Fox has a target audience they want to reach and none of them are Jackson or Sharpton supporters. There is an agenda on both sides also and if Fox can send the perception that Sharpton/Jackson speak for black people then they will continue to have them on there and allow them to do so. As long as Sharpton and Jackson can go on Fox and be presented as the spokespeople for blacks they don't care if their message is heard or not. They'll keep doing it as their agenda is filled as well. Sharpton and Jackson's target audience will see them on Fox and incorrectly believe they are standing up to them and the evil Fox News when they appear on there but that isn't the case. It's buffoonery at its finest. It took Alan Colmes years to realize he was a pawn. Alan Colmes' meekness and inability to get in a full sentence helped raise Sean Hannity's conservative image. I quit watching Fox News when Colmes was on there. It was painful to watch.

 

The stories about successful blacks will never be in the the media excpet for on ESPN in a 30 for 30 episode. Just the way it is. I'm sure if people tuned into the Oprah Winfrey channel, TVOne or gave BET a chance they would see many stories of succsessful black role models but those aren't deemed as credible sources. The media doesn't have to invite small cadres of white people to speak for white people. They just have to start the news at the top and bottom of the hour and the speaking begins. The mainstream media is dominated by white people. White opinions. White beliefs. Liberal and conservative. People like Roland Martin and Tavis Smiley need a louder voice. Juan Williams as you mentioned. Even Stephen A. Smith has proven to be a better political voice than Jackson and Sharpton. Bomani Jones, LZ Granderson, Boyce Watkins and even the author of this piece Keith Boykins...there are plenty of blacks out there more credible than Jackson and Sharpton but those two keep getting trotted out as our spokespeople. The answer to why is pretty obvious IMO.

 

I do find it interesting that the blacks you named as successful and worthy of celebration all lean conservative and then you ask why the liberal media doesn't celebrate their stories. Part of it is ratings. The other part is obvious. At the same time the liberal media isn't celebrating successful blacks that lean liberal unless they can sing, dance or dunk a ball. Let's not act like they are purposely ignoring the black conservatives you named. They are ignoring all of them. Except for Al and Jesse and a couple of others sprinkled in.

There is so much here that I would love to respond to point by point but I worked a 12-1/2 hour day and just don't have enough gas left in my tank. I think that you are wrong about Fox News' motivation for giving Sharpton and Jackson face time. I think that they do it to avoid being accused of racism. I like Hannity but he grates on my nerves because he repeats his own talking points so much. I agree with you about Colmes, that was definitely a mismatch. I have my own gripes about FNC, but I don't think that they have a racial agenda at all. They are in business for ratings and profits and that is what businesses should be focused on. I wish that they covered more news and devoted less time to opinion shows like O'Reilly and the rest of the prime time line-up. However, because FNC is profitable, I think that they have the resources to cover real news better than any of their competitors.

 

I thought that you would appreciate my conservative examples of successful black Americans. Seriously, the number of positions available for highly paid entertainers and athletes is pretty limited. Young people of all races should be steered into fields with good paying jobs that are more plentiful, IMO. I gave up my dream of becoming the next Bob Gibson as a college freshman after pitching three innings in an exhibition game against UK and not facing a single right handed hitter. Those guys could really hit and few if any of them ever played major league baseball.

 

The reason that I mentioned conservative blacks is that they are among the people I admire most. Black people who publicly admit that they are conservatives have a lot of courage. People who take courageous stands at their own peril always make good role models. Rags to riches stories like those of Clarence Thomas and Thomas Sowell deserve to be heard without political bias. A special featuring Harry Belafonte and Sowell, who grew up in the same Harlem neighborhood at the same time, would make for very good TV in my opinion.

There is so much here that I would love to respond to point by point but I worked a 12-1/2 hour day and just don't have enough gas left in my tank. I think that you are wrong about Fox News' motivation for giving Sharpton and Jackson face time. I think that they do it to avoid being accused of racism. I like Hannity but he grates on my nerves because he repeats his own talking points so much. I agree with you about Colmes, that was definitely a mismatch. I have my own gripes about FNC, but I don't think that they have a racial agenda at all. They are in business for ratings and profits and that is what businesses should be focused on. I wish that they covered more news and devoted less time to opinion shows like O'Reilly and the rest of the prime time line-up. However, because FNC is profitable, I think that they have the resources to cover real news better than any of their competitors.

 

I thought that you would appreciate my conservative examples of successful black Americans. Seriously, the number of positions available for highly paid entertainers and athletes is pretty limited. Young people of all races should be steered into fields with good paying jobs that are more plentiful, IMO. I gave up my dream of becoming the next Bob Gibson as a college freshman after pitching three innings in an exhibition game against UK and not facing a single right handed hitter. Those guys could really hit and few if any of them ever played major league baseball.

 

The reason that I mentioned conservative blacks is that they are among the people I admire most. Black people who publicly admit that they are conservatives have a lot of courage. People who take courageous stands at their own peril always make good role models. Rags to riches stories like those of Clarence Thomas and Thomas Sowell deserve to be heard without political bias. A special featuring Harry Belafonte and Sowell, who grew up in the same Harlem neighborhood at the same time, would make for very good TV in my opinion.

 

But they have to know the reaction that Sharpton and Jackson get as soon as they are seen on television. Why not get someone who people will at least attempt to respect? I've always felt like there was a racial agenda in media and that ratings and profits are used as a cover or even used subconsciously when it comes to the mainstream media. Roland Martin could easily be the black version of Sean Hannity which is an opinion that I feel deserves to be heard and one that has experience in the mainstream media. All of the political opinion based shows in the mainstream media feature white people. Right now in the black community there is discussion about Jay-Z dissing Harry Belafonte in his newest album and the backlash towards Jay-Z is growing by the day. I'd damn near pay money to see this argument played out on one of the major news networks but instead it'll stay on twitter with a very limited audience as well as an audience that has very little background into the argument between the two entertainers supporters. The good old fashioned old school versus new school discussion.

 

To dig deeper, imagine the Roland Martin show and he has Thomas Sowell or Herman Cain or any of the successful black conservatives on for a debate. That is the conversation blacks need to see to become more well rounded in the political arena. Kind of like the Harry Belafonte/Thomas Sowell conversation that you mentioned though I would prefer a Sowell/Martin or Sowell/Tavis Smiley debate much more than Harry Belafonte/Thomas Sowell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj4JaCSbhFY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

Honestly I almost posted in this thread multiple times but deleted. In today's climate there is nothing to gain for a White male to discuss race. We can't speak open and honestly without it being taken as racist .

 

 

Watched the video. He isn't saying anything that hasn't already been said. I do disagree with his stance on some parts. Especially the Hollywood/entertainment industry crap he was crying about. His anti-rap crusade has been going on for years. Yawn.......

 

I've discussed the drug dealing sentences for years ad nauseum. If that conversation is needed to be had again I guess I can go find my stats somewhere. O'Reilly says it is the biggest lie ever. I say it was one of the smarter ways the government used the law to systematically destroy black communities. O'Reilly questioned why leaders such as Obama and Sharpton don't speak on how to fix the black community in the inner cities and I'll tell you why....because the solution isn't something that America would agree upon nor would they like. The solution would require things from Americans that Americans already don't want to give and I am going deeper than welfare and government aid. The solution would require a sacrifice of mammoth proportion from each and everyone of us but none of us are willing to make that sacrifice. Myself included. We have our own families to worry about. We have our own set of problems to worry about. We have our own standard of living that we work our butts off to maintain. There isn't a problem in this world that isn't fixable. Nobody truly wants to fix that problem so it will contain to plague our inner cities and we'll all go on living our lives the best way we know how for our families. It's just the way it is.

And it's not just in America:

 

Bananas Thrown At Italy's First Black Minister - http://huff.to/1e20KJg

 

Wow, that's awfully classy. Should I be glad it took me a minute to understand why they threw bananas or disappointed that I figured it out after a moment. I really just don't understand racism at that level, with that much hate and disrespect just because of someone's skin color whether its black, white, yellow, brown or whatever the case is.

 

Wow, that's awfully classy. Should I be glad it took me a minute to understand why they threw bananas or disappointed that I figured it out after a moment. I really just don't understand racism at that level, with that much hate and disrespect just because of someone's skin color whether its black, white, yellow, brown or whatever the case is.

 

Things like this happen in America too. Maybe not to public officials, or high profile people, but I have witnessed such types of behavior toward people of other colors and ethnicities.

 

Things like this happen in America too. Maybe not to public officials, or high profile people, but I have witnessed such types of behavior toward people of other colors and ethnicities.

 

Oh I know, just sad, really sad that's all.

Oh I know, just sad, really sad that's all.

 

I believe strongly that while it often seems that issues of racism are archaic in American society today, the focus must remain. I have seen little children vilely taunting other children, and grown adults saying the same. One thing I know...those little white children weren't born thinking little brown babies are less then they, or that there were nasty names or cliches. That is taught. As long as we have adults teaching children such vile behavior, the need to keep this issue in the forefront is an important one.

 

Do I believe that, for instance, Zimmerman was racist? Not necessarily. I don't necessarily think he consciously chose to single out Martin because of his skin color. But, there are subconscious biases that can be at work. And on the surface, one may never realize they are racist...that only comes when one really examines how they are when presented with certain stereotypes. We're ALL guilty of it, every one of us, of every color. The key is to work to erase that ugly part of yourself. It may never be fully gone, but with awareness, and a true intention to treat all people equally, including what you think of someone upon sight...without knowing them, it's possible to open one's eyes and truely accept the differences.

I believe strongly that while it often seems that issues of racism are archaic in American society today, the focus must remain. I have seen little children vilely taunting other children, and grown adults saying the same. One thing I know...those little white children weren't born thinking little brown babies are less then they, or that there were nasty names or cliches. That is taught. As long as we have adults teaching children such vile behavior, the need to keep this issue in the forefront is an important one.

 

Do I believe that, for instance, Zimmerman was racist? Not necessarily. I don't necessarily think he consciously chose to single out Martin because of his skin color. But, there are subconscious biases that can be at work. And on the surface, one may never realize they are racist...that only comes when one really examines how they are when presented with certain stereotypes. We're ALL guilty of it, every one of us, of every color. The key is to work to erase that ugly part of yourself. It may never be fully gone, but with awareness, and a true intention to treat all people equally, including what you think of someone upon sight...without knowing them, it's possible to open one's eyes and truely accept the differences.

 

I agree with basically everything you said. As a guy who treat everyone the same . I grew up with friends or family of basically of every skin color. I work in a diverse metro area of Detroit and work with people of many different ethnic backgrounds. So I see through my own eyes how far along society is even from 20 years ago let alone 40 or 50. Does racisim exisit ? Yes. Is it even near the scale it was 30 years ago? Nope. The problem to a white male such as myself is the race card has become a crutch for some leaders and people in the black community.

 

Like I said in a earlier post its hard to garner sympathy about hurdles one may have to an average middle class white guy today because he or she had her own hurdles in life . I never want to see one soul get held back or denied an opportunity because of the color of their skin . If behavior like that happens or exists it should be called out and criticized . But all the talk about dog whistles , suddle racism or white privilege does nothing but make people numb to the idea of racism . The boy who cried wolf eventually we quit looking .

 

Do peoples mind sets to need to change ? They have by large amounts but there is room for improvement. But like we have seen in our own nations history. It just takes time. Each generation has less biases and is more inclusive .

 

But like I said these concepts of white guilt and white privlige being thought by some wacko sociology professors across this country , they do nothing to unite us. The very fabric of these courses are divisive in nature. They do not unite us . Anything that seperates us only sets us back further .

 

But like I said these concepts of white guilt and white privlige being thought by some wacko sociology professors across this country , they do nothing to unite us. The very fabric of these courses are divisive in nature. They do not unite us . Anything that seperates us only sets us back further .

Very well put, I will add one thing that I firmly believe. As long as there are people able to profit or further their own agenda,the word racism will never be far from everyone's mind. I'm talking about the Al Sharpton's of the world whose entire livelihood is based on the premise that they must continue to feed the racism monster to further their personnel agendas.

Why White People Don't See Racism

1. Most don't go around looking for Racism. Not effecting me, so why should I worry about it, is their attitude

2. Most don't recognize it when they see it. Jokes, code words ect...

3. Most don't confront it when they do find it. Just sit or stand by silently, not wanting to get involved

4. A lot think of something has simple joking, when in fact it is Racism.

5. Even fewer have the courage to stick up for others in the face of Racism.

 

I had a good friend when I was a younger man, we had went all the way through school together. A bunch of us were sitting around a fire one night passing the bottle around. He said that I was the only one of his "Friends" that didn't wipe the bottle off when he handed it to one of us. He had noticed that the others would only wipe the bottle off when they took it from him, but would not wipe it off if they took it from another white friend. It made me feel like crap that the others did this and that he noticed what they were doing. I have noticed similar episodes over the years since "My eyes were opened by my buddy", as a manager with sometimes upwards to 500 people working directly for me I always tried my best to ensure our workplace was as racism free as I could legally make it. I have terminated an asst manager for comments made to an associate that was not only disrespectful but were also racially intolerant. Having grown up with a couple of close friends that were black I hope opened my eyes more than they would have been if these guys were never in my life. But I have never walked in those shoes and will never fully know or understand Racism.

Let me shorten things up for everyone so you don't need to read the entire thread.

 

White people don't see racism because...we're white.

 

Carry on.

This is satire, but I wonder if it isn't instructive on the way we talk about these kinds of things.

 

http://gawker.com/video-of-violent-rioting-surfers-shows-white-culture-o-954939719

I'm not racist, but I am "Anti-unresponsibility." I don't care what race you are, b/c there are plenty white, black, and Latins who fall in this category. If you are not going to contribute positively to society, don't reap the benefits of society. Get lost. That is the group of people that I pass judgment on when I see them.

I think much of prejudice is a matter of perspective. I used to go to my grandpas farm when I was little(mid 60's). He had a black man that was a farm hand. In that day, the lady of the house would fix lunch and sometimes supper for all workers. My grandpa was extremely proud that he let his black farmhand eat inside the house with the white folk. He had his own separate table. Typically, most farmers had their black help eat outside. Today, he would be viewed as an extreme racist. In his day, he took criticism for being too liberal. My parents never taught us racism. They worked very hard to hide any racist thoughts they had. As they aged and lost some of their social graces, their prejudice became apparent. I believe they were prejudice and the best they could do was attempt to not teach their children what had been taught to them.

I graduated from a high school that was 100% white. We told racial jokes. We made statements that were extremely racist. We never gave it a 2nd thought. It was the norm. As I grew older, I have moved to a more diverse area, graduated from college, etc., and i have seen the error of my ways. I don't use racial language but I do have racial thoughts. I don't think I will ever overcome them. If I see a worthless black person, the n word comes in my thought process. I don't utter the word, but the thought is there. In my perspective, I see a worthless white man and I think white trash. I don't utter the word but I think it. Am I racist? Not to me, but probably to others. Overcoming racism is a slow process. Knowing quality black people on a personal level is the only way to overcome how we have been programmed by our environment.

I conclude with the thought that we all hate prejudice when we feel it, but many times we perform prejudice and never know we do it. I am a white male. I have been discriminated against for not being in the right group, poor, accent, age- both young and now old, etc. You know it when you feel it and you are certain of it. Yet, I can turn around and make an insensitive remark and possibly be unaware of what I have done.

No answers in my post, just observations!!!