[Peace-discuss] re: angry black man

[raia fink]

With all the power vested in my privileged white self, I can clearly say that 
this attack is 
not a COINTELPRO tactic, but the product of some very real frustration. I know 
I've felt 
some frustration along the way. I just don't have the courage to articulate it 
so specifically.
And I am also ashamed to admit that I have been part of the problem. Like Carl 
suggests, 
one way to respond to this attack is to think (and act) seriously about 
racism.
That includes not dismissing the attack. Another response would be to look 
into some of 
the alternatives this person offers.  AWARE doesn't need to follow them in 
order to 
address them, they are offers, not demands. In any event, I don't read this as 
an attempt 
to break up an effective political group, but a suggestion to make it more 
effective. 
I suppose AWARE has changed quite a bit since its origin, but we started out 
as a 
clearinghouse to establish connections among local social justice groups. How 
that 
evolved into a space where AWARE might be viewed a singular identity that 
needs to 
question whether the racism issue detracts from the anti-war issue is beyond 
me.
AWARE has accomplished great things and adequately addressing this hurdle will 
allow 
for more of the same.
-Raia Fink

>
>An appropriate response to this attack is to think seriously about racism.
>One place to start would be to (re-)read the COINTELPRO documents.  There
>you will find police agencies initiating or encouraging attacks like this
>precisely to break up effective political groups. Naturally I have no way
>of knowing if that is the case here, but the effect is the same.  --Carl
>