Anybody else here absolutely FLOORED at the ignorance of many here

re: the Civil Rights Movement??

Here's what I've learned on DU in the last year or so:

Neither MLK or any of his lieutenants in the Civil Rights struggle sat down and met with bigots. Because you know every white person in America during the early 1950s (especially in the South) was the epitome of progressive tolerance and would have just JUMPED at the opportunity to discuss the racial oppression of black people in America.

That the rights gained through the Civil Rights movement were gained through protest and more importantly, through violence. The images of black people placidly being picked up by police at restaurant counter-tops were as faked as the moon landing; the pictures you've seen of black people being violently hosed down or attacked by police dogs while making a DETERMINED EFFORT not to fight back were just Photoshops; the images of black people and their supporters of all colors smiling and singing "We Shall Overcome" and marching through the streets of America while getting called everything but a child of God by bystanders were forgeries as were MLK's awe-inspiring pleas for non-violent protest.

At the same time, the work of Thurgood Marshall, the NAACP, SCLC etc. etc. focusing on more legal and policy aspects including voter registration and integration as a way to complement the grassroots efforts put forth by King, Lowery, Lewis etc. etc. were just window-dressing to (I guess) cover up the fact that these men were secretly blowing up buildings at night or something.

That Malcolm X was a key figure of the Civil Rights movement. Malcolm was a key figure all right in that he was furious at King et al for their passivity and thought the best way to get civil rights was to basically declare war on the US government and get as far away as possible from every melanin-lacking person in this country. Malcolm did play a major role in that for many, he was the Anti-King, preaching the lack of patience and restraint that many blacks had at the time. The Civil Rights movement was a struggle for the civil rights of blacks in America; Malcolm preached for black folks to completely SEPARATE themselves from America. Folks, that AIN'T the same thing. Both certainly played a role in the struggle, though and it's pretty well-known that Malcolm was coming around to King's way of thinking before he was assassinated.

Is this stuff not taught in schools anymore or were that many people here asleep during these particular lessons or wtf is going on???

"Malcolm X derided the Civil Rights Movement and rejected both integration and racial equality, calling instead for African American separatism, black pride and self-reliance. Because he advocated the use of violence (for self-protection) and appeared to many to be a fanatic, his leadership was rejected by most civil rights leaders, who emphasized nonviolent resistance to racial injustice."

http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/1968/reference/glossary.html

I just wanted to be certain. It's been a long time since I've read his autobiography.

as you pointed out, he was seen as the violent alternative to the non-violent protests of King's followers. It was almost like a good cop-bad cop routine; the alternative to peaceful protest and integration was violent separatists. King seemed especially a more positive alternative after the Watts riots started taking place. Rights were going to come peacefully, or not.

and yes, most people don't know history, much less Civil Rights history, particularly the legal underpinnings of the movement.

Charles Hamilton Houston was the chief legal strategist for the NAACP, I sometimes think Thurgood Marshall, his protege, gets the credit for the ongoing legal victories due to Houston's early death before the final cases came before the Supreme Court. Houston was quite amazing.

http://www.naacp.org/about/history/chhouston/index.htm

is practically nil.

From the article:

"Known as "The Man Who Killed Jim Crow", he played a role in nearly every civil rights case before the Supreme Court between 1930 and Brown v. Board of Education (1954)."

I guess more of us in this forum just need to start posting and trying to educate people here. But sometimes I think that if we try to battle the stupidity and cluelessness here, we'll be on DU so much that Skinner will have to set up some type of stipend to pay us for the trouble.

And the thing that always scares me is that these are supposed to be the PROGRESSIVE, educated folks posting here. The ones who so desperately want you to think that they know what's going on and are empathetic to the struggle of black people in this country. I have seen so much just flat out dishonesty and cluelessness here that sometimes it is hard not to be discouraged.

most of this isn't taught at all. The incredible oppression of Jim Crow segregation throughout the US and its aftermath isn't taught nor talked about. That was the reason for the HBCU's, Miss Black America pageants, the Negro Baseball Leagues, even BET, and the like, because black people and interests were not considered part of the mainstream, and had to be separated. The ignorant whining of "why isn't there a white entertainment channel/white history month/etc." shows the failings of the education system in addition to the default nature of whiteness in US society--and its cost. Willful ignorance is costly.

But many here tout DU as a place of "learned discussion" where "intelligent progressives" have "meaningful conversations" about "important issues." If I type any more quotes, my hands will fall off.

And yet, I think I see more stupidity, more flat out ignorance here than I've seen just about anywhere else. People here are PROUD of their stupidity and God help anyone who tries to inform them that their knowledge of history or their way of looking at something may not be correct.

I have just signed on to the chat rooms for Australia's Next Top Model. I honestly don't see how the level of discourse there could be that much worse than it is here.

:evilgrin:

But the fact that there's a chance that the Top Model web site can rival DU in terms of quality of discourse and intelligence of posters should raise alarm bells for every thinking person in this joint. :)

it's a topic that most posters are actually familiar with. :P :rofl:

...everyday on earth isn't, "white dude day", an on-going and perpetual celebration of all things dominated by the caucasian male in society. :eyes:

are now able to pay, I will continue to teach in the urban areas. This is another thing our president does not understand. When teaching to the fuckin test, there is little precious time to include lessons of importance. So, teachers like myself, TAKE THE TIME and try to CRAM our history into the mainstream text/lesson. Sad, fuckin sad.

I agree that teaching to a test is the worst thing going for education today. Well, at least among the top 5 worst things.

People who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. At least that's what I learned when I was getting my history degree.

I appreciate you. :)

was NOT 'incremental.' I don't think I'll ever forget THAT one!

How the F*CK clueless do you have to be to think that the Civil Rights movement began and ended with a swipe of a President's pen across a piece of paper??? I typed something in that thread but I just did not have the energy to battle against the tsunami of stupidity there. And I think that BS made it to the Greatest Page too! Had like 50 recommendations! No wonder interesting, intelligent OP's here mostly fall dead within a few hours. I am really starting to just lose all patience here.

And Fire1, I salute you for all that you and every other teacher (especially in the urban areas) tries to do for this nation. Girl, you are my hero! :patriot:

I feel it is the least I can do for our children. Thanks again.

As for that Civil Rights thread, the 'stupid' really burned that day! LOL!!:hi:

I know how hard, how frustrating and how rewarding it's got to be.

I truly commend you and thank you for what you're trying to do with our kids.

:banghead:

:crazy:

It gets hard when these same people are not only ignorant of history, but then have the nerve to try to shout down the people who DO know what the hell is going on.

The only thing worse than being dumb or an @sshole is a DUMB @SSHOLE.

the few times I was able to check in, the site was unreadable. I have never read such craziness! Last night I read an "expert" post on jim crow laws.....WTF!!! Knowing damn well they have never experienced or been subjected to half a damn jim crow law ever! Disgusting.

The topic of the issue was race.

Every single one of the featured writers was white, and the magazine editorial bashed affirmative action and lectured non-whites on how they should identify in the future.


It's not all just cluelessness. There is such a thing as liberal racism. It's probably related to the hostility that bourgeois liberals sometimes display toward working class people of all colors.

I'd like to say I'm surprised by something like that, but I'd be lying through my teeth. Year and/or month, maybe??

There is such a thing as liberal racism.

Honey, you speak a truth so universally recognized it's not even news.

yes, there is liberal racism... and it is evident when Obama does or doesn't do something that some crybabies around here want.

Why the hell should he resign? Why dont' they just go live somewhere else, if it bothers them that much?

This place is crawling with trolls and people still upset that their guy/gal isn't in office.

Unreadable garbage...no real discussion of issues.

:puke:

Some are all too happy to take it.

The thing is, I really don't think these people realize that they are in the minority. That audio that keeps getting posted from that wrestling manager who keeps slamming the "four groups of people unhappy that Obama won" should be required listening.

that the four groups he said were "unhappy that Obama won" were:

White collar criminals
White Christian evangelicals
KKK
White people from West Virginia

Detect a pattern? :) And the man who said it was white himself! That's what makes it so priceless.

under new names spouting that bullshit. Ignorant as hell. The people who voted this man in office aren't at all ready to throw in the towel, and discussing what somebody else would have done. These threads are ridiculous.

Yes! I have definitely detected the pattern. That man hit the nail on the head. Well, it should be quiet around here the weekend of the 4th. The teabakkkers are having more gatherings around the country. Racist mutherfuckers.

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:rofl:
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