Anonymous wrote:Do you think that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton perpetuate a racial divide to further their own agenda or purpose?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton perpetuate a racial divide to further their own agenda or purpose?

Not the Op, but YES, YES, YES and YES. Sharpton in particular.

pp, are you black? Just curious.

My answer: In some cases, yes. But I also think that Jackson and Sharpton did (and do) great work. They should not be discounted altogether.

-AA female

Anonymous wrote:

ManHere wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were the only AA in a playground with your kids and I come over and say hi, would you think I'm weird?

Sometimes I see that in my neighborhood park and I want to say hi, but I'm not sure what response I would get.

Of course say hi. If not for you, do it for the kids sake. Maybe they will become friends.
-OP

The mom I saw at the park had kids that were several years older than mine, so it might be kind of obvious that I'm just wanting to talk to her. Still, it's no reason not to say hi, so I will.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton perpetuate a racial divide to further their own agenda or purpose?

black guy here. yes.

dont think we all line up with jesse and al when they get in an uproar cause thats not the case at all.

it doesnt give you the green light to go bashing them but just know that all of us dont fall in line to the idea that they are our "black leaders"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton perpetuate a racial divide to further their own agenda or purpose?

black guy here. yes.

dont think we all line up with jesse and al when they get in an uproar cause thats not the case at all.

it doesnt give you the green light to go bashing them but just know that all of us dont fall in line to the idea that they are our "black leaders"

follow-up question - when a white person starts "bashing" them, do you automatically get defensive or think it's racist or do you try and hold a good debate/discussion with them about their merits or pitfalls (similar to holding a discussion with them about merits/pitfalls of GW Bush or Clinton)? I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but am genuinely curious since I sometimes feel that I can't have an honest good old fashioned political debate about some black leaders with black colleagues/friends the same way we (meaning me and the same colleagues/friends) have debates/arguments about white leaders. So, I'm asking for an honest answer about your reaction if someone you normally have really good, thoughtful and sometimes heated debates/arguments with about politics starts a similar debate about JJ or AS (or others). Exclude Pres. Obama from this, though, since in my experience, there is less defensiveness when I bring up things I don't like or agree with wrt Obama. I don't know why that is, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were the only AA in a playground with your kids and I come over and say hi, would you think I'm weird?

Sometimes I see that in my neighborhood park and I want to say hi, but I'm not sure what response I would get.

black guy here.

ummmm no. real question is why are you afraid or hesitant to approach me? if i were your white neighbor, would you feel the same?

and im not trying to start anything so dont take my question as combative

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton perpetuate a racial divide to further their own agenda or purpose?

black guy here. yes.

dont think we all line up with jesse and al when they get in an uproar cause thats not the case at all.

it doesnt give you the green light to go bashing them but just know that all of us dont fall in line to the idea that they are our "black leaders"

follow-up question - when a white person starts "bashing" them, do you automatically get defensive or think it's racist or do you try and hold a good debate/discussion with them about their merits or pitfalls (similar to holding a discussion with them about merits/pitfalls of GW Bush or Clinton)? I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but am genuinely curious since I sometimes feel that I can't have an honest good old fashioned political debate about some black leaders with black colleagues/friends the same way we (meaning me and the same colleagues/friends) have debates/arguments about white leaders. So, I'm asking for an honest answer about your reaction if someone you normally have really good, thoughtful and sometimes heated debates/arguments with about politics starts a similar debate about JJ or AS (or others). Exclude Pres. Obama from this, though, since in my experience, there is less defensiveness when I bring up things I don't like or agree with wrt Obama. I don't know why that is, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton perpetuate a racial divide to further their own agenda or purpose?

black guy here. yes.

dont think we all line up with jesse and al when they get in an uproar cause thats not the case at all.

it doesnt give you the green light to go bashing them but just know that all of us dont fall in line to the idea that they are our "black leaders"

follow-up question - when a white person starts "bashing" them, do you automatically get defensive or think it's racist or do you try and hold a good debate/discussion with them about their merits or pitfalls (similar to holding a discussion with them about merits/pitfalls of GW Bush or Clinton)? I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but am genuinely curious since I sometimes feel that I can't have an honest good old fashioned political debate about some black leaders with black colleagues/friends the same way we (meaning me and the same colleagues/friends) have debates/arguments about white leaders. So, I'm asking for an honest answer about your reaction if someone you normally have really good, thoughtful and sometimes heated debates/arguments with about politics starts a similar debate about JJ or AS (or others). Exclude Pres. Obama from this, though, since in my experience, there is less defensiveness when I bring up things I don't like or agree with wrt Obama. I don't know why that is, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were the only AA in a playground with your kids and I come over and say hi, would you think I'm weird?

Sometimes I see that in my neighborhood park and I want to say hi, but I'm not sure what response I would get.

black guy here.

ummmm no. real question is why are you afraid or hesitant to approach me? if i were your white neighbor, would you feel the same?

and im not trying to start anything so dont take my question as combative

I thought about it and I think it's just me. I didn't want to the mom to think I'm weird for just talking to her out of the blue. Here's the scenerio - crowded park, nannies sticking together, moms doing their own thing either with their kids or hanging out on the bench. Most moms don't talk to each other unless they know one another from outside the playground. There's only one AA mom there with her kids. I think I'd be singling her out if I go talk to her. I don't strike up conversations with other moms unless our kids toddle over to each other. I've seen the AA mom there only twice - once we were on our way out. Her kids are elementary school age, mine's a toddler. I thought about saying hi, but was afraid she'd be offended, wonder why I'm talking to her, or I don't know. Just writing this makes me see how silly it is. If she were white, I probably wouldn't think about talking to her at all.

I don't think your question is combative, but I think I'm digging myself into a deep hole. I'm off to the playground now. If I see her, I'll say hi. If she get's mad at me, I'll tell her this was your idea. (J/K)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton perpetuate a racial divide to further their own agenda or purpose?

Not the Op, but YES, YES, YES and YES. Sharpton in particular.

pp, are you black? Just curious.

My answer: In some cases, yes. But I also think that Jackson and Sharpton did (and do) great work. They should not be discounted altogether.

-AA female

they bring issues to the forefront but they sometimes run around barking up the wrong tree sometimes which discredits the times they have something legit to argue about.

black guy here

Anonymous wrote:
I agree. As an honor roll student, I was not teased. I also was and also continue to be down to earth and gregarious.

Anonymous wrote:

I agree 100% (also agree with your post preceding this one). Not sure why so many think we need "leaders". It's a bit insulting when you think about it.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, makes complete sense. And thanks for responding (the other pps too, thanks). FWIW, we all have lunch together and often get into some major heated political debates. It looks like we all enjoy it and get something from it - but there does seem to be a lot of "holding back" or not as much of a robust debate when some black leaders are brought up - which is why I asked. But you make a lot of sense and I didn't think of it that way. Thanks.