Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Mocking People of Color or Living History?

Blogger FITSNEWS posted a photo of South Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell dressed in a Civil War-era military uniform alongside two African-Americans dressed as slaves.

The picture, taken during a Republican women's conference in Charleston last Friday, however, has managed to capture national media attention.



Of course it didn't take but a couple of hours before the South Carolina NAACP was all up in arms about the photo because they are offended. More photos from the event are here.

If you live in Charleston, you come to understand that at lot of people both black and white make their living and in the case of McConnell (who owns a $30,000.00 working civil war cannon) their passion, dressing up in period costumes.

Read the Charleston Post and Courier story about the event and McConnell's response to the criticism here.

A couple of weeks ago talk show host Glen Beck held a rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

(BTW - If you haven't been to the Lincoln Memorial, you are missing out on something really astounding. The first thing you notice is we don't build things like we used to. The size of the Lincoln Memorial is stunning. The second big surprise is Location Location Location! The view is every thing and in every direction. Simple, and elegant at the same time, the Lincoln Memorial may be the grandest monument we as country have ever built.)

Beck held his rally on August 28th and the place the Lincoln Memorial without thinking it through (or maybe he knew all along) which just so happens to be the same date and place that Dr. King gave his famous "I Have a Dream Speech".

This of course gave folks like the Reverend Al Sharpton and the NAACP something to complain about. Beck spoke from a spot few steps below where Dr. King may or may not have given his speech. Yet many people of color were still offended.

Throughout my life I have been fascinated by Dr. King and always saw him as a man first and a person of color last. During his life he gave hundreds of speeches, many long since forgotten and the exact places no one ever noted and some have even been torn down.

Somewhere along the way the message that Dr. King was preaching, the point he was conveying was lost.

If Dr. King who wanted nothing more than to be equal was here today I'm pretty certain he'd say enough already, enough of pointing out the differences and raising a stink over every aspect of the last 200 years.

The truth is the NAACP in order to exist needs to create controversy even where there is none and I don't think this is what Dr. King had in mind. It is certianly not what Glenn McConnell and the Murphys had in mind.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

A couple of things:

The NAACP did not start the story. And when the NAACP was contacted, the representative said it wasn't racism, it was just sad.

I grew up in Charleston. I know the histories of Boone Hall and Middleton, Drayton Hall and the like. I can appreciate that history and those that still like to educate others on it.

That's not what this event was. This was a frat party with richer party-goers.

If this is the image the Republican party wants to carry forward of itself, it's their right. But as a right-of-center black person, these are the images that enter my head when called upon to vote. As a result, I have to spend my time looking for Republicans that dont't seem to perpetuate the party of Strom.

It' ain't easy.

Anonymous said...

Let's not forget Strom Thurmond was a Democrat
during the Jim Crow days and a states rights democrat during the early days of the civil rights movement.

I AM JUST SAYING

Anonymous said...

Yes he was. And then he moved to the Republican party as a result of the Civil Rights movement as a lot of southern Democrats did.

Exactly what are you trying to say?

Anonymous said...

Cedar I think you are so right the NAACP jumps up and down about everything so much that it just makes me yawn.

Really if they would get their own house in order, act just a little normal, and stop with all the getto bs and stop using "I'm Black" as a crutch life might improve for them.

I some idiot wants to dress up as Col. Sanders who cares, and if people of color want to help him play out the days of plantations and slaves who cares? acting like you're some rapper or pornstar.



If you ask me its no more stupid, that dressing up like Darth Vader or

Anonymous said...

When DOESN'T the NAACP get involved? THIS is the MOST racist organization IN America! The do all they can to KEEP the races divided and those who are part of it should be ashamed of themselves!

Can't comment on the story, but JUST from the pics, HOW can it be racist when there are TWO black men involved?

Guess NAACP will call them racists too?

Anonymous said...

When DOESN'T the NAACP get involved? THIS is the MOST racist organization IN America! The do all they can to KEEP the races divided and those who are part of it should be ashamed of themselves!

Can't comment on the story, but JUST from the pics, HOW can it be racist when there are TWO black men involved?

Guess NAACP will call them racists too?