A lot of things were said about me and my grand dad about a “racist” message I wrote earlier.

[LiberalArkie]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025869162

My granddad grew up as a sharecropper in southeast Arkansas. I had asked him as a little kid what those marks were on his back. He told me that the property owner had told him to give 10 lashes to a black fellow sharecropper. My grand dad refused. The owner told him “either you or him”. My grand dad told me that he pulled off his shirt and leaned up on a tree and took the lashes. My grand dad was around 16 or so then. But he left the farm and and joined the army at the end of WWI. He came back and moved to Monroe Louisiana and started learning the carpentry trade. Later on him and a bunch of guys hopped on a train to Washington DC and became known as the bonus army. He was hurt there when a horse stepped on his arm and it never healed correctly. Kind of withered, but it did not stop him being one hell of a carpenter.

When I was young, my mom and dad did not have much, but they hired this black lady who used to be my mom’s adopted mothers maid to help around the house. It wasn’t much they could pay her, but I guess anything helped. I turned 16 and got my drivers license and drove Rosa home every day. I met one of her sons who was about my age. One day he told me about this protest type thing that was going to happen down in Alabama. We got what money we could get together and a couple of his friends and all 4 of us headed out for Selma, Alabama in my 55 Ford. I think it was the spring of 1965.

They found some people to patch me up, they came out alright but I had a big bleeding gash in the back of my head from a black jack. But a black lady took some thread and a needle and stitched me right up. Luckily one of the other guys knew how to drive good enough to get all of us back to El Dorado, Arkansas. And I had some explaining to do to my parents. I took a lot of heat from my brother and his friends for being a “Ni**** lover”. Oh well.

I worked in the library at the brand new white high school. When ever we had to throw away books, I would take them over to Washington High School (Black School) library. My parents had more books than the Washington High School library had. It was better than throwing the books away and it was the least I could do.

I always felt proud of the little indentation in my scalp like my grand daddy felt proud of his withered arm and the scars on his back.

Ok I guess I am going to get my message locked down again.But I just can not see why the people in Ferguson don’t get out and vote. People in Selma died and were beat so that they could vote the racist scum out. They out number the whites (what 3 to 1 ). But they don’t vote them out.

If the kids had gotten out to vote in Arkansas we would not be a red state, but dare I say they were just too damn lazy or maybe something was on TV or whatever. None of my democratic friends could manage the time to vote in the election a couple weeks ago. But the blacks in Ferguson have so much to gain. I just can't grasp why they don't.

Ok I have had my say, someone go ahead and report me and lock it down for my racist diatribe.

[ret5hd]

1. Cool story bro.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Do you reply this way a lot?

That's a phrase that people use to express disbelief at what another person writes.

It's the same as calling the author a liar.

It's usually used by immature trolls, I'm sure you're not an immature troll so maybe you should edit or delete what you wrote so that others don't get the wrong idea.

Don't thank me, I'm a helper. I like to help.

[ret5hd]

8. I'll just say I don't believe a word he wrote.

[Lars39]

2. A lot of the people in Ferguson don't vote because of outstanding warrants.

They can't afford to pay them and if they show up to vote they will get arrested. It's one of the many ways to suppress the vote.

[hfojvt]

9. that might happen if they show up to register

bang, they would be giving the authorities a current address.

Voting itself wouldn't likely be a problem. In order to be arrested then, the cops would need to have people at every precinct - all day. I do not believe they would do that.

But search the voting records for outstanding warrants. Yeah, especially in the computer age, that would be pretty easy.

[Lars39]

10. They probably also have less precincts than they need, too.

I don't doubt at all that they would expend the manpower to suppress the vote if needed.

[jeff47]

14. Furgeson makes about half of it's budget from traffic fines

and the warrants that result from people unable to pay them.

You can be damn sure they'd put police at every polling place. That's how they make money.

[randome]

3. Well, no one knows if something posted on the Internet is true or not.

But whether true or not, it's an interesting story.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]

[upaloopa]

4. I read here once that it doesn't matter if you

took part in civil rights marches if you are white.
On edit: I see you won't get taken seriously too bad.
I took part in civil rights marches in the 60's but being white we don't get taken seriously as if we could not acknowledge the injustice then. I don't care what some young person thinks of us today. They did not live back then and don't know of what we speak.
Thanks for your caring.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Thank you for your story; it's terrific.

I am proud to K&R.

I won't be the one to report you.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Posted to for later.

[procon]

11. I think I understand what you're saying

I used to be puzzled why Americans don't vote, but not anymore. Not discounting the evil purpose of GOP voter suppression efforts and the unfairness that blocks felons who have paid their dues to society from voting in some states, I don't think its so much a matter of demographics, or even laziness or apathy, as it is a generalized disgust with our whole political process.

From corruption, lies, bribery and a lengthy laundry list of shady deals and cleverly phrased bills to oppress the masses and maintain the status quo of inequality, the whole system is rigged against ordinary citizens in favor of the wealthy fat cats. No matter what your race, if you diligently vote and nothing ever changes, eventually you start wondering, what's the point?

If you see politicians promise action and time after time swear that this time things will be different, and then they fail to deliver, or even do the exact opposite of what they campaigned on, why wouldn't a person just give up? Looking at it from that angle, then perhaps not voting is actually a form of protest.


Added:

I forget to say thanks for sharing your story, it was very compelling.

[bravenak]

12. Jay Nixon is a Democrat.

Who do they have to vote for that will behave better than the Democrats they already have in office? The DA is a Democrat. We have a history of liberal racism that we refuse to acknowledge. Their choices are racist Republicans or racist Democrats.

[Fumesucker]

15. Not quite, we have a history of Democratic racism

Confusing and conflating liberalism and the Democratic party is part of our problem I think.

[bravenak]

16. You are right.

It is a history of Democratic racism. I have a problem of expecting Democrats to be Liberals.

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. Interestingly, as one of the few indentified/indentifable African-Americans on this board ...

I did/do not find you initial post, racist ... and I stated, as such.

I will, however, suggest that your grand father's "they can rise up" comment betrays a misunderstanding of the institution of slavery, and your "Ferguson can rise up" comment, a misunderstanding of the institutionaliztion of racism in the U.S. And will offer that both, are an example of how white privilege affects perspectives on solutions to racism.

Proximity to injustice provides a very limited the view of options that those experiencing the injustice can exercise, as those not subjected to the injustice are, also, not subjected to the foundational treatment that cements the injustice in place. For example, in the former case ... that of the slaves ... before slaves were "allowed" in the fields with the sharp tools, they were subjected to gross brutality for disobedience, and exposed to others that experienced to gross brutality for disobedience. That was their reality. So to think that all it takes is a notion to rise up, ignores the conditioning that the slaves experienced, that those in proximity did not experience.

As specific example, your grand father's refusal to whip his laboring compatriot was met with a whipping in his compatriot's stead. However, had the Black guy refused the directive, it would not have been might with a whipping ... rather, it likely would have resulted in death.

Likewise, the "Ferguson can rise up" misunderstands the effect of generations of ignored pleas ... Black folks in Ferguson, and throughout the U.S. have been taught, over generations, that the avenues for change available to white folks, are not available to, or effective for them/us.

I hope you will consider this, not as a criticism; but rather, as a teachable moment. And, I truly welcome further discussion.

[AverageJoe90]

17. I sympathize with you, Arkie, I really do.

I do think your other OP was a *tad* misinformed, TBH.....there were actually some reports of major software issues during the election this month.....and, many folks are just so terribly downtrodden, they can't see any hope for change just yet.

But I seriously don't think you're a racist, or anything like that. Especially not with what's been revealed within, and frankly, anyone who thinks otherwise is just totally misinformed, or not paying attention. You ARE a good guy, LiberalArkie. The fact that you took action to better people's lives, any way you could, is proof.