The former head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Joe R. Hicks, penned a weekend WaPo op-ed that got me thinking about Don Imus, Seattle's mental disability on race, and something I call racialism. More here.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 17, 2007 07:35 PM | Email ThisThe answer to your question is you are free to, but what would you get out of it. Playing the, let's call it what is is - "race card" has gotten my community what? Sharpton/Jackson, the first African American President - Bill Clinton. You want that. It has not moved the standrard of educational achievement of low-income kids. I know that you are feeling left out, but that is not a card you want to play. Oh, if you want to play victim, some secular progresive will enroll you in a program administered by them and the program will keep you dependent and never teach you how to catch your own fish and feed yourself.
So, Torque, play the race or radicalism card if you wish.
Now, if you want to see a great concert in October and observe an example of what native Blacks need to do to get out of their hole, go see
Awadagin Pratt at the symphony in Ocotber:
Awadagin and his sister (now University Compliance Officer at Vanderbilt University) were encouraged by their parents to excel at whatever they did. One Christmas, the Pratts bought a battered old upright piano for $100 and installed it where it still stands in the living room. The Pratt children were both given lessons in piano and violin -- and tennis. A typical day for Awadagin and Menah began at 6 a.m. with a two-hour drill on the tennis courts. After school, there would be another drill. There were weekly music lessons on both piano and violin, and each child had to practice at least an hour every day on each instrument.
http://www.awadagin.com/ap_bio.htm
His story is instructive because:
1. His father was a non-native Black who did
not focus on victimization but achievement.
2. There was a close family focused on achievement
3. The children spent the necessary time
and effort to achieve.
Marva Collins has demonstrated that even poor
throw-awy children can acquire success traits.
So, Torque, play whatever card you feel useful, it won't bring success.
But what you said is the message I got out of Whitlock, Juan Williams and Bill Cosby.
Posted by: swatter on April 18, 2007 06:49 AM