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Most dictionaries define “racism” as racial hatred based on the color of one’s skin.
As Dick Gregory said, “White is not a color; it’s an attitude.” Some add that racism is racial prejudice plus the institutional and systemic power to dominate, exclude, discriminate against, or abuse targeted groups of people based on a designation of race. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. A Chinese proverb says: “The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.” The use of the term “progress” when addressing racism implies that some congratulatory responses are in order for a “race-relations” job well done and that we live in a “post-racial” society, as some like to say. Perish that thought. Fifty years after his assassination, Malcolm X’s analysis remains perceptive: “If you stick a knife nine inches into my back and pull it out three inches that is not progress. Even if you pull it all the way out, that is not progress. Progress is healing the wound, and America hasn’t even begun to pull out the knife.” Half a century on, Malcolm X's quotation still captures America’s attitude toward race, and congratulatory responses are still not in order. Racist forces in America today would like to revise American history by “prettying up” the repulsive and sordid practices of slavery, denying the historical impact of Jim Crow laws, obscuring the historical impact of segregation and racism, by forgetting the many abhorrent years that followed the end of slavery, and by rewriting and ignoring the obscene violence that was perpetrated on Blacks during the Civil Rights Movement. Understanding is the first priority.
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PRAYERS FOR ROBERTA FLACK AND HER FAMILY. Roberta Flack, the highly decorated vocalist whose smash hits like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" made her among the most recognizable voices of the 1970s, has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and can no longer sing, according to a statement released by her publicist on Monday. The condition, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, was diagnosed in August and has made it difficult for Ms. Flack to speak, the publicist, Elaine Schock, said in an email to The New York Times. Unfortunately, ALS is a "muscle disease" for which there is no cure. Ms. Flack, 85, won Grammy Awards for record of the year and best pop vocal performance in both 1973 and 1974 as she racked up No. 1 singles including “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (1972), “Killing Me Softly With His Song” (’73) and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (’74). Over the course of her career, she earned 14 Grammy nominations. Roberta "pushed" Luther Vandross into his great career. Luther was a background singer for Roberta and she "friendly" fired him to make him concentrate on a career as a solo artist. She said way back when, Luther was THAT GOOD; And as they would say, the rest is history. THANK YOU ROBERTA, for filling our lives with Great Music-from one of your MANY fans.     VIOLENT ACTIONS AGAINST BLACK CHILDREN, THEN AS NOW. WHITE AMERIKKKAN RACISM THEN, AS WHITE AMERIKKKAN RACISM IS NOW.
Racist White Mobs Violently Riot Against Six-Year-Old Ruby Bridges Integrating Elementary School. On November 14, 1960, four federal marshals escorted six-year-old Ruby Bridges to her first day of first grade as the first Black student to attend previously all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. A riotous racist White mob organized by the local White Citizens' Council gathered to protest her arrival, screaming hateful slurs, threats, and insults. In August 1955, African American parents in New Orleans, Louisiana, sued the Orleans Parish School Board for failing to desegregate local schools in compliance with the Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The following February, a federal court ordered the school board to desegregate the city’s schools. For the next four years, the school board and state lawmakers defied the federal court's order and resisted school desegregation. On May 16, 1960, Judge J. Skelly Wright issued a federal order demanding the gradual desegregation of New Orleans public schools, beginning with the first grade—but the Orleans Parish School Board convinced Judge Wright to accept an even more limited desegregation plan, requiring African American students to apply for transfer into all-white schools. Only five of the 137 African American first graders who applied for a transfer were accepted; four agreed to attend, including six-year-old Ruby Bridges, who was the sole Black student assigned to William Frantz Elementary. After getting past the angry racist white crowd to enter the school, Ruby arrived in her assigned classroom to find that she and her teacher, Barbara Henry, who was White, were the only two people present; it would remain that way for the rest of the school year. Within a week, nearly all of the White students assigned to the newly integrated elementary schools in New Orleans had withdrawn. Ruby would later say, "Even though there were mobs outside that school every day for a whole year, the person that greeted me every morning was [my teacher], a white woman, who actually risked her life as well", and "I had never seen a White teacher before, but Mrs. Henry was the nicest teacher I ever had. She tried very hard to keep my mind off what was going on outside. But I couldn't forget that there were no other kids." Despite threats and retaliation against her family, including her grandparents’ eviction from the Mississippi farm where they worked as sharecroppers, Ruby remained at Frantz Elementary. The next year, Ruby advanced to the second grade, and the school's incoming first-grade class had eight Black students. Norman Rockwell, a noted American artist painted a picture inspired by the Bravery of Ruby Bridges titled, "The Problem We All Live With." His painting was inspired by Ruby Bridges. President Obama asked the Norman Rockwell Foundation if they would loan him the p[citure to hang in the White House. Included in the picture with President Obama are Ruby Bridges, and representatives of the Norman Rockwell Foundation. WHITE RACISTS IN THIS COUNTRY CAN GIVE LESS THAN A TINKER'S DAMN FOR BLACK CHILDREN, AND THEIR WELL BEING.       Over the weekend, my youngest granddaughter, Jasmine Hurst danced in several dance productions in New York, with "Earl Mosley's Diversity of Dance." See programme. A few pictures of these excellent dancers. No pictures and videos are allowed during the dancing. I did not get up to New York to see Jasmine dance, but Jasmine's mother, Danita Hurst (picture) had her face in the place. Mothers are like that. Yes they are. Proud Mother. These are her pictures. I will not miss the next time Jasmine dances. Very Proud Grandfather. Note: The last picture is of Jasmine and Adrienne Hurd, an instructor at Alvin Ailey School of Dance who choreographed one of the dance numbers in which Jasmine danced. Jasmine is a graduate of the Alvin Ailey School. The gentleman wearing "yellow shoes" in the group picture is Earl Mosley.  MEMO TO BLACK REPUBLICANTS:
DON'T EVER THINK White Republicants consider you an equal. Racists don't do that. You are simply a means to an end, and convenient for political exploitation. If you are not a Racist, a White Nationalist, a White Supremacist, a Sexist, a Misogynist, or a Xenophobe, what is the appeal and your attraction to donald trump?
If you support donald trump, then you do not have to answer. Why does White America think the racism they "birthed" will disappear without White America "making it disappear." I can only fight White American racism. White America can END White American racism. White American racism remains because White America wants White American racism to remain. It is as simple as that.
Black and Brilliant.
Tell someone that today, and mean it! When I was in elementary school, one thing my mother, and my grandmother were adamant about, "Do not call anyone dumb." I never did.
I was a good son and a good grandson. I am just thankful Herschel Walker did not attend school here in Jacksonville, during the time I attended school in Jacksonville. |
AuthorRodney. L. Hurst, Sr.
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