By Caleb (171.75.80.160) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 11:53 pm:

The Funk Brothers will soon be stepping in to the White House itself in honor of Black Music Month.Each will be shaking the hand of George W Bush himself.This will be a great moment for them in honor of their contribution to black music.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 12:15 am:

WOW!!!...THATS GREAT NEWS CALEB!!!...EVEN BETTER THEN WHEN THE TEMPTATIONS SANG AT A PARTY FOR ONE OF THE NIXON GIRLS!!!...STUBASS

By Sue (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 12:19 am:

Uh I posted a link to this story in the "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" thread

By Chad (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 12:20 am:

Thanks for the headsup, Caleb.

By Sue (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 12:21 am:

Story ran Thursday

http://www.detnews.com/2003/entertainment/0306/19/g01-196910.htm

By Caleb (171.75.81.120) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:24 am:

Uh that's great Sue.Thought an individal thread for this historical event be set-up at once.

By Caleb (171.75.84.206) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 04:56 pm:

Suzie Q what's happenin' on this,please report.

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 05:02 pm:

It's happenin' right now, will find out a bit later how it went ...

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 05:02 pm:

STUBASS HERE!!!...THE CEREMONY IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW!!!...MSNBC.COM IS SHOWING IT LIVE ON THE INTERNET!!!...AN OLD STYLE JAZZ BAND IS PLAYING...AND I ASSUME THAT THE "FUNKS" ARE IN THE AUDIENCE!!!...STU

By Caleb (171.75.84.206) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 06:54 pm:

Took a look,couldn't find anything there,must be over.

By Caleb (171.75.84.244) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 01:03 pm:

So how did it go?

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 01:15 pm:

Hi Caleb --

http://www.detnews.com/2003/entertainment/0306/25/f01-202060.htm

By stephanie (64.63.221.102) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 01:27 pm:

I hope the funks can get some gigs from other dignitaries from this. Hand out thebusiness cards
Babbitt..
Stephanie

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 02:43 pm:

Susan Whitall - Thank you so much for that article. I wonder what Bush, Jr. was doing in the 60's.

May I quote your article of a quote? I would love to do it under all the threads, but I'll just do it here. BTW: Who is Bush Jr's speach writer? I want to know because this quote was quite good.

"In so many different ways, the artistry of black musicians has conveyed the experience of black Americans throughout our history," Bush said. "From the earliest generations of slaves came music of sorrow and patience, of truth and righteousness and of faith that shamed the oppressor and called upon the justice of Almighty God and praised His holy name. Out of this heritage has come a tremendous variety of music."

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 02:44 pm:

READ MY LIPS:

"In so many different ways, the artistry of black musicians has conveyed the experience of black Americans throughout our history," Bush said. "From the earliest generations of slaves came music of sorrow and patience, of truth and righteousness and of faith that shamed the oppressor and called upon the justice of Almighty God and praised His holy name. Out of this heritage has come a tremendous variety of music."

By Caleb (171.75.84.244) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 02:48 pm:

Very nice,thanks Sue.

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 03:21 pm:

You know Bush has to have some pretty good speech writers -- he's not that eloquent. Laura is, maybe.

Although give him his due, Allan S. also said Bush appeared to enjoy the music and meeting the musicians more than anybody; a nice break from talking to generals in caves in Iraq or whatever.

By soulboy (213.105.242.41) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 03:22 pm:

A great moment for the funks.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 03:29 pm:

Sue - I'm sure you are correct. Music is good for the soul. I'm sure Bush was thrilled to meet them, knowing that they were the very people who recorded the music he enjoyed in his younger days.

I'm almost certain that it took a lot to control his demeanor, and his excitement. He was probably thinking as a human being "I can't believe I'm talking to a Funk Brother. I can't believe I'm shaking hands with Bob Babbitt, Joe Hunter, Joe Messina, Ureil Jones, Eddie Willis, Jack Ashford."

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 04:15 pm:

HEY!!!..."W"'S GOT SOUL...AND I'M SURE MEETING THE "FUNK BROTHERS" BROUGHT BACK ALL THOSE MEMORIES OF "DA PREZ" DIGGING THAT WHITE POWDER OUT OF THE SHAG CARPETING!!!...ALSO...CONDI RICE PLAY'S A MEAN PIANO (ALBEIT CLASSICAL)...BUT I'LL BET WHEN NOBODY IS LOOKING...SHE BECOMES A REGULAR "CHUNK OF FUNK"!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 04:32 pm:

Stubass - LOL, I was too chicken to say something like that. But I thought about it.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 05:11 pm:

YEAH SIS!!!...OUR "LEADERS" GOTTA BE REAL!!!...ALTHOUGH I SUPPORTED PRESIDENT CLINTON BOTH IN 92 AND 96...HIS "I NEVER INHALED" DENIAL ALMOST COST HIM MY VOTE!!!...HELL...EVEN H. ROSS PEROT NEVER DENIED THE ALLEGATION THAT HE WAS STRUNG OUT ON HELIUM!!!...KEEP IT REAL...STUBASS

By FDR (67.249.57.239) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 08:41 pm:

While Bush Jr.'s age and frat boy history suggest he has real affection for classic Motown, he surely didn't write those nice words about black music. That's what speechwriters are for. Besides, Bush Jr. says one thing -- or else calls something by a misleadingly benign name -- but intends something else entirely.

By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 08:42 pm:

FDR,
Agreed sir ... may I say ...cool New Deal. Who do you like among the Dems this year?

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 10:24 pm:

HEY FDR!!!...DID YOU USE SPEECHWRITERS DURING THE 40'S???...OR DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT "FALLA" STUFF ALL ON YOUR OWN!!!...STU(SAY HI TO ELEANOR)BASS

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 10:29 pm:

PS TO FDR!!!...A GOOD SPEECHWRITER REFLECTS THE TRUE FEELINGS OF THE PERSON HE OR SHE IS WRITING FOR...ONLY USES THE RIGHT PHRASES AND JARGON TO PULL THE THOUGHT CONCEPT OFF!!!...I DON'T THINK A PRESIDENT...OR ANYBODY ELSE TELLS THEIR SPEECHWRITERS TO WRITE A SPEECH THAT RUNS OPPOSITE TO THEIR..(WHY DO *THAT*)... TRUE FEELINGS!!!...IT IS INTERESTING THOUGH...TO WATCH THE DELIVERY...AND THAT CAN SOMETIMES TELL YOU JUST HOW MUCH INPUT THE SPEECH GIVER HAD IN THE ORIGINAL DRAFTS!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 10:32 pm:

LOL -
I'm going to call Joe Hunter to see how he is doing, and ask him about his experience at the big house.

It's time for another Funk Brothers' concert. I'm not going to MeadowBrook, or whatever the name of venue. Does anyone know who the vocalists are on that show?

By Gimmie some truth (67.249.57.154) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 01:08 am:

Of course, FDR had his flaws, but I liked his position on war profiteers -- he wished that not one millionaire should created by World War II. Obviously, the thinking in Washington is quite different these days.

By TonyRussi (68.18.39.39) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 07:51 am:

Unlike the previous administration, President Bush is a REAL man & doesn't speak words he doesn't beleive.We must remember that the United States of America needs leaders who put the legal citizens of this country FIRST. President Bush paid sincere tribute to not only the Funk Brothers but all Black Musicians and I'm grateful.We are Americans First, political parties are & should be secondary.

By Sue (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 08:02 am:

Oh puh-leeeze ....

By kim culhan (12.148.41.5) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 08:55 am:

You've got that right Tony and BTW it takes guts speak your mind like this.

-kim

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 10:27 am:

YEAH TONY!!!...I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE GUY...AND MAY OR MAY NOT NEXT TIME (DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON BOTH OF OUR SINCERE ECONOMIC POLICY VIEWPOINTS)...BUT PEOPLE SEEM TO FORGET THAT HE HAS A HARVARD MBA IN ECONOMICS!!!...AND UNFORTUNATLY...THE DEMOCRATS (THE PARTY I HAVE SUPPORTED AN ENTIRE LIFETIME)...HAVE BECOME NOTHING BUT A BUNCH (FOR THE MOST PART) OF WHINING...WIMPY...JUMP ON BUSH FOR THE SAME THINGS THEY PRAISED PRESIDENT CLINTON (THE GUY WHO BOMBED IRAQ BECAUSE HE SAID THEY HAD WMD"S...WHERE WERE THOSE PEOPLE THEN...THAT ARE ON "W"'S CASE NOW) AND I ONLY HOPE THAT A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE EMERGES THAT HAS SOME HUEVOS (NOT DISCOUNTING A WOMAN...SHE COULD HAVE SOME TOO)!!!...BUT IT'S REALLY FUNNY TO WATCH SOME OF THESE CLOWNS (DEAN...WHO ADMITTEDLY HAS NO CLUE AS TO HOW MANY AMERICANS ARE IN UNIFORM...BUT WANT'S TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THESE PEOPLE...(HELL...HE CAN'T EVEN COUNT EM)...SO DEMS...GIVE US SOMETHING BETTER THAN YOU HAVE SHOWN US SO FAR!!!...I'D HATE TO BE THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY HISTORY TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR THE ELEPHANT!!!...NUFF OF THIS POLITICAL CRAP!!!...STUABSS

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 10:43 am:

HAROLD FOR JR. (D-TENN) IN 2008 OR 2012!!!...BRIGHTEST STAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC HORIZON!!!...JUST NEEDS TO BUILD A NATIONAL POLITICAL BASE...AND A POSSIBLE SENATE RUN DOWN IN TENNESSEE!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 10:44 am:

OOPS...MAKE THAT HAROLD FORD JR.!!!...

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 10:46 am:

QUE!!!...LET'S SINCERELY HOPE NOT!!!...STUBASS

By DBS744 (68.45.76.82) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 10:47 am:

SisDetroit,
There arent any scheduled vocalists at this time for the meadowbrook show.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 12:12 pm:

DBS744 - Thanks for that information.

Whether the guy meant what he said or whether he was just recited from the script, the message intended was, I repeat:

"In so many different ways, the artistry of black musicians has conveyed the experience of black Americans throughout our history," Bush said. "From the earliest generations of slaves came music of sorrow and patience, of truth and righteousness and of faith that shamed the oppressor and called upon the justice of Almighty God and praised His holy name. Out of this heritage has come a tremendous variety of music."

"...Out of this heritage has come a tremendous variety of music."

By Eye of Newt (209.215.117.4) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 12:40 pm:

It's gonna take years to clean up the mess Bush II and his radical conservative cronies are making here and abroad. He may well appreciate the black music he happens to be familiar with, but no one's gonna accuse this guy of truly supporting the arts. Maybe the other day's function is just another photo op, one thankfully far less expensive and exploitive than landing on an aircraft carrier. The Bush camp invests more time crafting his image than making national policy.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

I did feel that having a ceremony for black music month was out of character. He's trying to get our vote. It takes more than that to get a vote from me. (I'd like to vote for Hillary) But, it got more publicity for The Funks. That was the good part. I hope everyone who attended that ceremony go out and purchase the soundtrack to see what it's all about. :o)

By A Discerning Eye (171.75.81.54) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 02:13 pm:

Bush is Solid!

By Eli (68.162.96.89) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 11:35 pm:

Yeah.. As solid as a white sheet, capice???

By A Discerning Eye (171.75.84.49) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 11:45 pm:

No,I don't capice whistling globetrotter man.Keep making music.Peace

By BCNYC (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 07:18 am:

Let's not forget, hello, that Lee Atwater, who demonized every black person in the Willie Horton TV ads for Bush Sr., also liked black music and invited B.B. King to the White House. Yeah, I can see you don't capice, brother man. Maybe you will also have a deathbed conversion like Atwater and see that there is such a thing as racism and hate crime in this country, still.

Take it away, Boston Globe:

Bush's jive act on campus diversity


By Derrick Z. Jackson, 6/27/2003

ITH A TWO-FACED grin on affirmative action, President Bush turned the White House into the Apollo. He put blacks folks on the turntable and spun them into soulful senselessness. On Tuesday Bush celebrated Black Music Month. Surrounded by singers from Harlem, Bush said: ''The artistry of black musicians has conveyed the experience of black Americans throughout our history. From the earliest generations of slaves came music of sorrow and patience, of truth and righteousness, and of faith that shamed the oppressor.''


Bush was as shameless as a disc jockey taking payola to play only certain records. He is becoming a broken record. Five months ago, despite America's history of oppression, Bush took the side of the white students who sued to destroy affirmative action at the University of Michigan. It did not matter that Michigan's affirmative action undergraduate and law school programs had no quotas or that African-Americans were underrepresented at Michigan to start with. Bush reached for the most inflammatory language of affirmative action opponents to justify his position.

''Quota systems that use race to include or exclude people from higher education and the opportunities it offers are divisive, unfair, and impossible to square with the Constitution,'' Bush said.

He said this on the actual birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Five days later, on the federal holiday for King, Bush went to a black church in Landover, Md. There he kissed the minister on the cheek. Bush said: ''There are still people in our society who hurt. There is still prejudice holding people back. There is still a school system that doesn't elevate every child so they can learn.... We remember the dream of Martin Luther King and remember his clear vision for a society that's equal and a society full of justice.''

At the church, African-Americans applauded. At the momentary Apollo of the White House, black folks sang. For three years now, Bush has held celebrations for Black Music Month, saying things as if they were mouthed by former president Clinton, who actually took up an office in Harlem.

Last year Bush marked the event by saying, ''In the Black American experience, there has been a lot of pain, and America must recognize that.'' In 2001 Bush said the roots of black music go back to ''people held in bondage, denied schooling, and kept away from opportunity. Yet out of all that suffering came the early spirituals, some of the sweetest praise ever lifted up to heaven. In those songs, humanity will always hear the voice of hope in the face of injustice.''

No such hope or recognition of pain can be found in Bush's politics. When the Supreme Court upheld affirmative action at the Michigan law school but struck down bonus points for underrepresented people of color in the undergraduate school, Bush acted as if he had played the middle ground all along. He said: ''I applaud the Supreme Court for recognizing the value of diversity on our nation's campuses.... Race is a reality in American life.''

Bush has yet to provide a vision as to how diversity can be achieved in a country where racism remains a significant impediment to education and employment. That is not news. His dad did the same thing. The senior Bush had plenty of African-American entertainers come to the White House after he and his bouncers threw out average African-Americans with Willie Horton, Clarence Thomas, and his 1990 veto of the Civil Rights Act.

The junior Bush is amassing a similar record, smearing affirmative action at home, sneering at racism conferences abroad, underfunding the Leave No Child Behind Act, announcing antiprofiling guidelines with loopholes that still allow profiling, and appointing federal judges with checkered records on civil rights. It was telling that in the days after Bush announced his support for the white plaintiffs in the Michigan case, all his top African-Americans - Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Rod Paige - cautioned that the country is not yet so ''race-neutral'' that we can throw race out in admissions.

The telling part was that Bush ignored them and still called the Michigan program ''quotas.'' Rapidly, the issue is less that Bush plays black folks for fools. The real issue is that the longer African-Americans stand for this, the more they become the fools. Praising King for a day or black music for a month means nothing if Bush's politics deliver pain all year long.

African-American ministers need to think about this the next time Bush wants to come to a church. Entertainers need to think about this the next time they are asked to sing at the White House. Bush is well practiced at shuffling and jiving about past oppression while owning no responsibility for the present. At some point, dancing to this disc jockey makes one a lawn jockey.

By stephanie (64.63.221.171) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 10:55 am:

I dont dislike Republicans or Democrats but I totally agree with this article. I dont think people should be hired on race either but if we didnt have Affirmative Action in the beginning some minorities would not have had any opportunites at all. I think Bush wants to appease people too and ALL of these guys play politics not just him so he cant be blamed for everything its just his agenda. They all have an agenda even Mr Clinton. The thing about Clinton is that in the past we have seen that he walks the walk . He may have lied about inhaling but he put blacks in office and whites and he and his administration did a great job on the economy in his administration health care suffered though but other than that Clinton got my vote. I liked Richard Nixon better than George Bush though he was the bomb with foreign policy...
Stephanie

By Common (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:17 am:

BCNYC: Amen! That article is very timely. I'm glad we are getting recognition but at what price? These so-called "gestures" during black music month & King day do not take away from the fact that his policies have & continue to effect those that are disenfranchised. African-Americans do a little bit more than sing & dance all day long. Pitiful! If you think I'm lying, just yesterday there is a plan by the federal gov't to cut back on overtime for gov't employees which could affect 8 million workers. What does that mean? Well, you do the math for those people who making less than $30K(yes, people are STILL making that kind of money) & the high cost of living nowadays(NY for example) & you'll see the picture is not a pretty one. But hey, what do I know? It's all about the music, right?

Peace!

Peace!

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:20 am:

DAMN...TOUGH GROUP HERE!!!...HOWEVER...IT'S STRANGE WHEN A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT HAS TO START DEFENDING ANY REPUBLICAN...LET ALONE A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT...*BUT*...WHO CAN NAME *ANY* MINORITIES IN *KEY* POSITIONS (INNER CIRCLE) NAMED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON OR ANY OTHER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS...OTHER THAN THE USUAL "WINDOW DRESSING" THAT WE DEMOCRATS HAVE OFTEN INSULTED MINORITIES WITH (PUTTING SOME PEOPLE IN VISIBLE...YET POWERLESS POSITIONS)!!!...BUSH...TO HIS CREDIT...DID *NOT* TAKE RACE INTO EFFECT WITH THE APPOINTMENTS OF POWELL...RICE...AND SOME OF HIS OTHER TOP APPOINTMENTS IN HIS INNER CIRCLE!!!...AND THESE PEOPLE...*ACTUALLY* MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR NATIONAL DAILY LIFE!!!...I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF COLIN POWELL (WISH THE DEMS HAD RECRUITED HIM BETTER)...AND EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO CONDOLEZA RICE...I AM MORE AND MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS THAT SHE POSSESSES!!!...I *HATE* THE "BUSH HATERS" (THOSE WHO JUST HATE BUSH FOR STUPID PARTISAN POLITICAL REASONS)...JUST AS I *HATED* THE CLINTON HATERS (THOSE WHO DID IT TO CLINTON FOR THE SAME IDIOTIC REASONS)...AND THE FUNNY THING IS...BOTH OF THESE "HATER" GROUPS ARE CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH...CLOSED MINDED...PREJUDGMENTAL...KNOW IT ALL'S...WITH EXTREMELY NARROW POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS...AND ALWAYS AN AGENDA...USUALLY LOOKING TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE FOR THEIR OWN FAILURES AND FRUSTRATIONS!!!...SO GO HAVE AT IT!!!...THE TRUTH IS IN THE VAST MIDDLE GROUND...TAKING THE BEST IDEAS OF BOTH SIDES...AND AS FOR WACKO'S ON THE FAR RIGHT...*AND* WACKO'S ON THE FAR LEFT...LOCK EM ALL IN A STADIUM...AND LET EM HAVE AT EACH OTHER...WHILE THE REST OF US TRY TO DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO MAKE THIS A BETTER COUNTRY!!!...MY TAKE...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:37 am:

Folks:
Black Music Month has been utilized by the recording industry & record retail every June to promote & sell music created by African-Americans. This has been an occurrance even before I went into record retail 13 years ago and is still being used as a marketing/promotion campaign.

I'm not taking anything away from President Bush - if he wants to make an official declaration that June is Black Music Month, fine. I just want you folks to know that it isn't anything new. And I have the old Black Music Month posters from the old PolyGram company and BMM CDs from Sony, BMG & PolyGram to prove my point.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:41 am:

YOU'RE RIGHT KEV!!!...APPARENTLY..."BLACK MUSIC MONTH" WAS INAGURATED DURING THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION...AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT HERE!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 12:02 pm:

KUDO'S TO BUSH!!!...HEY ALL!!!...YOU CAN ALL TALK ABOUT "AFFIRMATIVE ACTION"...TERRORISM...THE WAR IN IRAQ...BIG BUSINESS AND OIL...TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH...TILL THE COWS COME HOME...AD NAUSIUM!!!...BUSH DID ME ONE BIG FAVOR TODAY...WHICH WILL HAVE A LARGER IMPACT ON MY REAL EVERYDAY LIFE THAN ALL THE ABOVE!!!...HE SPONSORED LEGISLATION...WHICH HAS NOW BEEN PASSED...TO GET THOSE OBNOXIOUS "TELEMARKETERS" *OFF MY BACK*...CREATING A "DO NOT CALL LIST"...WHICH WE CAN SIGN UP FOR...ELIMINATING MOST OF THOSE IRRITATING CALLS THAT *ALWAYS* COME IN AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIMES!!!...AND YOU CAN'T GET THESE PEOPLE TO HANG UP...JUST KEEP ON TALKING AND GIVING YOU THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBERS IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT WHAT YOU ALREADY TOLD THEM YOU WEREN'T INTERESTED IN!!!...THANKS "W"...NOW *THATS* REAL PROGRESS!!!...STU(NO HANG-UPS HERE)BASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 12:12 pm:

BCNYC - One of the quotes you posted is: "...humanity will always hear the voice of hope in the face of injustice." Because there will always be injustice towards a certain people.

I really don't go for declarations of certain holidays. I do not celebrate any of them, or do I care about any of them. It's just another that I have been allowed to wake up and see the sky. I've just known this year that there was an official "black music month." I wonder why. Music has been in my life "every day" of my life, which I celebrate every day. It does not take a white master to tell me when to celebrate black music.
And why should it have a special day? Are we not great enough to have 12 months, as all other music? Another thing, why is the coldest month of the year, "Black History Month?"

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 01:43 pm:

YOU KNOW COMMON!!!...ARE WE GIVING AFRICAN AMERICANS THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE HERE???...ARE WE TO ASSUME THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE...AFRICAN AMERICANS CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE REST OF SOCIETY!!!...WHY THEN...DO CARRIBEAN BLACKS HAVE A HIGHER EDUCATION AND INCOME LEVEL THAN EVEN WHITES IN OUR COUNTRY...IT'S A FACT!!!...WE SHOULD BE WORKING WITH PARENTS TO INSTILL EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY *IN THE HOME*!!!...A FRIEND OF MINE...WHO HAPPENS TO BE A LOS ANGELES SCHOOL TEACHER... CHALLENGED ME ONE TIME TO DO SOMETHING AFTER I WAS PONTIFICATING ABOUT RACISM...AND I ACCEPTED HIS CHALLENGE...AND GOT MY EYE'S OPENED UP!!!...HE TOLD ME TO GO TO A SPECIFIC BRANCH OF THE L.A. PUBLIC LIBRARY...AND TAKE A PEEK IN THE LIBRARY...AND THEN LOOK ACROSS THE STREET AT A LOCAL PLAYGROUND!!!...ONE DAY...I WAS IN THAT PART OF THE VALLEY...AND DECIDED TO TEST HIS THEORY...AND WHAT I SAW WAS INDEED SAD!!!...I PARKED AND WALKED INTO THE LIBRARY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON ON A TYPICAL WEEKDAY!!!...WHAT I SAW WAS A LIBRARY...MOSTLY INHABITED BY YOUNG (MOSTLY MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED) ASIANS...READING AND STUDYING...A FEW WHITES...AND VIRTUALLY NO AFRICAN AMERICANS!!!...AS I WALKED OUTSIDE...AND LOOKED ACROSS THE STREET...THERE WERE BASKETBALL COURTS...WHICH WERE FULL OF MOSTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN KIDS...PLAYING BALL AND SITTING AROUND WAITING TO GET INTO THE GAME!!!...THIS HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS...IN THAT MY FRIEND WAS TELLING ME THAT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MOTHER WAS RAGGING ON HIM...BECAUSE HER KID WAS FAILING IN SCHOOL...AND SHE BLAMED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM...THE TEACHER...AND EVERYONE ELSE...ALL THE WHILE...TELLING MY FRIEND THAT HER KID HAD BASKETBALL TALENT...AND SHE WAS HOPING THAT ONE DAY HE COULD GO PRO!!!...*RIGHT*!!!...IT'S TIME FOR RESPONSIBLE PARENTS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND *INSIST* THAT THEIR KIDS SPEND THE TIME STUDYING SO THAT THEY CAN COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD!!!...WHEN THIS HAPPENS...THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CORRECTING PAST INJUSTICES...NO MATTER HOW REAL THEY WERE!!!...KIDS WILL *ALWAYS* FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES SUCCEEDING ON THEIR OWN MERIT...AND NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCE FED INTO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING!!!...UNTIL THEN...AFFIRMITIVE ACTION SHOULD BE BASED ON SOCI- ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS...AND NOT RACIAL QUOTAS...WHICH NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT...VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES!!!...STU(SORRY FOR THE LONG WINDED SERMON)BASS

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 02:06 pm:

I'm a Mom who took her kids to the library every week where we checked out 30 books a week (the maximum of 10 x three kids), but we were on the basketball courts too...don't you be dissing on b ball now!!! (My daughter played varsity point as a freshman.)

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 02:08 pm:

Sorry...just didn't want to see this turn into another battle!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 02:15 pm:

Geez Stu:
Now I'm kinda glad Mom & Dad made me go to the library and read up on music history as well as play some cool records in the phonograph booths...Beats hanging around a hot basketball court anyday!
Kevin "Too Short For The Rim, Anyway" Goins - KevGo

By Common (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

Hello Stubass,

No. I didn't say that African Americans couldn't compete with the rest of society. Which is why I pointed out that we can do more than just "sing & dance". What people keep missing the point about affirmative action, is that it's not about 'racial quotas' rather it is about getting a foot in a playing field that wasn't & hasn't been equal. How can you compete when you don't have the proper tools to do it with? Yes, parents should be more responsible in getting their kids properly educated, but what are you to do when the books are outdated, the school furniture is 30 years old & not enough to go around, being crammed into classes with 30-40 other people or teachers, who themselves, don't want to bothered teaching in the inner city, etc. I'm from a Caribbean household, & I think that's generalizing by saying that all of us have higher education & income. The reason that Caribbeans have higher education is because of the system from which they derived from. Their standard of education in the Caribbean is vastly different than here in the Americas. The education system doesn't seem to be valued here considering the fact that gov't spends more on pork projects than education. The Caribbean school system is not necessarily 'superior' so to speak, but their priorities are more focused. When Caribbean immigrants migrate here, they already have a plan & are ahead of the 'game'. Some people do make it & others don't. I don't like to compare the Caribbean Americans to the African Americans, for the simple reason that there is already too much division plus both environments & political systems, especially around the race issue, is very different.

Peace!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:08 pm:

You are correct Stubass regarding:

"AFFIRMITIVE ACTION SHOULD BE BASED ON SOCI- ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS...AND NOT RACIAL QUOTAS"

However, the reason Affirmative Action is needed is because the soci-economic considerations are extemely unfair and unequal. The only reason quota comes into play, is not because there are no qualified blacks, but the fact that being equally qualified, a white will get the job simply because of his race due to the racist society. Therefore, someone decided to set a quota by way of force or calling it affirmative action...reasoning,
"I know you don't want Blacks in your company, but out of the 2,000 employees, at least "give" 10% (20 positions) to them so we can say we are trying. In fact, hire them at a lower rate of pay, with lower increases. You don't have to promote them, just keep them in the same department, but at least you can say you have blacks in your company. I don't care how much education they have and graduated with honors, and produces more than JimBob, their still black. We don't want to have another riot."

If it were not for the unfair racist society, and the unequal opportunities, there would be no need for any quotas. If there were no quotas, there certainly would be no blacks. That includes in eduaction, regardless of whether a small fraction of the kids were playing basketball on the playground, and not at the library.

Stubass: You went to the wrong library. You should have gone to the one on 12th street.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:10 pm:

Incidently, I do know how to spell. At this moment, it's not important.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:13 pm:

THANKS ALL!!!...DAR!!!...I AGREE...BUT I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY IN A SECOND!!!...COMMON!!!...IT'S JUST A STATISTICAL FACT THAT CARRIBEAN BLACKS HAVE A HIGHER EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND INCOME LEVEL THAN THE MEDIAN WHITE EDUCATION AND INCOME!!!...I AGREE THAT THOSE FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS SHOULD GET SPECIAL CONSIDERATION...BASED ON ECONOMICS...NOT RACE!!!...WE SPENT 200-PLUS YEARS TRYING TO GET RID OF RACIAL DISTINCTIONS...AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT BERRY GORDY'S KIDS GET A LEG UP ON SOME WHITE KID WHO'S DAD IS A JANITOR!!!...THATS WHY I OPPOSE THE SCHOOL VOUCHER INITIATIVE'S!!!...I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST UPGRADE AND EQUALIZE "PUBLIC" EDUCATION!!!...DAR!!!...I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL...AND BEING THE "BIG SHOT" MUSICIAN...KNEW THAT I COULD CUT CLASSES...GO HAVE A MALT LIQUOR WITH THE GUYS...AND THE TEACHERS WOULD LET ME SLIDE!!!...NOT UNTIL THESE ACTIVITIES CAUSED ME TO GET D'S AND E'S ONE SEMESTER...DID I "FEEL THE PAIN" OF MY BEHAVIOR!!!...I REMEMBER MY DAD AND BROTHER GOING OVER TO THE "STUDIO" THAT I WAS PLAYING OUT OF...TELLING THEM THAT I WAS ABOUT TO BE "DE-BASSED" UNTIL MY GRADES CAME UP!!!...AND YOU KNOW WHAT!!!...I PLAYED ONLY IN SCHOOL...WHICH ACTUALLY IMPROVED MY PLAYING...FOCUSING ON READING AND THEORY...AND THE NEXT SEMESTER...GUESS WHAT???...I WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE TO ACCEPT AN AWARD FOR MAKING THE SCHOOLS "HONOR ROLL"...ALL A'S ABD B'S!!!...AND FINISHED OUT HIGH SCHOOL WITH GOOD GRADES *AND* PLAYING MUSIC....ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO BETTER COLLEGES!!!...I ALSO LIKE TO PLAY BASKETBALL...AND ALL I'M CALLING FOR IS "BALANCE"...AND SOME STUPID PARENTS THINKING THAT THEIR "TALENTED" KIDS WILL SUCCEED IN MUSIC AND SPORTS...WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A GOOD EDUCATION!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:30 pm:

I AGREE SIS!!!...BUT I THINK THAT CORPORATIONS REALIZE TODAY THAT DIVERSITY IS JUST...*GOOD BUSINESS*...AND MOST HAVE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO FERRET OUT QUALIFIED PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS FOR HIRING AND PROMOTION!!!...IT'S PRETTY STUPID FOR ANY BUSINESS TO SHUT OUT ANY SEGMENT OF SOCIETY...IN THAT IT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE BOTTOM LINE!!!...FURTHERMORE...THERE ARE MANY QUALIFIED AFRICAN AMERICANS...HISPANICS...AND ALL OTHER SO CALLED MINORITIES TO FILL THESE POSITIONS!!!...I AGREE THAT WE MUST LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD...SO THAT ALL KIDS GET THEY TYPE OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT THEY DESIRE...AND NEED TO SUCCEED IN SOCIETY!!!...I ALSO AGREE...THAT IT ALL STARTS IN THE HOME...AND HOW RESPONSIBLE AND INVOLVED THE PARENTS ARE WILL BE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES OR QUOTA SYSTEMS!!!...ANY KID CAN MAKE IT IN THIS COUNTRY...THEY JUST NEED SUPPORT...AND NOT BE PLACED IN A MINDSET OF "VICTIMHOOD"!!!...STUBASS

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:38 pm:

OK Stu: I was just trying to lighten the mood a little. Politics and religion, two topics better avoided...especially when y'all are having wars over MUSIC!
PS: I know it's not "soul" but have you heard CALLING ALL ANGELS by Train? It would be a great theme song for you!

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:47 pm:

LIKE THE CONCEPT DAR!!!...AND AS FOR DISCUSSING POLITICS AND RELIGION!!!...I REALIZE THAT THIS IS A MUSIC SITE...BUT IF YOU'LL NOTICE...I WILL *NEVER* MAKE THE FIRST SERIOUS COMMENT ON RELIGION OR POLITICS...BUT FEEL THE NEED TO COUNTERBALANCE SOME OTHERS WHO TAKE "CHEAP SHOTS" REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARTICULAR POLITICAL AFFILIATION!!!...IT'S ALL ABOUT BALANCE...AND IF ANYONE THINKS THEY'LL GET AWAY WITH A "CHEAP SHOT"...UNCONTESTED...NOT SO FAST...SO LONG AS STUBASS IS AROUND TO PROVIDE THE OPPOSING VIEWPOINT!!!...IT'S ABOUT "FAIRNESS" IN MY OPINION!!!...THANKS...STU

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:51 pm:

Well, since you're being "pissy" can I assume that it's as hot down there as it is here? It was 92 in Carmel yesterday!

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

Fair enough Stu. I have come to realize that this forum has a ertain depth that goes beyond matters of music. Personally, I try to avoid conversations involving politics or religion. However, one of the assets of Soulful Detroit is the intelligence of it's membership .a variety of issues are discussed here and that does not exclude politics and religion. Just check your guns at the door please.

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 05:01 pm:

PS: I was only using the term "pissy" in the most endearing way! Detroit(coveringmybutt)Dar

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 05:54 pm:

Yes, right again Stubass "!!!...IT'S PRETTY STUPID FOR ANY BUSINESS TO SHUT OUT ANY SEGMENT OF SOCIETY" and expensive. However, tell that to their foremen, supervisors, and department heads where the bias is ingrained into their hearts and minds. Tell them that while that black lady over there out performed everyone of those white guys, she was rated as meeting standards, and they were given outstanding performance ratings. Oh, btw, now, seniority (if no union) is no longer the determining factor in layoffs, it is now performance ratings. The highest performance rating stays.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 05:55 pm:

GEEZ RALPH!!!...PLEASE DON'T USE THE WORDS "GUNS" AND "PISSY" IN THE SAME SENTENCE!!!...IT SORTA SCARES ME!!!...STU(GOT IT HOLSTERED)BASS

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 06:05 pm:

YEAH SIS!!!...AND THOSE ARE THE COMPANIES THAT DESERVE TO GO RIGHT OUT OF BUSINESS FOR PUTTING LESS QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN POSITIONS WHERE BETTER QUALIFIED PEOPLE ARE BEING DENIED!!!...AS WELL AS ANY AFFECTED PERSON SEEKING RELIEF UNDER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS...WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT!!!...STUBASS

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 06:28 pm:

So...if you think it was Ralph who said you were being pissy does that mean that I'M not in trouble with Angel Daddy? I hope not because even though I'm no longer an angel, I still have to worry about that KARMA thing!

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 06:33 pm:

YEAH DAR!!!...IT *WAS* YOU THAT MADE THE "PISSY" COMMENT!!!...BUT RALPH'S NEXT POST MADE "GUNS" AND "PISSY" A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR *MY* COMFORT!!!...AS FOR THIS "NO LONGER AN ANGEL" THING!!!...ONCE AN "ANGEL"...ALWAYS AN "ANGEL"...WHETHER YOU ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR NOT (AS IS YOUR CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHT)!!!...STU(NEVER CRY'S UNCLE)BASS

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 06:40 pm:

So...is it all good? Sometimes I forget that you haven't met me...I don't want you to take the things I say in a joking way as being serious...
Detroit(stillanangelatheart)Dar

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 06:46 pm:

Sis: What do you think about high achieving, extremely qualified "white" students who are told they can't get into certain schools simply because they are white? Do you feel that "turn around is fair play" because of past injustices to other races?

By Scratcher (65.238.127.143) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 06:49 pm:

Did they find any weapons of mass destruction yet?

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 07:03 pm:

My point is simply this: affirmitive action was absolutely needed and helped to improve things somewhat...but the pendulum has swung the other way in many cases. I believe that all of us no matter our race want ALL children to be loved, educated, and given every opportunity to succeed in life...At least I hope that's the case.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 07:31 pm:

YOU KNOW DAR & SIS!!!...WHEN I WAS DOING RADIO BROADCASTING BACK IN DETROIT...A CERTAIN LARGE STATION WANTED TO HIRE ME AS MORNING NEWS ANCHOR...TO REPLACE ANOTHER NEWSCASTER...WHO HAD HAPPENED TO BE AFRICAN AMERICAN!!!...SINCE THAT JOB WAS "SET ASIDE" FOR A MINORITY CANDIDATE...AND THE FCC WAS ALL OVER THAT THING...THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HIRE...AND BRING IN FROM TEXAS...A HISPANIC NEWSMAN...JUST TO FILL THE QUOTA!!!...I GOT JERKED AROUND FOR A MONTH...WHILE THE STATION...WHO THOUGHT THAT I WAS THE BEST QUALIFIED...TRIED TO FIND A WAY TO HIRE ME...SINCE I HAD GREAT LOCAL REFERENCES...AND A "FEEL" FOR THE CITY!!!...ULTIMATLY...THE NEWS DIRECTOR CONVINCED THE GENERAL MANAGER THAT SHE WANTED TO HIRE ME...AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT...THEY HAD TO CREATE A NEW JOB AT THE STATION TO WHICH A MINORITY CANDIDATE WOULD BE HIRED!!!...THATS WHAT THEY DID!!!...AND WHEN I MOVED TO CALIFORNIA...IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO BREAK INTO THE BROADCASTING BUSINESS...BECAUSE...ASIDE FROM A LACK OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE...AT LEAST HALF THE AVAILABLE JOBS WERE MINORITY SET-ASIDES!!!...I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS RIGHT OR WRONG...BUT IT MADE MY LIFE VERY DIFFICULT IN TRYING TO PURSUE MY CAREER!!!...STU

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 07:32 pm:

PS TO SCRATCHER!!!...YES THEY DID...AND "BAGHDAD BOB" WAS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY JUST YESTERDAY!!!...STU

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 07:45 pm:

Maybe some day women will run this country and undo all the chaos you guys created!!!
Detroit(reallyrunningforcovernow)Dar

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 07:58 pm:

DetroitDar - I don't usually think about whites being discriminated again in higher education. I think of where the problem lies.

If you are saying a predominately black school has denied admission to a white student because they are white, they is unlawful.

If you are saying that "...high achieving, extremely qualified "white" student" competing with a high achieving, extremely qualified "black" student was not chosen because the school rather chose that black student, I say that was fine. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

However, if you are saying that a predominately white school, where the predominately white students has the advantages of better opportunities as they were growing up, because there parents had the inherit better opportunities (education & employment & housing) to provide to them, which caused a secure non-racist environment, without the stress of a prejudiced society, with a promise of the rights of the constitution, a promise and feeling of superiority, resulting in "A's" in a white society, and a higher score on test........

Then I say, give 10% of space to the minority who should have had, but denied those same opportunities to have that high score. After all, it could have happened when they were growing up, rather than at the higher education stage.

Had the white student been denied all those opportunities all of their lives, they never would have been at an early age the opportunities that black had been denied, they never would hve been "a high achieving, extremely qualified "white" student.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:07 pm:

HEY SIS!!!...I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAY IN YOUR LAST POST..IF ONLY YOU CHANGED THE WORDS MINORITY FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED!!!...WHILE IT MAY SEEM NIT-PICKY...ANY PREFERENCE OR DISCRIMINATION...BASED ON RACE...IS WHAT DR KING AND MANY OTHERS FOUGHT...AND IN MANY CASES GAVE THEIR LIVES TO ELIMINATE!!!...POOR IS POOR AND DISADVANTAGED IS DISADVANTAGED...AND TO MAKE LIGHT OF ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION PASSED SINCE THE 1800'S MAKES A MOCKERY OF THE CONCEPT OF A COLOR BLIND SOCIETY...ALTHOUGH ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES CAN BE ANY COLOR...RACE...OR ETHNICITY...AND DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS SHOLD GET CERTAIN PREFERENCES...SO LONG AS THEY ARE NOT BASED ON RACE!!!...MY TAKE...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:11 pm:

I'm sorry if my last post was confusing, I was watching that talented little girl on Essence Awards singing "Who's Loving You." I wish I had taped that song.

I just re-read my last post, and if you want, I can re-write it so it will be comprehended.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:26 pm:

Things have not changed Stubass. Race is a determining factor in our society. It will take longer than 200 years to erase the damage caused by more than 400 years of slavery.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:27 pm:

Only when the shoe is on the other foot, does anybody notice.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:29 pm:

Hiring 20 blacks or allowing 20 blacks into a college, is not going to change anything.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:31 pm:

But I see denying a couple whites from going to the school of their choice always cause heated debates because that white person is white. They wouldn't give a shyt if that person was black. Look at the history "in our lifetime."

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:38 pm:

Discrimination is discrimination and it's wrong and hurtful no matter who it is aimed at, or how it is justified. Change never does come fast enough and I don't suppose it will be solved in our lifetimes...but in keeping with the original topic of this thread, I'm sure the Funk Brothers felt incredibly honored to have been invited to the White House no matter who the President is, and like Sis pointed out, George W. said some good stuff...heartfelt or not!

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:43 pm:

SisDetroit;
I just saw that little girl too, she was SOOO awesome, super career adead for her!
S.S.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:43 pm:

SO ARE YOU SAYING SIS...THAT IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 200 YEARS FOR OUR SOCIETY TO ADVANCE TO A LEVEL OF VIRTUAL "COLOR-BLINDNESS"???...I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT...BUT AS I STATED BEFORE...BERRY GORDY'S KID...OR MICHAEL JORDANS KID ETC...ETC...ETC...SHOULD NOT TAKE PREFERENCE OVER A KID OF *ANY* COLOR WHO IS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED...YET HAS MATCHING QUALIFICATIONS IN EVERY OTHER AREA!!!...NOW *THAT* WOULD BE JUST AS UNFAIR!!!...THATS WHY WE SHOULD PLACE THE EMPHASIS ON THE SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS...AND NOT RACE IN MAKING THESE DETERMINATIONS!!!...AND IF *ANY* DISCRIMINATION...BASED ON RACE TAKES PLACE...IT SHOULD BE ADRESSED BY THE STRONGEST MEANS NECESSARY!!!...BUT I JUST DON'T SHARE YOUR OPINION THAT OUR SOCIETY IS AS RACIST AS YOU WOULD MAKE IT SOUND...ALTHOUGH ALL SORTS OF BIGOTRY STILL DOES EXIST...AND SADLY...ALWAYS WILL!!!...BUT YOUR OPINION IS INTERESTING AND CERTAINLY THOUGHT PROVOKING!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 08:48 pm:

DetroitDar - Yes. The good part is on the news and in the papers, they talked about the Funk Brothers. They didn't have to do that.