Ok so a few questions: are we able to get reparations without legislation being passed? If so how?
If not, say ADOS sits out the election, votes GOP or whatever, dems lose and the GOP maintains power. BGOL ADOS have already said lobbying the GOP is out, so does the agenda sit idly by until enough dems get power again?
Before you answer let's see if we can agree on recent history so we can theorize how this plays out.
Obama got elected and had a slim majority for about 2 years. During this time he lost his shine. Dailykos was practically a hate site against him. White liberals, mad about him not moving fast enough on LGBT and not getting their wishlist with the ACA and other issues, decided to sit out to teach him a lesson. Black folks didn't come out as he wasn't on the ballot and white racists mad about a black man in the white house showed up and showed out en masse. We lost everything state level and in Congress.
Now the GOP doesn't just sit idly by when they get a bit of power. They wanted to make black turnout ineffective for all time. While we were out of power and the voting rights act was gutted by the scotus, GOP led areas suppressed and gerrymandered to their hearts content. Dems can win 90% of the vote, and only 10% of the seats. (That's an exaggeration but the point is our voting power was greatly diminished and we have to win by an overwhelming margin just to barely stay on the playing field.) Some maps got overturned but with the scotus ruling this will happen less and less. See this link also on ways they consolidate power:
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/1862658
So 8 years later we are just now picking up seats at the state level and during all this time any and all progressive agendas have stalled. All those liberals who wanted to teach Obama a lesson have been fighting tooth and nail to hold on to what he got passed and thanks to the GOP sabotage, namely Marco Rubio screwing over risk corridors, health care plan cost doubled.
So, if we do this again, and dem power is reduced further, the cycle continues. In addition we now have a open white supremacist in the WH stirring the racial resentment pot, so we have no idea how the electorate is going to pan out.
So what is the plan, to get legislation passed, from a group that gets rewarded by their base for anti black rhetoric and and passing any law that hurts us and denying anything that helps us, even if it affects them the same or worse? What makes you think candidates seeking power won't also play to the white vote and refuse to consider or discuss reparations for fear of backlash or loss of votes?
How do you get someone to write legislation, introduce it, whip the votes, get it passed and get it signed with or without dems in power?
I'm looking for actionable plans, not a wishlist and a never ending stream of complaints. Is this something we are really working for, because if not, how is this something more than just creating resentment, causing division, stroking discontent and ceding power?
If this is something we want to see in our lifetimes, can we really afford to let another 10 years pass by while anyone inclined to give you what you want is kept powerless?
If asking how something gets done is a threat, then that means there is no plan. Why should I expend any social media or personal capital I have or donate or whatever?
If I came to you and said I am going to get us a billion dollars and I would like your participation or yout time or your money, wouldn't you want to know about the plan to evaluate it? If I said I'm going to go and tell people I want it, I'm owed it and I'm going to get it and the people I'm telling aren't even the ones who can give it to me, would you still join me?
A goal without a plan is just wishful thinking.
I'll tell you now, health care and other issues take priority for me over reparations. If dems get power again, I want healthcare secure first.
I've been trying to be convinced that the idea of reparations and amplifying the message is something I should put time and energy into but the loudest mouthpieces are telling me I'm too stupid to understand and have failed repeatedly to present any concrete steps. I'm practical. If y'all pull this off, I get paid anyway. All I see is the stirring up of discontent with no outlet other than to lash out at others so there is no reason for me to join in and keep myself angry and worked up for no reason.
That is Trumps playbook with his white supporters. Make them feel superior but give them a target to go after for all their woes when they feel their lives aren't shit. British actors can't get reparations for you, attacking them is a distraction. Unless you are going after a director lobbying for a film on reparations, those targets are other distractions. Anything not lobbying the lawmakers or working toward getting the ones in power who will support this is a distraction. Eyes everywhere
but on the ball. There are legit advocates for reparations out there, I'm just not convinced y'all are hooked up with them.
I know and understand the attitudes Africans and immigrants have toward us and vice versa. I also understand that it has been shaped by white supremacy. We have bought into the stereotypes and white propaganda about each other. The solution isn't more distance, it's coming together to learn about each other.
