PhotoDude.com

Wed. Oct 09, 2002

Harry and Colin

Harry and Colin – " ’There’s an old saying,’ Belafonte began. ’In the days of slavery, there were those slaves who lived on the plantation and were those slaves that lived in the house. You got the privilege of living in the house if you served the master… exactly the way the master intended to have you serve him. Colin Powell’s committed to come into the house of the master. When Colin Powell dares to suggest something other than what the master wants to hear, he will be turned back out to pasture.’ "

However, "in November 1999, Belafonte was the keynote speaker at a Manhattan breakfast held to publicize Powell’s ”Building the Legacy” award. And, in fact, he even shared the dais with Powell and praised him again when the award was given out three months later."

So what brought about this change of heart in the past three years? ”I think Colin Powell made a decision to serve the Republican Party and to serve that kind of an ideological leader.” That free choice, granted all Americans, makes him a ”house slave”? Slavery is about a total lack of freedom, or choice. In fact, it sounds much like what Mr. Belafonte would like to impose on the choice of Colin Powell; political ideals determined by your birth race, gender, or religion, not your free will.

Back in August, Democrat Cynthia McKinney’s campaign was whispering ”Tomette” (a female derivative of the slur, ”Uncle Tom”) about fellow Democrat Denise Majette, due to her support from Republicans. Now, Colin Powell is getting similar treatment. As Oliver Willis says, ”Soon, I hope black notables and politicians can slam each other on the merit of their ideas, and not ’who’s blacker?’ ” When black ”notables and politicians” become visible Republicans, or simply in some way oppose a black Democrat, why does dialogue seem to often immediately descend into racial ad hominem?

I’m serious. I’m just a stupid white boy trying to understand. Why are those words, phrases, and attitudes, which would cause a white person to be declared hopelessly racist, often among the first to be used when political rancor erupts between blacks?

Is it just my ”stupid white boy” nature that causes me to view the ”accuser” as the one engaging in ignorant racist views, not the ”accusee”?