General Discussion

Spazito

(55,541 posts)

124. Powerful post...

Sun Mar 8, 2015, 03:28 PM

Mar 2015

I would just say don't give Canada too much credit. We didn't have slavery but we did have segregated schools, the last one being closed in ...1982, repeat...1982. We didn't have Jim Crow laws but we did have, instead, a wink, wink, nod, nod acceptance of some of the practices found in the Jim Crow laws.

My mother worked in a store in Sydney, Nova Scotia when she was young and told me that her boss was the only one that would allow African Canadians to run a tab to the end of the month, payday, where running a tab was routine for everyone else.

I have spent the month of February upgrading my woefully inadequate understanding of what it meant and means to be "Black In Canada" (CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) had a series of 1/2 hour shows and I was appalled at how little of the history is taught, both in the past and the present.

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Parents upset 'Black Lives Matter' assembly excludes other races [View all] philosslayer Mar 2015 OP

Seems like a counter productive policy aikoaiko Mar 2015 #1

hmm marym625 Mar 2015 #2

Can't think of a single reason there would need to be any exclusion... pipoman Mar 2015 #4

That wasn't the intent, maybe you should read the article first. Rex Mar 2015 #9

Yeah, I read it...dealing with racial issues pipoman Mar 2015 #12

If that is what you drew from this article, you didn't read it. kwassa Mar 2015 #24

Just like the article said marym625 Mar 2015 #13

HMMmm...sounds like they got a taste of, you know... Rex Mar 2015 #3

But it seems like they missed an opportunity to educate white kids pnwmom Mar 2015 #5

Just found it ironic is all. Rex Mar 2015 #8

That is not what the African-American Affinity group sought to achieve ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #180

Yeah, that's helpful.... pipoman Mar 2015 #6

Thanks. Rex Mar 2015 #7

What an unfortunate conclusion Android3.14 Mar 2015 #177

Please, he wasn't "crowing" and he didn't say anybody deserved it. F4lconF16 Mar 2015 #188

This is why these movements ultimately fail LittleBlue Mar 2015 #10

As I said in #15..... AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #17

There is an assumption the students wanted to attend to support... Spazito Mar 2015 #11

Not true. The article says white students were turned away. DirkGently Mar 2015 #157

There is nothing in the article or in your excerpt that states the students... Spazito Mar 2015 #159

That's a needlessly uncharitable assumption, DirkGently Mar 2015 #161

Not uncharitable at all, simply realistic... Spazito Mar 2015 #163

Saying they wanted to attend was support. DirkGently Mar 2015 #164

No, I have attended events to protest and, I'm assuming you have as well... Spazito Mar 2015 #165

Right. And you went home when they didn't DirkGently Mar 2015 #166

LOL, mind reading is not your forte... Spazito Mar 2015 #167

So you won't or can't answer the question? DirkGently Mar 2015 #168

You really don't seem to understand 'affinity groups' and why they can be effective.. Spazito Mar 2015 #169

I am not understanding your point here. kwassa Mar 2015 #193

The problem I see with the affiinity group approach SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #14

Goddamn it. Are we ever going to fucking learn?!?!? AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #15

I mean really. There are times i feel the activist left is just as bad as the right. alp227 Mar 2015 #127

Did the biracial kids get to go for half of it? Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #16

I would sincerely hope not. nt AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #19

Stupidest thing I read today. Did the biracial kids get to go to half. Stupid. bravenak Mar 2015 #25

Save your breath, this board is not the place for people like you and me NoJusticeNoPeace Mar 2015 #26

I know. bravenak Mar 2015 #28

Do you think they even know the history of one drop rule? NoJusticeNoPeace Mar 2015 #30

They went to COLLEGE!!! Damn! bravenak Mar 2015 #32

Unless I'm missing the sarcasm somewhere, I think you're missing the point of that post. n/t Adrahil Mar 2015 #190

SAY it again and again and again. These folks SCREAM to the Heavens how they are the arbiters Number23 Mar 2015 #109

How would the school decide which kids are black enough to be allowed to attend the event? Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #29

All you gotta do is claim your heritage. We could give a fuck if you light skinned. bravenak Mar 2015 #36

I'm not going to defend a school using the "one drop" rule Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #41

You are creating a phony argument to avoid dealing with the article's substance. kwassa Mar 2015 #45

Ameria uses the one drop rule. You are being deliberately obtuse as usual. bravenak Mar 2015 #48

I don't defend the "one drop" rule being used anywhere. Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #53

Black kids get banned from living normal lives. You don't give two shits about that. bravenak Mar 2015 #54

Any racial discrimination is wrong. Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #57

I never see you show any concern about the racism that black people go through. bravenak Mar 2015 #60

You've never seen any of my posts showing concern about racism? Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #66

I've never seen you talk about the principal's strategy of using affinity groups. kwassa Mar 2015 #71

He's also proposing to allow an all-white group of students that excludes minorities. Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #75

With a grand finale of having a meeting with all the groups. kwassa Mar 2015 #79

Had to go back to August, eh? bravenak Mar 2015 #74

Here's one from December: Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #83

You seem WAY more comcerned about reverse racism. bravenak Mar 2015 #85

I believe that there is no such thing as "reverse racism". Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #88

I have goals not goal posts. bravenak Mar 2015 #103

as usual heaven05 Mar 2015 #120

Nice to see you too!! bravenak Mar 2015 #122

Hahaha. I read, people like you are racist. Oops azmom Mar 2015 #145

I have no idea what you mean. bravenak Mar 2015 #146

"Ameria uses the one drop rule." NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #197

Society decides what to classify you as. bravenak Mar 2015 #198

Why on earth would you exclude ANYONE form an event like this? n/t Adrahil Mar 2015 #191

When are you going to read the article and deal with the principal's purpose? kwassa Mar 2015 #40

Most people who want to racially discriminate come up with a bogus excuse (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #44

Are you accusing these people of wanting to racially disciminate? kwassa Mar 2015 #47

Banning students from an assembly based upon their perceived race Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #51

Why don't you care about the black kids getting left out? By society? Discriminated against? bravenak Mar 2015 #55

I am 100% in favor of a "black lives matter" assembly. Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #59

They aren't being killed in large numbers by law enforcement. bravenak Mar 2015 #63

What about the principal's strategy of using affinity groups? kwassa Mar 2015 #61

He wants to allow a group of white students that excludes non-white students? Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #69

and he brings all the groups together at the end. kwassa Mar 2015 #101

It's amazing to me that simple truth is being ignored... NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #98

And what simple truth must that be? kwassa Mar 2015 #106

please heaven05 Mar 2015 #119

You really can't expect better, Bravenak Scootaloo Mar 2015 #126

This place is jacked up. bravenak Mar 2015 #130

Or maybe he just doesn't agree with you. romanic Mar 2015 #208

He does agree with me. bravenak Mar 2015 #209

I meant entirely agree. romanic Mar 2015 #210

Nobody does that. Entirely agree. Nobody. If they say they do it's probably a lie. bravenak Mar 2015 #211

My old supervisor in the Air Force... NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #35

mmmmmmmm heaven05 Mar 2015 #118

I can understand the desire to keep the movement focused on race since this is a racial issue Wella Mar 2015 #18

Let's teach about racial discrimination being wrong by racially discriminating? Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #20

Let us comment about an article that we haven't read? kwassa Mar 2015 #23

It is apparent who read it and who did not. nt Rex Mar 2015 #39

Were they trying to teach about it or trying to get the black children to express their experiences? Wella Mar 2015 #86

I totally agree with you, and I think that is the exact purpose. kwassa Mar 2015 #94

That's what I gathered from the article Wella Mar 2015 #99

That makes a lot of sense. Chemisse Mar 2015 #131

Messaging can always affect the outcome despite good intention. Wella Mar 2015 #132

Nothing says equality like segregation Generic Brad Mar 2015 #110

Nothing says understanding like reading the article. kwassa Mar 2015 #113

I did read the article and I did comprehend it Generic Brad Mar 2015 #117

"Hopes to?" XemaSab Mar 2015 #152

I agree. HappyMe Mar 2015 #21

Maybe it's their prerogative... NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #31

Yep n/t SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #33

Read the article and learn why he did it. kwassa Mar 2015 #37

I read it. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #43

What do you think of the concept of affinity groups? kwassa Mar 2015 #49

I think they're another version of segregation. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #52

You didn't answer my question. What do you think of the affinity groups? kwassa Mar 2015 #56

NaturalHigh did answer your question n/t SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #62

I answered your question. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #65

so, you deny the principal's life experience as a black man ... kwassa Mar 2015 #67

If the principal were white... NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #72

No, and no. kwassa Mar 2015 #76

Okay, maybe I'm not making myself clear. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #82

And why will affinity groups lead to nothing good? What is wrong with them? kwassa Mar 2015 #91

I did read the article and I still disagree SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #46

What did you think of the principal's affinity group strategy? kwassa Mar 2015 #50

I'm against it SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #58

So, you are denying the principal's life experience as a black man? kwassa Mar 2015 #64

Of course I'm not denying his experiences SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #68

Segregation for one hour? This is crippling? kwassa Mar 2015 #81

Did I say crippling? SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #93

If this is a government funded public school GuntherGebelWilliams Mar 2015 #38

Read the article and learn why the principal did it. kwassa Mar 2015 #42

Why do you assume that anyone that disagrees hasn't read the article? SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #70

Because nobody, including you, is discussing the theory of affinity groups. kwassa Mar 2015 #73

No, I don't need to discuss it SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #77

OK. Your white experience is more important than his black experience. kwassa Mar 2015 #78

You have an interesting habit SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #102

You misunderstand the purpose of the meeting in the first place. kwassa Mar 2015 #105

You're free to believe whatever you choose SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #114

Actually it is. A public school is responsible for the safety and well being of all its students Wella Mar 2015 #125

Said every segregationist ever XemaSab Mar 2015 #153

That's inappropriate in this situation Wella Mar 2015 #175

Typical DU poutrage. Let's all fly off the handle before we read the article. kwassa Mar 2015 #22

Like mainstream America, DU has many many white people who have no clue about race buT NoJusticeNoPeace Mar 2015 #27

+1 uponit7771 Mar 2015 #34

I kind of feel like I'm either HappyMe Mar 2015 #84

DUers arguing in favor of racially exclusionary student groups, Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #87

Ready to discuss affinity groups yet? or are you going to keep avoiding it? kwassa Mar 2015 #90

OK. "Affinity groups" that exclude students based upon their race are stupid, misguided, Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #95

And why are they stupid, misguided and counterproductive? kwassa Mar 2015 #96

Because he struggles with race it's okay to throw that on the students? XemaSab Mar 2015 #154

I'm not sure what you are saying here. kwassa Mar 2015 #156

I'm responding to these words: XemaSab Mar 2015 #158

Talking with those like you is the first step. kwassa Mar 2015 #160

Frankly ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #182

Yeah. Those poor white kids. HappyMe Mar 2015 #92

"It was only white parents that whined about this"... NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #192

it sounds like a very pale universe ... kwassa Mar 2015 #89

Yup. HappyMe Mar 2015 #97

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #134

And you are? ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #135

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #137

Well then welcome ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #138

A denizen of the library. greatauntoftriplets Mar 2015 #139

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #141

Oak Park Public Library uppityperson Mar 2015 #144

Bummer there is no vaccination against questions huh? NutmegYankee Mar 2015 #140

vaccinations cause dis-ease, rational thought can also cause un-ease. uppityperson Mar 2015 #143

"he knows firsthand that it can be challenging to be open in a mixed-race group." Number23 Mar 2015 #111

Hah! I didn't even see that irony. kwassa Mar 2015 #112

You know how in 6th grade, schools take the girls aisde & dicuss U4ikLefty Mar 2015 #199

I agree with your assessment completely. Number23 Mar 2015 #205

Affinity groups make sense Matrosov Mar 2015 #121

Thank you. kwassa Mar 2015 #148

You think white people are comfortable talking about race with other whites? XemaSab Mar 2015 #155

You are correct. I am White and uncomfortable talking about race with other whites! ieoeja Mar 2015 #183

That's because ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #185

And that might be an interesting starting point ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #184

You apparently haven't been in a diversity workshop. kwassa Mar 2015 #195

This was remarkably stupid on the part of the principal kiva Mar 2015 #80

+1. And now he's apparently proposing to have a "white affinity group" that excludes non-whites. Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #100

You ignore the part about how he brings all the groups together at the end. kwassa Mar 2015 #104

Do you have a link for that, though? nt AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #136

Many times as black people, we can't have anything for ourselves in this country... MrScorpio Mar 2015 #107

Thank you for articulating that truth. bravenak Mar 2015 #108

I think I must have misunderstood your comment. hughee99 Mar 2015 #206

If you had grown up in the US, you would understand the rage of Black people. raging moderate Mar 2015 #115

I just want to say, I loved this comment most in this thread. bravenak Mar 2015 #123

Powerful post... Spazito Mar 2015 #124

Very interesting post. I'm especially struck by your comments about trauma Wella Mar 2015 #129

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #212

I don't like the idea romanic Mar 2015 #116

the white kids can have their own separate function mwrguy Mar 2015 #128

Isn't that sort of like segregation? NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #133

The groups are segregated but the schools don't become segregated gollygee Mar 2015 #147

I don't see that this will improve communication... NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #170

There are experts in anti-racism work who have set this up gollygee Mar 2015 #173

Okay...whatever. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #174

Do you think there is any benefit in white people ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #186

I'm pretty familiar with what you think. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #187

Good, then I have effectively communicated my position ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #194

Ah, so they would be "separate". But would they be "equal"? Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #149

Yes mwrguy Mar 2015 #151

LOL... NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #171

So you are against separate boys and girls locker rooms? U4ikLefty Mar 2015 #200

I'm against separate black and white locker rooms, Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #201

I'm not a talking about analogies, there is SEGREGATION of the sexes going on U4ikLefty Mar 2015 #202

Justifying racial segregation based upon separate-sex restroom facilities Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #207

damn, the affinity group thing is a simple and understandable concept. m-lekktor Mar 2015 #142

I think you understand the objection ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #150

White people know what is best for you, surely you have figured that out by now. NoJusticeNoPeace Mar 2015 #176

Yes ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #178

You couldn't have dragged me kicking and screaming into a "white only" group in high school. Yo_Mama Mar 2015 #203

Me neither. AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #204

You don't think there's a need for a safe space for kids of color bettyellen Mar 2015 #213

Correct me if I am wrong ripcord Mar 2015 #162

No, you're not wrong. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #172

If you are really seeking informative correction, then ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #179

I'm not bothered by it ripcord Mar 2015 #181

I hope you did not take offense to my response ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #189

Don't worry it takes more than that to offend me ripcord Mar 2015 #196