Recently, I have vented somewhat about the sad manner in which - at least in my opinion - the black community and black pastors continue to allow themselves to be cynically used and manipulated by white Christianist organizations that, truth be told, have contempt for blacks. Over the years I have followed many of the leading anti-gay "Christian" and "family values" organizations and perused their websites. It quickly becomes clear that many in these organizations hold views not too distant from those of the KKK when it comes to issues of racial equality. Yet time and again - most recently in Maryland - these anti-gay, anti-black, anti-Hispanic, and anti-immigrant organizations orchestrate black pastors like trained dogs to do their bidding to preserve a culture of discrimination and intolerance. Here in Virginia, it is nauseating to watch The Family Foundation (a toxic affiliate of Daddy Dobson's Focus on the Family) pull the puppet strings of black churches - some right in Norfolk within not too many blocks of my office. *
In this situation, blogger friend Alvin McEwen ask the pertinent question of why black pastors and other homophobes in the black community refuse to recognize that it was a gay man, Bayard Rustin, who played a major role in Martin Luther King's successful efforts to end segregation and bring civil equality? (A link to an account of Rustin's crucial role in the March on Washington is here) It's a question that needs asking over and over again and a subject on which those who allow their ignorance and prejudice to make them willing tools of those who despise them need to be educated. Here are highlights from Alvin's recent post (For those who may not know, Alvin is black himself - not that skin color should matter):
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Another day goes by and another ignorant black preacher sets himself up as the arbiter of just what the civil rights movement was all about. This time, it was in Iowa: Speaking before a conservative-minded crowd of around 400 on the west steps of the Capitol, Rev. Keith Ratliff criticized gay rights activists for equating their struggle with the civil rights movement of 50 years ago.
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Every time I hear an African-American leader make such statement, I always wish I could ask that leader about this man, Bayard Rustin: Bayard Rustin was an African-American openly gay aide of Martin Luther King, Jr. He organized the 1963 March on Washington. If it weren’t for him, that march would NOT have been a success.
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Yet throughout all of this, Rustin was never given an acknowledgment or credit BECAUSE he was openly gay. In a history of a movement fighting for basic dignity and humanity, you have a key fighter who was “buked, scorned, and overlooked” simply because of his sexual orientation.
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Common sense would propel one to say that this proves the kindred spirit held by both the lgbt and African-American movements for equality and dignity. How many African-Americans were overlooked because of their color? How many were kicked aside and treated badly because of the color of their skin?
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Someone please tell me the difference between disrespecting someone based on racial prejudice and doing the same thing based on homophobia. Is the feeling of being treated less than a man or a woman any different when it’s done to you based on sexual orientation rather than race?
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It just goes to show how clueless folks like Mr. Ratliff are and how they have transformed the greatness of the civil rights movement into a mockery by placing themselves as the spokespeople and the arbiters of just what it was all about.
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The civil rights movement was not solely about African-American civil rights. It was about rights in general, most specifically the right to be treated like a decent human being in spite of differences. In the grand scheme of things, it’s no different than the Solidarity Movement in Poland, the Women’s Right Movement worldwide, or yes, the LGBT Rights Movement worldwide.
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The desire for dignity and self-determination is universal. It crosses all genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations. No amount of fancy speeches will change that. And no amount of individuals gaining their reputations from exploiting the blood, sweat, and toil of those who sacrificed themselves long ago will ever change that either.
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*
Another day goes by and another ignorant black preacher sets himself up as the arbiter of just what the civil rights movement was all about. This time, it was in Iowa: Speaking before a conservative-minded crowd of around 400 on the west steps of the Capitol, Rev. Keith Ratliff criticized gay rights activists for equating their struggle with the civil rights movement of 50 years ago.
*
Every time I hear an African-American leader make such statement, I always wish I could ask that leader about this man, Bayard Rustin: Bayard Rustin was an African-American openly gay aide of Martin Luther King, Jr. He organized the 1963 March on Washington. If it weren’t for him, that march would NOT have been a success.
*
Yet throughout all of this, Rustin was never given an acknowledgment or credit BECAUSE he was openly gay. In a history of a movement fighting for basic dignity and humanity, you have a key fighter who was “buked, scorned, and overlooked” simply because of his sexual orientation.
*
Common sense would propel one to say that this proves the kindred spirit held by both the lgbt and African-American movements for equality and dignity. How many African-Americans were overlooked because of their color? How many were kicked aside and treated badly because of the color of their skin?
*
Someone please tell me the difference between disrespecting someone based on racial prejudice and doing the same thing based on homophobia. Is the feeling of being treated less than a man or a woman any different when it’s done to you based on sexual orientation rather than race?
*
It just goes to show how clueless folks like Mr. Ratliff are and how they have transformed the greatness of the civil rights movement into a mockery by placing themselves as the spokespeople and the arbiters of just what it was all about.
*
The civil rights movement was not solely about African-American civil rights. It was about rights in general, most specifically the right to be treated like a decent human being in spite of differences. In the grand scheme of things, it’s no different than the Solidarity Movement in Poland, the Women’s Right Movement worldwide, or yes, the LGBT Rights Movement worldwide.
*
The desire for dignity and self-determination is universal. It crosses all genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations. No amount of fancy speeches will change that. And no amount of individuals gaining their reputations from exploiting the blood, sweat, and toil of those who sacrificed themselves long ago will ever change that either.
*
It drives me crazy that those who don't have a full and complete history willingly allow themselves to be co=opted by those who are actually their enemies.
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