B.E.T.'s Comments on President Reagan
 

Well, while flipping though the channels I happened to catch a moment of BET tonight. They were running their news and they felt the need to imply that President Reagan was a racist. I love it! - He's not even buried yet and the producers of the show feel the need to say that.
I'm positive had it been President Clinton who had recently passed (not that I want that to happen) and news anchors had brought up the sex scandal(s) there would be a national uproar, about the lack of respect for the recently dead President.
Comments....................???

All jokes aside you don't think that when Clinton passes on that they won't mention the sex scandal? They have been discussing all aspects of Reagan, both good and bad, since he died. Just as some folks will see Cinton as the worse president ever with horrific morals OTHERS will see various parts of Reagan's tenure as less than ideal. I've actually been amazed at the things mainstream news has NOT discussed since the man died. Without seeing the WHOLE program or providing a transcript of it, I think it's unfair at best to blast BET or ask others to do it based on your perceptions.

BET
 

Go to www.bet.com - click on the news link - it's under Reagan's legacy. The typed version is less synical than the broadcast.

However, I wasn't trying to insite a boycott against b.e.t. or get O'Reilly involved (man is he annoying). I posted the info on the amount of the news show that b.e.t. aired, that I saw.

I'd also like to note that Reagan was instrumental in the careers of Colin Powell and Dr. Condoleezza Rice, as well as many other black leaders. I would love to see some solid evidence about Reagan's so-called racism, as I don't believe that for a second. Reagan was a good man who was most certainly not a racist. I think this is coming from left-wing media who want to downplay the importance and contributions of Reagan because he was a conservative Republican, and I think it was a heartless thing to say while his family and the nation is mourning.

Being Black and in office does NOT make you a Black leader. Condi and Colin do not SPEAK for most African Americans. They represent themselves as individuals who HAPPEN to be Black. And I'm sorry apointing people to office doesn't necessarily make you a champion of any minority group. Picking the most qualified individual who happened to be a minority just makes good sense. This is not an attack on Reagan or anyone else it's just reality in the sense that at the moment there are no prominent Blacks that I would identify as LEADERS. I also would like to add that while I feel his family's pain all of the nation is not in mourning. There are large segments of the country that are just trying to survive right now and while they regret the passing of an indvidual they aren't thinking of ways to pay tribute to Reagan.

Let the church say AMEN!

*back to my paper*

So, if you wouldn't mind.. please do tell.. who would you call "black leaders"?

I don't know. For anyone to proclaim them as a "leader" of people of their race is a little presumptuous. Perhaps calling them a purveyor and spokesperson for a certain group of people with a certain point of view -- or even a "leader" of a certain movement (because to be part of the movement implies acceptance of the movement's goals). But it just doesn't sit right with me to have someone called a white, black or purple leader.

I don't think President Reagan was ever referred to as a "white" leader.

:D I love it! You are so right! I never hear of Reagan or any other white person being called a "white leader" but you def. hear about so-and-so being a "black leader" or a "leader of the black community." Why does is have to be about color???

If I'm not mistaken, Pike mentioned the term "black leader" first. I refute the myth of the "black leader" all of the time. Seriously, maybe you don't realize it as you're not black, but we have self-appointed leaders that the mainstream media accepts as our own, and because of statements like the 4th reply in the post, the myth is propagated. There have been excellent leaders who just happen to be black. They could lead ALL of us, not just 12% of the population.

Colin and Condoleeza DO NOT speak to my reality. They are not my leaders. Why should I care what administration appointed them? Should I be grateful that Reagan selected them?

Great points.

I read the article (here is the link for those interested) and didn't see where they called or implied that he was racist. It publicized his voting record and stance on issues that affected African Americans. And if it wasn't favorable, well then it just wasn't. That's not disrespect, that's the truth.

http://www.bet.com/package/0,,p552,00.html

As was posted earlier, I'm sure when Bill Clinton passes, he will go through the same scrutiny.

Reagan was far from racist. During his high school football-playing days, there were a number of incidents when his team was traveling to places where his black teammates were not allowed to eat or stay with the rest of the team. He and his teammates stuck together, offering to sleep on the bus or in once instance traveling back to Reagan's own family home where the team (black, white, etc.) would stay. These incidents of racism had a profound effect on him for the rest of his life, and he made sure that everyone had an equal opportunity. Plus, don't forget that Reagan was the president who signed the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday act into law. Hardly the act of a racist.

I could never understand why people say that minority leaders have to represent minority issues. I thought that it was good enough just to get an ethnic minority or a woman (of any race) representing you in politics. I mean, should a pro-life female politician be seen as negative just because she doesn't believe in abortion? Or what about hispanic or Asian politicians who are not pro-ethnic languages but for the improving of access to English language classes for immigrants (left wing support groups seem to be for ethnic language labels and signs in the respective communities)? Are these peoplegood representatives/role models for their respective communities or are they not?

Al Sharpton.

Nobody is ever referred to as a "white leader" because most leaders are white in our country -- it's redundant, like saying "child prodigy" or "close proximity." If I were a member of a minority group that has experienced oppression, you're darn right I'd like to have leaders from my race who I feel understand my needs and issues. I'm not black so I can't speak to who would be considered a "black leader" but I really don't think that Rice, Powell or Clarence Thomas would be included.

Re: B.E.T.'s Comments on President Reagan
 

People are talked about when they are alive.

People are talked about when they are dead.

Elected officials, politicians, celebrities, religious leaders, (whether or not they are well liked/received/respected) are NOT EXEMPT.

I'm quite sure that the above listed, along with the late Ronald Reagan, knows/knew that not everyone agrees/agreed with how he/she handle things.