So Bravenak was finally shut down
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=300456&sub=trans
Let me preface my remarks by saying I am white. I don't know why I need to point it out but one of the denizens of this board pointed it out to me and implied because I am white I can't speak about issues that affect African Americans yet many denizens of this board, the vast majority of whom are white have no such compunction. In fact some seem to want to circumcsribe how black people act, who their leaders should and shouldn't be, and how those leaders should act.
....
Now that we got that out of the way...There is something profoundly wrong with a Democratic board that represents a party that is nearly 45% non white that there are so few non white members of this board and that another non white voice has been shut down.
Something isn't right.
DemocratSinceBirth
= new reply since forum marked as read
FYI, This was on the main page and is the only reason I commented at all.
ordering everybody around and screaming until they got their way, and then when they got their way and shut down the event, started name calling the people who went there to hear about social security and decided to leave because the social security event was officially over.
Also the security guards who stood there and didn't stop the girls from getting up on the stage. That was a pretty shocking display of ineptitude. I slipped past far better security at a Doors concert, but although I did get by I didn't last long
For the record, I can't watch Caribou Barbie or Ann Coulter or Donald Trump or Chris Christie or any number of white people without wanting to throw things at them. And I consider them to be spoiled brats too. 
will leave the rest.
Have a nice rest of the day. 
or so I've read on DU.
of race and ethnicity. Hope that's not too hard for you to figure out. Enjoy your stay here. 
I will.
I rarely vote to hide anything, whether I agree or not doesn't matter. what matters to me is it an over the top attack, foul words, or an obvious troll, other than that I expect people to defend themselves or with help from our more experienced members in defending a POV.
If someone is just being passive aggressive or the "so are you but what am I" nonsense, well their foolishness is obvious to all.
It seems so easy to get someone kicked out of here. 
Right F@#%ing NOW!!!!
There are few enough already and we make this an unwelcome place and juries run them off by shutting them up.
ugh.
I agree. DU is definitely a poorer place without her voice!
Not being on Twitter and Facebook, of course I miss out and I prefer the format at forums,
Just thought it'd be a place for AA's to sit back and strategize and talk about what they really feel.
And she wants to get more AAs on DU to give a more diverse opinion. I think her plan is a winner and could be very fast.
.
But the little pups as my husband started calling them this weekend 
- they are on social media. I'm pretty much out there inviting them to join DU and help us to help them.
By that - I mean older African Americans and those who are our strong allies -
We aren't engaged on the social media platforms. But we can help them. If they need my help - I will be there as much as I am for Generation Forward (the O'Malley supporting Super Pac - I can give money to since I tapped out my O'Malley contributions for the primary cycle). If it's my time, my presence at a rally, etc. etc. I'm here.
I can't even with this nonsense. It is completely bizarre. Silencing good DUers ... and for what? 
Nerdy Wonka
?@NerdyWonka People who screamed for years, "hold Pres. Obama's feet to the fire!" are now saying "why are you mean to Bernie?"
LMAO.
Pass the popcorn.
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http://theobamadiary.com/2015/08/09/rise-and-shine-1076/
I'm glad we're not going to have to even think about voting for BS.
(Edit to add my apologies that I'm not familiar with what all led to Bravenak being suspended. I've only very recently been reading DU again. The silencing of PoC wouldn't surprise me in the least.)
I don't agree with any Bernie supporters and others who are denigrating and distancing themselves from #BlackLivesMatter based on two disruptive protests (protests are supposed to disrupt). Many feel it isn't fair that Bernie was targeted over any GOP candidate, but that's life -- and that's politics. Bernie is a big boy. How he responds to it is more important than anything, imho. (I happen to believe there are logistical reasons for this and that #BLM will have a presence at many, many political events from now on.)
As someone who is leaning toward Bernie, I happen to think this is GOOD. Much as you said in your GD OP, Steve. It's keeping this issue front and center. FINALLY. Now, I understand we all view things differently based on our individual life experiences and perspectives, but even though Bernie could have handled both Netroots and the first Seattle rally better, I don't think he has handled it badly. I think he is evolving and putting racial justice more front and center, much as Washington State Senator Pramila Jayapal said in her FB message yesterday:
That's a huge platform for our messages. There's more to do and learn for sure, but is any one of us perfect? The most we can ask for is for someone who listens and cares deeply, who is trustworthy, and who will do what he says. I know I learned a lot in my campaign and I will continue to grow from listening to people's voices. I believe Bernie Sanders is growing too--and I hope (and yes, believe) that we'll look back on this and see his emergence as a leader who brings our movements for economic, racial and social justice together in a powerful way.
I'm thinking back to the times I have judged a candidate based on his/her supporters, mainly Tea Party people. In those instances, the candidates were egging on the racist, bigoted, ugliness. The candidate was, for the most part, in alignment with the crowds' views.
But Bernie isn't racist or bigoted as far as I can tell (not that I'm saying he has many followers who ARE). He has a lot more to learn for sure now that he's on a national stage, but I do see him shifting toward a focus on racial justice. He's definitely moving in the right direction for those of us fighting for racial, social and economic justice. (I admit that I'd prefer a black, gay, Muslim woman be the candidate who carries the message of justice, but she isn't here...yet.)
Hopefully he will offer a very specific platform regarding criminal justice reform soon, if he hasn't done so already. That is very specifically what #BLM is asking of these candidates. (Honestly, I'm not following any candidates' every step at this point.)
Now, as for his supporters, here are my thoughts:
I don't think it's helpful to judge a group of people based on the actions of a small percentage, whether it is Bernie supporters no longer supporting #BLM (and some actively dissing it), or #BLM supporters being against Bernie Sanders and all of his supporters.
This is an instance where focusing on the candidate's message, which isn't reflective some of his/her supporters' actions and messages, may be wisest. This all gets too nasty on DU, just as it did in the 2008 primaries. I have to keep reminding myself that DU is usually not reflective of the larger citizenry.
I admit that I have personally witnessed and been surprised by the number of my friends (outside of DU; I haven't engaged here enough lately to really have a good feel for anyone any more) who support Bernie yet seemed willing to throw #BLM under the bus after Seattle. In fact, I've had the thought that, given how quickly and aggressively they voiced their denunciation, it does feel as though they were waiting for a reason to do so. And these are people who I previously thought were aware of the state of white privilege in this country and why the message of Black Lives Matter is critically important. People are literally dying every day because of the color of their skin. I get the frustration by the AA Group in getting white DUers who truly feel they are liberal/progressive to also see their often subconscious bias and unnecessary defensiveness. That whole white fragility thing.
So, I don't know. I'm going to keep paying close attention to not only Bernie's message, but his supporters so that I can get a feel for his base. I consider myself in his base but, again, I absolutely support the message of #BLM, even if it manifests in a way that is too messy or uncomfortable for some people. I hope there are more of me out there than not. Even if there aren't, I am going to try not to let that affect how I'm perceiving Bernie's message and platform. The same holds true for the other candidates, btw. I want to see a lot of diversity in all of those crowds and for the candidates to be putting racial justice front and center in a solid way with a clear plan for how they would act upon it.
This MLK message (per riversedge on a GD thread) is spot on, imho.
Borderline censorship. And she's lost for three months because her fifth hide was back on July 23.
Big loss for the forum 
I still enjoy your posts and will continue to rec the ones I understand. 
