Something has been bugging me about this whole Shirley Sherrod story and I share this only because I'm afraid I'm crazy or missing something.
When it came to light that Breitbart's footage was probably doctored to make Sherrod look bad all of the media took a collective sigh and started back pedaling. Sherrod went from "reverse racist" to maligned victim of racism in 24 hours. "See, that footage was doctored! Her statements were taken out of context!"
Okay, so onto my question. Am I the only person who didn't think anything she said was inflammatory at all, even in Breitbart's edited video? I mean, all she did was share a personal anecdote about her own struggle with bias and how she got over it. This is a Southern black woman whose father was killed by the KKK and who, against systemic racism and sexism, found her way into a successful career despite the odds against her. I guess my question is essentially this: even if Shirley DID have some wariness toward white people, some sort mistrust or even anger, um... so what? I can't begin to imagine the shit she's been through in her life. She's more than earned a little wariness, a little anger. Have we become so PC that we have to pretend black and white people are on equal footing in this country and that Shirley's (alleged) prejudice is exactly the same as a white person's prejudice?
As a somewhat effeminate gay man I sometimes feel really uncomfortable around straight dudes. It's not because I'm some sort of hater of heteros. IT'S BECAUSE STRAIGHT DUDES HAVE FUCKED WITH ME MY ENTIRE LIFE.
It's not prejudice, it's survival.
Am I the only person who didn't think anything she said was inflammatory at all, even in Breitbart's edited video?
Nope. Although you're probably one of the few White guys who thinks that (compared to, oh, the Tea Party).
Posted by: RVCBard | July 23, 2010 at 06:41 PM