From: dowdy@tochtli.biochem.nwu.edu (Dowdy Jackson)
Subject: Re: Sexist African Males
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 23:08:53 GMT

In article <1992Apr12.203458.18212@midway.uchicago.edu> gross@befvax.uchicago.edu writes:
>
>Before I address the original issue, 
>I would ask in the future that you not refer to me and David Duke and 
>/or the KKK, unless you are saying the relationship is adversarial.  
>
Granted and I apologize if you took my statement as a comparison of you to
David Dukes.
>

>If you want to help fight against this white-supremicist anti-semitic
>propaganda, I'll tell you where it is, e-mail you information, tell you
>who else has information, and snail mail you other stuff.  
>
Good lets have the information. I'd be glad to help.

>I hope you realize that the statement that I would think anything of David
>Duke or the KKK except contempt and hatred is ridiculous, and hope you
>will retract it.  They hate probably me as much as they hate you just because

Done... I wholeheartidly retract that statement.

>
>I'll assume that you will accept Encyclopedia Britannica as an unbiased
>authoritative source.  (It is the only Encyclopedia that the US court
>system considers for 'indisputible evidence' regarding matters of fact.)
>
>You can look the stuff up yourself, in the index under slavery and
>under Africa.
>
Since the Encyclopedia Britannica isn't really a good source, I have a 
problem accepting its idea of history. I haven't read it so I can't say
for sure. If you look up information on how American was formed, I don't
think that it will say that the europeans slaughtered the Native Americans
in order to establish this country. I could be wrong but I doubt it.

>
>>You are making statements about
>>something that you know nothing about !
>Not so.  But you were criticing me, while knowing very little about me.
>
Granted.

>>Every African was at risk of being
>>enslaved by the european slave traders ! 
>No, the Europeans only operated in many parts of Africa, and not all of Africa,
>and certainly not all at the same time.  Africa is a very large content,
>and the European control did not extend throughout it when the slave trade
>was active.  And the Egyptians and Arab Africans were not at risk.  
>But some black Africans were at risk of the Arab slave traders.  

The Africans that I am speaking of are the black Africans. I should have
made that clear.

>
>>I have relatives and written accounts
>>in my family that talk about these kinds of things. 
>I'm not questioning the accounts of your family and have no intention
>of doing so or insulting your family.  I'm having a discussion about
>history, and I have supported my claims.
>
>>It just angers me to
>>think that white people just don't want to own up and admit that THEY are
>>responsible for enslaving Africans ! NO ONE ELSE. 
>If you are angry, don't blame the messenger.
>The people who bought the slaves in order to bring them to American, and those
>who brought them to American, and enslaveed them were all white.
>No one is disagreeing with this.  If this is what you mean by
>responsible, then you are right.  But this does not mean that all whites
>are responsible. 

Yes not all whites are responsible for this attrosity but I am complaining about
those that simply say hey.. I didn't enslave anyone so don't blame me. I have
to ask those that respond in that manner... What are YOU doing to change things?
Even though AfAms aren't getting lynched and beaten by whites in the same 
proportions as they were 20 years ago, things haven't changed much if any in
the way of attitudes and the way AfAms are viewed by whites. We are still not
viewed as being intellegent nor is our culture nor history appreciated or
even known by most whites eventhough we are American just like them.

>Are you saying that *I* don't want to admit that I, or my people 
>are responsible?  Do you know if I'm white?  Am I, or my family responsible 
>for enslaving Africans or perpetuating their slavery?  Do you know my 
>family history? 

I don't know it but why don't you enlighten me.

>
>If I found a black author who would say that 'Africans enslaved Africans
>for the slave traders' would that make a difference to you?

It depends on the author. There are many AfAms that have this self hate image.
I would like to see if there are any books written by AfAms which would make  
the claim that Africans enslaved Africans for the europeans.

>
>Now, since you asked me, fair is fair. Where are you getting your information?
>
I am getting my information on books that I read during my days as an
undergrad at UCLA. The texts are from African scholars who are either African
American or black Aficans.

>You posted earlier something on Farrakhan.  Is that where your information
>comes from?

Nope.

>
>You also said he was "an opponent of the Jewish community."  I gave you
>a chance to explain what you meant through e-mail and you never did.

Sorry I must have missed that. I don't remember saying that he was an
opponent of the jewish community. I do support Farrakhan but that doesn't
mean that I agree with everything he has to say. I don't agree with anyone
all of the time.

>I'm not interested in a flame war.  I don't think I have made any personal
>attacks, and do not expect any in return.

I have no intention of turning this into a flame war because no one gets anything
from this.

Dowdy Jackson