Race or class presents a false choice........

[socialist_n_TN]

It is about both, BUT you don't see Clarence, Ben Carson, Thomas Sowell being shot by cops for being black. The ones shot by cops are working class black kids and adults. And you can tinker around the edges of reform and MAYBE save some lives and that's WELL worth it as a goal, but you'll never truly get rid of racism until you get rid of capitalism. That's the way I see it and I don't think that the history of race in the USA for the country's entire history challenges my view.

I expect this OP to be slammed by some (maybe many), but it would be a disservice to all of the working class people of color who are victims of police violence to say anything else. It presents a false hope to think that capitalism can be reformed to the point of NOT being racist.

That said, racism IS the point of the spear right now. It's the place that shows the evils of the system at it's rawest and it should be emphasized. But class cannot be discounted.

[JonLP24]

1. It depends

Last edited Wed Nov 26, 2014, 11:43 AM - Edit history (1)

Say one of those 3 are pulled over on a rural highway and the officer doesn't recognize them?

Take Darnell Dockett for example. He is a millionaire that live tweeted being pulled over. It is hard to find the information but I do know the police confirmed the encounter and at the very least, the reason given was for speeding but for some reason they were more interested in searching his vehicle than giving him a ticket.

Police sitting here waiting on back up cuz I told them YOU NOT SEARCHING MY CAR! PERIOD! & now I’m sitting here! Owell I aint got [expletive] 2 do!”

There R 3police cars and they are talking! I don’t see A search warrant they won’t see inside this escalade! I got all day hope they don’t!

Police said “do you mind if we look around in your Vehicle?” I said I sure DO! He said “I’m gonna call back up” I said u wanna use my phone?

I think they (POLICE) going to get a search warrant cuz they sitting here looking like fools waiting on something!

These COPS really think I’m stupid they playing good cop bad cop! BOY STOOOOP! I’m not falling for that! NO SIR YOU WILL NOT LOOK IN MY CAR!

This cop just ask me how tall R u & where R U from! I’m bout to ask him can I go across the street to POPEYS while we sitting here waiting!

I been sitting here for a HOUR 1cop by the driver window, 2talking at the car! And the 1by the window being friendly! Like wtf?

I asked the cop why he pulled me over he said I was speeding I said [CAPITALIZED BOVINE EXPLETIVE]! But give me the ticket that’s when he asked to search my car!

So you gonna lie and say I’m speeding then you wanna search my car! Get the [expletive] ouutta here! Better go get a warrant *turns up radio*

OK so now I think they letting me Go cop just brought my DL’s and registration! Yeah I’m bout to be out this MOFO!

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/darnell-dockett-goes-all-twitter-happy-during-traffic-stop?urn=nfl,wp2975

I think it is the other way around. OK, Capitalism *poof* gone. What takes it places? Pure socialism? Don't you see how discrimination & social services, funding, housing, can still take plan under any system that takes ownership of this.

I agree with you though phrasing or focus could lead to slamming but both are important. Redistribution would help with the wealth gap. 400 billionaires collectively have as much wealth as 37 million African-Americans.

[smokey nj]

4. Or Henry Louis Gates.

[upaloopa]

2. Were is the connection between capitalism

and racism? You say there is one but give no evidence. There is racism without the need to have an economic system. In my dad's case he was on the bottom of the white class ladder and felt the need to have someone lower than he was. I think that was ingrained in many poor whites when I was growing up.

[rug]

3. It is a means to divide workers.

It is also a means to exploit workers.

The clearest connection is in slavey, which resulted in generations of free labor for capitalists followed by more generations of workers being divided along race lines, a division exploited for decades by the Dixiecrats and by republicans, today.

[upaloopa]

6. Ok got it

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. You see Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the most prominent black intellectuals in America

Harassed by a police officer while attempting to enter his own residence.

You see Ersula Ore, a young woman professor at the Arizona State, told (like Mike Brown) to get the fuck on the sidewalk, and then get thrown to the floor when she asks questions.

You see both of them chastised by whites across America for 1) resisting arrest and 2) "looking down their noses" at the "white working class" cops.

You're certainly right that class and race are both functioning in most scenarios, and that people who chide us that it is "not about race" and "really about class" don't know what the fuck they're talking about. But your version here preserves some of that, noting the cases where class inflects racial judgments. Sometimes race also inflects class judgments, though, and that's what's missing from your account.

As most of people of color with some (monetary and cultural) capital will tell you, when you get pulled over in th3e night, it doesn't matter what your degree or bank account says.

[meow2u3]

7. Ideology also plays an important part

Minority conservatives get a free pass, but white liberals seem to be harassed more often by authorities, even if such liberals are well-off. It seems as if conservatives seek to punish white liberals for not sharing their prejudices. Just look at how the right hounded the Big Dog and you'll see what I mean.