Black Georgians changed American history last cycle.

 

Friend, Black Georgians changed American history last cycle. A movement led by Black organizers, activists, and voters a decade in the making defeated Donald Trump, flipped Georgia and the U.S. Senate blue, elected Georgia’s first Black U.S. Senator, and elected America’s first Black woman as Vice President. But the fight for equality is far from over. In response to these historic victories, a majority-white group of Republican legislators attempted to entrench their power in Georgia by resurrecting voter suppression on a scale we have not seen since the Jim Crow era. And all across America, GOP-held legislatures started proposing bills assaulting the right to vote. This Black History Month is a reminder that the darkest parts of this country’s history are still with us — but so is the power of Black voters to make new history. The Democratic Party of Georgia stands in solidarity with Black Georgians. We are committed to uplifting Black communities. And we will never stop fighting to defend their right to vote and access to equal opportunity for all. Together, justice will prevail. Georgia Democrats

Paid for by the Democratic Party of Georgia. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.georgiademocrat.org   Democratic Party of Georgia 501 Pulliam St SW #400 Atlanta, GA 30312 United States     Communicating with our supporters is critical to the Democratic Party of Georgia’s continued success, and email is one of the best tools we have to do it.

Black History Month

 

This month, we celebrate Black History Month and the powerful voices of countless African American leaders in our country – some whose names we know well, others who have toiled in obscurity.  All have paved the way for future generations.  At this moment, it is fitting that President Biden has committed to nominating an African American woman to fill the Supreme Court’s vacancy.  Progress doesn’t just happen.  It must be determined, intentional, inspired.  I’m excited about the prospect of bringing a deeply powerful – and long overdue – perspective to the highest court in the land.  Let’s keep perfecting this union.

Paid for by Friends of John Sarbanes.   This email was sent by John Sarbanes, P.O. Box 6854, Towson MD 21285. Email is an important way for John Sarbanes to keep supporters like you informed about critical issues and to build a winning grassroots campaign.

 

Pandemic Playlist #3: “White Privilege II” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring Jamila Woods

Perhaps the best way for white people to celebrate Black History Month is to discuss with each other our white privilege, income inequality and institutional racism — and how to bring it to an end.

Feb 2

0:00

-8:42

Listen in podcast app

Jamila Woods, Ryan Lewis and Macklemore (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

“White Privilege II” is a nine-minute hip-hop hit from six years ago that is part agit-prop, part thought-poem, and part audio-doc by the white hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring Black Chicago singer Jamila Woods. 

I have this song on my Pandemic Playlist because it’s an uncomfortable piece of music. It questions not only the obscenity of white privilege but also the very existence of the song itself and its white duo who are performing it. It is, for them, a deep dive into the theft of Black culture and the white relationship to Black Lives Matter.

This is a rare attempt at white humility and a willingness to ignite a discussion that is much needed. Not a discussion of faux liberal guilt or white crocodile tears into a frothy latte, but one of seriously copping to and acknowledging the actual day-to-day white supremacy that runs this country, the kind you (white people) and I (white guy) share ample benefits from. The kinds of things we don’t even notice, but are self-aware enough to appreciate how society’s order makes our lives (the ones of us who have more than $500 or $5,000 to our name), well, somewhat carefree.

One year, back before film festivals ended, I found myself on my way to the Toronto Film Festival and sitting on the Air Canada prop plane next to the great Chris Rock. He told me how some film producers had been approaching him to make a film about cops shooting unarmed Black citizens and other abuses of Black people in this country. 

“And,” Chris reported to me, “to every one of them I said, ‘Why are you asking me to make this kind of film? We’re not the ones committing the abuse and the racism. Get a white director to show us why white America is doing this to us. That’s the movie I want to see.’

“Of course, that movie won’t get made.”

He paused a beat. 

“Unless you, Michael Moore, make it! You’re the one who’d be crazy enough to do it. In fact, that’s what I told one of the studios. ‘Get Michael Moore to make that movie. He will tell us why white power is what makes life hell for the rest of us.’”

He assured me he wasn’t just throwing another burden on my shoulders. “You’re the one (white) filmmaker who already does this. White supremacy, racism, crazy white people — these scenes are in every one of your films. You’re not afraid to piss off the power structure. You make that movie.”

I think Chris’s main point (aside from his personal orders to me) was that there needs to be a large movement amongst white people to go after and disrupt the infrastructure that‘s built and maintained by all of us white people to benefit all of us white people. WE are the problem, and we have to fix it. Yes, I know, nearly 60% of us voted for Trump — twice!

So for the nearly 40% of us who didn’t vote for Trump, how about we spend Black History Month ditching our liberal platitudes and MLK half-quotes. Instead, let’s spend the month (and the rest of the year) ending white privilege by changing the rules, the traditions and the laws, and truly committing ourselves to living in a different and better world. Radical empathy is necessary for us to be real changemakers. Less talk about wishing for Obama to return and more action by each of us to integrate each of our neighborhoods, make every school in our districts equally brilliant, make a true living wage the law in all of our cities and states, and each of us demanding those who participate in all-white coups receive the necessary restraints to protect the rest of us. 

Give a listen to “White Privilege II.” Each time I hear this piece by Macklemore, Lewis and Woods, I hear something new. This is what good art does. Don’t judge his white-think, just listen. Then, if you’re white, make a list of what you can do — not for Black people, but what you can do about yourself and where you live, work or go to school. C’mon, we all quietly know how the game is rigged, we know where the keys are kept, we know where the not-so-invisible “Whites Only” signs are placed. We also know where the money is, who has it, where it’s hidden, and — wait! — why the average white worker now has less and less and less. Exactly. You know what’s going on here. And Black Americans know you know.

So the only way to stop it is with your brothers and sisters of color. The 40% of us white voters who are progressive, along with the 35%+ of the electorate that is Black, Hispanic, Arab and/or Muslim, Indigenous or Asian. When white billionaires and banks, white CEOs and Supremacists, see us locking arms and sharing a table and a polling place together — well, watch out.

(Photo: Matt Dunham, Associated Press)

© 2022 Michael Moore Unsubscribe

Michael Moore, P.O. Box 470, Planetarium Station
New York, NY 10024

They’re trying to erase history

 

They’re trying to erase history.

This Black History Month, we’re seeing a disturbing trend across the country. Increasing numbers of schools and universities are banning books that teach the history of the civil rights movement, Jim Crow, and slavery. Since last year, 14 states have applied these book bans statewide. 17 more states are considering similar book bans this year.

It’s further proof of an alarming trend in our country — led by politicians like Rand Paul — to use racist dog whistles to stoke fear and division.

It’s why Rand Paul spread the lie that the 2020 election was stolen after a record number of black Georgians voted. It’s why Rand Paul single-handedly blocked the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, which would have finally made lynching a federal crime. It’s why the Senate still can’t pass the John Lewis Voting Rights bill.

Let’s be clear, these events are all connected, and they all have the same end goal: to maintain white supremacy.

But we know the truth. We know that our nation is built by and stronger because of, the contributions of Black Americans. We also know that we as a nation cannot heal from our history if we do not learn from it.

If you agree, will you chip in $10 or anything you can right now to support our people-powered movement?

Together,

Team Booker

 

Email us: info@charlesbooker.org

Contributions to Booker for Kentucky are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. To contribute via check, please address to PO Box 4369, Louisville, KY 40204.

• 
  

Paid for by Booker for Kentucky

Black History Month

 

Happy Black History Month!

As I say, every month is Black History Month — but February is a great time to recognize and honor the history and enduring legacy that Black people in this country hold. And every day, but especially the next 28 days, I want to celebrate and uplift our excellence, our accomplishments, our humanity, our futures, and so much more.

Today, I'm thinking about everything Black people, generation after generation, have already put on the line for our freedoms and rights. I've asked myself, what would Fannie Lou Hamer say and do at this moment if she were still with us? What about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or John Lewis, or Claudette Colvin?

I honor their legacies and their work — the thousands of steps they've marched on tired feet and the countless times they put their lives on the line so that their sons and daughters could live to fight another day. Without them, there is no me — the first Black member of Congress to represent my district in American history.

I'm thinking about what we can do today in order to move our country and our democracy forward. I'm proud to have used my role in Congress to legislate for my communities and for Black history, too; like the African American History Act, which will invest $10 million over a five-year period in the National Museum of African American History and Culture to support African American history education programs.

Above all, I'm thinking about how we can continue to legislate and build our communities based on love and care for one another. To put our humanity above all.

I hope you'll join me in the fight as we work towards this future — not just for some, but for everyone.

Peace and love,

Jamaal Bowman

 

PAID FOR BY BOWMAN FOR CONGRESS

 Our campaign is powered by grassroots supporters chipping in to emails just like this one.

To contribute via check, please address to: Bowman for Congress, 81 Pondfield Rd, Suite D 351 Bronxville, NY, 10708