[Peace-discuss] MKB report of Racism-Watch

[Morton K.Brussel]

What follows is a more detailed report of what I observed in attending 
the Race Watch workshop of the IPPN in Atlanta.

Apologies to those who don’t want all this information.

• I did not take enough notes to stitch together a coherent summary of 
what the results of the meeting were. Ted Glick, the national 
coordinator of IPPN, is expected to provide this, and I will report on 
it when it appears. Below, however, are some random observations.

•The Racism Watch idea is to network organizations around the country 
so as to monitor racist elements in the campaign, and to mobilize 
actions in response. Such actions may take the form of  demonstrations 
against offending parties, publicizing names of contributors of 
candidates with racist agendas, submitting articles/information/letters 
to the press and TV (even appearing on TV, or getting well known people 
on TV expressing our point of view).

•There will be a centralized office to coordinate things, the IPPN, and 
its website [see above].

•There is also the important electoral element: To get diverse 
progressive communities to come together to express their priorities 
and put candidates into office. Solidarity! This is to be promoted by 
having People of Color and gender up front in leadership positions 
managing these efforts [60% people of color, ≥50% women, and youth, 
gay-lesbian, labor, faith, and other constituencies] . What I was 
struck with was the expression of distrust by blacks to whites—said to 
be the reason why blacks do not appear in appropriate numbers at many 
progressive events such as anti-war marches , to our meetings, etc.

•Another goal is to bring forward issues not likely to be discussed in 
the campaign, such as the prison-industrial-criminal justice system, 
how the military takes advantage of the underprivileged, etc..

• Actions are in process: Contacting well known personalities to convey 
our messages to the mass media, soliciting funds, organizing a national 
coordinating committee, etc. .

• There are long reading lists put out by workshop.  Contact me if 
interested.

• Do we want to tie in to this Racism Watch network?

						....


 >> FYI: Selected notes, taken at the IPPN "Racism Watch" workshop in 
Atlanta, 1/31/2004.

The IPPN Racism Watch web site is:

http://www.ippn.org/article.php?ID=currentD.html

Four Afro-Americans present, one Latino, out of 22 participants. 
Male:female about 50:50.

Meeting led in the morning by Sandra Rivers, a black woman of sweet 
expression.

  Short introduction of what the meeting hoped to accomplish by IPPN 
coordinator Ted Glick. He announced that Cynthia McKinney would not be 
addressing us, due to a conflicting engagement. Noted that several 
people/groups showed great interest in the program, but would not be 
attending: UFPJ, Z-Magazine, American Friends Service Cte., SCLC, 
Julian Bond, etc. Some of his remarks:

	• Racism has been used as a tool over the last 30 years in electoral 
campaigns.

	• Note: FDR banned black reporters in press conferences for his first 
11 years in office.

	• “Polarization” —the race card— began to be used in the 60’s, with 
Nixon’s ’68 campaign vs. Humphrey. George Wallace and Spirew Agnew were 
other players in this. Played a role in Nixon vs. McGovern in ’72. 
Jimmy Carter used the phrase “ ethnic purity” in his campaign 
speech(es). Clinton used the race card in the Sister Soljah incident.

Topical books from which Ted quoted: Which Nationalism by Walters, The 
Great Wells of Democracy by Manning Marable, Nixon’s Piano by O’Reilly.

Following Ted's presentation, the session was opened for remarks. An 
attempt was made to balance these among men/women, black/white. What 
follows are sundry points made:

•Sandra Rivers-black rep. who facilitated the discussion: “Reparations 
are on the top of our list of priorities.”

•Lani Guineer has emphasized that racism was built into American 
society right at the Constitution.

• People around the table spoke from personal experience--how it was 
virtually impossible for (poor) blacks to get fair treatment by police, 
in the courtroom, etc.

• Statement of concern about the electoral electronic voting system. 
Suggestion: Lawyers should maintain watch, be on hand, during 
balloting. In Georgia, there is cross-over primary voting, which has 
distorted the results. Also, there has been collusion between Dems and 
Repubs in organizing district lines. It would be useful to have 
international observers to oversee the vote? But how to set that up?

• “We must educate ourselves”, i.e., whites must look inward and 
outward to understand the nature of the problem. This was a 
[overstressed?] repeated theme.

• Why blacks don’t show up at various progressive meetings: White 
control puts them off. They need to see that they are prominent in 
those meetings which take place, as speakers, organizers, etc. There is 
a need for “leadership of color” to encourage large black 
participation.
[In AWARE we’ve sometimes been told to coordinate, ‘tis not necessary 
to mix. ]

• Jesse Jackson: Scorned amongst the black folks here. Said to have 
destroyed, in 1988,  the Rainbow Coalition. Bought off by the Dem 
leadership. People at the table claimed to have had first hand 
knowledge of this. As a result, Jesse is considered a betrayer by many.

• Recommended film-“Life and Debt” - by Stephanie Black.

• Lawyer David Gesspass: "The war on terror is all about racism". [How 
about imperialism, corporatism,…?]

• The need to bring communities together so that both white and black 
folks can achieve their mutual aims. Reminder from Howard Dean? An 
argument for the poor white. The question, of course, is HOW?

After lunch, Latino activist Danielle Capillo gave an impassioned plea 
for activists to look inward and change their attitudes. But he also 
said questionable things such as “Race is the root of everything.”

Now, Chea Prince, a black woman, took over. Forceful, organized, no 
nonsense, outspoken, smart. A driving and effective activist.

The first question broached: How to get the messages of Racism Watch 
out to the main media?
Suggestions:
	• Partner with active organizations such as Move-On.com
	• Use local cable TV. Supply them with subject material.

There was repeated emphasis to reform and educating one's self. 
Introspection.  One must understand the antagonism of [most, many?] 
blacks to whites, the distrust. It was said that whites must try to 
understand that “if you are white you are racist”. Contextualize from 
the black experience in U.S. history.

After a pause of 20’, a brainstorming session took place:
	• News-savvy  people like McChesney and Nichols who could help in 
identifying main stream journalists, personalities, etc.,  who would be 
willing to broadcast our messages will be contacted. These messages 
will be needed when/if racism raises its head during the electoral 
campaigns.  Issues of race ignored by candidates should be pointed out.

Insofar as is possible, the electoral candidates should be asked about 
the prison-industrial complex, the Patriot Act, public schools and 
racism, etc..

How to improve (black) voting:
	• Absentee ballots can be very effective in the voting! Even when 
folks are not absent from their district, as for example when having to 
work on long shifts. However, one needs to be informed of the rules in 
the various states, which vary.
	• Encourage the military to use absentee ballots instead of the voting 
machines.

Recommended materials:
¬	Tony Morrison’s Playing in the ‘Dark.
¬	PBS program Reconstruction
¬	PBS’s  Race: Bridging the Divide
¬	PBS’s Origins of the Urban Crisis.

Try to get funds to support the project from participating 
organizations.

Ted Glick will email us, eventually, a summary of the meeting.
  
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