Each week, we post a topic for open discussion. Read on and give it some thought. Then when you're ready to add your voice to the dialogue, give us everything you've got.
This week's topic:
Was New York City Police Commissioner Howard Safir correct in firing the officer who appeared in black face on a Labor Day Parade float in Queens which mimicked the lynching of James Byrd?
Name: leroy Hackenslash Email: Response:
The response of the chief wasn't justified. An image like that on the float will be detremental to young black youths across the world. What that white man did was wrong. Halleluljah.
Name: Miss N comrie Email: mcrpact@compuserve.com.uk Response:
Of course he was right however the police officer was only expressing what the rest of the force think and feel. in england the police officers are helping to hide mureders of black people and tell lies on blacks and hide evidence
Name: Miss N comrie Email: mcrpact@compuserve.com.uk Response:
Of course he was right however the police officer was only expressing what the rest of the force think and feel. in england the police officers are helping to hide mureders of black people and tell lies on blacks and hide evidence
Name: Email: gy13@webtv Response:
Damn right he should have been fired!!! Imagine a Brotha doing something like this and a white had died. He would not only be fired, the would be talking about proscecuting him for something. Anyone on that float who worked for the public should be fired. THAT WAS PURE EVIL.
Name: mark l. ervin Email: ervinml2@hpd.abbott.com Response:
I was not aware of this particular incident. I am originally from an area (Newton), about 15 miles from Jasper, Texas. It is very unfortunate that something of this magnitude happened in that area. It is also unfortunate that this individual lost his job for mimicking the situation. Personally, if someone wants to mock the situation, then that should be their choice. People who do mock the situation are sick, no and, ifs or buts about it. I do hope that people can build better relationships from this incident. Southeast Texas has had this problem for the 19 years that I lived there, it was just always undercover and never taken to the extreme. Remeber, Vidor, Texas is 45 minutes from both of these areas. It's no secret that Vidor fully supports the KKK. The elder folks who have witnessed racism in these areas are the worst ones. I graduated from high school in Newton, Texas, in 1988. Since that time, at least 50% of the kids that are born there are interacial kids (black mixed with white). These kids are going to have a tough time growing up in those areas because the hatred has been instilled in their forefathers and continuosly passed on. In the early 70's, a African-American high school student apparently comitted suicide and hung himself from a tree in Newton. He was dating a white female student at the time and he had been warned by white students and police officers about the consequences if it continued. Needless to say, there was no investigation conducted due to an apparent suicide note. I hope this has shedded some light on this area and some of the things that have been dealt with previously and that are being dealt with now.
Name: Email: lmaddox@worc.mass.edu Response:
Yes, it was very appropriate for Police Commissioner Howard Safir to fire the officer who madea mockery of the horific lynching of James Byrd. This officer's lack of sensitivity to James Byrd's demise is just another example of America's unwillingness to sympathize or acknowledge theslaughter of millions of Africans and African-Americans in this country since slavery. Although we arefast approaching the next millenium, the loss of an African-American life in this society is still considered live entertainment.
Name: K. Leonard Email: leonard@detroitbest.net Response:
Yes, that was a proper response to the officers actions. The officer had time to think about his actions; it wasn't a quick decision that had to be made under tense circumstances. And we're assuming that the officer wasn't a racist (we're being as benevolent as possible), but that kind of judgement can't be tolerated in an organization that is expected to represent ALL of the people.
Name: Derek L. Lyons Email: SYNARI@AOL.COM Response:
Interacial children are people. America is hung up on color and tone of complextions. It has even gotton to the point that darker toned blacks are being viewed as outcasts. Indeed, the interacial children, I hope, will open the eyes of America and learn from the beauty of such relationships. I am sadden with issues vexing America with other minority races turning their backs on other minorities. Blacks looking to bleach their skin just to fit in. Hispanics looking to keep their color and race pure, when in fact, we all have lessons to learn here. Interacial couples and their children allows us to look at the personal hang-ups that are integrity questionable!
Name: Derek L. Lyons Email: SYNARI@AOL.COM Response:
Interacial children are people. America is hung up on color and tone of complextions. It has even gotton to the point that darker toned blacks are being viewed as outcasts. Indeed, the interacial children, I hope, will open the eyes of America and learn from the beauty of such relationships. I am sadden with issues vexing America with other minority races turning their backs on other minorities. Blacks looking to bleach their skin just to fit in. Hispanics looking to keep their color and race pure, when in fact, we all have lessons to learn here. Interacial couples and their children allows us to look at the personal hang-ups that are integrity questionable!
Name: GJR Email: GJR 5065@aol.com Response:
Blackface has been long condemned by African-Americans , anyone in public service should 've been educated on this matter. I dobelieve that this officer who pulled the black-face prank was a below caliber lawman andshould very well have been fired. Also, if he had any concern for his future survival in thisMulti-cultural country it would be wise of him toattend sensitivity classes on how to treat people of all races.
Name: Barbara Dryden Email: bu7jiden@msn.com Response:
any such false representation should be kept out of the public eye. Police, whose pay comes from the taxes of Black and white alike, who are employed to ensure public safety, should not have among their membership those who would exhibit such a meanspirited, negative symbol under any circumstance. And to pour salt on the wound to us all that James Byrd's lynching imposed is downright disgusting as well as racist and cruel. We should celebrate the removal from the police force of anyone who considers such an egregious act to be a joke.Barbara Dryden,Columbia, MD
Name: K. C. Email: kyc_56@hotmail.com Response:
Of course. The officer displayed a definitelack of sound judgement. Not to mention blatant racist attitude which reflects on the NYPD. Think that float was a spur of the moment thing? Not hardly. Someone had to plan this display.
Name: Email: Urban_Guerrilla@webtv.net Response:
Firing was a good move but not severe enough! Whites have to understand that their vile racial insults are detrimental to A-As!! We hate them and find them disgusting. This is, no doubt, one of the many reasons they enjoy this reprehensible activity. For people who proclaim to be the most intelligent people ever, they have an unintelligent way of showing it!!! They call this their way of holding on to America. This behavior insures them that A-As will not takover America and assume authority over them (Heaven forbid)! How stupid can they be?? When will they realize that *They* are the big problem in America
