> Jim -- your idealism is wonderful, but your grasp on reality is tenuous.
> Laverne did not invent racism. Racism is real. Look at all the
statistics.
> Look around you. Yes, I think that our kids are growing up more involved
> with and aware of other races and cultures, and not so isolated in their
own
> little ethnic groups. And of course, class is a huge factor in what
happens
> to people. But the institutional racism that keeps many many people of
> color locked into poverty is very real and will not be dismantled by
trying
> to pretend that we are all the same, we're all the human race. The
> experience of being African American in this country is rich in many ways,
> but full of pain. Try to learn from it instead of denigrating it.
> Frederick Douglas said something like, "Power concedes nothing without a
> struggle -- it never has and it never will." The decades have proven he
was
> right.
>
> Diane Wiley
> In lovely diverse Powderhorn Park
> Proudly Heinz 57 myself --
> Italian-Scandahoovian-English-Irish-Scotch-Welsh-German-a touch of Spanish
> and French [if you believe Grampa Louie]
>
> --- Original Message -----
> From: "JIM GRAHAM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "Laverne Turner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 12:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] The Fight against Institutional Racism-David vs.
Goliath
>
>
> > I wonder if Laverne can read the post Laverne made objectively,
> > and not see the obvious racism in it.
> > {"It exists in order to provide security for this white male
> > dominated society"}
> > I think Laverne needs to start identifying with the "Human" race
> > and leave all that other race baggage behind. People seeking
> > power and control have kept the myth of race alive for far to
> > long, and Laverne should repudiate it. It has kept the human race
> > apart for far too long.
> >
> > I do agree that people with African ancestry come in ever flavor,
> > color, political persuasion, and even size. About like every other
> > "group" in this country. I know many Native Americans who have
> > African ancestry. Or is it African Americans with Native ancestry?
> > Tiger Woods is what? An African American with Asian ancestry.
> > Or is he an Asian American with African ancestry? The list goes
> > on and on.
> >
> > One year at the "Fourth of July" picnic in my back yard
> > I took a picture of a bunch of kids. There were Asian kids,
> > Black kids, Indian kids, Hispanic kids, and White kids all sitting
> > around a blanket on the grass sharing food. And I do mean
> > sharing food. Like from each others plate, with every one at
> > one time laughingly filling up one kids plate with their pie because
> > he said he never got enough of it. I told my wife that this was a
> > cool picture because all those kids were American kids. She
> > said something about the fourth of July, but I corrected her.
> > I pointed out that, No, every child sitting there, no matter what
> > their color or shape, shared Native American heritage and blood.
> > But they did not even think about it. After I had thought about
> > it for a while I realized that she was correct. The distinguishing
> > thing about those kids was that they were just typical South
> > Minneapolis American Kids.
> >
> > We are such a mixed together group, the idea of race is
> > absolutely meaningless unless used for political purposes.
> > Please stop using it unless you are referring to the Human Race.
> >
> > (Some other time we will have to talk about slavery in this
> > country, and how people of every color have been the
> > beneficiaries of this legacy. Stereotypes, no matter from
> > which side of the spectrum, share one thing.They are almost
> > always wrong!!!)
> >
> > Laverne, good luck, on taking on the powers that be. I tend to
> > be a Democrat, but I am really an anarchist at heart. I love when
> > someone challenges the hard line entrenched Parties, especially
> > if they win. Like what Charles Barkley said about Tyson and his
> > attitude, what they really need is to get their butts kicked now
> > and then. It is time for some "Progressive Realism".
> >
> > Jim Graham,
> > Ventura Village - a Heinz 57 Mutt American, and damn proud of it
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Laverne Turner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 10:13 AM
> > Subject: [Mpls] The Fight against Institutional Racism-David vs. Goliath
> >
> >
> > The Fight against Institutional Racism-David vs.
> > Goliath
> >
> >
> > On June 9,2002 in a press release announcing my
> > intention to run for Minnesota State Senate without
> > endorsement, although considered by many to be inline
> > to win endorsement. I was quoted, "Black people should
> > not and do need White approval to seek office or to
> > make important changes in their communities." The
> > quote may have been the least political correct
> > language I could have practiced but, I said what I
> > said and I meant what I said.
> >
> > Institutional racism exist today in America as much as
> > it existed during the civil rights movement, the days
> > of Jim Crow, and the execution of the slave trade. It
> > exists in order to provide security for this white
> > male dominated society and maintain their aura of
> > superiority. The custom of institutional racism has
> > been demonstrated in every component of American way
> > of life. Weather it is the area of political practices
> > are performed, the culture of corporate America,
> > educational system cirrocumuli standards,
> > entertainment, or the so-called "war on drugs".
> >
> > The list can go on and on. I specifically want address
> > political practices that occur in the Minneapolis
> > metro area communities in Minnesota and the rest of
> > the country. Three things that trouble me about
> > politicians and parties are the categorizing the black
> > vote. African Americans are separate individuals from
> > one another and carry different opinions,
> > perspectives, and experiences as voters and should be
> > identified as such. There are African American
> > Republicans, African American Democrats; I am African
> > American Green, and proud of it. Secondly, the
> > labeling of issues as black issues. I believe in no
> > such thing. I do not think African -Americans are the
> > only people who want decent wage making employment
> > opportunity, who want their children to receive an
> > adequate education, worry about not having health
> > insurance, paying the cost of prescription drugs, and
> > who want there children to be safe in their own
> > neighborhoods. Labeling issues opens the door for
> > potential dismissal of validity issues like police
> > brutality and the use of excessive force by police.
> > Lastly, there is the falsehood and giant deterrent of
> > participation is the sentiment that black people do
> > not vote. To me, that translates into total disregard
> > toward individuals and their right to involvement in
> > the process.
> >
> > If we as Greens or a nation want to put a dent in the
> > armor of institutional racism we must refuse to engage
> > in practices of separation and politics of divide &
> > conquer.
> >
> >
> > The Laverne Turner for MN State Senate" Time 4 Some
> > Action" Campaign is up to the challenge. I am an
> > African American candidate. My campaign manager is
> > Jewish, a Hispanic woman is the campaign's executive
> > committee chair, an Italian American woman is the
> > campaign treasurer and we are all products of
> > generation X. This is important to acknowledge
> > because we are young people trying to be heard. This
> > is exactly what the young people in the 60's tried to
> > accomplish. History is repeating itself again and it
> > is "TIME 4 SOME ACTION."
> >
> >
> > Laverne Turner
> > Minneapolis - East Phillips
> > Green Party Candidate for MN State Senate 61
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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> > Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
> > http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
> > _______________________________________
> > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn
E-Democracy
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> >
> > _______________________________________
> > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn
E-Democracy
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