Condoleezza Rice – Ain’t It About Time We Give Her The Proper Props

This article is courtesy of Roland Martin. Blacktina usually doesn’t completely post another article, but this was just too compelling to keep to myself.

Sen. Barack Obama has called for a national discussion on race in America, and one of the folks who sure didn’t hold back when asked was Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

In a discussion with the editorial board of the Washington Times on Thursday, Rice called racism a ‘birth defect’ of America , and said that black Americans have loved the nation even when it didn’t love us.

The Times reported:
‘Black Americans were a founding population,’ she said. ‘Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together – Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That’s not a very pretty reality of our founding.’

‘As a result, Miss Rice told editors and reporters at The Washington Times, ‘descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that.’

‘That particular birth defect makes it hard for us to confront it, hard for us to talk about it, and hard for us to realize that it has continuing relevance for who we are today,’ she said.

Rice later said: ‘ America doesn’t have an easy time dealing with race,’ Miss Rice said, adding that members of her family have ‘endured terrible humiliations.’

‘What I would like understood as a black American is that black Americans loved and had faith in this country even when this country didn’t love and have faith in them – and that’s our legacy,’ she said.

Wow, was all I could say to that.

What was even more stunning was the relative lack of coverage on this issue. I was told CNN’s ‘The Situation Room’ did a piece on her comments Friday. But when I surfed the Net to see follow-up stories in other papers, it has pretty much been ignored, except for some briefs.

Why would the mainstream media be so dismissive of Rice’s comments? Imagine if Rev. Al Sharpton or Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. said such a thing. Do you think they would have gotten ripped?

The fact of the matter is that Rice was right on the money with her comments, and should be commended. She spoke honestly and openly about the issue, and deserves credit for speaking the truth.

I just wish my colleagues in the media would do a better job at advancing the issue of race in America and our sordid history.

We went bonkers about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but when Rice, the nation’s chief diplomat, spoke truthfully, it barely made a ripple.

Roland S.. Martin, CNN Contributor
www.rolandsmartin.com

Ese Moreno Ain’t So Bad After-all

August 8, 2009 will forever go down in history as the day the United States Supreme Court sworn in the first Hispanic supreme court justice. This historical period in our society is quite profound considering less than 100 years ago we actually had Klans men as Supreme Court justices. In fact many are not aware that the Supreme Court overturned the initial integration doctrine and allowed the Southern states to operate under separate but legal, which we all knew was actually separate and illegal for the unfortunate person of color. Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justice, girl you got lots of graves turning (LOL). While we recognize the maturation of unity our nation is experiencing, we should also take into account how two supreme minority classes are actually coming together, I’m talking about Boricuas and Morenos or also known as the Browns and Blacks.

Growing up as a Black Puerto Rican I’ve had my share of racism on both ends. I had Black friends who ridiculed my Salsa music, the gandules (peas) in my rice, my accent, the stereotypical jokes about welfare and tons of kids as well as countless other experiences that I’m failing to mention. I’ve also experienced the ignorance of those who share my ethnicity in thinking that I was a morena, which by the way is a word that closely resembles mono (monkey in Spanish, hmmmm……) and how they went out to degrade me for being a morena. Some of these instances were the cowardly way they would talk about me in Spanish not knowing that I knew the language, tell me I had bad hair, they would say all Black people stink, oh and the best one they weren’t allowed to bring Black people into their house, ya’ll know who you are! But today in the year 2009 I’m beginning to get a different feel from Blacks and Hispanics. The nomination of Sotomayor from an African American President, Barack Obama spoke volumes.

Historically Hispanics tend to associate themselves and maybe its just imaginary but nevertheless they see themselves more in the white arena than the Black arena. Even your dark Hispanics would never admit to being Black or even contain African ancestry. This denouncement of their true ethnicity is not due to poor knowledge but of shame. Hispanics would rather be anything than Black to the point that they wouldn’t even side with an African American. Some may think based on my experiences I’m making this up, but if you recall during the Democratic primary between Barack and Hilary, Hispanics were all over Hilary. Hilary this Hilary that. Shamefully my own mother hated Obama. To quote Ms. Thing “Barack is a Muslim from Africa” She don’t want nobody who grew up in a jungle running the country.” It took all of me not to disrespect my mother. But I realized she was just honestly speaking what most Hispanics thought. Now nearly a year later Obama is like Jesus to her. He’s looked out for her kind more than any other white person ever did. Just take a look at Bush and poor Alberto Gonzalez. The Bush administration made Albertito take the fall for firing those judges. Haven’t heard a peep from Albertito and you won’t either! See that’s not whitey looking out for you.

For years we’ve all known to prosper we must work together, yet we never took the initiative to do so. So busy trying to assimilate and knock each other out as if the white race only has room for a few Black and Hispanic cohorts. But finally one of us took the plunge and what a step it was. A Black president nominates a Puerto Rican from the Bronx and voila for the first time eyes have been opened! Hermanos/Hermanas, Sisters and Brothers we are not enemies we’ve been fighting the same fight for many of years. We were robbed and we built this country. This division between Black and Brown, which coincidentally are related colors in the Crayola box has got to stop and I pray to God we are on our way.

This past Saturday comedian George Lopez announced during his standup on HBO the names of the Senators who opposed Sotomayor, coincidentally they were all white. He urged their constituents not to vote for them again. The roaring applause of the crowd mostly Hispanic was proof enough that “WE” are all finally getting it. Thank you President Obama and Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor for leading the charge on this one. This is a cultural awakening that you both should be extremely proud of!

Cool Colin

Popular radio host turned talk show diva Wendy Williams often refers to her preferred celebrities as imaginary relatives. For the first time in my life I’m feeling this imaginary exercise. I hereby appoint Colin Powell as my imaginary Daddy. No disrespect to my real father. He was a wise intelligent, funny and thoughtful man, I couldn’t ask for a better father. Yet if I were able to have a pretend Daddy he would be a mixture of my father and Colin Powell. I’m choosing Mr. Powell because he embodies a man who is with fault and readily admits error but also takes the time to teach others and understand as well as explain his error. Of course I’m talking about his post as Secretary of State and his debacle with the UN and the now fictitious weapons of mass destruction. Any other politician’s career would have been over after this sham. Colin took some time off, regrouped, admitted his errors, taught us why and went on.

During the recent presidential election he supported President Obama although his own party was portraying the candidate as a terrorist and Colin as a traitor. He stood his principles and was able to convey his support for the candidate in a way that was eloquent and meaningful. Once again “Daddy Powell” made me realize how undetected or better yet how unpopular he’s perceived when it comes to black issues, all because we think he may not understand when the irony is Colin understands much more than we give him credit for.

Colin more than many of us have fought many battle grounds both abroad and domestically. Yet he carries a superb air of humanity, dignity and never once have I ever heard condescension. Recently he was asked by Larry King about the “racial” incident surrounding Henry Louis Gates. His remark was mesmerizing and just well dare I say touching. While all the black elite pundits roar about the injustice imposed on Skip; Colin so eloquently “put it down” and truly revealed the real heart of both Skip’s and the officer’s error. As they say in Hollywood, “Roll the tape”.

Colin Powell interview with Larry King