I'm listening to an interview given by Van Jones, ex white house green jobs special advisor. Since he is a black activist, the conversation turns to race, specifically the recent Treyvon Martin shooting.
Mr. Jones takes some time to put President Obama's reaction to the event in the greater context of his having to deal with race in the American Presidency. Along the way, he revisits the beer summit and Skip Gate's arrest. His description is very eloquent, and can be found here.
Mr. Jones takes some time to put President Obama's reaction to the event in the greater context of his having to deal with race in the American Presidency. Along the way, he revisits the beer summit and Skip Gate's arrest. His description is very eloquent, and can be found here.
Well, first of all, that comment [about Treyvan] from the President really should be seen as the third act in a three-act play on race for this president. ...
Act II, now he’s president of the United States. Skip Gates is arrested. ...
So now you have probably the most famous professor at Harvard, Skip Gates, African American, arrested in his home. Here’s Barack Obama, President Obama. Now, the most powerful man in the world, president of the United States, steps forward and says, "I think the police behaved foolishly." The right wing and the law enforcement establishment brought the wrath of God down on the White House. I was there. And suddenly, he’s forced to do a beer summit, to sit eye to eye with a racist police officer. As a black man, even the most powerful man in the world cannot speak about race. And if he does, he’s then forced to sit humbly across the table from a racist police officer. ... As was Skip Gates. That was one of the most terrifying, shocking revelations about where we are in a racial discussion in this country that I had ever seen. And so—
Very interesting quote. I've never thought about the beer summit from that point of view. Eye opening. Thanks.
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