>John,
>I'd still vote for you for king, but this paragraph and your anger about a 'black mayors conference' are a tad over the top.
>People all over the states and the rest of the world generally vote for "one of their own". According to Oprah phones would buzz throughout black neighbourhoods in the 50s and 60s when there was A BLACK MAN ON THE TV it was such a rare thing!
>Is it OK for Tom 'the hammer' Delay to fix electoral boundaries to get more Republicans elected but wrong for blacks to vote in one of their own?
>
>My guess is that in 50-100 years the black/white thing will have disappeared in favour of competence for voting, but then the next group in line (Hispanics?) will take their place and keep the "one of our own" ball rolling.
>
>Of course there'd be an uproar if there was a "Miss White America" or a "White Mayors Conference". It was a given, until just 25 or so years ago, that whites held ALL positions of power. The groups/competitions that formed since emancipation were aiming at giving blacks some small means/measures of bettering themselves and feeling better about themselves. There was never a need for such things for whites in the U.S. (or Canada) except to keep those socially stationed under themselves from moving into their own areas of endeavour.


Jim,

Believe me, I'm well aware of "Black History." But, my family never owned any slaves. As a matter of fact, my ancestors most likely were indentured slaves when they came here from Scotland. I have never liked the notion of giving one set of people a leg up over others just because of race, color, sex, etc. I believe everyone should have a fair shot at whatever their goal might be. I don't understand people's readiness to let "them" be the winners for a little while longer. Have you ever been turned down for a job because you were white? Too old? Male? etc.

I guess I figure if I speak up about the inequity, others will listen and start speaking up too!