Althouse: Sympathy for the slave owner...

August 5, 2014

Sympathy for the slave owner...

... in The Washington Post.

68 comments:

Wince said...: Dickens eat your heart out.

Here, a wealthy, slave-owning, racist Tiny Tim gets his in the end.; 8/5/14, 9:05 AM
Fen said...: I did some digging on Crack. Turns out his ancestors owned and sold slaves. Ah irony.; 8/5/14, 9:13 AM
gerry said...: I'm already aghast. A Crack thread.; 8/5/14, 9:31 AM
David said...: The writer of the article, Michael Ruane, is black.

He has written often on historical topics, including the Civil War and slavery issues.

Ruane has quite an interesting and varied portfolio of articles.

The resentment of the slave owners towards their former slaves is typical. Most had trouble grasping why most of their former slaves wanted nothing to do with them once free.; 8/5/14, 9:34 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Thanks, Ann - these laughs in the morning are needed.

I giggled when they said “He had suffered so much from nausea during the last week,..." - knowing who was cleaning it up - so the guffaws really started when I read this:

“In an aside, she expressed bitterness that none of the family’s slaves, 'who professed to love him,' paid their respects. 'God forgive them,' she wrote. 'I humbly hope that I may never see them again.'"

Yeah, Lady, the feeling was more-than mutual.

And yet, here we are still, one group keeping the results of our labor and the other demanding we work to support their dreams.

MLK's dream was reparations,...; 8/5/14, 9:38 AM
MadisonMan said...: I read these things, or walk through the Cemetery here in town, close to my house, and thank the Lord I live in this century.; 8/5/14, 9:40 AM
khesanh0802 said...: Professor, This is "crack bait" at its worst.

I don't sense any particular sympathy here. I sense an interest in the historical period and the chance to observe life as it was. For all we know the boy may have wished that all his slaves had been freed, but that information - or anything in contradiction - is absent. Diaries and journals like this boy's have been a rich source of insight into both Northern and Southern attitudes during the Civil War.; 8/5/14, 10:14 AM
Deirdre Mundy said...: Hey, they were only doing what was legal at the time, and if it's permitted by law, it must be moral, right?

I mean, the Post regularly publishes 'sympathy for the abortionist' articles. It must be confusing for people when laws change and things that were previously acceptable behavior suddenly become obscene acts that any thinking person should know are wrong.; 8/5/14, 10:21 AM
richard mcenroe said...: Crack...
Cuando el Washington Post abandona su causa usted es oficialmente una minoría descartado del Partido Demócrata.

Y las recompensas de lo que la mano de obra? Los demócratas están dando lo que pocos trabajos afroamericanos pueden escapar a los hispanos y los hindúes ...; 8/5/14, 10:22 AM
Ann Althouse said...: From the comments at the link:

"Parts of this boy's diary have been published before in Civil War retrospectives, and other venues, like American Heritage magazine. The boy had a personal slave who pulled him around town in a little wagon and Leroy thought of the slave as his friend. He'd known him all his life. It's quite likely given the usual practices of slave-owners that Leroy's body servant slave may have been a half-brother. Leroy was devastated that his personal slave just left without saying a word once he knew he was free and he had no one to pull his little wagon, so he didn't get out of the house once the slave left him. Leroy's diary also hints at the murder of a number slaves who attempted to run away near the end of the war. It's not surprising that southern belles loved their children as much as we do ours. She was probably kind to her slave children as well, and only beat them when they needed it."; 8/5/14, 10:38 AM
mccullough said...: My shadow was higher than Luster's on the fence.; 8/5/14, 11:12 AM
Fen said...: She was probably kind to her slave children as well, and only beat them when they needed it

Thats not as ironic as you intend. Back in that day, it was normal to beat your own children when they needed it.; 8/5/14, 11:13 AM
cubanbob said...: What is exactly the point of the article? That people back the were more literate in their written conversations? That people are not one dimensional stick characters-slave owner, pure evil and thus not capable of loving and grieving? Nothing new in that.
I suppose we just like reading about such juxtapositions and wonder how people can be so loving on the one hand and so casually and thoughtlessly cruel on the other.; 8/5/14, 11:46 AM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: It's fine to have sympathy but we should remember what would have happened to a crippled slave.; 8/5/14, 11:58 AM
Anonymous said...: Excerpt from "James, the Non-Racist Slave Owner":

As on any given Wednesday I brought out the afternoon tea and biscuits to my slaves and we played poker and talked about the Nature of Man.

The slave Rutherford said "James" -- I tell all my slaves they can call me by my first name -- "why is it that one man can own another?"

I respond that I cannot speak for God, but that in poker we are all equal, and Rutherford has been certainly collecting a number of winnings.

After our break I head out to the fields with my slaves and plant along beside them. It is good exercise for the body and the soul, and it fosters a kindred spirit that makes the day a joy to have under the warm sun.

The slave Washington says "Sorry, James, but may I stop for a bit of water? It is mighty hot out here."

Of course, I reply, and bring over a jug of water with lemon to him: water is a gift from Above, to be equally shared.

I look at Washington's feet and they are covered but with rags held together with straps.

"You need new shoes, Washington," I say; please ask Margaret -- that is my wife of 13 years --to get you a new pair tonight after our dinner. Make sure they fit comfortable, now: a man can only go as far as his feet can take him, that is the honest Truth...; 8/5/14, 4:06 PM
Anonymous said...: Excerpt from "James, the Non-Racist Slave Owner":

My goodness, Rutherford has been on a veritable tear at the poker games, claiming pot after pot.

"You sure gave me a good whipping," I say, and Rutherford laughs. "Another couple wins like that and you could buy your own freedom."

"If I was to buy my freedom I could go anywhere I wanted to?"

"Why yes, Rutherford, you certainly could. Where would you want to go?"

"Well if it is my choice --"

"--it certainly is --"

"--then I'd choose to stay here with you and Margaret, James."

"Really? Of all the places you could go...?"

"Everything I need is right here. And I ain't going to find lemon pies like Margaret makes anywheres else."

"She does make a fine pie, indeed."

"Maybe I could even build a little house, over by the orchard."

"Indeed, Rutherford. Why, I'd be glad to drive the first nail. But first we have to get back to work..."

"Indeed, James, indeed. The fields ain't gonna plant themselves."; 8/5/14, 4:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Excerpt from "James, the Non-Racist Slave Owner":

"Rutherford, I've been noticing how you've been looking at my daughter, Becky."

"No, James -- uh, you have it all wrong --"

"--you've certainly got a hungry eye."

"Well, it's just that --"

"It's just that Becky has long pale legs, beautiful blonde hair and eyes as blue as the sky."

"And a nice ass, too. Oops --"

"No worries, Rutherford: Becky certainly takes pride in her hindquarters."

"Don't worry James, I would never do anything improper towards Becky..."

"I realize that, Rutherford, but know this:"

"Yes?"

"If anything WERE to happen --"

"no sir, James --"

"--I'd be proud to call you my son-in-law."

"What?"

"We'd have to build that house in the orchard, of course."

"Uh, yes, James, that'd be real nice..."

"Keep in mind that Becky is headstrong: you would need to keep a firm hand."

"Yes, James. Uh -- should we be getting back to work?"

"It probably is about that time, son..."; 8/5/14, 4:08 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Fen,

"I did some digging on Crack. Turns out his ancestors owned and sold slaves. Ah irony."

I like that you guys don't understand this issue at all:

Whites be stupid,...; 8/5/14, 4:18 PM
hombre said...: Crack: "MLK's dream was reparations,..."

Of course, Crack. Your ancestors here and abroad did so much to stem the tide of slavery, as do Africans today, that as beneficiaries of their efforts we whites owe them a great debt.

After all, white people did nothing to end the scourge of slavery.

Reparations my ass!; 8/5/14, 4:23 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: David,

"The resentment of the slave owners towards their former slaves is typical. Most had trouble grasping why most of their former slaves wanted nothing to do with them once free."

See, this is what I find odd:

If whites know the society they built is built upon such faulty reasoning, why do they INSIST they've got it right now?

Racial resentment is still the way they handle the issue and didn't I just write that they have "trouble grasping" the entire issue of reparations?

Hell, they have "trouble grasping " blacks - unless they've got a noose in their hands - that's why so few have real black friends. (Hint: A "real black friend" isn't a co-worker or that guy you talk to at the store,...)

I just don't get white's psychological disconnect from reality - in regards to our culture and slavery - at all,...; 8/5/14, 4:23 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: khesanh0802,

"Professor, This is 'crack bait' at its worst."

Because no self-respecting white person can have an interest in slavery - it's a rule.

"I don't sense any particular sympathy here. I sense an interest in the historical period and the chance to observe life as it was."

Ha! Because America has taken so much time to cover what happened over most of our history whites have NO CLUE about it.

And then, massive ignorance in tow, they challenge blacks who are steeped in it.

Amazing.

"For all we know the boy may have wished that all his slaves had been freed, but that information - or anything in contradiction - is absent."

Oh good Lord, this man is delusional. Dude, you're making whites look bad again - stop. Don't try to remake history. I read a lot of journals and diaries from slavery in the South, and whites wrote almost every word of them, but there are very few that ever go there without immediately retreating.

"Diaries and journals like this boy's have been a rich source of insight into both Northern and Southern attitudes during the Civil War."

Yes, but you have to know how to read them - like understanding what this woman doesn't say:

She can talk about caring for the boy all she wants but - with 8 slaves in the house - there's no way that she was cleaning up his vomit or anything else, so basically she just watched him die and left the real actors out of the telling.

You know, those folks who left without so much as a goodbye,...; 8/5/14, 4:34 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Deirdre Mundy,

"Hey, they were only doing what was legal at the time, and if it's permitted by law, it must be moral, right?"

Yep - that's what blacks have always thought - brilliant.

"I mean, the Post regularly publishes 'sympathy for the abortionist' articles. It must be confusing for people when laws change and things that were previously acceptable behavior suddenly become obscene acts that any thinking person should know are wrong."

Because there was no one then - including the slaves themselves - who didn't know it was wrong. I'm guessing the abolitionists didn't exist either. Not to mention the whites and blacks who died in The Civil War.

BOY - considering how moral and legal it was - those guys were REALLY confused,...; 8/5/14, 4:38 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: richard mcenroe,

Your brain is too small for using that language,...; 8/5/14, 4:39 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Ann Althouse,

"She was probably kind to her slave children as well, and only beat them when they needed it."

BWAAAAAA-Ha-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!!

ROTFLMAO!!!!

White women would have blacks doing their washing, knee-deep in the snow with no jacket or shoes, days after the enslaved women would give birth and this ninny thinks there was some reason, restraint, or kindness involved.

The white myth-making machine is well-oiled, my friends.

VROOM-VROOOM-VROOOOMMMMMMM,...; 8/5/14, 4:44 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Fen,

"Thats not as ironic as you intend. Back in that day, it was normal to beat your own children when they needed it."

I just recorded a song based on a white woman's diary I read:

She gouged out a black child's eyes because she dropped a serving dish in front of her guests.

This is not an uncommon story, y'all.

You really have no idea what American slavery was, do you?

Your minds are all angry white-washed mush,...; 8/5/14, 4:47 PM
Deirdre Mundy said...: Crack- I was being sarcastic. I thought that was obvious. Of COURSE there were people proclaiming that slavery was wrong-- but portions of society will always confuse 'legal' with 'morally right.'

Heck- this was after the English had already abolished slavery. And the idea of a Christian slave owner has been absurd since the earliest centuries of the Church.

Anyone who thought about it ought to have seen that slavery abused other human beings, but because it was legal they didn't feel the need to think.; 8/5/14, 4:54 PM
Anonymous said...: Hey, Crack. Part of my family history is that someone stole the life savings of one of my ancestors five generations ago. He was going to buy land on the western frontier in Illinois with the money. It was probably a white guy who stole the money. I want reparations, too!; 8/5/14, 5:04 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: "In the heat of the moment, white women devised barbaric forms of punishment that resulted in,...mutilation or permanent scarring".

-Jaqueline Jones, Labor Of Love

"Three white women beat me from angah [anger] because they had no butter for their biscuits and cornbread. Miss Burton used a heavy board while the missus used a whip."

Mandy Cooper, a slave

A white woman "pick up a hot iron an' run it all down my arm an' han."

Delia Garlic, a slave, on how the skin on her arm got mangled

One slave said her mother was whipped "most every day, and about anything, sometimes stripping her to the waist before beating her with a carriage whip."

Frederick Douglass described a slave who was "pinched, kicked, cut and pecked to pieces,..."

You know what I like?

How whites think their unrelenting rage at us, today, is something new. Or that it even looks new. Like, because your conservatives or something, blacks look and think you're different.

We just see the same assholes, as always, just as before:

Totally blind to what they do - as they insist on doing it,...; 8/5/14, 5:06 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: hombre,

"Of course, Crack. Your ancestors here and abroad did so much to stem the tide of slavery, as do Africans today, that as beneficiaries of their efforts we whites owe them a great debt."

There's got to be one racist, trying to spin the truth, every day. Sigh.

Tell me - when did the Africans write the American Constitution?

"After all, white people did nothing to end the scourge of slavery."

Well, that's not true - they just didn't do as much as the slaves themselves.

Who you never seem to want to give credit to - like a good little Nazi storyteller- whites did it!

Reparations my ass!

Oh man, if I could get it out of your ass, I'd be at your house right now,...; 8/5/14, 5:13 PM
exhelodrvr1 said...: "White women would have blacks doing their washing, knee-deep in the snow with no jacket or shoes, "

That's horrible!! What type of washing were they doing in knee-deep snow?; 8/5/14, 5:31 PM
CWJ said...: Crack,

When the Reparations Pie is finally baked and comes out of the oven, I have a few questions.

Who gets pie? Do all persons get the same amount of pie? If not, what should be the basis (bases) for differentiation? Age, size of household, generations in America, what? Finally, who wields the knife?; 8/5/14, 5:33 PM
Drago said...: Latest Crack: "Because no self-respecting white person can have an interest in slavery - it's a rule."

Earlier Crack:
"Tell me why any American should be focussed on black african muslims kidnapping, raping and selling into sex slavery black african girls.

Go on, let's hear it. You've been railing for days that I don't care - well, why should I?

Tie it all together for me, big brain,..."

5/28/14, 10:22 AM

Crack.

In a nutshell.

Fen's Law on steroids.; 8/5/14, 6:30 PM
hombre said...: Crack: "You really have no idea what American slavery was, do you?"

Oh, that's right. Nobody knows suffering like the Crack. Were anybody else's ancestors subjected to brutal, repressive treatment? Take my own Irish ancestors, the O'Neils:

"The suppression of the native race in the wars against Shane O'Neil, Desmond, and Tyrone, was carried on with a ferocity which surpassed that of Alva in the Netherlands, and has seldom been exceeded in the pages of history. . . . The slaughter of Irishmen was looked upon as literally the slaughter of wild beasts. Not only the men, but even the women and children who fell into the hands of the English were deliberately and systematically butchered. The sword was not found efficient. But another method was found much more efficacious. Year after year, over a great part of all Ireland, all means of human subsistence was destroyed, no quarter was given to prisoners who surrendered, and the whole population was skilfully and steadily starved to death. The pictures of the condition of Ireland at this time are as terrible as anything in human history."

I demand reparations from England and I support reparation to the Jews from Germany!

Where do you stand on this Crackpot?; 8/5/14, 7:16 PM
Drago said...: Crack: "Well, that's not true - they just didn't do as much as the slaves themselves."

LOL

Blacks aren't even stopping the slavery that is happening today.

In Africa.

But, of course, it's the muslims, so it's totally cool.; 8/5/14, 7:24 PM
John henry said...: Fen,

It was not just back in "that" day. I went to tony McClean VA HS in the early 60's. If you misbehaved you got sent down to Mr Pence's classroom in the wood shop.

He had this enormous wooden paddle (probably looked bigger than it was)and you could get up to 5 whacks depending on offense. Hurt like a bastard. I can tell you from personal experience.

But at least he didn't gouge my eyes out. I don't think he gouged anyone else's out either.

And this was exclusively white boys that this happened to. (I was not black back then)

John Henry; 8/5/14, 9:13 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Deirdre Mundy,

"Crack- I was being sarcastic."

My Bad - Big Time:

Hard to tell sometimes in this crowd.

Blogger Grundoon,

"Hey, Crack. Part of my family history is that someone stole the life savings of one of my ancestors five generations ago,...I want reparations, too!"

Unless that "someone" was the federal government - and unless it didn't stop "five generations ago" but kept going until almost the present day - you don't have a case.

Not to mention you're not black.

But keep talking like that - it cracks blacks up,...; 8/5/14, 9:22 PM
John henry said...: So you going to tell us where you are getting these Mandy Cooper, Delia Garlic quotes from?

Or are you just making them up as you go along?

You seem to have a fixation on that hypothetical eye gouging, beating it like a redheaded stepchild.

And leaving us to believe it comes from the fever swamp of your imagination.

You told us you give us links to read but you pretty much never do.

John Henry; 8/5/14, 9:24 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: exhelodrvr1,

"That's horrible!! What type of washing were they doing in knee-deep snow?"

Everything - clothes, table cloths, sheets, underwear - whatever white people owned.

Black males typically got two articles of clothing apiece, and the women got "dresses" made from potato sacks that scraped the skin. Food was called "small rice" (plus whatever scraps they could find with the hogs and dogs) and taking it away was used as a threat.

Such a proud heritage,...; 8/5/14, 9:27 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: CWJ,

"I have a few questions."

HR40 will be filed next year - as it is every year - but, this year, they'll pass it. It just authorizes studying the issue - nothing more.

What seems to be decided, so far, is two things:

You have to have a verified 10-year record of being "black" - no one trying to pass can now claim they made a mistake. Only those who lived with the stigma qualify.

Second, is a record of being restricted to live in areas where the government deliberately redlined housing.

Slavery itself will be more complicated, but what came after should be easy shmeasy to determine,...; 8/5/14, 9:35 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Drago,

"Fen's Law on steroids."

Here's Crack's Law:

Discuss American slavery and some white racist will start talking about Africa because Thomas Jefferson was from there.; 8/5/14, 9:36 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: hombre,

"Oh, that's right. Nobody knows suffering like the Crack. Were anybody else's ancestors subjected to brutal, repressive treatment? Take my own Irish ancestors, the O'Neils:

"The suppression of the native race in the wars,..."

I talk about American slavery and he talks about people dying in war.

Just clueless,...; 8/5/14, 9:38 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Drago,

"Blacks aren't even stopping the slavery that is happening today."

No, we didn't free ourselves - whites did it - just like they freed Nelson Mandela.

In Africa.

You're an idiot, Drago - but here's a question anyway:

Since whites have taught us how futile it is, to talk about the horrors of slavery with those who perpetuated it, why in the world would BLACKS be trying to stop it?; 8/5/14, 9:41 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: John,

"At least he didn't gouge my eyes out. I don't think he gouged anyone else's out either."

JH, when black kids were allowed to read, white women hit them in the head if they made a mistake.

The misconceptions are just incredible - and the attempt to minimize is insulting.

hombre talks about whatever happened to the Irish like that makes black's injuries go away. Hey, hombre, you got a beef? Go take it up with England or shut the fuck up and stay out of my way:

I'm getting reparations here!

Or how about Grundoon talking about "ancestors five generations ago"? Is he a genius or what?

Slavery ended 140 years ago - that's two 70-year olds living and dying back to back.

That is not a long time ago, but you'd never know it by Grundoon's whitewashing.

And I hope whites here ask themselves why people like hombre and Grundoon make a such a big deal about trying to keep blacks from justice. Why is it so important for them to minimize our pain - even in their own minds? Like whites have always done, they make it all up:

"Sure, the blacks are happy and love us, and whipping and working them from sun up to sun down is good for them."

Is that any different from saying nothing's happened to us and those who either did it, or are now preventing us from attaining justice, are the good guys?

The racists of old were conservative "individuals" as well,...; 8/5/14, 9:53 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: John,

"So you going to tell us where you are getting these Mandy Cooper, Delia Garlic quotes from?

Or are you just making them up as you go along?"

If you're going to doubt me like that? No - why should I?

Do your own research - it'll do you good,...; 8/5/14, 9:55 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/5/14, 9:55 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: John Henry,

Let me show you how cockamamy whites are now:

During slavery, whites trusted us implicitly - they used us as "bed warmers," had us cook their food, listen to all their personal business, and even let us raise and suckle their kids.

After slavery?

A black can't even quote a book online without being accused of deception.

Actually, we were accused of deception during slavery, too.

Something about desiring freedom and not wanting to do white's work,..; 8/5/14, 10:05 PM
Fen said...: After a certian point you just feel pity for him. Yanking his chain feels cruel.; 8/5/14, 11:26 PM
hombre said...: Crack: "I talk about American slavery and he talks about people dying in war. Just clueless,..."

I talk about genocide and Crack talks about slavery. Just clueless....

And: "Hey, hombre, you got a beef? Go take it up with England or shut the fuck up and stay out of my way:

I'm getting reparations here!"

I'm not in your way. You're going nowhere.; 8/5/14, 11:50 PM
Anonymous said...: "Slavery ended 140 years ago - that's two 70-year olds living and dying back to back.

That is not a long time ago, but you'd never know it by Grundoon's whitewashing.

And I hope whites here ask themselves why people like hombre and Grundoon make a such a big deal about trying to keep blacks from justice. Why is it so important for them to minimize our pain - even in their own minds? Like whites have always done, they make it all up:"

Crack, I was born in 1954. Slavery is not two lifetimes away for me. People born in slavery were still alive when I was a child and I remember at least one obituary which stated the deceased was born in slavery. It probably made the news because of all the Civil War 100-year anniversaries that were going on when I was in grade school.

What makes you think that I am trying to keep blacks from justice? If you can get people to pay you for injustices suffered by someone else I just want in on the game, that's all. If "our pain" means one person suffers and another gets paid then I want to apply for reparations. I have such a claim--and the crime was committed by white people when they robbed my ancestor and beat him badly.

The rest of my family story is interesting, too. The Indians living in the area found my injured ancestor, nursed him back to health, and let him farm in an area that was not yet open to settlement by whites. I guess that made him a squatter so he could have then sued them but, unfortunately he did not think of that and just farmed there for the rest of his life.; 8/6/14, 12:43 AM
John henry said...: If HR 40 did not pass when we had a black (sort of) demmie president, a demmie Senate and a Demmie House, or in the past 3-1/2 years when we had a Demmie Senate and Prez, what makes you think it will pass in 2015 when we will, probably, have a House and Senate controlled by those evil Repos?

Could you show us the math, please?

It just authorizes studying the issue - nothing more.

Actually it does a bit more than that:

"1) It acknowledges the fundamental injustice and inhumanity of slavery
2) It establishes a commission to study slavery, its subsequent racial and economic discrimination against freed slaves;
3) It studies the impact of those forces on today's living African Americans; and
4) The commission would then make recommendations to Congress on appropriate remedies to redress the harm inflicted on living African Americans."

But OK, you are more or less right, it doesn't actually do anything.

What seems to be decided, so far, is two things:

So after you say that all it will do is study "nothing more" you say some stuff has been decided. By who?

Can you show us where these decisions have been
decided"?

(I'll bet anyone a dollar that he can't, though he will claim he won't)

John Henry; 8/6/14, 8:39 AM
John henry said...: A couple people have made comments about Crack's ex-wife. They sounded pretty bizarre and I thought it might just be people pulling his chain.

But, after searching for "ex-wife" on his blog, I find the folks here were being pretty circumspect about her.

She really did run off on him, though it was not that recently.

She really is a murderer. 3 times according to Crack, including her own mother. Not that his definition of "murder" comports with any definition rational people are familiar with. If he ever gets any reparation money, she should sue him for libel.

And she was white. That may be the source of his anger. It illustrates what black women say about black men marrying white women.

She was also, I think, French which never helps anything.

John Henry; 8/6/14, 8:46 AM
John henry said...: JH, when black kids were allowed to read, white women hit them in the head if they made a mistake.

Crack, when I was in school, in the 50's and 60's I got hit in the head if I made a mistake. Or, worse, got sent down to Mr Pence for a paddling.

And I was not even black back in those days.

John Henry; 8/6/14, 8:50 AM
Anonymous said...: Crack,

Since this reparations business model is not getting either of us any money let's try something else. How about crowdfunding a startup company to issue framed certificates of white guilt absolution? It would have a cross between the value a person gets by naming a star and the warm fuzzy feeling one gets by giving money to a street beggar. We could both use our writing skills to describe the injustice that is being made right, sign our names with fountain pens and imprint a raised seal from the Foundation for Righting Terrible Wrongs. Do you have any software that helps write a business plan? If not, I can pick up a CD in the software section of Office Depot. We can brainstorm together in online meetings in the evenings. Are you available at 8 pm Central time today?; 8/6/14, 9:03 AM
Michael said...: It is unlikely HR 40 will ever pass. And if it does it will establish a "study" which will employ a legion of well paid people who will be in no hurry to finish. To sponsor reparations with any enthusiasm will be political suicide for any but those who represent majority black constituents. It would be difficult to calculate the fury of the American people when presented with the notion of reparations. Aside from this blog there are not 20 people in the United States who consider it consistently. Open the topic to public debate and supporters of reparations will quickly see the impossibility of success. The idea has been to use HR 40 as a bridge to reconciliation talks such as were held in South Africa. Very different situation. The participants in those public confessions had themselves something to confess. Not the case with reparations in the U.S.

Conyers intentionally confuses the topic by opening it to a worldwide discussion including the payment of reparations to Africa for pillage associated with the slave trade. Clearly if HR 40 were to pass this feature will add decades to the study and will further enrich those employed to do the study. In all, a political stunt for a man who will not long be with us.

I am always astounded by the eloquence of so many 19th century diarists. The subject of this post wrote well and from the heart, a heart full of an anguish that is common to humanity.; 8/6/14, 9:35 AM
Michael said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/6/14, 9:35 AM
Anonymous said...: Hey Crack,

Those motivational speakers are right--ideas are just floating in the air ready to be plucked for our good!

Let's use Michael's idea--

"this feature will add decades to the study and will further enrich those employed to do the study."

Do you have any contacts who can get us onto the study committee? This sounds better than being a tenured professor--there won't be any tests to write or grade. We both can point out our history as victims and our excellent writing skills.

Let me know at tonight's meeting.; 8/6/14, 10:01 AM
hombre said...: "And I hope whites here ask themselves why people like hombre and Grundoon make a such a big deal about trying to keep blacks from justice."

Justice? You're talking about confiscating reparations from the innocent, not justice.

Of course it's already happening. It's called "welfare." Crack's just pissed because whites can get it too.

Racist.; 8/6/14, 10:21 AM
hombre said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/6/14, 10:32 AM
Anonymous said...: Hey Crack,

Let's think long-term, too. Let's spend some time researching the best stocks to buy in the liquor business, the fast food business, tire and wheel rentals, and game room operations. I am pretty sure those businesses will boom when our study committeee's reparations plan is approved. At least they will if the mix of businesses in my neighborhood is any indication.; 8/6/14, 12:22 PM
Drago said...: Crack: "Since whites have taught us how futile it is, to talk about the horrors of slavery with those who perpetuated it, why in the world would BLACKS be trying to stop it?"

LOL

Blacks are all for it! They were way back when and they are all for it today.

As evidenced by what is happening in Africa this very day.

You cannot deny this since it is happening in real time.

Thus, you must deflect.

We get it. Your only real complaint is that you don't have the opportunity to go and pick up a couple of these young girls for yourself.

Perhaps that's why you are so clearly amenable to these actions by your fellow blacks.; 8/6/14, 1:28 PM
Drago said...: Crack: "You're an idiot, Drago ...."

I can see that the continual, never-ending and sure to continue into the future enslavement of blacks by blacks has you flummoxed.

Quite understandable, as you are an imbecile.

We'll simply add this item to the now quite lengthy list of items that flummox you.; 8/6/14, 1:32 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Grundoon,

"If you can get people to pay you for injustices suffered by someone else I just want in on the game, that's all."

So let me get this "injustices suffered by someone else" thing straight, my fellow conservative-against-government-encroachment-in-American-lives:

If I - me - if I grew up in poverty because I was forced to live in a GOVERNMENT RED-LINED AREA, you don't think I was harmed by that?

And, of course, no one was in those GOVERNMENT RED-LINED AREAS but former slaves and their descendants but that means nothing to you, even though you were born in '54 and know slavery wasn't that long ago, right?

Did you know the oldest black in the wold is a former slave?

That's how long ago it was, but those are "injustices suffered by someone else" right?

This is why whites pass on HR40 every year:

You guys are going to lose on reparations, so bad, it's hard (and hilarious) to even conceive of a situation where whites will try to defend themselves without blacks falling down in laughter.

Your every utterance is grounded in so much white supremacist propaganda, and ignorance, so massive, no one will ever believe you were smart to begin with.

Actually, that's already happening.

Still, I can't wait,...; 8/6/14, 6:01 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: John,

"After searching for "ex-wife" on his blog,..."

Because that's how tags on blogs work.

Amazing liars we've got here,...; 8/6/14, 6:03 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: John,

"I'll bet anyone a dollar that he can't, though he will claim he won't"

Poor John Henry. The more frustrated he gets, the more hostile (bringing up my wife, Dude?) and - this is the best part - like slaveowners of old, he thinks that behavior will get better results.

I will provide him with nothing - which he will turn into an admission of guilt - not a rejection of him.

That's how it "works" with whites - black slaves who ran away were "insolent" - because whites couldn't imagine a black understanding freedom.

Or hating white's guts.

They just couldn't imagine it.

Who could hate whites?

Such a lovable people,...; 8/6/14, 6:07 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Michael,

"It is unlikely HR 40 will ever pass. And if it does it will establish a "study" which will employ a legion of well paid people who will be in no hurry to finish."

White people's imaginations rule their lives - they just say shit and, to them, that makes it a fact.

O.K. Michael, whatever you say - you're the genius,...; 8/6/14, 6:10 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: hombre,

"Justice? You're talking about confiscating reparations from the innocent, not justice."

"The innocent."

That would be those of you who salute the flag that did all the raping, mutilating and thieving, right? You're "The innocent."

Not the blacks all this shit happened to - you.

You made the Constitution's "All Men Are Created Equal" mean something? That was you? White folks?

You led the march for that?

If not - and everyone but blacks are being able to take advantage of the freedom blacks insured for them (Hello Gays) - why is it nobody owes blacks anything for that sacrifice?

We did die for it - for centuries.

And you're idiots,...; 8/6/14, 6:17 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Drago,

"We'll simply add this item to the now quite lengthy list of items that flummox you."

Incredible:

TWO white guys who tell themselves things - confirm it by their own acceptance - and then declare it correct.

This is an exact recreation of how white's whitewashed version(s) of history are created,...; 8/6/14, 6:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Crack,

I am starting to see where you may have a case that you personally were injured--fair housing and fair lending laws that are designed to protect you and other living people. There are a lot of lawyers on this blog and you might get some direction on what to do next.

I also think it is true that you personally were not injured by slavery even if you see the problem so clearly. I personally was not robbed in Illinois in the 1830's so I don't see any way I have a court case and there is no place to apply for a reparations grant for either of us.

I also think it is true that you would be better off by having more peace of mind if you are grateful for what you have and put your energy into serving people who will pay you. If they really want what you have to offer they will pay a lot. Most wealthy people come from modest backgrounds and have earned their money instead of inheriting it. You can improve your circumstances by being a person people like to be around and finding a way to perform a service they pay a lot for.

Or you can be angry and bitter and drive many people away. We have had people like that in every generation--you can take that role in ours if you want it.; 8/6/14, 9:18 PM