White fragility (lot of this around here recently!):

[MADem]

142. One thing they DON'T have in common is thread after thread of poutrage.

The number of threads started about these three young women is ... pathological, with no small amount of a "How DARE they?" and "Don't they know what's BEST for their kind?" vibe about them.

It's offensive and noticeable. Some protesters get cut more slack than others. Obviously.

More to the point, getting angry at them, and then saying "Ah ha--look at all the white people who showed up at the evening rally, so THERE!" like the problem is solved is whistling in the dark.

I'm not a fan of rudeness on any level, let me make that clear. However, the combination of anger and dismissiveness in response to this protest, and the whole "Father (or Mother) Knows Best" attitude is not the way to create alliances. No one wins the nomination, never mind the general, without the African American vote. That's why any campaign worth their salt will address the serious issues that have been raised and are calling out for justice. If they don't, they LOSE. It's quite simple, really. And trying to wrap the issues and these three young ladies with their protest up in a package and throw them all to the side ain't gonna cut it. And the whole "They don't know about his history?" That doesn't cut it either. Bravenak tried to explain this to people here, and got her threads hidden for her trouble. There was an article that resonated in the AA community that basically said "So What?" about all that "I Marched With MLK" stuff--and it got posted here so people could get a sense of how people are TAKING this campaign--and guess what? It got HIDDEN.

People who don't want to know will eventually find out. To their dismay...