Bryan Stevenson: We need to talk about an injustice

[freshwest]

Last edited Sun Mar 16, 2014, 10:50 AM - Edit history (2)

Published on Mar 5, 2012

In an engaging and personal talk - with cameo appearances from his grandmother and Rosa Parks - human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson shares some hard truths about America's justice system, starting with a massive imbalance along racial lines: a third of the country's black male population has been incarcerated at some point in their lives. These issues, which are wrapped up in America's unexamined history, are rarely talked about with this level of candor, insight and persuasiveness.

to etherealtruth.

The much reviled Eric Holder of the DOJ has been working on this since he was appoiinted to office and his work is bearing fruit now, going from state to state and law to law.

The abuse at DU directed at him has been full of obscene language and vile intentions. By progressives? I don't think so. That's why the guy with the glasses is in my sigline, along with the cat.

I found a post on the video on the Dear White America: Its time to get the message OP mentioned here in AA. This is one of two good things to raise consciousness for those who lurk but don't get things as well as major posters here. The other one on thread is this one.

to duhneece:

17 Deplorable Examples Of White Privilege

And this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg

http://www.buzzfeed.com/michaelblackmon/17-harrowing-examples-of-white-privilege-9hu9

Very, very telling. So many so bad, the worst is this one here:

2. Thankfully, you’ll never have to know what it feels like to see your teenage son’s death being mocked.



Yes, that is someone dressed as Trayvon Martin. Yes, you’re looking at someone in blackface. In 2013.

That made me cry.

To those at DU who think they are being made victims of anti-white racism by these threads, I ask:

Is this not a website for those who want activism that will end racism and all other regressive ideas? Why should we not expose the lies of racism as we do of the climate change deniers, anti-education and other harmful things?

Why can't you see these threads for what they truly are, not an attack on 'you' as 'the other,' but a call to join with those support changes in our country to make it live up to the ideals we strive for? Why is there an 'other' whose story you don't want to hear? Aren't you defining yourself as 'the other,' because are you are offended at the way those who have carried these burdens express their problems?

Why do you say, 'this far, and no farther,' to progress for those not who you have defined as not like yourself? Who are you to define what path that change will take, outside supporting equality for all?

Because the kind of objections I see being posted to these threads sound like support for an unjust status quo, just like calls for women and gays and Obama and election activists, to be dismissed out of hand to maintain - WHAT?

One must open a wound, put it in the daylight to cleanse it as a basic part of change. Change is within ourselves, not outside of us, a thing that does not require any action on our parts. or that can be safely ignored and not transforming each and everyone of us. Again, why say
this far, and not farther' as we cleanse this nation of the cancer of bigotry, bred of ignorance and malice, that has been too long swept under the rug?

Consider that we are here to make life better, not in a fake way, but in a real way. That takes learning and be willing to admit changes are needed in all of us. Hearing other perspectives of ourselves is not fatal, ignoring justice always is.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Beyond sad

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. I think ...

Why can't you see these threads for what they truly are, not an attack on 'you' as 'the other,' but a call to join with those support changes in our country to make it live up to the ideals we strive for?

They can't hear that call because that is not what they have a care about ... Notice their "progressiveness" stops at the end of their interests ... they do not/cannot see gain from ending racism (or sexism).

[Number23]

3. You nailed it. Want to whine all day about the Third Way or how "authoritarian" Obama is?

You'll have so many friends you won't know what to do with yourself.

Want to talk about racial discrepancies in housing, employment, prison sentencing (for NON-MARIJUANA crimes, because you Better Believe the potheads here just LOVE pretending they give a shit about prison sentencing discrepancies for MJ if that means that MJ can be made legal that much faster) educational opportunities etc. etc. etc. then you will suddenly find yourself alone in the wilderness.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Unless they can weave "Bad Holder" or "Race to the Top Bad" into their post. eom.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. ^this^

They can't hear that call because that is not what they have a care about ... Notice their "progressiveness" stops at the end of their interests

1Strong - I think that's it.

I don't think it's just DU though - I think it's a a segment of the Democratic Party from the very far left In Real Life

I.E. Moderates/Centrists DO care - but once you get into the Anti Holder, We Hate Everyone But Warren crowd -

They really don't give a shit about us. I'm sorry -they don't. We make them just as uncomfortable as we do the Koch Brothers.

T hey just want to watch porn on their computers and smoke pot.

It's just how I see things. And those of this cross section at DU - they never read back here so I can type that safely .

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. The clearest example/display of this ...

can be found in the responses to my responses in the "It's all about Classism" threads, where I always argue:

People of Color (and women) have interests beyond those of white males. While our interests intersect at the income inequity issue, they diverge after that.

As I have said before: our helping you accomplish your ends, still leaves us wanting. And history gives us plenty of reason to believe that once we help you accomplish your ends, you will jettison us ... as the status quo, with respect to race/gender/sexual orientation relationships, hasn't changed ... we just have a different white guy to deal with.

Or should I say ... the lack of responses.

[sheshe2]

7. So very painful to see, freshwest.

"One must open a wound, put it in the daylight to cleanse it as a basic part of change. Change is within ourselves, not outside of us, a thing that does not require any action on our parts. "

Change is within ourselves, all one needs to do is open their eyes. They need to take a walk in another persons shoes. Only then will they get at the very least a brief glimpse of reality.

Sadly many prefer to be deaf dumb and blind.