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Debra Dickerson was expressing the realization of the futility of such mentality, and calls for an end to 'blackness'.
My point is that she offers no alternative.
Though it is satisfying to realize the need, and call for an end to 'blackness', no service has been done when no alternative is provided.
I'm glad you wrote what you wrote, James, specifically, this part: "..no service has been done when no alternative is provided.."
I caught Debra on CSPAN earlier this year where she discussed exactly what you said she hadn't provided--a service. I do not remember the exact particulars of the discussion but she talked to the effect of calling black professionals to take six months to a year's leave of absense from their jobs, and engage themselves in various projects in selected inner city areas of Baltimore and New York, where they can mentor young black males--teach them work ethics, social wellness and personal accountabilty.
She talked to the effect of not only having accomplished lawyers, euntreprenuers, and doctors volunteer their time, she also discussed the involvement of college students volunteering their time to work with the various mentoring organizations that Debra is either affiliated or familiar with. Now, just because I am not in the position of copying and pasting exact details, facts, and direct quotations in this discussion doesn't mean I'm lying nor should it make what I'm saying any less valid.
Now, as far as 'blackness' is concerned, I discussed that, to some degree, with Ricardomath as well as you, James:
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It just doesn't make sense for a person to have to have street credibility or have to have fallen in some kind of way in order for the black masses to respect them i.e. Bishop T.D. Jakes, Judge Mathis, Mayor Marion Berry, however, people like Condoleezza, Colin, Obama and Mfume are perceived as sellouts?
There is a culture amongst black people that you have to have a certain 'blackness' in order to be credible--it affects high profile blacks across the board--even Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers has attested to being treated unfairly by his peers because he doesn't share the same humble beginings of the typical black NBA star.
People like Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, John McWhorter, Quaze Mfume, Debra Dickerson, and, well, any black republican, for that matter (I'm an independent by the way), are considered sellouts, whereas, people like Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Judge Mathis, and Mayor Marion Berry are, for the most part, are unconditionally embraced.
Even Thurgood Marshall was generally painted as being a communist and a sellout in the height of his career as a lawyer as he worked tirelessly to abolish Jim Crow, whereas, Martin Luther King was embraced--even now, in recent years, Martin Luther King Jr's credibility has been attacked by some of his own surviving supporters, who were closest to him.
Believe me, James, I've been taking notes too since I first came to this site. I investigated many other websites, as well as this one, before I chose to take an active role here, and also bring four other new members, qty226, HeavenlyBody_77, AVISUNSHINE, and xxGAMBITxx here.
This is why I've always said, don't make snap judgements of people before you take the time to get to know them.