Comments on: A Cry for Newark http://kenyonfarrow.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/ Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:08:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: The Newark Murders Reveal Possible Gay/Race Bias « Kenyon Farrow http://kenyonfarrow.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-615 The Newark Murders Reveal Possible Gay/Race Bias « Kenyon Farrow Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:05:17 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-615 [...] interested in taking credit–which is why I showed some restraint in writing my original piece “A Cry for Newark” about [...] [...] interested in taking credit–which is why I showed some restraint in writing my original piece “A Cry for Newark” about [...]

]]> By: Sherman http://kenyonfarrow.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-614 Sherman Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:53:57 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-614 I understand better the point you made. Thanks for the response to my response :-). I understand better the point you made. Thanks for the response to my response :-) .

]]> By: Kenyon Farrow http://kenyonfarrow.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-613 Kenyon Farrow Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:46:10 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-613 Well I think I agree and disagree Sherman. I do think there are different Black communities in the US, and it seems like you're suggesting that the plural implies a certain level of differences in terms of class, region, or even different nationalities, etc. But what I am suggesting is that while that is true, blackness, and anti-black racism works in such a way that we can in fact speak about Black people as a whole in this country, because being racialized as "black" means that your life choices, regardless of the mitigating factors of class or region or national origin, are somewhat circumscribed. I do think we have these different reactions to death based on social status or gender or whatever, but I do think I would have been equally affected if the people who died were gang members. Having had friends who were killed violently-even though they sold drugs or were in gangs and whatnot, I know that those lives are also valuable, and their loss is also tragic. My point however in saying that was to in fact point out this thing about the fixed nature of blackness, that regardless of one's desire for social mobility, we are still subjected to gratuitous violence and premature death. Well I think I agree and disagree Sherman. I do think there are different Black communities in the US, and it seems like you’re suggesting that the plural implies a certain level of differences in terms of class, region, or even different nationalities, etc. But what I am suggesting is that while that is true, blackness, and anti-black racism works in such a way that we can in fact speak about Black people as a whole in this country, because being racialized as “black” means that your life choices, regardless of the mitigating factors of class or region or national origin, are somewhat circumscribed.

I do think we have these different reactions to death based on social status or gender or whatever, but I do think I would have been equally affected if the people who died were gang members. Having had friends who were killed violently-even though they sold drugs or were in gangs and whatnot, I know that those lives are also valuable, and their loss is also tragic.

My point however in saying that was to in fact point out this thing about the fixed nature of blackness, that regardless of one’s desire for social mobility, we are still subjected to gratuitous violence and premature death.

]]> By: Sherman http://kenyonfarrow.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-612 Sherman Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:56:07 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/a-cry-for-newark/#comment-612 Great thoughts on the recent tragedy in Newark. I look forward to reading your essay. Hmmm....Black America...the Black community...I wonder if it's more accurate to identify people in the US as belonging to Black communities, than just "the Black community." The fact that the young victims were in college alludes to the different response we have to these murders. While your higher education status/experience (or lack thereof) should neither elevate nor lessen the value of one's life, your comments above indicate it does affect how we react to this tragedy. Perhaps our reaction would be the same, whether they went to school or not, if America's many Black communities (and different black social, political identities) address how to value any life at all levels of progress, hardships, and expression. The struggle (or failure) to do so may be "the hell" happening right now. Great thoughts on the recent tragedy in Newark. I look forward to reading your essay.

Hmmm….Black America…the Black community…I wonder if it’s more accurate to identify people in the US as belonging to Black communities, than just “the Black community.” The fact that the young victims were in college alludes to the different response we have to these murders. While your higher education status/experience (or lack thereof) should neither elevate nor lessen the value of one’s life, your comments above indicate it does affect how we react to this tragedy. Perhaps our reaction would be the same, whether they went to school or not, if America’s many Black communities (and different black social, political identities) address how to value any life at all levels of progress, hardships, and expression. The struggle (or failure) to do so may be “the hell” happening right now.

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