Context matters
from BlackAmericaWeb.com
Democratic Leader Says Blacks Should Lead Quest for Social Justice2003/06/16 05:16 PM EDT
By Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Washington Correspondent
BALTIMORE (NNPA) ? Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe is urging African-Americans to take the lead in fighting for social justice as candidates from both parties compete for their support in next year?s presidential election.
?In this upcoming political season, we need African-Americans to lead the call to restore opportunity and equality in government to all people, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender,? McAuliffe said Thursday in Baltimore at the annual convention of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. ?African-Americans have always stood firm on the principle of opportunity and equality for all Americans.?
Mr. McAuliffe is correct. The Democratic Party does indeed need Black folks to be the ones to articulate the call for equality.
Why?
Context.
Just as you'd react one way if Ludacris called you "mah nigga" and another if Strom Thurmond did, the phrase "regardless of race" is taken differently when said by white men in positions of power than when said by Black folks.
posted by Prometheus 6 at 6/17/2003 12:12:57 PM |
