“HOW CAN WE PROGRESS TOWARD THE FUTURE IF WE CONTINUE TO GLORIFY THE PAST?”
|| By MIA McLEOD || Recently, I held my first Race Relations Town Hall. And while I purposely narrowed the scope to law enforcement and communities of color, one thing was clear: That discussion was only the beginning.
Later the nation reflected upon the 50th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the eerily familiar incidents of racial unrest that have recently “bloodied” cities across America. Then the Justice Department released its report on the Ferguson PD – confirming what many of us already knew. Race is one of the biggest issues facing our nation. Its reach, implications and impact far exceed the parameters and scope of a two-hour town hall, but I was determined to start the conversation.
And now seems as good a time as any.
Often unwritten and unspoken, but never understated … make no mistake. The N-word is still alive and well in South Carolina.
It whispers when we walk past statues or into University Halls honoring white supremacist and hate-monger, “Pitchfork Ben” Tillman.
It echoes in the wind each time a cool breeze hits that good ole confederate flag in its flagrantly divisive and offensive place of prominence on the State House grounds.
It’s the chorus of racial chants, like the one Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity members bellowed on the bus in Oklahoma and acted out for CRIPmas at Clemson University – sporting gangsta garb and blackface.
It’s embedded in the policies, procedures and practices that continue to devalue, discredit and dehumanize those who dare to challenge “the system” that wasn’t created to benefit or include them.
It’s the scab that never heals because some state leaders would rather pay homage to hatred disguised as heritage than deal with wounds of the past and present, so that we can begin to collectively advance toward the future.
And as much as we’d like to continue to sweep race “under the rug,” it’s the subject of conversations we know we need to have, but never do. So how can we progress toward the future if we continue to glorify the past?
We can’t.
The flag that some relish, I loathe. And yet it continues to fly boldly, confidently, proudly – as if its symbolism isn’t just as vile as the white hoods and dark hearts of those who once used it to torture and terrorize.
And while the confederate flag continues to be a source of pride for some, pain for others and divisiveness for all, when it comes to race, there are much bigger red flags in this state than that one.
Take the “other” N-word, for instance. This one’s more polished, palatable and politically-correct than the original, but when used to suppress, oppress, castigate and repudiate people of color because of their color, it’s equally regressive and offensive.
No, “the (Clemson) Board doesn’t intend to change the name of any buildings on campus.” No, “the confederate flag won’t be moved…” No, “you need to learn to accept (our) history for what is…”
Okay, so when are you gonna learn to accept my history for what it is?
Let’s be real.
It’s 2015, and in South Carolina, we covertly “pack” certain schools with black students and call it “rezoning…,” profile black men and call it “policing…,” marginalize the voices of minorities and call it “redistricting…,” deny equity and parity and call it “equal opportunity…”
And while diversity isn’t popular, deliberately denouncing and disrespecting our President because he’s black, is. But we don’t dare call it racism. It’s just “politics.”
From Willie Lynch to Loretta Lynch, we don’t need a Letter or Senate confirmation to remind us that nothing changes until we do. And real change begins when we truly start behaving as one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all …
When the names of our buildings and statues bear the faces of real leaders with whom I too can identify and whose contributions I too can celebrate …
When “nigger chants” and black-faced CRIPmases are no longer tolerable or funny …
Obviously, race is still an issue in South Carolina. And the “other” N-word has consistently shown that “No,” usually means, “Never,” which ultimately denies and dismisses the legitimate concerns of people of color, solely on the basis of race.
If we ever wanna change South Carolina, we’ve got to change, South Carolina. The time is Now.
Shouldn’t that be the “new” N-word?
Mia McLeod represents District No. 79 in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
WANNA SOUND OFF? Submit your editorial for consideration HERE …
112 comments
Last time I checked, no images surfaced of black face at the Clemson “Cripmas” party. If you can’t even get your facts straight, Ms. McLeod, how am I supposed to give a flying f*** what you think?
Careful, once she gets to the point where the earrings and wig come off… look out!!!
You made that same stupid comment the last time she wrote a piece here. Is this gonna be a regular thing for you? Maybe you should assign it a hotkey.
You misspelled “honkey”
??? —It took me 28 seconds to figure this one out!
Ignorant @$$-Backward liberals are the REASON the country is in a mess.
To think anyone, with any sense, would listen to you is ludicrous.
We need to overpower the very BAD influences that have wrecked this country. And that BAD INFLUENCE is YOU.
Wait, I thought it was Obama? Now you are saying it’s Mia. Make up your mind, idiot.
You’re not that stupid, I have to explain it to you……Nevermind…LMAO…
Or did you just drink yourself into the usual stupor last night…and it has not worn off yet???…
You’re embarrassing yourself…again…Hahahaha..
And people Boz VOTES!!!!…believe it or not…
Some interesting points. Now watch all of the knee-jerk Clemsonites start crying.
“marginalize the voices of minorities and call it “redistricting…,”” The DOJ and minority advocacy organizations consistently call for and enforce requirments for Majority-Minority districts. You cannot create these districts from thin air. In order to create a Majority-Minority you must lump all the minorities in one district there has the effect of creating super Majority-Majority districts around the Majority-Minority district. This isn’t marginalization it a much shorter M word, MATH.
Ssssshhhhhhh – there you go again pointing out the “not so obvious to those who failed algebra…”
If pulling down the stars and bars would eliminate 70% of the black crime rate in SC, I’d bring it down tomorrow.
If segregating schools would ensure that all students and teachers could safely participate in a learning environment, I’d say kumbaya.
If removing the names of immoral men and women from public buildings would reduce the frequency of unwed (and by definition financially unsupported) mothers by 50%, I’d rename them all after G.W. Carver.
As for “disrespecting” our president, his half-black side is the only reason he has not been dragged into the gutter like Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, and Johnson.
None of the things you propose will correct the root causes of black problems in South Carolina.
And not a word said about the word being used in every hip-hop/rap song. It’s every other word out of a black person’s mouth. Maybe Mia should do an article on the “H” word… hypocrite.
But as we all know, it’s the cracka’s fault. Just another case of Whitey holding the black man down.
It’s okay if “they” say it. Same as it is no big deal when one of “them” offs another. Let a non-black harm a hair on a black’s head, even if totally and completely justified, and all hell is guaranteed to break loose.
“It’s the chorus of racial chants, ….”
…. and several hundred song lyrics.
http://www.lyrics.net/
Search for songs with the n-word in the lyrics and see how many songs turn up in the search results.
Several hundred thousand song lyrics, is more like it. Here I have an opinion that may be at odds with Mia’s. It is absurd to complain about the continued use of the word when it is heard every single day, as entertainment, sung or rapped by rich entertainers — and millions of “white” people (who are no more “black” that “black” people) spend their money on those recordings.
The fact that so many of them are teens and children makes it all the more absurd. Even if you ran one of those annoying NBC “And Now You Know” PSAs featuring some rapper saying “It’s OK for me to use the N-word, coz I’m black, but you white kids who buy my music should never say it. If you do you are a racist,” it would be ignored, because kids ignore that stuff.
When, ever, in history, has so much popular music contained words that the majority of the population is not allowed to utter out loud?
It’s one of the most glaring double standards that exists today. And it’s one of the main reasons that kids who grew up listening to that music, and who maybe have parents or grandparents who use it as a matter of course, see no reason at all that they can’t use it whenever they want.
The more you try to tell people what they can and can’t say, the more their “fuck you” response kicks in.
And lectures, whether by a lovely, personable and smart state legislator of color, or some rapper on TV, are not going to change that.
“(I)n South Carolina, we covertly “pack” certain schools with black students and call it “rezoning…,” profile black men and call it “policing…,” marginalize the voices of minorities and call it “redistricting….” Unfortunately, it’s the reality of politics in a one-party state much like the old Soviet Union. One party rules based on system of ideological purity defined by that party’s power elite — in government, business, the media, churches, etc. And, heaven forbid, if you buck the party line!
Maybe if black men started pulling up their pants it would help.
But then they won’t look bad like their idols in prison.
Maybe we should hand out vouchers for suspenders and belts on the WIC and EBT cards
What do the Oklahoma SAEs have to do specifically with race relations in SC?
Have you had your red herring today?
That would be the pickled variety? Mmmmm … good!
“Never,” which ultimately denies and dismisses the legitimate concerns of people of color, solely on the basis of race.
How ironic, here is another “Never” which applies to you and your fellow Cockroaches in the Legislature
“Never,” which ultimately denies and dismisses the legitimate concerns of taxpayers, solely on the basis that they can’t unite and throw your sorry asses into the Congaree River
Let’s put together a committee to change names of all the buildings named after mean people. Mia can be in charge of it. Start with all the buildings in the state named after Strom Thurmond, Robert E. Lee Academy, James H. Hammond Academy, Ben Tillman. That would keep her busy for quite a few years.
All we’ll need to do is rename the MLK – Building 1, MLK – Elementary School 1, etc…
So what do we need to do to make you happy Mia? Take down a few statues, rename a few buildings, implement busing, quit arresting black men, make it ILLEGAL to use the “N” word. THEN will you quit being a whiney little girl?
National
Association of
Always
Complaining
People
If all that were done, she’d find something else to bitch about.
Like!
Typical arrogant Clemson shmuck.
How are things at USCe?
It’s a great day to be a Gamecock as is every other day!
What about The Strom Thurmond Athletic Arena? He committed statutory rape to a black women. Why doesn’t Mia want to change the name of that?
Since that charge didn’t exist at the time, Ol’Strom didn’t commit rape of any kind.
Okay, but he fucked a young black girl. Maybe not illegal at the time, but immoral. And let’s be honest, it tarnished his name.
So it was acceptable to fuck the young help? Do you think she had any option other than to succumb to Stormy’s dick? I guess it was either that or back to the fields picking cotton in the hot sun.
That’s UofSC to you!
Easy there Buz. Pretty broad brush to paint with. Personally I’m on the opposite side of the OP, as are most of the other Alumni I know. From a 92 Clemson grad.
Obviously, you don’t know many Clemson grads.
Arrogant – no. Well educated – yes. Common sense – yes.
If the worst problems black folks have these day involve statues, flags and name of buildings; That begins to sound like “White People Problems”
Arrogant – maybe. Well educated – doubtful. Common sense – hell no!
Tillman (distantly kin to some of my ancestors) was a horrible, murderous racist pig. His statue should be in no place of honor, and his name should be on no building at any institution of higher education.
If traditionally black colleges are taking away all the honors bestowed to Bill Cosby, a horrible human being who is African American and who still lives, surely an integrated state-supported college can lose all the honors for Pitchfork Ben.
MLK was no angel either. He had women in every city and was as corrupt as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. I’m okay if they take every white male symbol if they take every MLK symbol down too.
Yeah, because marital infidelity is the same as stirring up crazed mobs to murder people — then bragging about it. Tillman, who wrote that he felt entirely justified in leading a mob that, among other atrocities, shot a black man who had fallen to his knees, pray, further stated ““We have done our level best [to prevent blacks from voting]…we have scratched our heads to find out how we could eliminate the last one of them. We stuffed ballot boxes. We shot them. We are not ashamed of it.”
Still waiting for the answer to the Joe Pyne question.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=51t1OsPSdBc
Do real people actually pay money for that crap?
Ambassador David Wilkins said regarding the proposal to change the name of Tillman Hall (back) to Old Main, “Tillman Hall today, Tillman Hall tomorrow, Tillman Hall forever!”
Ha! So true.
I see what you did there.
Good one.
I cannot understand why you are suddenly playing the victim-card for your entire race when to my knowledge you have never played it for yourself.
Nicely written … by someone who wasn’t even born then and (maybe) has read nothing about that time frame except Gruberment propaganda and lefty loosey spew.
Were those times bad news? Yes. Were those times good times? Yes.
(How is that hope and change working out?)
Dear Mia,
Does it hurt to wear your panties when they’re always in a wad?
Looking at that picture of her, I bet there’s some honkey in that family lineage.
Are you a racist in real life or do you just play one on the interweb?
Did you get some sand in your vagina reading that?
Actually, I was commenting on your entire body of work on this article…so, I guess the answer is that you are a racist in real life. Gotcha.
Ouch, strong words from someone I could give a fuck about hurts.
Tacky comment. You’re drunk, go to bed.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
Me too, MLK, me too. But probaly not in teh way the author of this article would like to be “judged”. How about be judged for what value you bring to the table “n”ow, more so than how much (you think) you’ve been put upon your entire life.
I would imagine someone that doesn’t care at all about the color of your skin would really ignite the “racist” commentary.
Funny considering that MLK’s four little children view others by the color of their skin.
MLK himself recognized color, just ask all the white women he boinked while traveling “the circuit”.
FWIW, I can not really imagine what it’s like to be a black person in SC, so I can’t just dismiss what she is saying like others on this site. Without “walking in her shoes” for a time I can never know how serious these issues are to her.
I would like to see each of her points be debated honestly in the Legislature, if that’s possible. It’s time to get past these issues and move on and if renaming some buildings and removing some statues and flags helps that process, then I’m all for it. You can’t erase your history but you can try to not let your history negatively impact your present and future.
I have no allegiance to any buildings, statues or old flags. I DO have an obligation to “love my brother” and if my brother is hurting I will do what I can to support him. It’s time to fix this.
If it’s as bad as she says it is, wouldn’t you think about leaving?
OK. Where should she go? Some people see SC as “home”…I’m not going to leave just because there’s assholes all around me. I deal with them as best as I can.
Wherever she wants to go. If she’s unhappy here, she should go where she’d be happy.
Then do what I do. I lead a “Battle of Columbia” walk every semester as a part of a course I teach. We wind up on the State House Grounds and invariably, we get around to talking about Ol’Pitchfork.
Was he an unmitigated racist piece of shit? Absolutely.
Did he have any redeeming characteristics? Yes, albeit few and far between – he was an advocate of higher education (Clemson and Winthrop benefited from Tillman’s efforts), he was a devoted supporter of farmers, he favored the banning of excessive corporate donations (ever hear of the Tillman act?).
Do any of his virtues level the scales for his evil virulent hatred of blacks? Who knows, but every time we come to his statute, I get the chance to tell the whole story – mostly to college seniors who know little if anything about him (or Old Strom, or General Wade Hampton, or Ambassador James Byrnes, or Marion Sims (the founder of the field of gynecology))
Tearing down monuments, changing the names of buildings and purging libraries is what socialist do when the new regime comes in – we’re better than that.
While I agree with much of what you say, is it improper to do some small things to show that we want everyone to feel welcome in our State and Universities? These really are small things (to us) that we’re talking about.
I went to Clemson and never knew anything about Tillman until after I graduated, so to me it was a non-issue…but I’m not black either.
I had many of my classes in Tillman and am in favor of reverting back to the original name “Old Main”. A plaque should be placed near the entrance to explain Tillman and his connection to Clemson.
Perhaps keep the name and put up a plaque explaining when and why the hall was renamed. (1946 because his son William who was a trustee pushed the issue).
Do the same thing at Winthrop where Tillman hall was renamed Tillman Hall in 1962 – guess what was going on then. I’ll give you a hint U Miss and James Meredith.
I could live with that, but again I’m not offended by the name now. I don’t think putting a plaque up while leaving the name will make them happy…I think it would actually be seen as a slap in the face. IMO.
Tell me Colonel when you are going over the story of Mr. Tillman do you also quote Mr. Tillman’s remarks concerning President Roosevelt’s entertaining Booker T. Washington at the White House. I really think that is the quote we should put on the base of each of his statutes. I think that quote, more than any other quote, tells us about the character of the man..
I have these two quotes from Ol’Pitchfork on a 3×5 card in my briefing book:
“…whites have absolute control of the State government, and we intend at any and all hazards to retain it. The intelligent exercise of the right of suffrage is as yet beyond the capacity of the colored man. We deny, without regard to color, that “all men are created equal”; it is not true now, and was not true when Jefferson wrote it….”
“…How did we recover our liberty? By fraud and violence. We tried to overcome the thirty thousand majority by honest methods, which was a mathematical impossibility…we won the fight…”
Tillman said of the Booker T. Washington’s visit to the White House, “…The action of President Roosevelt in entertaining that nigger will necessitate our killing a thousand niggers in the South before they will learn their place again,”
He was not a nice man.
Most of the comments here just prove her point. Racist assholes. Many of you call yourselves “Christians” too…SMH.
You must not come here much – thanks for playing though!
You’re not a racist asshole?
Not hardly, I hate everyone equally.
A lot of the responses you see here are clearly racially insensitive. People trying to marginalize minority opinion by ridicule (like don’t get your panties in a wad) or by coming up with absurd arguments like “Why are you worried about a pitchfork Ben Tillman, when you should be worried about black on black crime. Its annoying. It seems to make light of a serious subject. But don’t be put off, because, deep down most of these guys are just hard core hate black people racists
Yes, the the truth and logic should never be used to rebutt whiney points of view such as those presented by Mia. It gives the user an “unfair” advantage.
Her post didn’t really come off as “whiney” to me.
You may have missed this but the truth is that if the name Ben Tillman never came up again, nothing will have changed. I teach history at the Chicken Coop – very few of my students have any idea who Tillman was. I purposely take them to the statue and ask – every other semester I’ll have a student who knows anything about him but I make the point of talking about him – I quote him and provide the context of just what a piece of shit he really was. That ginormous character flaw aside, he is part of the history of South Carolina and a huge force behind the founding of two of our institutions of higher learning.
Rewriting history won’t change any of it.
Reviewing history in an honest context might.
The only problem I have with what you say is that there’s a sizeable portion of our population that wants a few changes. All they hear is “no”, deal with it. I believe some small gestures would go a long way to improving attitudes within our State. I’m willing to be the first to extend my hand and say that I’m willing to make an effort to help.
Don’t rewrite history. Just make some adjustments to who the State has decided to honor.
Tell your people to stop complaining and start trying….enough already.
Well, she’s a state rep, so I would say she is trying. I think you should start trying. You aren’t racist at all, huh?
If it was not for you people calling someone a “racist” when they disagree with you, you would not have a response.
Sometimes, you just get tired of people singing the same ole song, no matter what color they are. Try something new, it would garner more support and acceptance.
“your people” sounds kinda racist to me. Just sayin’…
I could respond that it is the responsibility of all races to try to make relations better. What are you doing to improve relations with your fellow man? Are you just part of the problem?
You aren’t doing anything to help? You should start trying and stop bitching on a message board…enough already.
“your people” sounds kinda racist to me.”
That could be part of your problem, you are too sensitive, I am not. I go for the practical approach and what it really takes to solve a problem. And it is not trying to enforce some unknown code for what people say and think. Love could get a good start on accomplishing some of her objectives if she could force a little introspection and self analysis In her community. Owning up to your own responsibilities might be a good start. Then, that community might find more acceptance and support from people that are tiring of their current message.
Well, “your people” could try, just a little, to not be so hateful and divisive. That would go a long way. I am getting a little tired of your current message…I believe a little self analysis would bring you to the conclusion that you are hating on your fellow man in a very passive aggressive way. Just my opinion.
Oh, I should mention that I’m a SC born redneck from the Dark Corner. When I say “your people” to you, I am talking about the backward assholes I grew up around.
The problem with people like you is that the sightliest disagreement on this issue makes one a “racist” in your eyes. You have plagued this blog by reply posting to several people that they are racist because you disagree with them. I could not care about your skin color and ancestral linage, you need to stop judging and automatically assigning a personal label when they express an idea with which you differ.
“your people” say racist things…”your people” get called out on it. If you don’t like being called a racist, stop saying racist things. Simple really. Have you “started trying” yet?
You are beginning to be redundant, stop calling people “racist” without any proof. It would serve you well.
Tell it to your people.
“You need to stop judging and automatically assigning a personal label.
You mean the way you assumed he was a black person?
You are mistaken, I never assumed anything.
“You People,” at times just refers to the mind set, not a skin color. “You people” are really quick to judge, and you don’t deserve any recognition for individuality since you all come across the same..
Bull shit! You didn’t say you people, you said your people. Give it up, just admit what you are and move on. We all know.
Why is “your people” an automatic classification by race. “your people,” on my part, has a different classification. People with the same ideas,the same way of thinking, and coming to the same conclusions. Your insistence on wanting to classify people by your prejudices is disturbing. You want to create a strawman so you will have someone to fight to prove you superiority and reinforce your prejudices.
“your people” sounds kinda racist to me.”
You think? it is racist, and she knows it. Her response is total BS, as usual. She is one of those people I described earlier.
Would she have won her seat if it weren’t for redistricting?
Probably not. Just like Ol’ Ben wanted it. At least she’s trying to do something. Y tu?
Whaa, whaa,
Boo-hoo
Pee-pee
Pooh-pooh!
@FITS – you shouldn’t allow your psycho readers to use “Mia McLeod” as their handle.
Will, where’s the coverage of the private school tax cheats? Oh yeah, it doesn’t fit the school choice narrative
http://www.thestate.com/2015/03/23/4064628_south-carolina-tax-probe-targets.html?rh=1
“Recently, I held my first Race Relations Town Hall.”
Was Starbucks served there?
#Race Together
#failure
#iwantcoffeenotlectures
lulz
Meanwhile…when Mia was asked why no indictment of Diamond Jim for STEALING taxpayers’ 50 mil
Mia said…hey…like my brother Reggie hiding all that eviDENCE…I’m looking for my cut still !!!
What if we changed the name of Tillman Hall to Osama Bin Laden Hall. Then we would have it named after a racist Muslim who supported the killing of white people; instead of a racist Christian who supported the killing of black people. We could live with that a few years to balance out the equities.
So, the word “No” is now racist?!?!…. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha….. this editorialist/representative/whatthef@ckever is simply dumb as sh!t…
Django Unchained. Every rap song. Richard Pryor.
I will stop saying it if you do.
Mia,
My wife and I were at Sams Club recently and waiting to gas or car. We were in line waiting on a black male who had his door open and loud music blaring out. Most of the words were the so called audacious “N” word and Mother F–A. Well please tell me what us poor whites are to do in today’s world.
Mia:
I wanted to follow along with your points. Then you threw out this little gem, “disrespecting our President because he’s black.”
Foundation for your argument tanked. Sorry.
Race relations TownHall? Make sure to invite the individuals featured on Charleston Thug Life. I’m sure they’ll be happy to weigh in.
Get over it, don’t act like a nigger and no one will call you one. So please shut the fuck up!!!
North Carolina State University (NCSU) has responded to a series of
fraternity scandals on-campus and nationwide by at least temporary
banning alcohol at the parties of all ordinary fraternities. However,
the ban doesn’t include the handful of historically-black fraternities
at the college.
http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/23/nc-state-bans-alcohol-for-some-frats-but-not-black-ones/
That whole “you only oppose Obama because he’s black” meme is SOOOO tired. I opposed Obama’s policies when they were Bill Clinton’s and Jimmie Carter’s too. I’m not anti-black — I’m anti-socialism.