Rev. Senator James Meeks
15th District Senate Office
2050 E. 159th St.
Calumet City, IL 60409
Office Phone: (708) 862-1515
Fax: (708) 862-4745
Email: meeks@senatedem.state.il.us
Posted on 08/04/2006 4:17:40 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Mayor Daley mocked state Sen. James Meeks, a minister and possible mayoral challenger, on Thursday for swearing off use of the n-word after Meeks used it in a broadcast sermon.
"Stop using the n-word. He should have never began using it. Racial, ethnic names should never be used by anyone -- personally or publicly. . . . Any name used against any racial, ethnic, religious organization, sexual orientation or political philosophy should never be used in a derogatory way. Thank God he has seen the light," Daley said sarcastically.
"The clouds separate and the light comes through and people receive that light. And I'm glad he basically has seen the light. . . . Regardless of what you believe in -- you should not be disparaging to other people. . . . We may have political differences. But, to use derogatory words is unacceptable. Our families have taught that. Our religious beliefs have taught that. . . . And moral values have always taught that."
Meeks wants school answers
Meeks responded to the mayor's taunts in a prepared statement that reiterated his criticism of Daley's 11-year stewardship of the Chicago Board of Education.
"I'm looking for the day when the 435,000 children in Chicago Public Schools and their parents can also thank God. Mayor Daley still owes an explanation to the people of Chicago about why low-quality teachers are concentrated in poor and minority schools. Any diversion [from] that argument is unacceptable," said Meeks, pastor of the massive Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Roseland.
In a July 5 speech broadcast live on cable television, Meeks compared white governors and white mayors who fail to bridge the achievement gap for black students to "slave masters."
"The slave master never wants the slave to learn how to read and never wants the slave to learn how to write," Meeks said. He went on to denounce black politicians and preachers who support those same white politicians as house "n - - - - - s." Meeks did not specifically mention Daley or Gov. Blagojevich in the speech. But, he left little doubt whom he meant.
Asks whites to wipe out bias
Last week, Meeks defended his use of the n-word after leading a massive downtown rally where he accused Daley of presiding over a school system that has failed black students.
Earlier this week, Meeks changed his tune. He told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell: "I am not using the word at all anymore. I am going to officially retire my use of it."
In exchange for retiring the n-word, Meeks demanded something in return. He wants "white America" to be "equally passionate" about ridding society of all forms of discrimination, including red-lining and the gaps in resources, achievement and spending between black and white schools.
fspielman@suntimes.com
Cool! Meeks wants an end to affirmative action?
Rev. Senator James Meeks
15th District Senate Office
2050 E. 159th St.
Calumet City, IL 60409
Office Phone: (708) 862-1515
Fax: (708) 862-4745
Email: meeks@senatedem.state.il.us
CHICAGOLAND PING
Help me understand, why is it the job of white mayors and governors to bridge the "achievement gap"? News flash, "Reverend" Meeks...The only plantations in existence now are the virtual plantations of leftist Democrats and government social programs. Poor people in urban areas expect the government to do for them what they should be doing for themselves. It's a cycle of thinking that has to be broken by the people themselves.
Same thing in New Orleans last year; instaed of just walking away from the rising flood water, many folks kept waiting for the government to do something for them.
Public education is the responsibility of state level govenment, of which Meeks is a member. Therefore he gets to comment on the related issues.
Are you suggesting that because people live in urban areas, they should be segregated from the rest of the state education system?
Whatever your views, education reform through improving teacher quality, at the expense of the public unions' and democratic pols' power, is a good thing.
Where did you get that? I'm simply saying that you can make all the improvements in public schools you want. If the people themselves don't change their mentality, nothing changes. That goes for anyone, urban or otherwise. The bulk of the responsibility lies with the people, not the government. It has to.
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