This is a war, and Black Lives Matter is the enemy

[Rob L 3,811]

Black Lives Matter Is Not a Hate Group The Southern Poverty Law Center responds to requests to label the movement

J. Richard Cohen is president of the Southern Poverty Law Center

Each year, the Southern Poverty Law Center, of which I am the president, compiles and publishes a census of domestic hate groups. Our list, which is cited extensively by journalists, academics and government officials alike, provides an important barometer—not the only one, of course—to help us understand the state of hate and extremism in America.

In recent weeks, we’ve received a number of requests to name Black Lives Matter a hate group, particularly in the wake of the murders of eight police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Numerous conservative commentators have joined the chorus. There is even a Change.org petition calling for the hate group label.

In our view, these critics fundamentally misunderstand the nature of hate groups and the BLM movement.

Generally speaking, hate groups are, by our definition, those that vilify entire groups of people based on immutable characteristics such as race or ethnicity. Federal law takes a similar approach.

While it’s no surprise, given our country’s history, that most domestic hate groups hold white supremacist views, there are a number of black organizations on our hate group list as well.

A prime example is the New Black Panther Party (NBPP), whose leaders are known for anti-Semitic and anti-white tirades. Its late chairman, Khalid Abdul Muhammad, famously remarked: “There are no good crackers, and if you find one, kill him before he changes.” Bobby Seale, a founding member of the original Black Panther Party, has called the NBPP a “black racist hate group.”

We have heard nothing remotely comparable to the NBPP’s bigotry from the founders and most prominent leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement and nothing at all to suggest that the bulk of the demonstrators hold supremacist or black separatist views. Thousands of white people across America—indeed, people of all races—have marched in solidarity with African Americans during BLM marches, as is clear from the group’s website. The movement’s leaders also have condemned violence.

There’s no doubt that some protesters who claim the mantle of Black Lives Matter have said offensive things, like the chant “pigs in a blanket, fry ‘em like bacon” that was heard at one rally. But before we condemn the entire movement for the words of a few, we should ask ourselves whether we would also condemn the entire Republican Party for the racist words of its presumptive nominee—or for the racist rhetoric of many other politicians in the party over the course of years.

Many of its harshest critics claim that Black Lives Matter’s very name is anti-white, hence the oft-repeated rejoinder “all lives matter.” This notion misses the point entirely. Black lives matter because they have been marginalized throughout our country’s history and because white lives have always mattered more in our society. As BLM puts it, the movement stands for “the simple proposition that ‘black lives also matter.’”

The backlash to BLM, in some ways, reflects a broad sense of unease among white people who worry about the cultural changes in the country and feel they are falling behind in a country that is rapidly growing more diverse in a globalizing world. We consistently see this phenomenon in surveys showing that large numbers of white people believe racial discrimination against them is as pervasive, or more so, than it is against African Americans.

It’s the same dynamic that researchers at Harvard Business School described in a recent study: White people tend to see racism as a zero-sum game, meaning that gains for African Americans come at their expense. Black people see it differently. From their point of view, the rights pie can get bigger for everyone.

Black Lives Matter is not a hate group. But the perception that it is racist illustrates the problem. Our society as a whole still does not accept that racial injustice remains pervasive. And, unfortunately, the fact that white people tend to see race as a zero-sum game may actually impede progress.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Rob L

[smilesammich 10,727]

Probably, I'm not sure what agenda I'm allegedly subscribing to.

youtoobers. sheesh.

[JayJayH 546]

Black Lives Matter Is Not a Hate Group The Southern Poverty Law Center responds to requests to label the movement

"The backlash to BLM, in some ways, reflects a broad sense of unease among white people who worry about the cultural changes in the country and feel they are falling behind in a country that is rapidly growing more diverse in a globalizing world. We consistently see this phenomenon in surveys showing that large numbers of white people believe racial discrimination against them is as pervasive, or more so, than it is against African Americans.

It’s the same dynamic that researchers at Harvard Business School described in a recent study: White people tend to see racism as a zero-sum game, meaning that gains for African Americans come at their expense. Black people see it differently. From their point of view, the rights pie can get bigger for everyone.

Black Lives Matter is not a hate group. But the perception that it is racist illustrates the problem. Our society as a whole still does not accept that racial injustice remains pervasive. And, unfortunately, the fact that white people tend to see race as a zero-sum game may actually impede progress."

I really do not think the problem is increasing rights for minorities as much as it is the anti-white rhetoric fueling some of these groups. The scariest thing to me isn't groups like Black Lives Matter per se - Many of their arguments are completely legitimate, I just wish they would embrace a more inclusive and universal approach rather than a purely racial one - Despite another recent Harvard study suggesting no racial bias in police shootings. "They are more likely to be touched, handcuffed, pushed to the ground or pepper-sprayed by a police officer, even after accounting for how, where and when they encounter the police. But when it comes to the most lethal form of force — police shootings — the study finds no racial bias." http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/upshot/surprising-new-evidence-shows-bias-in-police-use-of-force-but-not-in-shootings.html

The scariest thing to me is how anti-white rhetoric has become common place in many political action groups on the left, including Black Lives Matter. Whether I find them offensive or not (I personally don't) is irrelevant. What scares me is how they help fuel racial rhetoric, both on the left and on the right.

"At first, “white men are our greatest threat” postings tended to be ironic, a way of putting the racist shoe on the other foot. They were meant to show that blaming an entire race for the harmful actions of a few individuals is senseless.Then the tenor changed. What started as irony turned into an actual belief that white people, specifically white men, are more dangerous and immoral than any other people. Loosely backed up by historical inequities and disparities in mass shootings, this position has begun to take a serious foothold."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/05/23/how-anti-white-rhetoric-is-fueling-white-nationalism

When people say that the Obama administration has been terrible for race relations, I'm skeptical of any narrative that suggests "protesting shootings" per se is bad for race relations. The "us vs. them" rhetoric however has grown substantially on the far left, and sadly, it fuels the opposite on the far right.

"The recurring, tired refrain that we should have a white history month if there is a black history month, or white student unions on campuses, is unintentionally being given new life by the Left. Celebrations or organizations of whiteness do not exist because we don’t need them. White people do not face the same kinds of systemic discrimination that people of color do. But progressives are doing a very good job of convincing white people that they do."

Edited July 21, 2016 by JayJayH

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

I wish we could all just co-exist peacefully. It's rather ridiculous that there are places where this cannot happen. As I mentioned in another post, I live in a neighborhood that has a fair amount of blacks. And there have been no issues here. A black woman came over to me shortly after I moved in, as I was out in the driveway working on my mower, and asked me to come help her pick up her Harley that she had dropped in the garage. Could have gone right next door and asked the black family for help, but she walked 3 houses down and asked me. Guess she wasn't threatened by my whiteness.

Perhaps I have just been lucky to live in nicer 'hoods where different colors doesn't seem to matter so much. People help people if need be. Now, that's not to say I get invited to BBQs on Saturday at the black neighbor's house. Then again, I have never had anyone over to my house in the past 2 years except two close friends, so that is probably my fault. My significant other and I tend to be loners.

At the end of the day, we are all part of the human race. I refuse to put white on anything that talks about race. I put human or American. The color of my skin does not define me, my actions do. I am proud to be an American (even though the past few years has made it harder to say that), and I am happy with my relationship with my black friends and neighbors.

Another thing... No one around me (I'm talking black folks here) seem to think blm is a good thing. I will make a point of asking all the blacks I can find from now on what they think, and post my results here, if I can get actual responses.

[Rob L 3,811]

I really do not think the problem is increasing rights for minorities as much as it is the anti-white rhetoric fueling some of these groups. The scariest thing to me isn't groups like Black Lives Matter per se - Many of their arguments are completely legitimate, I just wish they would embrace a more inclusive and universal approach rather than a purely racial one - Despite another recent Harvard study suggesting no racial bias in police shootings. "They are more likely to be touched, handcuffed, pushed to the ground or pepper-sprayed by a police officer, even after accounting for how, where and when they encounter the police. But when it comes to the most lethal form of force police shootings the study finds no racial bias." http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/upshot/surprising-new-evidence-shows-bias-in-police-use-of-force-but-not-in-shootings.html

The scariest thing to me is how anti-white rhetoric has become common place in many political action groups on the left, including Black Lives Matter. Whether I find them offensive or not (I personally don't) is irrelevant. What scares me is how they help fuel racial rhetoric, both on the left and on the right.

"At first, white men are our greatest threat postings tended to be ironic, a way of putting the racist shoe on the other foot. They were meant to show that blaming an entire race for the harmful actions of a few individuals is senseless.Then the tenor changed. What started as irony turned into an actual belief that white people, specifically white men, are more dangerous and immoral than any other people. Loosely backed up by historical inequities and disparities in mass shootings, this position has begun to take a serious foothold."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/05/23/how-anti-white-rhetoric-is-fueling-white-nationalism

When people say that the Obama administration has been terrible for race relations, I'm skeptical of any narrative that suggests "protesting shootings" per se is bad for race relations. The "us vs. them" rhetoric however has grown substantially on the far left, and sadly, it fuels the opposite on the far right.

"The recurring, tired refrain that we should have a white history month if there is a black history month, or white student unions on campuses, is unintentionally being given new life by the Left. Celebrations or organizations of whiteness do not exist because we dont need them. White people do not face the same kinds of systemic discrimination that people of color do. But progressives are doing a very good job of convincing white people that they do."

So the Harvard study did show blacks were treated differently (accounting fir circumstances) thanother groups? Why would they be treated differently? The law sees all of us as equals. Edited July 22, 2016 by Rob L

[unsmiley 111]

ROYGBP, on 20 Jul 2016 - 12:09 AM, said:

I'm going to cut you...

[JayJayH 546]

So the Harvard study did show blacks were treated differently (accounting fir circumstances) thanother groups? Why would they be treated differently? The law sees all of us as equals.

Well first of all it more than likely has something to do with the fact that black Americans statistically commit more crimes than any other demographic group in America. This is uncomfortable territory for many people - I see a lot of people steering away from it out of fear of being labeled "racist." Steering away from uncomfortable truths is virtue signaling or failure to substantiate an argument at best - Pure willful ignorance at worst. Of course, it is not a race issue per se, but rather a natural consequence of socioeconomic disparities, which again is a natural consequence of historical injustices. I do think black people are owed something in this country, I just personally don't see how BLM or any other race baiting political organization is making anything better - Quite the contrary, I fear they are making things worse.

Second, what the study concluded was the exact opposite of BLM's narrative - It found no racial disparities in police shootings. However, if you go by the popular narrative of "the left" today, we should be seeing pandemic levels of unarmed black men being murdered by police. We really don't, we just hear about them more often than "other" police shootings. I'm not holding this one study as a universal truth - social science research can be murky. What I react to is the narrative by BLM that this is a distinctly racist problem, particularly when it turns out that on the whole, more whites are shot by police than any other demographic group.

I'm not denying that many police jurisdictions have problems with prejudice, but if it was strictly a race issue, is there any reason in particular why Asian Americans would encounter less police brutality than white Americans?

Ultimately, it boils down to a toxic mixture of prejudices in certain jurisdictions, mixed with a whole lot of socioeconomic factors. For example, if you were a police officer in an MS-13 infested neighborhood, would your attention be on the Hispanic guy with the tattoos, or the Okinawan lady driving a Toyota? If you answered the former, you'll also have to explain why a police officer shouldn't have the same focus. If you answered the latter, you'll have to explain how that is good use of taxpayer money.

Edited July 22, 2016 by JayJayH

[Rob L 3,811]

Well first of all it more than likely has something to do with the fact that black Americans statistically commit more crimes than any other demographic group in America.

The Harvard Study controlled for this fact...so everything based on this assumption is unproven

[rlogan 2,036]

It's been one continuous droning on of anti-white and anti-male political hate speech since I was a little boy.

All the little boys needed to be punished for someone else's crime in the distant past, even though his own blood line fought to free the slaves. No gratitude for that, just condemnation for the color of my skin. And being male.

This group has origins in the Weather Underground if you follow the principle founders. They were just a Marxist wanna-be revolutionary group that liked to kill cops. Fomenting race wars and wars against the police is not just part of their strategy, but revolutionary strategy in general. Even Charlie Manson, whacked out continuously on LSD figured that out and started murdering people in order to start his big race war. He was going to emerge victorious.

Black Lives Matter did not go astray. It is having the effect it intended.

Edited July 23, 2016 by rlogan

[JoBri 548]

With my military veteran friends, we all just get along, like brothers. Doesnt matter the race. We're all the same. With all the veterans I know, white, black, brown, we just call each other "brother". Too bad real life is not like the military in that way.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

My Brother, you just said a mouthful. Something that many on this particular forum we'll never comprehend. Thank you for your moment of brilliant posting. It is sorely needed here!

With my military veteran friends, we all just get along, like brothers. Doesnt matter the race. We're all the same. With all the veterans I know, white, black, brown, we just call each other "brother". Too bad real life is not like the military in that way.