Television
Jul 16, 2013
MIKE REFLECTS ON THE ISSUE OF RACE IN THIS COUNTRY IN THE WAKE OF THE GEORGE ZIMMERMAN TRIAL VERDICT, SAYING: “IT’S BEEN NEARLY 50 YEARS SINCE WE HAD WHAT WAS CALLED THE KERNER COMMISSION REPORT, A REPORT THAT AROSE OUT OF THE RIOTS AND THE ASSASSINATIONS IN 1968 AND IT BASICALLY INDICATED THAT WE LIVE IN TWO AMERICAS—THAT WAS NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO. IF YOU ARE A YOUNG BLACK MALE YOU ARE STILL LIVING IN TWO AMERICAS AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT ONE OF THE THREADS IN THIS CASE…AND THAT HAS NOW BEEN PULLED TO THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE OF THE NOTORIETY OF THE CASE IS THIS: IF YOU’RE A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE, OR A PARENT…YOU KNOW INSTINCTIVELY THAT YOU DON’T HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO A DECENT FUTURE AS MY SONS DO OR…[JOE’S] BOYS DO. YOU JUST DON’T HAVE THAT SAME ACCESS BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE ROAD BLOCKS BECAUSE OF YOUR COLOR, THERE ARE GOING TO BE ECONOMIC ROADBLOCKS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE EDUCATIONAL ROADBLOCKS, AND THAT’S THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.” ON MORNING JOE ON MSNBC.

MENU