Since the New Deal, the black American electorate has voted overwhelmingly Democratic. Since the 1960s, no Democrat has won the White House without the black vote. Our voting behavior has been so lopsided that it could lead one to question our collective intelligence, or lack of it. After Lyndon B. Johnson proposed and got the Voting Rights Act passed in… return to article
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Reader Comments (19)Page 1 of 1 pagesAs a white who was born in DC 62 years ago at the end of this month, I
do agree with the author here. Normally I strongly dislike the playing of
the black race card but the status of DC is indefensible. The Democrats should have pushed this through long ago but better late than never.
I was glad for the many Demo victories but after reading about Harold
Ford’s disgusting pandering to the Right I’m glad he lost. I know the
GOP guy’s worse, they always are but there have to be limits to this
DLC/Blue Dog crowd pulling all the strings.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 8, 2006 at 3:07 PM blondemike....There is no race card being played here...Race has always been an issue in Amerika...just because yu as an individual decide that black folks are okee dokee...doesn’t change the realities of racism...I agree that statehood is a viable issue that needs to be addressed...but the larger question of race will still be an issue , long after statehood is or is not ratified....Ms.Washington has only scratched the surface , as far as issues confronting black folks in the District....One would wonder how yu would feel , if Ms. Washington really confronted all of the issues black folks in DC have to deal with....This is not a “ black race card “...this is reality....
Try Tony Williams and Gentrification....all the construction going on , but very few blacks being hired for these positions...the public schools...few activities for youth...etc...all of these issues, have a racial factor that needs to be addressed....Redhorse...born in DC 46 years ago...my good neighbor…
Now concerning the Democract vs Republican situation...I would guess that , playing both parties against each other makes sense, but most black folks don’t like or trust the republican party...Generally… blacks who embrace and join the republican party , do so for personal “ fast track “ reasons...not to lobby for the good of the community...Sec..Rice , Justice Thomas...former Lt Gov Steele...These individuals care little about the communities that nurtured them...they feed off the black communities strengths, for there own selfish desires....period..Many black Democrats are the same way Harold Ford being a good example…
From the Horses perspective , progressive policies are what is needed , but seldom put forward as alternatives....Fix the public school infrastructure. change the curriculum too something that resembles the students that yu are teaching...push mathematics, science and AP classes like it’s going out of style...and drop this “ teaching to the test.”..nonsense...for a start…
Hopefully Adrian Fenty will begin this process....
Concerning Ms. Washingtons analogy of a relationship...Redhorse would leave that relationship...too abusive....
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 9, 2006 at 2:24 AM I actually agree with most of what you write but you are making some rather large assumptions about what I think. Blacks as well as whites
have played the race card for generations now. I understand that whites
started it but that hardly makes it right. There are a great many things
wrong in black culture and society that can’t be solely blamed on whitey.
When people like Cosby and McWhorter, who are not conservatives, start to tlak about the rampant crime and sociopathology in Black America they gets shouted down by ignorant lefties, who are more often
than not the worst kind of condescending white liberals. I never remotely said that all was well with blacks, anyone who would claim that has to be literally insane. Nor did I imply all was well with race relations ! Again, no sane person would claim that !
I agree with you about progressive politics but that cuts both ways.
Here in Oakland we had 20 years of a do-nothing Black Machine under
Wilson and Harris, then the last eight years of openly rightwing government under Jerry Brown that operates of, by and for the realtors,
landlords, developers, contractors and business generally. Unfortunately there are plenty of greedy Blacks in on this take, I think
they call it Affirmative Action in awarding contracts !
Ford deserved to be defeated even despite the GOP’s crude racist ad.
He ran a down the line rightwing campaign.
I still have an 83 yr old Aunt who lives in the Brookland section of NE DC.
So I try to keep up on it.
As I said I largely agree with you but blacks DO play the race card too.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 9, 2006 at 12:37 PM Now blondemike...I believe that yu are mis-reading my point....
Blacks in Amerika do need to make the Democrats earn their vote...Stating that point , living it , breathing it...is not playing the race card...Shouting that reality, from the highest hilltop in DC....IS NOT PLAYING THE RACE CARD…
Point...the only race card playing black folks in amerika are usually the ones who are the main adherents too, or doing the bidding of the “whitey “ way of doing things, following the agenda that is least likely to bring about positive change in the Black community…
So first...when people of Afrikan descent , who have and still are the recipients of institutionalized , legislated apartiedism in this Amerika ,speak out and stand up on issues concerning the nature of their survival ; that is not “ playing the race card...”
That’s just speaking truth in opposition to injustice…
Now when Sec. of State Condolezza Rice made the statement ; reacting to the press, raising the issue that the Gov’ts.. ie… Bush administrations slow non-reaction to the Katrina disaster was a sign of the indifference and generally egregious racist nature of the Bush regime....Her response was ...” that’s ridiculous...I’m an Afrikan-amerikan..woman...”,
That was playing the race card....
The president....using his power to appoint people of diverse ethnic backgronds...looks good in the photo op...but is nothing but race card playing....Money and power can play that game...because they possess and controll the capital resourses and media engine tools too back it up with an overload of ..."ain’t Amerika great “....rhetoricalized propaganda....
Redhorse doubts that Ms.Washington has access to the enormous amounts of money and media needed to effectively execute that program.of race card playing...that is soo effectively executed by our adversaries...many miss the obvious nuances.
The idea of race cardism is a misnomer when analyzed from your viewpoint…
Black folks ...tend to shout...because nobody is listening...this is not the same thing.as play a game...this is survival in a hostile enviroment.....
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 11, 2006 at 5:54 AM Now Cosby was wrong in what he said...because, and I’m going to make this point real quick....basically what he said...or what was heard by the youth is that…
First...all this mess in the Black community is your(meaning young folks) fault...All yu have to do too make it in Amerika is to ...pull your pants up...cut your hair...and speak proper english…
Now if that was true...we won’t be having this conversation…
It was an extremely disingenuous statement that may have had entertainment value among adults...but severely missed the mark concerning accuracy as far as what is really happening....
Secondly ,Cosby has a tendency to drop into character when doing these presentations, which again is disingenuous..
Now I believe he means well, but has lost contact with the realities that he is speaking about…
.Additionally his recent legal problems concerning sexual assualt...tend to point out the fact that the youth are more likely too be the victim and not the pretator....so why lecture to them..talk to the adults.
We are the ones responsible for our childrens safety and developement...It’s like he was saying;...” look , I have mine...and I have no ideas beyond that point...’…
Hell...the youth already know that...that’s why their pants ride so low.....
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 11, 2006 at 7:06 AM Additionally....recently in DC there was a crime emergency...during the summer months mostly...some young folks were definitely out of hand, but most of the crime was committed by individuals that were at least 25 years old or older...the criminals were adults...of all ethnic backgrounds...but adults...the police chief Ramseys solution was a curfew for the teenagers...which for a number of reasons is a undo burden for many teenagers who must work during summer months to earn money for school supplies and such....
Now I’m not saying that was a totally bad idea( a curfew does allow for parents to monitor their teenage children a little closer… )...but the implication is that the youth are the cause of the trouble, when the facts pointed in a different direction…
Teenagers will be teenagers...but with a military budget, extremely out of proportion to actual threat....10 or 20 billion cut from the military budget would make little difference to the military...but would give a hell of a boost to social and educational programs that could make the difference in some young persons life......
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 11, 2006 at 3:30 PM Again, I actually agree with most of your concrete points, Redhorse, but
there is a lot to be done within the Black community to change some
very anti-social attitudes. Very recently, my wife was robbed at gunpoint
by two black teenagers, each of whom put a gun to each side of her
head, so please spare me the teenagers will teenagers crapola.
She actually spent a month in jail in Mississipi in summer 65 doing
voter registration work. Cosby is right to take these punks to task, they
can pull up their pants and try to improve themselves. Anti-social
behavior does not help the black cause and is in fact the main reason
for GOP rightwing victories since 1966. The rap mo fo culture with its glorification of misogny, get rich quickism, sexism, homophobia,
violence and immediate self-gratification is not a progressive force,quite
the contrary. It wraps itself in the worst aspects of capitalist consumerist
mania.
Whether Cosby is guilty or not and the evidence here looks questionable, is irrelevant to the points he is making.
What legalized apartheid are you talking about ? There have been no
JIm Crow laws on the books for 42 years and those laws were limited
to the southern states. I understand there is a lot of private racism but
it is not enforced by the government to my knowledge.
We need to build multi-racial progressive coalitions which are not going
to happen by preying on white guilt, you are going to get the opposite
reaction generally. There are a few white self-haters but not a big enough bloc to win elections.
I totally agree with cutting the Pentagon welfare budget and putting it into
vocational training and upgraded education. I think the insane overemphasis on sports is also hurting Black America.
I’m not sure curfews are helpful. Your govt in DC is as corrupt as ours
here in Oakland. Stupid ass ideas like billions for sports franchises
make no sense at all. Glad the A’s are leaving Oaktown, hope the
Raiders follow. Hear the 49ers are leaving SF too ! Hooray !
Of course, Bush plays the race card. Agreed, it’s horrible.
Still speaking proper english and looking presentable doesn’t hurt black
kids, it can only help.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 13, 2006 at 12:16 PM Well blondemike....one think I’m sure of....and that is that white amerikans do not understand what this nation is all about....
You guys just don’t get it......denial....marginalization....
How are you going to build a true progressive agenda if you can’t empathize with others...especially Afrikan Amerikans.....
One of the reasons...Sen.Obama is so well loved in middle Amerika...is because he has an ability to discuss sensitive issues, in a manner that is none threating too white folks....
One has to wonder what will happen to his popularity when the honeymoon is over...If white folks want true solidarity....yu guys need to get over yourselves
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 15, 2006 at 6:49 AM Redhorse, Obama is hated by half the blacks in Chicago who haven’t seen him since his election in 04. I DO get it, I largely sympathize with
blacks, I don’t appreciate criminals among blacks like the thugs who put
a bullet in my side view car mirror the other night. Do you think I’m made
of money ?
You people need to get over yourselves and realize that blacks are as
racist as whites and the disproportionate black crime rate is wrong,
has been killing the left for 40 years and needs to end. I spend a lot
of time arguing with the rightist knuckleheads on this board if you
check out Dueling Democrats and other recent threads.
I largely agree with you but you have ONE serious blind spot.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 15, 2006 at 11:26 AM Redhorse, that is a very racist and stupid response by you.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 15, 2006 at 3:09 PM BM.....No, my response is quite measured...considering the generalities yu throw around....Redhorse is always amused went white folks...refer to black people as racist...usually this is done to deflect from the real cause of the problem......
Stupid , would relate to not having an interest in understanding the world around us....Although I’m becoming less interested in your viewpoint on world affairs....Redhorse is not ready to close off dialog and observations,because some guy in Oakland, Ca… gets aggravated.....
Now tell me Blondemike what did the Horse say, that got yu to us the dreaded...” racist “...word…
Racism is a construct that has to do more with economics and class distinctions, in relation to ethnic origins.....as opposed to me just saying you are “ talking out the side of your neck “...in other words I just said...” yu don’t know what your talking about....”
Now if that is a racist slur...yu my good friend are a little too sensitive.....
Yu wouldn’t last to long as a blackman in amerika.........for real..But wait....blondemike is going to tell me about my experiences as a blackman in Amerika...and how to deal with them....
Please blondemike do tell us black folks about being black in Amerika...cause thats exactly how yu come across.... a condescending generalizing bigot......
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 15, 2006 at 4:41 PM Redhorse, a racist is a racist is a racist.
You label me as racist solely because I disagree with your racism.
You take up a lot of space to say very little, something you have in
common with the rightwing windbag motormouths on this site.
I’m not trying to close off dialogue and I told you at the beginning
that I agreed with more of your original two postings than I disagreed
with. But YOU insist on generalizing about all white folks while making
excuses for ALL black folks. This is absurd.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 15, 2006 at 6:52 PM I did not...I disagree with your generalization of race cardism....Yu made several other generalizations that I disagree with ,so I continued to pick at yu to see what comes out.....I have never referred to you directly as a racist....
Look blondemike...yu may be a decent fellow...but your understanding of racism and Afrikans from Amerika is something to be desired....Yu look at this issue like ...well like....like a guy who comes online and calls himself...blondemike....
A racist is a racist is a racist....? Where did yu get that great piece of insightful logic.....
Now if only you knew what racism is....
Racism is about MONEY , POWER,and the imposition of VIOLENCE , to maintain the PLUTOCRACY....
Yes...blondemike...we are all dreadfully worried about the scurge of black racists rampaging the countryside in search of white people...too purchase as their own...and hold in perpetual brainwashed perpetuity....blowing up cities and towns....maybe even in Iraq....those cursed muslim bastards....terrorist all.....save us blindmike.....oh save us all......
Yu could benefit by....minding your own business...and listening when others tell yu how they mind theirs......
I referred to yu as a condescending bigot....quite different than a racist....
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 15, 2006 at 7:18 PM Redhorse, like all unfocused thinkers you use up a lot of space to repeat the same dubious point.
You must be talking about capitalism, that defintion you invented has
NOTHING TO DO WITH RACISM. Racism is hatred of someone simply because they are of a different race. PERIOD.
Gee, I do mind my own business, my racist black neighbors unfortunately don’t. So today I had to shell my hardearned $$$
because some black punk shot out my side mirror.
As far as black benevolence goes, take a look just at the Congo where
blacks have killed five million of each other in just the last few years.
then Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda, the Sudan, Chad, ad nauseum.
Spare us the moral lectures, dude !
Posted by blondemike on Nov 16, 2006 at 10:55 AM Check out these books...if you care to understand the connection between capitalism and racism....Capitalism & Slavery / From Columbus To Castro....both authored by Prof. Eric Williams.....
Now you know as well as the Redhorse that Afrikas problems have to do with colonialism, imperialism , and the lack of honor among thieves.....Where does Afrika get all its weapons from...Amerika...dude.
How extremely disingenuous of you BM…If you are so scared....living in a black community...move....live around white folks....All the Redhorse has heard from you Mr.BM , is all your complaining about the neighborhood you live in....and how black folks are victimizing you and your sister....move your ass...simple as that....eeh.
Finally....unfocused....nice try BM....I repeat the same theme...hoping in vain, apparently ; that at some point you will actually begin to understand certain basic empathetic principles.....
With your attitude...I’m no thug...but the Horse would probably want to beat you down also...think about it...you attract what you are....These black racist neighbors yu talk of...they probably just don’t like you personally...but don’t dislike other white folks...Do your feet stink...use antiperspirant..wash regularly...yu might just be the neighborhood asshole....dude.
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 16, 2006 at 4:31 PM It’s my wife who lives with me and the reason we bought this particular house nine years ago is BECAUSE WE COULD AFFORD IT.
Would you tell a black couple harassed by white racists to just “simply
move.” No, then your a racist.
Africa was a mess long before the white man came and has been an even worse mess since he left. Even if whitey sells them the guns, they
don’t have to buy them and they don’t have to commit genocide on each
other either.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 16, 2006 at 6:35 PM Ya know...cry me a river....dickhead.....Europe and Amerika slaughter over 100 million of their own brethren, not to mention other ethnic populations...WW1,WW2, Korea , Vietnam....the Cold War genocides...Asia, Afrika , South Amerika , covert COINTELPRO wars....now Iraq…
One would guess you are one of those ass wipes that think this civil war in Iraq is the Iraqis fault....
Spare the sanctimonious altar boy bullshit...we all know yu screwin’ the priest....
Posted by Redhorse on Nov 16, 2006 at 7:43 PM Redhorse, your wordsalad makes no sense. I wasn’t denying Euro racism or imperialism, I was criticizing some racist blacks like you.
I was never for the war against Iraq or US foreign policy in general.
I’ll put the altar boy slur down to whisky.
Posted by blondemike on Nov 17, 2006 at 11:10 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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