Michelle Obama Was Right

[sheshe2]

But you can bet that, if conservatives freaked out over her remarks at the opening of the Whitney Museum, they would go apoplectic over all this. Of course, you would win that bet. The assumption behind all these critiques is that Michelle Obama is simply playing the victim because, when it comes to racism in this country, we're SOOO over that. Here's Ron Christie:

Who is the they the First Lady makes reference to? Presumably racist whites; but this sounds more like an indictment of our American society at large. What are the assumptions being foisted upon these new graduates of an all-black university—that Americans are bigoted and have a limited notion of blacks as being inherently inferior?

Of course Christie assumes that foisting those assumptions on young African Americans today is to tell them a lie. Which is exactly why this article by DW Gibson is such a powerful reminder. He is interviewing a Brooklyn landlord and hears - point blank - a recitation of exactly the kind of world Michelle Obama was trying to prepare these Tuskegee graduates for.

If there’s a black tenant in the house—in every building we have, I put in white tenants. They want to know if black people are going to be living there. So sometimes we have ten apartments and everything is white, and then all of the sudden one tenant comes in with one black roommate, and they don’t like it. They see black people and get all riled up, they call me: “We’re not paying that much money to have black people live in the building.” If it’s white tenants only, it’s clean. I know it’s a little bit racist but it’s not. They’re the ones that are paying and I have to give them what they want. Or I’m not going to get the tenants and the money is not going to be what it is.

As long as white people don't admit that this kind of thing is happening in America, it won't change. And people like Michelle Obama will be right to prepare young people for the racism they will face in this country.

Read More http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2015/05/michelle-obama-was-right.html

[guillaumeb]

1. I know it's a little bit racist but it's not?

The landlord just has to give them what they want, sheshe.

I love living in post-racial Amerikkka.

But it IS all Michelle Obama's fault for pointing out the racism.

[leftofcool]

2. Well, one thing is for sure................

If they are bashing Michelle, they are leaving Obama alone. Michelle Obama can't get a break. No matter what she says, some GOP dufuss will complain. And if she talks about racism or even implies anything to do with racism, their heads explode.

[Jamastiene]

19. There is not very much Republican men hate more than a woman

speaking her mind, except if it is a black woman speaking her mind. The only thing they actually hate worse is if a lesbian is speaking her mind. That pisses them off more than anything.

They can't seem to wrap their heads around the fact that women can have valid opinions. They get even more apoplectic if a black woman speaks her mind.

[sheshe2]

3. I know guillaumeb, how dare she.

Michelle is a class act and will be very hard to follow.

[fadedrose]

4. I talk about "me" missing Letterman

No one will miss or need him more than Michelle Obama. He's the only one who gave her the respect she deserved, and humbled himself to do it when he sheepishly mentioned that she went to Harvard and he went to I forget the name of the college he's always talking about in Indiana...

I hope Colbert is cut of the same cloth as Dave.

[Major Hogwash]

9. Ball State.

[Cassidy1]

18. Yep.

Letterman was a class act and never put his comedy above respect. As far as racism, this country will never heal until blacks and whites truly live together. I get so tired of seeing segregated neighborhoods. You even see this in New York. I worked in E Flatbush. Very segregated. Brownsville was right next door. Segregated. Cypress Hills and E New York next to that.

People will NOT integrate voluntarily. You need to integrate them to change behavior. You see this in schools. African-Americans sitting at one cafeteria table, and whites at other tables. There needs to be more influence in having them sit together. Maybe a month long program where students must integrate at lunch to at least talk to one another. You have mandatory classroom exercises like this to open up people, so why not here? You have it in seminars, so why not the real world. The workplace and universities have affirmative action, so why not living quarters? I think apartments should be like this. You must reserve a certain amount of the units for people of color, whites, and Asians. It would certainly cut down on the discrimination in housing. You obviously can't make people buy a house, but you could approach this on a corporate basis with large rental companies.

[fadedrose]

23. I thought of this many years ago

Blacks didn't have protection of laws then, and realtors could say "no blacks," aloud without complaints.

A Pennsylvanian, when I lived in DC, my landlady asked me to advertise my apartment as I had found a another place. It was okay to pin up ads on a billboard for all kinds of stuff for sale, apts., etc. She gave me a postcard with number of rooms, price and location, and her phone number. I can't remember, but the card said "no blacks," or "white only." I was astonished and asked if this could be done, and she said "of course." This was in 1958-1959 and Kennedy too office in 1961. We were back in PA in time for the 1960 election when Kennedy won.

I took the card to work and asked my black boss, who was like a mother to me, if it was okay to put the postcard on the board, and she said "yes." It was still okay. It wasn't long before this card never could have been posted...

If a person doesn't feel overrun by others who are different, either a black outnumbered by whites, or a white outnumbered by colored folks, there's no feeling of threat. It can't be done, but it's a damn good idea. Things have changed for the better, but it might be good idea to legislate using the ratio of blacks and browns to white, and neighborhoods would be set up to reflect that ratio. By law if necessary.

[Cassidy1]

24. Good story

and excellent ideas

[Raine1967]

5. I cannot be the only person who finds it effed up

when people of color talk about racism and white people call that discussion racist.

[leftofcool]

6. That is pretty much the way it has always been.

We have some serious race issues in this country but no one has the balls to address them.

[etherealtruth]

7. No, you are not the only one

[jwirr]

8. Oh, but don't you know - they are racist against the poor white man!

[freshwest]

11. I tell them to let me know what are the laws restricting the white man from living in peace.

That Freedom and Liberty BS has hit the last nerve with me when they deny it to everyone else and deny their advantages.

My stock answer:

When the law and sciety declares you:

A piece of property that can be treated like an animal for profit.

A fugitive from justice for trying to escape torture and rape and death because the color of your skin makes you a slave.

Are denied the vote and have it constantly threatened.

Are the subject of terrorism, forced work camps, transportation against your will, etc.

It is legal to be subject to the 'rule of thumb' on how big the board beating you can be and be legal.

When you are raped, sold into sex slavery, harrassed for existing in the 'wrong body.'

When your religion, your land, your children, your privacy is stolen from you.

And declared 3/5th of a person but not treated like 1/10th of a percent as a person...

Show me your history here in the USA. Then we will talk.

[hopemountain]

12. hope you do not mind

but i am going to remember your list the next time a young man in his 30's tells me his poor white ancestors working the coal mines had it just as bad as the "negroes". i was visiting his home when he made this shocking statement so i held my tongue. he is respectful of others but he believes this "line". not sure where it came from - but am having a bbq in a couple of weeks at my place and i am going to speak my peace to him.

[freshwest]

13. Sorry for the typos made. BTW, Card-Carrying White Person here, tired of false equivalencies. n/t

[lovemydog]

10. There's many, like me, who agree with you.

Yes, it's really fucked up.

[uponit7771]

14. +1, it's an obfuscation that's about as stupid as it appears

[Jamastiene]

21. It is VERY messed up.

You are not the only one.

[napkinz]

15. "as long as white people don't admit that this kind of thing is happening in America ..."

[sheshe2]

16. Damn skippy!

Great graphics!

Love you napkinz~

[napkinz]

17. :)

[Jamastiene]

22. Great graphics

Growing up, I was always taught that until I walk a mile in another person's shoes, I should not assume I know more than them about what they experience. To me, any white person complaining about what Michelle Obama said in that speech is doing just that, assuming they know more than black people about what black people experience in this world. That is wrong on every level. The graphics you posted illustrate that very well. If only the people who need to see them would open their eyes and see them.

[Jamastiene]

20. K&R