African American
Related: About this forum++ POSTED TO TH AFRICAN-AMERICAN GROUP ++
(Because, frankly, I am wholly uninterested in hearing from the suddenly racially conscious among DU, who didn't give a good damn about this issue, but more importantly, the underlying issue, until it became useful in this primary season)
My thoughts on the DU mass incarceration wars:
It is completely, and wholly, disingenuous electioneering ... period!
I do not have a problem with HRC's support of the Crime Bill, nor Sanders' vote for the Crime Bill (even without the "nuanced" VAWA and Assault Weapon Ban, apologia). And here's why:
I lived through the Cleveland Crack Wars of the 80s. The Federal Crime Bill was the answer to the "cry of the people" trapped in crime ridden neighborhoods ... Just as O'Malley's enhanced policing measures were in response to the open air drug markets of B-More.
In both cases, the policy(ies) had the effect of tamping down the violence in Black communities ... BUT, to take a horrified stand, now, after more than 30 years, without consideration of what was going on in these communities, and particularly, without speaking a peep about the conditions that led to what is/was going on in those communities, betrays the BS of this "Concern".
Bottom-line, when a community is under siege to drive-byes, and the human wreckage, created by drug economies, largely, allowed to flourish, that community demands a response.
Re: The term "Super-Predator" ...
The only folks outraged by the term are people that have zero connection the affected communities (and people, with a political motivation for there outrage ... but, I repeat myself).
Anyone that was of age in Black communities during the 80s, knows of "super-predators" ... hell, we grew up with them, we watched them go off the rails, join/start/affiliate with criminal organizations (gangs), and grow into unconscienced shells of beings, one (violent) crime at a time, until prison, the grave, or psychotropic regiments, stopped them.
And as quiet as it is kept, this generation as its share of super-predators, and they are largely in urban and immigrant communities, for any number of reasons.
And, again ... the silence of what is/was going on in those communities, betrays the BS of this "Concern".
{I apologize for my spelling, punctuation and grammar; but, I will not apologize for the truth that I have lived.}
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Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Because that vote was what I felt was the worst blot on Bernie's entire record, even with nuance about VAWA. I'm glad to hear there were actual serious reasons to vote for it, despite his predictions that it would tear apart so many families and lives.
I still feel the justice system is thoroughly unjust, but that's another issue.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)But how do you talk to a mother that just buried her son; but, had to do it without the help from her crack addicted daughter, nieces and nephews ... about families and lives being torn apart by legislation?
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)At least if you ignore addressing underlying inequalities. Which is what American government has continued to do ever since.
We still keep kicking the can down the road, and one way or another, black America continues to bear the brunt of the damage from that unwillingness of white politicians.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)re-litigating, and assigning blame for a policy, that both candidates have their finger prints on, 30 years later, is not addressing the underlying inequalities, nor, is it addressing the circumstances that led to the public out cry that set the table for the legislation in the first place ... it is partisan electioneering ... and transparently so.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)I've actually been pointing out lately that I felt that Bernie's vote for the bill was really bad. Which, given that I support Bernie, would be really godawful if I was doing so to 'transparently partisan electioneer'. Generally, you have to agree with your chosen candidate on something to 'electioneer' for them on it.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,708 posts)But that is not to suggest that every banker or investor is a predator. They are like everybody else, some are good, some are bad, some have moral compasses that are working, and some don't.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)But, bad bankers will never be referred to as "super-predators" because ... well ... they are largely a white class, and it doesn't play well into the fear of Black (and Brown).
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)
brer cat
(24,522 posts)Keeping the proper perspective on the drive-by issues of political campaigns is difficult when emotions run amok and the newly concerned pontificate without doing their homework. The truth comes from those who lived within the communities as you have well stated.
imo, the conversation should be what did we learn from past responses, good or bad, that would give us direction today and possibly eliminate some of the road bumps and dead ends going forward? Maybe when the heat of an election year has passed when can discuss that.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)But than, solutions and lessons learned are hardly the point of the daily missives of the newly concerned.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)^^^^^^^ THIS, THO!! ^^^^^^^^^
ismnotwasm
(41,963 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Remember, these are the same people who commanded that we await the facts in the Zimmerman and Wilson trials before passing judgment on them, even though it was clear that the black children they murdered were unarmed and had done nothing wrong.
These are the same people who talk of "Respectability Politics" and deflect from the BLM argument by raising the so-called black on black crime issue.
They never gave a damn about race, racism or anything like it until NOW in the primary season when they fully know and understand that no Democratic Party candidate can win the primary without the black vote.
I don't give a shit what any of them say. They never gave a damn about black people until now. NOW they pretend to be concerned about us poor Knee-grows. Save it!
Gothmog
(144,905 posts)
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)And the last one I will willing read on the topic until after the primary is over. See if anyone outside of this forum wants to discuss it then.
Number23
(24,544 posts)poor, quivering, innocent black children. I truly laughed my ass of at that. The depths some will go to slime this woman are incredible.
And the idea that her support for this law is somehow infinitely worse than Bernie's VOTE for it... to be honest, I just tune most of the crap out. I have no use for it.
