Quote:
Originally posted by KellyB369
I do not call anyone a white leader so I can't relate to what is being said about black leaders. I understand that you would not support someone just because they are the same race as you, but I don't understand why so many black people say there are not enough blacks in leadership roles but then the blacks who are leaders don't really seem to count because of their views. If we had a black president who was a staunch Republican and did not support the so-called black issues would your race not be glad that a black person was finally elected to such a high honor? ((emphasis added)Maybe you wouldn't be because you say that racial background doesn't matter but I think that people who just want blacks to have more leadership in this country should be happy with that regardless of their views. I HATE Hillary but if she was elected Pres I would at least think it was a positive step for women.
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(This is not directed just to KellyB369)
Hear me and hear me good...this is the fundamental problem with the way minority groups are dealt with in this country. I cannot speak for my race. Colin Powell cannot speak for my race. My soror msn4med1975 cannot speak for my race. In 19 years of education and 6 years of professional work I have come to be sick to death of being asked to answer questions for all of the Back people in America. This is part of the marginilization of minorities in America. It seems ridiculous to ask any random white person to speak for all white people in the country yet it is some how acceptable to do it to a person of color. It happens in workplaces and classrooms throughout the country daily. It is an extension of the US/THEM mentality that is still so prevalent. We are viewed as a cohesive group that should all think, act and be alike. There is little room for true diversity of viewpoints within the race.
There is a profound difference between being a leader who is Black and Black leader. The latter implies you are out to lead Black people. Many of those deemed by themselves or the media to be Black leaders are not leading me and countless other Black folks anywhere. Unless all white folks are expected to unequivocally support whatever another white person does, do not expect that Black people will do it either.
Should a Black person become President, I will be pleased that the country could look past race when selecting a leader. If I do not agree with that President's ideology, THEY WILL NOT GET MY VOTE regardless of the fact that he or she is Black.
As far a Reagan is concerned- a person died and that is always sad. I am sure his family is heartbroken. At the same time he was 93 ad had a long life. Part of life is accepting that we will all be called home at some time. As far as the deifying of Reagan that is going on in the media right now, I am sick of it. He was the president like 39 before him and 3 since. I never found him to be an exceptional president, I found his policies to be steeped in classism and an underlying racism that many will not admit to. So be it. He had been out of office for over a decade. Revisionary history bothers me but it part of human nature. The thing about history is that the one telling the story gets to determine what the truth will be. How his era is taught going forward will be interesting.