South Fulton’s mayor embraces civic identity as ‘the Blackest city in America’ (Atlanta: school, moving to)

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by Atlanta-Native

If a white mayor said it, he would get crucified, no doubt. Front page news and lead story on CNN etc. for days. And yes, Al and Jesse would be in front of a microphone within hours of the story breaking.

I wonder if that's because context is a thing that exists? Like the fact that one of those groups of people enslaved the other, and stuff like that, you know?

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I wonder if that's because context is a thing that exists? Like the fact that one of those groups of people enslaved the other, and stuff like that, you know?

This is the main fact that people forget when they make the "what if a white person did this" comment. Especially in the South. We can take it from Slavery/Jim Crow all the way up to the 1970's/1980's.

Even based on how the posters who are making these comments view and often speak on predominantly black communities, it is impossible for a white mayor to say the same thing as this mayor while conveying the same meaning/intentions.

[primaltech]

To be clear, I'm not a fan of thinking in terms of groups and group identities such as what we look like and other aspects of who we are, and society constantly focusing so much on that these days. I think people are individuals, and society should focus on thinking and communicating that way, and that's how we move forward.

But, yeah. When people say stuff like "what if white people did this", or "what if men did this", or "what if straight people did this", or "all lives matter", etc... it's like, are you seriously that freaking stupid that you don't understand the huge and obvious contextual difference?

[GRS86]

All of this stems from the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and the fact that it’s only been roughly 60 years since African Americans have had the right to vote, and be in control of our own destiny. This is the reason why this double standard of an African American politician being able to make a statement that his White counterparts would be crucified for making, exists. Not saying that it’s a smart statement for the Mayor of South Fulton to make (it’s not), but when you think about it, it’s really not drastically different from the Ethnic enclaves so very common in the cities of the NE!!!

[Yoski]

Originally Posted by GRS86

All of this stems from the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and the fact that it’s only been roughly 60 years since African Americans have had the right to vote, and be in control of our own destiny. This is the reason why this double standard of an African American politician being able to make a statement that his White counterparts would be crucified for making, exists. Not saying that it’s a smart statement for the Mayor of South Fulton to make (it’s not), but when you think about it, it’s really not drastically different from the Ethnic enclaves so very common in the cities of the NE!!!

Thank you for saying what they already know, but doesn't support the narrative they are attempting to create. I would like to get beyond the point of having to proclaim things like Black-owned or Blackest city, but I understand thats its a pride thing from overcoming adversity like not being able to own or having your prosperous Black towns or neighborhoods completely burned to the ground by mobs.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by Smocaine

Dude if the mayor of a city in a major American metropolitan area proudly released a press release proclaiming just how white it was, the Earth would stop spinning. Stop being facetious.

The vast majority of incorporated areas are white in the US so why would declaring how white an area is be a thing anyone would do to begin with?

[Atlanta-Native]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RosCZkH5uTI

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by Atlanta-Native

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RosCZkH5uTI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vJZdeSqfFY

[Atlanta-Native]

She wouldn't like to converse with Morgan, it doesn't sound like.

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by Atlanta-Native

She wouldn't like to converse with Morgan, it doesn't sound like.

Did you watch the video?

I know many Black people who are not fans of Black History Month. But that is not the point of this discussion. If a more honest, even-handed, contextualized history about Black Americans were taught in schools, there would likely not be a need for "Black History" classes or even Black History Month. But we both know that is not likely in many parts of the country.

Have you watched Morgan Freeman's other interviews about race? He also said that pretending racism doesn't exist does nothing, but there's no point in belaboring the topic with no results.

In other words, Black people should continue to overcome the various challenges specific to Black people (including those regarding prejudiced/racial views or stereotypes) and continue to advance without calling out every instance of racism. That is not saying that racism doesn't exist. He is saying that continuously talking about it will do little good (especially if it's falling on deaf ears). I think this woman came to the same conclusion.

With that said, I think he would agree with everything that she said except for whether or not there should be a Black History Month. But then again, had there not been a Black History Month, she would not have known about the rich black history within her own country.

Either way, it seems like you're trying to deflect and change the subject. Can you answer this question?

Is it possible for a white mayor to say the same things as the South Fulton mayor with the races reversed and it have the exact same meaning and context?