Are we going through the 3rd Reconstruction?

[freshwest]

Are we going through the 3rd Reconstruction?

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Rev. Dr. William Barber provides a seven minute reframing of American history that is surprisingly, even shockingly timely in the context of America's present-day battle over voting rights.

In his view, we are currently going through the third reconstruction. The first Reconstruction took place after the Civil War. Fusion politics — a governing coalition including Lincoln Republicans, freedmen and former slaves, and populists — made it possible for former slaves to become business, community, and political leaders. But fusion politics was snuffed out by a violent backlash, and replaced by Jim Crow laws that blocked African Americans from voting through poll taxes, impossible "tests," and terrorism.

In the 1960s, there was another attempt at reconstruction, better known as the Civil Rights Movement. The progress we made was met with another violent backlash, culminating in the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.

Dr. Barber identifies the possibility of a third reconstruction, one that could actually succeed, with the launch of Barack Obama's campaign for president in 2008. Once again, this attempt at fusion politics has been met with a hateful backlash. The backlash against integration, equality, and trans-racial governing coalitions has, in all three instances, included attacks on voting rights of African Americans and other minorities. Rev. Barber believes that change is inevitable because of demographic shifts in America and the effectiveness of fusion politics.

Help us continue our work:

http://www.storyofamerica.org/reconstruction3

https://storyofamerica.nationbuilder.com/donate

Video by Eric Byler & Annabel Park
Music by Jason Shaw
Special Thanks: Devin Burghart

I found this going through links from DUer Egberto Willies (I think he's in Texas) who has a blog and does a call-in talk radio show Coffee Party Radio (versus the Tea Party).

http://egbertowillies.com/2013/04/27/coffee-party-radio-politics-done-right-wegberto-willies-bombing-fraudulent-economists-sequester-sat-122pm-cst/

I hope we can help him spread the work of Fusion Politics for the 3rd Reconstruction we know is building behind the media curtain in the USA. I found this through his OP:

Coffee Party Radio: Politics Done Right w/Egberto Willies– Bombing, Fraudulent Economists, Sequester

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251302059

I have been listening to his show through iTunes, which you can find described as well as the links to listen to here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/coffeepartyusa/2013/04/27/politics-done-right-with-egberto-willies

I get DUer Steven Leser's podcasts through iTunes automatically updated, you can catch the links here:

Making Sense with Steve Leser

http://steveleser.blogspot.com/

We need to transform American politics and bring back the progressivism discussed in this video and learn the true history of the South and America. This is the quiet revolution that will not be touted in major media. It is much needed and the positive solution to our dilemmas.

[newthinking]

1. Excellent video!

I learned things about our history I was not previously aware of.

[freshwest]

7. Fusion politics worked in past, repeatedly. It builds coalitions to protect us all.

[DhhD]

2. All Americans must turn out to vote. We need to make the issues well known. Voting record of

incumbents should be throughly discussed.

[freshwest]

3. And you know that basic civics about omnibus appropriation bills and veto power is needed.

Some folks go off on a tear from a sensational media story on a vote they don't like, but don't follow up. It's important to visit the page or contact whoever we see in these news stories to find what the final vote tally or amendments to a bill are; if it even passed; and the bigger picture of the larger bill. Rather than expend a lot of energy or get discouraged. The media is expert at breaking our hearts, which serves their owners.

If these bills are not passed, government shuts down totally. Some people forget that is the goal of the GOP and the Tea Party. It really is, they're not kidding. They are constantly blackmailing those who are progressive with their tactics to keep government functioning.

The battle is in our states, and it's not impossible, as the video shows as in the past, we can unite to defeat those who don't believe in equality for all of us. I think the man in the video gave the best analysis of how to do it. Never too late. Never over.

[zeemike]

4. Kick and highly recommend.

This is probably the most important issue and you would think it would be for our democratic leadership but they don't seem to be interested in it... I guess the system works for them like it is.

[freshwest]

5. If anyone counts on the media to point out anything good Democrats do, they won't be disappointed.

[limpyhobbler]

6. K/R...

A really good video. Dr. Barber is really good at explaining our current situation in historical context, using these concepts like "James Crow Eqsuire", and the history of fusion politics that started after after the Civil War.

There was a good Democracy Now interview with Dr. Barber some time ago where he talked about the history of 19th century fusion politics and the racist reaction that stomped it out, particularly focusing on the city of Wilmington, NC, and the so-called "race riots" that happened there in 1898.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101754951