Posted on 08/01/2013 5:55:10 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
"Today... I'm proud to be an American.”
– Robert Zimmerman Jr., on Twitter, following his brother's acquittal
An ABC News-Washington Post poll reveals that a full two-thirds of white Americans believe that Trayvon Martin’s killing was justifiable. Therefore, that same two-thirds of white folks also believe that George Zimmerman's acquittal in the second degree murder trial against him was also justifiable.
Historian and activist Paul Street writes in BlackAgendaReport.com that these poll numbers reflect the “separateness in perspective that reflects very real, savage, and profound, literal segregation” of the races in America.
“That’s a lot more than just the segment of the white population that’s Republican or Tea Party. There’s a lot of Democrats in there, and that probably includes a whole bunch of ‘liberals.’ This isn’t just about cracker whites in the South.”
Street is also author of The Empire’s New Clothes: Barack Obama and the Real World of Power.
As Street indicates, on the other hand, the same ABC-Washington Post poll shows that 86 percent of black Americans disagree with the jury's verdict. Blacks wholeheartedly support the bringing of federal civil rights violations charges against Zimmerman. Eighty-six percent.
Opinion
In any statistics course in any university, one of the first thing one learns is that polls represent only a “snapshot” of that particular sample's thinking at that particular time.
Not so in this case, however.
This poll highlights an ongoing and pervasive “divide” between the “races” as to the question of “race.” For example, this poll also shows that most white people do not believe that “race” played much of a role in the Zimmerman trial at all; while black people see race as the absolute and defining issue in the matter.
And, despite (or perhaps because of) President Obama's recent framing of the killing of Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman's acquittal as based in “racial profiling,” most white folks reject this characterization, while most black folks welcome it.
So, what's really going on?
Those white poll respondents who agree with the Zimmerman verdict have little or no personal experience grounded in oppression solely because of the color of their skins. It is just plainly, simply, damn near impossible for them to even imagine such a thing. They have gone through life believing – experiencing – the “American Dream” as a lived reality, something that is achievable if only they work hard enough, obey the law, and treat everybody right.
The black experience is a whole different kettle of fish, however. For black people in this nation-state, the color of their skins has always – always – being the singlemost defining characteristic that determined their social, political and economic outcomes vis-a-vis a white-dominated society. No amount of education, hard work, or honest dealing with others has ever changed this dynamic for the masses of black people.
Individuals, yes. Certain, select black individuals – usually those who must disavow any relationship with “blackness” – are allowed a modicum of success outside the black paradigm.
And so these poll results are not particularly surprising.
So black people must retrench and regroup. It goes without saying that this has not been a particularly good period for civil rights.
What we are witnessing is a long, slow old-style “white backlash” and white retrenchment into a new-style white supremacy. Many simply cannot accept or stand Obama's black presence in their “White” House.” Overwhelming approval of the Zimmerman verdict is just one, therefore, among many ways and means of expressing that distasteful reality.
As the saying goes, “It is what it is.”
The Author
Yes, and right friggin' now would be a good time to smarten up.
Polar bear huntin' season is OVER!
I hope this guy didn’t watch Bill O’Reilly, he’s gonna have a coronary ...
My God, why are they polling this case? There are serious scandals brewing and all these dimwits can focus on in the GZ case?
People are sick!
Pure delusional thinking.
The author is an idiot...Zero is Arab/Caucasian, with about 6% negro thrown in...he may LOOK 'black', but he isn't.
I think this author is annoyed that Zer0 is just a mulatto and not really a black.
Obama had the opportunity of the modern era and he blew it on purpose.
They just don't get it. Years ago, I worked with a young white dude from Northeast Philly. Nice enough and smart enough, but everything in his mannerisms projected that he should have been doing construction work instead of having a white collar job. Me and two other co-workers constantly schooled him on how to present himself better. And to his credit, he listened and learned.
My immigrant ex-wife tells new immigrants to learn how to act like white men because that is the culture of business.
I'm sorry, but if you show up at an interview with me with your pants down below your a**, you will get five minutes and a trip out the door. And if you are white with your a** hanging out of your pants, you won't even get that five minutes.
I am thrilled to have Clarence Thomas' black presence on the Supreme Court.
Kiss my grits. It ain't about race.
One big reason is that most whites believe that they have done everything they can to not be racial in their thoughts and actions, only to be continually under suspicion.
At some point, you realize that some people could never be placated in this regard, so you quit trying.
It’s all about Zero’s ‘color’ with me...RED.
But the black author has ... I suspect his idea of oppression consists of non-black strangers avoiding him at night (in the context of him giving them hostile looks) or not being handed plum positions at his command. And that's par for the course - among the races, blacks are recorded to have the highest self-esteem. The Dunning-Kruger effect describes pretty accurately the self-assessments of a wide swathe of the black community.
My question: is success white or black? It's neither...it just is. You either have it or you don't. The fact is black Americans have the lowest rates of scholastic achievement, the highest rates of illegitimacy, and the highest rates of crime. That is a sure prescription for failure. For the umpteenth time, whites are not holding back blacks anymore. Blacks are holding back blacks.
Due to my recent suspension I have no comment.
Dear author, your race card is overdrawn.
Inisting on a guilty verdict for GZ means that blacks think self-defense is a crime. Smart thinking ... .they better hope that self defense doesn’t become illegal.
Oh, wait they’ve been conditioned by the liberal publik skools to believe that only people of color can practice self defense. What was I thinking?
So...if I disagree with a black person I am automatically racist?
Yep, two perspectives. 1) Believe in the rule of law. 2) Believe in the rule of gimme.
My wife is a manager for a large concern and occasionally has to hire workers. She interviewed one young, white woman a few weeks ago for a position. During the interview, the young interviewee's cell phone rang. She hadn't bothered to turn it off for the interview. And then she took the phone out of her purse, and answered the call. She was on the phone for several minutes while my wife watched with mounting anger. The young white woman did not get the job.
The racial divide in the elections is becoming more and more apparent. Liberals have managed to run a substantial number of the white middle and working class out of the Democratic Party. People are, quite frankly, fed up with the same old excuses regarding the welfare state, underperformance in academics and the workplace, illegitimacy, false braggadocio, and crime and violence. 50 years of “civil rights” “open housing” and “affirmative action” yet this is what results? Enough is enough.
Please note that when I say "Blacks" I don't mean everyone who is Black...I only mean those who are Black Liberals or those who earn their living exploiting those who are Black.
The Zimmerman verdict does not bode well for the Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons of the world. It does not bode well for the race baiters of the world.
But it does bode well for the truth!
Education, hard work, and honesty -- sterling qualities totally lacking in Thug Martin. Most non-black Americans do admire these qualities and look to character first, then skin color. But blacks will never see the world that way. They seem destined to carry a battleship-sized chip on their shoulders from here to eternity.
Define "education". The typical norms of education of positively SPAT UPON by "black culture."
Certain, select black individuals – usually those who must disavow any relationship with “blackness” – are allowed a modicum of success outside the black paradigm.
Disavow "blackness"? And what does this actually mean? The author means people like Clarence Thomas, people who embrace education, Americanism, constiutionalism and Judeo/Christian standards of decency. People who abhor gangsta culture. That's exactly what this dingbat author means-- and he can't stand that!! If there's a "black paradigm", he can look in his own damn mirror! I won't even get into the "modicum" of success enjoyed by hundreds, nay thousands of black Americans across the board ---- all the way to White House (assuming, of course, you accept that one as an American....)
I have dealt with two Ivy-League educated blacks at work. Both I had the highest respect for. Both were friends. One was technically my boss and ran the department - but if he had to take on a coding project, I ran it until he was done and then I cheerfully handed the department back to him when he was done. Never looked to backstab him, we had that kind of trust in each other. And we ran some good hoops in our spare time as well.
He was racially profiled by the local cops at times, I felt for him and we discussed that.
He bears the burden of the pathologies of urban black culture, even though he rose above such.
But that does not change the fact that such pathologies are there, and Trayvon had bought into them.
Any HONEST discussion of race cannot be predicated on a false narrative of what happened that night. But that is what the liberals and race pimps are demanding.
THIS is why I'm a racist these days.
Most blacks can't even entertain the thought that the entire Zimmerman trial was about whether a crime was committed or not.
A jury detemined, "no crime" of any kind.
Most backs see only racism.
Purely anecdotal observation on my part but ever since this trial my friends, family, and coworkers have pretty uniformly exhibited much more hostile attitudes toward black people than I have ever witnessed from them before. People are tired of the race baiting, and of the constant accusations of racism over the smallest of slights.
No, but in my case, she may not talk to me for a day or two, depending on the topic.
/johnny
Wow. If the person I was interviewing answered the phone, I would have showed him or her the door right then and there. Why did your wife continue the interview and let her anger level rise?
Individuals, yes. Certain, select black individuals – usually those who must disavow any relationship with “blackness” – are allowed a modicum of success outside the black paradigm.
Don’t ‘act white’ in school... Don’t be an ‘Uncle Tom’...
Keep it ‘real’... That’s old school... We’s New School.
Yada yada.... Let’s have some straight talk here, most caucasions, asians and others see most blacks, as walking, talking racial grievances looking for a place to put their fist. And with reason too, unfortunately their biggest targets are the ones with the same type of melanin count as themselves.
Until they get over their “grievances” and decide that they want to join the rest of civilized society they will stay right where they are... At arms length from the rest of the people who make up are society, and that’s all the people of all the colors who do want to belong to a society that does treat everyone the same and respects those who work hard to better themselves rather than sitting around moaning and groaning that the EBT ‘handouts’ don’t last very long.
That sentence alone should be the only reply to the race hustlers and the MSM until they knock it off. Powerful.
Only in a racist country could a man fear for his life just because another man is sitting on top of him slamming his head into concrete and punching him in the face.
I have heard more than one black person on the radio describe Trayvon as “walkin’ down the street not doin’ nothin’” when he was shot. As the months and years go by, pretty soon approximately 100% of blacks will believe that Trayvon was shot while “walkin’ down the street not doin’ nothin’.”
D.i.v.e.r.s.i.o.n.
I once had a white woman show up for a job interview wearing ragged denim shorts, a cut off shirt and flip flops with 2 kids in tow. Gave her a minute of time, let her fill out an application, did the nicey thing and promptly threw her app in the trash the minute she went out the door.
For some, the evidence and the law dictates the outcome.
For others, the outcome dictates the evidence and the law.
The author pretty much admitted that blacks see everything through the lens of race.
does not bode well for violent thugs
I have relatives I would not give the time of day, let alone hire. We all know worthless whites. We label them as such from their actions. Yet somehow we are not supposed to apply that same label to those same actions when someone of color commits such.
“For black people in this nation-state, the color of their skins has always – always – being the singlemost defining characteristic that determined their social, political and economic outcomes vis-a-vis a white-dominated society.”
And this author, and others like him, are working hard to keep it that way.
“No amount of education, hard work, or honest dealing with others has ever changed this dynamic for the masses of black people.”
Never? Really? What about successful black people, like...
“Individuals, yes. Certain, select black individuals – usually those who must disavow any relationship with “blackness” – are allowed a modicum of success outside the black paradigm.””
So, wait a second. Certain individuals blacks can achieve success, but it isn’t because of hard work, honesty, etc? It’s because they aren’t “black” enough? It seems like the standard the only way the author would consider someone “black” enough is if they were a failure in life.
I could also say that, by the way he restricts “a modicum of success” to exclude the millions of blacks who have decent jobs, educations, own homes, and whatnot, that his standards of success must be simply wealth, political power, and fame. That means that this “modicum of success” is also being denied to the masses of white people. Maybe we are not acting “white enough” to have success granted to us? If I start playing golf and listening to Lawrence Welk, will that get me the big promotion?
Did he somehow forget who the president, attorney general and national security advisor are right now? Or Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice? Or General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., back in the 1940’s?
Thanks. Unfortunately as conservatives, we have to expend as much effort countering the lies as we do presenting the truth.
Until Blacks get over it, not dwell on it, they will never achieve anything. I am white, was born with a handicap that keeps me from doing certain things. I accept that and continue with my life, not try to pass laws that bring everybody else down or give me an advantage.
“Back in the ’50s and ’60s, white supremacists would take their victims back into the woods and beat, shoot, burn and lynch then mutilate them there, usually under cover of night, but often in the glow of gargantuan gasoline-soaked Christian crosses. Now, because of the advancements in technology, they may simply stalk the Trayvon Martins of the world in broad open daylight, like some dangerous animal, while talking to the local constable on their I-phones as they do so. Contrary to Clarence Thomas’ assertions, Trayvon’s was a real “high-tech lynching.””
Herbert Dyer Jr. is an African American writer in Chicago. Herb also works at Roosevelt University’s “Life Skills and Re-entry Program” as a tutor in computer skills, language training, job-readiness skills to ex-offenders. He has a masters degree from Governors State University in Political & Justice Studies and can be reached at: accra0306@yahoo.com.
Those white poll respondents who agree with the Zimmerman verdict have little or no personal experience grounded in oppression solely because of the color of their skins. It is just plainly, simply, damn near impossible for them to even imagine such a thing. They have gone through life believing -- experiencing -- the "American Dream" as a lived reality, something that is achievable if only they work hard enough, obey the law, and treat everybody right.B*!!$h!+! The only real oppression *in* this country victimizes *only* white people, or "white Hispanics" like George Zimmerman. There's no equal protection -- instead there are extralegal "hate speech" and "civil rights" and quotas in school admissions and hiring. Anyone who disagrees with that is either absurdly stupid or a baldfaced liar.
You know dat right.
It is true that if you want to define "blackness" as a poor attitude and a paranoia that everybody is against blacks, yes, others will not want to work with you because the tension and drama is distracting.
Every group has norms that they want observed. If you constantly remind everyone by your behavior that you don't want to be part of their group, they will shun you.
Some groups are easy to blend into, others just aren't a good fit for you so you move on. It happens to all of us.
Obama is one eighth Arab, three eighths African, and half Caucasian.
Zimmerman is one eighth African, three eighths Native South American, and half Caucasian.
I have worked with plenty of professional blacks. Never once felt any concern about them. I would have trusted two of them with my wallet. It’s about the man, not the skin.
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