tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post4000148217816708642..comments2024-03-06T08:29:13.333-08:00Comments on stuff white people do: blame non-white problems on non-whites themselvesmacon dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795547197817128339noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-26571295981113594222008-09-04T22:32:00.000-07:002008-09-04T22:32:00.000-07:00I just would like to say that your analysis and to...I just would like to say that your analysis and topic choice both are getting better and better. As a Jamerican with a triple lens view of America I want to let you know that some days you do need to take a break from seeing the social/racial implications of what is going on around you. POC deal with this all the time. Some suffer burn-out and decide to live in blissful denial/ignorance. Since your perspective is so unique I (We) need to hear your voice. I need to be reminded that there are rational 'good' white people out there who are not leaning on the supremacist structure for support.Miss Nomerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11638556287121454022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-5612949151759822362008-08-27T19:37:00.000-07:002008-08-27T19:37:00.000-07:00@brohammasI agree with your additions. I don't wan...@brohammas<BR/><BR/>I agree with your additions. I don't want to shut white people out of the discussion all together. I just would like the average white person to begin having a sense of how they benefit from, if not out right perpetuate, racism.<BR/><BR/>And hey you guys, don't be afraid to leave your thoughts at my blog - herecomethatgirl.blogspot.com. I'll respond either in the comments or with a post.Blaque Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627683764935084863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-45559331031049181212008-08-27T18:28:00.000-07:002008-08-27T18:28:00.000-07:00didn't read the whole thing, sorry - length is a f...didn't read the whole thing, sorry - length is a factor.<BR/><BR/>but i know exactly what you mean. you could post the transcript to any of CNN's "Black in America" specials. ugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-50826679760215431642008-08-27T16:18:00.000-07:002008-08-27T16:18:00.000-07:00Correction: That thinks that having one or two bl...Correction: <BR/><BR/>That thinks that having one or two black persons at a gathering of several dozen <B>whites</B> is true diversity. <BR/>========================<BR/><BR/>Addendum: <BR/><BR/>Or that voting for the corporatist candidate Barack Obama <B>will really bring about "change that we can believe in."</B><BR/>========================<BR/><BR/><B><I>Thanks, Macon D, for letting me post many lengthy comments to this post. I'm going to stop with all this typing, now. I'll step back to give someone else a chance to talk.</I></B>redcatbikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08645491470348404443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-59139464421388786792008-08-27T11:34:00.000-07:002008-08-27T11:34:00.000-07:00A commenter mentioned Air America as an alternativ...A commenter mentioned Air America as an alternative to NPR programming. I find [that what remains of] Air America produced shows and the other non-AA produced shows that broadcast on the commercial liberal talk stations, that it is their hosts' mission to act as a delivery system of their listeners to unquestioningly, uncritically, and blindly go out and vote for Democratic Party candidates. <BR/><BR/>The Air America affiliate in my city, San Francisco, has the following line-up starting at 6:00 AM, ending at midnight: Stephanie Miller (not w/AA), Thom Hartman (AA), Ed Schultz (not w/AA), Angie Coiro (not w/AA; a locally produced show that runs for an hour), Randi Rhoades (Nova M Radio), Rachel Maddow (AA), and Mike Malloy (Nova M Radio).<BR/><BR/>The only host that engages in true critical thinking, and surprisingly!, talks about white privilege, is Mike Malloy, who was fired by Air America Radio. Also, he does not dedicate his show to [trying to] convincing his listeners to vote for the Democratic candidate du jour, for the lesser of two evils. Malloy is a white dude; in his late 60s, I think. <BR/><BR/>Many of the of the liberal Bay Area listeners of Green960 (that is the station's name) do not like Malloy, for they consider him to be "too angry" and "too critical." (Check out that blog that I linked to in my previous post. The author of it talks about the kind of liberalism that is all to pervasive in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the kind of liberalism that thinks that buying a Prius is the answer to reversing global warming. That thinks that having one or two black persons at a gathering of several dozen is true diversity. Or that voting for the corporatist candidate Barack Obama proves that they are enlightened about race.)redcatbikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08645491470348404443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-55063270798884930862008-08-27T10:52:00.000-07:002008-08-27T10:52:00.000-07:00NPR has one show that I do like, it is called Jazz...NPR has one show that I do like, it is called Jazz Profiles. Every week they profile the music and musical career of a jazz artist: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Desmond, Toots Thielmans, Tito Puente, etc. (Mostly "older" artists, for they have, have had, longer careers from which a substantive profile can be done. Also, with a [jazz] artist, such as Basie, they will devote several shows, maybe two or four, to him.) The profiles contain: a lot of the artist's music; interviews with the artist (if he was alive when the profile was produced) and/or other musicians who worked with him and family members; interviews from other sources that were done years, decades, ago. The show is hosted by the singer Nancy Wilson.redcatbikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08645491470348404443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-56855264971578812952008-08-27T10:30:00.000-07:002008-08-27T10:30:00.000-07:00Macon,I was traveling a month back, for about 3 we...Macon,<BR/><BR/>I was traveling a month back, for about 3 weeks. First, I went to visit a friend in <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friends4life/sets/72157606510189056/" REL="nofollow">Montreal</A> and then over to <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friends4life/sets/72157606526295268/" REL="nofollow">New Brunswick</A> and finally down to <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friends4life/sets/72157606530580743/" REL="nofollow">Providence, Rhode Island</A>. I had a great time; the time away was well worth it. I am forwarding some hyper-links so you can check out my journey. You remember that blog I posted some years ago, “<A HREF="http://sidneyworkworld.blogspot.com/2005/06/traveling-while-black-race-matters.html" REL="nofollow">Traveling While Black, Race Matters</A>?” Well that journey is still with me…. as much as I like to have a break from it all, I am forever confronted with the strange friendly dialogues with whites, which usually I find myself more puzzled and confused. I will give you one example. I was passing through this small in the state of Maine coming from Canada. In any case, I decided to take sometime before taking the bus to my next destination. I ended up having a beer and some Fish n’ Chips at a local tavern in town. While trying to enjoy my meal and my beer, there was this white guy, appearing to be in his mid twenties, college student, sitting next to me, asking the usual: where are you from, where are you going, what brings you here, your name, etc, which I am always delighted meeting new people. I don’t recall his name, but let’s call him Chandler!<BR/><BR/>The light conversation was pleasant for the most part, considering whenever I am traveling, I am more opened to diverse conversations, with limits, of course. While my short time at this local tavern was ending, Chandler then turned the conversation around about girls, hooking up, sex etc. Which normally I don’t have a problem with that, but from my experience this conversation dialogue switch is an indirect way to establish one’s sexual orientation. I just smiled while listening to his fairy-tales about other women and his stories of sexual adventures, though I failed to mention to him that I too was heterosexual, but stating that was not important then or even now for that matter. So, after talking about his most recent girlfriend, he went so far to say that I must be lucky with the ladies, because according to him “black guys are really good getting women into bed. And if you were to stay in this town, with your luck, you could get with all the women in this town with your color!” At that point, I just smiled and lied by telling him that I was happily married. With the look of embarrassment, Chandler proceeded to ask if my wife was also black and if she were also good in bed (why would this guy know if I was good in bed in the first place?) I could have said that my wife was white and from Sweden, but even I didn’t go there. Chandler maintained a friendly tone to his voice and his mannerisms, but he finally got me to notice that it was time to leave, but he really had to know “if it was true that all black men have a large penis?” With time on my side, the waiter quickly got my bill, I paid in cash, left a tip, thanked the Chandler for the great conversation but “I gotta run!” Chandler probably didn’t get his answer and I felt sorry for the next black man who might stop into this bar. <BR/><BR/>I am writing about this experience because, as much as most people would probably concentrate on the racial aspect of this situation, which I would have at first, but Macon, as much was a disturbing conversation, which I run into frequently. However, it made me to think about how easily to be blinded to the racial homoeroticism among white men and their fixation with black male sexuality. From my experience, I have had more white men being more forward (in a joking way of course) about their curiosities into black men more so than white women. This is not say nor do I care that these men are in the closet, either curious or bi-sexual, in fact, I don’t care if they were, as well as, I find it necessary to label them any orientation, unless they feel, it is necessary to state who they are. The conversation defiantly had racial overtones, assuming that I seeking to test my black to have sex with white women, and my supposedly wife is black and good in bed; and that I was lucky with my skin color with women. However, Chandler failed to mention about any lucky into finding a job, a place to live, where to go to school, where my parents can retire, and a friendly restaurant where I can eat in peace, a safe neighborhood, the list goes on. Instead, a black man’s luck is with his dark color and his dark colored penis!<BR/><BR/>I told this same story to a friend of mine. His only suggestion was to avoid isolated white states. I had to tell him that it doesn’t matter if this situation happens in Maine to Montana or from Alaska to Arizona. Racism is not isolated in one place; sure if might be more out in the opened or better yet, not confronted as it would be in places like Los Angeles, New York or Chicago. But, even mentioning those cities, doesn’t mean that racism is not a problem in those places, it’s not just obvious within the police officers, but it’s obvious when it comes to residential zoning, etc. I would like your input to race and sexuality and I apologize if I just wrote excessively much.<BR/><BR/>La Legione di ResistenzaLa Legione di Resistenzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05818326093597590053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-77513065714233994182008-08-27T10:10:00.000-07:002008-08-27T10:10:00.000-07:00I like no1kstate's rules enough, but I gotta say, ...I like no1kstate's rules enough, but I gotta say, that when it comes to forums discussing black issues the most absent voice, or presence rather (mouth shut is just fine)is white people. Black and white alike seam to think that either "black" issues don't apply to whites, or that they(whites) have nothing of value, or validity, to add to the conversations.<BR/><BR/>Whites are more often the ones who do not "get it" and therefore should be the ones listening. Vice versa, if whites are at the very least, half of the problem (usually problems are two sided), shouldn't they be participating?<BR/><BR/>NPR is talking to the ones who need to listen (white people) it is just too often not the right people doing the talking.brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-76217758187403768932008-08-27T08:19:00.000-07:002008-08-27T08:19:00.000-07:00Hello LLDR, good to hear from you again! What's ne...Hello LLDR, good to hear from you again! What's new with me? As I wrote about in the previous post, I've been "on vacation" recently, but I'm back now. I think it would be more interesting to hear what's new with you--still traveling?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the list of rules, no1skate, though the first one doesn't make sense to me, at least in certain cases--if there are several racially marked voices, I don't see why more than one should be a "white" voice. And in some cases, whites shouldn't even be participating, seems to me--they should be listening.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link, rcb, I look forward to reading <A HREF="http://chlamor-deepintheheartofnowhere.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Clamor</A> on the hollow gospel of the liberal leisure class.<BR/><BR/>Roxie, I hope you get over your affection for NPR (National Propaganda Radio, as a friend calls it), maybe by trying some of the sources I linked to in the post, or as Kat says, Bill Moyers Journal on PBS.macon dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07795547197817128339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-70312667543267355772008-08-27T08:00:00.000-07:002008-08-27T08:00:00.000-07:00I am guilty of one thing. I have always had a prob...I am guilty of one thing. I have always had a problem with NPR and even though my liberal friends tried their best to get me to get into the NPR radio. I always found NPR to be beyond white and treating blacks and other non-whites as a side show. Thanks for pointing out the flip side of NPR. Macon, what is new with you?La Legione di Resistenzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05818326093597590053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-41573119229787888792008-08-26T23:10:00.000-07:002008-08-26T23:10:00.000-07:00I can't stand NPR anymore especially that fake "so...I can't stand NPR anymore especially that fake "soothing" tone. I only listen to one program and then I switch to Air America or watch Democracy Now. NPR seems to perpetuate this belief that they are an alternative to corporate media but they are really supporting the status quo whether they believe it or not. <BR/><BR/>People need to watch true alternative media like 'Democracy Now' or 'Bill Moyers Journal' which really gets into the nitty gritty details.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-4299670898074538232008-08-26T21:10:00.000-07:002008-08-26T21:10:00.000-07:00I have to admit, I love NPR. A lot. I agree with y...I have to admit, I love NPR. A lot. I agree with you, about their crime of omission.<BR/><BR/>However this much more nuanced and intelligent commentary on their website (where you can listen to a better variety of programs)<BR/><BR/>Also, did it really not occur to them that they need at least one black person to talk about black people?Roxiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10989862745571420807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-58829007055988851252008-08-26T20:54:00.000-07:002008-08-26T20:54:00.000-07:00As a non-television owner--thus, someone who does ...As a non-television owner--thus, someone who does not watch television--for the past eleven years, I filled up that hole with reading, sleeping, and listening to many NPR shows. I just cannot stomach much of NPR programming any more. I used to listen to: Fresh Air, All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, and some of their other shows, which I don't recall the titles of right now. I used to listen to Fresh Air every day. It has been four years since I have listened to any of those NPR shows. I just cannot stomach them. <BR/><BR/>It's their tone, which you have described in your post. Also, their politics. In some circles, NPR is refered to as National Pentagon Radio. I guess that I am toooooo far to the left of NPR. I don't know. NPR is pseudo-liberal. They don't illuminate. They are a medium that maintains the status quo. They don't know what questions to ask, as you mentioned in your post with the host of those two guests, because they don't know to question. <BR/><BR/>Check out this person's blog, which really breaks down the folly and stupidity of liberalism, and explains what I am trying to get at in my comment a helluva lot better than I am doing: http://chlamor-deepintheheartofnowhere.<BR/>blogspot.com/ <I>Sorry, I don't know how to do that thingy that would make it a clickable link.</I><BR/><BR/>NPR has a show that deals with the issues of the black community, called News and Notes. It has been in existence for about two or three years. It came about after Tavis Smiley abandoned his NPR show. I gave this show a chance for a few months. (Note: I did not like Tavis Smiley's show.) It has the same "feel" as does all the other NPR shows that I can no longer listen to. One thing I hate about News and Notes is that their idea of balance is to always have a rabidly right-wing, conservative, black person on their show daily! And their version of a black person with a liberal bent, to my political mind, leaves a lot to be desired.redcatbikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08645491470348404443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-49087214020098815342008-08-26T18:46:00.000-07:002008-08-26T18:46:00.000-07:00Sorry, Macon. I didn't read it all. I've seen/hear...Sorry, Macon. I didn't read it all. I've seen/heard such conversations not a few times myself, and I have two written in stone rules about conversations about race.<BR/><BR/>1 - There should be an equal number of people of color as there are white people, including the moderator.<BR/> i - If a minority group isn't represented, it shouldn't be addressed.<BR/><BR/>2 - Those speaking for people of color should be chosen or at least have some sort of status with the community for which they speak.<BR/><BR/>So, the rules basically work like this. If the host is to be white, there should be a Jeremiah Wright type and for the other side, a Juan Williams type.<BR/><BR/>And now, I'm pressed to say this. There's always two sides to a story. But there's only 1 side to the truth.Blaque Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627683764935084863noreply@blogger.com