The Background
What opinions deligitimize the views and opinions of a black person in the eyes of other blacks?
Although my contention is that black (and any) individuals should be able to hold any opinion they want, especially about matters related to their own communities, I wanted to see if I could compose a slightly more complete picture other than my own conjecture and presuppositions. To that end I sought out the opinions of the black community in their own words by looking for discussions and interviews about this subject matter.
To that end I have compiled a number of videos to attempt to get a better picture of the viewpoints that exist among black Americans today. What these videos demonstrate is just how much variety of opinion exists in the black community. What I think is strange is how some people, more-often-than-not white Liberals, assume that being a black American indicates an unwavering commitment to all elements of the Liberal ideology. What I think the opinions in these videos do is complicate that vision just a bit, perhaps offering a higher resolution image.
For instance, if legitimacy and "street cred" are measured by experiencing hardships, poverty, and/or racism, are wealthy, educated, privileged black Americans disqualified as legitimate representatives of the black community if they are conservative? Do they forefeit their membership by having overcome such obstacles? Are their views tolerated and judged on their merit, or are they seen as having turned their back on the black community and experience? Are they seen as people speaking out for the welfare of black America, or are they regarded as self-hating Uncle Toms? These, by the way, share something in common with conversations that take place among Jews, although the subject matter is somewhat different.
The Videos
The finer points about which I sought to understand are, but not limited to, institutionalized racism, racial profiling, government involvement, affluence, and crime. I have as well made an effort to present disparate and opposing views and have included videos from "different social tiers" as follows:
Note that some of the viewpoints contained herein are from videos that precede the George Floyd murder, but pertain to general sub-topics related to this subject matter.
Everyday People
The videos in this section were made by "everyday people" with social media accounts. In my estimation, this is the type of people that you encounter on a day-to-day basis, and it is this constituency whose opinions seem to be the most relevant to explore in light of the point made by my debate opponent.
- Joel Patrick - hosts a podcast.
- Is It Time To Get Over Slavery? Black Liberals vs Black Conservatives
- Woman from Texas - a woman from Texas.
- Ami Horowitz street interview - Do cops' lives matter?
Video 1 - Joel Patrick (11:28 minutes long)
Joel Patrick "is a conservative from Beavercreek who is fed up with the constant attacks from the left on everything that he holds dear." According to his site, Patrick uploads new podcast episodes every Monday.
Video 2 - Is It Time To Get Over Slavery? Black Liberals vs Black Conservatives (25:54 minutes long)
A Jubilee Media films hosts a discussion between black conservatives and liberals."
Video 3 - Black Woman Shares Her Views on White Privilege (8:24 minutes long)
Black Texas woman shares her views.
Video 4 - Ami Horowitz: Do cops' lives matter? (3:53 minutes long)
"With the Black Lives Matter movement sparking national conversation, satirist Ami Horowitz ventures to white, gentrified Brooklyn and predominantly black and Hispanic Harlem to ask if cops' lives matter, too."
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Personalities
- Charlemagne tha God - Radio talk show host on his friendship and disagreements with Candace Owens.
- Joe R. Hicks - Conservative commentator and community activist discusses intstitutionalized racism in America.
- Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi - Founders of Black Lives Matters in a TedTalk interview.
- Terrence K. Williams - A comedian's serious side.
Video 5 - Charlemagne tha God (6:06 minutes long)
"Lenard Larry McKelvey, known professionally as Charlamagne tha God, is an American radio presenter, television personality, and author. He is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club with DJ Envy and Angela Yee, and stars in Guy Code, Guy Court and Girl Code."
Video 6 - Joe R. Hicks - The United States is Not Institutionally Racist (8:57 minutes long)
"Joe R. Hicks is an African-American conservative commentator and community activist. He is currently vice president of Community Advocates Inc., and the former Executive Director of the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, where he served from 1997 to 2001 under Mayor Richard Riordan." Note: Joe R. Hicks was born on July 13, 1941 and was deceased on August 28, 2016.
Video 7 - An interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter | Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi. (16:05 minutes long)
"Born out of a social media post, the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked discussion about race and inequality across the world. In this spirited conversation with Mia Birdsong, the movement's three founders share what they've learned about leadership and what provides them with hope and inspiration in the face of painful realities. Their advice on how to participate in ensuring freedom for everybody: join something, start something and "sharpen each other, so that we all can rise."
Video 8 - Terrence K. Williams (8:00 minutes long)
Terrence K. Williams from Oklahoma City spent much of his youth in the foster care system. His gradual frustration with the situation in America inspired him to "post videos on social media about the hottest controversies in America," devoting "his platform and comedic career to improving the lives of underprivileged children everywhere."
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Academics
- Thomas Sowell on the Myths of Economic Inequality - An interview with economist Thomas Sowell.
- Megan Ming Francis Professor of Political Science - A Ted Talk on eliminating racism.
- Napoleon Wells Clinical Psychologist - Racism as a mental illness.
- Brookings Institution - Academic Panel - Panelist discussion on the history of racism.
- Larry Elder on the Rubin Report - Radio talk show host Larry Elder discusses racism today in America.
Video 9 - Thomas Sowell on the Myths of Economic Inequality (53:33 minutes long)
Thomas Sowell, "an American economist and social theorist who is currently a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University," discusses economic inequality, racial inequality, and the myths that have continued to falsely describe the system of poverty among different racial and economic classes. He explains the economic theories behind these pervasive myths and proposes fact-based solutions for seemingly intractable situations.
Video 10 - Megan Ming Francis Professor of Political Science (19:37 minutes long)
Megan Ming Francis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington.
Video 11 - Napoleon Wells Clinical Psychologist (18:19 minutes long)
Dr. Napoleon Wells is "a Clinical Psychologist, husband and father, Professor, lover of all things Star Wars, Wakandan refugee, TEDx performer, and believer in human potential proposes a mental health approach to curing racism."
Video 12 - Brookings Institution - Academic Panel (01:30:06 minutes long)
The Brookings Institution is "a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC." According to their site, their "mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level." On June 3, Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution "co-hosted an event with Contexts Magazine, featuring an expert panel that discussed the causes, consequences, and policy solutions to the racial wealth gap."
Video 13 - Larry Elder on the Rubin Report (21:41 minutes long)
Radio talk show host Larry Elder "will entertain, inform, provoke and hopefully uplift" and provides "thoughtful insight on the day's most provocative issues." Elder gets interviewed by Dave Rubin about his perceptions on racism in America today.
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Celebrities and Actors
- LL Cool J Raps About Floyd and Black Lives Matters - Mama said explicit lyrics.
- Nine Rappers Criticize Black Lives Matters - Rappers discuss BLM.
- Lil Wayne on His Experiences with Racism - Lil Wayne interviewed about his experience with racism.
- Denzel Washington Shares Some Wisdom - The actor shares his views.
- Morgan Freeman On Race - Morgan Freeman's thoughts on the topic.
- Ami Horowitz street interview - soft liberal racism.
- Key and Peele - To help us all unwind a bit.
Video 14 - LL Cool J Raps About Floyd and Black Lives Matters (3:00 minutes long)
A short and powerful rap written and delivered by hip-hop artist LL Cool J.
Video 15 - Nine Rappers Criticize Black Lives Matters (9:00 minutes long)
The viewpoints of ASAP Rocky, Kevin Gates, Wales, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Lil' Boosie, Hopsin, Prince Ea, and Lecrae.
Video 16 - Lil Wayne on His Experiences with Racism (8:16 minutes long)
"Lil Wayne discusses Colin Kaepernick's protest with Skip and Shannon."
Video 17 - Denzel Washington Shares Some Wisdom (1:34 minutes long)
American actor, director, and producer Denzel Washington, shares his views on racism today.
Video 18 - Morgan Freeman On Race (2:23 minutes long)
American actor and film narrator Morgan Freeman offers his thoughts on race in America.
Video 19 - How white liberals really view black voters (4:23 minutes long)
Ami on the Street: Are voter ID laws racist and suppress the black vote? Satirist Ami Horowitz goes to UC Berkeley and Harlem to find out.
Video 20 - Key and Peele (4:28 minutes long)
Key and Peele help lighten the load a bit after all that!
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