Goldie Taylor, contributing editor for TheGrio.com, tells the story of the arrest of her great, great grandfather, Major Blackard, to explain the racist history of demanding identification from African-Americans and its connection to present-day "birtherism."
Why Obama shouldn't have had to 'show his papers' - full version
Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:41 PM EDT
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I have like a lot of segments Rachel has done, but this was one of the best. Many commentators have said this birther stuff is racism; but this was by far the most powerful statement of same.
You guys should push hard for the Socialized medicine... if you are thinking this is racially motivated, you need a LOT of medication. I have no problem with Obama's color or anyone else'e tone of skin. He produced the birth certificate after 2 years, I'm cool with it... just odd a president took 2 years to be able to have proof, just saying. He is our officially elected president and that I will respect, whether he has a lot of melanocytes or a few, who cares!
You idiot, he produced it ages ago.
And that he should produce it is not an issue, that he was asked for it IS. Whether it is racially motivated or not (and I am not sure you could find a quality Obama has that other presidents don't other than skin color), it is obviously Ad Homonym. Which is not something you SHOULD ever respond to, so that it took him two months to produce his birth certificate and two years to produce the long form is too fast in my opinion.
brad,
www(dot)factcheck(dot)org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa(dot)html
it's been released...the birthers reject his birth certificate...both short form and long form - which is very sad.
Long overdue: It's racism! But at least when it's finally said loud and clear, it's you who says it with the brilliant help of Goldie Taylor.
Thank you/ Evan White
Long overdue: It's racism! But at least when it's finally said loud and clear, it's you who says it with the brilliant help of Goldie Taylor.
Thank you/ Evan White
Rachel, your interview with Goldie Taylor this evening went to the heart of why a minority of American's have pursued President Obama. I was ashamed on many fronts but mainly because the great profession of journalism has sunk so low as to give legitimacy to veiled racism. . . and they fully know it. If you are not going to help America move forward then get out of the way.
Many people including me, have been saying that this whole birther thing had to do with blatant racism for the past 2 years and have stated that on various message boards.
When Holder opined about racism in this country, many including from the media jumped all over the chap.
What is amazing is that this was only found to be racism NOW.
WOW... ya think?
So it depends on who states that it is racism? ..... so if someone in the media states it is racism then it is, or if some polititian says it is due to racism then it is...... Hmmmm
Ahhh.... I see.... now I get the picture.
Of course it is racism. But so what? This country is full of racism. No news there. We have a country of dis-respectful, racist, intolerant, bigoted, hateful, foul-mouthed citizens. And the media just makes it worse by airing such people on TV each and every night; even the journalists and TV commentators have become, to some extent, intolerant and loud-mouthed and angry. And the more we carp about all the intolerance and try to convince (even force) people to change, the worse it becomes (or so it seems). Many people today adopt the mannerisms they see on TV and in movies. Watch about any current reality TV show and witness the bad manners of the adults there. We reap what we sow.
it's not now racism, it's what non-birthers have been saying.
as for reporting/talking about it, because, as disrespectful as it is demanding that he does so, it's of significance to make sure the word gets out to help extinguish this racist fire.
Carrie-Ann, #4.9, Nothing changes much in this country especially when it comes to racism.....
It just rears it ugly head to the light of day when the country is in financial trouble and there are a lot of unemployed people vieying for the same jobs.
Unemplyment amoung people of colour/ minorities especially of the darker hue are higher than in any other group, and is closer to 17-27% in a lot of areas of this country.
How is that so? Do you really believe that that is because the people of colour ie African decent is less qualified than others? Even in good times it is hard for black people to find/get employment no matter how great their qualifications and even for the less desirable jobs...... ask day labourers...... very illuminating.
Why do you think that black people are judged more harshly than others.... look at the prison system..... more black males are in prisons in this country than are in colleges.
And people like to talk about a level playing field or respect..... there is none for "blacks" as Trump refers to people of African decent. Last hired and first fired...... no matter their elevated quals.
Remember that Apprentice episode where the black chap who even had a Phd, won...... and Trump wanted to award the win to both contestants? Hmmm
i don't watch reality tv, and barely regular tv...so, no i don't. as for the rest, i never stated that it wasn't racist. i don't dispute what you're saying directly to me.
all i was saying is that people have been saying all along that it is racist. not now all of a sudden people are saying it - they've been saying it.
Carrie-Anne,#4.5, I am just trying to bring some light to an otherwise hidden problem, as oftentimes racism is quite subtle, so I am not picking on
you or anything like that.
I also find it better to reference a post as opposed to just talking to everyone at the same time with out any point of reference in particular.
In actuality many people have noted that all the nonsense was due to racism and they were told they that they were just using the race card and it was not about racism, but about making sure the person in the White House was qualified etc to be there blah blah blah..... you know the usual..... all the while they were referring to the President in a disrespectful manner as Odumbo etc....
Unfortunately, these folks do not realize how ignorant it makes Americans look to the rest of the world, which is sad really.
Frankly, since that episode where that guy was so poorly treated by trump, I have not watched his program and no one that I know bothers to watch either and do state this as one of the reasons why they do not.
Frankly I find reality shows of this type sort of contrived and pointless anyway. But perhaps it is just that I am easily bored or maybe my attention span is short when it comes to people insulting each other and/or knifing each other in the back...... LOL
Frankly masterpiece theatre and reruns of Sherlock Holmes, the Brit coms etc are far more interesting any day than a bunch of folks making a fool of themselves over some contrived senario imo. LOL
But then perhaps that is it.... the powers that be want folks to be so bored out of their minds that they do not even bother to watch the news anymore thus they can do whatever they will to the masses and we would not even realize it until it is way past too late...... Hmmm
Well, I've discovered that people don't even realize they are being racist. Let me give you a real live example. Below is my reply to a very disturbing thread over at Gretawire. After the quotes I'll explain some more:
"Goodness. After reading through this thread I feel like I just sat through a c l a n meeting. Lets see..
Consider the title of this article:
A thread on Gretawire about President Obama going on Oprah (including a picture of The President, The First Lady, and Oprah) mentions, but is not limited to:
1. Native American land disputes
2. Buffalo Soldiers (over and over)
3. Hitler's white race
4. the half white race?
5 The whitest teeth ever seen
6.discarded b l a c k jellybeans"
Now, the person responsible for the buffalo soldier/black jellybean comments replied "Yeah, I posted all that stuff, so."
I got the strong impression he/she was bragging about making my list.
I also read a post that said the solution to the border problem should be to hand out unlimited ammo to the national guard and let them take target practice. This is just two examples. And I know there is a lot of conditioning that results in this. But the conditioning is continuing in blogs like gretawire. And I think we should not underestimate the significance of these blogs as the internet continues to proliferate. It's a fight we can take to them without fear of bodily harm. Here is a link.
http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/why-is-president-obama-going-to-do-another-oprah-interview/#ixzz1Kp9MUEVH
Rachel, thank you for having Goldie Taylor on your show. Her great great grandfather, Mr. Major Blackard was treated badly in 1899, in the 1930's my grandfather risked the family's lives by hiding his black neighbors from the KKK. The KKK was going to lynch the father of the family just because of the color of his skin. Considering the part of the country where they lived I have always assumed that those in the KKK were uneducated, ignorant, cowards. Here it is 2011 and the country is still dealing with racists and their hate, and some of these people like Trump profess to have a college education. When does the racist hate mongering stop? Hey Trump! Why don't you move to Libya? You'd fit right in with a ruthless, domineering dictator.
Enough about this birth-er crap. You keep it all going by your nightly, silly rants about it. Let it go!
Instead of constantly attacking others, offer some SOLUTIONS to current issues. Ya, we know that Ryan is off the mark with his budget, but what is YOUR SOLUTION to stop our grand-kids from drowning in red ink? Stop the constant attacks, and offer something of substance.
The Progressive Caucus has offered a solution, The People's Budget. Obama has a budget that offers solutions. Instead we get slapped with this 'wonderful, courageous' ad nausem and ceaseless talk about Ryan's budget. It is very necessary to counter with the truth.
Otherwise people literally won't know. Yes, they should be able to Google and know the difference between the 'Aunt Maude's Blog' types of websites and ones that are a bit more reliable. The sad thing is most people are so caught up in trying to keep a roof over their heads and food in their kids' mouths, they really don't have the time to do the necessary fact-checking needed in today's media world.
Sorry, but it is necessary to present both sides, so as distasteful as I find some of these topics, Rachel's show and those like it need to continue doing exactly what they're doing. Having only one point of view is no different than having no news at all.
So why on earth are you spending so much air time on the issue? You must, as usual, think that your viewers are just as dumb as the birthers.
Don't you realize that you and your compatriots on MSNBC and CNN etc. give credence to the issue because of the time & energy you spend reporting on it?
because the turth need to come out and people like you want to cover up and say its not will.
absolutely it is racism! ideally, president obama should not have had to - but the birthers were not going away on the subject.
i thank president obama for going out of his way to try to settle that distracting noise.
Birtherism=avenue to exert racist feelings about President Obama in an "acceptable"/covert way. It has been apparent to me that much of the anti-Obama sentiment prevalent in this country over the passed 3 years has been racially motivated, without being overtly demonstrated as such. It was good to see TRMS discuss this tonight.
Birtherism=avenue to exert racist feelings about President Obama in an "acceptable"/covert way. It has been apparent to me that much of the anti-Obama sentiment prevalent in this country over the passed 3 years has been racially motivated, without being overtly demonstrated as such. It was good to see TRMS discuss this tonight.
Thank you for the op ed at the end of the show - poignantly shared by Goldie Taylor. I think your decision to include this piece which speaks to the underlying issues so well was an inspirational way to address the issue that is behind the angst about all the papers please issues. It helped me to focus on the story behind the actions.
To Goldie, thank you, I am so sorry for these experiences - thank you for helping me walk a bit in your shoes and mirror to myself what can i do to lessen that sadness and pain. My heart walks with you - walk gently!
To Goldie,
Your story is an example of the common treatment of full US citizens that could be a reason to ask for "reparations". Reparations for Jim Crow rather than slavery.
I suggest this because-- a) Jim Crow ended in about 1960-70. Which is during my life time.
b) While slavery was worse, we should give the white people of the 1860s some credit for their growing stance against slavery that resulted in the south sesceding and for all the blood and treasure that was spilled/spent to win the Civil War (and end slavery). The war was fought over the issue of slavery, ie. that growing feeling in the north, which the men of the south saw and feared, which caused them to vote to leave the Union after Lincoln was elected, and then fire on Fort Sumter (starting the war). Lincoln began to fight to restore the Union, but the reason the Union was split was the southern men's fear that soon the Federal gov. would take away their slaves. One could argue that the cost of the war in blood and money off-sets the damages due to the freed slaves for their inhuman/unjust treatment. Its is hard now to figure out which is/was the greater cost.
c) Jim Crow is/was all the worse because it was done to legally full US citizens, while one could argue that slaves were not citizens. (I would not but some could think this way.)
President Obama is an American, his Certificate of Live Birth, short version was shown a long time ago! Now Trump is inferring that he is not smart enough to have gotten into Harvard.
Why not question W's qualifications when he was in office-his grades at Yale were not good, his military record had parts that were 'lost' when he was supposedly supposed to serve on active duty. President Obama has the ability to run this country better than W ever had, and look at the mess that W got us into. Did he react immediately to Hurricane Katrina when she hit? Look at the videos of the moment he was told. W was just a Republican puppet, now they are trying to blame the mess he left on anything but that 8 years of his leadership.
This hulabaloo is leaning toward outright racism, and people are eating it up, Shame on them!
Goldie, your response to this is sadly right on.
The birther movement, trump, tea partyers, palin, beck, limbaugh, taitz, davenport, boehner, cantor, christie, bachmann, and their ilk who are complicit with this sickness go beyond racism. They represent the resurgence of hate mongering, white supremacist, jim crow politics. Same tune, different era. They wear suits instead of sheets. This ugly pathology is being played out on a world stage. It's shameful.
The hate mongering goes well beyond those you mention and their political party. Hate is big business in this country, and many people get rich for promoting it and dissecting it and prolonging it and massaging it (including Ed and Rachel, and their expert guests). It is amazing to me how adults of both parties try to make hay of every silly issue that comes along. These adults are act as immature as adolescents.
these issues are silly, and yet they're issues that are plaguing the US and the world.
WOW! Goldie so accurately expressed what we all know. As a really "white" midwestern woman - I've totally known this, but lacked the experience, the words, the wisdom of Goldie to express what I was seeing. Thank you for giving her the floor and clearly elucidating what we have all known for too long. It is not just people of color that are so proud of Barack Obama - I am too!
Rachel, clearly the op-ed piece was needed. Goldie spoke eloquently and clearly about our country’s past and how shameful it is to see it play out in our modern age. Papers indeed. Seeing the assault on voter’s rights in order to limit a lower class of Americans (race be damned, poor is poor) from voting…. It appears to show class warfare being waged covertly in this country. Then hearing the smugness of the self-righteous upon Obama producing his birth certificate, ugggh. You know the sickness in my stomach to see these upper class corporate citizens as they attempt to derail our electoral system; it reminds me of the nauseous pain I felt during the entire time of our last president while he was in office…. Pathetic.
Republicans, birthers, whatever you are; you’ve been exposed. Now explain what it is your trying to do to the American people since you’re pants are now down.
This was never about his place of birth. It is and shall remain to be about the perverse, vestigial notion that he does not know his place.
For those who believe, no proof is required.
For those who do not, not proof will be sufficient.
Now, what will be the new chew toy of the unhinged ?
Exactly! Extremely well said.
Goldie Taylor hit the visceral nail right on the head. Thank goodness her grandmother kept the family's stories alive so she could tell that one to us.
I also found Melissa Harris-Perry's response enlightening:
For Birthers, Obama's Not Black Enough
Prof. Harris-Perry goes deeper into the "he doesn't know his place" issue and why.
I would hope that NBC entertainment would have the guts to cancel Trump's stupid show::Then someone do some investigative journalism on his taxes and finances!! As for uncoming shows , Rachael please have and indepth interview with Senator Conrad--for 3 years I've watched him whine about the deficit---for one he should have a budget to pull out of his hip pocket!! Second night bring on Senator Durbin---my gut tells me he is the Judas in the room--would be for wrecking SSI--he should go out and run a jack hammer for 8 hours, maybe he wouldn't be soready to raise retirement age!!Supposedly he is the President's friend--beware President Obama!! I guess the President has to do a completely detailed budget as silly Congress can't.Rep.MsS.and house democratic cacus great outline--let's get them some attention!! NO one in Congress should have time off until a budget is done!!People time to stand with our President!!!
As a new immigrant in this country i never imagine American democracy is like this,even in Africa where i came from,that have a lot to learn from US,i dont think we can buy some of the things being promoted by conservatives here especially fox news,i believe American is greater than this,how is president going to react to Malia asking him why people are talking about his birth certificate.
wakili, sadly, I'm sure their dad's birth certificate was discussed back in 2008 when it first came up.
Obama may not have family history and experience of having to have papers at all times, but Michelle is descended from slaves, and the history of her family would have made it necessary to explain it to the kids then. They're very smart. I'm sure they asked a long time ago. Like all family history stories, it will be talked about many times over.
Should Obama have had to to "show his papers" today? No way! Golde said it as it is.
And on this next day (April 28, 2011), some crude citizens say, "Obama - - - show me, now, why you got into Harvard in the first place --- above and before an old A$$#ss%6 white guy" is really code for, "you are black, my man, and you didn't deserve to get into Harvard because you got into Harvard due to 'affirmative action.' "
What crap! Obama is the President we (most of us) voted for: get over it, and get on with the job!!!
Of course it's racism. Ms Taylor was very eloquent in her statements. I'd like to hear and see more from her on this and other subjects.
Go and talk to the other side of this they hate the white and I can't blame them. But again racism is not just on one side. Our President is the best thing for this country. Repub have stop him on everything he want to do.
Debating this issue led credence to it,ignoring will feed it with conspiracy.Minority of people is behind it,they only find there voice because of Trump,my believe is that can anybody with good sense of reasoning really take Mr Trump serious after listening to his opinion on China,Libya,OPEC and Economy?Forget the birther issue,forget transcript issue,did this man appeal to you as someone you can take serious?
If this was really a real issue, there would be a push for a strict national standard on Birth Certificates. Each state has a different form, with much of the same info but in different places and slightly different wording.
Could this in any way be part of the problem? I would venture that most birthers are from states whose birth certificate looks slightly different than Hawaii's. Ergo, the document they want to see will NEVER exist bc HI has a different looking document to the one they have.
my short form birth certificate looks pretty much like hawaii's short form, just the color and seal is different. i'm from pennsylvania.
each state recognizes other state's birth certificates. at one time states didn't hand them out, hospitals and churches did. those certificates were so varied that all states adopted the system of handing them out, and in doing so, accept other state certified birth documents.
all of the states are pretty uniform in the two documentations, long form and short form, just the color and seals are different.
The Louisiana birth certificate has the same info, but looks quite a bit different. It's over sized and rather ornate. My son was born here.
My BC is from Virginia, and the certified copies my parents had look very different than what they send out today. They computerized all their paper records. I decided to get another copy because I only had one left, and it was way different from the 1960-era certificate, and a lot like Hawaii's.
My son's dad was born in Texas, and they also computerized all their records. That birth certificate looks a lot like Hawaii's. We had to get a modern copy of his BC because there was a discrepancy between the name on his SSN card and his BC. They didn't fill them out at the same time back then. Your parents filled out the SSN card application long after you were born. If they made a mistake and sent it in, your SS card doesn't match your BC.
It was never a problem until he had to register for selective service. His BC name was registered, but his SSN name wasn't. He kept getting notices that he wasn't registered. We had to have the BC as proof that the two names belonged to the same person.
Goldie Taylor's words really hit a chord, especially her last sentence, "When they say they want to take their country back, they mean [to take it back] from us."
But the people proclaiming to want to take back their country do not just want to rob the Afro-American community; they want to take away the rights and privileges of all people who are not like themselves.
Thanks, Ms. Taylor, for your thoughtful words.
The segment about why some journalists are pushing the birther theories was brilliant! I'd like to see more about that.
As a Canadian it is very scary to see the level of raving lunacy that is so rampant in your society. It seems to me your heading, straight into complete self destruction. All the news we see coming from the states is filled with vile and hate. Forget hockey and football, I think your national past time is hating each other. I was going to list all the people your nation seems to hate, but it was so long, I thought I would shorten it to, many of you seem to just hate everybody. A nation filled with spoiled brats. It must be why your nation is such war mongers, you need a way to release your aggression, before you implode.
I feel sorry for the people of your country, but not a lot, because your doing it to yourselves. For what seems like the few rational people you do have, I want you to know were routing for you. People like Goldie Taylor give us hope, to bad she's black, most of you will be to busy hating her to listen.
Damn we really do need to build a wall. Maybe you should build the wall, if we do you'll just want to blow it up.
Well, here's hoping.
Renshia, you do make a good point. As someone who lives outside the States, I can see where your view would be what it is. It does appear that most of Americans are too busy hating each other to get anything constructive done. But allow me to defend some of us as well.....not all of us believe in the fear-mongering that is happening in America today. And I hope that the next few elections will prove that. Of course, that's assuming that the Republicans are unable to nullify everyone's vote and prevent new folks from registering.
And I also like your comment about the wall. ;) Wouldn't it be interesting to see the looks on their faces if Canada decided to build a wall? I bet they would be pissed. But that would be hypocritical because Arizona is STILL trying to do it.
BTW....isn't it interesting that the Republicans are now trying to pass laws requiring proof of citizenship before being able to run for president? Funny, how after 250 years of white men in the presidency, it was never mentioned, but now that black people are able to become president, it should be addressed. Things that make you go....hmmmmmm.....
What do you suppose they will want to require when a woman finally becomes president? Proof of reproductive viability? Proof of heterosexuality? Proof she never had an abortion? Proof she has only ever had sex with her husband?... and only in the missionary position, of course. (Yeah, right) I can see it all now....God what a mess that will be....
Wow, thanks for the interesting perspective. "most of you will be to busy hating her to listen." That is very well said, yet very sad. Brought a tear to my eye. They say Hope isn't hiring. Very cute huh? Well let me indulge in a quote here:
all with hope, all with hope. That emptiness brings fullness, and loss of love brings wholeness to us all." Amy Ray
As another curious Canadian, I can't help but wonder why have the "must be born in the US" requirement in the first place? I mean, doesn't that create two separate"classes" of citizens: Those born in the US and who can run for the presidency, and immigrants (or US citizens born overseas) who cannot which undermines the "American Dream" of equality of opportunity? Does someone who was born in the US really that more in tune with the needs of the electorate than someone who, all else being equal, was born overseas? I'll be the first to admit that my own country has a host of problems, but this requirement in your system has always struck me as arbitrary, somewhat xenophobic, and a little silly.
i always thought that the heart of the american dream was the greatest in an immigrant. the driving force that brought millions and millions and millions more to this land is freedom and the pursuit of happiness.
the competition between american born and immigrant has always been very strong - often times ugly, and even deadly. unfortunately.
We can certainly use your prayers Canada! I am a 69yr old woman and I have never been so scared for America! Lunacy in the Republican party (tea partiers) will ruin the social structure of our country. I am afraid for Medicare, social security and our freedom! ie (what's happening in Michigan) dictatorships are a reality! Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
Renshia,
You're right about the wall thing. We should convince the GOP to build it so they won't blow it up. But they need to build it to keep Americans from running over the border for affordable health care!
If we had a working health care system, we wouldn't have so many megalomaniac politicians with anti-social personalities. They would have been properly diagnosed and treated for their particular forms of "crazy" before they got to impose it on those of us who are mostly sane, or at least reasonable. You have to be, or it will drive you mad.
I believe more conservatives are likely to consider mental illness a taboo, and wouldn't seek treatment. I say that because they tend to be the ones who carry on the beliefs of their parents and grandparents, and mental health issues were taboo then.
Or maybe we need more lithium in the water supply...