Ok. So who invited all the token negroes?

[bravenak]

This one is just as silly as the last one. Fucking cornball, looks stupid defending this jackass Klanner

[pnwmom]

1. Yeah, they all had dinner with him and they know he's just great.

[bravenak]

2. I hate them

[mercuryblues]

3. IDK

which one you are talking about because they are all the same. I wish our school systems weren't torn apart under Reagan.

[bravenak]

31. The last one

[meow2u3]

4. I was wondering why all those Uncle Toms came out of the woodwork

How much did the Koch Bros. pay them to testify?

[bravenak]

32. They better have been paid very bigly

[Grey Lemercier]

5. same bad patch they dug old (unfortunately not old enough) Clarence Thomas up from

[brooklynite]

6. Would it hurt to provide some context as to what this post is about?

Senate Hearings?

Trump Press Conference?

[a kennedy]

8. Was for the Sessions hearings. eom

[bravenak]

14. Sessions confirmation hearing

Gross

[Demonaut]

7. that's a bit offensive

[Grey Lemercier]

9. not as offensive as their actions, they are despicable sell-outs for us PoC

[NWCorona]

11. Do you know them personally?

[Grey Lemercier]

18. do you?

Their actions and goals are a direct threat to us. Sessions will be horrific as AG, especially on civil rights.

[NWCorona]

26. No I don't. That's why I wouldn't use that term againt another black man unless I knew them.

That's just me tho.

[Grey Lemercier]

36. That is an unworkable stance for life in general. If you have to know

a person personally to criticise their actions then this board and almost all political discussion everywhere would instantly cease to exist.

[NWCorona]

38. I didn't say you couldn't form an option or state it.

I just don't use Uncle Tom loosely. I think calling them a sell out might be more appropriate.

[Grey Lemercier]

40. I didn't call them Uncle Toms. That was another poster.

[NWCorona]

49. I'll give you that and my apologies. That image was used as a reference

But you didn't actually call them an uncle Tom.

[bravenak]

12. So are they

[philosslayer]

42. No its not. It all has to do with context.

African Americans defending racists can safely be termed "token negroes"

[MrScorpio]

64. Not as offensive as self-serving black people, operating only in the interests of white supremacy nt

FDT

[NWCorona]

10. Even though I disagree with you from time to time I generally respect your point of view

But this is a bit much.

And then the caricatures that followed are....

I don't think this will survive a jury.

[bravenak]

13. That fine

[Raster]

17. Brave, we've disagreed before, and YOU ARE 100% CORRECT...

...Sessions is a racist pig, plain and simple. By their actions, you shall know them. We've seen Jeff Sessions' actions, we know who he is. HE IS NOT FIT FOR OFFICE.

[bravenak]

21. He sure is

I refuse to respect people who defend his ass

[arithia]

16. "i'm not racist, I have a black friend!"

Is an old fallacy that's being trotted out for the Sessions proceedings.

Pointing it out should hopefully survive a jury, particularly given just how many diverse cultural references we have to this phenomenon.

Uncle Ruckus anyone?

[blue cat]

22. My dad loves me

But I am sure that he absolutely hates liberals.
I'm sure it can be true of a lot of things.

[NWCorona]

30. And that's definitely something to be discussed but I think the African American group would be

A better place for that.

[arithia]

37. possibly. possibly not.

I personally find no reason to enter a safe space to point out widely known cultural tropes about race/racism and bad logic, particularly when we are discussing the future AG of the US. "Uncle Tom" is a term in the American vocabulary for a reason.

This is a man who was cool with the clan till he found out some of em smoked pot. Trotting out a hand full of black witnesses to testify on your behalf doesn't negate a lifetime of discriminatory language and questionable professional stances with regards to race and class. At best, such individuals appear more as a slight of hand and distraction from Sessions behavior as opposed to an actual change in mentality and policy.

He hasn't demonstrated the capacity to change. He just trotted out some black people and said he did (while the Trump team disseminated lies about black voters to people in the audience, I might add).

And we are supposed to believe he has the interests of minority groups at heart from this.

No, I don't think this discussion belongs in a segregated section of DU.

[NWCorona]

47. I never thought of the African American Group as a "safe space" or segregated at all

I've seen a few white posters there and it's open to all. This just seems like a black centric post to me.

[arithia]

51. "Black centric"?

I would like to point out that as a LGTBQ person, I have a horse in this race too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-lgbt-rights_us_58346cd9e4b030997bc1524f

I am disabled, so another horse.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-slammed-law-protecting-schoolchildren-disabilities_us_583cf751e4b06539a78a3bdc

Another horse for being female- he's voted AGAINST the VAWA. He is endorsed by anti-choice groups that support the execution of abortion providers.

http://www.dailydot.com/irl/jeff-sessions-anti-woman/

Pointing out the tropes and tricks he is using to defend himself against accusations of discrimination isn't limited to african american related issues. This would be no different if he trotted out Milo Yannawhatever or a disabled person or a woman to say "he loves us!". "Uncle Toms" come in many forms.

GD strikes me as the best place to discuss the tactics of a known bigot who is about to have power over so many of us.

[NWCorona]

57. Yes they do have a horse in this race. I never said that they didnt.

But this thread doesn't list them in the headline does it?

You seem to be arguing something that I'm not.

[arithia]

63. *sigh*

I'm arguing that pointing out an Uncle Tom defense isn't "black centric".

1) Uncle Toms can come in non-black forms, despite the origin of the term

2) Discussion of illogical tactics to dismiss valid criticism of bias isn't "black centric"

My point to you been that there is no reason to move such a discussion out of GD just because some people get all squeamish at any mention of race. This affects all of us. His tactics affect all of us.

These aren't smart ponies we are talking about. They don't learn very many tricks. Understanding and educating others about their repertoire is important because it makes those tricks lose their power.

There is no need to hide such discussion away in "special interest" subforums, particularly since invisibility is part and parcel of institutional prejudice. This man is supposed to represent millions of people who encounter discrimination every day. That he (and the Trump administration) would use such a cheap tactic to distract from his history of bigotry and bias should be something EVERYONE on DU (and in this country) should be appalled by.

[LanternWaste]

54. You're really digging your heels into quicksand on this one.

You're really digging your heels into quicksand on this one.

[NWCorona]

58. What ever

[heaven05]

60. what are you talking about!!!!???

given our upcoming racist-in-chief, any discussion in any forum here is fertile ground for discussion(s) of race and racism. I know some from GD blanch when AA's make a valid point on race in that forum, suck it up and deal with the truth, if you can. Don't try to segregate people because YOU ARE uncomfortable with an historical truth that AA's have been dealing with for generations....uncle tom running to massa to point the direction the escaping slave went....sessions "black friends"? Same situation, different time. geez!!!!!!!!

[NWCorona]

62. So now you are in my head because of a few comments? Ok

[GusBob]

19. I just served on a jury fot the OP. It still stands

Then again, I know what alerts against brave are all about

pretty ironic if you think about it

[NWCorona]

33. It is what it is.

[heaven05]

61. true that

[heaven05]

56. I think it will

because every thinking aware PoC is at risk when "token negroes" like this show up defending their massa for whatever reason...YOU GO BRAVE!!!!! Keep that truth out there and ones who can't see it, feel it and haven't experienced it, don't even waste your time on them, there are more important considerations at play here with "uncle toms" defending their massa. Historically the truth has always been denied by these "tokens" for whatever reason their damaged minds and lives rationalize....truth is... with this incoming racist-in-chief I expect many more lawn jockeys with brown skin on lawns that will herald the return to the "good old days" for many in this country. Clarence thomas will always be the biggest sellout uncle tom of my time in this racist country. He has served his massa well as these clowns for sessions have. Good to 'hear' from you...

[NWCorona]

59. It obviously did.

And good to hear from you

[Raster]

15. I think the Sessions crew put out an Uncle Tom casting call...

...and I agree with the Congressional Black Caucus, relegating Rep. John Lewis' testimony to the end was akin to sitting him at the back of the bus. FUCKING DISGRACEFUL!

[JustAnotherGen]

20. Thank you!

[bravenak]

23. No probs!

[bravenak]

24. Massa Sessions

[NCTraveler]

25. I respect your opinion and get what you are saying.

I just can't go there.

I did find the scene somewhat appalling.

[bravenak]

28. It embarassed me to my core to see that shameful display

[Bucky]

27. This is the United States of America. When you scoop up all the fools, you get a nice cross-section

Equality is a two way street

[bravenak]

29. Absolutely

[sheshe2]

34. Say it ain't so...

[JHan]

35. Fuck em

[guillaumeb]

39. Recommended.

But Sessions said his Klan robe has been hanging in his closet for so long that it is yellow. He keeps it only because it has historical relevance.

[bravenak]

41. Lol

[arithia]

43. i think we all know that's not the reason why it's yellow :P n/t

[guillaumeb]

44. Sessions and Trump in a little session of their own?

No dinner for me tonight. A sudden loss of appetite.

[arithia]

46. haha apologies

Just couldn't resist

[ecstatic]

45. And all of them seemed to suggest that because Sessions was nice to THEM personally,

that somehow that makes Sessions qualified for the job. Apples and oranges. The klansmen were cordial with W. Kamau Bell when he visited for that CNN special. Unfortunately, those witnesses provided rethugs with the cover needed to vote for Sessions without looking like outright racists.

What we need is an AG who will be proactive in promoting and maintaining justice for all.

Frankly, we also need someone who is internet / tech savvy because of the new era we're in and the legal questions that come with it.

[bravenak]

52. Each one of them knew exactly what they were doing and how they looked

They should have joined us in fighting this confirmation, but they are just like Uncle Ruckus

[ecstatic]

53. Hopefully you caught Rep. Cedric Richmond's blistering rebuttal:

"History is replete with efforts by those in power to legitimize their acts of suppression and intimidation of black voters by recruiting other blacks to assist in bringing trumped up charges against law abiding citizens..."

[bravenak]

55. I did, I jumped up whooping and fist pumping

We always have a type of asshole selling us out, nice to see him fight back. It was a disgrace

[malaise]

48. They made me sick

[bravenak]

50. Me too