EarthDogg All American 3989 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | " "I pledge allegience to my black people" Mar 15, 2006, by Michelle Malkin
One of the nation's fastest-rising poetry prodigies is a 7-year-old New York girl whose poisonous demagogic advocacy of black separatism makes Al Sharpton look like Mister Rogers.
Autum Ashante' of Mount Vernon, N.Y., has performed at HBO's Def Poetry Jam, The Cotton Club in L.A., The Apollo Theater in Harlem, the African Street Festival, Caroline's on Broadway, the Russell Simmons Phat Farm Fashion Show, Steve Harvey's "Big Time," a prestigious Grammy Foundation event, and at universities and other venues across the country. She recites her verses not only in English, but also in fluent Swahili and Arabic (she attended the Islamic Darul Arkam School in Mount Vernon).
Autum has appeared at a tribute to black nationalist Marcus Garvey, America-bashing 9/11 conspiracy-monger Amiri Baraka's annual family cookout and the extremist New Black Panther Party's Million Youth March. The city of New York honored her with a proclamation for inspiring "her peers, as well as adults, while also demonstrating the power of a father's love, the importance of education and the limitless boundaries of the human mind." New York City councilwoman Yvette Clark called her "one of the most precious young talents that this world has ever known."
Most recently, as New York Post education reporter David Andreatta reported this weekend, she was invited to perform at public middle and high schools in Peekskill, N.Y., for Black History Month.
Here, in full, is what precious little Autum -- groomed by her single father, Batin Ashante, a Nation of Islam poet/activist -- spewed:
White Nationalism Put U In Bondage
White nationalism is what put you in bondage Pirate and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin Drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with Steel, tricks and deceit. Nothing has changed take a look in our streets The mis-education of she and Hegro -- leaves you on your knee2grow Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse They took the gold, the wisdom and all of the storytellers They took the black women, with the black man weak Made to watch as they changed the paradigm Of our village They killed the blind, they killed the lazy, they went So far as to kill the unborn baby Yeah White nationalism is what put you in bondage Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin They drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with Steel laden feet, throw in the tricks alcohol and deceit. Nothing has changed take a look at our streets.
Autum's performance also included commanding white students to remain seated as she led black students in a recitation of the "Black Child's Pledge," by Black Panther Shirley Williams, which reads in part:
I pledge allegiance to my Black People. I pledge to develop my mind and body to the greatest extent possible.
I will learn all that I can in order to give my best to my People in their struggle for liberation.
. . . I will discipline myself to direct my energies thoughtfully and constructively rather than wasting them in idle hatred.
I will train myself never to hurt or allow others to harm my Black brothers and sisters . . .
These principles I pledge to practice daily and to teach them to others in order to unite my People.
Complaints from shocked students and parents led to a tape-recorded apology sent to all parents apologizing for the performance. Autum's father condemned white district officials as "racist crackers." Autum defended her poem by explaining to the Westchester Journal News that white people are "devils and they should be gone. We should be away from them and still be in Africa."
And make note of this: The official who invited Autum to speak, Melvin Bolden, is a public school music teacher, Peekskill councilman and producer of her first spoken word album.
Who is surprised? If you set aside a separate holiday for Black History Month in the public schools, if you set aside separate graduation ceremonies, college dorms, academic departments, recruiting programs, and government contracts and subcontracts by race, you send a message that hard-core racial separatism is not only acceptable -- but desired.
Autum Ashante' is the natural offspring of militant multiculturalism and government-sanctioned identity politics. We reap what we sow. " |
This sad tale reminds me of the two teenagers-for-hitler. Just as with this kid, they had a hate-filled father who poured his racism into their heads.3/15/2006 10:41:44 AM |
Waluigi All American 2384 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "by Michelle Malkin" |
3/15/2006 10:43:32 AM |
CDeezntz All American 6845 Posts user info edit post |
omf i totally didnt know black people could be racist.
thank you so much Earthdogg for showing me the light!!!!!!!! 3/15/2006 10:46:23 AM |
JonHGuth Suspended 39171 Posts user info edit post |
i dont think thats what he is doing maybe im just giving him to much credit 3/15/2006 11:04:10 AM |
McDanger All American 18835 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "We should be away from them and still be in Africa." |
Be my guest.
We should load the little bitch into a cannon and fire her back over.3/15/2006 11:08:03 AM |
ddlakhan All American 990 Posts user info edit post |
she knows what paradigm means.... at 7... Does anybody else find her vocabulary amazing... kinda makes me wonder if she truly wrote it... 3/15/2006 11:15:05 AM |
EarthDogg All American 3989 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "i dont think thats what he is doing maybe im just giving him to much credit" |
Well you probably are giving me too much credit but I think there are two points to take away from this story. First, it's so important that parents don't use their children as fodder in their causes. Secondly, this shows once again the lack of responsibility of a gov't school. What was the administrator thinking when he/she allowed this event to go on? Were schools officials just not paying attention when this teacher/activist/promoter got his little protege this gig?
[Edited on March 15, 2006 at 11:34 AM. Reason : .]3/15/2006 11:33:43 AM |
Nerdchick All American 37009 Posts user info edit post |
Autum is so articulate 3/15/2006 12:40:38 PM |
DirtyGreek All American 29309 Posts user info edit post |
she speaks so well! 3/15/2006 1:10:32 PM |
bbehe Burn it all down. 18402 Posts user info edit post |
ok...so if Darwin was a vampire..how come he did his studies while the sun was out? 3/15/2006 2:06:39 PM |
omghax All American 2777 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | " they went So far as to kill the unborn baby" |
lol?3/15/2006 2:14:00 PM |
ssjamind All American 30102 Posts user info edit post |
this child makes Mos Def and Russell Simmons cry 3/15/2006 2:19:21 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "she knows what paradigm means.... at 7... Does anybody else find her vocabulary amazing... kinda makes me wonder if she truly wrote it... " |
It also says she speaks fluent arabic and swahili. She's probably an intelligent little girl, with a crazy father.
Quote : | " Autum Ashante' is the natural offspring of militant multiculturalism and government-sanctioned identity politics. We reap what we sow." |
This from that article is also an irrelevant argument, wrt the poem. People like that would likely have existed independent of any gov. actions.3/15/2006 2:35:18 PM |
Kris All American 36908 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "ok...so if Darwin was a vampire..how come he did his studies while the sun was out?" |
He's, uh, a reverse vampire! They love the sun, they crave it! Yeah! You can tell by the markings on the tires!3/15/2006 2:39:34 PM |
umbrellaman All American 10892 Posts user info edit post |
The sad part is that this girl will get nothing but encouragement for her ideas, and anybody who declines or disagrees will automatically be racist. 3/15/2006 3:44:15 PM |
Josh8315 Suspended 26780 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "by Michelle Malkin" |
to think i almost read that....thanks3/15/2006 3:48:44 PM |
Shadowrunner All American 18332 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "groomed by her single father, Batin Ashante, a Nation of Islam poet/activist " |
3/15/2006 4:44:35 PM |
TreeTwista10 minisoldr 148440 Posts user info edit post |
who is Michelle Malkin 3/15/2006 5:14:50 PM |
Nerdchick All American 37009 Posts user info edit post |
She should start singing and call the group Prussian Brown 3/15/2006 5:19:36 PM |
Mindstorm All American 15858 Posts user info edit post |
AHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
^ She wins. 3/15/2006 5:39:02 PM |
Fry The Stubby 7784 Posts user info edit post |
if ignorance is bliss, she's one happy little girl 3/15/2006 5:40:13 PM |
supercalo All American 2042 Posts user info edit post |
For a seven year old her prose is really impressive, but I wonder what she would say to the fact that most black slaves who were stripped away from their lands were actually sold by their fellow black neighbors.
ooohhhh...
3/15/2006 8:04:24 PM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
^I'm sure she would say those people were manipulated and deluded by the evil white man. 3/15/2006 8:27:45 PM |
Gamecat All American 17913 Posts user info edit post |
I always smile when EarthDogg posts a story like this without providing a source. I'd like to know where these pieces come from once in a while. Because frankly, I don't see how any self-respecting journalist can write that a 7-year old child commanded anyone to remain seated without suffocating from her own stupidity.
Oh, Michelle Malkin. The woman who counts Ann Coulter among her idols. That explains quite a bit.
To the article...
My guess is that they're sponsoring her (or permitting her to speak in a public forum) because she's an amazingly intelligent, young poet. A rare find in the public education system. One can only wish that more American students were as literate and articulate at that age, let alone by the time they're posting on The Wolf Web. But, as it's been with nearly all other amazingly intelligent, young poets, many people respond emotionally to the tone of her poems.
My questions are: What's factually incorrect in her poems? Did white nationalism not put Africans in bondage? What unacceptable ideology is she advocating? What specifically is wrong with or offensive about the "Black Child's Pledge" she led the students in reciting?
To be perfectly honest, I don't see the problem here. What gives people the right not to be offended? Malkin's again mistaking shrill for thought. The right's hostility for artists is well-documented, so her reaction isn't particularly surprising.
When she begins to actually advocate killing police officers and white people at large, this story might deserve some attention. As it is, she's just another angry black youth who's found a nonviolent way of expressing herself--much like others who are currently making millions of dollars doing the same thing and being idolized and imitated by white kids everywhere.
There's hypocrisy and short-sightedness in her work, sure, but since when have public schools claimed the high ground on either of those points?
All in all: Big fucking whoop.
Whatever happened to Voltaire, here? Disagree with what she says and defend to the death her right to say it.
And as for her conclusion:
Quote : | "Autum Ashante'Michelle Malkin is the natural offspring of militant multiculturalism and government-sanctioned identity politics. We reap what we sow." |
Deny it if you can.
Quote : | "umbrellaman: The sad part is that this girl will get nothing but encouragement for her ideas, and anybody who declines or disagrees will automatically be racist." |
So, what you're saying is, there are still morons in the world? (Of whom, her father is clearly a member) Stop the presses!
Quote : | "ddlakhan: kinda makes me wonder if she truly wrote it..." |
They wondered if Mozart wrote those symphonies so early in life, too...
[Edited on March 15, 2006 at 9:05 PM. Reason : ...]3/15/2006 8:37:34 PM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
^Her pledge and poem weren't too crazy. It's her defense that's so offensive...
Quote : | "Autum defended her poem by explaining to the Westchester Journal News that white people are 'devils and they should be gone. We should be away from them and still be in Africa.'" |
But I looked up another article on this matter and they left out the "devils" part. Here's what they say she had to say:
Quote : | "'I feel confused and a little saddened about what it might do to my career,' she said. 'They are just making a big fuss about a poem.'" |
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1723616&page=1
This whole "white people are devils and they should be gone" thing...I think Malkin made that shit up or something. Actually here's the devil quote with more context:
Quote : | "All they do is just steal, rob and murder...that's the only thing they were raised to do. ... Even the ones that try to fix up with us, they're still devils. I feel they're devils and they should be gone. We should be away from them and still be in Africa." |
http://www.moonbattery.com/
[Edited on March 15, 2006 at 9:05 PM. Reason : I dunno what's true!!!]
[Edited on March 15, 2006 at 9:06 PM. Reason : sss]3/15/2006 9:01:31 PM |
supercalo All American 2042 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "fastest-rising poetry prodigies is a 7-year-old New York girl whose poisonous demagogic advocacy of black separatism makes Al Sharpton look like Mister Rogers." |
For me that was the most offensive thing I read, right off the bat. Anyone whos gonna attack a seven year old for showing a metric ton of smarts should be the one scrutinized. While Autum's words convey ignorance due to the "white devil" influence she no doubtedly gets from her dad's deeply rooted ideology, I feel this is an issue that should be handled with positive interest because poetry is an outlet for bent up feelings and also precursor to inteligent non-violent conversasion whether it's about race or anything else. To me racism is gradually becoming a more open topic and needs to be coaxed futher along into acceptence, by that I mean the differences recognized and the challenges addressed needed to stop ignorant stereo-typing. Michelle Malkin is only stirring the fire by this aticle.3/15/2006 9:07:15 PM |
Gamecat All American 17913 Posts user info edit post |
Hm. So, ABC News can't substantiate the horrendously racist comments she allegedly made. But a lot of far right-wing blogs that openly doubt she could know the meanings of the words "paradigm" and "remorse" (and neglect to mention that she can speak three languages fluently) are all too happy to.
Color me surprised.
Find me a link to a primary source that substantiates the comment. Otherwise, I'm going to just go ahead and bet that the "white devil" comments are a clear example of guilt by association with the Black Panther aspect of the story.
Feel free to commence with the far-reaching journalist-agenda conspiracy theories...
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Autum+Ashante%22+%22devils%22&hl=en&hs=tZh&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&filter=0
Not one relevant result.
[Edited on March 15, 2006 at 9:21 PM. Reason : ...] 3/15/2006 9:16:16 PM |
Waluigi All American 2384 Posts user info edit post |
3/15/2006 9:49:59 PM |
Kris All American 36908 Posts user info edit post |
Poetry is so boring! It doesn't even exist! You don't hear DMX rap about it! 3/15/2006 10:09:00 PM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
^^I know you're not talking to me because I already tried to find it from a reputable source... 3/15/2006 10:09:28 PM |
Gamecat All American 17913 Posts user info edit post |
Malkin may not have made it up herself, but it looks like that quote you struck through was most likely made up. 3/15/2006 10:14:54 PM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I'm realizing that this girl is much too eloquent to actually say something like, "I feel they're devils, and they should be gone." 3/15/2006 10:25:33 PM |
umbrellaman All American 10892 Posts user info edit post |
That image up there is begging for a caption.
SAY WHAAAAT!!1 3/15/2006 10:29:45 PM |
Gamecat All American 17913 Posts user info edit post |
Come to think of it...Malkin's probably jealous. The 7-year old writes better than she does. 3/15/2006 10:30:22 PM |
Kris All American 36908 Posts user info edit post |
NEGRO: It's not just a water fountain any more. 3/15/2006 10:32:06 PM |
msb2ncsu All American 14033 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "They wondered if Mozart wrote those symphonies so early in life, too..." |
Music is different though. There is something more fundamental or natural to music (or even art) than there is poetry.3/15/2006 11:10:42 PM |
EarthDogg All American 3989 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "I always smile when EarthDogg posts a story like this without providing a source. I'd like to know where these pieces come from once in a while." |
It's fairly clear from BridgetSPK's research that the event happened pretty much as Malkin describes...despite how much you may not like Malkin.
Would you still find her "an amazingly intelligent, young poet" if she was a white girl who asked the black students to remain seated so she could lead the white students in the "pledge to white people"?
Perhaps I wasn't clear in the points I was trying to make about this event, G-Cat. Just as with the father of the two little hitler teens, Ashante's father is filling her up with his hatred.
Quote : | "There's hypocrisy and short-sightedness in her work, sure, but since when have public schools claimed the high ground on either of those points?" |
I think the NEA would disagree with you there. I think they would defend themselves fairly rigorously against charges of hypocrisy and short-sightedness. Allowing an event like this which would do nothing to help heal the racial rift, and do nothing to make everyone feel more comfortable together was just plain stupid.
Quote : | "All in all: Big fucking whoop." |
A common defense in the culture wars, which is made up of small skirmishes such as this event and its backlash. I find these types of conflicts a fascinating reflection of our times.
[Edited on March 15, 2006 at 11:22 PM. Reason : .]3/15/2006 11:21:28 PM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
My "research" came up with me finding a slew of sources without the "white devil" comment and a few biased sources with the "white devil" comment. I've decided to go with my gut on the existence of the "white devil" comment:
Quote : | "Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I'm realizing that this girl is much too eloquent to actually say something like, "I feel they're devils, and they should be gone."" |
Critical thinking skills, EarthDogg. Get some.3/15/2006 11:25:09 PM |
cheeze All American 892 Posts user info edit post |
regardless of the amount of bias this article may have, how the fuck can anyone defend this?
sure, everyone has the right to freedom of speech. but this is totally inappropriate for a public school to sponsor. maybe next week they will have someone come in from the KKK to talk about how black people are thugs? 3/15/2006 11:40:29 PM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
^The school is claiming they didn't know she was gonna do this. They are also maintaining that they would have allowed something like this to happen had there been time provided for discussion and feedback. 3/15/2006 11:49:20 PM |
bgmims All American 5895 Posts user info edit post |
I think we should give her a professorship. 3/15/2006 11:50:57 PM |
EarthDogg All American 3989 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "Critical thinking skills, EarthDogg. Get some." |
Everyone could use more critical thinking, no dispute there. But to be clear, I'm not challenging whether she said "white devils" or not.
Do you think the flavor of her event as a whole was helpful in race relations? Did her poem, and the whole white-kids-remain-seated thing help or hurt the cause of bringing harmony between the races? And if Autum's purpose was to recite a littany of the white-man wrongs, what was the purpose of school officials forcing the children to listen to her except to make white kids feel guilty?3/15/2006 11:51:22 PM |
chembob Yankee Cowboy 27011 Posts user info edit post |
The schools had to have read her poems. I mean, come on, how can you not see that she's saying really offensive stuff? 3/15/2006 11:52:37 PM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
ED, you're right. This is ridiculous. Yet I still get some satisfaction from the whole "tables turned" thing. 3/16/2006 12:15:33 AM |
Gamecat All American 17913 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "msb2ncsu: Music is different though. There is something more fundamental or natural to music (or even art) than there is poetry." |
You're not a poet, are you?
Even though it's a diluted and dying art, it's still natural and still an art. Music isn't that different at all.
---
Quote : | "EarthDogg: It's fairly clear from BridgetSPK's research that the event happened pretty much as Malkin describes...despite how much you may not like Malkin." |
Are you kidding? There's a difference between asking the black students to stand and commanding the white students to sit. Surely you can discern between the two.
Quote : | "EarthDogg: Would you still find her "an amazingly intelligent, young poet" if she was a white girl who asked the black students to remain seated so she could lead the white students in the "pledge to white people"?" |
Actually, that has very little to do with what makes her an amazingly intelligent, young poet. The artistic merit of her poem is what entitles her to that distinction. If a white girl her age could express herself that well at 7 years-old and write a poem that moving about past injustices against whites (if she could find them), yes. I'd be just as likely to use the same label.
Quote : | "EarthDogg: Perhaps I wasn't clear in the points I was trying to make about this event, G-Cat. Just as with the father of the two little hitler teens, Ashante's father is filling her up with his hatred." |
Can you find some evidence of that? That doesn't come from a right-wing blog?
I mean, Malkin clearly fabricated the Ashante quote about "white devils," or at best did a piss poor job of verifying the accuracy of the quotes, so I'm not giving her too much credit when it comes to accurately attributing quotes to her father either. Does that makes me racist against Asian Americans?
But anyway. I don't see what you're getting at here. Is it not her father's right to fill his child's head with whatever prejudices he carries? It's not the best of all situations of course, but which of our parents didn't inject their own prejudices into their children? Honestly, I'd doubt any of us could claim to be so fortunate. I find it pretty incredible to see a Savage Nation devotee build the foundation for a "someone should set standards for parenting" argument.
The difference in this girl's case is that she's been given a gift of expression as well as a forum in which to use it. As rare a gift as she has, I don't see the problem with that.
Like I said though, if she starts advocating violence against white people, cut her off. There's no place in our society for that.
I'm really curious to hear your response to my questions, but mostly this one:
Quote : | "What specifically is wrong with or offensive about the "Black Child's Pledge" she led the students in reciting?" |
Quote : | "EarthDogg: I think the NEA would disagree with you there. I think they would defend themselves fairly rigorously against charges of hypocrisy and short-sightedness." |
I can't imagine how. I mean for God's sake...abstinence-only programs? Revisionist history texts? Intelligent fucking design?
Quote : | "EarthDogg: Allowing an event like this which would do nothing to help heal the racial rift, and do nothing to make everyone feel more comfortable together was just plain stupid." |
1. In other words...hypocritical and short-sighted.
2. I'd almost agree if I didn't think it does something to heal the racial rift; or at least, it could if we didn't live in such reactionary times. The girl put the past injustices brought by whites against blacks in a unique light; not as a consequence of unrepentent mercantilism as we're commonly taught, but on a deeper level, as a consequence of European nationalism.
The fact that she dashes the public-sanctioned hero label when dealing with characters like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin may offend the sensibilities of the audience, but my guess is that it's supposed to. And if you'd read some in-depth history of the three, and the consequences resulting from their actions, you may even see why the labels fit.
I'd dissect it futher, but that's for another day.
The point is that her reading could have promoted understanding and perspective that the other children (white or black) may have never encountered. Both have true healing power.
Quote : | "EarthDogg: A common defense in the culture wars, which is made up of small skirmishes such as this event and its backlash. I find these types of conflicts a fascinating reflection of our times." |
Me, too. I find it fascinating when people pretend they have a right not to be offended by artwork. I also find it fascinating when a Libertarian effectively advocates censorship.
As common as knee-jerk reactionaries bitching about the pieces and performances of emotionally charged artwork become, it's no wonder the defense is so common. Ever imagine that perhaps it's a common defense because it so often applies?
"As it is, she's just another angry black youth who's found a nonviolent way of expressing herself--much like others who are currently making millions of dollars doing the same thing and being idolized and imitated by white kids everywhere."
Seriously, big fucking whoop. I've heard plenty of rap songs more offensive than her poem. At least she's not out advocating the killing of white police officers like the original Black Panthers were. I prefer artistic expression to violence, no matter how enraging it may be to a few uptight parents and students.
Quote : | "EarthDogg: Do you think the flavor of her event as a whole was helpful in race relations?" |
Perhaps not. Primarily because parents, children, and vicariously interested parties respond far too emotionally to poetry readings.
Quote : | "EarthDogg: Did her poem, and the whole white-kids-remain-seated thing help or hurt the cause of bringing harmony between the races?" |
That'd be the hypocrisy and short-sightedness of hers that I was referring to.
Quote : | "EarthDogg: And if Autum's purpose was to recite a littany of the white-man wrongs, what was the purpose of school officials forcing the children to listen to her except to make white kids feel guilty?" |
To recognize Black History month. I know that's your issue to begin with, but that's a totally different discussion. If you'd like to deny that black history involves a littany of "white-man wrongs," I'm gonna have to ask who's history books you're reading.
---
Quote : | "cheeze: how the fuck can anyone defend this?" |
Read any post that begins Gamecat. They represent one way.
Quote : | "cheeze: sure, everyone has the right to freedom of speech. but this is totally inappropriate for a public school to sponsor. maybe next week they will have someone come in from the KKK to talk about how black people are thugs?" |
If the KKK could write a poem or two about some past injustices against them perpetrated by black people that went unpunished because they were sanctioned by the government, I'm sure the school would be more than willing to hear it. As it stands, I sincerely doubt such a poem could be written.
---
Quote : | "BridgetSPK: They are also maintaining that they would have allowed something like this to happen had there been time provided for discussion and feedback." |
I actually salute that policy. It's a pity they didn't get to use it in this case. I would've been incredibly interested in finding out how the girl would have responded if a white student had asked her why only black people were asked to participate in the pledge.
---
Quote : | "chembob: I mean, come on, how can you not see that she's saying really offensive stuff?" |
Citation plz.3/16/2006 2:32:16 AM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "My questions are: What's factually incorrect in her poems? Did white nationalism not put Africans in bondage? What unacceptable ideology is she advocating? What specifically is wrong with or offensive about the "Black Child's Pledge" she led the students in reciting? " |
I have no problem with the poem, it's perfectly fine.
The pledge is what's offensive. It doesn't help to fix the problem of racism in the least to further divide people. The pledge could easily be re-written to be more generally inclusive, and still have the same effect (assuming that the black people reciting it took it to heart). She could even preface the more general pledge with "and I would like to ask the black community especially to take this to heart" or even with the context of being said after the poem would be enough. As it is, asking only the blacks to recite it is offensive, racist, and idiotic.
" I pledge allegiance to my People.
I pledge to develop my mind and body to the greatest extent possible.
I will learn all that I can in order to give my best to my People in their struggle for liberation.
. . . I will discipline myself to direct my energies thoughtfully and constructively rather than wasting them in idle hatred.
I will train myself never to hurt or allow others to harm my brothers and sisters . . .
These principles I pledge to practice daily and to teach them to others in order to unite my People. "
What's wrong with that? It's a fine pledge when the needlessly exclusive terms are removed.3/16/2006 2:46:06 AM |
msb2ncsu All American 14033 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "Quote : "msb2ncsu: Music is different though. There is something more fundamental or natural to music (or even art) than there is poetry."
You're not a poet, are you?
Even though it's a diluted and dying art, it's still natural and still an art. Music isn't that different at all." |
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to convey... If anything I was saying the poetry is more complicated and requires more knowledge or life experience, more analyzing and rationalizing, and a more complicated creative process to do well. The "fundamental or natural" aspect was simply that I think music and art are more primal or innate, for lack of a better term. Art, composed music, and math are pretty common abilities for savants, but poetry is pretty rare. Its like poetry is more thought-driven and more calculated... I don't see a 7 year old having the life experiences or perspective to express poignant thoughts on the state of the world and life, but I could see a 7 year old being able to create art or music that invokes raw emotions, much like the beauty in nature. n the same token, I don't see a child being able to create art with the subtle subjects and keen perspectives that we have come to associate with truely great art (skills that fall more in line iwth poetry and writing).
Quote : | "I would've been incredibly interested in finding out how the girl would have responded if a white student had asked her why only black people were asked to participate in the pledge." |
I echo this sentiment. Would definitely have given a tad more insight into how much of her is prepared recital and how much is thorough comprehension and earnest production.
[Edited on March 16, 2006 at 10:18 AM. Reason : .]3/16/2006 10:11:58 AM |
BridgetSPK #1 Sir Purr Fan 31378 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "BridgetSPK: They are also maintaining that they would have allowed something like this to happen had there been time provided for discussion and feedback." |
Quote : | "[user]Gamesat[/user]: I actually salute that policy. It's a pity they didn't get to use it in this case. I would've been incredibly interested in finding out how the girl would have responded if a white student had asked her why only black people were asked to participate in the pledge." |
Quote : | "msb2ncsu: Would definitely have given a tad more insight into how much of her is prepared recital and how much is thorough comprehension and earnest production." |
I salute the "dicussion/feedback" policy too and think it would have solved everything if it was used in this instance but not because it would reveal how coached Autum is.
[Edited on March 16, 2006 at 10:35 AM. Reason : sss]3/16/2006 10:35:00 AM |
quagmire02 All American 44225 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "reveal how coached Autum is" |
true...so very true...out of the mouth of babes, my ass3/16/2006 10:41:05 AM |
msb2ncsu All American 14033 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "I salute the "dicussion/feedback" policy too and think it would have solved everything if it was used in this instance but not because it would reveal how coached Autum is. " |
I was saying that the open dialogue would have given more insight as a byproduct, not its primary purpose, by any means.3/16/2006 10:49:35 AM |