Colorblind society remains elusive

[proud2BlibKansan]

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver deserves praise for defending a white, Jewish congressman in Memphis, Tenn., against racially tinged criticism.

Cleaver, who became Kansas City’s first black mayor in 1991, knows what it’s like to be judged on skin color. Cleaver now sees that happening to Democratic Rep. Stephen Cohen of Memphis, who represents a black-majority district that had been represented by black lawmakers from 1974 to 2006.

Some black Baptist pastors have complained that Cohen’s vote for hate crimes legislation in Congress was too supportive of gay rights. Notably, though, Cleaver supported the bill, as did all other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Cohen’s predecessor also backed similar legislation, without raising the ire of the pastors.

As Cleaver aptly notes, the furor over Cohen could make it tougher for black candidates to win seats in white-majority districts. The black ministers in Memphis, Cleaver said, “are making a request for people to vote on the basis of skin color, and many of us have spent our adult lives fighting for the reverse.”

Well said, congressman.

http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/276804.html

[beaconess]

1. I don't want a "colorblind" society

I don't want to be blind to color and don't want folks to be blind to mine. I just don't want color to be used against people.

FYI - I have come to believe that to most people, "colorblind" means "I will pretend not to notice you're black as long as you don't do anything that indicates that you are. In other words, don't show any pride in your heritage and certainly don't suggest that I do anything to respect it or even acknowledge it. Just blend in with us white folks, do everything that we do just the way we do it, and don't expect us to change anything to include something from your own background, and we'll get along just fine."

My two cents.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Are you familiar with the incident referenced in the OP?

Some black ministers in Memphis are criticizing their white congress rep for his support of the hate crimes bill because of their anti-gay agenda. There were several posts here on DU about this a week or so ago.

[Colobo]

3. Good point.