Anyone been here since the 80s / early 90s? How did smart locals react to Marion Barry

[Anonymous]

My Indian parents loved him, especially my dad.

Dad is a true blue dem, mom doesn't really vote But would be a centrist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Indian parents loved him, especially my dad.

Dad is a true blue dem, mom doesn't really vote But would be a centrist.

MB was a corrupt, racist crack-head who turned DC into a national joke. The irony is that his "base" -- who most depended on quality municipal services -- were the ones most dis-served by his corrupt ineptitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMO the DC comeback actually started during Barry IV.

Well, yes, when Sharon Pratt Kelly took the bad and made it into the worst, then the Congress installed the control board, led by Tony Williams etc, and after Marion went down for the last time, Williams was elected Mayor.

Everything good that is happening today can be attributed to him. The population growth plan, the reconditioning of the river areas, particularly Navy Yard and Wharf, H Street, the ne downtown etc.

[Anonymous]

Marion Barry made Tony Williams possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:white upper middle class families did not live in DC or want to so the "smart locals" where happily cocooned in the burbs and what happened in DC made little to no difference.

Utter bullshit. See, e.g., the entirety of Ward 3 and Georgetown

Agree with pp but want to add that what’s also

bullshit is that only white upper middle class families were “smart locals.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:white upper middle class families did not live in DC or want to so the "smart locals" where happily cocooned in the burbs and what happened in DC made little to no difference.

Utter bullshit. See, e.g., the entirety of Ward 3 and Georgetown

Agree with pp but want to add that what’s also bullshit is that only white upper middle class families were “smart locals.”

[Anonymous]

I was fresh out of college and in my first real job in DC back then. I totally didn't understand the Barry thing. And African-American colleague of mine (I am white) said, "You'll never understand, he's one of us."

Yep, didn't see the appeal...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was fresh out of college and in my first real job in DC back then. I totally didn't understand the Barry thing. And African-American colleague of mine (I am white) said, "You'll never understand, he's one of us."

Yep, didn't see the appeal...

Who is this unnamed spokesmen for all black people that white people always refer to in their stories to make a point?

“Well I had a black friend/colleague/neighbor/classmate testify of what all blacks are thinking about such-and-such...”

Really?!!!

So is it just one guy or are there several of these official delegates of black culture and opinions wandering around the country having hush meetings with white folks to cue them in on black sentiments?
What is with all the secrecy how come no one ever mentions these appointed agents names can I talk to one of these guys cause I’d like to know who appointed them and I’d like to know how do they get their intel of what ALL blacks think.

Is George Orwell’s “1984” now a reality with the thought police, are chips embedded in AA’s heads monitoring their thoughts?
Somebody explain why is it that blacks cannot be individuals and have their own unique personal feelings and opinions and perspectives?
Why do blacks always get thrown into a collective so if you heard so-and-so, who is black, say something well then that must be the attitude of all blacks?

[Anonymous]

I grew up in DC in the 70s and 80s and lived through many incompetent mayors but MB took the cake. I remember him cutting back city services like garbage collection and you’d have to wait days to get your street plowed. He was a crook and an imbecile but he had personality so the natives fell for him. He was an embarrassment and anybody with a modicum of intelligence understood that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in DC in the 70s and 80s and lived through many incompetent mayors but MB took the cake. I remember him cutting back city services like garbage collection and you’d have to wait days to get your street plowed. He was a crook and an imbecile but he had personality so the natives fell for him. He was an embarrassment and anybody with a modicum of intelligence understood that.

The DC Public Schools had even had no toilet paper. The Mayor for Life era was a pretty sh*##y time in Washington.