Reply #137: OK

[omega minimo]

"WIth the opening sentence "Slavery didn't start in the United States." the poster has changed the context of the discussion from US history to World History... in which context 87 years is, yes, brief."

Yes, shifting the context of the discussion away from (my comments on) African American history, which is not "brief." The word and the tactic are both dismissive -- including dismissive of whatever point I tried to share.

"This isn't a dismissal, it's a widening of perspective, which then leads to a sentence in the next paragraph "Our KNOWN history of persecution as gay people goes back to the edicts of the Christianization of the Roman Empire." Again, a world history perspective, not just US history."

Looks like Oppression Olympics, don't it? :scratcheshead:

The claim in that post was that there exists "the demand that we not make any comparison between gay and blacK..."

That's not correct. Pam's broad statements don't help the misunderstanding.

The point is:

"There is no "demand that we not make any comparison b/w gay and black." There is a need for understanding the differences between general comparisons that are appropriate and SPECIFIC, historic, unique experiences, imagery and terms that are incomparable. These latter are unique to African American history and culture and still resonate today, still cause pain when misappropriated."

I know enough about the history, about the use and history and objections here to using the imagery in the OP, to consider it all with a reasonable amount of respect. You may recall the use of other specific (Civil Rights Era) references than the ones in this thread. Other SPECIFIC imagery and terms that are unique to AA history, yet have been used as watered down "metaphors" are what I'm referring to. "House Negro" is a volatile one to pick up. Esp. as our current POTUS is a black man. And American gays never wore chains or cages.

Pointing out the pain the misappropriated terms brings to those sensitized to African American history in no way undermines or ignores the civil rights struggles of others.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=140150&mesg_id=140498

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5866170

Hope that helps, Loose Willy! :toast: