From: frankli@seq.uncwil.edu (william carter franklin)
Subject: Re: WC Franklin Bashing -- Let's Move On!
Organization: Univ. of North Carolina @ Wilmington
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 13:13:51 GMT

slzm9@cc.usu.edu writes:

>1. William Carter Franklin (WCF) continually gets bogged down in
>   the semantics of the discussion. Why do so many people worry
>   so much about how someone sounds, or the exact usage of a
>   particular word? The important thing is what's the message, right?
>   Well then William give people a break, maybe they aren't
>   trying to stereotype every individual but rather are speaking
>   in general terms.

So the people that say all Blacks are lazy and on welfare are just
speaking in general terms? A Stereotype is a Stereotype, it always
hurts and is never true.

>2. Some folks spend so much time reacting they never DO anything.
>   Well William stop telling us how bad we are for stereotyping
>   people and go out and do something constuctive. Telling
>   us how bad we are is certainly not constructive.

You haven't been reading my posts very thouroughly. I am not, however,
going to tell you about EVERY soup kitchen that I volunteer to work in,
or every time I drive a poor Black person to the voting booth on cold
November mornings (I haven't had my license THAT long either),
the main thing is that I AM DOING SOMETHING ALL THE TIME, but I
am still not doing enough. What are you doing? I'd like to hear.
I am not just "telling us how bad we are..." I am just challenging
this new vision that some of you have.

>3. MMoore and Mr. Watts and others have allowed themselves to 
>   get off the subject. We should stop rising to the bait of people
>   like WCF and instead redirect the discussion to the racial 
>   inequities that continue daily. Name calling doesn't get us
>   anywhere. As a start I wonder if Mr. Moore or Mr. Watts can
>   identify acts that WCF should see regularly that have a racial
>   basis. By identifying racism that WCF can see we might make
>   him more aware that it is occurring, is even rampant, today.

"...the bait of people like WCF ?"
Please do not accuse me of such a thing. I am not working against you,
I just disagree with the new vision that many of you have that deals
with the solution. And don't think that I am denying racism. In 1975,
a Black family moved in next door to me and they became chat_friends
with my parents (their children were older than me, like say seven
or eight years old so I didn't have much of a chance to play with them)
and my family watched as bigots threw rocks and bricks at their house
and threatened the kids. We did not watch for long, since racism angers
my family. When the boy would go for walks, the white kids would follow
him, and my dad would step out there and say, "If any one of you messes
with him, I will throw your ass on the ground and make you wish you 
didn't, because he hasn't done anything to you." One white bigot from
down the street walked past our yard one afternoon (I was so young
that this is one of my FIRST memories) and bigot said "Whatcha think
about them niggers moving in next door?" My dad, who never misses a lick
said, "It's a good thing, maybe they'll clean up the place, especially
of all that white trash." I was almost afraid I was so embarrassed, but
happy that my dad had stood up to the bigots. Ever heard of the 
Wilmington Ten? Study U.S. History @ 1972. I have seen it all from
both sides. Just this morning on NBC news at sunrise they showed a
home video with Ice T. where he says "There are several police stations
that I would personally like to blow up." and another qoute too, but
I think he was just over-reacting to the recent King situation. Still
it is a sad day when we can't ALL get along. That is my goal, whether
or not you agree with all of my ideas, I assure you I think things 
through heavily before making a statement.

>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>   In general we need to stop talking past each other and listen. Don't
>get bogged down in name calling at the very least. William please
>listen to the pain and desire for change coming from these voices.

>   All you Franklin bashers, how about turning this discussion toward
>a constructive note.


Although I admire your vision, I must say that it is healthy when we
can have spirited debate over issues that we hold dear to us. It
brings out the best in us all in the end. I can take the bashing, I
am a tough man. (Bring it on :)