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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Racism in West Virginia

I just want to know what is this mysterious thing that the lady sitting in the cafe "just doesn't agree with..."?

Posted by Barack Oblogger at 1:35 PM
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12 comments:

Stephanie said...

This saddens me deeply. Because I think that people are choosing a president for wrong reasons. I'm a young black woman and I believe in researching any and everything and it is due to RESEARCH that I have supported Barack Obama. Any capable person can be in the White House. and what kills me the most is people that say, "I'm not prejudiced, I just don't want a black man in the white house".. So tell me, if you aren't prejudice than what are you?

May 15, 2008 1:50 PM
Kathy said...

Hearing the words of many of the people in this video saddens me, but it does not surprise me. And when I say that, I am not just talking about the racism still evident in WV.

We should all be aware that pockets (some larger than others) of racism still exist in this country. It is one of the tragic wounds that still exists in this country that needs to be healed. When Barack Obama is the president of the US, I hope that we can begin to bridge the gaps of division amoung Americans and begin the process of healing.

In a way, perhaps it is a good thing that issues of racism (and class-ism) are coming to the forefront, and we can thank this election and Barack Obama for that. It is only with awareness that we can begin the process of healing.

May 15, 2008 2:45 PM
Madisonotes said...

My comment is for Stephanie:
I hope you see this Stephanie. I am a 65 year old white retired teacher. I feel the same as you up to a point, I researched Barack, I have listened to all the debates, and am a supporter who has called and contributed a modest amount. First time ever to send money to a campaign. I must tell you that I have had many experiences with friends who have happened to be fine dear people, and they were African-americans. They are special to me. I am voting for Barack because I'm not only pleased with all his qualifications and platform points, but I am delighted that all that talent and skill, all that capacity to communicate and desire to serve is rolled up into a fine African-american young man. It is a source of pride and joy for me to add that to the things that please me about Barack. I find inspiration that he will teach us all how we can pull together, how we can grow closer across the various groups and learn from one another, and how he will help youngsters growing up to see that they, too, can aspire to be President, or aspire to greatness in yet another way. It is a special moment for me and my friends Violet and Sharron, it is something to be so very proud of if one is an African-american, and it makes me, as one who has no 'color line' issues proud to see Barack gaining the candidacy. I've studied Black history and religious experience, partnered with a church that taught my congregation a great deal, and feel such pride that we can take this step finally. I pray we make it to the finish line.

May 15, 2008 3:07 PM
alberta said...

this people are so damned racist, i cannot hardly stand it. i am african-american, with a ph.d. and am smarter, have just as much patriotism and love my country probably more than any of the racist white pigs have ever had. damn them!!!

black folk built this country with their blood, sweat and tears and you're telling me a black man is not good enough to be president. to hell with them all!

May 15, 2008 5:16 PM
Anonymous said...

Jeez Louise! What a bunch of ignorant racist morons! I've never been to West Virginia and now ...I don't think I ever want to visit.

Progressive White Guy
Seattle, WA

May 15, 2008 5:21 PM
corey fischer said...

I strongly agree with Kathy. This country must finally heal its deep wounds around race and it has to start with the truth. Barack is a truth-teller and, in a way, he is calling out the truth from others, whether we like it or not. I sure hope that the truth that prevails in November is the one that says we're finally ready to begin what can only be a painful process of reconciliation. Just after the Civil War, a group in New Orleans known as the Creole Poets, a mixed-race bunch of visionaries, called out for an "unprecedented United States" that would finally face the truth that to truly be the democracy, the slave labor, theft of Native land and the racist world-view it depended on had to be exorcised. For a short while, as long as federal troops remained in the south, there was, in fact, a flowering of black literacy, political involvement and land-ownership. But presidential candidate Hayes ran on a promise to withdraw the troops in order to get the southern vote. It was a forerunner of the 2000 election, but that time it was Congress who finally broke the deadlock of a chaotic electoral college non-result. Hayes "beat" Tilden and the troops left. Immediately the Klan and the White Citizens Councils took over and rolled back all the advances, replacing slavery with Jim Crow and debt peonage, stealing land and re-disenfranchising African-Americans for another hundred years or so. By the way, I'm "white," though as a descendant of left-wing, Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants, I'm don't care to identify with that designation. I'm lucky to have a wife who writes about recovering buried history (China Galland: "Love Cemetery, Unburying the Secret History of Slaves" Harper, in paperback May 21) and is also dedicated to reconciliation - racial, religious, human. She's "white" too. We've never felt this way about any other candidate. I'm also a proud member of Jews for Obama. Onward!

May 15, 2008 11:45 PM
phil said...

The "real news" about this segment is this reporter found a group of blithering idiots. There wasn't one person who spoke coherently on any of the candidates. Good Job! You'll go far in whatever journalistic endeavor you set your mind to.

May 17, 2008 5:44 PM
Ron Smith said...

well phill , west virginia is the least educated state in the united states, so it wasn't that hard to find a bunch of idiots(not all of them seemed like idiots some of them were just racists). Yet all those idiots/racists get a vote in the national elecetion, that makes their views newsworthy.

May 19, 2008 9:08 AM
Karl said...

I'm from WV and this pisses me off. I can't believe people still believe such sh** (can I cuss here?). Not everyone is like that, but way too many are. If you go to the bigger cities like Morgantown (where I live) you won't see many, if any, people like this. It's all the backwoods hillbillies that teach their children this bs, and there are no blacks for them to see for themselves that they are equals. This is a perfect example, I'm Mexican and come from a VERY small, almost only white town (only one stoplight in the whole county) and got a bunch of shit, but they always said I was one of the good ones. They never realized that if they would meet other races before they judged that they would find that there are a lot of "good ones."

May 19, 2008 7:16 PM
Anonymous said...

I just don't agree with that.

May 19, 2008 7:59 PM
Rebecca said...

To assume that this 'pick & choose' video supports the notion that all West Virginians are racist is a utter nonsense. Listen to the first few words to come out of his mouth...he choose his loaction for a reason - less educated. If you are to use these poor people to label all of WV racist to support your article - poor you as well.

You are going to find that mentality across the nation in many seniors because it became embedded deep into their phyche years ago. Most likely none of them has even watched a 2008 debate.

Now, take a look at the Southern Poverty Law Centers 'Hate Groups Map'...you will find WV to have a whole lot less than our bordering states.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp

It is my honest belief that Obama lost WV because of his bitter wife and Pastor Wright.

May 22, 2008 11:27 AM
Rebecca said...

"Ron Smith said...
well phill , west virginia is the least educated state in the united states,...."

I'm afraid the facts don't support that statement. WV may not be a top performer in education but we are by far not the least educated!

http://measuringup.highereducation.org/compare/indexpage.cfm?myyear=2006

May 22, 2008 12:44 PM

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