Ben Jealous’ Obscene “Truth and Reconciliation” Proposal
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A Black Agenda Radio commentary by executive editor Glen Ford
NAACP president Ben Jealous wants to start a “truth and reconciliation” process in the U.S. – before political prisoners are freed, while mass incarceration devastates Black families and communities, and when Blacks are murdered by the state every 28 hours. Jealous’ “talk of reconciliation is an obscene diversion from reality.”
Ben Jealous’ Obscene “Truth and Reconciliation” Proposal
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by executive editor Glen Ford
“Ben Jealous wants reconciliation without emancipation of those who sacrificed their youth for our people.”
NAACP chief Ben Jealous hasn’t taken a position on Assata Shakur, the exiled former Black Panther who President Obama’s FBI has elevated to Domestic Terrorist Number One – despite the fact that the grandmother has spent the last 29 years living peacefully in Cuba. Yes, Jealous knows that Shakur was a political prisoner before her escape, charged in the 1973 death of a New Jersey policeman. He told Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman that he thinks the NAACP will have to take a position on Shakur’s case at some point, and that he also feels for the families of the cops who died in New Jersey and in the Brinks robbery, in New York, in 1981. Jealous says he’s most interested in healing the nation from the effects of what he calls “politically motivated violence, on both sides.” What’s needed, he claims, is a kind of “truth and reconciliation commission.”
Ben Jealous’s clear reference is to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, convened in Cape Town, in 1996, by a multiracial cast of notables led by Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The Commission’s powers were limited to granting amnesty to perpetrators, or offering rehabilitation and reparations to victims. The hearings were quite controversial from the very start, and ultimately produced no political consensus among the races that justice was served.
“What is there to conciliate about?”
It is most important to bear in mind that, at that time, an African National Congress government under Nelson Mandela had been in office for two years. The ANC’s political prisoners, including Mandela, himself, had been freed. The Commission could grant amnesty, but not administer punishment – which seemed far from fair to many members of the non-white majority who had been abused in every imaginable way for generations.
It is curious that Ben Jealous thinks this rather ineffective South African medicine can heal America’s racial wounds – especially since, unlike South Africa, and Barack Obama notwithstanding, whites are still firmly in control, here. Our political prisoners remain behind bars – scores of them, many incarcerated for more than 40 years, and some of them still in solitary confinement. What is there to conciliate about? The only decent demand is that they be set free, to enjoy what years they have left among family and comrades on the outside. Ben Jealous wants reconciliation without emancipation of those who sacrificed their youth for our people. In that light, his talk of reconciliation is an obscene diversion from the reality of still-living human beings trapped in perpetuity in America’s dungeons.
Ben Jealous wants peace much more than justice – forgetting that without some semblance of justice, there can be no peace. That’s why he stakes out a position on some fantasized truth and reconciliation scheme before taking a stand on the actual plight of Assata Shakur, on whose head his favorite president has placed a $2 million bounty. Why doesn’t Ben Jealous work his conciliatory charms on Obama, whose assault on human civilization is making conciliation with America more and more impossible for huge segments of the world’s population?
Clearly, the truth is that Ben Jealous has already reconciled himself with evil, and wants the rest of us to “turn the page” while evil is still on the throne. Sounds more like a Reconciliation and Capitulation Commission.
For Black Agenda Radio, I’m Glen Ford. On the web, go to BlackAgendaReport.com.
BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com.
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NAACP's been irrelevant for decades
the question is, why do these irrelevant so-called Black Leaders want to f**k us over so they can appear to be relevant?
Look no further than S. Africa to see how Truth and Reconciliation worked out. Morever, these Right Wingers in America could give a damn about reconciling, if anything the gloves have come off increasingly, as each year passes us by. If anything, the "Necks" are doubling down, and why shouldn't they be as Blacks become increasingly irrelevant and FECKLESS.
Next he'll be promoting some bullshit conference on phony-ass Post-Racial Politics in America. Speaking of which, wonder where those Post-Racial whores are, now that the acid trip has worn off???
I love it
A great post and a wonderful reply, Beverly. Now if we could get a couple hundred million more people in this country to think like you, we actually might have a chance.
Great Post Bev, but only one problem....
the sorry bas***ards perpetrating as Black Leaders would actually have to DO SOME WORK AND HEAVY LIFTING to follow your cue. That won't happen, they too busy trying to get manna now, not in heaven.
Ask Rev. Al if you don't believe me. LOL
Seriously, what has the NAACP done in the last 30 or 40 years besides collect dues from ignorant, challenged, buppies with historical amnesia at banquets where they serve $10 rubbery food, for $50 a plate??? Why don't this asshole look into Obama's EEOC record, or speak to the issues of youth unemployment and burgeoning student loan debt, that would be too much like right, wouldn't it???
How pathetic is Uncle Ben?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/charts-youth-unemployment_n_3390575.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit&ir=Detroit
HUH?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/bay-city-nazi-confederate-flags-michigan_n_3398549.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit
Kid Rock angered some members of the NAACP in 2011 for using the Confederate flag during his concerts. He was honored that year with the Detroit chapter's Great Expectations Award, but some members boycotted his appearance.
Jealous Ben
On the history of the Naacp and esp since the 70's the org has been irrelevant. Suffice that bringing in a mixed up male who looks down on his servants is typical. And esp in light of the fact that they wanted him, the Naacp has just what is desreves a slave master in half black face.
Jealous ben
Is this wanna be Afrikan insane?
Perhaps, however i woud bet that not only is he a narcissitic histrionic with a lack of knowledge i would ask what exactly is he thinking. Reconciliation for what?
I bring us back to his statements:\
and that he also feels for the families of the cops who died in New Jersey and in the Brinks robbery, in New York, in 1981. Jealous says he’s most interested in healing the nation from the effects of what he calls “politically motivated violence, on both sides.”What’s needed, he claims, is a kind of “truth and reconciliation commission.”
Ben Jealous’s clear reference is to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, convened in Cape Town, in 1996, by a multiracial cast of notables led by Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The Commission’s powers were limited to granting amnesty to perpetrators, or offering rehabilitation and reparations to victims. The hearings were quite controversial from the very start, and ultimately produced no political consensus among the races that justice was served.
The mixed up shook up boy has no clue of what would happen to the small number of Afrikan desc in the unitedsnakes . Albeit perhaps he thinks that he would be immune? i think not, in fact can vision his body swaying from a tree
I rest my case and say. Jealous your not Nelson, i know Nelson and you are no Nelson Mandela
Toothless Old Dogs!
Enlightened Cynic is right on the mark as ususal. Atrophy set in a long time ago in the NAACP! It's gotten so bad that no one bothers to react or listen whenever the NAACP utters anything! And that is what happens when an old dog keeps barking, but never bites bc he ain't got no teeth! Only these days, the bark is more like a low-level whine or whimp!
In my objective view I won't bother to list all the big problems facing an old organization down spiraling to fossil-hood, but a few are: (1) The headquarters lacks money to coordinate all the various chapters in 50 states and seems satisfied with begging White corporates/Kid Rocks/etc for "maintenace" funds; (2) the local chapters lack money and the most of the members have no idea what's PRESENTLY going on---they merely know that a long time ago the NAACP had militant, smart, down-to-earth, and kick-ass leaders like Thurgood Marshall who took care of business; and (3) too many of the officers (local/state/national) are more interested in a title than being involved with problems and needs of the average Black American.
Yes, the NAACP leaders sense too that atrophy has set in; however, grabbing on to twigs when you are drowning ain't gonna help ya! And even when you bark loud, no one is listening bc like James Brown said: "You Talking Loud, but You Ain't Saying a Damn Thing!"