November 8, 2005

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  I've been debating whether to attempt the unthinkable...try to argue both religion and politics at the same time, in an attempt to respond to claire_chenault's right-wing "Christian" world view, which unfortunately is all too prevalent in the United States, in as comprehensive a manner as possible.  It seems like a daunting task, and probably not worth the effort if my purpose is to change claire's mind even one single milimeter.  While I continue to ponder it, here are the last two quotes from Randall Robinson's marvellous book:

  
  

   

  
  

  Excerpts from Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America by Randall Robinson, 1998

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

              …Arthur Ashe, a member of TransAfrica Forum’s board of directors and co chair of Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid, had great difficulty persuading black athletes to join the anti-apartheid campaign.  Most were effectively cut off from the black community by white agents who warned them that they would be putting their endorsement prospects at great risk should they associate with any undertaking that was even vaguely controversial.

  
  

              In 1990 Harvey Gantt, a black former mayor of Charlotte and North Carolina’s Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, had at least an even chance to unseat Jesse Helms, racial bigotry’s elected standard bearer.  When Michael Jordan, a godlike figure in North Carolina, was asked to endorse Gantt’s candidacy, he declined, explaining that “Republicans buy shoes too.”  Winning narrowly, Helms moved on in 1994 to become chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, from which post he has done incalculable damage to the interests of Africa, the Caribbean, and the developing world in general.  Jordan’s involvement might have made the difference for Gantt and removed from power a man who makes little secret of his malignant hostility to black interests, here and abroad…

  
  

   

  
  

  Page 273

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

             …Some months after returning from Haiti, Hazel and I attended a parent-teacher conference at Khalea’s school.  Khalea attends Beauvoir, a highly-rated private school situated on the well-manicured lush grounds of the Washington Cathedral.  She had tested as a gifted child, and we were not surprised to learn that she was doing well in class.  Everyone associated with the Beauvoir family was warm and friendly.  Andrea Bowrie, Khalea’s teacher that year, was no exception.  As our successful conference drew to a close, Hazel thought to clarify a  matter that had only just occurred to her.

  
  

              “What does this ‘time out’ mean?” Hazel asked.

  
  

              “Children are placed in time out for disciplinary reasons,” explained Andrea Bowrie.  “They go to a corner alone and remain apart from the class and quiet for a period of time.”

  
  

              “Khalea tells us that all of the black girls in her class have been put in time out and none of the white girls.  Is this true?”  Hazel asked.

  
  

              There were three black girls in the class in addition to Khalea.  One was Vanessa, whose mother, Gayle Williams, sat on the Beauvoir governing board.  Kristin was the daughter of Jack White, a columnist for Time magazine.  Erica was the daughter of Judge Eric Washington of the D.C. Superior Court.  They were well-behaved girls.  Kristin was so quiet, I’d not have known her voice, although she came to our home often to play with Khalea.

  
  

              “Yes, that is true,” said Ms. Bowrie.

  
  

              “How can that be so?” Hazel asked, more mystified than upset.  “I know these girls and they are well mannered.  Yet all of them have been isolated from the class and not one of the white girls has been disciplined in the same way.  Doesn’t that seem odd to you?”

  
  

              “No,” replied Bowrie.  “Studies show that black parents rear their children to be more aggressive.”

  
  

              Later, there would be profuse apologies from the school, copious tears from the teacher.  But the damage was done, mirroring in its particular and personal way the problems we face on a global scale.

  
  

              Where does a black soul go to rest?

  
  

   

  
  

  Pages 284-85

  
  

   

  • 3:41 am
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