Harris takes on questions about her “blackness”

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JCFantasy23

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I read the article to about half way. People are saying that she is not African-American or not black enough(culturally?). I am not exactly sure I am reading it correctly, but I think because of her ancestry which is Indian (India) and Caribbean she is not African American.

I think it's a shame she has to be burdened with this at all. You shouldn't have to prove the legitimacy of your race to your race, it's isolating IMO.
 
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RDKirk

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It is a strategy tactic for sure...

With regard to Obama, at the time he was born and raised, had he been in any other state he would have fully gone through the African-American (black) experience.

In his childhood and early adulthood, there was no such social classification of "biracial." Like Halle Berry, he would have been simply "black."

Who would have accepted his assertion of anything else? Who would have accepted him calling himself "white?"
 
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Hammster

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Do a Google Search on "Kamala Dolezal" (for obvious reasons). It's pretty unpleasant that people have decided to go this route, but that's the country we have after the Birther movement took hold and helped one man become President.

Ugh.
Who is putting out the memes/criticisms?
 
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RDKirk

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I think it's a shame she has to be burdened with this at all. You shouldn't have to prove the legitimacy of your race to your race, it's isolating IMO.

It's not "race" (whatever that is), it's culture.

I would point out that, as I've seen and as "we" have discussed and noted, both people from India and Jamaicans will tend to violently object to being considered "African-Americans" or black Americans. That's okay--they are what they are and it's okay for them to be proud of what they are. But because of that, our wider experience does not give us any confidence that her Indian mother or Jamaican father ever raised her with that connection.
 
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GlabrousDory4

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Who is putting out the memes/criticisms?

I assume the usual suspects: trolls, anonymous scum, Russian bots, who knows?

But more importantly: why does it matter? Kamala Harris is merely noting that there's some form of movement to delegitimize her based on race. Regardless of who does it.

The troubling thing is it bears a lot of similarity to the disgusting birther movement. It's an attempt for people to utilize "sensitivity to race" in order to delegitimize minorities.

There are a lot of people out there who want to see Americans at each others throats. Either external actors who want to meddle in our society/elections or people within the country who will use any means necessary to maintain systemic racism and use it to keep us separate.
 
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JCFantasy23

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I would point out that, as I've seen and as "we" have discussed and noted, both people from India and Jamaicans will tend to violently object to being considered "African-Americans" or black Americans. That's okay--they are what they are and it's okay for them to be proud of what they are. But because of that, our wider experience does not give us any confidence that her Indian mother or Jamaican father ever raised her with that connection.

Again I keep thinking of my friend who is shunned in the states by the black community for not being the "right kind of black". When that happens, it causes issues. In an ideal world, everyone would be treated with respect where it didn't matter on heritage and race, but here we are.
 
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Hammster

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I assume the usual suspects: trolls, anonymous scum, Russian bots, who knows?

But more importantly: why does it matter? Kamala Harris is merely noting that there's some form of movement to delegitimize her based on race. Regardless of who does it.

The troubling thing is it bears a lot of similarity to the disgusting birther movement. It's an attempt for people to utilize "sensitivity to race" in order to delegitimize minorities.

There are a lot of people out there who want to see Americans at each others throats. Either external actors who want to meddle in our society/elections or people within the country who will use any means necessary to maintain systemic racism and use it to keep us separate.
I think it matters because there’s a difference between folks being racist, folks being prejudiced, and folks creating false flags.

That’s why I’m curious as to the source.
 
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RDKirk

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I assume the usual suspects: trolls, anonymous scum, Russian bots, who knows?

But more importantly: why does it matter? Kamala Harris is merely noting that there's some form of movement to delegitimize her based on race. Regardless of who does it.

The troubling thing is it bears a lot of similarity to the disgusting birther movement. It's an attempt for people to utilize "sensitivity to race" in order to delegitimize minorities.

There are a lot of people out there who want to see Americans at each others throats. Either external actors who want to meddle in our society/elections or people within the country who will use any means necessary to maintain systemic racism and use it to keep us separate.

The "black community" (such as it is) is in a roil over the basic concept of "blackness" today. It's a whole lot more complicated than it was when I was young.
 
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RDKirk

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Again I keep thinking of my friend who is shunned in the states by the black community for not being the "right kind of black". When that happens, it causes issues. In an ideal world, everyone would be treated with respect where it didn't matter on heritage and race, but here we are.

I'd say that was most likely a personal problem. I've known to many other genetically "black" people from other countries who have won ready acceptance. It's primarily on the newcomer to accept his new society--it's not upon the society to accept him.

If all his personal dealings with African-Americans were negative, we have to look at the single consistent factor in all of them.
 
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Again I keep thinking of my friend who is shunned in the states by the black community for not being the "right kind of black". When that happens, it causes issues. In an ideal world, everyone would be treated with respect where it didn't matter on heritage and race, but here we are.
In an ideal world,only character should be considered not skin color or race. I have to agree with your assessment here.But we don't live in the ideal world. When it comes to politics, people look to who identifies with their issues. For instance, black people overwhelmingly supported Robert Kennedy because they felt he understood them and identified with their issues.
 
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GlabrousDory4

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I think it matters because there’s a difference between folks being racist, folks being prejudiced, and folks creating false flags.

You might be disturbed to find out that these "false flags" played an extremely important role in electing our last President. We were played by the country that seems to hold significant leverage over the guy that ultimately got elected.

I agree it would be nice to know if this is some external attack on Americans or if it's good ol' homegrown racists, but in the end it doesn't make Harris's response any less necessary.

That’s why I’m curious as to the source.

Just so long as we don't lose sight of the fact that we are still a nation very much easily led by systemic racism to question each other's legitimacy.

But let's assume it is some external group that tries to stir up racial animosity within the US population...ultimately it's US citizens who vote and make their decisions. Trump peddled birtherism right into the White House because there were a lot of Americans who thought "Hmmm, that sounds legit!"

You can't get people to follow a false flag they don't believe is true.

It's easy to raise racist talking points in a nation that still struggles with racism.
 
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Hammster

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You might be disturbed to find out that these "false flags" played an extremely important role in electing our last President. We were played by the country that seems to hold significant leverage over the guy that ultimately got elected.

I agree it would be nice to know if this is some external attack on Americans or if it's good ol' homegrown racists, but in the end it doesn't make Harris's response any less necessary.



Just so long as we don't lose sight of the fact that we are still a nation very much easily led by systemic racism to question each other's legitimacy.

But let's assume it is some external group that tries to stir up racial animosity within the US population...ultimately it's US citizens who vote and make their decisions. Trump peddled birtherism right into the White House because there were a lot of Americans who thought "Hmmm, that sounds legit!"

You can't get people to follow a false flag they don't believe is true.

It's easy to raise racist talking points in a nation that still struggles with racism.
This isn’t about Trump. You can start a thread on that, though. ;)
 
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GlabrousDory4

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This isn’t about Trump. You can start a thread on that, though. ;)

This is all part and parcel of the same thing!

YOU raised the concept of the "false flag"...which is EXACTLY what the Russians did during the 2016 elections. They played BOTH sides Right and Left. The idea was to sow discord.

It actually supports your point that we can benefit from knowing who is putting this stuff out there. I just don't want it to divert from the very real face of systemic racism in this country.
 
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Hammster

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This is all part and parcel of the same thing!

YOU raised the concept of the "false flag"...which is EXACTLY what the Russians did during the 2016 elections. They played BOTH sides Right and Left. The idea was to sow discord.

It actually supports your point that we can benefit from knowing who is putting this stuff out there. I just don't want it to divert from the very real face of systemic racism in this country.
That’s still not the topic. You can discuss that elsewhere. I’m interested in this particular OP.
 
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GlabrousDory4

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That’s still not the topic. You can discuss that elsewhere. I’m interested in this particular OP.

Interesting. So it seems that when I discuss the topic in a way that you don't feel comfortable with you decree it to be "off topic".

So could you tell me exactly what it is I should have an opinion about that conforms exactly to YOUR desires?

Here's my best shot:

"YES, Kamala Harris must show us information! Where is this coming from???"

Seems like that's about the limit of what we can talk about isn't it?
 
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Hammster

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Interesting. So it seems that when I discuss the topic in a way that you don't feel comfortable with you decree it to be "off topic".

So could you tell me exactly what it is I should have an opinion about that conforms exactly to YOUR desires?

Here's my best shot:

"YES, Kamala Harris must show us information! Where is this coming from???"

Seems like that's about the limit of what we can talk about isn't it?
The thread isn’t about Trump. That’s it. Almost every non-Trump thread has him mentioned (and it’s usually a whataboutism) and then we are off topic.
 
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GlabrousDory4

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The thread isn’t about Trump. That’s it. Almost every non-Trump thread has him mentioned (and it’s usually a whataboutism) and then we are off topic.

But you are wrong. The points I've raised have all be directly about the OP. You may not like them, but they are appropriate to the OP. They are appropriate to American Politics.

You are just...wrong here.

Sorry.
 
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Hammster

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But you are wrong. The points I've raised have all be directly about the OP. You may not like them, but they are appropriate to the OP. They are appropriate to American Politics.

You are just...wrong here.

Sorry.
Please quit detailing. If you address the topic and leave Trump out it, things will be fine.
 
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