playing the race card.

[mopinko]

there seems to be some misunderstanding here about the idea of "playing the race card".
here is what it isn't-
it isn't the mere mention of a person's race.
it isn't pointing out that blacks and whites usually look at things differently, have different cultures.
it isn't pointing out that racism exists, nor is it pointing out that african americans continue to be left behind and left out in this country.
it isn't even supporting a candidate because they are the same race as you are.
playing the race card means using code words to invoke people's fear and prejudice. like st ronnie talking about welfare queens, or people talking about "the crime problem". it means talking about race in a dishonest way, sneaking around, inflaming people's fear, but at the same time, bypassing honest conversation, and reason.
ok, so, jesse jr is not "playing the race card" when he points out that hillary didn't cry about katrina. because she didn't. and we still live in a racist culture that allows things like the drowning of nola to happen in the first place.
how the hell are we ever gonna solve this problem if everyone who even opens their mouth about it gets slapped down? jesus.

[rox63]

1. Amen!

K&R :kick:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. "playing the race card" is what white people say...

when they want to complain about a black person talking about race, "regardless of what the black person has to say, or whether or not he's even said anything."

[EffieBlack]

11. The funny thing is that they seem to think it's fine to discuss a candidate's race

(if he's black), to conduct poll after poll on how a candidate is perceived by white and/or black voters (if he's black), endlessly comment on and analyze how he interacts or don't interacts with other black public figures (if he's black) and don't think for a minute that THAT is playing the race card. But the minute the candidate (if he's black) MENTIONS race, regardless of the context, HE is playing the race card.

[2rth2pwr]

3. some people like to keep it up their sleeve

"just in case"

[mopinko]

7. care to clarify that.

since this is sort of a "for dummies" thread? what people?

[AGirl]

4. you can talk about Katrina all you want

but using that to attack Clinton for being emotion IS playing the race card.

[mopinko]

9. you know, you might have sold that to me THAT DAY.

might. but seeing how they have been playing that whole "sensitive side" crap, i think it was nothing but a calculated bit of spin.

[indimuse]

5. great post...

AND I will keep posting this..Until I can get an NO-bama supporter to explain how THIS is not a RACE CARD!!!??? Please...splain Lucy!

"Black America will wake up"--Michelle Obama on MSNBC.
WASHINGTON—With polls showing African-Americans have yet to give overwhelming support to White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), his wife Michelle said “black America will wake up and get it" in an interview running on MSNBC on Monday.

MSNBC is using excerpts of a Michelle Obama interview to run in full on Tuesday morning. In a clip that’s featured in the afternoon cycle, Michelle Obama invoked the name of civil rights leaders Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. when talking about African-American turnout, a crucial voting bloc for the Illinois senator.

Michelle Obama said there was a "natural fear of possibility" and that there were times in her life when she was put down and not encouraged. There is "always that doubt in the minds of people of color."

She said the African-American community has to shake of its fear (((Not only RACE BUT FEAR AS WELL)))))

“That’s what we want to show our community,” Michelle Obama said. "...We can do this too."

Our community- Our community- Our community-

Our community- Our community- Our community- WHAT does Our community-
MEAN???

[mopinko]

6. see statement #3.

said the white girl for obama.

[Thrill]

8. its a Repuke saying and shouldn't be

repeated by Democrats. We have to remember that its offensive to Black Americans. Also remember that no Democrat is going to win president without black Americans. Just remember that

[EffieBlack]

10. Thank you SO much!

You have eloquently and succinctly said exactly what many people need to hear.