > >>>>> project was "blown way out of proportion," said students who gathered > >>>>> at the > >>>>> school Tuesday afternoon. > >>>>> < > >>>>> http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=1652244fu/M=600738505.600765248.409265442.403865905/D=ncnwsloc/S=2022775853:LREC/Y=PARTNER_US/L=dcfde9be-6883-11df-aa58-4b260da7beb4/B=8jP9I0wNids-/J=1274850140211835/K=CWVPA_bIqTtQ1QjBKcZe.Q/EXP=1274857340/A=1757781689173704643/R=0/X=2/SIG=11fa538gh/*http://nissanmall.com/new-nissan-specials.cfm > >>>>> > > >>>>> Moore. "I think people are just making things up to get a little bit > >>>>> of attention out of it." > >>>>> > >>>>> Four students donned Ku Klux Klan outfits as part of a film project for > >>>>> teacher Catherine Ariemma's Advanced Placement U.S. history class last > >>>>> week. > >>>>> > >>>>> Ariemma escorted the group of white students through the cafeteria on > >>>>> the way to being filmed, not anticipating the reaction from a > >>>>> mixed-race > >>>>> student, Cody Rider, who told the AJC on Monday that he was outraged. > >>>>> > >>>>> While most students -- as well as those around town Tuesday -- said the > >>>>> reaction was unwarranted, Ariemma on Tuesday found herself at the > >>>>> center of > >>>>> an administrative debate as well as a media circus. > >>>>> > >>>>> The Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights activist, said in a news > >>>>> conference after the meeting that Lumpkin County High School teachers > >>>>> would > >>>>> have sensitivity and diversity training. There have been measures put > >>>>> in > >>>>> place to make sure nothing like this happens again, he said. > >>>>> > >>>>> There also will be a student assembly in a couple of days to discuss > >>>>> the situation, and a town hall meeting will be held in a couple of > >>>>> weeks. > >>>>> > >>>>> Hutchins has encouraged the school system to further investigate and > >>>>> take disciplinary action, if warranted. Ariemma is on paid > >>>>> administrative > >>>>> leave. > >>>>> > >>>>> "We all must learn to live together as brothers and sisters, or we will > >>>>> die together as fools," Hutchins said. > >>>>> > >>>>> Ariemma, who attended the meeting, did not speak at the news > >>>>> conference. Fifteen to 20 students and some parents were on hand, and > >>>>> several students hugged Ariemma. > >>>>> > >>>>> "Leave her alone," one woman said as she ushered Ariemma into a car. > >>>>> > >>>>> The population of Lumpkin County, located about 70 miles north of > >>>>> Atlanta, is 94 percent white, according to Census data. Dahlonega, with > >>>>> a > >>>>> population of about 4,000, is the county seat. > >>>>> > >>>>> Historic Dahlonega square was fairly quiet on a late Tuesday afternoon, > >>>>> but shop owners and visitors said they've been talking about last > >>>>> week's > >>>>> incident > >>>>> > >>>>> "People were saying it's a big to-do about nothing," said Kate Munson, > >>>>> an employee at The Humble Candle. > >>>>> > >>>>> Gerald Eardley, visiting with his wife from Savannah, called the > >>>>> reaction, "political correctness gone crazy." > >>>>> > >>>>> Geri Dunn said it was no different than watching a Civil War > >>>>> re-enactment. > >>>>> > >>>>> "I don't think it would have been put in school if it was meant to be > >>>>> derogatory," Dunn said. "What she was trying to do was not a bad > >>>>> thing." > >>>>> > >>>>> One older civil rights activist in that Atlanta area said the flap over > >>>>> the Klan clothing is a distraction from more urgent issues confronting > >>>>> African-Americans today. > >>>>> > >>>>> Ariemma may have erred by failing to inform her superiors about her > >>>>> plans, said activist John Evans. But even blacks stage reenactments of > >>>>> killings by whites, he said by phone Tuesday. > >>>>> > >>>>> "White folk murdered and raped and robbed black folk back in the day. > >>>>> It's part of history," said Evans, a former president of the DeKalb > >>>>> County < http://g.ajc.com/r/Cj/ > branch of the NAACP. "Now, if you're > >>>>> teaching history, aren't you supposed to include that?" > >>>>> > >>>>> Evans, 77, now heads an activist group called Operation Lead and is a > >>>>> current vice president of the DeKalb NAACP though he said he wasn't > >>>>> speaking > >>>>> for that group. > >>>>> > >>>>> He said he could understand why a black student at the high school > >>>>> would complain. "But now, you get older, and things like that are not > >>>>> very > >>>>> exciting," he said. Instead, blacks should worry about making and > >>>>> saving > >>>>> money and building their own businesses, he said. > >>>>> > >>>>> "To be influential in this country you got to have yourself some > >>>>> coins," Evans said. "We've got more important things to worry about > >>>>> than > >>>>> something that happened 100 years ago." > >>>>> > >>>>> -- Ty Tagami and Marcus K. Garner contributed to this report. > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> -- > >>>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody > >>>> hell wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant > >>>> > >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik > >>>> > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> -- > >>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody > >>> hell wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant > >>> > >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik > >>> > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > > "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell > > wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik > > > > > > > > > > -- > "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell > wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik >
