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'CNN’s Racist Depiction of The Black Church and Gay Marriage'
"Dr." Boyce Watkins once again leaves me scratching my head...
'CNN’s Racist Depiction of The Black Church and Gay Marriage'
http://www.eurweb.com/2012/05/cnns-racist-depiction-of-the-black-church-and-gay-marriage/
On the front page of CNN today, there was an interesting article about the divide between the Obama Administration and the African American church.
The author of the piece seems to be implying that black church opposition to gay marriage is hypocritical, in large part because the bible being quoted by Christians is the same one that promoted the institution of slavery.
I was immediately irked by the insinuation that somehow, anyone who opposes gay marriage is driven by the same ignorance that led some enslavement of other human beings. CNN is a network that has shown itself to be in support of gay rights (Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon are members of the gay community, and the network supported Lemon’s book about the agony of being black and gay). The position is admirable, since we can appreciate the concept of providing equal rights to everyone.
I don’t oppose gay marriage myself, but I was annoyed by the CNN article. What bothered me most about CNN’s depiction of the black church is that it is one that wreaks of the kind of liberal paternalism that treats African Americans as if we are savages who need to be educated by white folks. The comparison of gay marriage opposition to slavery is a deliberate effort to poke at the political pressure point of African Americans, reducing our most painful collective experience into a political football. It’s no different from telling a woman that she should protest the labor practices of Wal-Mart because she was once raped by a Wal-Mart employee.
The author of the piece seems to be implying that black church opposition to gay marriage is hypocritical, in large part because the bible being quoted by Christians is the same one that promoted the institution of slavery.
I was immediately irked by the insinuation that somehow, anyone who opposes gay marriage is driven by the same ignorance that led some enslavement of other human beings. CNN is a network that has shown itself to be in support of gay rights (Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon are members of the gay community, and the network supported Lemon’s book about the agony of being black and gay). The position is admirable, since we can appreciate the concept of providing equal rights to everyone.
I don’t oppose gay marriage myself, but I was annoyed by the CNN article. What bothered me most about CNN’s depiction of the black church is that it is one that wreaks of the kind of liberal paternalism that treats African Americans as if we are savages who need to be educated by white folks. The comparison of gay marriage opposition to slavery is a deliberate effort to poke at the political pressure point of African Americans, reducing our most painful collective experience into a political football. It’s no different from telling a woman that she should protest the labor practices of Wal-Mart because she was once raped by a Wal-Mart employee.
The bolded bit I actually agree with. And I along with just about every black person on the planet am confused as hell that this seems to be THE issue, the ONLY issue in which the American media gives a flying fishstick about our opinion and seeks us out, but only if the results can be skewed to portray us in the most negative way possible.
The rest of this piece I really have no idea what the brother is raving about. And this ain't the first time.
18 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
I am painfully aware that the good "Dr." spelled "reeks" wrong. 
can torment out of us all; and every ounce of criticism of President Obama, from about every side; and, as usual, every possible chance to do exactly as you say:
... this seems to be THE issue, the ONLY issue in which the American media gives a flying fishstick about our opinion and seeks us out, but only if the results can be skewed to portray us in the most negative way possible.
i definitely see the point of the excerpt you bolded, Number23. outrageously, that liberal paternalism is nauseatingly invariably predictable.
i am still reading, and my mind is trying to wrap around the 'he said about what he wrote about what they said' quality of the flood of commentary they are all using us all to shout about.
more when i've read it.
thank you for posting it!
And I along with just about every black person on the planet am confused as hell that this seems to be THE issue, the ONLY issue in which the American media gives a flying fishstick about our opinion and seeks us out, but only if the results can be skewed to portray us in the most negative way possible.
and, absolutely! :
Although it doesn't appear that the same folks who rushed to gin up and display their own bigotries after Prop 8 are quite as vocal this time around.
"Yep," indeed!
i was JUST posting on that in that other thread!! to a poster who didn't bother reading your post about those facts before slamming it!!
i am rushing off now, but more when i can fully read your outstanding post, and ocmment more.
thank you so much Number23!!
It is IMMENSELY frustrating to constantly have people whose only connection to your community is what they see on tv or read in the paper tell you what you and your people are about.
and they were doing that all over here, without slightest attempt to learn the facts.
