News Events around the George Floyd protests and riots, US and beyond

[Mee]

But, there were A TON of people around me that only wanted Obama president, and only voted for him (admittedly) because he was black and that was "making history". I viewed that with the black population. Not sure if that plays in here. But that's the first thing that popped in my head when i read this. Cause that's what annoyed me the most about Obama becoming our President. I couldn't careless if he was black, white, hispanic, asian, or a mix of all or even if he was really muslim. I cared if he would make a good president or not and in my own view, the US lost sight of that.

On the other side of things, I saw no one who cared that he was black. Only those that were annoyed with the same thing.

Maybe that is my own prejudice or something playing into it to. I dunno. I was raised racist and though I have disagreed with most of my upbringing, some old stuff still holds on I suppose.

People did care.

Michelle Obama was frequently compared to an ape. Frequently. And I saw people suggest she was a man.

There was a ‘birther’ movement suggesting the man couldn’t be American. The racism against was staggering.

 

[Sideways]

People of color - and regardless of their skin tone, but especially visibly Black ones - do not *get* to 'not see race'.

This.

Walking out the front door in the morning with the attitude "all lives matter equally" is a privilege that only a certain part of the population get to enjoy.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

People did care.

Michelle Obama was frequently compared to an ape. Frequently. And I saw people suggest she was a man.

There was a ‘birther’ movement suggesting the man couldn’t be American. The racism against was staggering.

Ah, maybe I just never heard of it. I'm not saying it didn't happen or people never said of that. I just never heard of it. Most that I've heard and listen to love Michelle Obama. I personally think Michelle is beautiful as are their daughters. Most also think she's inspirational. Maybe it's the people I'm around and listen to. I cannot stomach any racist things. They just make me angry and repusled so maybe it's that. I dunno.

My dad also never said anything like that he HATES Obama but not because he's black. Which is who I keep thinking about cause he's the only person I know who is racist and has said some horrid racist things. Maybe he's just not as racist as I think he is? I dunno.

 

[Mee]

Ah, maybe I just never heard of it. I'm not saying it didn't happen or people never said of that. I just never heard of it. Most that I've heard and listen to love Michelle Obama. I personally think Michelle is beautiful as are their daughters. Most also think she's inspirational. Maybe it's the people I'm around and listen to. I cannot stomach any racist things. They just make me angry and repusled so maybe it's that. I dunno.

My dad also never said anything like that he HATES Obama but not because he's black. Which is who I keep thinking about cause he's the only person I know who is racist and has said some horrid racist things. Maybe he's just not as racist as I think he is? I dunno.

There was a widely syndicated article - I think it was called something like 20 ways I. Which which michelle Obama was subjected to media racism- something like that? Google will find it - I’ll find it .

It will help maybe for people who struggle to see this?

- Not the piece but a great example and break down

( racism and toxic gendered stuff ! Double whammy!)



This might be the piece I was thinking of?

Dead Link Removed

 

[Neverthesame]

Yup. The racism was so strong that not only did Obama win a democratic election, he won twice. Both times against two different white men.

Good thing the ballots are counted like golf scores, so the lowest number wins. Or he'd have never stood a chance...

Sarcasm aside.
I didn't think he would actually win. I thought it was awesome that he actually did. Not because I was crazy about all of his policies, nope. It was because I saw his being elected as a huge ray of hope for equality in not just the United States, but the whole of the western world.

If a black man can win that election fair and square, which he did. In the United States of America. Birthplace of horrific organisations such as the Klu Klux Klan. A country that not 200 years prior, would stripped his name away from him, forbade him his language and whipped him in a f*cking cotton field for looking at a white person the wrong way.
Anyway's....

I thought it was awesome. Another step towards equality.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I didn't think he would actually win. I thought it was awesome that he actually did. Not because I was crazy about all of his policies, nope. It was because I saw his being elected as a huge ray of hope for equality in not just the United States, but the whole of the western world.

This! This is what I am talking about that I saw ALL...THE...TIME and it drove me NUTS! When do you ever vote for or even root for a man to be the PRESIDENT because of the color of his skin? Not even liking his policies. Isn't his policies and how he will be as a President the entire f*cking point? I mean, how can anyone even throw crap at Trump or any other president moving foward (I dislike Trump but am saying every President after Obama) if you admit that you voted for a President simply because he was black and that was "making history" not even liking his policies. I don't know if this even has a name but I've been called racist simply because I am unnerved that millons voted for someone only because the color of his skin. Sorry, but that's not racisim. It's rational thinking.

 

[Neverthesame]

if you admit that you voted for a President simply because he was black and that was "making history" not even liking his policies.

I didn't vote for or against Obama. I'm a Canadian citizen. I suppose having no say in how your country is governed made it easier to appreciate Obama.
Not sure who I would have voted for in 08 were I able to. I was alot more liberal in those days. Our current PM has officially cured me of that flaw in thinking.
Now? No.
But I'm sure someone else will shit on me for that one now, so whatever.
I'm done.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I didn't vote for or against Obama. I'm a Canadian citizen. I suppose having no say in how your country is governed made it easier to appreciate Obama.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean the literal you. It was more of a general you behind that idea. Not meaning to shit on you but more of the mindset I was talking about and your post was the exact example of what I was talking about. Many in the US who did vote for Obama did so for that exact reason and none other, admittingly so. So that's the "you" I was speaking to.

Again, sorry if that came across wrong!

 

[Justmehere]

They did it. Minneapolis actually voted to defund the police and replace it with a new public safety model. Practically speaking, this was probably the only way around the powerful police union.

Veto-proof majority of Minneapolis City Council vows to disband police department

Let's see how this goes. I'm all for trying new things in different cities and seeing what works. Let's hope this isn't just an empty symbolic measure. Good or bad, the last thing we need is more political grandstanding.

 

[joeylittle]

if you admit that you voted for a President simply because he was black and that was "making history" not even liking his policies. I don't know if this even has a name but I've been called racist simply because I am unnerved that millons voted for someone only because the color of his skin.

I strongly doubt there are "millions" who disliked Obama's politics, but voted for him anyway, because he's Black. I think this is an assumption that a lot of white people made, though - it's representative of an "us vs them" mentality (about race), and depending on where you are/where you've come from, it can seem very normal.

Practically speaking, this was probably the only way around the powerful police union.

I'm sure you're right about this.

And yeah, me too - I hope it's not just a panacea.

 

[Ronin]

I'm... quite surprised as to where did Americans that never heard that racism aimed at the former President *live* during the time...

Because quotations of lines like 'he was REALLY born in Kenya' and subsequent jokes satirizing that stupidity or being racist add to it made it their way even to middle-of-nowhere, not hot on US internal matters, Europe country of mine. And countries I lived then, more far away. And Kenyans I talked to, who had a good laugh at it and a good grasp it's impossible. Also for the reason as keeping track as Kenya is, they'da heard of it. :hilarious:

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I strongly doubt there are "millions" who disliked Obama's politics, but voted for him anyway, because he's Black. I think this is an assumption that a lot of white people made, though - it's representative of an "us vs them" mentality (about race), and depending on where you are/where you've come from, it can seem very normal

I sort of mis spoke there. I also doubt it was millons but I can say that every single black individual I spoke to advise me that they voted for Obama simply because he was black and no other reason, not even knowing his policies and what he stood for. They verbally advised that. So, its not an assumption on my part. Personally spoken to at least 20 to 30 and possibly more of my co-workers at the time. But there were a lot more addimiting that on tv. Hundreds? I dunno but I have heard that from a ton, I can say that.

ETA:

Because quotations of lines like 'he was REALLY born in Kenya' and subsequent jokes satirizing that stupidity or being racist add to it made it their way even to middle-of-nowhere, not hot on US internal matters, Europe country of mine. And countries I lived then, more far away. And Kenyans I talked to, who had a good laugh at it and a good grasp it's impossible. Also for the reason as keeping track as Kenya is, they'da heard of it.

I never heard a racist remark spoken about Obama in the 8 yrs he was President on tv but there was an issue with his birth certificate and if he was muslim or not. I do remember that. And though i personally don't care if he's muslim, that part I can understand the knee jerk reaction due to wars in Muslim countries and what American's feel towards Muslim after 9/11. But that's the only thing I remember. I don't remember his birth place being an issue only that it was doubted he was a national born American citizen and some weird law that said you had to be in order to take office? Or thats how I remember it. But never remember race being an issue. Even the naturally born in US issue wasnt about race but about that law and citizenship.

Sorry, I just never saw or heard anything racist toward Obama pre term and during his terms.