African American
In reply to the discussion: Shout out to 1StrongBlackMan [View all]OneTrueLeroy
(3 posts)I was an active member of DU early during its inception. I posted sporadically in the mid-20-aughts, but let my account expire after grad school, and have not posted for years. However, I am a VORACIOUS lurker. Hourly.
1StrongBlackMan is among the best. His insight, passion, and eloquence form an outstanding contribution to this site. Seeing him TS'd (I'm old school) again breaks my heart, and I felt that I needed to reactivate to say this. Disagree, if you must, but I argue that his voice is often at the core of what true progressiveness requires- an unflinching, squirmily uncomfortable expression of the _struggle_ that is yet unsecured. While it is altogether satisfying to pat one another's back, to congratulate ourselves and fellow progressives on our 'post-racial' society, 1SBM remained a pea under the mattress AND cookie crumbs between the sheet. As uncomfortable as that may be, the alternative of a delusional belief in which we ignore the real, palpable threats plaguing black members of our society, simply to advance a convenient narrative of progressive solidarity, is unacceptable.
OTOH, it warms my heart to see voices that I have come to (silently, lurkingly) see and respect over many years rally for him. I can scroll up and read a literal who's who of the posters that I will automatically read, because I know that even disagreeing with them will make me a more informed and enlightened lurker.
Finally, it pains me to see that this thread isn't longer. DU has unfortunately lost some brilliant voices, due in large to the Bernie/Clinton split. While I understand, to a degree, the need to coalesce behind a 'unifying' candidate, it is a fearsome irony that 'too far' progressive voices have become muted testaments to the progress we have yet to achieve.
-OTL
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