A Rap on Race...

November 7, 2007 at 7:00 PM

Well, this isn't about the violin or violin playing, but it seems relevant...

Many people throughout the world have been speaking quite candidly about America's race issues in the past few months since the demonstration in Jena, Louisiana. Myself, having read many books, including The Strange Career of Jim Crow and A Rap on Race (a conversation that took place between James Baldwin and Margaret Mead, have found myself at a loss for words. Nevertheless, in the quest to understand I have recently started reading The Mind of the South, a very illuminating text by W. J. Cash.

Of course, there are many private thoughts, and while it is relatively easy to speak of any divisive issues in an intellectual manner it is definitely difficult to express our deepest sentiments. Recently, though, I received the following from a dear friend who wished to remain anonymous but agreed to this posting. Please feel free to read on and share your thoughts.

Best,
Sam

"At 43 years old and one who has lived a relatively good life without overt prejudice and fear, I am humbled by the images in the video hyper-link below you are about to watch. I warn you what you are about to see is graphic and may be unsettling or not for everyone to see."

As the debate continues (on CNN) whether it is funny for African-American comedians to wear a noose on stage in an effort to be funny or to prove a point, after receiving an e-mail last evening from a friend in D.C. of this narrated video montage I really did not know what I was going to see or witness. The haunting pictures that were made into (of all things) 'postcards' shed some light on what was going on during the many years of American history when blacks were lynched. The distinctive tone and cadence of the narrators' voice took my breath away as each picture came into focus."

I paused and slowly watched each and every one of the images that appears to be commonplace entertainment for those pictured imposing this insane torture and death on people who simply wanted to live a life of freedom. My God we (black or white people) can't forget our past. Our forefathers and these sacrificed souls endure the most absolute horror one can imagine so that I might have the right to simply walk into any establish of my choosing in this country and be served and treated with dignity and respect."

Rarely do I feel compelled to make such a statement in correspondence form to friends and family. For some reason seeing the noose stories in the news this week and then getting this link made me feel as though I had to. In light of the 'whatever' attitudes permeating our society and after watching this once sick and disgusting way of life in this country it move me. After all we all learned in school one of the main reasons for our seceding from our cousins across the pond was the pursuit of freedom."

Whether as kids or as adults at patriotic community events wherever we may live, black, white or other, we all pledge allegiance to this country for liberty and justice for all. With this in mind we all should be outraged when black or white people use this symbol, there is nothing funny about these pictures. This video should make us all think about what that pledge means and why we should speak out or raise hell when any group is singled out or treated unfairly."

As an African-American male who has benefited on the shoulders of the likes of Dr. King and others who were not as welled known, I clearly understand my benefits are unquantifiable. Seeing this video is the reason I will never forget this kind of injustice. I reflect on how lucky I am often not just during the month of February. Those who died and made the ultimate sacrifice for us to live the harmonious life we live without fear (in comparison to the era shown) is why all of us should never pass up the opportunity to vote, speak out against injustice or take for granted this incredible gift we were given called freedom."

Take a moment to find a dictionary and look up the word "FREEDOM." What a gift. http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/movie_play.html." [editor's note: link contains graphic material]

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on November 8, 2007 at 1:26 AM

That video really is "viewer discretion advised."

One time something in a song or the history of a song got me interested in lynchings and I spent a whole day reading everything I could find. One thing that struck me early on was these postcards you mention. How strange, and what was in peoples' heads. And they went through the federal mail you have to assume. Like you say I think, these aren't racial or national issues, but human ones. I like to think America is where it ceased to exist in the world, rather than as a place that should be noted for it. I think that's the reality.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on November 8, 2007 at 2:14 PM

I'm going to abstain from watching the video; I prefer the images the written word generates. But bravo - and thank you - for your words here.

From Anne Horvath
Posted on November 8, 2007 at 4:07 PM

The best book I have read on the subject is "At The Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America", by Phillip Dray. It is a terrific read, and a difficult read.

From Samuel Thompson
Posted on November 8, 2007 at 5:51 PM

Dear all-

Thank you for your comments - while I was somewhat wary of posting this it seems, through the responses, that my wariness was unfounded.

Peace,
Sam

From Albert Justice
Posted on November 9, 2007 at 2:42 AM

Powerful images Samuel. Ironically, we must think about what it means when mobb rule is squashed by formal law. Like the environment, our 'real' freedom is dying the "death of a thousand lashes"; and, it has little to do with race, but is important to all races.

Most people are overwhelmed by the scope and scale of the issues facing us today, and thus do nothing. The rain forests, Darfur, valuable resources on every continent, all are in an ageless dance of greed and misuse. Racism will diminish, because people are not as valuable as in the past for labor.

Nonetheless, conflict, will be used when possible--I feel sure of this. I'm not sure whether MLK's meanings should arise to this task beyond the African American community or not; though, I do feel sure that like what Jim noted, he speaks to humanity--as MLK's ideas were actually quite global and globally influenced.

Just as Roosevelt and John Muir meant well, the carving of the American West and the effects on the Colorado river basin show how easily our best intentions can be insufficient.

And the cultural death of central Appalachia in the spirit of a day late and dollar short, cause me some cynicism in recoining the image of how The War on Poverty, became a War using Poverty. An entire region, disenfranchised, marginalized and spread to the corners of the world in the midst of the clear clear image: 'we wish to hold on'.

There was a phenomona in central Asia, where indigenous peoples living around a lake the size of an inland sea, experienced a great cultural out-migration, because the former Soviet Union wished to use the water resource for agriculture rather than fishing.

The output of the water was mastered, but the planned renewal of the water faltered and failed. Kruchev had visited America and was impressed with agriculture. Now, we are telling that region, "listen to us now" because of what we have learned about agriculture.

Well, the inland sea is dying, the culture is destroyed and oddly, there is a better than fifty fifty chance new ideas 'may' be implemented there based on what we share 'this' time. Though I do not totally agree, we are now being told that we will destroy our mountains, 'better', 'this' time.

As someone tellingly notes:
"everything effects everything"

From Karin Lin
Posted on November 9, 2007 at 5:50 AM

Thank you for posting this, Samuel. I began doing anti-racism work at my church almost a year ago and it has been a far longer and harder journey than I could ever have imagined. I feel incredible pain at times, trying to work with people to move forward despite so many obstacles---history, upbringing, guilt, resentment---so many things that force us to confront our deepest fears and examine our identities to the core. It is tremendously difficult, but the first step is to speak about it, and I thank you for doing so here.

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A Rap on Race...

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