My baby brother just sent me the most wonderful email, and I'd like to share

[CatWoman]

We are a family of 10: 7 females and 3 males.

I rank as number 4 in the line of birth.

This was written by my baby brother John Fitzgerald (he was named for JFK)-- Number 10.

Needless to say, I'm very, very proud of him.

My thoughts

At this time...at this moment. I just want to express what this election and the pending election of a man of color has meant to me...You and I both know the hell that's been heap on us as a race of people in this so called democracy.

To me this means that there is no more excuses for being niggers or behaving in a niggerish way,

I mean, enough of being the "black sheep" of this country... it's time to move on. For far too long it was expected that "WE" were just gonna be bystanders without out a voice or any thing "Important to offer" to this the nation. (See 300+ years of free labor)

You know, "Those Lazy Heathens Don't Know Any Better!"

But this is the single most defining moment in my life as a black man in America. Why, you ask? After being put thru the wringer and always counted out...we have survived!

Make no mistake this isn't all about Barack...This is about us as a people. Why do our children embrace being ignorant? why do the so-called bad parts of town always...just happens to be where all the the "blacks happen to live"

One word...Education! or lack of.

We are always taught that college and higher education is for nerds or it's not cool. I had my own daughter tell when she was younger that college was only for white people.

So, now we have a standard bearer or role model of where a life of being educated and a good student can lead.

No more Ignorance will be tolerated ...I hope!

[Janice325]

1. Thank you for sharing that.

It brought tears to my eyes.

[roguevalley]

11. education is the path out of despair for everyone. if you are educated

you cannot be a tool unless you want to be. I am glad you shared this, catwoman. what a great family you come from.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Wow, you SHOULD be proud. Just wow.....thank you so much!!! n/t

[CatWoman]

4. thing is

I used to stay on his ass about not voting.

See how far he's come?

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Essene, another DUer posted observations about voting in Harlem...

and how there is something transcendent going on within the AA community -- a quiet DIGNITY and HUMANITY.

The only ones not showing dignity and humanity have been the Palin mobs, Limbaugh/Hannity loyalists.

This is such a powerful moment in all of our lives, so very powerful, and I am grateful that you shared your brother's thoughts.

:hug:

[bliss_eternal]

29. The quiet dignity you describe...

...has been there all along. If people take the time to look away from what the media focuses on in regard to the AA community, they may be surprised how much dignity, grace, refinement and positivity they can see. There is beauty and grace in all racial groups, just like there are some that aren't as positive.

I've never known Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou (and too many others to list right now) to be anything but dignified and positive. Sadly too many assume what they see on the news, MTV, and at music award shows to be indicative of an entire group of people--which is not only wrong, it's how stereotypes are formed.

I wonder how many caucasians would feel offended if people of color assumed the best representation of their racial group were Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and that twerp with the bow tie?

[KT2000]

3. Thanks for sharing this! n/t

[knixphan]

5. Hell yes.

Nice.

[kestrel91316]

6. Blacks now have a HUGE role model in Obama who will bring them UP

instead of keeping them down. I LOVE seeing the photos of the young black boys in shirt and tie looking at Obama with such adoration.

[Obamanaut]

9. From what I've seen, during these months of campaign, of Pres

Obama and his family, we all have a huge roll model here. Damn this is gonna be good!

[Betsy Ross]

7. Fabulous message

I am so happy for you, your family, all African-Americans, all Americans. This is a great day in history. I will always remember it.

[noiretextatique]

8. i am so sick of this shit!

ask your brother something for me: is he a n*&%^#?

where in the HELL do BLACK people get the unmitigated audacity to denigrate other black people? and why do people think this is great, or cool, or something to be PROUD of?

WE are where we are today...doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, etc...because our community valued education. sure...some assholes may think it's not cool to learn and develop, but that was never the prevailing value in the black community i grew up in.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. I know I'll kick myself for wading in here, because I really don't know....

anything about this.

But, what I want to say is that keeping other people's perspectives and perceptions in mind has been a helpful thing for me. I'm a middle-aged, heterosexual white woman who doesn't have a clue what it's like to have lived as a person of color, as a dude, as a gay person, etc.

However, I do always keep that in mind: that I DON'T know what others are thinking and feeling because, what they think and feel is based on life experiences I don't share.

You asked, "Where where in the HELL do BLACK people get the unmitigated audacity to denigrate other black people?"

I denigrate racist white trash all the time, because my experience directly involves them (I've grown up around them and with them), and I want us all to do better. In general, we have experienced similar things in growing up, yet how they behave is unacceptable. It's because I share their general life experience that I confront it directly. I don't denigrate all white people, just the ones who act like white supremists and assume they're entitled to....something...just because they're white.

I have a feeling Catwoman's brother is the same....in reverse.

[noiretextatique]

14. i find his comments racist

and i am a black woman. i don't feel black people are entitled to say racist things about other black people, nor do i think white people should encourage black people to say racist things about other black people.
thanks for your perspective.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. Sounds awfully classist to me.

[PatSeg]

12. Wow

Thanks for sharing. Clearly Obama has broken a glass ceiling and our world will never be the same again.

Your brother summed it up so well!

[Chovexani]

15. CW you know you're my girl but this is just crazy.

This Jack and Jill, Cosby-ish divisive bullshit has got to stop. No one in my family ever embraced being ignorant. "Our children" don't embrace being ignorant, it's a message that is packaged and sold to young people by Big Media. Ask yourself why 50 Cent is so well known but intelligent rappers that still tell stories and talk the truth never get radio play and you'll scratch the surface of it.

I'm beyond sick and tired of black folks saying coonish behavior is somehow limited to us. If you think embrace of ignorance as a virtue is a black thing I submit to you Paris Hilton, 90% of the lineup on MTV, and Sarah Palin.

[noiretextatique]

16. thank you, chovexani

:thumbsup:

[noiretextatique]

17. dupe

[bliss_eternal]

25. Well said, Chovexani...

:thumbsup:

[intheflow]

18. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn't a standard bearer for black education?

Just sayin'... it's a long way from a few high-profile educated US black leaders to education becoming hip for the majority of black youth who are being under-educated in grossly underfunded urban schools. Of course Obama is another great role model, but unless we get the early childhood and primary education system/values on par with the wealthier/white burbs and outlying towns,* education will never be wildly hip for inner-city youth. Students educated in such a system are often bored by second grade, and their parents were often raised in those same underfunded schools and were bored by second grade, so why would they develop any dreams of higher ed?


*Adding the example of Baby College as an inner-city program that makes me far more hopeful for poor and/or African American education's future than just an Obama presidential legacy, because it educates the parents to value education and pass on educational values as well as educating the child. (Added because I didn't want you to think I was just whistling out of my butt to shut down a valid black voice/black experience. I'm really very happy your family is so pumped and hopeful for our collective racial future... as am I. :hi:)

[Karenina]

19. Black people are not alone in embracing ignorance.

Look at ANYONE prepared to elevate Sarah Palin to the most powerful position in the world.

"Make no mistake this isn't all about Barack...This is about us as a people. Why do our children embrace being ignorant? why do the so-called bad parts of town always...just happens to be where all the the "blacks happen to live"

ANYWHERE in the world one will meet people with "issues" about "their own" and the "other."

I so miss Boondocks! I can only imagine what gems would be coming out of Gramp's buddy right about now. Much like this.

"One word...Education! or lack of."

I rest my case.

[Chovexani]

20. Whole of of Unckle Ruckuses out there.

My estranged father's one of them. Which is ironic considering he's dumber than a box of rocks (yes, he is registered Repuke and is proudly voting for McCain--one of the reasons I hope VA goes blue.)

[bliss_eternal]

30. Well said, friend....

:hi::hug:

No racial or ethnic group has a monopoly on ignorance.

Though, it seems the proprietors of Fox news have maintained their stronghold on selling bigotry to the masses, disguised as "political news."
;)

[Brewman_Jax]

21. Sorry, Catwoman

That's more recycled Cosby/spewed racist RW BS.

We don't value education? There are 98 HBCU's that say otherwise. They were ALL created because black people weren't ALLOWED to go to most of the major state colleges, but whose tax dollars helped pay for them.

Why do the so-called bad parts of town always...just happen to be the all the "blacks happen to live" didn't magically happen. It is by deliberate discriminatory practices (redlining is one) and collusion of business and government, see http://www.pbs.org/race/006_WhereRaceLives/006_00-home.htm and click on "The Downward Spiral" button.

The ignorant are but a loud few who should be ignored, not thought of as representative of all. Nerds take crap in the schoolyard, regardless of race, but we don't quit. I went to public schools and I'm a proud alumnus of Georgia Tech, a school whose name alone stands for achievement.

There have been MANY role models for black people over the years. We stand on their shoulders; the shoulders of giants, for they made it possible for Barack Obama to be a candidate for the President of the United States of America. :patriot:

[Karenina]

22. Are we witnessing a Lite-Brite, like in Boston

but not quite? :evilgrin:

[bliss_eternal]

26. Nicely put, Argyle...

...I appreciate seeing you sharing on this.

Shoulders I'm proud to stand on:

Maya Angelou
(No college degree, or traditional baacelaureate education to speak of), but I doubt anyone would argue she is anything less than brilliant and quite accoplished. Fluent in several languages, recipient of an honorary doctorate degree, poet laureate of the Clinton Administration, civil rights activist, actress, singer, author, director, etc.....

http://www.mayaangelou.com/ShortBio.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou


Paul Robeson
Lawyer, athlete, actor, singer, civil rights activist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Robeson

Arthur Ashe
Athlete, civil rights leader.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Ashe

Audre Lord

Poet, Writer, social and civil rights activist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audre_Lorde

Harry Belafonte

Singer, Actor, Civil rights activist (vocal critic of Bush administration)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte

[satya]

23. ************** Happy Birthday, CatWoman **************

May all your birthday wishes come true (especially the one that we all share). Your brother is very wise, just like his big sister.

:hug:

[trof]

27. Am I SURE I want to recommend this thread? Damn straight.

K&R

[bliss_eternal]

28. It saddens me greatly...

...to see any historical minority member, adopting terms of oppression to describe themselves, their sisters and brethren....in any context whatsoever.

Quote:
To me this means that there is no more excuses for being niggers or behaving in a niggerish way

It's equally unfortunate, (in my opinion)that it was shared here with a sense of pride in the person's words(and implied intent). Here, being a forum where quite a few have worked diligently to teach the unaware, that people of color deserve better than to be referred to (on any level) by terms of oppression.

:(