Posted on 07/05/2008 10:55:29 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Mike Terry is black, and he knows that a black man giving someone a fist bump is not news. He also knows that calling a man's wife his "baby mama" is derogatory, and that no self-respecting black person he has ever met would use the term "whitey," even if they wanted to insult a white person.
That's why he rolls his eyes at the news media's recent coverage of Barack and Michelle Obama. He calls it "typical," emblematic of the gap in understanding between black and non-black America.
"The brother is black, and he can't throw up a fist?" asked Terry, a West Side bill collector. "That's what we do."
Though Obama has tried to make his skin color an ancillary element of the campaign, the issue of race continually swings front and center, with the predominantly white news media taking on the often-awkward role of interpreting black culture for the masses.
Take, for example, the fist bump Obama gave his wife before officially declaring victory in the Democratic primary campaign. Early news reports of the bump sparked interest on the Internet, so more reporters jumped on the story, and it took on a life of its own. At the height of the frenzy, the fist bump was bizarrely described on Fox News as a "terrorist fist jab."
Even to some non-black voters, this all seemed like overkill, revealing a distinct disconnect between the media and the black community, where a fist bump is as common a gesture as a high-five.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
There’s been tons of irrelevant trivia in the campaign reporting, involving every candidate: Hillary’s hint of cleavage; a cross-shaped reflection on Huckabee’s bookshelf; a band-aid on John NcCain’s scalp. For heaven’s sake, (”John McCain” scalp) Googles 53,000 results.
The truly outstanding thing about the media’s handling of Obama is that all through the primaries they handled him like a combination of rock star and canonized saint.
And by the way, at Friendship Baptist and St. James AME here in my Tennessee town, the black preachers don’t go flailing their arms, spraying spittle and shouting “God Damn America.” To say that lunatic preaching is “common” is a libel on black Christians.
As for this: When controversial video of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. appeared on the Internet, it became clear that a wide swath of non-black Americans were wholly disconnected from a preaching style common in certain black churches, and unaware of the anger and frustration that persist in parts of the black community.
Again, imagine the tables were turned and we found out that McCain was attending a all-White Christian identity church teaching that only Whites are the chosen people (or whatever they believe). It's not so much that we are "wholly disconnected" as that we are angered and amazed that this is going on, and the B. Obama is sitting there. Familiarity isn't going to make racist preaching OK.
“Baby mama” usually refers to the mother of the child you created out of wedlock. The male equivalent is “baby daddy.” Usually has nothing to do with marriage.
Do I get the feeling that black militants have been taught that only blacks are their brothers? And that whites cannot UNDERSTAND blacks? And that this kind of attitude is supposed to bring us all together?
Are Christian brotherhood and the brotherhood of Americans to be displaced by racial brotherhood, first and foremost?
And are whites permitted to take this sort of attitude toward blacks?
“I seriously doubt anyone on Fox called the fist bump a “terrorist” salute”
Wrong. It happened and E.D. Hill apologized for it, right before she lost her show on FOX.
What it actually points out is that far too many blacks in America want their own culture and want it to be apart from American culture.
You can cut the hypocrisy with a knife.
“We refuse to be a part of the whole - YOU’RE TREATING US DIFFERENTLY!” (Insert whining and refusal to accept responsibility here)
I wonder how many more decades will have to pass before it occurs to the majority of American Blacks that they would be a lot farther ahead spending their time understanding the White thing. The sad fact is that so many African-Americans have no clue as to what makes this culture work, even though it is an open book, free for the asking.
Anyone who doesn't believe me can ask the Caribean or other non-American Black who assimilates more or less effortlessly.
The black community is intensely aware of the divisiveness created by expressions of culture such as “southern culture”. They are angry, resentful, and deeply offended when they see expression of that culture, like the familiar “Confederate flag.”
So why are they surprised in the slightest bit when “expressions of black culture”, like the “black power” salute, the easy expression of deeply offensive words that are racist, sexist, demeaning and offensive, the excuse of criminals who are black, and the generally low character of many black elected officials, when they are shown to those outside of their “culture”, and seen with a lack of understanding and outright derision?
As well as the angry and hate filled sermons of their men of the cloth—who should stand for peace, brotherhood, and civility, not preaching violence and attack like the “holy men” of North Ireland used to do.
What is there to respect in “black culture?”
If you were to remark on *any* positive element of “black culture”, you would be rightly branded as a racist. So what is left of the profusion of negative and anti-social elements of that “culture”?
Importantly, the most hate-filled, stupid and vicious people in *any* culture are seen by outsiders as the real representatives of that culture. The acts of a hundred responsible people like Condoleeza Rice and General Colin Powell are negated by one Jeremiah Wright, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Marion Berry, “Reverend” Farrakhan, etc., etc., etc.
When violators and offenders are white, does anyone associate them with being white? Does any non-relative white person other than their lawyer stand in their defense?
The only defense to this is for any culture to be *first* in the condemnation of its members who offend, attack, and violate non-members. It must not shield them or excuse them. It must condemn them even more than does society at large.
It must reject kinship with them.
Jeremiah Wright should have been expelled from his church, de-credentialed by his denomination, rejected by his community, and to have become a pariah because of his hate speech.
And until that is done as a matter of course, then “black culture” will be to everyone else what “southern heritage” is to black Americans.
Honorable, respectable black Americans need kinship with other honorable, respectable Americans. They should abhor dishonorable and disrespectful people of all colors as well.
Division based in class and hard work is reasonable. Supporting your race, just because it is a race, and because you see it as different, is not.
“The brother is black, and he can’t throw up a fist?”
“The brother” is 1/4 Kenyan, so I guess that entitles him to throw up a finger.
“”The brother is black, and he can’t throw up a fist?”
It’s not the fist bump, it’s the fact that it was his WIFE that’s weird. Most normal men would kiss their wives, not fist bump.
Blacks see themselves as a seperate nation and a separate culture, and they wonder why we don’t understand them?
I heard it and it was delivered by the news bimbo in such an overly dramatic, overenunciated way I was embarrassed for her. She sounded utterly ridiculous.
I’ve high-fived my wife....and I’m normal, I think.
The funny thing is that most “African-Americans” can’t stand real “Africans” that immigrate here. I’ve seen it first hand. We’ve had Africans move to our area, they have extremely high expectations for their children, keep a watchful eye over them and they do not allow their kids to wear “thug” clothes. These kids are ridiculed by the American black kids, they usually end up hanging out with the white kids.
Over the years with my kids playing sports we have had black families join our travel teams. They specifically searched out our teams because they didn’t want their kids on predominately black teams because of the attitude.
I now live in an area that over the years has become predominately black, I see the arrogance of many of the newer residents in the community but at the same time, I know many who don’t buy into the “black thing”. They just want to live their lives, have their kids do well in school and succeed in life. They chose to move here knowing they were the minority for the quality of life. And there was never any animosity because they were just looking for the same things as everyone else. We shared the same values, now that is changing drastically. We even had a Dad stand up at our HS football meeting and say that our school and football program has not addressed the special needs of the black student athlete. Very sad, I thought why does your 16 year old son need special treatment? To me they are all just 16 yr old football players. Who is the racist?
So, does that mean everyone who fist bumps Howie Mandel on DEAL OR NO DEAL is as terrorist? I’m confused.
No, but I want to know when the Miss Polish American pageant is going to be starting. Those Polocks have a great heritage, and some really nice looking women. If you want to be involved in everything, what sense does it do to keep doing things that alienate you? Like your own national anthem. It’s okay to have it, but why try to push it on other people. Replace the countries true anthem with your own. Just sing it at your parties, and churches, seeing that you have your own churches as well. Remember America wasn’t founded with slaves. They started getting sold out by the tribe leaders after Columbus showed up, not before.
“The brother is black, and he can’t throw up a fist?”
The gentleman is white and he can’t make a noose?
Why’s the first example OK and not the second?
“So, does that mean everyone who fist bumps Howie Mandel on DEAL OR NO DEAL is as terrorist? I’m confused.”
So was E. D.
“As for this: When controversial video of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. appeared on the Internet, it became clear that a wide swath of non-black Americans were wholly disconnected from a preaching style common in certain black churches, and unaware of the anger and frustration that persist in parts of the black community.”
“Again, imagine the tables were turned and we found out that McCain was attending a all-White Christian identity church teaching that only Whites are the chosen people (or whatever they believe). It’s not so much that we are “wholly disconnected” as that we are angered and amazed that this is going on”
Chances are McCain’s church is mostly white simply because of the area. Predominantly black churches aren’t that way because they choose to not allow whites, it’s because during times of segregation they developed their own style and culture and history that black families grew up with, and later raised their children with so that too this day they gravitate towards that style. Also it’s because churches built in areas consisting of mostly minorities will find that the people attending will mostly be minorities, that’s just the way it is.
“all-White Christian identity church teaching that only Whites are the chosen people (or whatever they believe)...we are angered and amazed that this is going on”
That’s not even remotely close to the teachings of black churches, and you saying that kinda proves his point that white Americans are disconnected and misinformed about black churches. I would hope the Jeremiah wright scandal can encourage Americans to learn about black churches and culture and bring a a positive change, rather than inciting rage and ignorance towards blacks.
So, please tell us what wonderful, yet misunderstood message the dear Reverend was trying to convey...since we’re so ignorant and all.
“I’ve high-fived my wife....and I’m normal, I think.”
I would suppose it would depend on the situation.
Most of the candidates I’ve ever seen since I was small have given their wives a kiss, not a fist bump.
Chicago Tribune has been going all out leftist lately.
The way I understood the Rev.,it was he was that he was inciting rage and ignorance.
Really? Well Terry, maybe they don't call white people "whitey" where you come from, but I've heard it more than once.
Of course, being called "whitey" is probably somewhat less insulting as what blacks are more fond of calling us whites when they are annoyed with us or just for not particular reason and that being: "Mother F*ckin Honky."
HEY, Terry, Flash Bulletin: I've experienced and ovserved--in my 65 years including 8 years in the USAF and having lived in 7 different states and several foreign countries--as much racial prejudice from blacks against whites as the opposite.
I think it’s pretty close to what he was saying. That whites are evil, whites created AIDS to hurt blacks, GODDAMN AMERICA. I also read portions of the theology that Wright’s thinking is based on. It is every bit as wacky as Christian Identity. ‘If God doesn’t support the work of black liberation then we need a new God’.
There are a few black attendees at my daughters ‘historicaly white’ Presbyterian church. They are not greated with anti-black hate speech as part of the sermon.
Enough with the double standards. Every (historically white) organization I’ve every been a part of from my high school, to my college to the five corporations I’ve worked for has taken specific, clear steps to remove racism and seek out black members. Fine!
Where is the effort beign put forth by Rev. Wright and his church?
No more double standards, sorry. It’s not lack of knowledge, it is anger at what they are doing.
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