Thurmond Family Values
This just in from the “You can’t make this stuff up” desk at the Associated Press: Strom Thurmond’s ancestors owned Al Sharpton’s ancestors.
It is almost poetic that flip sides of the coin have this old link. I am just sad that this, along with the black daughter, didn’t come up while Strom was alive. I would have liked to have heard Strom’s reaction to all this. Heck, I would have loved to get them all in the same room together.
In fact, there are discussions underway to see if there is any “shared ancestry.” Wouldn’t that make a great “Maury” episode? I know I would watch.
I think my final word on this is that America’s treatment of the race issue has been disgraceful. Even in an era of legal equality, hard feelings persist. On one side you have the dying out of the Strom dinosaurs (Crackersaurus Rex) and their heirs who exploit the issue of racism in subtle and disgusting ways, and on the other are grandstanders like Reverend Al.
All kidding aside it is a shame that this didn’t happen while Strom was alive. Maybe something this wild could have helped facilitate dialogue.
posted by The sane one @ 4:46 PM
4 Comments:
strom could be his "daddy?" (genetically, speaking) how fucking scary would that be????
is sharpton capable of dialogue? i know thurmon wasn't.
we will never be able to make up for the atrocities of slavery and racism held in our country's past and present. there is no color-blindness; when can we just say-you're darker, i'm lighter?
interesting to note: i am not even remotely racist, but when i pointed out to a dance teacher that she paired the darkest kid to the lightest kid for a dance, i was called a racist. the parents and grandparents of the african-american child felt i was making a "comment." huh? i apologized for hurting the CHILD'S feelings, but not for what i said.
i am beginning to wonder who is the more racist-us or them? i don't see color, i see a person's soul. it is my hope my children will do the same!
You raise an interesting point, Mamao: how much does perception of victimization perpetuate the reality of victimization.
While the student you describe was clearly over-reacting, the basic problem persists. The promise of economic equality has not been realized by legal equality. This leaves a lot of people thinking that race is the the persistent problem.
I think that poor blacks who cry racism are usually misidentifying the cause of their problems which are class not race. But it is not hard for me to understand how that happens.
The Trent Lott's of the world make life miserable for those who are white and not racist.
As far as your question of Sharpton, I think he is capable of dialogue. I hate to say it, but I think he has matured and become far more respectable over the last several years.
ok, i think he has too; but i want to see how he handles this whole legacy issue before i give sharpton snaps.
while my kids are told they are "rich" from their peers (who only see what we own) i remind them of their true "wealth"--a loving family who would give up everything for them.
someday i hope to see a world where the value of a person is who they are, not what they own. and a world where colors blend and class means little.
i read about this too... what a hoot... bet ol' strom is rollin in his grave... i luv al sharpton... i'm all about riding the same mule he does!
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