Says Joe Lowery: Obama’s black doubters have a ‘slave mentality’

[Karmadillo]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2008/01/16/says_joe_lowery_obamas_black_d.html

Says Joe Lowery: Obama’s black doubters have a ‘slave mentality’
Wednesday, January 16, 2008, 04:09 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Just when you thought supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had gotten past this race thing.

In an address to the Hungry Club at Butler Street YMCA in downtown Atlanta, the Rev. Joseph Lowery re-stoked the fires on Wednesday when he told the largely African-American audience that “a slave mentality” was fueling black doubts about Obama’s chances of capturing the White House.

The report comes from our AJC colleague, John Hollis, who was at the event.

“No matter how much education they have, they never graduated from the slave mentality,” Lowery said of those who have advised Obama to wait, or have doubted his ability to compete in a general election.

“The slavery mentality compels us to say, ‘We can’t win, we can’t do,’” said Lowery, an avid Obama supporter and a co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Strong words, when you consider that they include people like U.S. Rep. John Lewis or former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.

more...

[indimuse]

1. i smell..

fear baiting...and what about CHURCH AND STATE????????????????????????????????/

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Good grief

Preachers get to have opinions you know.

[indimuse]

12. yeah i know...

NOT in CHURCH!

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Did you READ the article? He wasn't in church.

"In an address to the Hungry Club at Butler Street YMCA in downtown Atlanta . . "

[indimuse]

19. my bad...you're right!

BUT...Michelle was in a Chruch last week In SC Campaigning for Obama...The Pics and article were posted here!

[EffieBlack]

21. Nothing wrong with campaigning in church - as long as the church does not endorse or oppose

Edwards campaigns in churches. Clinton campaigns in churches. Kucinich does it. So do all of the other candidates. For good reason. Churches are one of the best places to find people who care about the issues, but who don't have the time or means to attend political events.

Nothing wrong with it. In fact, it's a good thing - I think it's great when candidates for various offices go into neighborhoods and visit churches and talk to the people they would represent, rather than require that the people come to THEM. Just sitting through a church service, especially in a church with a religion with which they aren't familiar, can teach a politician more about the people he or she is trying to serve than 100 policy briefings by their teams "outreach" experts.

[indimuse]

22. you know..

I asked this the other day and could not get anyone to respond! Thanks. :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. Churches can not tell their members WHO to vote for

But they CAN tell them how to vote on ISSUES. So the Catholic church is operating within the law when they tell Catholics to vote against stem cell research.

[EffieBlack]

31. Exactly. And they can educate their parishoners on where the candidates stand on the issues

They just can't go that extra step and tell them to vote for or against a candidate.

For example, a pastor could say, "George W. Bush hates black people. He tramples on women's rights. He is a warmonger. His mocks the very Christianity that he claims saved his soul. John Kerry is a good and decent man, who puts his faith into practice. He is a friend to our community. I like him and trust him to always do what's right.

"Now, don't forget to vote on Tuesday!"

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. LOL and that happens probably far more than we realize

[EffieBlack]

37. Famous but true story . . .

In October 1960, in the midst of the presidential campaign, Dr. Martin Luther King was arrested in Georgia in the middle of the night on trumped up charges and hauled off to jail. This, of course, was a terrifying scenario during that time, when black men were thrown in jail, only to be never seen again, shot "while escaping," or found to have "hanged themselves" in their cells. According to Dr. King:

"t was a long ride. I didn't know where they were taking me; but finally I assumed it must be to one of the state prisons after we had been gone so long. That kind of mental anguish is worse than dying, riding for mile after mile, hungry and thirsty, bound and helpless, waiting and not knowing what you're waiting for. And all over a traffic violation . . ."

Growing more and more concerned over Dr. King's safety, several of his friends contacted Sen. John Kennedy and asked for his help.

The first thing he did was call my wife. She was pregnant, and this was kind of a rough experience for her, so he called her and expressed his concern. He said that he would do whatever he could and that he would think this over with his brother and try to use his influence to get me released. In the meantime, Robert Kennedy called the judge to find out about the bond. I understand Robert Kennedy was really angry about it, when they got it over to him and let him know all of the facts in the situation. In that spirit of anger, he called the judge. I don't know what he said in that conversation with the judge, but it was later revealed his main point was "Why can't he be bonded out?" I was released the next day.

Until then, Dr. King and his family - like many African Americans during that time - were Republican. But Dr. King's father, the legendary "dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. changed all of that. Hugely grateful, moved and impressed by Sen. Kennedy's gesture, Daddy King famously told an audience, "It's time for all of us to take off our Nixon button. I'll take a Catholic of the devil himself if he wipes the tears from daughter's eyes. I've got a suitcase full of votes and they're all going to John F. Kennedy."

Kennedy's action and Daddy King's endorsement is credited as one of the primary reasons for Kennedy's victory a month later.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. Wow I had heard Dr King was once a Republican

but hadn't heard that story. That is fascinating. Thanks for sharing!

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. It's okay to hold political events in a church

I heard Kucinich speak in a church in St Louis in August.



What is NOT okay is for a preacher to tell his congregation who to vote for. Michelle Obama is not a preacher and she was nt speaking to her congregation.

[indimuse]

32. thanks...

Little education never hurts!;)

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I met Rev Lowery at Camp Casey

He's a fabulous public speaker.

http://www.democracynow.org/2005/8/23/rev_joseph_lowery_the_mothers_in

[Benhurst]

4. Proving once again that

rhetorical skills are fine; but content is what counts.

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Abraham Lincoln

[Skidmore]

6. You are absolutely correct, and convincing people that they

have no power nor can they effect change is the biggest con job of all time. The greatest content a message can have is that a person can step up and does not need the permission of the power structure to demand the change they desire.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I agree with him about slave mentality

It has held us back and fuels racism in our culture.

Stepping back from the personalties involved, it excites me that a black man and a woman are running for president. It will force us to have discussions we need to have, like discussions about slave mentality.

[jannyk]

5. And a herd mentality is better how? nt

[Skidmore]

7. A herd mentality is what needs to be replaced.

The idea that the same old same old is what will continue to work is the mentality of a herd that has had their feed doped.

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. It's about rejecting empire and the mentality it imposes upon us

And that's a lot harder than it sounds.

[Skidmore]

26. Because it is hard doesn't mean that no one should try. Who knows,

we may well succeed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Oh I agree

I just think that when we place it in the context of empire, it is easier to understand why we have these contentious dialogues.

[Evergreen Emerald]

8. "Vote for Obama because he is Black" "Our time is now"

From Oprah to Lowery to Michelle Obama. The message is clear. If you are black and do not vote for Obama, there is something wrong with you.

And if anyone suggested that Women should vote for Clinton just because she is a woman--the media would be in a frenzy and those on DU would be swallowing their tongues.

[ellacott]

9. You're kidding?

There have been many people from NOW to the voters to members on this board who are supporting Hillary because she is a woman.

Wow

[Evergreen Emerald]

10. I have not seen one. I have heard alot of accusations (like yours)

But I have not seen one person say they are voting for her just because she is a woman.

And, unlike Obama, she is certainly not promoting it.

[ellacott]

20. Of course she is

She said it in a debate. She said "if that's not change I don't know what is".

Obama doesn't campaign on his race.

[kickitup]

27. Gloria Steinem

is.

[havocmom]

49. There have been personal attacks on critics of Clinton here also

I have some problems with Clinton, so I am a misogynist, or so I have been told, many, many times here on DU. THAT in its self smacks of sexism. Seems branding any black voters who may have critical thoughts about Obama as suffering from a particular mentality is racism.

Expecting a gender or a race to behave as a herd, is some kind of ism right there. Trying to move (herd) a block of voters using race or gender identification bullying tactics is an abuse of that gender or race, also a from of ism as it is demeaning to members of a group to suggest there is something wrong with them if they don't agree with someone else who is of their 'group'.

When I see what is going on within the party by some supporters of various candidates, I weep.

Yeah, voting as a block is essential to beat the GOP and their tactics, but playing the race or gender card to try and bully voters is NOT very progressive. Talking issues is progressive.

Yes, I watch so much of what is going on and wonder if we have made as much progress as a people as we thought we have.

[ellacott]

50. Generally I agree with what you posted but...

He's not talking about those who have critical thoughts about Obama.

There are a few Civil Rights activists who are supporting John Edwards. He's not saying that they have a slave mentality.

[havocmom]

51. Yes, I know. I was making case in support of how 'ism' has been misused

in campaigns and here at DU. It is widespread, insidious and down right tragic.

[ellacott]

52. Ok, now I understand what you're saying.

I agree with your assessment. :)

[Benhurst]

11. I agree. And, by similar reasoning, I guess any white man who doesn't vote

for Edwards is suffering from misplaced "white guilt."

Sexism and racism are ugly no matter who is peddling it.

[jannyk]

33. My Chinese husband is feeling 'disenfranchised'

according to the new 'rules' he doesn't have a candidate. However, he's decided not to sulk and pout but is strongly supporting, and will vote for, John Edwards. (As will his 'transplanted' wife - me)

Voting for someone because of the colour of their skin is about as informed as voting for them because of the colour of their hair. If Obama had John Edwards platform, energy and bull-doggedness - I'd vote for him. Unfortunately, I find him lacking in too many criteria, as does my husband.

[EffieBlack]

13. That's not what he said

Rev. Lowery correctly noted that there are some African Americans who say they will not vote for Obama because they don't think a black man can win and that such thinking represents a "slave mentality." He was referring to every African American who doesn't support Obama; he was referring to a very specific type of opposition, opposition based solely on fear that he cannot win.

"No matter how much education they have, they never graduated from the slave mentality," Lowery said of those who have advised Obama to wait, or have doubted his ability to compete in a general election.

"The slavery mentality compels us to say, 'We can’t win, we can’t do,' said Lowery, an avid Obama supporter and a co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference . . .

Lowery likened discouraging comments about Obama to ones Martin Luther King received while imprisoned in a Birmingham jail in 1963. A number of local white ministers told King at the time they agreed with him, but they didn’t think the time was right for such civil dissent.

“Martin said the people who were saying ‘later’ were really saying ‘never.’ But the time to do right is always right now,” Lowery said.


There's room for disagreement about this characterization, but it is not out-of-bounds and is certainly a reasonable interpretation. And Rev. Lowery is not some political hack to be dismissed out of hand by a bunch of online/armchair pundits who don't know a whit about who he is, what he's accomplished, what he brings to this discussion and why he's one of the greatest civil rights leaders, movers and thinkers of all time.

And, by the way, plenty of people have said that women should vote Clinton because she's a woman. The media and DU frenzy hasn't occurred.

[Mass]

30. It is about telling people that they should not be afraid that us white people will not vote for a

black man. Unfortunately, I know enough people (black and white) who do not believe he can win and therefore will not support him in the primary. It is about letting racism win and it is too bad.

I would say the same thing about Hillary. Anybody who thinks she is the best but do not support her because they do not think a woman can be elected should vote for her. Screw the sexists.

[goldcanyonaz]

15. Many women have this same mentality in regards to Clinton.

[jasmine621]

16. Now that should go over well with blacks who dare to think for themselves.

Whats' that about "cutting off your nose....?"

[EffieBlack]

17. I don't think Rev. Lowery is worried about pissing off "blacks who dare to think for themselves"

since he was instrumental in getting us "blacks who think for ourselves" where we are today. And, by the way, "blacks who think for ourselves" are not such an usual bunch that we need to be described as such, as if we're some subset of the rest of "the blacks" who allegedly DON'T think for themselves.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Well said

:toast:

[ladjf]

35. I get it. Anyone who questions Obama has a slave mentality.

What a racket! "You can't say anything critical about me because I'm a ........ (fill in the blank with whatever term you want, i.e. woman, black, Southern white man.)"

That's the same logic Bush and his henchmen use about the war. "Anyone who questions the war in Iran is not supporting the troops."

[EffieBlack]

38. Nice try at distorting what Rev. Lowery said - but I'm calling you on it...

He did NOT say "anyone who questions Obama has a slave mentality." He said that those persons who are afraid to support Obama because "we can't win" are revealing a slave mentality.

Big difference.

[ladjf]

39. I'm calling you on calling me and I don't even think yours

was a "nice try". My impression of Lowery's remark was that he was "playing the race card". If you didn't interpret that way then we have a difference of opinion. My impression of your remarks about my post is that you are defending your candidate.

Fact is, I'm not anti-Obama and I wasn't looking for a way to weaken his chances. I just don't like it when anyone tries to frame the argument with unrelated "buzz" issues.

I will vote for whoever the Dem candidate is in November.

[ellacott]

40. Effie's correct

From the article:

"In an address to the Hungry Club at Butler Street YMCA in downtown Atlanta, the Rev. Joseph Lowery re-stoked the fires on Wednesday when he told the largely African-American audience that “a slave mentality” was fueling black doubts about Obama’s chances of capturing the White House.
***********

Later in the article he reiterated the feeling that some have regarding what we can and can not do.


It's definately not about just supporting Obama because he's black. It has more to do with those who are afraid to support him BECAUSE he is Black.

Many African American acticvists are supporting John Edwards. They wouldn't be labelled as having a slave mentality.

[EffieBlack]

41. Thanks

It's interesting how often people criticize black leaders for not "speaking truth" to black audiences, telling them only what they want to hear. Yet when black leaders DO talk straight to black audiences, white folks criticize them for what they say.

[ellacott]

44. You're welcome

It IS truly amazing. I think there are some who are steadfast in their beliefs and refuse to modify their thinking.

It gets frustrating.

[EffieBlack]

45. I think the real deal is . . .

that many of these people aren't the least bit concerned that black leaders aren't being straight, but that they're saying things that some white folk just don't like.

[ellacott]

46. Yes

It's not always comfortable to hear some things.

It's a hard subject. It's disapointing that subjects like this spark a lot of anger. I think a lot of it stems from not really understanding.

[BootinUp]

36. Its a little disturbing that he feels the need to put out a guilt trip.

On the other hand, if the black community goes strongly for Obama, I am not one to complain about it.

[EffieBlack]

42. he's not putting out a guilt trip or saying that al or even most blacks need to vote for Obama

He's trying to educate black people about the dangerousness of internalizing external racism - why it's very damaging to back off on supporting a black candidate out of fear that racism will keep him down. In so doing, the people who think this way - and there ARE people who DO think this way - are in actuality doing the work of the racists.

[BootinUp]

43. actually, I can accept that argument

taken in moderation.

[Perky]

47. You might enjoy this post I just added

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4095267