By FITSNews || We don’t know if Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a “communist” or a “moral degenerate” or any of the other nasty names that people like J. Edgar Hoover called him.
Honestly?
We couldn’t care less.
As we noted a year ago on MLK day, you can say whatever you want about King’s life, but his enduring legacy is that of a man who fought on behalf of the expansion of individual liberties. That’s a basic premise that we unilaterally support, and to be perfectly honest we can’t think of anyone better than King at articulating the fundamental essence and importance of liberty.
But again, is King’s dream being fulfilled? And more importantly, are black politicians from Barack Obama on down to S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers – the son of a S.C. civil rights pioneer – actually fighting for reforms that will expand individual and economic freedom for black Americans?
With a few exceptions (i.e. Robert Ford), we think the answer to that question is an obvious “No.”
More often than not, black politicians wed themselves to failed government bureaucracies that exist to provide subsistence – not opportunity – to African-Americans. Or more accurately to provide “street money” and government handouts to a well-connected clique of African-American “leaders.”
Then there’s Obama, who for all his talk of “hope” and “change” overturned former President Bill Clinton’s wildly successful welfare reform laws - meaning that government is once again paying to keep people on welfare, not get them off of it.
Of course the flip side of this coin is even uglier, as racism in South Carolina – particularly within the Republican Party – has only intensified over the last year.
But it’s not just our intellectually incurious horde of mint-julep sipping GOP politicians who are personifying the problem – the same behavior is replaying itself at the “exclusive” private academies where these lily-white RINOs send their children.
For example, at a high school basketball game in Columbia, S.C. over the weekend, students from Hammond Academy (a former “white flight” school) taunted African-American players for Heathwood Hall (another former “white flight” school) with buckets of fried chicken.
Yeah, it’s 2010. Your calendar works.
Seriously, where are black South Carolinians supposed to turn these days?
African-American leaders have sold them out and the white RINOs want nothing to do with them.
Hell, South Carolina’s State Department of Education – which is failing blacks by the generation despite a record $8.4 billion budget this year – won’t even reveal what percentage of African-Americans are graduating from the state’s sub-par high schools.
For shame, people. For shame …
By Gov'tAcctBalance= -12.5 Trillion (andcounting) January 18, 2010 at 11:43 am
Fit’s good article except the facts from the private school game. Went to and graduated from Heathwood, talked to reliable source, there was nothing that happened at that game that has not been going on for the last decade. Ask anyone who has been around the two schools, the “incident” was toned down compared to years past. The chicken was offered not only to white players but also Heathwood’s white coach. This is a perfect example of NAACP, never reporting on incidents that matter, i.e. gang shootings, ect. They are more concerned about a prank at two predominantly white schools than eliminating gang violence.
By Libb January 18, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Robert Ford as an example of a champion for individual and economic freedom for African Americans??? Give me a break. He’s a champion only for himself. Not to mention being a minion for Glenn McConnell who only “barks” when Glenn says to.
By Mincing Words January 18, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Gov’tAcctBalance= -12.5 Trillion (andcounting):
“They are more concerned about a prank at two predominantly white schools than eliminating gang violence.”
A prank, was it? What does the prank mean? Having not attended either school, I do not know what the bucket of chicken might signify between the two teams. Perhaps you can enlighten us. Hammond’s mascot is the skyhawk, is that right? And Heathwood’s the highlander. Hard to understand how fried chicken fits into this, UNLESS it were Heathwood offering fried chicken to Hammond, as in “we will fry you skyhawks (chickens).” But, it was Hammond offering fried chicken to Heathwood. Oh, and offering it to white players, the coach? It seems like you should be suggesting that there are no racial undertones because whites were offered the chicken. But you didn’t. You make this seem like this act, of offering the chicken to whites, was what “toned down” this event from years’ past, which does nothing to imply the chicken taunt was not racial in nature.
I am no race-baiter. I get really tired of all number of “minorities” dissecting every act of the “majority” in an effort to contrive racism. But without further explanation, i.e., the history and meaning of the chicken offering, what other conclusion can we draw?
By Ratt Man January 18, 2010 at 1:12 pm
” For example, at a high school basketball game in Columbia, S.C. over the weekend, students from Hammond Academy taunted African-American players for Heathwood Hall with buckets of fried chicken. ”
What was the impression received by HeathWood Hall students? Perhaps, they thought Hammond students are notoriously STUPID? I mean what? “Do people really think we’re like that?”
It must have been Humorous! Watching Hammond students with their Fourth-Grade twisted Perceptions?
By Gov'tAcctBalance= -12.5 Trillion (andcounting) January 18, 2010 at 1:20 pm
And as much as Sic and the crowd at Fits bashes the public education system, where would he rather send his child? I’m feel confident this website is not a non-profit.
By dirtbogger January 18, 2010 at 1:20 pm
I love fried chicken! Does that mean that I am a black man trapped in a white mans body?
By Gov'tAcctBalance= -12.5 Trillion (andcounting) January 18, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Mincing Words- That was the point I was attempting to make with my statement is that the story was reported the same way that Fit’s bashes la socialista, one fourth of the story and even less facts. The “prank” is that at everyone of these games students dress up and act stupid, its a rivalry game. My other point was that the NAACP should worry about more important things in our society, as with our government as well, but at this point it is what it is.
By Pat Hendrix January 18, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Wow, um, Robert Ford? The guy is functionally retarded.
By wrong on this one fits January 18, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Yes Hammond was a “white flight” school everyone knows that, and Hammond has always been most lily white.
Heathwood on the other hand was never a “white flight” school, but a schooling alternative to bring the best education to those in the Midlands of South Carolina, based on outstanding education, inclusivity, and dignity to all human beings. Heathwood grants many scholarships to the African American community, and many of those who have attended have gone on to be great leaders in later years. Heathwood has never shown bias to race, creed ethnicity, et al.
Hammond’s sophomoric behavior is once again showing it’s ugly head. Hammond will never be on par with Heathwood, especially with behavior such as this.
By Kid Charlamaign January 18, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Some good points, but it is actually “We couldn’t care less.” Sorry, it is a pet peeve.
By Gillon January 18, 2010 at 4:50 pm
The first thing that Hammond Academy needs to do is change its name. When you’re named after a SC governor and US Senator who shared a teenager slave mistress with his son, left his wife rather than give her up, and also was guilty of molesting the young sisters of Wade Hampton, you aren’t exactly starting off on the right foot.
By SnakeMD January 18, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Several years ago (4-5) I found pictures on my children’s computer of a theme party they attended with students from both Heathwood Hall and Hammond. I was shocked. Many of the kids were painted in black face and were outfitted in exaggerated African-American hairdos/wigs.
So what is this all about? I’m no anthropologist, nor am I Margaret Meade. I do know both schools have above average teachers and provide an excellent education. I also know from coaching their kids and being a scout master to their children for over 15 years there is an underlying hubris in this private school culture that they fail to recognize. Much like Forest Lake Country Club.
If you water-boarded any parent at either one of these two schools they would still deny it. To be honest, if I had the money, at the time, I would have sent my children to these schools and I would have done my best to make sure they didn’t absorb these hubristic traits.
I do think the truth lies somewhere between the two stories above. And for the record, I detest 99% of all that the NAACP attempts to do in this state. The last several comments I have posted on the “peculiar culture” of some folks in Columbia, SC I have been slammed for being a “liar” and a “dumbass.” Just goes to show you how sometimes the truth really does sting. Go figure…
By No Way! January 18, 2010 at 6:40 pm
I also like fried chicken and there is nothing wrong with that! That said, I think Martin Luther King would be embarassed at the current state of the Black Family and Black Man. Both have been enslaved by a new master . . . the federal government, under programs to keep them under tow and under control. It is a sad day for remembering such a great American figure.
By SnakeMD January 18, 2010 at 9:27 pm
To: By No Way!
=ditto=
By Soft Sigh From Hell January 18, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Being called a moral degenerate by J. Edgar is like being called a boor or empty suit by Joe Wilson.
Some amusing cartoon images on the theme:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/oliphant/vc007266.jpg
http://pdxsx.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/heller-hoover.gif
By Old Bike Dude January 18, 2010 at 10:10 pm
With the exception of Robert Ford, all of you turds can come over to my house on Sunday for fried chicken. And WHAT…racist republicans, say it ain’t so Alice. Next thing you know you’ll be reporting that the SCV has substituted the word nigger with Democrat. Can I make it anymore plain. South Carolina has miles to go before it’s done.
By baker January 18, 2010 at 10:33 pm
This has been an interesting post/thread. Is Hammond among those great private schools that stand able and willing to accept poor, struggling minority students?
By the way, I think this stuff comparing welfare and the federal government to actual slavery and slave owners is very trite and also obnoxious.
By EM January 18, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Lt Col Allen West is someone to watch…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP2p91dvm6M ,http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/allenwest.asp, and you can google his appearance on REDEYE. This is a great man and he went to public schools in Atlanta, which are on par with SC schools.
By political hack January 19, 2010 at 10:58 am
In typical Columbia fashion, the kids know how to outdo themselves. They are just preparing for a life of boozing, cocaine, marijuana, and sexually assaulting southern belles when they enter the halls of the great University, built by none other than God Almighty’s concrete. At least these private institutions have yet to be completely liberalized by accepting anyone with a “diverse and progressive” life story, or become merely a cesspool for progressive socialist free trade British imperialistic thought, which is the state of our wonderful Ivy Leagues. Racism is a creation of society and the media and it will never go away just like drugs or poverty. It is a tool to use to divide and conquer, to diminish ones sense of self identity, yet what demographic or faction is the quickest to accuse one of being a hood wearing racist? Being socially aware of different cultures is one thing, using different cultures against themselves for power is a completely different animal.
By Lexington Mom January 19, 2010 at 11:49 am
@Gov’tAcctBalance= -12.5 Trillion (andcounting) – “there was nothing that happened at that game that has not been going on for the last decade.” I think that was part of Will’s point. Get with the times — civilized people have figured out that it is no longer acceptable (not that it should ever have been) to wave fried chicken at someone just because they are black. If Hammond students have done this kind of thing for a decade, that’s really scary — was there no one at Hammond smart enough to figure out that waving chicken at black people was not only wrong, but extremely stupid? I grew up in a private school (not in SC) and will send my 2 young children to private schools if we determine that’s best (depends upon which public school they are zoned for when they are school-aged) — so I’m not at all against private schools. But, I’ve definitely marked Hammond off of the list. I don’t want my kids learning that kind of stupidity, and I also don’t want them branded “racists” for being from Hammond.
By SnakeMD January 20, 2010 at 5:55 pm
To: By Wrong On This One Fits; “Hammond’s sophomoric behavior is once again showing it’s ugly head. Hammond will never be on par with Heathwood, especially with behavior such as this.”
Mr. ByWrongOnThisFits, you speak like a true Highlander. I think you are calling the kettle black, or should I say white? Both schools are cut from the same cloth. You can get a superb education at either school, but you will be exposed to their peculiar culture at each. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Heathwood get their 1st black football player (quarterback) only about 6-7 years ago? For a school almost 60 years old that isn’t a long time for bragging about diversity. And why did Alex English kids bolt? Did Heathwood stand behind them?
Ms. Lexington Mom, your child will not be branded a racist for attending Hammond. Why don’t you visit both schools, with your children, and check out the atmosphere at each. One thing to consider is your pocketbook. At both schools you will be encouraged to have your children take an exotic overseas (expensive) vacation during the summer with their peers. And you might want to consider what type of vehicle you or your children drive. The parking lot rivals the finest country-club anywhere. If you have all the trappings to keep up with the Joneses you will enjoy both. Still, both have great teachers and a great support network.
By Youdontknowjack January 22, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Diversity is valued at both private schools beginning with H. Scholarships are available. The kids all interact. Check the figures on minority students enrolled at each school. This “story” was full of inaccuracies. Talk to people(and students) from both schools who were present at the game…..Talk to kids, white and black, who attend both schools. This was a major case of “connecting the dots” to promote an agenda. No one waved chicken in anyone’s face, nor were tacos, croissants, or eggrolls brandished in an effort to promote the superiority of one’s race, culture, or creed. Look into the “finer” public schools in Columbia and Irmo….I think you will find hallways and classes that are well, ummm, segregated. The “peculiar” culture at both schools exists in all schools, public and private, in SC where you have a diverse socio-economic student body. Don’t kid yourself on this point. We need to have honest discussions if we are going to improve education in SC.