Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:38 AM Jun 2015

'Some blacks feel fatigued after barrage of racial incidents' (understated AP headline...)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The weariness, the rage, the depressing conviction that black life is stuck in a murderous loop fueled by racism — these emotions resounded in black America after the deadly shootings at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
...


People attend a prayer service to mourn the lives lost at the shooting in Charleston, S.C., Thursday, June 18, 2015, at St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church in Huntsville, Ala.

The Rev. Anthony Evans of the National Black Church Initiative said he planned to travel to Charleston to help churches learn to defend themselves. He said the attack evoked "a point of deep moral frustration that cannot be explained."

"At the same time, they want individuals such as myself as clergy to preach peace and coming together," he said. "They only want us to not let the people get out of hand, and I'm not willing to stand in front of that angry crowd anymore and tell them that their anger is the wrong emotion to feel."

Threats came, too, on U.S. campuses. At Duke University, a noose was found hanging from a tree. Spray-painted swastikas and nooses were found at dorms on the State University of New York's Purchase campus. Just Thursday, a man pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening African-American students and employees at the University of Mississippi by helping place a rope around the neck of the statue of James Meredith, the school's first African-American student.

Those events unfolded against a backdrop of above-average black unemployment, crime-stricken communities, criticism of the state of the black family, black culture and education, and even debate over the meaning of blackness itself. In the days before the Charleston shooting, the nation had been riveted by the saga of Rachel Dolezal, who resigned as head of the NAACP's Spokane, Washington, chapter after her parents outed her as a white woman pretending to be black.

41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'Some blacks feel fatigued after barrage of racial incidents' (understated AP headline...) (Original Post) Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 OP
"Fatigued" is putting it mildly... Blue_Tires Jun 2015 #1
Soul killing, mind-numbing weariness, more like. AP opted for understatement. Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #3
+1 daleanime Jun 2015 #20
+1000000 onecaliberal Jun 2015 #26
And to make things worse Blue_Tires Jun 2015 #38
Yes, there's quite a sub-group of the closeted ones here on DU Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #40
One of the TV types last night said that Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2015 #2
And, if this vicious young killer is any indication, they're not Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #4
Recommended. Autumn Jun 2015 #5
We can't eradicate racially-motivated violence. Vattel Jun 2015 #6
Hear, hear! Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #8
Amen..... daleanime Jun 2015 #21
I'm with BlueTires JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #7
I well remember the image of that doll. I was shocked at Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #9
my dad knew JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #15
Wise dad. Sorry for your loss... Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #16
I grew up in a mostly white town in Western NY JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #17
They think they're being more clever and covert now. Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #22
'...after barrage of racial incidents' 500 years long and on-going n/t GreatGazoo Jun 2015 #10
yes, we are weary bigtree Jun 2015 #11
I stand humbled and gratified before your collective display of dignified civility and restraint. Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #12
Preying on hatred, ignorance, madashelltoo Jun 2015 #13
Thank the creative entity for your collective wisdom and humanity... Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #19
Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" Award rocktivity Jun 2015 #14
You are SO spot on. The underlying narrative is even here in the title and text. Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #18
Thank you. But there really IS such a thing rocktivity Jun 2015 #23
Who knew? How have I missed this all these years? Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #29
K&R The tiredness began when law makers started rolling back everything that was accomplished jwirr Jun 2015 #24
It's like the fabled hopelessness of Sisyphus--forever trying to roll that boulder up hill... Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #27
Thank you because I want to believe in the methods of MLK and Ghandi. I need to believe that they jwirr Jun 2015 #30
Take heart... Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #33
Thank you. My brother, sister and I went to visit the MLK Memorial when it was in the basement of jwirr Jun 2015 #37
Yes, he was a true citizen of the world and he would have loved it. Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #41
took this at Brown V Board of Education Historic site handmade34 Jun 2015 #32
Great graphic, the symbolism is heavy (literally)... Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #34
Colors, Negroes, Blacks, African Americans have always felt under seige Iliyah Jun 2015 #25
Never safe, never secure in their personhood. Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #28
Also, please dont let anyone minimize pain PoC feel with relatively similar black on black murder uponit7771 Jun 2015 #31
My response to that hackneyed meme is "Walk a mile in a POC's shoes, then get back to me..." Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #35
Something much smaller but equally hateful -- oldandhappy Jun 2015 #36
Despicable sub-humans. I'm not sure they're more numerous, just Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #39

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
38. And to make things worse
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 12:17 PM
Jun 2015

I've got to deal with these "Who cares about Charleston when TPA just passed in Congress!!!111" -assholes on Twitter and DU...

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
40. Yes, there's quite a sub-group of the closeted ones here on DU
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 12:26 PM
Jun 2015

and they really come out of their hidey holes when this kind of egregious event occurs.

The 'minimalists' as another POC called them.

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
2. One of the TV types last night said that
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:42 AM
Jun 2015

Stormfront has something like 300000 registered users. That's one in every thousand Americans who is a blatant, unapologetic white power racist. And gods know how many are too paranoid to register, but simply surf the site anonymously.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
4. And, if this vicious young killer is any indication, they're not
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:59 AM
Jun 2015

an endangered species.

The gradual passing of the old guard does not seem to be depleting the ranks.

New blood is being added with a younger generation of male white-power racists..

 

Vattel

(9,289 posts)
6. We can't eradicate racially-motivated violence.
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 09:02 AM
Jun 2015

But there is so much we can do to move our nation closer to its ideals of equal opportunity for all. One's degree of opportunity is strongly linked to one's upbringing and education. It is time to invest heavily in our poorest neighborhoods and regions to provide greater opportunity for those who will otherwise for the most part end up poor at best and at worst incarcerated, drug-addicted, or murdered. I wish there was a 1% equal opportunity tax on all those who have the good fortune to make a lot of money, a tax to be used to improve the chances of poor children to succeed.

edited to add: Sorry if my post is off-topic. The tragedy in SC is so frustrating and sad partly because it is so hard to know how to keep it from happening again. I mean, what in the hell can one do to prevent racist assholes from grabbing guns and killing people? I guess my mind naturally starts thinking of what can be done to provide as much justice and equal opportunity for African Americans as can be achieved in a nation with far too many racists and far too many guns.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
8. Hear, hear!
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 09:03 AM
Jun 2015
'It is time to invest heavily in our poorest neighborhoods and regions to provide greater opportunity for those who will otherwise for the most part end up poor at best and at worst incarcerated, drug-addicted, or murdered.'

JustAnotherGen

(31,811 posts)
7. I'm with BlueTires
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 09:02 AM
Jun 2015

But it goes back to the Obama as Hitler and Witch Doctor posters. And the guy carrying a Curious George Doll at a McCain/Palin Event.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
9. I well remember the image of that doll. I was shocked at
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 09:06 AM
Jun 2015

Last edited Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:36 AM - Edit history (1)

the blatant, flagrant, screw-you race-baiting.

Little did I know how much worse things would get.

JustAnotherGen

(31,811 posts)
15. my dad knew
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 10:54 AM
Jun 2015

He died in August 2011 - but he saw it coming. All of the elements of the derogatory were there.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
16. Wise dad. Sorry for your loss...
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:04 AM
Jun 2015

I hadn't seen anything since the 60's like I have witnessed since BHO came into office. Frightening and heartbreaking.

JustAnotherGen

(31,811 posts)
17. I grew up in a mostly white town in Western NY
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:07 AM
Jun 2015

We came back from Europe in the late 1970's. It really was this bad. All they did was refine their approach. After being made fools of on the talk show circuit - AND the advent of the internet - they refined their code of conduct.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
22. They think they're being more clever and covert now.
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:16 AM
Jun 2015

I'm trying to imagine the loneliness and alienation of being the token POC in a mostly white town.

I'm afraid my imagination is overtaxed. The painful images are just to heavy.

bigtree

(85,986 posts)
11. yes, we are weary
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 09:23 AM
Jun 2015

...of the politically motivated resurgence of racial animosity toward black Americans which has manifested itself in individual acts of violence toward members of our community.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
12. I stand humbled and gratified before your collective display of dignified civility and restraint.
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 09:50 AM
Jun 2015

madashelltoo

(1,696 posts)
13. Preying on hatred, ignorance,
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 10:38 AM
Jun 2015

Mental illness and fear is the right's floorboard. They know they will never abandon them and let them fall. We are born tired of it, live tired of it and die tired of it. And, it does not matter which response we choose; hatred, ignorance, mental illness and fear will pull it down. What we have to remember is that in order to pull us down, you have to be beneath us. Keep going.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
19. Thank the creative entity for your collective wisdom and humanity...
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:12 AM
Jun 2015

The creepy little killer would love to get his 'new civil war', but wiser heads will prevail.

'What we have to remember is that in order to pull us down, you have to be beneath us.'

rocktivity

(44,576 posts)
14. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" Award
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 10:38 AM
Jun 2015

The nerve of them, feeling barraged -- how uppity can they get?


rocktivity

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
18. You are SO spot on. The underlying narrative is even here in the title and text.
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:09 AM
Jun 2015

Coded message: How dare they make us ill-at-ease by feeling under seige?

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
24. K&R The tiredness began when law makers started rolling back everything that was accomplished
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:21 AM
Jun 2015

in the 1960s civil rights movement. I remember talking to my sister about it as we watched the whole thing unravel. Our hearts were breaking.

"They only want us to not let the people get out of hand." Ouch. That could have been said about MLK also. And there is a great deal of truth in that statement. As I sat watching the protests in Ferguson MO I felt very glad to see ministers and community leaders come out to stand between the opposing forces. I was afraid of the black deaths that would come at the hands of a much more heavily armed group. I wanted them safe. But today I wonder if I was right to put so much hope in the methods of MLK. The black community is in real danger with or without fighting back.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
27. It's like the fabled hopelessness of Sisyphus--forever trying to roll that boulder up hill...
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:34 AM
Jun 2015


Violence does breed more violence, though, ineluctably--and MLK was right to follow Ghandi's teachings.

The historical arc of justice is momentarily unstrung, but it will be set right.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
30. Thank you because I want to believe in the methods of MLK and Ghandi. I need to believe that they
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:46 AM
Jun 2015

work. The opposite is unthinkable.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
37. Thank you. My brother, sister and I went to visit the MLK Memorial when it was in the basement of
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 12:07 PM
Jun 2015

Lincoln Memorial. This song was included in the videos. Not thinking about where we were we all started singing along. To our surprise the rest of the people joined in. I will never forget that moment.

Later standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial I stopped to listen to people and was again surprised at all the different languages people were using as they walked by. I dawned on me that MLK would have been very please to stand there and hear that.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
41. Yes, he was a true citizen of the world and he would have loved it.
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 12:32 PM
Jun 2015

Thank you for sharing that lovely memory with us.

May there be more such moments in store for everyone, and may we all be wise enough to live fully in those moments.

handmade34

(22,756 posts)
32. took this at Brown V Board of Education Historic site
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:50 AM
Jun 2015

a few months ago... good representation


[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

uponit7771

(90,335 posts)
31. Also, please dont let anyone minimize pain PoC feel with relatively similar black on black murder
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 11:46 AM
Jun 2015

... rate.

Black on black murder is no worse than white on white or any other race....

oldandhappy

(6,719 posts)
36. Something much smaller but equally hateful --
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 12:06 PM
Jun 2015

Today the RW is having a celebration -- yea, celebration -- of the one year anniversary of the RW in Murrieta, CA who 'greeted' and chased off the buses carrying mother and children from the border to a processing center for bathrooms, water, food, blankets. Ugly people. Buses returned to the border where people with hearts provided resources. This layer of our society is growing, I fear.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
39. Despicable sub-humans. I'm not sure they're more numerous, just
Fri Jun 19, 2015, 12:22 PM
Jun 2015

more vociferous since BHO's election.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'Some blacks feel fatigue...