In First Lady's Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery

Judged:

3

2

2

MonkeyBinness wrote:

Here comes Spike...watch...

Judged:

3

2

2

JonShmaltz wrote:

Lol, I love how you act like your race is your baseball team or something. "Ya gotta swing, Johnny, don't just stand there!"
Your race should only be one very small, insignificant part of who you are. Michelle Obama was most assuredly never a slave. She doesn't deserve any more credit than any of the other First Ladies.
And as for the rape thing, the tables have turned quite dramatically. That fact is conveniently ignored around here.

Judged:

3

2

1

MonkeyBinness wrote:

How come you can apply the successes of indiviuals to the entire race, but we're oppressing you if we apply your failures across the board?

Judged:

3

2

1

JonShmaltz wrote:

Lol, I love how you act like your race is your baseball team or something. "Ya gotta swing, Johnny, don't just stand there!"
Your race should only be one very small, insignificant part of who you are. Michelle Obama was most assuredly never a slave. She doesn't deserve any more credit than any of the other First Ladies.
And as for the rape thing, the tables have turned quite dramatically. That fact is conveniently ignored around here.

Judged:

3

2

2

JonShmaltz wrote:

Lol, I love how you act like your race is your baseball team or something. "Ya gotta swing, Johnny, don't just stand there!"
Your race should only be one very small, insignificant part of who you are. Michelle Obama was most assuredly never a slave. She doesn't deserve any more credit than any of the other First Ladies.
And as for the rape thing, the tables have turned quite dramatically. That fact is conveniently ignored around here.

Judged:

3

2

1

Anne wrote:

Her story is the story of many other African-Americans. Because black women didn't have a choice to refuse the advances of white men in slavery, it is painful to contemplate. One thing that makes it painful is that black women have had to struggle to overcome the stigma against us that originated under those circumstances.
While it's true that people did manage to form bonds under the circumstances, it does nothing to mitigate the fact that slavery was a gross injustice. The bonds that formed were an exception, and not the rule.
At the same time, slavery and its attendant atrocities are a part of American history that many Americans have a hard time coming to terms with. Many people are in denial to this day, and that denial is an impediment to our ability to move forward as a country. One reason for the denial is that it was such a blatant contradiction to this country's self-image.
As a direct descendent of such liaisons myself, I identify strongly with the women and have only contempt for the men who forced themselves on unwilling girls and women. On the other hand, there is at least one interracial marriage in my family's past, and I have nothing but respect for the fact that those individuals came together in love.
It is inspiring to me that someone from a background similar to mine is now First Lady. It shows that we have come a long way, even though we still have a long way to go.

Judged:

3

2

1

Anne wrote:

<quoted text>
In a perfect world, looking at one's race as only a small part of identity would be the case for everybody. Even though no modern-day African American was a slave, there is still racism which is on both sides. And while some of the dislike for President Obama's administration stems from disagreement with his policies, the fact remains that a lot of the insults directed against him and his wife stem from racism.
I do not ignore that there is black crime against whites, because I feel that denying it or being silent about it also helps to perpetuate racial animosities. That is something I have previously addressed in other TOPIX forums, because I also feel that people have to be consistent in addressing all injustices.
With an extended family that also includes whites, I feel just as strongly that being hateful against others because of their race
wouldn't help my cause as a black.
I'm not sure if you think I am making blanket remarks about all whites, but that is definitely not the case. There were too many whites whose ancestors came over here to escape their own hardships and did not own any slaves. And there were others who risked and lost their own lives fighting against slavery when they could have done otherwise. There were also those who actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement, leaving the comforts of their own lives to do so. I do not fault any white person for what happened in the past, because all of us--black or white--can only be responsible for our own actions, words, and attitudes.
All I am saying is that we look at the past as it was and not what we wish it had been because it helps us in the present and the future. I would like to see a post-racial country, but we are not there yet. I personally feel that my race only partly defines me, but there are others who feel that race--whether black, white, or otherwise--is the main thing if not the only thing that matters.
And that is a sad fact that cannot be ignored.

Judged:

2

2

2

MonkeyBinness wrote:

Here comes Spike...watch...

Judged:

2

2

2

MonkeyBinness wrote:

How come you can apply the successes of indiviuals to the entire race, but we're oppressing you if we apply your failures across the board?

Judged:

3

2

2

MonkeyBinness wrote:

How come you can apply the successes of indiviuals to the entire race, but we're oppressing you if we apply your failures across the board?

Judged:

2

2

1

HAHA wrote:

<quoted text>
So true, not many black woman like Michelle, I mean at least she knows who her babies daddy is. At least she's not collecting welfare or making her mom watch the kids. How many AA woman do that?

Judged:

2

1

1

HAHA wrote:

<quoted text>
So true, not many black woman like Michelle, I mean at least she knows who her babies daddy is. At least she's not collecting welfare or making her mom watch the kids. How many AA woman do that?

MonkeyBinness wrote:

Here comes Spike...watch...