In First Lady's Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery

In 1850, the elderly master of a South Carolina estate took pen in hand and painstakingly divided up his possessions.

[Anne]

Her story is the story of many other African-Americans. Because black women didn't have a choice to refuse the advances of white men in slavery, it is painful to contemplate. One thing that makes it painful is that black women have had to struggle to overcome the stigma against us that originated under those circumstances.

While it's true that people did manage to form bonds under the circumstances, it does nothing to mitigate the fact that slavery was a gross injustice. The bonds that formed were an exception, and not the rule.

At the same time, slavery and its attendant atrocities are a part of American history that many Americans have a hard time coming to terms with. Many people are in denial to this day, and that denial is an impediment to our ability to move forward as a country. One reason for the denial is that it was such a blatant contradiction to this country's self-image.

As a direct descendent of such liaisons myself, I identify strongly with the women and have only contempt for the men who forced themselves on unwilling girls and women. On the other hand, there is at least one interracial marriage in my family's past, and I have nothing but respect for the fact that those individuals came together in love.

It is inspiring to me that someone from a background similar to mine is now First Lady. It shows that we have come a long way, even though we still have a long way to go.

[JonShmaltz]

Lol, I love how you act like your race is your baseball team or something. "Ya gotta swing, Johnny, don't just stand there!"

Your race should only be one very small, insignificant part of who you are. Michelle Obama was most assuredly never a slave. She doesn't deserve any more credit than any of the other First Ladies.

And as for the rape thing, the tables have turned quite dramatically. That fact is conveniently ignored around here.

[Olla Kalla]

MonkeyBinness wrote:

Here comes Spike...watch...

Here comes the s--t bag, it's sliding down the road, it's getting the funniest looks from evertbody it knows, hey hey it's the Monkey.

[Anne]

JonShmaltz wrote:

Lol, I love how you act like your race is your baseball team or something. "Ya gotta swing, Johnny, don't just stand there!"
Your race should only be one very small, insignificant part of who you are. Michelle Obama was most assuredly never a slave. She doesn't deserve any more credit than any of the other First Ladies.
And as for the rape thing, the tables have turned quite dramatically. That fact is conveniently ignored around here.

In a perfect world, looking at one's race as only a small part of identity would be the case for everybody. Even though no modern-day African American was a slave, there is still racism which is on both sides. And while some of the dislike for President Obama's administration stems from disagreement with his policies, the fact remains that a lot of the insults directed against him and his wife stem from racism.

I do not ignore that there is black crime against whites, because I feel that denying it or being silent about it also helps to perpetuate racial animosities. That is something I have previously addressed in other TOPIX forums, because I also feel that people have to be consistent in addressing all injustices.
With an extended family that also includes whites, I feel just as strongly that being hateful against others because of their race
wouldn't help my cause as a black.

I'm not sure if you think I am making blanket remarks about all whites, but that is definitely not the case. There were too many whites whose ancestors came over here to escape their own hardships and did not own any slaves. And there were others who risked and lost their own lives fighting against slavery when they could have done otherwise. There were also those who actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement, leaving the comforts of their own lives to do so. I do not fault any white person for what happened in the past, because all of us--black or white--can only be responsible for our own actions, words, and attitudes.

All I am saying is that we look at the past as it was and not what we wish it had been because it helps us in the present and the future. I would like to see a post-racial country, but we are not there yet. I personally feel that my race only partly defines me, but there are others who feel that race--whether black, white, or otherwise--is the main thing if not the only thing that matters.
And that is a sad fact that cannot be ignored.

[fedupwiththemess]

MonkeyBinness wrote:

How come you can apply the successes of indiviuals to the entire race, but we're oppressing you if we apply your failures across the board?

Here is one of ole massa's craka's coming on here taking the wrong idea from what you said.

[fedupwiththemess]

JonShmaltz wrote:

Lol, I love how you act like your race is your baseball team or something. "Ya gotta swing, Johnny, don't just stand there!"
Your race should only be one very small, insignificant part of who you are. Michelle Obama was most assuredly never a slave. She doesn't deserve any more credit than any of the other First Ladies.
And as for the rape thing, the tables have turned quite dramatically. That fact is conveniently ignored around here.

You just hate to give the woman props because she deserves it.

[fedupwiththemess]

JonShmaltz wrote:

Lol, I love how you act like your race is your baseball team or something. "Ya gotta swing, Johnny, don't just stand there!"
Your race should only be one very small, insignificant part of who you are. Michelle Obama was most assuredly never a slave. She doesn't deserve any more credit than any of the other First Ladies.
And as for the rape thing, the tables have turned quite dramatically. That fact is conveniently ignored around here.

Payback is a mutha isn't it....

[Black Guy]

Anne wrote:

Her story is the story of many other African-Americans. Because black women didn't have a choice to refuse the advances of white men in slavery, it is painful to contemplate. One thing that makes it painful is that black women have had to struggle to overcome the stigma against us that originated under those circumstances.
While it's true that people did manage to form bonds under the circumstances, it does nothing to mitigate the fact that slavery was a gross injustice. The bonds that formed were an exception, and not the rule.
At the same time, slavery and its attendant atrocities are a part of American history that many Americans have a hard time coming to terms with. Many people are in denial to this day, and that denial is an impediment to our ability to move forward as a country. One reason for the denial is that it was such a blatant contradiction to this country's self-image.
As a direct descendent of such liaisons myself, I identify strongly with the women and have only contempt for the men who forced themselves on unwilling girls and women. On the other hand, there is at least one interracial marriage in my family's past, and I have nothing but respect for the fact that those individuals came together in love.
It is inspiring to me that someone from a background similar to mine is now First Lady. It shows that we have come a long way, even though we still have a long way to go.

How does anyone know what relationship Michelle's white great great great grandfather had with her black great great great grandmother. They very well could have been in love. So you are being racist against white people in your opinion.

[Olla Kalla]

Anne wrote:

<quoted text>
In a perfect world, looking at one's race as only a small part of identity would be the case for everybody. Even though no modern-day African American was a slave, there is still racism which is on both sides. And while some of the dislike for President Obama's administration stems from disagreement with his policies, the fact remains that a lot of the insults directed against him and his wife stem from racism.
I do not ignore that there is black crime against whites, because I feel that denying it or being silent about it also helps to perpetuate racial animosities. That is something I have previously addressed in other TOPIX forums, because I also feel that people have to be consistent in addressing all injustices.
With an extended family that also includes whites, I feel just as strongly that being hateful against others because of their race
wouldn't help my cause as a black.
I'm not sure if you think I am making blanket remarks about all whites, but that is definitely not the case. There were too many whites whose ancestors came over here to escape their own hardships and did not own any slaves. And there were others who risked and lost their own lives fighting against slavery when they could have done otherwise. There were also those who actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement, leaving the comforts of their own lives to do so. I do not fault any white person for what happened in the past, because all of us--black or white--can only be responsible for our own actions, words, and attitudes.
All I am saying is that we look at the past as it was and not what we wish it had been because it helps us in the present and the future. I would like to see a post-racial country, but we are not there yet. I personally feel that my race only partly defines me, but there are others who feel that race--whether black, white, or otherwise--is the main thing if not the only thing that matters.
And that is a sad fact that cannot be ignored.

I agree in part, but you said this( I do not ignore that there is black crime against whites )
But there are just as many crime committed against blacks by whites that's not reported.

In 2008, 69.2 percent of all persons arrested nationwide were white, 28.3 percent were black, and 2.5 percent were other races.
Of all juveniles (persons under the age of 18) arrested in 2008, 66.4 percent were white, 30.9 percent were black, and 2.7 percent were other races.
Nearly 70 percent (69.7) of all adults (persons aged 18 and over) arrested were white, 27.8 percent were black, and 2.4 percent were other races.
White persons were more often arrested for violent crimes than were black persons, accounting for 58.3 percent of those arrests.
The number of adults arrested for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter was almost equally divided between black arrestees (49.1 percent) and white arrestees (48.8 percent

But i know where you are coming from, you are speaking in part about Black people, which is all good. As you said denying it or being silent about don't deter it.

[Mae]

MonkeyBinness wrote:

Here comes Spike...watch...

You are absolutely clueless. You can't possibly judge me unless you've walked in my shoes.Until you've lived in my skin for just one day don't try to tell me what it's like being black because you don't have a clue.

[Black Guy]

Come on Alla Kalla, we catch your drift, Prof. Gates is teaching way to much hate, even the Prez steers away from it.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN
White people are funny and here is why...

ALL RACES ARE BEAUTIFUL EXCEPT FOR BLACK, why:

White People Hate Black People because....

WHY CAN'T WHITE WOMEN RESIST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

topix The Broke Back crackas Forum

[Da 9th Element]

MonkeyBinness wrote:

How come you can apply the successes of indiviuals to the entire race, but we're oppressing you if we apply your failures across the board?

Well, hummm.

What Color is Your Paycheck?

In 1979, black Ohio workers made $1.35 less per hour than white workers. In 2001, they made $2.26 less per hour...etc...

http://www.policymattersohio.org/pdf/paycheck...

CNN’s Martin: Women and Blacks Paid Less ‘For the Exact Same Job’.

On CNN’s absurdly named Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull program yesterday, network political analyst Roland Martin again tailored his "facts" to support his liberalism. He, former Bush staffer Ron Christie, and CNN political analyst Gloria Borger were discussing Attorney General Eric Holder and his America is "a nation of cowards" speech:

MARTIN: Ron, in the Black History Month — Ron, in the Black History Month speech he gave, he acknowledged yet....

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/michael-m-bates/...

Critical Demography and Racism: The Case of African
Americans.

http://www.rcgd.isr.umich.edu/prba/perspectiv...

"Racist" and "racism" are provocative words in American society. To some, these words have reached the level of curse words in their offensiveness. Yet, "racist" and "racism" are descriptive words of a reality that cannot be denied. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans (people-of-color) live daily with the effects of both institutional and individual racism.

http://academic.udayton.edu/race/intro.htm

[Jawga Boy]

"CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?"

Rodney King

[HAHA]

MonkeyBinness wrote:

How come you can apply the successes of indiviuals to the entire race, but we're oppressing you if we apply your failures across the board?

So true, not many black woman like Michelle, I mean at least she knows who her babies daddy is. At least she's not collecting welfare or making her mom watch the kids. How many AA woman do that?

[Mallory64]

HAHA wrote:

<quoted text>
So true, not many black woman like Michelle, I mean at least she knows who her babies daddy is. At least she's not collecting welfare or making her mom watch the kids. How many AA woman do that?

Actually, I think her mother DOES live with them and watches the kids.....

[fedupwiththemess]

HAHA wrote:

<quoted text>
So true, not many black woman like Michelle, I mean at least she knows who her babies daddy is. At least she's not collecting welfare or making her mom watch the kids. How many AA woman do that?

The lies you tell...I know lots of black women that like shell. She is wonderful and so is the entire family!

[Ace]

MonkeyBinness wrote:

Here comes Spike...watch...

I would say CLASSIC, but I find the idiot more Clownish.

[Lah]

interesting article.

i dont care too much about the comments thereafter though.

-lah

[sONE]

The article doesn't say how they know that the ancestor was half white. Did some census or other official paper list him as Mulatto or what. It's too vague.

[sONE]

Never mind. I missed that there was a page 2. It says several kids were listed as Mullato, including one born after slavery.