Reply #23: Shut the fuck up about what? [View All]

[EffieBlack]

If a black person doesn't support gay marriage, they must be silent about everything else?

Did you tell white women who voted overwhelmingly for the anti-affirmative action measure in Michigan a couple of years ago to "shut the fuck up?"

I find it very interesting that black voters are being singled out for blame for the passage of this measure - even though the proposal would have passed without them when I don't see similar attacks against other groups - especially white women - when they vote against other civil rights measures. And I didn't see any polls taken measuring whether and to what degree the gay community supported or opposed this attack on affirmative action. For some reason, black voters are expected to support everyone else's civil rights - and attacked as bigoted hypocrites when they don't - yet other groups are all-too-often awol when it comes to stepping up to protect the rights of racial minorities.

I'm not defending those African Americans - or anyone else - who voted for Prop 8. But the over-the-top scapegoating of black voters for the passage of this measure is very troubling, as is the nasty, hateful tone of your attack. I don't agree with those who voted yes and I wish more blacks had opposed the ban. But telling black people who have a different perspective than you do about this to "shut the fuck up" is not an effective or helpful way to convince people to come over to your side.