Race in America: The Past Through Tomorrow

Email Print posted by MedfordTim 03/29/2008 12:14:35 PM EST

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This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Kerner Commission report on Civil Disorders, a snapshot of race relations in 1968 and an examination of the causes leading to the devastating inner city confrontations of that time. This is one of the most important and honest reports ever put out by the government yet very few people have ever heard of it.

Luckily for you, Bill Moyers remembers. Want to know what it means when you hear that somone is "from a different generation?" Watch this report and learn what it was like when the cities were in flames and what it was that shaped the thoughts of Americans. 

After that, meet Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark and a hopeful sign of things to come. It's clear to me that people like him and Barack Obama are the "chickens coming home to roost" personifications of the ideals so many of us shared back in the time when "I had a dream..." was brand new. 


C'mon! Watch them. Take an hour out of your life to help yourself better understand how we got where we are. There IS hope for a better America and the journey starts with donning someone else's shoes and taking a stroll in them.
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Race in America: The Past Through Tomorrow | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
Yikes. (none / 0)

Man, this just makes you want to cry.

All the problems that exist today existed then. They knew the problems existed, they knew what to do about it... but they weren't allowed to do anything about it.

And now, the poor in the inner cities are worse of than they were in the 60's. So much for the Reagan magic.

by Cogitor on 03/29/2008 04:26:04 PM EST

Obama (none / 0)
Obama to face affirmative action test link. Will he pander? (as always!)

by acroso on 03/29/2008 09:34:06 PM EST

Thanks Tim (none / 0)

For the Cory Booker story. I didn't grow up in Newark but close enough to it to recognize the sites.

Booker's first campaign  stop in the video (the two story brick building with the awnings) is a place called Stephen Crane Village (AKA the projects) and the film was shot near the Franklin street entrance. Home of many of my friends during my teenage years.

The shot of the NJ Transit train with the Newark Catederal in the background brought back memories.

It took big stones for Mr Booker to move into the projects he did by choice because that is (was) rough turf.

Made me home sick. 

by z1p101 on 04/02/2008 01:19:35 AM EST

Race in America: The Past Through Tomorrow | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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