Readers sound off on what blacks can do, whites can't

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | November 13, 2005 | MARY MITCHELL SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

[Clemenza]

My black / hispanic / japanese friends frequently have a different direction of gaze

What is this "gaze" sh-t? The only people I hear use this term are Women's Studies and Cultural Studies majors.

[RobbyS]

A middle-aged black woman of my aquaintence speaks of standard English as the "power language. " That's why Sidney Poitier shed his Island dialect for the lilting English he now speaks, and Morgan Freeman developed something similar while at college. That's why Obama has a change to be president, why AL King Jr. was able to reach out to whites. Even Jesse Jackson --a better preacher than King--benefited from the abilility to speak clearly.

[This Just In]

If I am painted as a racist simply because I stated the obvious, so be it. And to some, depending upon where I live, I may be described as a minority.

I don't expect apologies from such individuals. The narrow lens in which they choose to see through clouds judgement, and any sense of humility.

As you are well aware, their are liberal lerkers on these sites. They are similar to terrorists in that they like to hide. Parade even, as one of the crowd. They are often exposed after hurling savage verbal assaults on individuals such as you. Their attacks are groundless and void of reason. There is never civil discourse.

I congratulate you for exercising your God given right to free speech, even if it is considered politically insensitive.

[Cacique]

ping

[kindred]

[The best way for an American white person to learn a different perspective
is to spend a prolonged period of time in a non-white country
or to immerse themself in another culture
sadly, this requires time, energy, and a will to take risks
Those who do it well, interestingly, often have been in the military.]

And been surrounded by other men carrying weapons also.
I see this woman as an affected and biased liberal who accepted the doctrines of the liberal left neo nazi politically correct new age kooks.

[kindred]

[My BS meter spat sparks and blew up after that one. It's stereotypical nonsense, and I GUARANTEE it never happened.
Each generation of journalists just keeps getting dumber and falling back on idiotic stereotypes of the way they THINK the world is.
Morons.]

Agreed. But the liberal left media seems to be on an ALL OUT ASSAULT ON THE CONSERVATIVE RIGHT. AND THEY WILL LIE AND CHEAT AND STEAL AND DESTROY ALL ENEMIES TO GET THEIR WAY. Eventually, only one side will win.

[RichInOC]

"Tell me, schatzi, is it twue what dey say about da way you people aw...gifted?"

*ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!*

"Oh, it's twue! It's twue! It's twue! It's twue..."

"Pardon me, ma'am, but you're sucking on my elbow..."

[HangnJudge]

I see this woman as an affected and biased liberal who accepted the doctrines of the liberal left neo nazi politically correct new age kooks.

Agree, for the most part, what people think are "their" ideas are frequently fragments of memory from things they have heard / learned / seen and are in no way original. I can count on one hand the number of people I've met capable of genuinely original perspectives, I am not one of them.

BTW - the negative connotation content of your statement would make any political scientist proud. You must have taken college work in linguistics or have excellent mimicry. It would be perfectly suited for the limited vision tripe heard on CNN / ABC / CBS. Well said as it directly exposes the intellectual vapidity of the left

[zeebee]

"Personally, I have a HIGH disrespect for the Sharptons, Jackson Srs., Farrakhans of the black community. Why -- not only because of their contempt for 'white folk'; but also their well honed capability to manipulate the black community to ridicule those deserved of respect such as Thomas and Rice."

I don't understand why the author thinks this view shows that "whites still don't understand why they don't get to criticize black leadership."

[ßuddaßudd]

Dont forget the people of color who meet a white person and assume they are a racist.
I for one always allow the acquaintance to first mention race/color/ethnicity in conversation, thats how diverse I am.

[sayfer bullets]

Looks to me like the author's trying to have it both ways and expect all audiences to snap up with a "wow...she's so right."

I guess the columnist was writing to only part of her readership.

[Skooz]

Oh, goody.

Some Race-baiter bait.

Watch out for "code words."

[Skooz]

Superbly stated.

Been there.

[R. Scott]

…and people who are involved in interracial relationships catch it from both ends. They, perhaps better than others, understand that blacks can be just as prejudiced as whites.

I have dated three different black women over the years – and we continually caught abuse from other blacks, but nothing overt from whites.

[HangnJudge]

I don't expect apologies from such individuals. The narrow lens in which they choose to see through clouds judgement, and any sense of humility.

Now here is some clear thinking.
Agree, the more limited the perspective, frequently the more flawed the reasoning and judgement
In this the Buddists and Taoists attempt mastery, unfortunately without the revealed knowledge of the Bible
(but now I declare my "bias and perspective")

Graditude is not only the greatest of all Virtues,
It is the parent af all the others
Cicero ~40BC

[P.O.E.]

whites still don't understand why they don't get to criticize black leadership

Author seems to have bought into the "Two Americas" hype.

[HangnJudge]

Dont forget the people of color who meet a white person and assume they are a racist.

Absolutely

Roots of assume....
ASS of U and ME

or.... Assume the position

[L98Fiero]

"As for white people talking black when they meet blacks, I have seen this and feel embarassed."

Jeez, I don't blame you. Where I live, whites are the minority so making assumptions like that would get one burned most every time. Not to mention, I look kida nerdy so I forsee a lot of (deserved) pointing and laughing if I did something like that. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Sure I did. I understand that she thinks blacks need to clean up their own act, but her tone was hard to interpret. She seemed like she was telling everyone else to butt out, when how our fellow citizens act effects us all in our communities.

Maybe I'm still miffed because the Gang Bangers have recently come to my tiny Cow Town in southern Wisconsin shooting things up on residential streets where hard working families with little kids live; something I was hoping would never happen.

[SauronOfMordor]

Does this stuff really happen? My BS-o-meter is pegging. If it needs calibrating, let me know.

Most places around here, when I see somebody doing janitorial work, he's wearing a janitorial uniform