Black politics lacks savvy-ness
I may differ with Peterson from time to time on the issue, but I think that he really hits the nail on the head with his recent commentary. Here is just an excerpt:
“Like most Americans I have been following the Terri Schiavo case watching the legal battle and emotional drama between Terri’s parents and her husband Michael Schiavo. During this process Terri’s fight has become a rallying point for most Conservative Christians with the exception of blacks. Nearly all the people fighting and protesting to keep Terri alive are white! Where are the prominent black ministers?
We don’t see them because they’re looking at this as a race issue, rather than as a moral one. Blacks, especially Christians, should stop looking at this issue through the prism of race. The battle is between people who are for life versus those who favor death.
Emphasis mine. (more…)
In the world of black politics, EVERYTHING (and I mean everything) is seen through the lens of race). This greatly contributes to our lack of knowledge of the rest of the world. Ask many blacks about the goings-on in China and you will be met with a blank stare. Why? Because there is no “black angle” to China (so we think).
In the recent Schiavo case, again there was no real “black angle” to the story, so many black media outlets just barely mentioned it in their broadcasts or publications.
In order for black politics to be progressive, it must embrace a diversity of ideas; otherwise, we are just blowing smoke.
March 27th, 2005 at 8:31 pm
Race and class is always going to be considered in American news. It’s always been considered. To tell me that I shouldn’t check the Black connection on things is like saying that your own website, as a Black Informant, is irrelevant. However, you and I both know that that Black angle isn’t irrelevant, so that’s why we’re here.
If Terry were Black, or lesbian (even with a “civil union” partner), or non-Christian (say, Muslim), the news channels wouldn’t be slamming us with this stuff, nor would lawmakers/polictians of this administration make much fuss about it.