Holder: US a nation of cowards on racial matters

[jefferson_dem]

Holder: US a nation of cowards on racial matters
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer Devlin Barrett, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Eric Holder, the nation's first black attorney general, said Wednesday the United States was "a nation of cowards" on matters of race, with most Americans avoiding candid discussions of racial issues. In a speech to Justice Department employees marking Black History Month, Holder said the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives.

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," Holder said.

Race issues continue to be a topic of political discussion, but "we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race."

Holder's speech echoed President Barack Obama's landmark address last year on race relations during the hotly contested Democratic primaries, when the then-candidate urged the nation to break "a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years" and bemoaned the "chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races." Obama delivered the speech to try to distance himself from the angry rhetoric of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Holder cited that speech by Obama as part of the motivation for his words Wednesday, saying Americans need to overcome an ingrained inhibition against talking about race.

"If we're going to ever make progress, we're going to have to have the guts, we have to have the determination, to be honest with each other. It also means we have to be able to accept criticism where that is justified," Holder told reporters after the speech.

Holder urged people of all races to use Black History Month as a chance for honest discussion of racial matters, including issues of health care, education and economic disparities.

Race, Holder said, "is an issue we have never been at ease with and, given our nation's history, this is in some ways understandable... If we are to make progress in this area, we must feel comfortable enough with one another and tolerant enough of each other to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us."

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090218/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/holder_race

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tof_K1AksQ

[Cha]

1. How ironic that this would

be today when the ignorant racist cartoon comes out in the NY post. Thankfully, we have good people to counteract racist shit, now.

[EFerrari]

2. This administration is going to be the best thing that happned to this country

for a hundred and forty years.

[Cha]

5. Don't we know it!

:fistbump:

[Uncle Joe]

3. Sometimes it takes a splash of cold water to wake up.

Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, jefferson_dem.

[Uzybone]

4. He is absolutely right

well said Eric Holder.

[Spazito]

6. Wise words...

at any time but even more important, somehow, given this being Black History Month and the NYP's despicable, racist toon published today. Thanks for posting this, it is much appreciated.

Recommended.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. Many people will take their racism to their graves. We live in Raleigh

- we moved here from suburban Philadelphia 16 years ago - and were and still are shocked at what we hear and see - particularly from those who pride themselves on being such devout Christians.

[Bjorn Against]

8. He is right, which is exactly why we can expect the right-wing smear machine to brutally attack him.

Holder is right, this nation is filled with cowards who are afraid to talk about race and will go on screaming about the "race card" whenever the issue is brought up. These same cowards are going to be extremely pissed that Holder had the guts to call them what they are, and you can bet that by tomorrow Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly and all the other hate merchants are going to try to smear him mercilessly. In the end however the cowards will only reinforce what Holder said, the racists will scream bloody murder but in doing so they will prove that they truly are cowards who are afraid to discuss these issues rationally.

[BootinUp]

9. What a terrific message to get out there. Have to agree with him. nt

[sampsonblk]

10. He is right, and its shameful (nt)

[IDFbunny]

11. Time to tackle white priviledge

[Honeycombe8]

12. I'm white. I'm not privileged. Stereotyping someone by skin color is

what the definition of racism is, isn't it?

Af. Americans may be learning what whites have always known: Just because the President has your skin color, or the mayor, that doesn't really help the struggling little guy.

You go to school, you study, make good grades, get an education, and you can be almost anything you want to be in America. Regardless of gender or skin color. Sure, those things are still a mark against you in some fields. We've got a ways to go. But we've come a long way, baby. And skin color or gender no longer holds a person back from pursuing his/her dreams in most areas.

I've worked hard all my life. I'm a white middle aged female. My skin color prevented me from NOT getting hired sometimes, back in the old days. That's true. And that was unfair and horrible. That is no longer the case in most fields, most places. In fact, sometimes my skin color means I won't get hired. Or my age.

But if you take the $ they offer, you show up and do a good job, while getting along with everyone and not complaining...you gotta job for a loooooong time. THAT'S the trick. That's mainly what companies care about. It's not about having the right skin color. That's how I have experienced it, anyway. I have no privileges because of my skin color, that I can tell.

[Jennicut]

13. Class privelege effects us all. So we do all have something in common.

[firedupdem]

14. Well said Holder! n/t