We didn't hang that flag, say fraternity/Greenville, NC

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Once again, its not MLK as much as other things. Maynard Jackson, in my opinion, was a racist. Against white people. I fully support the black community when they are fighting against real prejudice and when they are also trying to help themselves. For example, that march where black men walk their children to school, great idea. Regarding Kansas, I dunno, I just need to get out of Atlanta.

Shinerbock,
can you offer anything, specifically, that Maynard Jackson did to be labeled a racist in your opinion? ...specifically.

Maynard Jackson was an esteemed and well-loved fraternity brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., whose work on this earth did much to advance Atlanta as a city and the south as a region.

to those who did not know of Bro. Jackson's accomplishments and care for an unbiased view, read on:

Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. (March 23, 1938 – June 23, 2003) was an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the first African-American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He served three terms, two consecutive terms from 1974 until 1982 and a third term from 1990 to 1994.

Jackson graduated from Morehouse College in 1956 when he was only eighteen. After attending Boston University law school for a short time, he held several jobs, including selling encyclopedias, before attending the North Carolina Central University law school, graduating in 1964.

He helped rebuild Hartsfield International Airport to modern standards, which was renamed Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in his honor shortly after his death. He was also mayor when MARTA began rapid transit service in Atlanta, and when Atlanta won as host of the 1996 Centennial Summer Olympics in September 1990. His term as mayor also coincided with the Atlanta Child Murders case, in which he played a prominent role.

He died of cardiac arrest at an Arlington, Virginia hospital after suffering a heart attack at Reagan National Airport in June 2003. He is buried on commons ground at Oakland Cemetery, on a plot dedicated by the City of Atlanta.

Jackson was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.

[FATALlady357]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Shinerbock,
can you offer anything, specifically, that Maynard Jackson did to be labeled a racist in your opinion? ...specifically.

Maynard Jackson was an esteemed and well-loved fraternity brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., whose work on this earth did much to advance Atlanta as a city and the south as a region.

to those who did not know of Bro. Jackson's accomplishments and care for an unbiased view, read on:

Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. (March 23, 1938 – June 23, 2003) was an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the first African-American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He served three terms, two consecutive terms from 1974 until 1982 and a third term from 1990 to 1994.

Jackson graduated from Morehouse College in 1956 when he was only eighteen. After attending Boston University law school for a short time, he held several jobs, including selling encyclopedias, before attending the North Carolina Central University law school, graduating in 1964.

He helped rebuild Hartsfield International Airport to modern standards, which was renamed Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in his honor shortly after his death. He was also mayor when MARTA began rapid transit service in Atlanta, and when Atlanta won as host of the 1996 Centennial Summer Olympics in September 1990. His term as mayor also coincided with the Atlanta Child Murders case, in which he played a prominent role.

He died of cardiac arrest at an Arlington, Virginia hospital after suffering a heart attack at Reagan National Airport in June 2003. He is buried on commons ground at Oakland Cemetery, on a plot dedicated by the City of Atlanta.

Jackson was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.

Bro. Jackson was also a Prince Hall Mason as was his grandfather PGM John Wesley Dobbs...

It sounds to me that the young man who is trying to paint Bro. Jackson as a racist and wants to 'get out of Atlanta' just does not like the 'diversity' Atlanta has to offer.

[shinerbock]

I came back just in time. I'm not painting Jackson as anything. Was he racist? I have no idea. Did he do things that many considered racist? Yes.

Heres my take on Jackson: He pushed so hard against the Lester Maddox's of the world, that he pursued his goals beyond equality. I think he wanted black people to control Atlanta, and for black businesses to be the most successful in Atlanta. Unfortunately, while fighting whatever inequality was left behind following the civil rights era, he and others refused to notice what was happening to the city, and refused to blame the black community for many of the problems.

He probably did some good things for Atlanta, but he also did some pretty bad things as well. Thus, many people were upset by tacking his name onto Hartsfield Airport.

*Another note, about the confederate flag...I, and most everyone I know, would think a black guy flying the confederate flag was awesome. Not because it is a novelty thing, but rather because here is somebody, who although a different race, believes in and takes pride in our (and likely his) southern heritage. Obviously people do fly it for racist reasons, but I think if it were generally a race thing, white people would be upset at blacks flying it. People need to realize that just because individuals or groups protest or dislike things that are involved in black culture does not make them racist.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I came back just in time. I'm not painting Jackson as anything. Was he racist? I have no idea. Did he do things that many considered racist? Yes.

Heres my take on Jackson: He pushed so hard against the Lester Maddox's of the world, that he pursued his goals beyond equality. I think he wanted black people to control Atlanta, and for black businesses to be the most successful in Atlanta. Unfortunately, while fighting whatever inequality was left behind following the civil rights era, he and others refused to notice what was happening to the city, and refused to blame the black community for many of the problems.

He probably did some good things for Atlanta, but he also did some pretty bad things as well. Thus, many people were upset by tacking his name onto Hartsfield Airport.

So where's the racism? It reads like he wanted to challenge the status quo and empower a community of people that had been in disproportionate poverty, underemployment, and poor education. One city in this country where blacks are successful business owners and are advancing hardly constitutes a system of racism (including actions and ideologies) where thousands to millions of people are given unequal life chances. Whites weren't given the short end of the stick in all of this--the playing field was just leveled.

You said "racist"--but now you all backtracking and saying he did things that "many" considered "racist." I hate it when people throw catch phrases and terms around and have absolutely no basis for it.

[KAY10]

I wish this country would put that flag to rest. It serves no purpose but to intimidate people of color. I hate that flag.

[sdsuchelle]

Originally Posted by KAY10

I wish this country would put that flag to rest. It serves no purpose but to intimidate people of color. I hate that flag.

AGREED.

I don't understand why people say it represents Southern pride. What, that you're proud your region fought to keep slavery legal?

Even if it *did* represent Southern pride, it doesn't anymore. The swastika was used for tons of things before the Nazis took it... so does that mean it's okay to use? No, it's become a hateful symbol in today's culture.

The Confederate Flag is pointless and racist. If people want to fly it, fine, but I'm going to assume that they're a bigot, because that's what it means to me (and many other people).

PS: We're all Americans -- why try to seperate yourselves because you're from the South? Does that make you better than everyone else? I mean, I don't have a flag of California hanging on my wall.

[KAY10]

Originally Posted by sdsuchelle

AGREED.

I don't understand why people say it represents Southern pride. What, that you're proud your region fought to keep slavery legal?

Even if it *did* represent Southern pride, it doesn't anymore. The swastika was used for tons of things before the Nazis took it... so does that mean it's okay to use? No, it's become a hateful symbol in today's culture.

The Confederate Flag is pointless and racist. If people want to fly it, fine, but I'm going to assume that they're a bigot, because that's what it means to me (and many other people).

PS: We're all Americans -- why try to seperate yourselves because you're from the South? Does that make you better than everyone else? I mean, I don't have a flag of California hanging on my wall.

LOL. The California flag. Too funny.

Wow. I didn't know the swastika was used before the Nazis used it. Kool. I learned something.

P.S. Well said. Strong sorority too.

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by sdsuchelle

Even if it *did* represent Southern pride, it doesn't anymore. The swastika was used for tons of things before the Nazis took it... so does that mean it's okay to use? No, it's become a hateful symbol in today's culture.

That depend on the contents. The Swastika is still use regulary and openly in Asian nations. There is a hotel in Bali name Swastika. So, why should a culture that have use the symbol for thousand of years be forced to stop using a symbol which they do not find offensive?