Mike Duggan, Detroit's First White Mayor in 40 Years, Takes Office

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Personal attack noted. I think I might cry now.

My own Uncle Spooky speaks to me like that

I thought you loved .. Now this

Don't forget I have been certified as a Pseudo Black guy should the need arise.

Uncle Spooky believes in being fair and hating all equally. And on a side note, it's nice to see the white's in Detroit fight back against the racism that has been prevalent for so many years.

[Pooky 3,786]

Uncle Spooky believes in being fair and hating all equally. And on a side note, it's nice to see the white's in Detroit fight back against the racism that has been prevalent for so many years.

Hate is for losers. Lurve is what you need.

[Danno 1,228]

I think Marvin was correct in noting race as part of the story.

How could you not when you have had a city like Detroit which is ground zero for the use of race politics as a means to get and buy power.

Consequently, the place was literally run into the ground while other similar cities reinvented their place in the business world.

That The citizens of Detroit would call in a "white guy" when all is lost can be seen as "too little, way too late" or it might be one indicator that Blacks might be turning a corner on racial solidarity at the polls.

=====================================

As for the incoming mayor, he is in a win-win situation.

Minus some huge scandal, things can only get better.

[Pooky 3,786]

I think Marvin was correct in noting race as part of the story.

How could you not when you have had a city like Detroit which is ground zero for the use of race politics as a means to get and buy power.

Consequently, the place was literally run into the ground while other similar cities reinvented their place in the business world.

That the citizens of Detroit would call in a "white guy" when all is lost can be seen as "too little, way too late" or it might be one indicator that Blacks might be turning a corner on racial solidarity at the polls.

=====================================

As for the incoming mayor, he is in a win-win situation.

Minus some huge scandal, things can only get better.

So, it is the color of the man's skin that will determine whether or not he is successful, is it?

Funny, but I thought it was the policies that he pursues in office that determine whether or not he is successful.

[Karee 4,190]

Maybe he was thinking of Jacque, since we're not sure what he/she is.

I don't think anyone ever got to the bottom of that mystery.

[Karee 4,190]

Part of the problem used to be whenever Coleman Young was close to getting caught in one of his many corruption scandals, he'd just start screaming racism and that was the end of the investigation. Kind of set the precedent for subsequent mayors. Although Dave Bing seemed like a decent enough guy. I doubt anyone could've been successful with the mess he inherited from Kwame.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

So, it is the color of the man's skin that will determine whether or not he is successful, is it?

Funny, but I thought it was the policies that he pursues in office that determine whether or not he is successful.

This is Danno we're talking about here.

[Danno 1,228]

So, it is the color of the man's skin that will determine whether or not he is successful, is it?

Funny, but I thought it was the policies that he pursues in office that determine whether or not he is successful.

No, perhaps I could have clarified my thought better.

When people have a pattern of failure and they do something different it might be a sign of change.

Him simply being white shows that they voters are now doing something different.

He could be just as unqualified or just as corrupt as prior mayors proved to be.

We should note, when a Gay, Black, hispanic, women candidate break a barrier, it is celebrated..... why is this different?

Edited January 4, 2014 by Danno

[Pooky 3,786]

No, perhaps I could have clarified my thought better.

When people have a pattern of failure and they do something different it might be a sign of change.

Him simply being white shows that they voters are now doing something different.

How so? It could very well have more to do with his stated policies.

Your interpretation is based on your worldview. Highlight his race as a factor, of any magnitude, in the equation shows that there is a way yet to go, before this ceases to be an issue

He could be just as unqualified or just as corrupt as prior mayors proved to be.

Yet you attribute an element of hope to his skin colour. Do you have any reason for this assumption?

Remember Rod Blagojevich?

We should note, when a Gay, Black, hispanic, women candidate break a barrier, it is celebrated..... why is this different?

My point is that none of them should be. Doing so merely keeps the question of discrimination front and centre, when we need to be moving past it.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I don't think anyone ever got to the bottom of that mystery.

I'm thinking that maybe Jacque was gay and had an American boyfriend. Long distance relationships are difficult to maintain for hetero couples and I would guess it's even harder for gays. People come and go here all the time while some of use never go.

[Pooky 3,786]

People come and go here all the time while some of us never go.

If you go see a doctor, they can prescribe something for that.

[Danno 1,228]

How so? It could very well have more to do with his stated policies.

Your interpretation is based on your worldview. Highlight his race as a factor, of any magnitude, in the equation shows that there is a way yet to go, before this ceases to be an issue

Yet you attribute an element of hope to his skin colour. Do you have any reason for this assumption?

Remember Rod Blagojevich?

My point is that none of them should be. Doing so merely keeps the question of discrimination front and centre, when we need to be moving past it.

First I admire your optimism, I really do, I used to have a bit of that myself 2 decades ago.

But I have learned that the "dream" I was raised up on is just that.

I have become resolved to the reality that "This is as good as it gets" right here.

There is no colorblind society just waiting to happen.

If it is we see no indicators of it. And so what, I mean look around you, I don't see people at each other throats or even in conflict, I mean you see it in media but who in their personal lives has racial conflict. I know I don't.

I think the reality is, race almost everywhere is a dividing marker, yet in this country hardly at all, as most normal people only seek to get along.

But still...

People want to note race, to start clubs and websites and movements based on race, more now than ever. People take pride in and identify first by race.

When you see something repeated universally it is usually considered NORMAL.

As to this new Mayor

To pretend the guys race is not part of the "story" is to choose to focus on an untruth..... (that people aren't interested).

Blacks vote in the greatest solidarity of nearly any group (Black females the highest). the fact that they broke that pattern IS NEWS WORTHY.

When Birmingham elected it's first mayor..... should the importance of that been ignored?

It's not the same thing but the same principle.

Again, this has nothing to do with the guys performance but simply that a change in voting patterns is news worthy.

[Pooky 3,786]

Again, this has nothing to do with the guys performance but simply that a change in voting patterns is news worthy.

And therein lies the heart of the matter. The media, both left and right, is invested in keeping race at the forefront of the discussion whenever possible. That is what has to change before the issue can move forward.

I may be an optimist, but that does not extend to the US media.