Quote:
Originally posted by The Original Ape:
If you are an African-American, and you witness or are the object of any type of action that negatively affects any human; and that action is clearly done out of jealousy, hatred or even dislike towards African-Americans-and you DON'T SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT, YOU ARE A SELLOUT.
There comes a time when SILENCE IS BETRAYAL; so if Collin Powell, Candoleeze, or any other prominent African-American that has access to the media ignores wrong-doing for the sake of fear of making waves, THEY ARE SELL-OUTS. NO ANDS, ORS, BUTS ABOUT IT.
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I hear what you are saying TOA, I really do, but as a "corporate slave" I must say this...to truly effect change in this day and age I think you must have agitation on the outside AND someone on the inside affecting change. I am in HR. I cannot tell you how many times I have been in discussions about possible candidates for jobs and a white counterpart told me that someone was "cocky" or "had a chip on their shoulder" or "didn't seem friendly." One guess on what race those people were.
I had 3 choices in those situations... I could have:
1) Started grinning and agreeing with her
2) Get her told about what a racist so and so she is
3) Focus the conversations back on the competencies for the position and point out how that person had the qualities we were looking for.
Most times I choose #3 (although catch me on the right day and I will go #2 on yo a$$!!)
I think sometimes we expect the Colin Powells of the world to be firebrands and if they are not they are sellouts. I don't think that is the case. I'll give you another example--Bryant Gumbel ((ducking to avoid the tomatoes being thrown my way)) Most Black folks will brand him a sell-out. Now, Bryants new found love of blonde white women aside, I think Bryant is far from a sell-out. For instance, he is a MAJOR supporter of UNCF and has spoken about it casually and in formal settings when he was on the Today Show. It is because of Bryant (almost singlehandedly) that the Today Show did that week (or was it 2 weeks?) in Africa a few years ago. No other network had done that. If Bryant had been branded a 'Black nationalist' early in his career he would have never gotten those opportunities. Sometimes we just gotta know what battles to pick and sometimes silence does not mean agreement, but it means waiting for a more opportune time.