Black History Month

[KimS]

In response to Conservative Christian:

This is out of order must I must address these two issues first.

1st) My anti-Italian bigotry?? The man I am dating is Italian. His family, who treats me as their own child, is Italian. He is a first generation Italian-American.

You sir, should be ashamed. My post was about Christopher Columbus, not Italians as a people. And it generated from a question about Native Americans. For you to write this post about me and call me a bigot is laughable. My friend and his family understand that Columbus was a great explorer (as do I), they also understand that he was a brutal murderer (as do I). If they aren't ashamed to say it, why should I be?

Oh, and you need to get a clue--Italians are of LATIN heritage. They're not "white", like the Angles and Saxons who migrated to England from the general area of Europe that is now known as Germany.

Oh, and you need to learn to read. Where did I say Italians were white? I didn't and I wouldn't because I don't consider Italian's white. I should get a clue? You should grow up.

2nd) you said

You're telling a racist lie. The man who raped Ethel Water's mother was MULATTO! So don't give us the lie that he was white. Shame on you!

You are calling me a racist liar? First, shame on you. Second, I looked this up, again and again, and I am not lying. If I am wrong, you're going to have to prove it.

You've just proved my point about the people on this board. I'm the racist liar? Give me a break. My post was full of propaganda? Go back and read your own.

Nobody's vilifying you, and you're not going to be banned. So please stop with the paranoia and self-pity.

Where in my post did I say they were? I said I believed they would and based that opinion on how others were treated before me. Paranoia? Nope, not when I've seen it happen before. You see, sir, paranoia is an extreme, irrational distrust of others. I have no extreme, irrational distrust of anyone. I've seen others get admonished for a lot less on this board. And Self-pity? Not going to fly. I have no need for pity from anyone on this board and didn't ask for it. I have no pity for myself for I'm not in want of anything and I'm quite content.

Sorry, but I don't think this board is "filled" with bigots, or that there are "numerous" threads espousing bigotry. And yes, you're exaggerating.

Don't be sorry for stating what you believe and no, I'm not exaggerating. After reading through many threads I've come to realize how so many people really distrust and dislike people of African ancestry. I didn't get that when I was in Alabama. And no, I'm not talking about who did what to others, I'm talking about myself. Unless you grew up with me and saw every interaction I've had with others, you can't make the assertion that I experienced a lot of bigotry, now can you?

As for the numerous threads, when I read it and it's starts to get negative, I stop with that thread. So I can't count how many of them have it. But yes, there are quite a few. And I never said anyone was "espousing" bigotry. I said they didn't bother to hide it. Don't put words in my mouth.

You denounce some here as bigots for saying that black history month is unnecessary, but then you yourself agree with them that it isn't needed!

I never said that anyone was a bigot for saying that. And since you felt it quite all right to call me a liar in your post, I feel quite all right for calling you a liar here. No one is a bigot for feeling that it isn't needed. I agreed that it wasn't needed now because of the ample opportunities to read and learn about black history. Most of those opportunities simply weren't there in 1976 when Black History Month was established.

How do you know that nobody really cares? Have you spoken to everbody in the country and gotten their opinion? You're being very narrow-minded!

I must agree with you here and I apologize for the statement. But you've done the same thing in your post (pointed out later).

Most black folks aren't fighting the establishment at all.

Bad choice of words on my part.

Sorry, but I think you're being a bit prejudiced toward Lady Eagle.

You're right, I am. But why put that in about boiled peanuts? I had no idea that's what people thought of George Washington Carver. Boiled peanuts?

I'm not being hyper-sensitive, as far as Negro spirituals, in what spirit was she making her "point" and what kind of "point" was it? That there never should have been a Black History Month because we've all heard Negro spirituals? I believe you are being quite biased in your statements.

You're misinterpreting her words.

Perhaps and if I did, I apologize to her.

And your politically correct version of history is phony as a nine dollar bill. For your information, the institution of slavery was ORIGINATED by black Africans THOUSANDS of years before the Europeans EVER practiced it.

I don't believe my post made any claims whatsoever that whites instituted slavery. I don't believe my post made any claims that it was OK for blacks to have slaves, but not whites. Trust me, I do know that a great many slaves were sold by Africans. But what does this have to do with what I posted?

My politically correct version of what? You're going to have to explain that statement. I was speaking about the slaves singing the spirituals. A slave is a slave, what does it matter who owned them. In regards to the post I made about Negro spirituals, that is not a pc version. Why don't you tell me why slaves sang them, since you feel it wasn't a means of maintaining hope since my version is "hogwash"? You apparently know so much more about it than I.

The racist black fairy tale that all black Africans were happy folks who held each other's hands while singing "Kum ba yah", until big bad whitey came along and ruined their utopia--is nothing but hogwash.

What are you talking about? I never said anything even close to this. And who is "whitey"? Make note that I never called anyone, and never will, whitey. Kumb ba yah? Black Africans? What does that have to do with what I posted? And I didn't realize there were black fairy tales. Reread the post, sir.

I went by LadyEagle's post point-by-point and made observations based on what she wrote. What was the point behind the Ethel Water's post? If LadyEagle chooses to post, email, or keep silent, it is up to her. What you choose to tell me about her post is really irrelevant.

And as for your "for your information" line, thanks, but I already knew that. My reply was written in the terms of Black History Month, which is was the topic is about.

The average white kid in public schools today doesn't give a rip about white history--so why do you expect them to be interested in black history?! Most black kids aren't interested in black history! They'd rather be doing something important, like listening to hip-hop!

The average white kid may not give a rip about white history, but it's in the curriculum and they learn it. Ours wasn't. And, to follow your logic, how do you know that most black kids are interested in black history? Have you spoken to everbody in the country and gotten their opinion? Is there a poll somewhere that I can read? Statistics on this? You're being very narrow-minded! And I didn't know that hip-hop was considered "doing something important".

Stop with the propaganda. The average black parent doesn't teach their kids squat about black history. Why do you expect whites to care about black history, when most blacks don't really care about it!

Propaganda? Where? I thought I said that I was never taught anything significant about blacks in my school and that my mother tried but my teacher didn't acknowledge. I didn't realize that most black people didn't really care. I'm certainly not going to trust your judgment in this matter.

I'd like to know exactly where you get bombarded with Irish history. I've lived in every part of the country--north, south, east, west and midwest.

So what? I lived in the south, the north, the east, (not the west), and overseas. Big deal. I know a lot more about Irish people because, during the month of March, they have St. Patrick's Day. And a lot of activities involving the Irish and their history go on where I work and where I live. I don't complain about it, I welcome it. But I do believe I said that in my post. But that wouldn't suit your argument. You would much rather tell me how they didn't whine, but then I don't believe I said they did.

I'm Jewish, not Italian or English.

And you also did not make the post I was referring to.

However, to LadyEagele, I will apologize.

Italians also faced substantial discrimination in this country for decades after they first immigrated.

Now my post was Actually, 12 months out of the year, we are taught your Italian and English histories. But it is so incredibly benign that had I not had a time where people focused on "attempting" to teach us black history, I would have ... I stand by that post. It wasn't until I moved to Pittsburgh and met my Italians friend and family that I learned about their hardships. I was taught how great Columbus was. I don't think I said anything about Italians being whiney thought. I'm still confused about that one.

It's a cold, hard fact of history that many Indians died of venereal diseases they contracted from Europeans. Oh, but wait! That hard fact exposes another of your lies!

In order to contract venereal diseases from the white man, they had to be having sexual relations with the white man! People having sexual relations with each other is not an indicator of hatred in any known society on earth!

Are you kidding! Every sexual encounter has to do with an attraction for the other person? Is that really what you're saying? Are you going to deny that many of the native women were raped? Are you going to deny that millions of Indians were murdered? AND, I didn't say anything about venereal disease. Where did you see that?

And why must you bring up alleged incidents hundreds of years old?

Because it led into the "why no American Indian month" question.

you need look no further than the inner cities of America--where black "gangbangers"

Why do I need to look into gangbangers when the post asked about Native Americans?

Throughout the course of history, the black race has been just as murderous and oppressive as any other.

That is exactly my point. Black History month WAS NEEDED because this is all we knew. Slavery, paganism, and barbarianism. I had no other place to go. In February, they at least brought the books out for me to read about other things in black history besides this.

So you're inappropiately lumping differing races together--which is narrow-minded and bigoted. You obviously didn't have as much Italian and English history crammed down your throat as you claim, or you would be aware of those elementary facts!

AGAIN, that is my point. MY history class taught nothing good about black history, and nothing bad about European history.

And whom did I lump into what? You're going to have to offer specifics on that one.

You claimed I'm bigoted in regards to Italians because I don't think Christopher Columbus was as great as everyone else seems to think. Well, I didn't realize Columbus was the epitome of the Italian people. I'm going to have to have a talk with my friend's mom about that one.

I guess I'm bigoted against the Irish because I said I get bombarded with Irish history. I also said "But I don't mind because I like learning about other cultures" but that won't fit into your ideas of my bigotry so you decided not to mention it.

I guess that I'm bigoted against the English but I'm not sure why. Please explain.

Kim

 

[KimS]

In reading my post Conservative Christian believed me to be a bigot. This isn't true and it shows me that I did the same thing to Dr. Griffin and LadyEagle.

I would like to apologize to Dr. Griffin and LadyEagle. While I disagree with some of your viewpoints, I should have focused ONLY on your viewpoints in replying.

And, I received very good advice from a member of this board. If I can't read the topics without becoming riled up, then I should just avoid them. So, I'll be sticking to the fellowship forums.

Kim

 

[Pastor Larry]

Why do even talk about Black Americans??? Why can't they, like everyone else, just be an American. I learned about George Washington Carver and Harriet Tubman in elementary school in the 70s. I learned about slavery and I lived in the south.

How will we ever reach MLKJr's wish of a society that is color blind when we attach "Black" or "Africa" or "Asian" to the front of America??? It is time to be Americans.

Ditch Black History month. Devote history class to talking about significant achievements of great Americans without having to stoop to race.

 

[LadyEagle]

KimS, I accept your apology. My post was meant to commend some black Americans for achievement, not to offend black people despite how you took it.

You said you went to school in the 1980s. I was in grade school in the 1950s - before even the lunch counter incident in Greensboro. In fact, I might even be older than your own mother. Times have changed & I have lived long enough to see it. I lived in Greensboro when I was a kid where my dad and mom had a young man at our home from Liberia (where we had been missionaries) and who came to the states to go to college. We had crosses burned on our front lawn and we kids were forbidden to go outside. Please - I need no one condescending to me or accusing me of bigotry, although you aren't the first on this board to do so.

Conservative Christian, thanks for defending my character.

I agree with Pastor Larry. Why can't we all just be Americans? That is what is long overdue.

 

[Conservative Christian]

Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
Ditch Black History month. Devote history class to talking about significant achievements of great Americans without having to stoop to race.

Pastor Larry is absolutely correct.

I know we've had a few strong disagreements in the past, but I'm a big enough man to commend him when he's right--which he most certainly is on this particular topic.

History books and classes should definitely teach about the accomplishments of people like Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman etc. But we don't need to celebrate the fact that they were black, or have a special month set aside for boasting about their accomplishments.

The sad legacy of slavery in America should also be given appropriate coverage, but the liberals shouldn't be allowed to turn it into a "White vs. Black, Us vs. Them" hate-fest.

Every race of people on earth has practiced slavery at one time or another. American Indians owned and traded slaves long before whites, Italians and other Europeans ever set foot here.