Racism in Porn

[bunker]

It's all true and so hard to get a clear picture.

Is it the industry that ****** people to look at that type of movies... or
is it because that's what people want to see that they are producing them.

What came first : the chicken or the egg? (I personnaly think it is the egg and then came out of it the first chicken. But who made that egg ? It can't be a 100 % chicken, but almost...)

So who started all this and why does it go on ?

We seem to all agree that Black actors and actresses are kept in some kind of niche of their own, used in a way that don't allow them to show all their possibilities (I mean by that used like any other persons) and underestimated.

Then it means that there would be a market for interracial scenes with a Black and White couple that doesn't used the ******* cock stereotype (as long as the Black guy is concerned) or that are not done carelessly with this kind of why-are-we-doing-this attitude (that I always feel when it is a White guy with a Black woman).

I am a White guy who would like to see normal interracial scenes whoever is Black or White. And being a White male guy, I would specially like to see more nice and well done and well shot scenes between a Male guy and a Black girl. I don't remember any.

And who's guilty ? Producers or consumers ? If these scenes were not selling, producers would stop producing them ? That's a business. On the other hand, if that's all we have to buy, even if we are not happy we buy them because we have no other choice and it's better than nothing. And because we buy them, they keep producing them.

Chicken or egg ? Who came first ? Producers or consumers ?

In think it is neither of these two.

I noticed that none of us has talked about Asian girls. I personnally don't feel any racial problem when Asian girls are concerned. Is it the same for you ?

That would narrow the question about racism in porn to racism in porn between Blacks and Whites.

And who came first? The long history of racial problems that were existing centuries ago, well before porn, and that we seem to be unable as a society to get out of it. Most individuals deal properly with other people, are conscious of the problems and that it should not be that way but...

...many have a little dark secret, and when they dim the light and secretly put on some porn they rejoice in their prejudices and love te see them on film.

It may be good to get the frustration out in a harmless way but it keeps it going.

I think as consumers we should behave with porn as with any other products : if we don't like it, we shoud not buy it. It is better no candies than getting used to bad candies.
Then maybe there will be a market, and producers, for good candies.

 

[xxaru]

It's all true and so hard to get a clear picture.

Is it the industry that ****** people to look at that type of movies... or
is it because that's what people want to see that they are producing them.

What came first : the chicken or the egg? (I personnaly think it is the egg and then came out of it the first chicken. But who made that egg ? It can't be a 100 % chicken, but almost...)

So who started all this and why does it go on ?

We seem to all agree that Black actors and actresses are kept in some kind of niche of their own, used in a way that don't allow them to show all their possibilities (I mean by that used like any other persons) and underestimated.

Then it means that there would be a market for interracial scenes with a Black and White couple that doesn't used the ******* cock stereotype (as long as the Black guy is concerned) or that are not done carelessly with this kind of why-are-we-doing-this attitude (that I always feel when it is a White guy with a Black woman).

I am a White guy who would like to see normal interracial scenes whoever is Black or White. And being a White male guy, I would specially like to see more nice and well done and well shot scenes between a Male guy and a Black girl. I don't remember any.

And who's guilty ? Producers or consumers ? If these scenes were not selling, producers would stop producing them ? That's a business. On the other hand, if that's all we have to buy, even if we are not happy we buy them because we have no other choice and it's better than nothing. And because we buy them, they keep producing them.

Chicken or egg ? Who came first ? Producers or consumers ?

In think it is neither of these two.

I noticed that none of us has talked about Asian girls. I personnally don't feel any racial problem when Asian girls are concerned. Is it the same for you ?

That would narrow the question about racism in porn to racism in porn between Blacks and Whites.

And who came first? The long history of racial problems that were existing centuries ago, well before porn, and that we seem to be unable as a society to get out of it. Most individuals deal properly with other people, are conscious of the problems and that it should not be that way but...

...many have a little dark secret, and when they dim the light and secretly put on some porn they rejoice in their prejudices and love te see them on film.

It may be good to get the frustration out in a harmless way but it keeps it going.

I think as consumers we should behave with porn as with any other products : if we don't like it, we shoud not buy it. It is better no candies than getting used to bad candies.
Then maybe there will be a market, and producers, for good candies.

I think you're right in that the industry is much more accepting of Asian females than it is of black females. I don't think I could say the same for Asian men however.

As for the black and white thing; when you look below the surface there could be a few complex issues at play. I again have another theory about how societal influence plays in on the whole porn situation with regards to black/white interracial scenes… but I prefer not to get into that, as the racial implications involved are quite harsh. I’ve gotten views from people on both sides, and the last thing we need are more people thinking in these ways.

I think that eventually things will change, and the interracial issues in porn will be a thing of the past. And it may be sooner than we think.

 

[bunker]

I don't think racism is good in any way, shape or form, whether public, or secretly in private "getting your frustration out". I sympathize with racism the same way the rest of you sympathize with the holocaust.

Fox

I didn't say racism was good ! Where did you get that ? I said it may be good to get some frustation out that way because it is harmless (obviously meaning it is better to do that than beat people or break their house) and I added : ... but it keeps it alive (obviously meaning it is not that good!!!). So I said exactly the contrary! And I didn't write "getting your frustration out". There is a difference between using the form 'getting your frustation out' (2nd person) and the impersonal and generic 3rd person 'getting some frustation out'.

And I would specially like to understand this line and know what you mean by that.

...I sympathize with racism the same way the rest of you sympathize with the holocaust.

Who are the rest of you ? Is it the same your you refered to?
What do they think about the Holocaust (I didn't read anything about that)?
How do you know what they think since nobody wrote about it ?

And just what it means in general because I have no idea. Share your ideas.

 

[bunker]

XXARU wrote :
... I think you're right in that the industry is much more accepting of Asian females than it is of black females. I don't think I could say the same for Asian men however....

I agree with you on Asian males. It could be harder for them to get in that business than for any other. They don't fit the fantasy stereotype. I didnt get into that, there was enough stuff already and was not ready to do so.

XXARU wrote :
As for the black and white thing; when you look below the surface there could be a few complex issues at play. I again have another theory about how societal influence plays in on the whole porn situation with regards to black/white interracial scenes… but I prefer not to get into that, as the racial implications involved are quite harsh. I’ve gotten views from people on both sides, and the last thing we need are more people thinking in these ways.


I found it sad that you don't share these views. Expressing them won't necessary make people change for better or for worst. The good thing about this thread is that it makes us write about it and to do so we need to organize and rationalize our thoughts (and that is sometimes enough to realize ourselves where it makes senses and where it doesn't).
Also don't take it personnaly, but I don't like when someone says he has ideas but doesn't tell them because we're too dumb or too fragile (or some other reason) to read them. You could very well be right about that.. but I don't know since they are not written. The best thing is then not to say anything about it.

XXARU wrote :
I think that eventually things will change, and the interracial issues in porn will be a thing of the past. And it may be sooner than we think.

I do hope you are right.

 

[xxaru]

I agree with you on Asian males. It could be harder for them to get in that business than for any other. They don't fit the fantasy stereotype. I didnt get into that, there was enough stuff already and was not ready to do so.

And Asian males also tend to be very much typecasted or pigeonholed into a certain mold in Hollywood as well (in society too). But you're right, that's a whole nother topic.

XXARU wrote :
As for the black and white thing; when you look below the surface there could be a few complex issues at play. I again have another theory about how societal influence plays in on the whole porn situation with regards to black/white interracial scenes… but I prefer not to get into that, as the racial implications involved are quite harsh. I’ve gotten views from people on both sides, and the last thing we need are more people thinking in these ways.


I found it sad that you don't share these views. Expressing them won't necessary make people change for better or for worst. The good thing about this thread is that it makes us write about it and to do so we need to organize and rationalize our thoughts (and that is sometimes enough to realize ourselves where it makes senses and where it doesn't).
Also don't take it personnaly, but I don't like when someone says he has ideas but doesn't tell them because we're too dumb or too fragile (or some other reason) to read them. You could very well be right about that.. but I don't know since they are not written. The best thing is then not to say anything about it.

Dont get the wrong idea. I wasn't trying to imply that anyone was too fragile or couldn't handle the matter. If that's the way my post came off then I apologize. If you're really interested to hear it, then I'll go into the topic with you. But part of the reason I didn't, asides from getting into heavy racial views and stereotypes, is because I felt it was sort of off topic to discuss racial views in "society" (as this thread was about racism in porn). Like you said, there was enough stuff in this thread already . Plus I already felt that I was slightly off topic discussing my 1st theory, but perhaps not:dunno:

 

[bunker]

Thanks for clarifying this XXARU.

English is my second language so I am taking everything firsl level, in a litteral way.

You are probably right when you wrote that racism in society and in porn are two different subjects allthough surely one comes from the other. But still we better focus on racism and porn. It is huge enough like this.

Racism and Asian in porn doesn't seem to fit either. I must say I have never really thought much about that.

Now Girls from Bombay are getting popular. I suspect that males will face the same fate than Asian males but for other reasons maybe. Even the girls, I suspect they willl be kept in a niche of thier own contrary to Asian girls. That could be interesting to see how it will evolve.

As long as starting a new thread about racism in society... I just gave a little example of how touchy it is and.. I don't know ...
:thumbsup:

 

[georges]

Taylor St Claire was described as racist because she belonged to a racsist organization that was believing in the white race superiority. In that case, she was and is a damned racist.
Jill Kelly and Ashton Moore (I can't remember the name of the movie sadly) as well as Shyla Stylez did interracial because they felt comfortable with.
Briana Banks or Puma Swede never did interracial because perhaps it is not in their perspective nor in their will to do it. Our society is a society of freedom and Fox, you can't accuse of someone of being racist just because his/her choices are different from yours and because he/she has the freedom and the right to choose who he/she wants to fuck and be with.

 

[ChefChiTown]

Racism exists everywhere and there is nothing that anyone can do that is going to prevent it from happening. The problem is that a lot of people automatically claim "racism" when they really don't need to, which just unnecessarily adds fuel to the fire.

 

[georges]

1)You're not really a good expert on race relations though Georges. You've made enough anti muslim posts in the past and of course there's your famous quote that the one thing that most worries you about interracial sex (on the interracial sex thread) is the danger of HIV spreading.

2)"Freedom" means you can accuse anyone, of anything. I can't *prove* it (like I can prove your own personal race issues with your post history) except in the case of those who go on record saying it, like Taylor Rain and so on. I love Taylor, but she'll be the first to admit in her blogs how she feels about things. I'm free to accuse as I want, that's what freedom is. The porn business is full of this racism, full to the brim. My reasoning and logic makes perfect sense. I know Briana Banks well in person as you know, and I know she doesn't do interracial because (a) Vivid asked her not to (b) Bobby asked her not to (in the old days) and (c) she has been told by all agents that it will decrease her worth. Whether you blame her or those influences or the business for that, it's racism, and she will be the first one to tell you that, when you meet her someday.

3)But why are you bothering addressing me on one thread while trying to have me ****** by IP address searches on the other thread?

4)I don't think racism is good in any way, shape or form, whether public, or secretly in private "getting your frustration out". I sympathize with racism the same way the rest of you sympathize with the holocaust.

Fox
Peace

1) Perhaps some pornstars don't want to have interracial relations because the std checks are not done too regularly and they are not guaranteed of not catching a std. I have nothing against Islam but I have something about feodal regimes treating women like slaves and/or radical islamism hating judaism, chritianism and orthdoxism.

2) My post history has been clean since 2003 and to regulars who know me, they know that I am loyal and honnest and that can't be denied. On the other hand, you can't ***** someone to do something he/she doesn't want to even if it is again your principles.

3) I have better things to do than wasting my time by doing that

4) Something you should be ashamed of definitely. Reread how insulting is your sentence.

 

[bunker]

I know, Bunker addressed that too.

What I mean by the holocaust statement is...

Most people are incredibly sickened by what happened in the Holocaust. Myself included.

Many of those people are not as sickened by day to day racism. They perhaps even accept it. Bunker said "good to get frustration out" even though he doesn't condone racism at all. Others might say "just a part of life". Many people secretly buy into one form of racism or nationalism, in actuality.
Fox

Come on FOX, a few posts above I already replied to that one, telling that you misunderstood what I wrote even tough (IMHO) it was pretty clear. And now you come back with it, from another angle, and you are even suggesting that I accept racism, at least its day to day harrasments (don't know what words to use) and that I care about it only when it is a genocide. All that out of nowhere else than your own brain and maybe because I never used the expression : I condemn it. I never use that type of statement but I'll make an exception for you. So, read properly this time : I condemn racism and I **** that ****. Throughout all the posts I made I think it was pretty clear.

And the following is not refering to you specifically, but in general. I didn't write it because I don't like that type of statement. To me they don't mean anything else than : Look how great I am. I don't have to talk about it or try to understand what is going on, I know it and I got the right values. I can't find any other meaning that that one (allthough it may have some that I don't understand). It does not give me or teach me or show me anything. It is useless.

And to clarity more that line you keep biting on I'll give you some more meat. YES I prefer to know that there are guys that wank in their basement watching a racist type of porn movie than to know that there are guys that go out and beat people or break their house. YES I do prefer that and that doesn't mean that I accept it. Being a white guy I am not the one who suffers these attacks, but if it was the case I would prefer that guys wank in thier basement instead of beating the **** out of me or break my house. And that would not mean that I accept that.

What I mean is, just because people are not being ****ed in genocide, small acts of racism sicken me in a similar way. Other people may not see it like that, but when I see people being, acting or talking racist towards blacks, hispanics, muslims, jews, asians, whatever the case... all I can think of is that there is essentially no difference between that and Hitler. Thinking you are superior because of your race, thinking others are inferior.

Whether it's ***** or it's genocide, to me it's the same thing. It doesn't take all that much for one to lead to the other. So I am not ashamed to say that I sympathize with racism the way the rest of you sympathize with the holocaust - to say that I see it as shocking and horrifying as if the people whom the racism is being perpetrated against are being mass ****ed. They may as well be, if they are being treated as subhumans. The principle is the same.

Perhaps you and Bunker understand this more now.

Fox

Well yes, now I understand what you mean and I agree with your statement and they are both as bad as the other.

But PLEASE, don't put intentions behind words. Remember that this is an international forun. Some of us don't master this language and may use some non-perfectly-clear words or expressions that don't say exactly what they wanted to say, some may have wrote their post a bit fast or may just react spontaneously (which doesn't necessarily excuse anything... it may be even worst). I personnally don't want to read people that just pledge their own values but read thoughts or ideas. That, I can do something with it.

 

[ChefChiTown]

hey come on chef, now that's just plain racist. you're saying people claim racism when they don't have to, but what you're actually saying is that you **** all hispanics. right? come on. admit it.

Dude...now EVERYONE is going to know. THANKS A LOT.

 

[xxaru]

Briana Banks or Puma Swede never did interracial because perhaps it is not in their perspective nor in their will to do it.

Actually Briana Banks did do an interracial scene a long time ago. I know this because I've seen the clip.

 

[xxaru]

what does it mean that they don't want to have interracial sex because std checks are not done too regularly. In other words: why do you (or they) think they are more likely to get an std from interracial sex than from same race sex. That is the core of my query.

Yes, I'd like to hear the answer to this one too. A statement like this obviously implies that a certain "race" is infested with STD's, thus they are more likely to catch something by having sex with them. It almost goes back to the whole being "tainted" theory.

 

[xxaru]

Before Vivid, Briana's true lack of racism (she has nothing against anyone, she's a lovely girl), was omnipresent. Vivid offers so much money it's hard for a girl like Briana to say no to a small detail like "no interracial". I mean, technically her endless fling with Bobby V was interracial if you believe in race, since he was Mexican by origin or something like that. I wish Briana banks would do an interracial DP scene with you and I Xxaru. Do you know that I know her? She could have my middle eastern cock in her ass and your cock in her pussy... yummy. She'd love it. Have you seen the pictures of me and briana together on the "pictures with pornstars and celebs" thread?

Fox

Yes, I've seen those pictures... and we all envy you

 

[sammy402002]

Yes, I'd like to hear the answer to this one too. A statement like this obviously implies that a certain "race" is infested with STD's, thus they are more likely to catch something by having sex with them. It almost goes back to the whole being "tainted" theory.

Here is the answer to that question.From the Center for Disease Control.Also bear in mind that the Black population borders around 12 or 13 percent of total population.These are the stats and facts.Just do some research and You will find the same results.Jesse Jackson and the "self appointed" leaders of the African American community should be doing more about this problem to save people and less time padding their own bank accounts,in My opinion.A crisis in the Black community is at hand.-Nothing really to do with porn,just the general American population.Here is the link www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#aidsrace As You can see by the chart for cumulative and 2005 stats,it is getting worse in the Black community-(and remember,African Americans are a small percentage of the population,so the relative numbers should be quite low compared to Whites,but they are higher.Shame on Jesse Jackson,Al Sharpton,etc.for not bringing attention to this suffering among Black Americans.)Where is a leader like Martin Luther King Jr.that would preach,,(Yes Preach) responsibility and stop the cycle?

 

[xxaru]

Here is the answer to that question.From the Center for Disease Control.Also bear in mind that the Black population borders around 12 or 13 percent of total population.These are the stats and facts.Just do some research and You will find the same results.Jesse Jackson and the "self appointed" leaders of the African American community should be doing more about this problem to save people and less time padding their own bank accounts,in My opinion.A crisis in the Black community is at hand.-Nothing really to do with porn,just the general American population.Here is the link www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#aidsrace As You can see by the chart for cumulative and 2005 stats,it is getting worse in the Black community-(and remember,African Americans are a small percentage of the population,so the relative numbers should be quite low compared to Whites,but they are higher.Shame on Jesse Jackson,Al Sharpton,etc.for not bringing attention to this suffering among Black Americans.)Where is a leader like Martin Luther King Jr.that would preach,,(Yes Preach) responsibility and stop the cycle?

Those statistics don't mean much of anything to me. They are a bunch of blind statistics. They need to be much more detailed to make the kind of claims you are trying to make. Where were these positive cases reported for each race? What were their income levels? What was their highest level of education? Were they **** users? All of these things can really sway general statistics. The HIV+ black people that are living below the poverty line, or are out on the street and are hooked on ***** aren't gonna be filming porn to begin with.

 

[Friday on my mind]

Here is the answer to that question.From the Center for Disease Control.Also bear in mind that the Black population borders around 12 or 13 percent of total population.These are the stats and facts.Just do some research and You will find the same results.Jesse Jackson and the "self appointed" leaders of the African American community should be doing more about this problem to save people and less time padding their own bank accounts,in My opinion.A crisis in the Black community is at hand.-Nothing really to do with porn,just the general American population.Here is the link www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#aidsrace As You can see by the chart for cumulative and 2005 stats,it is getting worse in the Black community-(and remember,African Americans are a small percentage of the population,so the relative numbers should be quite low compared to Whites,but they are higher.Shame on Jesse Jackson,Al Sharpton,etc.for not bringing attention to this suffering among Black Americans.)Where is a leader like Martin Luther King Jr.that would preach,,(Yes Preach) responsibility and stop the cycle?

I have delibertly not commented on this issue very much as it is a very sensitive subject for many, but can not just let some of the inferences here pass.First of course blacks as a group have higher rates of stds as all groups of a lower socio-economic status are bound to have.They are less served by health care system ,have less resources in general.The cdc report you linked which I went through addresses the reasons for the disparity and mentions programs they have started to address them.This is really a question of poverty not race.

As to the "self appointed" black leaders Jesse and AL they have both spoken out on this issue.

Here is a paragraph on Jesse with full link to follow:
"Earlier in the day as a gospel choir set a spirited tone on this Saturday morning, Jackson warmed up the audience at the weekly forum at his Rainbow/People United to Serve Humanity Coalition headquarters by chanting some of his signature phrases: "I am somebody" and "Keep hope alive." Jackson has used them in speeches everywhere, whether in his presidential campaign or dealing with the many wide-ranging issues that he has tackled in his characteristic splashy and passionate style. But his calls for self-respect and abiding faith seem especially well-suited to his latest campaign. In the past year Jackson has begun using the bully pulpit of his famous name and galvanizing personality to draw attention to the growing devastation of African-Americans by AIDS. He has implored them to get tested for HIV and find out if they are positive or not. On this morning he calls out some of the new words he is trying to turn into mantras: "Detection, prevention, and cure. There is no downside to taking the test. There's no upside to ignorance."
http://www.aidsinfonyc.org/hivplus/issue11/features/jackson.html

As the story notes he has been speaking out on the issue for many years


Here is Al Sharpton and act up picketing Rudy Guiliani in 1994 to make aids a top priority:

"Rudy Giuliani got his first taste of ACT UP on his first morning as mayor when hundreds of spirited demonstrators met him outside City Hall and implored him, loudly, to make AIDS a top priority.

"The new mayor didn't stop to chat. Too busy fusing, I guess. But if he had he might have noticed that while in most respects it was a typical ACT UP demo -- meaning the chants were clever, the visuals striking and the faces mostly white -- on this particular morning a rather prominent black face was in attendance. Al Sharpton told me later that his presence on the picket line marks the beginning of a "new day" in which he'll be leading his legions into the streets alongside ACT UP. If so, Monday's may have been the last "typical" AIDS demo. It wouldn't be a moment to soon."
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/culture/black/articles/sharpton.html

Lastly regarding being self appointed leaders and such a difference from the late Martin Luther King let me point out he could have also been called self-appointed.He saw issues he cared about and tried to do something about them and paid a heavy price for his efforts.He was called everything from a communist to a womanizer while alive and was hounded by the govt. as an agitator.J. Edgar Hoover had a special thing for him as the freedom of information act releases have shown.The majority white community is not the people who should be deciding who the leaders of the black community should be.I think Martin would be proud of Jesse and Al,lets not forget Jesse was on the Balcony of the Lorraine Motel with Martin when he was assasinated and was part of his movement.

 

[sammy402002]

Those statistics don't mean much of anything to me. They are a bunch of blind statistics. They need to be much more detailed to make the kind of claims you are trying to make. Where were these positive cases reported for each race? What were their income levels? What was their highest level of education? Were they **** users? All of these things can really sway general statistics. The HIV+ black people that are living below the poverty line, or are out on the street and are hooked on ***** aren't gonna be filming porn to begin with.

I stated "nothing really to do with porn"--did You miss that?--I included the link for the Center for Disease Control.I think the statistics speak for themselves.This is an American/World problem.HIV/AIDS has no racism in it's suffering.IT IS A HUMAN PROBLEM.I have NO judgement on this.If You scroll down in the link,it has stats for **** users homosexuals..etc.--I have no idea what "income levels" has to do with this problem?I have no idea that education/(A Harvard graduate) has some immunity from this disease.We are all Humans..I simply presented the facts.It is a HUMAN problem.You ask "where were these positive cases reported for each race?'--In the USA...look at the link!--Am I against Floridians,New Yorkers,Californians?---NO--HELL No--I am pointing out the problem from the CDC website.---Research the problem instead of saying "those statistics don't mean much to Me".--That attitude let's people die while You ignore it.Problems do not go away if You ignore them.More people die and the problem gets worse.

 

[sammy402002]

I have delibertly not commented on this issue very much as it is a very sensitive subject for many, but can not just let some of the inferences here pass.First of course blacks as a group have higher rates of stds as all groups of a lower socio-economic status are bound to have.They are less served by health care system ,have less resources in general.The cdc report you linked which I went through addresses the reasons for the disparity and mentions programs they have started to address them.This is really a question of poverty not race.

As to the "self appointed" black leaders Jesse and AL they have both spoken out on this issue.

Here is a paragraph on Jesse with full link to follow:
"Earlier in the day as a gospel choir set a spirited tone on this Saturday morning, Jackson warmed up the audience at the weekly forum at his Rainbow/People United to Serve Humanity Coalition headquarters by chanting some of his signature phrases: "I am somebody" and "Keep hope alive." Jackson has used them in speeches everywhere, whether in his presidential campaign or dealing with the many wide-ranging issues that he has tackled in his characteristic splashy and passionate style. But his calls for self-respect and abiding faith seem especially well-suited to his latest campaign. In the past year Jackson has begun using the bully pulpit of his famous name and galvanizing personality to draw attention to the growing devastation of African-Americans by AIDS. He has implored them to get tested for HIV and find out if they are positive or not. On this morning he calls out some of the new words he is trying to turn into mantras: "Detection, prevention, and cure. There is no downside to taking the test. There's no upside to ignorance."
http://www.aidsinfonyc.org/hivplus/issue11/features/jackson.html

As the story notes he has been speaking out on the issue for many years


Here is Al Sharpton and act up picketing Rudy Guiliani in 1994 to make aids a top priority:

"Rudy Giuliani got his first taste of ACT UP on his first morning as mayor when hundreds of spirited demonstrators met him outside City Hall and implored him, loudly, to make AIDS a top priority.

"The new mayor didn't stop to chat. Too busy fusing, I guess. But if he had he might have noticed that while in most respects it was a typical ACT UP demo -- meaning the chants were clever, the visuals striking and the faces mostly white -- on this particular morning a rather prominent black face was in attendance. Al Sharpton told me later that his presence on the picket line marks the beginning of a "new day" in which he'll be leading his legions into the streets alongside ACT UP. If so, Monday's may have been the last "typical" AIDS demo. It wouldn't be a moment to soon."
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/culture/black/articles/sharpton.html

Lastly regarding being self appointed leaders and such a difference from the late Martin Luther King let me point out he could have also been called self-appointed.He saw issues he cared about and tried to do something about them and paid a heavy price for his efforts.He was called everything from a communist to a womanizer while alive and was hounded by the govt. as an agitator.J. Edgar Hoover had a special thing for him as the freedom of information act releases have shown.The majority white community is not the people who should be deciding who the leaders of the black community should be.I think Martin would be proud of Jesse and Al,lets not forget Jesse was on the Balcony of the Lorraine Motel with Martin when he was assasinated and was part of his movement.

Good Post---I am glad to see that.I am glad You posted the links--I was not aware of that.Thanks

 

[ckjedi66]

This is a debate that will be without end and honestly, it isn't even worth discussing anymore.