It’s all about the company you keep and the truth you speak!
As a member of media, I accept a level of responsibility for the power my profession is afforded, both negative and positive. That being said, my contribution will be as one of a collective of voices dedicated to creating solutions through dialogue, education and access.
My commentary blog, Breaking Our Silence, is dedicated to sisters and brothers speaking their truth, being conscious and just plain saying “what needs to be said.” Gone are the days of silently sitting, watching, and waiting for someone else to do for, speak about, or make wrongs right. I’m breaking my silence, I hope you join me.
I don’t see anything on this site about what Sarah Palin is saying about Obama. She said in three states that Obama is a friends with terrorists. McCain is getting a campaign ad, linking Obama to Brother Wright! What is going on with this. We can’t let this type of racism be spread by the Republican party. They do not want Obama to win, obviously, but if we understand that. America would not even allow Obama run for president, if he were linked to a terrorist organization. The Patriot Act that was passed, would not allow that! We need to show support for Obama. He needs our support!
Shortly before we met, when I was the engineering admin asst at the Delano, one of the line cooks came into my office and had himself a smoke break. At some point, he decide to use the N word in my presence. He first looked around to be sure it was okay. That was the first time I calmly and intelligently informed someone that they could not use that word in my presence, because “someone” was indeed around to hear it. And I’ve never looked back. I broke my silence, and fought ignorance and hatred with peace and love. I’d hate many heated debates before then, but that day I informed him that we were in the workplace and, yes, it was a federal offense.
There were a lot of white marchers in the civil rights movement. You’re not alone.
First thank you for creating a POSITIVE forum for us to connect and share ideas. As a 28 year old Black woman living in the nation’s capital, I’d like to bring an urgent issue to your attention effecting young sisters in the building stage of their careers. Last year I encountered many professional obstacles primarily due to lack of guidance in navigating the ultra-political “real world”. In conversing with others who share my plight, we
are discouraged by the lack of mentoring opportunities available to women beyond college. Young Black women have much to contribute to society, but without a support circle we often “check out” on our dreams before 30. Can you provide insight?
Gotta a lot to speak about. Love to keep up with you!
This whole forum is racist in my eyes. Why have a black forum and not allow a white one? Why not just a forum for ALL people? This is a place for one sided views and for black racists to express their disdain for the white race. You fought to ban segregation, yet you promote and enforce this type of segregation. It’s no wonder you are a confused race.
WHY is all this c.r.a.p. about ‘sisters and brothers’. This mentality just perpetuates the racist behavior (as I view websites for ‘sisters and brothers’as racist.
Come on, you are smarter than that.
And the last comment, ‘Young Black women have to much to contribute to society, but, without a support circle we often “check out” on our dreams before 30.” Couple of things:
a. It isn’t ‘to much’. It is ‘too much’. You want to be taken seriously in business, learn 4th grade English.
b. What about ‘Young Mexican women’and ‘Young Polish Women’? Racist.
c. You are just providing a list of excuses to “check out”. So, I am confident you will, as you already have your soft landing excuses ready (i.e. blame it on the white guys that lived before you).
Randy,
Randy,
First of all, you misquoted the young lady in your comment. Her comment was actually grammatically correct. She said, “Young Black women have much to contribute to society, but without a support circle we often “check out” on our dreams before 30.” The key words are “support systems.” But I understand, you don’t grasp that concept. What was that you said about “4th grade English?” Besides that, its a free country and you, as well as all Americans, have free speech.
It’s so easy to throw out small words like “racist” without understanding the complexity and huge impact it has had systematically on African-Americans and other minorities, throughout every aspect of our society; from education and media to livelihood and the legal system. But as someone who clearly doesn’t know or fully comprehend this issue, I can understand your narrow-minded comment. This could very well be a teaching moment but most times people like you aren’t willing to listen. And for the record, I don’t blame any specific person, however I do hold a society accountable for actions taken and sentiment upheld. I hope that wasn’t too deep for you to understand. I look at the facts, which wasn’t always included in the textbooks. Good judgment can only happen when you have all the facts.
What’s your excuse?