Now I don’t know Mia Love, or if she has, as you say, an “unconscious hatred for all things African American” but, I gotta say that being a Black Mormon certainly seems to, imply, as you say, an inordinae “degree of acceptance of white supremacist norms and values.”

Racism against Blacks in the LDS Church is well-documented in the History of the Church by Joseph Smith, himself – as well as in the Book of Mormon, their doctrines, covenants and “Pearl of Great Price” (probably won’t find much online what with Mitt running to be president “of all the people”). Brigham Young, their second “prophet,” had no-o-o love at all, for “we people who are darker than blue” either – just Google him in the “Journal of Discourses around volumes 7 – 10.

I watched an interesting documentary awhile back on the Documentary Channel entitled, “Nobody Knows – the Untold Story of Black Mormons.” It was quite illustrative. Not sure if it’ll be on again, but it’s worth checking out if it is.

Being “…unconscious of the white-black paradigm in this country” if we’re honest, is NO luxury for Black folk – from anywhere!

I see Ms. Love as another Condoleeza Rice, or a better example would be Colin Powell, son of Jamaican immigrants – and we know what viewing themselves “through the prism of a U.S. white lens” did for/to them!

I so agree with you that, “We are all the sons and daughters of former slaves; we share this fight together” – but sadly, the effectiveness of the divide and conquer of the white frame, coupled with our abject failure to study and recognize it – has, and continues to, successfully make “sharing the fight together” damned near impossible.

Thanks again for you insight…

But I digress.

I agree with you on the influence of her immigrant experience. I’m always baffled by black Republicans. Then I learn that the person in question is either a recent immigrant or first generation immigrant from Haiti or Jamaica, and it all makes sense.

The interesting thing is that African Americans don’t reject personal responsibility or the American dream. We just know it takes more than individual effort and bootstraps to make the dream possible. Especially in the face of obstacles one has no control over such as race or gender, etc. If more Americans, white, yellow, brown or whatever, would open their eyes, they’d see that, too. This whole notion of “individualism” is, in fact, anathema to widespread success and, most importantly for this context, American history re Homestead Act, post-WWII GI Bill, the Great Depression and subsequent stitching of a social safety net.

I can’t think of American individualism, rags-to-riches success story that didn’t depend in some way on the American collective. Whether the availability of an educated workforce or interstate railroads and highways that improved transportation of goods or the unfathomable willingness to send people to war in the protection and development of markets and profits, we all depend on each other. No man is an island unto himself, and few want to be. Only those whose islands are resorts replete with servants and gardeners and waiting staff want to be “unto themselves,” and that’s just so they can keep it all to themselves.

I’m sorry. I’m rambling.

That point is that it’s not the case that immigrant blacks work harder or are more ambitious than native blacks. It’s that they don’t know any better and so don’t fight for any better. We do, on bother counts.

Black command? Her father cleaned toilets in America so his three children could go to college. Did you watch the link on Mia that was included in your post? Her family came to America with literally pennies in their pocket. Her father told her at her college orientation, “You will not be a burden on society. You will contribute.” She is one kick-ass lady! She’s mayor of a city in Utah, has three kids, teaches exercise classes, managed to attract industry to this town that was formerly an agricultural community, her husband lauds her as the perfect wife and mother, and you’re criticizing her? Why? Because she doesn’t wholeheartedly buy into the victimology meme? Because she has courage and strength and believes in herself? That’s disappointing to say the least.
And you are struggling for a “reason” why she’s so proud of herself? It’s because she was brought up that way Darron. It did not start in Haiti. Haiti has been used and abused by the rest of the white western hemisphere for centuries. So technically they rule themselves. So what? They’re all starving Darron. Also illiterate with an unstable government (as per your own article).
Plus, when her parents came to America, and were thus subjected to American white supremacy, her family did not roll over and just play dead. Her father said, in the video, his family never accepted a hand out. They worked for everything they owned. That included cleaning toilets. And you want to take this woman down a notch? Because, she doesn’t identify with the “African American” victimology meme?
Like she had some advantages that black people from Haiti, instead of Africa, were blessed with? The big advantage she had was her family’s spirit. That’s something there wasn’t much of in Haiti either.
I get your point. She’s dismissing and leaving her African American brothers and sisters behind and that’s something she should feel remorse about. Is that it? Any black person in America who has pride and self respect should be lauded, not condemned. And to try to ferret out “excuses” as to why she succeeded and others did not based on race instead of fortitude is taking away all individual effort and just flushing it down the toilet. As if ALL black Americans are merely products of a white dominated society. Robots and automatons with no control over their destiny at all. Is that your ultimate stance?
Racism is certainly a factor blacks must cope with every day, but to dismiss personal perseverence the way you have and to find “reasons” she had “advantages” (and she’s from the poorest country in the western hemisphere?) is beyond logic. You are negating the power of the human spirit. You’re searching for sociological reasons why this woman is successful and happy. You won’t find them. It came from her family and her soul.

I read her artilce I found nothing in it unprofessional. it still it comes down to not liking what she wrote.
I take none of this personal I enjoy the debate.

The question still stands what in the article would be justification for her to be removed from her position.

I don’t have a problem with bad grammar, “poorly structured written comments”, typos, slang, or whatever, etc. and appreciate folks who do come on and leave more laid back comments that do not conform to, or measure up to, the “white standards” with relation to what constitutes proper written communication. Usually you can get the gist and context. But dehumanizing language, such as that above, is truly disturbing. It necessarily and actively reinforces white supremacy, if not Nazism…sometimes I’m not even sure of the difference between the two to be honest.

Just a thought or suggestion. We all are bound to possibly encounter this type of language every single day channeled through the media, depending on location–the local stores and restaurants, etc., etc., etc., and it would not hurt to have a social space where people are forced to use pro-human language if they want to leave comments…in my own humble opinion…just my thoughts.