Presidential hopeful, Senator Barack Obama recently gave a speech on race in America as it related to our need as a country to understand each other and through that dialog find a common space in which to discuss our differences. The Senator from Illinois has been given grand credit for even attempting to tackle such a tabooed topic, especially in the midst of a presidential campaign. The politically correct thing to do would have been for him to ignore it or to say something common such as things have gotten better or some other disingenuous form of the truth.
The fact of the matter is race has and does matter in the sub-consciousness of us all. It's not necessarily a bad thing because we are all different in culture and upbringings and those differences are what make us a melting pot. It's those differences, which guarantee this country remain one of the best.
Recently, a young Black man by the name of David A. Wilson began the search of his ancestry through North Carolina. What he found was not only the place where his great grandparents were held as slaves but the direct descendant of those slave owners, David B. Wilson. What developed in this documentary was the relationship between, what Dr. King touted as, the coming together of former slaves and former slave masters sitting down at the table of brotherhood. David A, has a bright future in the journalism field. In my opinion that is a grand accomplishment as well as a welcomed departure from rapping and sports stories for black students.
Following the documentary, MSNBC's Brian Williams hosted a panel at one of the historically black colleges, Howard University where the panelists such as Eric Dyson, Tom Joyner, Rev. DeForest Soaries, activist and ex-BET/MTV producer, Kevin Powell and others discussed race. It was a discussion worth its weight in gold. Re-broadcasts will be aired all this month.
This documentary will by no means solve the race problem in America but it is hopeful that it will spark the dialog. If you've never seen it you should, your CHILDREN SHOULD. It is definitely an eye-opening experience.
We should all view this insightful piece and more importantly DISCUSS it with others.
click the link OR coopy/paste it into your address browser to check it out for yourselves (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23746891#23746891)
Peace and a new direction,
Chicago Jedi
Great insight bruh!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading more from the Jedi.
J. Kidd
Rock, I think the subject of race is very important especially this year for obvious reasons (i.e. Obama). I think that White folks having thoroughly understood what slavery and its effects have done to our people. We are so devoid of everything (economics, academics, social class, et cetera)that there had to have been such a trumatic experience that has caused us to stagnate in many categories. I don't know what it's going to take, but we have to fight back to save our people.
ReplyDeletePeace