"We have to bring them to heel."
This quote isn't talking about animals in case you got confused. It's actually referring to black youths. This was in reference to the amount of violent crimes that were happening in the early 1990's. The crime bill that was passed during this time was what sparked mass incarceration.
“Fully 60 percent of all young black men who drop out of high school will go to jail. This should disgrace the country. But it does not,”
― Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me
The way in which the crime bill was written targeted black communities. Clinton has spoken to law enforcement using this rhetoric. The affect of using language has been a large contributor to the amount of police brutality directed toward black Americans.
“The question is not whether Lincoln truly meant “government of the people” but what our country has, throughout its history, taken the political term “people” to actually mean.”
― Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me
“Here is what I would like for you to know: In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body—it is heritage.”
― Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me
Part of the reason I write about this is to point out that until this past month I was a huge fan of Hillary Clinton. I had read all of her books and I have looked up to her. I found myself reflecting on how I could have missed something so huge that she had taken part of. I didn't understand until I finally realized I didn't know about this because I didn't have to. I didn't know about her role in mass incarceration because I didn't directed suffer from the consequences of her words or decisions.
A couple days after Ashley demanded answers from Hillary Clinton Clinton spoke with The Washington Post.
Do you think Hillary is owning her mistakes enough or is she just benefiting from her position of privilege?"In that speech, I was talking about the impact violent crime and vicious drug cartels were having on communities across the country and the particular danger they posed to children and families. Looking back, I shouldn’t have used those words, and I wouldn’t use them today.My life’s work has been about lifting up children and young people who’ve been let down by the system or by society. Kids who never got the chance they deserved. And unfortunately today, there are way too many of those kids, especially in African-American communities. We haven’t done right by them. We need to. We need to end the school to prison pipeline and replace it with a cradle-to-college pipeline.As an advocate, as First Lady, as Senator, I was a champion for children. And my campaign for president is about breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of all kids, so every one of them can live up to their God-given potential."
I honestly do not feel that she is genuine. Mrs.Clinton, said exactly what she meant. If she was not confronted, those words of hers would still be floating in the air. She owned up to her mistake because she "had" to and it looks good if she does. In a position like Hillary's, any government official, or public figure, they must be aware, careful, and intentional with their words. In her case, what came up, came out, and her true colors were shown. She is in fact benefitting from privilege, because she simply can.This issue will not be an issue for too long.
ReplyDeleteI think we often overlook the power of words and language. I got into an argument this weekend with my parents about a man calling a woman "babe" or "sweetheart." I told them it was infantilizing and patriarchal language that reinforces dangerous ideas about women. They came back with, "Well that's just how some people speak. They don't mean anything by it." But for how long can you plead ignorance as an excuse for your behavior? Maybe Hillary didn't understand the power of her words when she used them, but those choices matter and have great effect, even if it was unknowing to her.
ReplyDeleteI have to ask myself when I see the apology and explanation Clinton gave, "Would she have done the same thing if she was not a public figure?" What if she had said this to a group of friends instead of on TV, and perhaps one of her friends was black. If her friend confronted her about her language would she have apologized? I try not to be a pessimistic person and believe the best about people, but it is often hard not to be in the world we live in.
So, I think the apology Clinton gave was sincere. I believe her when she says, " Looking back, I shouldn’t have used those words, and I wouldn’t use them today." However, I think privilege also plays a part in this story. She had the platform to do this, and the apology was necessary for her political image.
It is very interesting to watch politicians change their views over time especially with technological advances that allow us to see the words come from their mouth. I am a huge Hillary Clinton fan, but as one of her supporters, I do find it concerning that she has changed her views to appeal to the times. It is often overlooked that her husband's presidency did more harm than good for the mass incarceration of blacks in the country, but she stood right beside him as everyday young black men and women continued to be hauled off to prison for years and years. I think she needs to own up to this fact before she loses a key demographic of voters who have considerable power in shaping these upcoming elections.
ReplyDeleteI am not the biggest Hillary supporter however I think her apology is sincere. All I can think about is how she made these comments close to 20 years ago and when you think about it alot has changed in the past twenty years. We know and understand a lot more now. I know I dont want to be judged on the things I said ten years ago let alone twenty. I believe she understands that what she said was wrong, if she could I am sure she would go back in time and say something different. Unfortunately though she cant so she has apologized and I think that is the best she can do.
ReplyDeleteI also am not the biggest Hillary Clinton supporter like Lucy Margaret mentioned in her comments. I think there is a lot of suspicious things that she does, but that is a conversation for another blog. I understand that she is a human being, and that she is allowed to change her mind. I don't like to use the "it was ____ years ago, things have changed" as an excuse for lack of a better word. However, I think we do need to consider that the times really have changed and she, like anyone else, is completely allowed to change her opinions over time. I think it is important for us to think back to even 5 years ago, are you the same person with the same ideas? I most certainly am not. If I had everything I said or thought used against me from five years ago, I would be extremely frustrated because I have learned and changed so much.
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