My final comment is much better than my first one, to Booman’s mountain-out-of-molehill yet top-rated diary (I Don’t Want To Be Black Anymore) (forgiven thinks that {name dropping alert} Tiger Woods betrayed black people when he forgivingly said he thought a TV dimwit had had no ill intent when she used the word ‘lynch’ in reference to him). My first comment:
He should be slammed for no shows on real issues
Not one of these fake/silly ‘can never use this list of words in reference to black people’ things, and some airhead announcer doesn’t know the list.
by fairleft (fairleft(at)yahoo.com) on Wed Jan 30th, 2008 at 02:11:14 PM EST
This IS a real issue.
Lynching is not a “word” on some “list.” It’s a fact that people were lynched with abandon and no fear of ever getting arrested, much less seeing justice. It was cruel, depraved and savage. It was torture.
That’s not a joke. That’s terrorism.
by AP on Wed Jan 30th, 2008 at 03:35:13 PM EST
Re: He should be slammed for no shows on real issu
Nonsense. Tilghman referenced lynching precisely because of its strong racial connotations. It’s a word that, at this point in time, simply isn’t used without being a reference to white violence against black people. It’s only in that context that the remark even makes sense. When was the last time you heard of lynching in a non-racial context? 1850?
I agree that there have been occasions when much more ambiguous and probably innocent language ignited some disproportionate firestorms, but this isn’t one of them. Some symbols and references actually are unambiguous, just as you can be certain that the guys in white hoods burning crosses aren’t pretending to be Casper the friendly ghost.
by eodell (eodell at naqada dot org) on Wed Jan 30th, 2008 at 03:40:50 PM EST
In response to “This IS a real issue” above I posted the following:
here’s real
What does it mean to be poor in America?
“It means having to do without basic needs. It means being last, forgotten, judged wrongly by others.”
Male, 44, Delaware, household of three, income less than $8,860“To me, it is not being poor in itself that holds any meaning; it is seeing all the wealth in others, and of our nation, that makes your feel poor — like living within many states of hopelessness.”
Male, 40, California, household of nine, income less than $8,860.“Hopeless.”
Male, 58, Delaware, household of one, income less than $8,860“Being unseen and unheard.”
Female, 70, Washington, household of one, income of $8,860 to $11,939“You are voiceless and somewhat powerless to change your situation, because you are too busy trying to survive to make the changes you need to improve your situation.”
Female, 40, Washington, household of one, income less than $8,860
“I’m a senior, disabled, all alone, no money, sit in front of T.V. all day – why? Too poor to socialize. Poverty is like being in prison. Why even try to stay alive? For what?”
Female, 62, Oregon, household of one, income less than $8,860“Heartbreaking. I worry about when I become elderly, sometimes I feel that my concerns, my voice isn’t heard.”
Female, 44, no state, household of two, income less than $8,860“It’s unbearable. It’s like you have no reason to exist. Everywhere you go you get turned away.”
Male, 45, Illinois, household of five, income of $11,940 to $15,019“It feels as if you are the lowest creature on earth and rich people look down at you over their noses.”
Male, 66, Pennsylvania, household of three, income of $15,020 to $18,099“Struggling to pay bills, constant disconnection notices, not having money to wash and purchase clothing to work in because bills and household needs have to come first. Listening to your children say they are hungry, but not knowing what you are going to be able to give them before your foodstamps come.”
Female, 32, Missouri, household of five, income of less than $8,860“I am poor so I know poverty. It’s wearing tattered clothes and shoes and having to bow my head in the face of injustice and oppression.”
Male, 55, Florida, household of two, income of less than $8,860“People look down on you, thinking that you’re nothing, like not one poor person tried in their life.”
Female, Kansas, 16, household of three, income of less than $8,860“Not having enough money to have a nice Christmas. Not being able to have nice things for birthdays.”
Female, 23, Michigan, household of one, income of less than $8,860“Feeling like you always owe everyone either an apology or an explanation or both.”
Female, 52, Kansas, household of four, income of less than $8,860“Being poor in the U.S. today is very rough and scary.”
Female, 36, Kansas, household of two, income of less than $8,860“Looked over by most (due to fear), forgotten, seeing the richest people in the world while hungry and cold, feels alone and invalid.”
Male, 31, California, household of six, income of $8,860 to $11,939Get a grip.