Trayvon Martin and the fatal history of American racism

[Dolemite73]

So make a broader political point with Black folk.......

He did. When he sent Holder down there to wear some asses out.

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

it doesn't, sometimes a blunt instrument is the best tool for the job, save the scalpel for romney in the general

We have a blunt instrument strike already going on, unless you find the Urban League, the NAACP, the AG's office, the FBI, the media, a pretty powerful FLA law firm, the black church in FLA and the entire internetz is a feather.

[Dolemite73]

it doesn't, sometimes a blunt instrument is the best tool for the job, save the scalpel for romney in the general

I feel you. But that analogy of the father bull and his son fits here. Run down and fuck one? Or walk down and fuck them all? Food for thought.

[DaBownca]

It's just more of the same. Some ol' "If that nigga can do it, so can I" deal.

Powell's political aspirations are a bit too out in front for him to be adding a political dimension to his writing about this topic. The best work he could do is keep it about Trayvon. The involvement of the AG's office keeps it about Trayvon. That sharp left turn his writing takes to shine a light on some potential hypocrisy on the part of the POTUS and his administration is bogus. Are you helping spread the word for the public good or are you juxtaposing POTUS against, say, what you, Kevin Powell would do.

But leave it up to Powell to show himself to be a great leader in one heartbeat and a posturing clown in the next. He's been doing that shit since "The Real World." I really REALLY dig Powell the leader. Then that should be me shit starts. It's a common psychological tick of black folks with education and status. We look at greatness and wonder, "Why isn't that me?" I had a cat once who came to a screening of a flick I did and said to me, as he sipped drinks I bought him, "I looked at your flick and realized, if you could do it, I know I can do it." Fool didn't even know he just yakked in my face. I hit a 280y drive and black man on the tee after me just has to come out of his shoes to hit one 300, glaring at me, giving me the stank eye during what should be a friendly game. It's what we do. We should stop.

We need Powell the leader, man. The cat who understands the hood and the halls equally. Not this envious nigga who projects himself into everything involving other black folks who do what he thinks he should be doing. First 3/4 of the article is exactly what America needs to read. The rest of that shit goes in the ashcan with Tavis Smiley and Cornell West 'n nem niggas.

Here's the thing...........had he stopped at the first 3/4 of the article wouldn't he at some point be asked "what,then, would you do?? or "so how do you think it should be handled?"

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

honestly, had i known powell wrote it, i would not have even read it

EXACTLY! It's disappointing, too. Powell could be the quintessential 21st century black American socio-political leader born of the Hip Hop Generation. Instead, he just fuckin' plays this, "No other nigga is good enough" shit. I can't stand - CAN'T FUCKIN' STAND - when black folks do this. Fence sit because they don't want to give it up to another black man.

[House]

Sup, P-Dub.

I can understand your point about Sandra Fluke. But was a distinct political calculus with that phone call. He was making a broader political point with women. I can also understand the symbolism of calling this child's parents and sending his condolences.

I can dig it

However, I also would like the Julia Roberts Pretty Woman in the boutique suck up to me completely treatment as well.

Additionally, there was no downside. In speaking with even my most conservative friends, the consensus among the thoughtful is that George Zimmerman is a jackass

[mhd]

We have a blunt instrument strike already going on, unless you find the Urban League, the NAACP, the AG's office, the FBI, the media, a pretty powerful FLA law firm, the black church in FLA and the entire internetz is a feather.

jes sayin:

The alleged massacre of Afghan civilians by a U.S. soldier is "outrageous and unacceptable," President Barack Obama said Tuesday, and he promised a thorough and unstinting Pentagon investigation.

"The United States takes this as seriously as if it was our own citizens, and our children, who were murdered. We're heartbroken over the loss of innocent life," Obama said. He sounded stern and emotional in brief remarks on the weekend killings made before an unrelated White House event.

"I've directed the Pentagon to make sure that we spare no effort in conducting a full investigation," Obama said. "We will follow the facts wherever they lead us and we will make sure that anybody who is involved is held fully accountable with the full force of the law.

[DaBownca]

He did. When he sent Holder down there to wear some asses out.

Does the DOJ ONLY intervene at the POTUS' behest?

[Koffy Brown]

EXACTLY! It's disappointing, too. Powell could be the quintessential 21st century black American socio-political leader born of the Hip Hop Generation. Instead, he just fuckin' plays this, "No other nigga is good enough" shit. I can't stand - CAN'T FUCKIN' STAND - when black folks do this. Fence sit because they don't want to give it up to another black man.

I think all of you make very valid points on this topic but the one that really stood out is this ^^^...sorry but I can't stand Kevin Powell, he's useless, just loves to see his writings in print beyond that...ehhhh

But my 2 cents on the subject matter is exactly what Dolemite says....

[Dolemite73]

jes sayin:

The alleged massacre of Afghan civilians by a U.S. soldier is "outrageous and unacceptable," President Barack Obama said Tuesday, and he promised a thorough and unstinting Pentagon investigation.

"The United States takes this as seriously as if it was our own citizens, and our children, who were murdered. We're heartbroken over the loss of innocent life," Obama said. He sounded stern and emotional in brief remarks on the weekend killings made before an unrelated White House event.

"I've directed the Pentagon to make sure that we spare no effort in conducting a full investigation," Obama said. "We will follow the facts wherever they lead us and we will make sure that anybody who is involved is held fully accountable with the full force of the law.

Mark, the minute POTUS speaks on this publicly, he will be swiftly accused of interferring with an ongoing investigation and yadda, yadda, yadda. Just like with Gates in 2009, which became a circus. No need for that now. Send the DOJ to wreck shop down there, let the NAACP and the other vast amount of people protesting this apply more pressure and speak when the time is appropriate. Maybe after the grand jury meets?

[mhd]

I feel you. But that analogy of the father bull and his son fits here. Run down and fuck one? Or walk down and fuck them all? Food for thought.

wtf?

[Dolemite73]

Does the DOJ ONLY intervene at the POTUS' behest?

You think they operate with impunity? Think POTUS isn't briefed on what they do?

[mhd]

Does the DOJ ONLY intervene at the POTUS' behest?

no

[House]

I feel you. But that analogy of the father bull and his son fits here. Run down and fuck one? Or walk down and fuck them all? Food for thought.

I feel that.

However, if it were me or mine, I'd want you all to follow a scorched earth policy from wherever to Sanford and let the chips fall where they fall. No Justice. No Peace.

It's not just about Mr Martin. The PD in that town allowed a murderer to walk because of the color of his skin and the color of the victims skin. This cannot stand

[House]

wtf?

In this case, I don't think that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Are there bigger fish to fry? Certainly. However, this one particular fish, in the form of young Mr Martin, is too important to ignore.

This is the civil rights fight. A young black man was lynched for walking down the street in a white neighborhood. If we can't have simple protection of being allowed to live then we have no protections at all.

[mhd]

I feel that.

However, if it were me or mine, I'd want you all to follow a scorched earth policy from wherever to Sanford and let the chips fall where they fall. No Justice. No Peace.

It's not just about Mr Martin. The PD in that town allowed a murderer to walk because of the color of his skin and the color of the victims skin. This cannot stand

c'mon man, scorched earth? cats are clutching pearls and petticoats lest they ruffle white folks' feathers

[Dolemite73]

I feel that.

However, if it were me or mine, I'd want you all to follow a scorched earth policy from wherever to Sanford and let the chips fall where they fall. No Justice. No Peace.

It's not just about Mr Martin. The PD in that town allowed a murderer to walk because of the color of his skin and the color of the victims skin. This cannot stand

If it were my 17 year old son, death would come swiftly to any and everybody responsible for his murder. Feel me on that. And I am sure deep down, POTUS feels the same way about his daughters. But he also has to let the process play out, in his position.

[Dolemite73]

c'mon man, scorched earth? cats are clutching pearls and petticoats lest they ruffle white folks' feathers

There is no pearl clucthing here. Just pure, cold-blooded pragmatic reasoning.

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

I feel that.

However, if it were me or mine, I'd want you all to follow a scorched earth policy from wherever to Sanford and let the chips fall where they fall. No Justice. No Peace.

It's not just about Mr Martin. The PD in that town allowed a murderer to walk because of the color of his skin and the color of the victims skin. This cannot stand

At minimum, a total shutdown of the city until justice is met. I'm black, so I have the right to ask, "If he were white...?" and I am near certain the answer would be, "The black Zimmerman would be dead already." That is what makes this hard to bear. Black folk are freedom and justice loving people. At our core, we want the system to work and we want to participate in that system.

How do I know?

Because, if not, we would have drug this bastard and his entire fam out and stomped them to death right in front of those gates.

Instead, we organize, march and pray.

That's why it's our turn to lead this nation.

[mhd]

There is no pearl clucthing here. Just pure, cold-blooded pragmatic reasoning.

pure silliness

[DaBownca]

no

My point exactly....

[DaBownca]

You think they operate with impunity? Think POTUS isn't briefed on what they do?

Him being briefed and him UNLEASHING them are two completely different animals

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

Him being briefed and him UNLEASHING them are two completely different animals

No, it isn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...torney_General

Opening abstract, man.

[House]

c'mon man, scorched earth? cats are clutching pearls and petticoats lest they ruffle white folks' feathers

We can love Barack and support Barack and still say "dude, check your self". People that love each other actually do this.

We need to be savvy consumers in the process. We can't sign on to boycott Limbaugh over Ms Fluke yet remain mute and meek when it comes to Mr Martin

The sidewalk needs to get very hot under the feet of those who aren't pushing for justice in this case. Additionally, symbolically, our president, our black president, has to be seen as not giving in to fear of recrimination from those who would seek to make politically hay out of him offering sympathy to these parents. Those people would be dooming themselves. If republican leadership were savvy, they'd reach out to this boys parents themselves

[mhd]

No, it isn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...torney_General

Opening abstract, man.

while eric works for barack, barack doesn't run the justice department, and while briefing the white house is routine, intervening in the martin case would not need, require, nor should prior approval be sought