OT I Aspire To This Guy's Message....

[ABM]

For certain, I'll be reading his book. It's fighting the good fight.

https://woodsoncenter.org/team_members/robert-l-woodson-sr/

Robert L. Woodson, Sr. founded the Woodson Center in 1981 to help residents of low-income neighborhoods address the problems of their communities. A former civil rights activist, he has headed the National Urban League Department of Criminal Justice, and has been a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Foundation for Public Policy Research. Referred to by many as “godfather” of the neighborhood empowerment movement, for more than four decades, Woodson has had a special concern for the problems of youth. In response to an epidemic of youth violence that has afflicted urban, rural and suburban neighborhoods alike, Woodson has focused much of the Woodson Center’s activities on an initiative to establish Violence-Free Zones in troubled schools and neighborhoods throughout the nation. He is an early MacArthur “genius” awardee and the recipient of the 2008 Bradley Prize, the Presidential Citizens Award, and a 2008 Social Entrepreneurship Award from the Manhattan Institute.

 

[riverman]

For certain, I'll be reading his book. It's fighting to good fight.

https://woodsoncenter.org/team_members/robert-l-woodson-sr/

Robert L. Woodson, Sr. founded the Woodson Center in 1981 to help residents of low-income neighborhoods address the problems of their communities. A former civil rights activist, he has headed the National Urban League Department of Criminal Justice, and has been a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Foundation for Public Policy Research. Referred to by many as “godfather” of the neighborhood empowerment movement, for more than four decades, Woodson has had a special concern for the problems of youth. In response to an epidemic of youth violence that has afflicted urban, rural and suburban neighborhoods alike, Woodson has focused much of the Woodson Center’s activities on an initiative to establish Violence-Free Zones in troubled schools and neighborhoods throughout the nation. He is an early MacArthur “genius” awardee and the recipient of the 2008 Bradley Prize, the Presidential Citizens Award, and a 2008 Social Entrepreneurship Award from the Manhattan Institute.

Deserves funding more than what we're getting from the police funding....I think we should empore more of these community programs in inner cities across the country/world......I'm a fan of proactive community leadership like this...good find

 

[ABM]

Deserves funding more than what we're getting from the police funding....I think we should empore more of these community programs in inner cities across the country/world......I'm a fan of proactive community leadership like this...good find

Yes, this thing needs to be cured from the bottom up. Apparently, Woodson & Co. has a firm understanding of this concept.

 

[riverman]

Yes, this thing needs to be cured from the bottom up. Apparently, Woodson & Co. has a firm understanding of this concept.

Fred Hampton was doing this in Chicago in the 60s when he was assassinated by the FBI ...he held a daily fish fry for poor youth everyday...he fed the hungry....civil rights has many unselfish heroes in face of generations of abuse

 

[ABM]

Fred Hampton was doing this in Chicago in the 60s when he was assassinated by the FBI ...he held a daily fish fry for poor youth everyday...he fed the hungry....civil rights has many unselfish heroes in face of generations of abuse

Wow, I had forgotten all of that.

 

[riverman]

I knew of Fred Hampton's work when I was a young man...he inspired me to read black literature and get woke ..H Rap Brown, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou Nelson George, etc....all eye opening for a dairy farmer's son in Iowa. I reread Maya Angelou's "I know why the caged bird sings" just a couple of years ago. These are deep souls.

 

[julius]

This is just a weird way to blame the victim/pass the blame on down.

 

[ABM]

This is just a weird way to blame the victim/pass the blame on down.

Sure it is. You just keep working on your better way and get back to me.

 

[riverman]

This is just a weird way to blame the victim/pass the blame on down.

where did you come up with that take? I didn't find that yet...maybe I'm missing something here but...from what I saw, this is a proactive organization

 

[julius]

Sure it is. You just keep working on your better way and get back to me.

I did already. But keep presenting this broken mindset that the only and best way to fixing it, starts from the ground up. Because god knows, that the oppressors totally won't oppress people if they just had better family life.

 

[julius]

where did you come up with that take? I didn't find that yet...maybe I'm missing something here but...from what I saw, this is a proactive organization

The 'from the ground up' thing. It's blaming the victim for why bad things happen to them by people in power.

 

[riverman]

The 'from the ground up' thing. It's blaming the victim for why bad things happen to them by people in power.

I don't interpret that saying as victimization...it's something the Fred Hamptons and Mother Theresas have always done.....Gandhi did.....these people are trying to empower the disenfranchised, not play the victim. People who oppress them and have power need to be chastised and brought to face their abuses of power but teachers and mentors in poor urban society have nothing to do with that in my view...I cheer for them.

 

[ABM]

The 'from the ground up' thing. It's blaming the victim for why bad things happen to them by people in power.

No it it isn't. It's effecting change from the ranks. Like the dude in the OP has been doing. That's not "blaming the victim" in any way, shape, or manner.

 

[julius]

Yes, this thing needs to be cured from the bottom up. Apparently, Woodson & Co. has a firm understanding of this concept.

THIS is what I'm talking about.

It doesn't need to be 'cured from the bottom up', because it's not the bottom that causes the issue. That is blaming the bottom for why shit happens to them.

How can they improve schools, if they aren't given equal funding and opportunities?

It totally passes the buck to say the thing needs to be "cured from the bottom up". Because it implies it's the bottom that causes it.

 

[riverman]

THIS is what I'm talking about.

It doesn't need to be 'cured from the bottom up', because it's not the bottom that causes the issue. That is blaming the bottom for why shit happens to them.

How can they improve schools, if they aren't given equal funding and opportunities?

It totally passes the buck to say the thing needs to be "cured from the bottom up". Because it implies it's the bottom that causes it.

what this man is doing is what our govt has failed to do....sure, the govt needs to change but these kids don't have years to wait for legislation and funding to reach their hoods before they get caught in a drive by shooting.....govt doesn't make quick turn arounds in policy, they can't even fund health care properly...meanwhile these kids either grow up angry or hopeful....it's important work

 

[julius]

what this man is doing is what our govt has failed to do....sure, the govt needs to change but these kids don't have years to wait for legislation and funding to reach their hoods before they get caught in a drive by shooting.....govt doesn't make quick turn arounds in policy, they can't even fund health care properly...meanwhile these kids either grow up angry or hopeful....it's important work

Not saying it's not important work. Just that it's not the only solution. You can fix up the tires on a car, but if the engine is still made by Fiat, it's gonna be shit. You can fix the schools, fix the upbringings, but as long as the government allows people to make laws that make it harder for people to vote, harder for people to get loans, harder for people to get housing, it's not going to fix itself from the "ground up".

It's not just the ground up that needs to be fixed. It's from the up to the ground. Or however that would be said correctly.

 

[illmatic99]

THIS is what I'm talking about.

It doesn't need to be 'cured from the bottom up', because it's not the bottom that causes the issue. That is blaming the bottom for why shit happens to them.

How can they improve schools, if they aren't given equal funding and opportunities?

It totally passes the buck to say the thing needs to be "cured from the bottom up". Because it implies it's the bottom that causes it.

I wonder why their insistence on bottom up doesn't apply to their ideas of the economy. It's like people who claim mandating wearing masks impinges on their choice, yet they have no problem regulating women's bodies. GOP/Right wing nuts are full of hypocrisy.

 

[riverman]

It's not just the ground up that needs to be fixed

nobody disagrees, at least I don't but I don't live in Southside Chicago or Compton....that demographic is pretty far removed from Capital Hill and not near the top of any govt agenda...money will buy and sell weapons long before it reaches these kids...that's an area WE can impact with our vote ...poor kids don't have that access or a vote. BLM is coming from the ground up...not from Clarence Thomas or Ben Carson

 

[riverman]

I wonder why their insistence on bottom up doesn't apply to their ideas of the economy

Kids in the urban ghettos see economics in a have or have not way and the money in the ghetto is usually connected to drugs and prostituion...not the stock market ...when those who grew up there, turned it around and go back to give back, I think it's a wonderful, unselfish thing that should be celebrated...Damian Lillard is a hero in Oakland for doing just that every year...

 

[julius]

nobody disagrees, at least I don't but I don't live in Southside Chicago or Compton....that demographic is pretty far removed from Washington DC and not near the top of any govt agenda...money will buy and sell weapons long before it reaches these kids...that's an area WE can impact with our vote ...poor kids don't have that access or a vote. BLM is coming from the ground up...not from Clarence Thomas or Ben Carson

It's a two way street though. Yes, it can start from the bottom, but it can also come from above (again, not sure what proper word to use).

I guess it's just a different interpretation of what it means.

I would give your definition, and your posts on the subject, a lot more of the benefit of the doubt, than someone who tends to use the talking points of those who oppress.

 

[Minstrel]

Anyone with sense knows that problems like this need to be approached by both a "bottom-up" and "top-down" manner. ABM's favorite name-check on this issue, Martin Luther King Jr., was a strong proponent of both approaches. He worked with communities but also worked tirelessly to get the Civil Rights Act passed. Yes, there are things that community leaders can do in the here and now within their communities, but there are many things they can't do to fight systemic racism that permeates every level of American society, which is where government comes in. Arguing that only a "bottom-up" approach is needed is usually the white-privilege way of saying that society as a whole no longer needs to fight racism, black people (and other minorities) need to figure it out for themselves.

 

[riverman]

Anyone with sense knows that problems like this need to be approached by both a "bottom-up" and "top-down" manner. ABM's favorite name-check on this issue, Martin Luther King Jr., was a strong proponent of both approaches. He worked with communities but also worked tirelessly to get the Civil Rights Act passed. Yes, there are things that community leaders can do in the here and now within their communities, but there are many things they can't do to fight systemic racism that permeates every level of American society, which is where government comes in. Arguing that only a "bottom-up" approach is needed is usually the white-privilege way of saying that society as a whole no longer needs to fight racism, black people (and other minorities) need to figure it out for themselves.

I just don't see where anyone is arguing that it's "only" a bottom up issue...of course it's not...I've had more than my fair share of disagreements with ABM but I don't think he's implying what you may be reading into this thread...that's just me

 

[julius]

Anyone with sense knows that problems like this need to be approached by both a "bottom-up" and "top-down" manner. ABM's favorite name-check on this issue, Martin Luther King Jr., was a strong proponent of both approaches. He worked with communities but also worked tirelessly to get the Civil Rights Act passed. Yes, there are things that community leaders can do in the here and now within their communities, but there are many things they can't do to fight systemic racism that permeates every level of American society, which is where government comes in. Arguing that only a "bottom-up" approach is needed is usually the white-privilege way of saying that society as a whole no longer needs to fight racism, black people (and other minorities) need to figure it out for themselves.

Cheese and crackers, "Top down".

how the hell did I miss that easy and well known phrase!?

 

[ABM]

I wonder why their insistence on bottom up doesn't apply to their ideas of the economy. It's like people who claim mandating wearing masks impinges on their choice, yet they have no problem regulating women's bodies. GOP/Right wing nuts are full of hypocrisy.

Anyone with sense knows that problems like this need to be approached by both a "bottom-up" and "top-down" manner. ABM's favorite name-check on this issue, Martin Luther King Jr., was a strong proponent of both approaches. He worked with communities but also worked tirelessly to get the Civil Rights Act passed. Yes, there are things that community leaders can do in the here and now within their communities, but there are many things they can't do to fight systemic racism that permeates every level of American society, which is where government comes in. Arguing that only a "bottom-up" approach is needed is usually the white-privilege way of saying that society as a whole no longer needs to fight racism, black people (and other minorities) need to figure it out for themselves.

Great. So, again, my approach is from the bottom-up. It's a great start, and something I'm capable of doing. That said, enough bottom-uppers can then help facilitae change from the top-down. MLK had to start somewhere. IIRC, that was in church.

OTOH, let's simply go ahead and initiate/mandate stuff from the top-down. That's for certain to change hearts and eradicate systemic racism. Not.

Look, I'm coming from one approach that I happen to believe in. Never did I once say it's the only one. So quit implying that's what I'm advocating.

 

[julius]

Anyone with sense knows that problems like this need to be approached by both a "bottom-up" and "top-down" manner. ABM's favorite name-check on this issue, Martin Luther King Jr., was a strong proponent of both approaches. He worked with communities but also worked tirelessly to get the Civil Rights Act passed. Yes, there are things that community leaders can do in the here and now within their communities, but there are many things they can't do to fight systemic racism that permeates every level of American society, which is where government comes in. Arguing that only a "bottom-up" approach is needed is usually the white-privilege way of saying that society as a whole no longer needs to fight racism, black people (and other minorities) need to figure it out for themselves.

Bingo.

or arguing that it's the "best" method, and then challenging someone to come up with something better, junior, is code.

 

[riverman]

Bingo.

or arguing that it's the "best" method, and then challenging someone to come up with something better, junior, is code.

In all fairness Obama has said the same thing...grass roots outreach for young people is where change starts and has the most direct impact....he started in South Side Chicago just like Fred Hampton did..we've all been aware and commenting on the govt's need for major change in multiple threads where I think ABM has been wrong ...I think this thread has it's own merit

 

[yankeesince59]

I like to actually see black leaders, celebrities, athletes, etc., take stock and make a concerted effort in trying to help improve things in the inner city.

...do I think they will?....nope.

 

[Orion Bailey]

what this man is doing is what our govt has failed to do....sure, the govt needs to change but these kids don't have years to wait for legislation and funding to reach their hoods before they get caught in a drive by shooting.....govt doesn't make quick turn arounds in policy, they can't even fund health care properly...meanwhile these kids either grow up angry or hopeful....it's important work

Not saying it's not important work. Just that it's not the only solution. You can fix up the tires on a car, but if the engine is still made by Fiat, it's gonna be shit. You can fix the schools, fix the upbringings, but as long as the government allows people to make laws that make it harder for people to vote, harder for people to get loans, harder for people to get housing, it's not going to fix itself from the "ground up".

It's not just the ground up that needs to be fixed. It's from the up to the ground. Or however that would be said correctly.

Why cant we try to improve from both sides? Why does it have to be one or the other?

 

[julius]

Why cant we try to improve from both sides? Why does it have to be one or the other?

thats kind of what Ive been saying. It's not solely the job of the oppressed to end oppression.

 

[ABM]

Bingo.

or arguing that it's the "best" method, and then challenging someone to come up with something better, junior, is code.

thats kind of what Ive been saying. It's not solely the job of the oppressed to end oppression.

So, why does what I'm saying in this thread seemingly not have merit with you? Someone can't provide additional texture to the equation?