Who speaks for the black community?

[Szdfan]

Incidentally, I don't think some random black academic with a PhD speaks for all blacks any more than some random black person on a highly politicized media source that specializes in fanning the flames of polarization. In either case, I would like to see them show data that demonstrates whether the views they are promoting are representative of black people in America.

I don’t think that a random black academic speaks for all blacks either — I think the tweet I posted says more about how whites use black voices — i.e. the idea that a Morgan Freeman video trumps the serious academic work that already exists out there which people refuse to engage or understand.

[appleman2006]

Jesus certainly would not flame people towards rioting. He taught to love even those that hate us for starters.
I do not think he would blow isolated incidents way out of their original context. He would not encourage those that are promoting unrest and hatred.

[Josh]

Jesus taught those under a very oppressive government to not walk one mile, but to walk to.

A very difficult message for today’s age. And a tough lesson for me when I became a Christian and was in the middle of disputing a traffic ticket. I realised it wasn’t right but had already filed a plea to a lesser charge. I explained my new convictions to the judge, who banged his gavel and affirmed the plea. I resolved never to lie to the police or to a court or prosecutor again, even if it was just about whether I was going 9 or 16 over MPH over the speed limit.

[appleman2006]

When black people are out on the streets saying "I can't breathe", why do we keep returning to partisan political narratives that say this doesn't matter? Why is it so hard to even have a thread that asks us to focus on ways to see how widespread these concerns are for black Americans?

"partisan political narratives that say this doesn't matter?'
really? But the other side that tries so hard to politicise every incident. That actually does flame things very clearly for political purposes gets a clear pass?
I am tired of being told that only some black voices matter. And being told that listening to others is some how racist. I really am. It is just wrong.

[Bootstrap]

When black people are out on the streets saying "I can't breathe", why do we keep returning to partisan political narratives that say this doesn't matter? Why is it so hard to even have a thread that asks us to focus on ways to see how widespread these concerns are for black Americans?

"partisan political narratives that say this doesn't matter?'
really? But the other side that tries so hard to politicise every incident. That actually does flame things very clearly for political purposes gets a clear pass?
I am tired of being told that only some black voices matter. And being told that listening to others is some how racist. I really am. It is just wrong.

Actually, even framing black people as "the other side" when they protest against police brutality is just a symptom of people on the political right insisting on politicizing everything. Drowning out opinion polls with clips from The Blaze and insisting that they are the real blacks we should listen to - when 94% of black people in America disagree with them - is politicizing everything.

Rejecting that right-wing political frame is not politicizing everything. It is taking it out of the usual political framing. Listening to what black people think about their experiences with police brutality is not partisan political posturing.

When 94% of black people agree on something, it's probably a real part of their experience.

[Josh]

My own views probably disagree with 94% of white people. So I’m not representative of “the white community”.

The real question is - why do you discount the 6% of black people who differ from the majority narrative?

[Robert]

Do you speak for the black community?

No, and neither do you. I try to speak for all people. I try to be as inclusive as possible.

There are other threads for discussing your own feelings and experiences as a white person. I suspect that your world is as different from that of most black people as it is from researchers.

I related an experience. Are you telling me that my experience can not be used to give light to others experiences? This is a very exclusionary attitude.

Incidentally, I don't think some random black academic with a PhD speaks for all blacks any more than some random black person on a highly politicized media source that specializes in fanning the flames of polarization. In either case, I would like to see them show data that demonstrates whether the views they are promoting are representative of black people in America.

Data: 19 unarmed black men were shot last year. 10 shot by black officers. 9 shot by white officers. I would be surprised if you would claim that all the 9 were racially triggered. Let's say 50% which would be high, but I am willing to go that far. 5 people out of 42 million shot. While any life lost is bad, there was way more white shot unarmed then blacks. How can we burn cities and destroy lives for at the most 5 wrongful deaths due to racism. There are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the US.

55% of crime is caused by 6% of the population, young black males.

These are the facts.

Not every wrong act is an act of racism. Some are just bad judgement.

Here is a Black man's experience.
[video][/video]

[Bootstrap]

Jesus certainly would not flame people towards rioting. He taught to love even those that hate us for starters.
I do not think he would blow isolated incidents way out of their original context. He would not encourage those that are promoting unrest and hatred.

Yes, Jesus clearly taught love - and compassion. What does that love and compassion look like for black people in America today? To answer that, I think we have to listen, not drown them out. Jesus did not encourage the Samaritan woman to start a revolution, but he did listen to her. He was often criticized by "fine religious people" for listening. Sometimes I am too.

That's not the same thing as encouraging rioting. Not even remotely. In this thread, all I am doing is asking people to find an approach to show that the vast majority of black people agree with a particular position and let black people speak for black people.

The narratives people use to shut that down are not Jesus narratives. They are partisan political narratives, or narratives about white grievance, or other narratives I would rather not join in.

[Bootstrap]

Incidentally, I don't think some random black academic with a PhD speaks for all blacks any more than some random black person on a highly politicized media source that specializes in fanning the flames of polarization. In either case, I would like to see them show data that demonstrates whether the views they are promoting are representative of black people in America.

Data: 19 unarmed black men were shot last year. 10 shot by black officers. 9 shot by white officers. I would be surprised if you would claim that all the 9 were racially triggered. Let's say 50% which would be high, but I am willing to go that far. 5 people out of 42 million shot. While any life lost is bad, there was way more white shot unarmed then blacks. How can we burn cities and destroy lives for at the most 5 wrongful deaths due to racism. There are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the US.

55% of crime is caused by 6% of the population, young black males.

If you took the time to look at and respond to the data in the polls I have presented - something I would like to see everyone do - you would probably get a feel for what they are there for. I think some of your data is actually wrong, but I don't want to discuss it in this thread, you are once more insisting on changing the subject.

Is it that scary to discuss what black people are concerned about in America using reliable polling? What is it that makes this so uncomfortable for you? Why is it so important to parrot right-wing political narratives and avoid even discussing what black people say they believe?

[Josh]

This is a typical Bootstrap discussion:

“My data is right and your data is wrong. Here’s how the facts and evidence prove me right.”