My sister was killed in the Charleston church shooting

[struggle4progress]

Removing the Confederate flag isn’t nearly enough.
Sure, it's a symbol. But our government needs to do much more to protect African Americans
By Malcolm Graham
August 12 at 6:00 AM

... She was a sister, the fourth of six kids. When my parents died 25 years ago, she became the family matriarch, taking charge and making sure that even my oldest brother, Robert, marched in line.

She was an aunt who spoiled my two daughters with books and trips to Charleston. She was involved – sometimes, as a father I have to say, too involved – in their lives. I called her every Sunday from Charlotte to keep up with the rest of the family in Charleston — she had the scoop on everyone.

She was a dedicated librarian for 31 years, helping kids solve their problems. Before the Internet, my big sister, the nerd, read every word of the World Book encyclopedia. When the traveling salesman finally delivered the last volume to our house, she was so excited. That was her first library, her escape. She served on the housing authority board in Charleston, and took seriously the important work of providing safe, affordable and decent shelter for all. She worried that gentrification was driving some African Americans out of the center city.

In the days after the shooting, South Carolina honored those killed by removing the Confederate flag from the state house. It’s a meaningful gesture. But we cannot stop there ...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/12/my-sister-was-killed-in-the-charleston-church-shooting-removing-the-confederate-flag-isnt-nearly-enough/

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Last line...

We can’t simply move on. We’ve got work to do.

[passiveporcupine]

18. YES!

She was an amazing woman. RIP Cynthia

[malaise]

2. Thanks for this

Much more has to be done

[Sissyk]

3. From the article.

Ultimately, the flag is just a symbol. Its removal must be the beginning of bigger reforms that empower America’s African Americans. That might mean opposing restrictive laws that prevent minorities in America from voting or pushing states to expand Medicaid and embrace the Affordable Care Act or fighting bias in the courts, which place too many African Americans behind bars for long sentences for minor offenses or before their cases have been heard.

It must also mean addressing the disparity in education funding or the fact that in states such as North Carolina and South Carolina, historically black colleges and universities get funded disproportionately to white institutions. It has to be about confronting the unconscious bias that means that the white Sarah Johnson with a stellar résumé gets a job, while the black Shamika Johnson with the same accolades can’t even get an interview.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott provided comfort and condolences to the families of the nine who were murdered, and I appreciated that. But it’s their Republican Party that supports many of these policies that affect African Americans. What are they going to do about it? Are they willing to put their seats on the line to challenge members of their own party and lose standing with many conservative voters they once courted?

K&R!

[Fred Sanders]

4. Removing the Dixie Swastika and racist statues in a few places is how white America has managed to excuse

itself, or self-pretend to, so as to actually not doing anything more meaningful for black folks (Voting Act reformation, anyone?) and also coincidentily forget again to not do anything meaningful about the insanity of 320 million guns that kill them and terrorize everyone.

What, black folks, that is not enough??? And don't you folks know you need permission if you want to protest?

320 million guns...guns....ponder that for a moment.

[mmonk]

5. No, there is more to it than meets the eye.

Removing the flag indicates that those that say it is heritage, not hate, is false. Then racists are quite easier to identify.

[H2O Man]

6. Powerful.

Thank you. Recommended.

[erronis]

7. What a beautiful woman. I grieve for the loss of her and the others in that tragedy.

Hatred of others and mental instability seem to be too connected. And in this society available weapons make that connection very dangerous. (And I don't mean to limit mental instability to those that have been clinically diagnosed - it's present in all of us to some degree.)

[jwirr]

8. Much more to do. Absolutely. But where to start? One of the things I would like to see Congress

do is compose and present a new Voters Rights reform to give it teeth. The SCOTUS took the teeth out just when we need them the most.

We have a number of Black Caucus people who fought for the first one. I would like to see the Black Caucus and progressives caucus in Congress put together such a bill and present it. THEN we the people should get behind them. Election year is coming. Rs are up for election. We need to do what we can to get this bill passed before the election. This IMO would be a great first start.

Many of the things she talked about needing to be done are states issues and a voting rights bill would go a long ways to help black people and their supporters to take action in their local communities using the vote. The POC in my community are finally realizing just how important the vote is here in our own area and we are making change with it.

The unequal school finding in communities of color is an old issue and since schools are funded with federal money that should be something that could be handled by all of us regardless of color. We should all care if every classroom in the USA has good teachers, books, supplies, computers and the other things children need for a good education. This issue will guarantee that our nation is stronger and that our economy is better. It is not just a minority issue it is an American issue.

She is absolutely right - taking down the flag does not fix any of these other problems. In the long run taking down the flag may not solve any real problems. It was only an admission that we should be working on these problems not that we will be.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

11. Agree strongly.

And in the mean time we must register people to vote and promote early paper voting so that they can't get away with computer cheating, because we will have a paper record of the votes.

[AgingAmerican]

12. Laws are a start

But laws won't change minds. Only education will change minds and I mean education on all sides. A persons level of bigotry is inversely proportional to their parents education level. Educated parents raise informed children. Uneducated parents raise bigots.

It will take generations to change racial attitudes. There is no quick fix.

[jwirr]

13. Well in general I agree with you but I have no reason to agree. My father quit school in 8th grade

to help his family. My mother quit as a junior in high school to get married. Everyone of us four children married people of color and live more in their culture than in our own.

[AgingAmerican]

14. I speak in general terms

I barely made it past the 7th grade myself . There are always exceptions to the rule especially on the Democratic side.

[jwirr]

15. I know that is why I did not disagree with you.

[Boomerproud]

21. That's so true. Laws do not change hearts and minds.

All they can do that is meaningful is to give recourse to the agrieved.

[blackspade]

9. "It’s a meaningful gesture. But we cannot stop there ..."

Exactly.

[ShrimpPoboy]

10. Good article

with some worthy suggestions. Unfortunately there's really nothing the government can do to change what's in our hearts and how we teach the next generation, which is ultimately the only way to stop the next determined terrorist. That's a cultural problem that falls on each of us as individuals. Sadly many have no interest in doing so and i truly don't see an end in sight. The next generation is no less hateful than the last.

[Eleanors38]

16. So sorry this wonderful human helper is gone.

[Demeter]

17. They light our way, those sisters of ours, for we are all brothers and sisters

[brer cat]

23. +1

[Dont call me Shirley]

19. Cynthia...

Equal rights, liberty and justice for all.

[Boomerproud]

20. Horrible loss!

God Bless her family.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

22. It still sickens and enrages me that for all those years after the war the rightful losers

still proudly flew their battle flag on official government property!

It's as much a symbol of hatred and violence as the swastika and should be banned. Yeah, I know, "freedom." Well, sometimes freedom's just another word...

[Skittles]

25. I hear you

that flag revolts me; I cannot even imagine what black folk feel when they see it proudly displayed

[Skittles]

24. powerful

[niyad]

26. k and r and thank you

[BumRushDaShow]

27. K&R

And many still mourn their senseless deaths. But hopefully like others before them, it will not be in vain.

[ion_theory]

28. K&R nt