Dear Byron:

After reading about you in the news (Black College Student Sparks Debate), I decided to write you this open letter.  You have the right to display the southern flag in your dorm room.  What I don’t think is correct is your rationale for doing so and why you should reconsider.   In your youtube video you stated that the confederate flag was a symbol of pride and respect of the South.  I understand why you feel this way.  You see,  my generation (Generation X) and my parent’s generation dropped the ball in educating your generation about our culture and heritage. My parent’s generation thought that since we had overcome the Civil Rights Movement and were progressing in this country, that there was no need to teach and expose our  generations of the importance of our history.

The Confederate flag may not have been the official flag of the Confederate Army or the south for that matter, but it was widely used by White southerners to symbolize maintaining their way of life that comprised much more than etiquette and manners; Southern Pride focused on State’s Rights and more importantly, the very profitable institution of slavery.  They valued slavery and discrimination so much that after the Civil War that Confederate Army Veterans  formed an organization dedicated to maintain the Southern way of life; the Ku Klux Klan.

The Klan’s main mission was to preserve white supremacy and nationalism.   They carried out their mission by terrorizing our ancestors.  Many of them were raped and lynched.  They did all of this under the guise that they were not a hate group; they were an organization that promoted and protected Southern Pride.

You mentioned in your youtube clip that, slavery and the other horrible things that transpired against black people should be left in the past and that you want to move forward.  You can’t move forward unless you know from where you came.  This is evident by your comment that you hate the term African American because you were born in Augusta, GA and not in Africa.  If you are ever able to research your family history, you will find that your family did not originate in Georgia.  Someone in your blood line is from either Africa or another country.

You also stated the term African American makes you feel like a half citizen of the United States.  Being called African American should not make you feel like a half citizen.   Have you ever heard of American citizens whose ancestors immigrated to the U.S. say they felt like half of an American because they identify themselves as Italian, Irish or Jewish American?  They embrace their culture and heritage.

I know you are getting a lot of negative feedback.  I read many of the comments and they were very cruel.  You do not deserve that.  People need to learn how to respectfully disagree with people without resorting to ignorant tactics.  I am writing this letter out of love and concern.

I wish you much success in your academic career.

GoBrown75

I mean seriously??!?? Just go inside the branch and let the tellers handle that; better yet, try calling the 1-800 or going online to check your balance!

to erase the images of Mariah strutting her assets in front of lil’ Justin Bieber. And I’m glad I wasn’t the only one freaked out by her remake video of All I want for Christmas. She is too damn old to be flirting with lil’ Justin. And she wonders why CPS visited her home; lol #JustSayin’ #iCant

Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber Tell a Christmas Story of Horror and Mob Rule

Want to know where the jobs are? Ask this jerk. People would rather stall the economy to force President Obama out of office than to create jobs

Is NASCAR going to issue a statement that the sentiments of their fans do not represent NASCAR and that they were honored to have the First Lady and The Vice President’s Wife participate in such an honorable cause; supporting our troops and their families????

First Lady Obama Booed at NASCAR Race

I am glad that the Board of Trustees sent Paterno and Spainer packing.  Anyone involved in this should be fired.  The students at Penn State who are rioting and protesting are really doing a disservice to their University.  How do you support a group of people who cover the sexual assault and molestation of children?  Is football more important than having morals?  In stead of rioting, these students need to register for Ethics 101.  Stop the foolishness!

Penn State Students take to the streets after Paterno, president lose jobs

If you can stomach Coulter’s rant in this video clip, you will hear her say  ’Our blacks are better than their blacks’  WTF???  File this under a long line of ignorant, racist statements that Coulter has made and continues to make.  Her assumption that Herman Cain, Allen West, Michael Steele and other black conservatives are better than black democratic politicians is not only ignorant, it is down right racist.

Hannity and Coulter were discussing the Politico article on Herman Cain and his alleged sexual harassment of two female employees.  The alleged incidents happened while he was the CEO of the National Restaurant Association.  For some strange reason, Coulter decides (in a failed attempt) to explain the history and struggles of black people.  She asserts that black folks should view conservatives like Michael Steel, Clarence Thomas, Allen West and Herman Cain as role models because they are true descendants of slaves in America, unlike President Obama who  is the son of a Kenyan.  She further shows her ignorance by implying that black conservatives are somehow better or more respected because they hold different political views than most of their family and friends; she is truly delusional.

If I didn’t know any better, I would think that this was a conversation between 2 slave owners in 1861; arguing over whose slaves picked the most cotton on their plantations.  Coulter and Hannity need to understand that black folks are no longer considered property and that our ancestors were freed and fought until their last breath to ensure that their offspring would not be considered as such.  Coulter does not have the right to undervalue, underestimate or marginalize people of color.  I am tired of conservatives implying that somehow Democrats have brain washed black folk, as if we are mindless coons who can’t think for ourselves.  I am African-American and I chose to be a Democratic because it the lesser of the two evils.  I, as well as other Black Democrats, vote for people who have our best interests.  Boehner, Cantor Ryan, West, Cain and other conservative republicans do not appeal to me because of their philosophies on policies they have and want to implement for our country.  Ann Coulter is truly the poster child of ignorance.

The Loudoun County GOP Committee decided to get in the Halloween spirit by sending a mass email of with the above picture.  Loudoun County GOP Committee in Hot Water The State GOP Committee and the Governor of VA have denounced the email and picture; this seems to be a pattern with the GOP; posting offensive images and jokes of the President, then apologizing after the fact.