By: Kirsten West Savali, Your Black World
Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), has been the subject of many controversial headlines, from inciting cheers at a GOP debate over his high execution record, to most recently, when knowledge of his family's "Niggerhead" property came out.
Now, we discover that the Texas governor has unequivocally voiced his support for the Confederate flag.
The flag, a symbol for many of the atrocities, inhumanity and bloodshed that characterized slavery in the United States, has complex connotations.
Many civil rights groups, including the NAACP have fought for it to be relegated to being a footnote in history --- Perry feels differently.
The NAACP waged a fierce campaign for the Confederate battle flag to be removed from government buildings across the Deep South, and Perry engaged them in an old Texan face-off, saying that they should stay right where they are because we "should never forget our history."
Dixiecrat organization, Sons of the Confederacy, contend that the Governor's support is "honorable".
One has to wonder what the outcry would have been if then presidential candidate, Barack Obama came out in support of communism, which was popular among many Black activists in the 60s and 70s, or if he had invited friends of his for hors d'oeuvres at his family property fondly called "RedNeck Village" or "Wetback Mountain."
Governor Rick Perry obviously gets a pass due to white privilege, and Republicans continue to push him as worthy of being President of The United States of America
I suppose once he goes to get the morning mail in a white sheet and turns on the sprinklers to stop the cross from burning in the front-yard, people might finally come around to understanding that he has no respect, nor cultural sensitivity towards African-Americans in this country.
15 comments:
The answer to the question about the different responses to Obama and Perry's real and imagined political ties is easy.
In Obama's case, his supposedly socialist political agenda is a "threat" to the American way of life. While on the other hand, Perry's connection to the Confederacy is the American Way of Life. It probably seems very natural to many people who continue to hold ties to this ideology.
Plain and simple white racism is the reason why there is a double standard for whites supporting and spewing racial hatred. This should come as no surprise to any black person. If Perry were to show up at a republican debate wearing a white sheet he would get a standing ovation from white conservatives.
This philosophy by Rick Perry and many republicans is a reflection of their white racist base.
The so call liberal media supports this racial double standard as well. They not only don't confront Perry on his racist views but none of the republican/teabag candidates are ever asked any questions about racism. But of course black people are a different matter.
I remember the 2008 democratic debate between Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama. The late Tim Russet of MSNBC was the moderator asking the questions. His first question of Obama was to ask him to repudiate and denounce Louis Farrakhan for racial hatred against Jews and whites. I have never in my life heard white members of the media demand that
white conservative politicians repudiate their openly white racist
supporters. Louis Farrakhan or ANY black person would never compare to the racist savagery whites have committed in this country.
Being the majority, white people give each other the benefit of the doubt and a free pass on racism and hatred.
While the confederate flag is significant, I am more interested in the Southern Manifesto being the centerpiece of the 2012 presidential political season. It is the associated culture that is being transmitted from one generation to another, not an art piece. This way of seeing America can be documented by its travel. In Levittown, PA, we find restrictive covenants where the sons and daughters of immigrants escaped to when the grinding social interactions of urban America became overwhelming.
Confronting America on where it has been and where it is going should be the order of the day. The global community must see what the culture of America is about, that set of assumptions that trigger invasions of sovereign nations as manifest destiny and the divine right of kings-empire building. That is what I think the Southern Manifesto means as a cultural tool. I have suggested to Herman Cain that he can not avoid this cultural feature and neither can Rick Perry nor Mitt Romney.
Ho Hum. Another big non-issue. Like if R. Perry really believes in and/or embodies the worst of the Confederacy, as long as he does not voice it or support the old flag we are ok with him? Just like we are ok with a president who verbally supports our causes, understands and identifies with our history/struggle, calls himself black [which he is], but does not a thing for our economic plight?...At some point we have to stop majoring in minors. So R. Perry is one of millions who supports a symbol of his southern heritage; big deal.
"we should never forget our history" is EXACTLY WHY it should not be flown above government buildings.
If we Americans knew our History of the South, this would be another non debate like Obama's citizenship. Lets get knowledge instead of anger. Blacks fought for the Confederacy, many were forced, some volunteered and were land and slave owners too. Especially in Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana. Texan blacks obtained more acres of land than any other confedearate state; many still have their ancestral land. Will be argue about his hair being dyed next?
The dixie-crat have been the core of the southern republican since the eighties when saint ronnie reagan welcome them with open arms.They are the dixie-can,the same old bigots they have always been.That flags is treasonus, they lost the war what are they celaberating,when you loose, tuck your tail between your legs,do speed, marry your cousin,we're never going back to the days of jim-crow no matter how much clarence thomas and michael cain dream of "them" good old days.
Well said David2001 and Muata Nowe, I would like to add just a few statements. Ricky Perry is no different than any other white person in this world that have been taught to see Black People as Niggers, But Still We Rise. Why was the camp named "Niggerhead"? How many Black People has been Killed there? It's wasn't named that because the Perry Family Loved Niggers. Ask the town folk, they might tell about those things of the Past, that this new America is in shock about. Why would Ricky denounce His Rebel Flag? The Flag that was flown at Niggerhead Camp doing the Hanging of Niggers. Still the Black People Rose, to the point that an African American is President, not a Nigger or Black American. Civil War would have taken place if a once Nergo then Colored then Black now African American Nigger was President, Commander in Chief, the first order of business would be to even the playing field in the Hatred War. That young Ricky in Mississippi that Killed the Black Brother would be Killed the same way. God is Still on the side of Right. Black People remember, it was by the Power of God that have got us this far, Don't Turn from Jesus.It is a Time for Everything.
A Racist is a Racist, is still a Racist rather he's governor or running for president,and please don't forget TEXAS was also a confederate state...
I Appreciate The Comments That were Made. Especially Msladydeborah. Please, The Confederate Flag Is A Symbol That All Americans Should Oppose. The Confederate Flag is A Symbol of Anti-American Treason. There should be No Place In The Public Square for It. It Should Be A Felony To Fly It! But The Only Way for That To Happen Is For There To Be A Movement In The African American Community This Year. But Thats Not Going To Happen, Because We Are Too Busy, with Other Things? Thanks for Letting Me Vent.
I think all of this revealing information further substantiates that republicans are all out racist and this recent event involving a candidate for the POTUS is a direct refection on GW Bush who got away with running this country for 8 years. The Southern Manifesto as noted, was signed off by 99 democrats and 2 republicans in 1956 only confirms that democrats are "subtle racist." So we have a "racist" on the right and a "subtle racist" on the left! Go figure...
On another note in 2001: I remember when GW Bush literally pulled Colin Powell by his coat tail, directly in front of the camera's, (I saw that!) steering him to the microphone, to answer questions after it was announced that he was selected to be the first Black secretary of state. Not only was such a gesture disrespectful it was also 'ugly,' especially when you factor in the 'smirky' look on the perpetrator's face, but it was really a scene that said that the plan to go to war in Iraq had already been decided!
You guys spew hate your own selves. You don't even know your own history. That's why you refuse to rise above. You believe what this government has spoon fed you since 1865.
Please! Please! Say what you want to; I guarantee you, God get's the very last word. The Holy Book has the Answer to Everything! Listen! ( To Everything! ) Listen! I have read the Book of Danlial, Ezekiel, Revelation; and guess what? It's all there! Say what you need to say,to feel better; but He really does gets the very last word. Love is and always has and always will be the true answer. See ya!
If this is an issue, then why are there black people in the democratic party?!?! That party was created by the confederacy. That party createdvits terrorist arm, The kkk. That party instituted slavery and committed genocide upon the black african. That party elected obama, who stood at the grave of Robert Byrd, former grand klegal of the kkk, and told blacks to forgive byrd because he was "just trying to make life better".
So of the confederacu thing is so troubling, then blacks should abondon the democratic party as of yesterday......
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