Fear of a black planet...

[one_voice]

Charles Ellison on the Black Panther issue...

Charles D. Ellison
Author and commentator :


The political soundtrack for 2010 should be Public Enemy's 1990 hip hop classic 'Fear of a Black Planet.' Retro is in, so have at it. Republicans are playing with an unstable amount of racial fire these days, pushing a nauseating all-you-can-eat of White victimization narratives lacking factual basis. If it's not the New Black Panthers, it's the president lampooned in socialist/totalitarian drag; if it's not NASA Chief Bolden on Muslim outreach, it's the awfully tacky and conveniently-timed SCOTUS hearing smear of the late, great Thurgood Marshall. If they're not using a defenseless black grandmother for a cartoonish reverse racism skit, they're pampering primary extremes with calls for secession. And, if it's not that, it's rabid, verbal flatulence over 'sun tan taxes.'

See where it's going? The ultimate goal is to, literally, scare Republican base voters and white Independents into fear of black 'bogeymen' waiting in bedroom closets with billy clubs. We need to call it for what it really is. It's obvious, downright shameless and awfully dangerous. Sadly enough, these voters are saddled with unemployment, bankruptcy, foreclosures and financial disaster. The last thing any of us need is this sort of distraction.


There's no real evidence to suggest the New Black Panthers playing toy militant outside that Northeast Philly polling place were doing anything more than staging a camera stunt. Witnesses didn't even step forward. Disclaimer: if you grew up in Philly, you'll get exposed to quite a bit of "revolutionary" theater, from Skinheads casually riding the Market-Frankford Line to Black Israelites ranting on a Center City corner. You grow up with it. Sure: much of it is disturbing; but most of it harmless (unless you were a member of MOVE and found yourself at war with Ill Town police that fateful day in 1985). Good or bad, it's a central part of the city's fascinating socio-political fabric. It's as Philly as cheese steaks. As sad as the Eagles unable to clinch a Super Bowl title or the Flyers losing a Stanley Cup final.

The Bush Administration DOJ presented the case; and they also recommended dropping it. Holder's DOJ is simply following suit, rather than waste taxpayer money on an empty witch hunt.

*snip*

http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Charles_D__Ellison_848137AD-81BE-43ED-83C3-4A83192324D4.html

[EFerrari]

1. It was a scam. I wrote up a little deal about it yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8826365

[one_voice]

2. I bookmarked your thread...

very good and interesting. Thanks.

[EFerrari]

3. I'm sorry I was so short earlier. Sleep deprived.

I love the "fear of a black planet" idea. It's perfect. :hi:

[Lilith Velkor]

4. Great album, too.

[Fuzz]

5. Agreed