Rev. Peterson Attacked by Black Journalists At NABJ Reparations Debate!

BOND (Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny) ^ | August 6, 2002 | Ermias Alemayehu

[Optimist]

Friday, August 2

12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

W.E.B. DuBois Debate: The Case For/Against Reparations for African Americans
Room: CC Ballroom C & D

As W.E.B. DuBois noted in his seminal 1903 work, The Souls of Black Folk, "The problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line, the relation of the darker to the lighter races of men in Asia and Africa, in America and the islands of the sea."

The problem of the 20th century remains the problem of the 21st century as Black America is still waiting for its "40 acres and a mule." Two leading experts take your questions in a formal debate on reparations for African Americans.

Panelists: Michael Eric Dyson, Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities, University of Pennsylvania Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, Brotherhood Organization of New Destiny, Los Angeles

[Recovering_Democrat]

Black Journalists?? Do any of them really read Thomas Sowell or Clarence Thomas? Or are they Jesse Jackson lackeys?

[Optimist]

From NABJConvention.org

Reparations debate called unbalanced

By RASHIDA RAWLS and YANIQUE TAYLOR
Monitor Staff

Reparations for the descendents of slaves is an age-old question, but is it a valid one?

NABJ attendees confronted this question during a workshop Friday called "W.E.B. DuBois Debate: The Case For/ Against Reparations for African Americans". The consensus from the audience was that the debate was unfairly matched and so detracted from the general aim of the discussion.

"I think it was terribly unfair," said Leonard Pitts, a columnist from The Miami Herald. "I think it was Mike Tyson versus Woody Allen."

Arguing in favor was Professor Michael Eric Dyson, an Avalon Foundation professor at the University of Pennsylvania, author and minister. Arguing against was the Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson, founder of the national non-profit organization, Brotherhood Organization of New Destiny (B.O.N.D) in Los Angeles.

"It’s not about cash, it’s about something more substantive than that," said Dyson, who said there were economic, social and moral justifications for reparations.

Peterson disagreed, arguing that African Americans instead needed to focus on building character and increasing the success of African American men. He called reparations "evil," and said African Americans need to fend for themselves.

"At what point do we stop whimpering, whining and begging?" asked Peterson.

The decades long, primarily grass roots movement for reparations was introduced to Congress in 1989.

The initial movement was targeted against corporations who owned slaves. Activists wanted blacks compensated for their ancestors’ labor.

Supporters are now not only seeking a national apology from the U.S. government, but also a massive payout by Congress.

Peterson, who believes that reparations are not due to black America, spoke to the inability of blacks to exist on their own, due to what he said is lack of morality.

"In 10 years, America would be a ghetto if the white people said they would go back to Europe and leave America to blacks," said Peterson. "As long as somebody is giving you something you will not be the best."

On the other hand, Dyson sees reparations as necessary since white supremacy power has undermined the capacity for blacks to exist. He cited not only slavery, but years of oppression under Jim Crows laws and current discrimination.

"…It’s about the psychological injury placed upon our black people," he said.

Attendees were vocal during the debate, often clapping, booing or laughing. Dyson seemed to receive the most support.

A Dyson supporter, Pamela E. Ice said, "I’m glad it happened because it’s going to stimulate debate. I hope people won’t disregard what Peterson debated because he’s saying what most blacks believe and what white people want to hear."

[Optimist]

From NABJConvention.org

Commentary: Reparation debate flawed

Melody S. Wells
NABJ Convention Online Staff

Many of those who attended Friday’s WEB DuBois Reparations debate left saying the situation was, from the start, unfair. I agree.

For me, a senior at NYU, to debate the issue of globalization with an average eight- year-old would be only slightly more unfair, it would seem, than the pairing of University of Pennsylvania professor Michael Eric Dyson, and the Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson. I attended the event hoping to hear a heated dialogue between two men of equal wit, only to discover that while one debated the real issue, the other shirked. Peterson spoke mainly of his disappointment in African-American morality, without giving substantive examples, and while asking Dyson to speak in “more accessible” language.

Dyson’s views were clear — he believes in reparations in the forms of direct fund transfers, education enrichment, and the move towards a societal equilibrium. Many in the national debate have, similarly, moved away from the idea that reparations should take on the form of the promised “four acres and a mule,” and have focused on education and the funding of organizations to help lift the veil of economic inequality. While Dyson’s argument was informed and specific, Peterson argued for a more solid spiritual foundation and called on us to release our anger at the white man, for God forgives, and thus, we should also. There is no doubt that the informed black population would call those of us still fooled by ploys to keep us ignorant and simple-minded to turn away from their ways, but that approach should run parallel to correcting the economic and educational imbalance that grows daily.

The primary facts that anti-reparationists cite in their arguments are the growing black middle class, the political incorrectness of racism and discrimination, and the decreasing numbers of out-of-wedlock teenage births (once considered a cultural remnant of family disorganization and separation during slavery, re: the Moynihan Report). Those educated arguments are more debatable than what Rev. Peterson offered.

We have made substantial progress since Emancipation, Jim Crow, and government-blind lynchings. However, no one can argue the fact that this country began unequal. When you have free labor, everything you do makes a profit. This country began unequally, the divide widened, and today we are doing construction on that gap. Imagine how much further we would be now if the 350-odd years in which we were kept under elite feet had been remedied through educational equality, employment fairness, and restoration and appreciation of culture even sooner.

Unfortunately, our lively minds were not challenged with an equal debate. Rev. Peterson argued that if white Americans handed us this beautiful country on a silver platter, the land would quickly become an urban ghetto. Let us remind him who created the ghettoes he used as his “example.”

The white man started Detroit. Please refer to your syllabus, Rev. Peterson; the reading on Detroit was due last week. Before emancipation, Detroit was a thriving Rust Belt city. (Now, I know I’m dropping names here. The Rust Belt refers to the string of Midwestern US cities known for producing automobiles during the Depression.) Blue and white collar white men and women built cars in factories. Black former slaves fled to Midwestern cities with no money, little education, and dreams. Because white factory owners hired within their families and circles of friends, blacks and women were kept at the lowest-paying jobs in factories for decades. Many of them died operating hazardous machines. Up to four families lived in each home because of low income.

The blacks that did move to Detroit with money were shuttled into the most expensive “red-lined” communities, meaning they were denied loans to buy houses and businesses. They did get by, but after a while, they left the city because of the little opportunity they were afforded. Rust Belt cities in various states became vast ghettoes due to automation (the machines worked on their own). The whites left the cities, and blacks had nowhere to go. Lacking money and education, the entire country discriminated against them. Rev. Peterson, there will be a test.

[semaj]

As an American of African descent, the mis-treatment of Jesse Peterson at the hands of these so-called black journalists leaves me with a feeling of profound sadness and embarassment. Mr. Peterson has my utmost respect for what he is trying to do, that is to open the eyes of the blind so that they might see. The trouble with some is that they don't want to acknowledge the truth of his argument.

[Humidston]

They're turning up the heat. They won't rest until there are more racial wars in America. They have to do it to guarantee the 2008 elections for the socialists.

[Jonathon Spectre]

Black conservatives are probably the bravest people on earth.

It must be hell to be the only rational adults in your entire race.

[norton]

" suspicions that even the most educated blacks hate whites with a passion."

Not sure this is an accurate discription - 'though the reverend would be in a position to know the ethos better than I....

Seems to me that ignorant blacks hate whites with a passion, and that a good many ignorant whites recriprocate with near equal passion.

What I'd venture is that educated blacks, for the most part, have learned (part of the education) that is pays nicely to hate whites, it assures votes and neighborhood support, it gives that educated person a very nice barrier against any criticism, failure, or any inborn inability to gather an audience.

Educated whites do not learn those lessons.

I'm trying earnestly to decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing - considering Darwin and all.

I do know it is impossible for me to hate anyone based on skin color or accented english - gotta base it on things like being threatened, being robbed, being invaded, or having airplanes driven into my landmarks.

Oops!
That was easy.

[tet68]

Boy, talk about someone without a clue!
Melody, you're as full of shuck and jive as a christmas turkey.
Say, about that "40 acres and a mule" thing, I'm still wanting that new car I dreamed about for two years in Vietnam and you want me to pay for yours?

[gc4nra]

"Seems to me that ignorant blacks hate whites with a passion"


Educated at a liberal college=ignorant.

[VRW Conspirator]

Rev. Peterson bump!

[A CA Guy]

I think there is plenty of racism in that community for sure.

[kattracks]

Bump!

[RightOnline]

Thug? Yes............but also a drooling moron. You know...........the kind that most of Black America looks up to.

[Benrand]

Dyson is such a smug prick. Ward Connerly took him apart, Dyson resorted to slang and thug life BS, and now Peterson dismantled him, except that the educated, un-educated black "reporters" are brain washed by lapsed liberal arts programs.

Booker T. would be wondering what the hell happened, as would Frederick Douglas...maybe even DuBois. You have no idea how sloppy the curricula at the Universities that kiss the black man's butt and let him get away with foolishness are. Of course, we have Cornball West as a shining example.

[Bob J]

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[185JHP]

IIRC his organization is named "B.O.N.D." FRegards

[Feiny]

My, My, Melody is full of herself isn't she?

I bet that 8th grader could beat her at that globalization debate.

[Lancey Howard]

Jesse Peterson is a modern day hero, but I think his best venues would be away from the mindless knee-jerk crowd so well represented by black journalists like these who are so firmly rooted to their entitlement plantation.

These "professionals" should be more aware than most blacks that the "Great Society" welfare state utterly destroyed the urban black family unit when fathers were replaced by welfare checks. The incarceration rate, the out-of-wedlock birth rate, drugs, crime, and drop-out rates - - these can all be traced to the liberal welfare state's destruction of the black family unit. Anybody can look it up. And this destruction was orchestrated and fueled by liberal Democrats for decades, all so they could breed dependence on government. This allowed them to offer more and more "free stuff" in order to buy votes and selfishly advance their own political power and priveledge. Quite a scheme, actually - - it took the FDR model to new heights (or lows). And who do you suspect these black journalists vote for overwhelmingly? Democrats, guaranteed. It's like they walk around with "Kick Me" signs taped to their backs. Signs that they put there themselves. I mean, really - - how smart can these black journalists be?

[farmfriend]

I watched a summit thing shortly after the Million Man March, it had 8 people talking including Farakan (sp) and Jackson. Mr. Farakan was getting great applause for his speaches about the slave and the slave master. I'm thinking, I thought we outlawed slavery.

The one gentleman who made the most sense was an older man who had been with Rev. King during the early days. He said the trend was moving power to the local governments and that Blacks should move into those positions so that they would be in place when the power got there. Barely any applause, except from me who gave him a standing ovation.