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I just noticed the above post, Pioneer, and as ususal, I don't entirely agree with your comments. Having lived through the civil rights movement, it is not my recollection that white women greatly impacted on this crusade. It was actually all that black women could do to make their presence felt. Rosa Parks, was of course, the poster "girl" but other activists were marginalized, mostly used as props to stand next to the men and nod their heads in agreement as they spoke. A few like Fanny Lou Hamer, and Angela Davis, and Daisy Bates did make a blip in the radar but they were not involved in the decision-making of the good ol boys fraternity of black leaders who were, themselves, jockying for power and position. Just as during the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement drew a lot of their white female sympathizers from the ranks of feminists, women like Gloria Steinem and Joan Baez. And again, as in the Harlem Renaissance, their most appreciated input was the financial support that poured in from the rich and famous philanthropists among white women. Those like Jane Fonda who subsequently became notorious for her role in protesting the Vietnam war. White college coeds who became invoved were not taken that seriously because they were a part of the counterculture, the uprising made up of privileged white kids rebelling against their middleclass upbringing and eager to shake up the status quo. The civil rights movement provided an opportunity to do this; and interracial flings did come with that territory. But these types were personae non grata within the more militant factions in the civil rights struggle, groups like the Black Panthers and S.N.I.C.K whose leader was Stokely Carmichael. White radical groups like SDS(students for a democratic society) had a different agenda and were more into revolutionary terrorism, and there was little infilteration of these cabals by Blacks. As usual, what created a rift in the civil rights movement was the white liberal element's inborn need to be in charge. And as a result, they were gradually edged to the side by Blacks fed up with well-meaning Whites wanting to run the show, do the strategizing and give out the orders. As competent as these white organizers were, many of whom were Jews with a history of left-wing activities, they came to be regarded as too intrusive by Blacks who felt they were capable of doing their own leading and planning. One ramification of this rift was exemplified during the early sixties when the South was invaded by an influx of young Northern White collegians flocking there to aid and abet the voter registration drives that were an anathema to white city fathers in the small towns where Blacks were discouraged from voting Putting to use their organizational skills, which too often relegated young black southerners to flunky status, these yankee carpetbaggers got busy. Unmindful of the local cultures of this environment, they proceeded to quote laws and make demands and stage demonstrations, stirring up the resentful red neck townspeople. By summer's end, volatile situations were ready to erupt, and local blacks were left to deal with the dangerous consequences left behind by the exiting white students heading back to the safety of their northern campuses. Incidents like this left a bitter taste in the palates of black folks as Liberals increasingly fell out of favor, and the 2 white male volunteers and their black guide who were all murdered by Klansman during this period really cast a pall over this project. I also question as to whether white gals are in danger of being usurped by Asian ones. Miss Annes are still the most sought after women in America. They've become more indepedent than ever and, to me, don't really seem prone to sucking up to their white men. IMO.

Coming from a decent workingclass environment with 2 good parents, I used to be VERY judgemental of people who couldn't seem to stay out of jail or stay off drugs. But the older I got and the more I realized what some people had to live with and around on a daily basis, it's a wonder so many survive and maintain their sanity....let alone learn virtues like sacrifice and discipline. I remember me and my brother would sometimes spend time with our relatives in other parts of Detroit. Everyone would be outside and you'd hear automatic gunfire and instinct said to duck and run inside but people would laugh and chill like nothing was happening and some even knew WHO was doing the shooting based on how the gun sounded!! Maybe you or Troy should do a book about coming up in and surviving NYC during the 70s and early 80s where shit had to be BUCKWILD...lol. Those are the times where both Heroin AND Crack hit the community hard.