Originally Posted by stephen
kidd...SHO...you're missing the man's point. NO ONE is asking either of you (or anyone else for that matter) to pay for anything your ancestors did. it's almost like you're itching sooo bad to make some good point, without paying attention to the statements being made. the point is, regardless as to what today's black people have physically experienced, there are still things that continue to haunt us...PERIOD. imagine what it feels like to only be able to trace your family roots back to just your grandparents. imagine KNOWING that YOU are probably the START of your family tree, and why that is. imagine what it feels like to know that your great grandfather was murdered for the simple fact that he was black. imagine what it feels like to be singled out (and yes...i'm talking about TODAY in 2009) by police, or any other non ethnic individuals because of the color of your skin. knowing that white people helped get a black man into the presidential office does little to nothing on erasing the shit i CONTINUE TO LEARN & DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS about what MY PEOPLE went through, and how it feels to have some one come close to treating me the same way. it's not me holding a grudge...it's me REMEMBERING the shit, and making it VERY CLEAR that it will never happen again.
let's put some things in a different light...
henry gates is 58yrs old...born in 1950. with that being said...i'm PRETTY DAMN SURE this man KNOWS what it's like to experience racism FIRST HAND. the man was 14 when the civil rights act of 64' was passed. once again, the man has been "questioned" by police for fitting the description of some sort of robber. i'm pretty sure i wouldn't be far off in saying that he's probably 1 of FEW black individuals who not only WORKS at harvard, but lives there. a man in his 50's, with a cane, who answered his front door with his home phone on his ear, has been made out for the 2nd time within 5yrs (by the same police department) to be a criminal because he fits the "description" (which probably has emphasis on the words BLACK MALE) and you call that fair? BULL!
take 2 seconds and imagine yourself in the scenario. you're a white man living and working in a predominately black area (let's just say 40:1 black to white ratio). over the course of 5yrs a few crimes take place with one of the key descriptions being "white male." let's say black officers consistently stop you, insinuating that you fit the description of this criminal. they even have the audacity to come to your home and ARREST YOU. would you honestly say, "hey, they're just doing their job."