It's the same ole meme!

[leftofcool]

"Economic independence will overcome racism." I'm an old white woman and I am sick and tired of hearing this over and over. Do people really think that you can wave a magic money wand and all the racial issues will be solved? Sheesh!

[upaloopa]

1. It is a form of cognitive dissonance

Used to accept the unacceptable about a certain popular candidate here.

[tk2kewl]

2. .

Its been a lot more than a meme for more than half a century


http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/martin-luther-kings-economic-dream-a-guaranteed-income-for-all-americans/279147/

[lovemydog]

7. Please educate yourself.

Yes, MLK supported a guaranteed income. Many have and many like me do today. He never claimed that it would end racism. He never abandoned racial matters as an issue of vital importance. Please read more of his actual writings. They're widely available.

Many in this group laugh at the profound ignorance that trots out that tired cliche when it's used as a bludgeon. MLK! As though folks here in this group don't know what he did, what he cared about, what he said.

It's ignorant to the point of painful that anyone would even slightly suggest that he would be ignoring racial issues today.

[tk2kewl]

8. no one is ignoring racial issues...

And it's disingenuous to suggest that. What MLK knew was that without economic justice there cannot be social justice and visa versa. Something that the corporate class would like us all to forget.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Ralph Abernathy - picked up the labor issues where MLK left off

Are you willing to sacrifice the Dreamers for economic justice?

I'd say he, Mondale, and perhaps Mr. Chavez would say - yeah -

Let's sacrifice them for the good of the American worker.

Or - do we cherry pick what we want from the Civil Rights leadership of days past?


I'm not providing links - I expect folks to come into this group with a deeper understanding and 'at their fingertips' knowledge of the Civil Rights movement as it moved into the 1970's.

[JustAnotherGen]

10. Doesn't matter

You can be affluent, rich, or wealthy and be a black man -

And even right here at DU folks will defend his death, drag him through the mud, question whether his mother and father parented him, etc. etc.

Didn't stop a State Senator in South Carolina from getting his brains blown out.

[tk2kewl]

12. I don't disagree...

but a level economic playing field and fair elections, not tainted by money, certainly allows for more a diverse and inclusive society and government - I don't see how anyone can argue that it doesn't.

How do you imagine our society moving away from racism and becoming more inclusive and how can a president help your vision become a reality?

[JustAnotherGen]

13. Ask Martin O'Malley

ETA - my great grandfather and grandfather leveled the field in Jim Crow south by throwing elbows and playing dirty. I don't want to see young black men and women lulled into thinking they aren't going to have to be street fighters in the board room. They are going to have to be VICIOUS to get ahead. No bambi shit for my future backfills in Corporate America.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. "Economic Independence" didn't stop a racist from killing 9 affluent AA's in their house of worship.

So that makes two of us who are "sick & tired" of the meme.

[Number23]

5. I think I've been sick of that meme since I first heard about it! And of course, I learned about it

ON DU!!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. I can't believe I ever thought of these people as "allies" to the AA community. They don't get it.

And in some of the more severe cases, it's pretty clear that they don't want to. I agree.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Yes. They do ...

for one of two reasons:

First, being largely unaffected by racial concerns (besides as a pedestrian matter), they believe what will make a better world for them, i.e., more money, holds for everyone. And, apparently, there is an inability/unwillingness to accept otherwise ...

Or, from a much more cynical view, perhaps they just don't care that the remedy that would make their worlds better, I.e., more money, will not free others, as their chief burdens are not the lack of money.

[tk2kewl]

14. Is there something else a president can do to eliminate these burdens?

I do genuinely hold the opinion that a fairer economic system would make the world better for everyone. That doesn't necessarily just mean more money for everyone, it means an economic system that ensures human needs are met and the natural world is respected and not used up.

Along with a fairer economic system I also believe elections that are not driven by money would allow for more honest debate and inclusion of candidates from a broader spectrum of society.

If a a society we show enough respect for one another to ensure basic human dignity and the need for food water and shelter are met, I do believe that a broader respect, understanding and acceptance of our differences will arise from there.

What other actions do you feel a president or government can take? I am genuinely interested to know.

[randys1]

15. Start with reparations for African Americans, Natives, Japanese Americans and some Chinese

I dont know what the correct term is for American Natives, because they are not American, that is a name the raping murderers made up for them.

What would you expect if the government seized your land for whatever reason, didnt pay you, you died and now your son wants to be reimbursed, would you expect the government to reimburse your son?

I would.

That is a starting point.

Most AA cant say this out loud, like most shy away from calling racists, racists.

That is how DRASTICALLY racist this place, country, is.

[tk2kewl]

16. but isn't that just a more immediate way of leveling the economic playing field?

Others in this thread are arguing that the issue is not economic - that money can't fix the problem.

Clearly paying reparations is very strong statement acknowledging the crimes of the state as well as way to lift effected populations economically - so maybe that is part of the way forward.

[randys1]

17. Who said it wasnt about money, at all? Nobody, I dont think.

Reparations would be the most dramatic social event, the social implications would FAR outweigh the economic.

If you can understand that, then you can see my point.


But you are also right that reparations wont get rid of racist cops, racist bankers, racist employers and racist apartment owners.

So much has to be done.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. "A rising tide lifts all ships!"

That seems to be the mantra. However, it ignores the fact not all "ships" are the same and have very different needs, and "a rising tide" may not be a good thing. Economic parity is a wonderful ideal, however, it does not address all forms of bigotry. Social parity, however, will likely lead to more commonality, IMO.

[JustAnotherGen]

11. Thank you for this!

[YoungDemCA]

20. +10000. Well said.

[heaven05]

19. sadly, they really do

and when faced with reality, stop listening and become completely dismissive. I'm getting to the same place you, quickly and the campaign season is young. I don't know if I can make to the primaries. Just need to get on a plane and say adios amerika. This country really has wasted enough of my time with meaningless and empty political promises. That's candidates also.