The Death of the Civil Rights Movement
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| Martin Luther King Jr.: I have a Dream! |
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| Miami Heat basketball team: I have a Hoodie! |
I don't know the answers to any of those questions, but I have heard the obvious death rattle of one of the most important movements in American history.
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| Fashion Trend-setter or Civil Rights Leader? |
I do not know the cause, but I can give you the symptoms. The movement that began with such visionaries as Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and Martin Luther King Jr. has been entrusted to the self-serving and corrupt hands of those like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. People who are more interested in the sounds of their own voices and lining their pockets than the welfare of those they claim to represent.
Perhaps it is a result of the success of the early luminaries. What did all founding civil rights leaders have in common? Sacrifice and risk. They all sacrificed and exposed themselves to incredible risks. Obviously, some even to the point of death.
What risks do today's civil rights "leaders" face? Fire hoses, lynch mobs, National Guardsmen, assassination? I have heard that Al Sharpton faces the possibility of a stern talking-to from the empty suits at MSNBC. The horror! Spike Lee faces criticism for posting the INCORRECT address of George Zimmerman for justice seekers (vigilantes) to exploit. (I hope the poor woman whose address it is sues his ass off!) I'm sure he did it so that the justice seekers (vigilantes) would know where to deliver their petition entreating Mr. Zimmerman to confess to murdering Trayvon Martin in cold-blood. And of course, the fearless Lebron James and the Miami Heat basketball team. Those brave souls really went to the mat for their dangerous political stance. They took a team picture in *gasp!* hoodies!
There is very little common ground between George Clooney and myself politically, but he has my complete respect concerning his work to help stop the true Holocaust that is happening in the Sudan and Dafur. This is a tragedy on an unimaginable scale and his work is to be greatly commended. Unfortunately, there is little monetary or political captial to be gained fighting for this cause, so Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Spike Lee are unsurprisingly unmotivated to take up its banner.
Such is the sad state of affairs for the once shining civil rights movement. But maybe this is a good thing. Perhaps the necessity of a separate civil rights movement for blacks no longer exists. Of course racism still exists. In some form, it will always exist. But maybe, just maybe, America has matured to the point where, the majority of the time, we only have to worry about people's rights. And you know, I think that would be a very good thing.
In part, you can thank the fine education establishment for its revisionist treatment of the civil rights movement. Moral and spiritual foundations of the time and of the individual participants are erased, and somehow the voting records of the political parties in Congress have been exchanged, so that in the heads of most Americans, it was the Democrats who accomplished civil rights legislation instead of the Republicans who really did it.
ReplyDeleteYou can also thank the liberal media, who never shirk their responsibility to exploit the tragedies of white-on-black crime while suppressing the similar tragedies of black-on-white crime.
And you can boil it down to this: liberalism cannot exist without a victim class.
Excellent points Rabbit! Without a victim class (or classes) liberals wouldn't have much to do.
DeleteIt continues to amaze me that the people in these minority communities don't ask themselves why after 50 years NOTHING has changed for the better. Until they decide to question their own "leaders" nothing will change for them. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurel!
ReplyDeleteLaurel - it's because the Democrats remind the minority communities over and over that (1) it is not their fault, (2) they cannot get themselves out of the situation, only another government program can lift them out of the mire, and (3) the blasted Republicans are the ones making sure the minorities remain oppressed. Lies, damnable ones, all of it - but it is the narrative that has been spun since they re-wrote the history of the civil rights era.
ReplyDeleteRemember, liberalism cannot exist without a victim class. The continuation of the Democratic Party hinges on making sure the victim class remains in their debt.
Sahib, you posed an interesting question in your intro: Why is there not a single current civil rights leader for children to look up to?
ReplyDeleteHere's the result of a quick search; it's a combination of whites and blacks - no big surprises:
http://newsone.com/newsone-original/bakari-kitwana/top-15-civil-rights-leaders-of-the-21st-century/
I think that your conclusion is the only reasonable one: But maybe, just maybe, America has matured to the point where, the majority of the time, we only have to worry about people's rights.
All that said, there have been reasonable human voices among the black population in this country. One that comes to mind is Bill Cosby, but he was practically hounded into silence, unfortunately. In fact, most reasonable black male voices are viciously attacked by the left - black and white. I was hoping, when I first heard Mr Obama speak, that he would be one of those brave voices, but we know how long that lasted.
We can still hope. Nice article.
Bill Cosby is one of my all-time favorites! My friend Josh and I used to listen to his albums (yes, vinyl albums) all the time. He is hounded because he preaches personal responsibility. Definitely not a favorite theme for those who rely on a victim class to maintain their political power.
DeleteDon't lose faith! Thomas Sowell, Bill Cosby, Allen West, and J.C. Watts should buoy your spirits. We just need to continue to remind young black Americans that the content of their character is more important than the color of their skin.
Thank you for taking the time to post a comment! We really appreciate it.
I think one reason why "there isnt a Civil Rights leader children can look up to" is because the good Civil Rights leaders are hounded by the race baiters and/or just quitely doing their work. As pointed out above Bill Cosby is teaching the right way for people to behave and others attack him for it. I would also suggest looking into C L Bryant who recently made a documentary called Runaway Slave, who is active in his own community, not running all accross the country chasing the headlines.
ReplyDeleteThe list Anonymous above gives has some VERY poor choices: Al Sharpton, Obama, Jena Six, Cynthia McKinney,Jimmy Carter(seriously?), Cornel West, George Soros, Van Jones.
I would point out that Bill Belichick had his reputation ruined by the Patriots (Cheatriots) "Spygate" scandal. Maybe there is a thing to hoodies and bad behavior...
- BeukendaalMason
Thank you for mentioning Mr. Bryant. I have been reading about him and the film for some time now, can't wait to get an opportunity to see it for myself. I would definitely add him to Sahib's list. I would also put Walter Williams there as well.
DeleteThe whole world is upside down, but more than that America has elected a leader who cries "racist" at every corner. Normally a president is someone people can look up to and so.. here we have their black knight in hooded armour. The very fact Americans had elected a half black president toally escapes Sharpton and Jackson. Can't take the bulls**t any more.
ReplyDeleteI would offer that the new civil rights movement is about freedom from educational oppression & parents' right to choose how best to educate their kids. This struggle affects all skin tones of Americans.
ReplyDelete