The Grio: Like so many other black men, our first black President had to "show his papers"

[EffieBlack]

This is so beautifully said, it must be read by as many people as possible . . .

This morning, as White House staffers released copies of the president's long form birth certificate, I couldn't shake the feeling that something very ugly was going on. For the first time in recorded history, a sitting president of the United States found it necessary to produce his original birth certificate for public inspection. Not once, in 235 years, have we ever demanded proof that our president was born on American soil.

. . .

Trump didn't just want the birth record. He wants the president to release his college transcripts. "How did such a bad student get into Harvard?," Trump keeps asking. The implication is the Barack Obama was the beneficiary of affirmative action and took the place of a more qualified white student. Apparently, graduating magna cum laude from the nation's most prestigious law school and being named editor of the Harvard Law Review -- the institution's highest student honor -- is not enough for him.

When they tell you this isn't racial, don't believe them. This controversy was constructed solely as a way to de-legitimize the presidency of a black man. Those who question the location of Barack Obama's birth are the very same people who would pack up and move out of the neighborhood if someone like me moved in next door.
When they say they want to take their country back, they mean from us.
. . .
Some 112 years after my grandfather was snatched from a street corner in the central west end section of St. Louis, it seems we still need to prove our right to be here.

I thought we were better than this.

"http://www.thegrio.com/politics/why-obama-shouldnt-have-had-to-show-his-papers.php

[dionysus]

1. K&R

[GameOn]

2. I had to show my driver's license and registration the other day. This country is fucked. NT

[DCKit]

3. That depends on why you were asked.

I couldn't get any more white without going albino, but still had to show both (and sometimes proof of insurance) back in the day when I wanted to go everywhere at 85mph.

[Supersedeas]

12. happens

[Blue-Jay]

4. I bet you imagine that was clever.

[Whisp]

5. I wonder how clever he will be when the pizza delivery guys comes

[Blue-Jay]

6. .

[GameOn]

9. Actually I was fucking serious. I had my car searched becuz I looked suspicious. I've been pulled

over and asked if I had warrants on more than a few occasions. For the record, I've never been arrested. But when cops bother you for no reason, it's easy to get frustrated and do or say something that could probably get me arrested. Especially when they treat you like sh1t and expect you to show respect to them. As a black man, it seems like you have 1 step in a jail cell no matter how good of a person you try to be.

[Blue-Jay]

11. Riveting tale, chap!

Why?

becuz, that's why.

[Keith Bee]

7. And this is surprising?

Let's not kid ourselves: Even in 2011, this country is suffused with racism.

[grahamhgreen]

8. Kick!

[Scurrilous]

10. K & R

:thumbsup: