Sen. Strom Thurmond

[steelepike]

Bring it.

[adduncan]

I have no idea whether Thurmond or any other racist changed their views on racism throughout their life. I am really not going to comment whether someone is only black/white/green/whatever "on the outside". But I have a question that popped up in my head based on this discussion.

I've got the impression from all of these discussions that if a racist of any type learns that their views are wrong, and tries to make amends and turn over a new leaf, it won't matter. They will never be "forgiven" (if that's even the right term) and they will always be branded a racist for the rest of their lives and beyond and nothing they ever say or do will change that.

The question is: is this true?
If not, what can a former racist do to show once and for all they've changed their ways?

I'm looking forward to some profound insights on this.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by adduncan
I have no idea whether Thurmond or any other racist changed their views on racism throughout their life. I am really not going to comment whether someone is only black/white/green/whatever "on the outside". But I have a question that popped up in my head based on this discussion.

I've got the impression from all of these discussions that if a racist of any type learns that their views are wrong, and tries to make amends and turn over a new leaf, it won't matter. They will never be "forgiven" (if that's even the right term) and they will always be branded a racist for the rest of their lives and beyond and nothing they ever say or do will change that.

The question is: is this true?
If not, what can a former racist do to show once and for all they've changed their ways?

I'm looking forward to some profound insights on this.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

Good question Adrienne.

Great question. IMHO, I think that if a person wants to truly repent of past sins because they have changed, then first, you must apologize and seek forgiveness from the person that you wronged.

That was something that Strom never did, which is probably the reason why a lot of people believe that his "change of heart" was not brought on by his convictions, but moreso motivated by political gain and popularity.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
That was something that Strom never did, which is probably the reason why a lot of people believe that his "change of heart" was not brought on by his convictions, but moreso motivated by political gain and popularity.

I think many people forget that Strom never apologized for being the way he was; in fact, someone else brought it up to me very recently. Yes, he did hire one black staffer, and did some things to attract a black vote. It is my belief that he did this because where he didn't have to do anything to make himself attractive to black voters before, the post-Civil Rights movement era made it imperative for him and his peers to cater to African-Americans--hence the token hirings and actions. In order to remain in the Senate for as long as he did, some sort of change--real or superficial--was necessary.

[enlightenment06]

[enlightenment06]

Originally posted by adduncan
I have no idea whether Thurmond or any other racist changed their views on racism throughout their life. I am really not going to comment whether someone is only black/white/green/whatever "on the outside". But I have a question that popped up in my head based on this discussion.

I've got the impression from all of these discussions that if a racist of any type learns that their views are wrong, and tries to make amends and turn over a new leaf, it won't matter. They will never be "forgiven" (if that's even the right term) and they will always be branded a racist for the rest of their lives and beyond and nothing they ever say or do will change that.

The question is: is this true?
If not, what can a former racist do to show once and for all they've changed their ways?

I'm looking forward to some profound insights on this.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

I think for someone who was so identified with racism as Strom Thurmond was, they're going to have to go to the other end of the spectrum to prove they've changed. It's not enough to say "my bad, just won't do it again." You've got to right those wrongs. Hiring one black staffer, voting for the King Holiday, and some of the other stuff Strom Thurmond did just wasn't enough. Those are political moves. I'll give you an example, Minister Louis Farrakhan no longer says white people are devils. In fact, just about every speech I've heard from him since he became ill he has talked about how we're all one people, and how we need to come together, ALL people. That was part of what the Million Family March was about. So yes, someone can change, but you really have to prove yourself.

[enlightenment06]

Let me ask another question:

If Strom Thurmond really changed, why did he...

switch to the Republican Party

support Richard Nixon who ran on a "Silent Majority" campaign, which was really like Strom's campaing only repackaged

come to be known as one of the architects of the modern Republican party which, during the last presidential election, garnered less than 5% of African-American support?

Just something to think about...

And another thing...for some of us we live in a different reality. The term "Great American" comes with caution, for far too many "Great Americans" have been the cause of our misery detriment. Being Black and patriotic is a double-edged sword. We love it because it is home. Talk of freedom and equality signal empty words because we haven't seen it yet. It is ONLY in the past thirty years or so that we have allowed to become a part of mainstream U.S. society, and we're still struggling with that. You may see that it's been 50 years or so since the last "Civi Rights Movement", but we see 500 years of catchin' hell. Hope that can shed some insight.

For further understand I invite you to listen to the last verse in Talib Kweli's song "The Proud" which is tack 11 off his latest CD Quality. Also check out "Mr. N*igga" off Mos Def's album Black on Both Sides. I think it's track 15. Peace

[sugar and spice]

I love The Boondocks.

Anyway, I think step #1 to showing the world you're not racist would be to make a heartfelt public apology. That seems like the logical first step, and it was one that Thurmond never made.

After that, it really depends on degree. I mean, someone who just used the n-word every once in while and made some derogatory statements about blacks to their friends while in the comfort of their own home, but later realized that they were wrong -- they have less to make up for than somebody whose racist actions helped lead to the death of at least one black man, you know?

[steelepike]

Oh well no matter what you say i still beleive he was a great man. And i can't wait till I see him in heaven so we can laugh about all this controversy.