Why is our group never included?

Why is our group never included?

Because your percussion act got old.

Abhi:

I thought it was the most memorable moment of the ceremony. There is a Vaughan Williams hymn entitled "For all the Saints, who from their labors rest..." (which was sung at my father's funeral). It was very appropriate that it should be quoted today. All of the good people, no matter their color, who have worked so hard for justice in this country, or been victims of intolerance, were paid tribute in that quotation.

Peter

It's not that it 'may' represent Latinos instead... it definitely represents Latinos, not South Asians. I think we're included under the 'yellow' (despite being colored various shades of brown--and cream, for your Scythians). Speaking of which, what does that mean, 'when yellow can be mellow?'

Wow--Bush out, Obama in, still Christian overlordism--ahh, the "secular dream"--I guess it's dream deferred. . . .

where Rev. Jeremiah Right???

Speaking of which, what does that mean, 'when yellow can be mellow?'

that he doesn't have a rhyming dictionary?

Wow--Bush out, Obama in, still Christian overlordism--ahh, the "secular dream"--I guess it's dream deferred.

Not really, but you will have to wait for Anna's coming post to discuss that more.

Speaking of which, what does that mean, 'when yellow can be mellow?'

That you can chill and not be worried about being sent to an internment camp.

7 · akak said

that he doesn't have a rhyming dictionary?

that i'm just mad about saffron and saffron's mad about me.

Not really, but you will have to wait for Anna's coming post to discuss that more.

I was totally kidding--Americans are entitled to a bit of religiosity in their public ceremonies if they want it, just like (wait, wait) Indians. ;-)

what does that mean, 'when yellow can be mellow?'

That you can chill and not be worried about being sent to an internment camp

Precisely.

8 · Abhi said

but you will have to wait for Anna's coming post to discuss that more

about the shoutout to the muslim-hindu-nonbeliever axes of evil?

Because your percussion act got old.

statements like this put me in a funke.

maybe that was a shoutout to sanjay gupta, who strangely hasn't accepted the offer yet. are there skeletons in his closet? does he smoke, not masturbate, not use condoms or maybe doesn't want to reveal the size of the condoms he uses during the inevitable confirmation drillings? perhaps he checked other on his census form and wrote in Brahman. just askin'.

rob: so you remember that song too?

rob: so you remember that song too?

Not sure of the song, I was referring to the L. Hughes poem.

Manju--good one!!

he should've included a shoutout to pink. maybe "when pink can wink without creating a stink"

It's abouttime the dialog on race got beyond white and black. Amen to setting things right and keeping them that way.

i really thought mandela would do a surprise pop in. i can't believe the two titans haven't met yet. if shakira and beyonce can get together...

uh oh..mrs O's dress looks wacky.

Cool Abhi. I was nt able to find a transcript earlier in the day (~1pm). So my initial post on this topic did nt carry the exact words and I felt bad about that. But it is set right thanks to SM. :) Now let us fix the economy.

20 · Nari said

Now let us fix the economy

All Economy needs is some Oxygen, instead of Maylox and Botox.

BTW, I also liked the mention of "Hindus" by Mr. President :)

18 · Manju said

i really thought mandela would do a surprise pop in. i can't believe the two titans haven't met yet.

that will indeed be a "historical" event

I really hate Glenn Beck and his stupid face.

Beck on CNN was hard for me to take and now that he is on FOX, it might just make me crap myself.

some of the rhymes were from other contexts.

“...Stick around.”

25 · razib said

some of the rhymes were from other contexts.

yeah brown/stick around def refers to latino illegal immigration. we should push for wheat. maybe in 4 years lowery will say: "when wheat won't be blamed for the balance sheet."

Lord, we ask you to help us work for that day when, desi can be lazy...

"If it is yellow, let it mellow. If it is brown flush it down".
Common saying in Oz - not sure if it is the same up there ;)

I ll let you guys work it out

12 blue man said

statements like this put me in a funke.

Dear Tobias, now that America has ended all bias;
Time to change your mind, to alter your blue attitude.
Abandon those frayed cut-offs, and shake that fly ass;
Bathe free, shower happy, give up being a never nude.

black girl girl here...

FYI y'all, the "black, brown, yellow" etc refers to the different skin tones of black people, and how colorism affected which African-Americans got ahead...not different races lol..but I think its cool that today everyone can apply it to their own experiences. You guys crack me up :)

Yeah, its actually a really old saying that has been around forever.

yep, have to concur with yorubella-it was a riff on a saying in the black community;
If you're black get back
If you're brown stick around
If you're yellow, you're mellow
If you're white, you're all right.

Colorism all the way. His speech/prayer quoted a lot of cultural touchstones for the black community-the African American Anthem, MLK's I have a Dream Speech and other sayings that are familiar to black ears, but spun in a new way for a wider audience.

yeah, idiotic reactions to lowery's benediction reflect a lack of historical understanding, and stupidity by those uttering them. lowery's an awesome man; he's a legend who has earned the right to say what he wants by blood, sweat and tears. Look up the places he's been, the fire hoses he's faced, etc. Anyway, he made modifications to the Broonzy song's lyrics to actually reflect the changing times in a positive way. In the original song, the implication was that if you were white you were always right - a reflection of attitudes of the time. I'd argue the way Lowery changed it reflected the changes he witnessed in his extraordinary and served as a positive statement on america's white majority's changing attitudes in choosing to do what's right as opposed to being content with the jim-crow era attitudes lowery so very vividly saw in the first part of his life.

It totally kicked rick warren's silly thing's ass, and also made explicit references to tolerance with, I suspect, a view towards gay rights, given that Lowery has been among the most outspoken black pastors on that subject.

black girl girl here...

FYI y'all, the "black, brown, yellow" etc refers to the different skin tones of black people, and how colorism affected which African-Americans got ahead...not different races lol..but I think its cool that today everyone can apply it to their own experiences. You guys crack me up :)

Thanks for the true historical context but I disagree that this is how Lowery meant it yesterday. You are leaving out the last line about "the red man can get ahead man." This was clearly spun in a new way to convey a new meaning.

36 · Abhi said

"the red man can get ahead man."

I believe this was a blatant triumphal reference to the fact that Obama is going to spread the wealth around in the upcoming communist paradise of U.S.S.A

You're probably right, although "redbone" is an old term for black people (but usually describing women, go figure) so light you could "see" the red blood through their skin.

haha blue man, you win the award.

36 · Abhi said

black girl girl here...

FYI y'all, the "black, brown, yellow" etc refers to the different skin tones of black people

ABHI said: You are leaving out the last line about "the red man can get ahead man." This was clearly spun in a new way to convey a new meaning.

*I think* by red man, he meant "Red Indians" or the native indians, who were conquered by the pilgrims+others.

39 · Natives said

*I think* by red man, he meant "Red Indians" or the native indians, who were conquered by the pilgrims+others.

No. He was referring to the sad sequestered shut-in situation of the pale, acutely melanin deprived whites, many of whom are redheads, who are unable to come out into the light of day in today's America for fear of morphing into shades of seared sienna and varuttha vermilion reds.

When I grow up, I want to be an elderly black (or possibly redboned) preacher.

Rev. Lowery's lyrical words at the end were the most memorable part of the inauguration for me. Yo-Yo Ma, the poetess, (the overrated) Rev. Warren, even Obama's speech all paled in comparison to Lowery's benediction. His acknowledgment of how far we've come in this country was poignant and humorous. Although I was terrified there for a minute that he was going to faint at the podium. That dude is ancient!!!

Blue man, I am LOVING your prose. Seared sienna? Vermilion red? You make me want to take up painting again....

Lowery was probably working off the following: http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:a14_lLOYzKUJ:www.gavagai.de/musik/HHM60.htm+If+you+are+Black,+get+back+%2B+song&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us, an anti-discrimination song written in late 40's, early 50's about the South where illeagl Latino immigration was not an issue at the time. However, Lowery's reworking of it brings King's phrase "her citizens of color" into our present reality. Either way, Lowery issued a powerful call and challenge to do what's right by us all and I am way alright with that.

(sorry, can't seem to get the linking right)

I've read on various blog postings that the Reverend was playing off an old saying. "If you’re white, you’re right. If you’re brown, stick around. If you’re black, get way back"

Also that he was referencing an old song from Bill Broonzy, a black man who had fought in WWII and was disappointed at the lack of Civil Rights progress. The song wasn't picked up by any U.S. companies, and he had to record/release it in Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZLw5ahxm-Q

Some people think Pastor Lowrey stole the show at the Inauguration. I thought his benediction was poignant and beautiful and expressed the universal spiritual truths that you often hear from black american preachers but that somehow seem to be beyond the comprehension of most white mainstream christian pastors. Some salient points from Lowrey's benediction that any buddhist, advaitin, sufi, new ager would readily agree with:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h4SrWpZNd-yocKSO7_9FO51iLJowD95R4RTG0

"keep us forever in the path we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee."

"we know you got the whole world in your hands, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations."

"deliver us from the exploitation of the poor, of the least of these, and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these." [a damning charge against Reaganomics. Jesus would have approved]

"And while we have sown the seeds of greed — the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity"

"Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance." [true to the gospel of Jesus unlike the fundamentalists]

"Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will." [A VERY significant statement coming from a christian pastor that identifies God as the same entity worshipped by different religions. True to the upanishadic dictum: God is One; wise man call him by different names]

"With your hands of power and your heart of love, help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nations shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid, when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream."

40 · blue man said

39 · Natives said

*I think* by red man, he meant "Red Indians" or the native indians, who were conquered by the pilgrims+others.

No. He was referring to the sad sequestered shut-in situation of the pale, acutely melanin deprived whites, many of whom are redheads, who are unable to come out into the light of day in today's America for fear of morphing into shades of seared sienna and varuttha vermilion reds.

Is your IQ less than your age? What part of "I think" you cannot comprehend. Keep your 'No.'s to yourself.

11 · rob said

I was totally kidding--Americans are entitled to a bit of religiosity in their public ceremonies if they want it, just like (wait, wait) Indians. ;-)

As far as I remember, the oath ceremony in India have almost no religiosity than in US (except using on respective religious books for the oath). If at all there is any, it is usually multi-faith. Remember we have a Sikh PM, and some in high public office are even atheists (e.g. Karunanidhi). I am yet to see an atheist in public office in US.

Black, White & Brown
sung by Big Bill Broonzy

This little song that I'm singin' about
People you know it's true
If you're black and gotta work for a living
This is what they will say to you

They says if you was white, should be all right
If you was brown, stick around
But as you's black, m-mm brother, git back git back git back

I was in a place one night
They was all having fun
They was all byin' beer and wine
But they would not sell me none

They said if you was white, should be all right
If you was brown, stick around
But if you black, m-mm brother, git back git back git back

Me and a man was workin' side by side
This is what it meant
They was paying him a dollar an hour
And they was paying me fifty cent

They said if you was white, 't should be all right
If you was brown, could stick around
But as you black, m-mm boy, git back git back git back

I went to an employment office
Got a number 'n' I got in line
They called everybody's number
But they never did call mine

They said if you was white, should be all right
If you was brown, could stick around
But as you black, m-mm brother, git back git back git back

I hope when sweet victory
With my plough and hoe
Now I want you to tell me brother
What you gonna do about the old Jim Crow?

Now if you was white, should be all right
If you was brown, could stick around
But if you black, whoa brother, git back git back git back

The "brown can stick around" was aimed at immigration policies targeted at Hispanics. Bit of a stretch to read the South Asian angle into it, I think, no?

47 · Natives said

Is your IQ less than your age? What part of "I think" you cannot comprehend. Keep your 'No.'s to yourself.

No, but it is apparently lower than your blood pressure. I think that the only thing lesser than your penis size is your boiling point.

Many Arabs and blacks are brown too. Salaam

Negro only means black skinned to people. To the majority of black people many Arabs look like Africans with straight hair, that's it. They may look different to non-african men and women. The word Negro cannot just be applied to any African.

THANKS Yorubella and Melanie for making sure these guys knew the history of that phrase. I was wondering when these folks would figure it out.

As a South Asian American who cut her teeth in Asian American and people of color coalition work, its embarassing to me that until your comment, no one seemed to have a clue about this very very common refrain! Are most of you just really young, or do you have no experience in people of color unity work??

The common African American refrain does by itself refer to colorism within the African American community. But... I would say, by the late 80s/early 90s, the refrain had come to be widely known amongst Native American, Latino, and Asian American activists, students, and thinkers, as a way of referring to racial hierarchy itself: the way different people of color groups were perceived in wider society, in comparison to African Americans.

Of course, Latinos, Asian Americans, and of course Native Americans had been in the US for decades before this. But by this time, the "model minority myth" about Asian Americans in general was widely beleived; and urban Latino social and political clout were coming of age in major cities. At the same time, many African Americans felt that the same skin priveleges that had historically affected African Americans were now bestowed upon these other groups. Latinos and Asian Americans also saw this "skin privelege" affecting many of them --especially the lighter-skinned ones. So the refrain had now become a tool to describe racial hierarchy in a more multiethnic U.S.

To my knowledge, neither versions of the refrain include a reference to "if you're red" -- so yes, Rev Lowery, in retelling this refrain, must have added it in to paint a more complete picture of racial unity.

Those of you who have a history of racial coalition work will, like me, appreciate the significance of what he said.

(While I have many strengths even with Mastery of English as an US American as a rarity :p...my spelling stinks. Please forgive that.)

Absolutely borderdancer and all here or in spirit...or proxy if debating if that "spirit" exists.

Some of us saw what the offshoot of the Civil Rights did not just for Negro....then changed to Black....then changed to African American....but to ALL people of background. Alas the White...now Caucasian did get the backlash of the "double standard" for a while...and minorities were given equality as lip service when you see the economic development of the neighborhoods...or should I say the NON development (see liquor stores, check cashing places, no major brand of supermarket, etc.) And I am completely ashamed at the Liberal "Political Correctness" as the new censorship that grew. You can't force thought even under the banner of "tolerance." Read Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury. I'll skip the "mistakes" of whether they are known as "Conservatives" or "Radicals" as now when the Conservatives denounced the last administration, and those who hid under "terorism" or "Freedom fighting" violence for "a freedom of one denying many" like Animals or the Enviroment...because now I'm confused who's left right or center/centrist anyway.
And looking at even right now, the "majority" of Mexican/Hispanic/Latino and other titles given are the MAJORITY of the US population, yet the MINORITY of economic support (for the sake of argument, noting the documented since the underclass support of the undocumented on the economy would take pages to define here....and such have as much right to NON HOSTILITY from others as any other "documented" group) goes to such a group.

But in the last few years....after the racial hatred setbacks of 9-11...there HAS been a unity beginning to form in parts of the US and the world. Gates and Bono offering billions to microteansactions. The call of personal responsibilty as of late. Calling Torture...Torture even if it "legally" is "allowed. (and THANK you Amnesty International!) The self-awareness of taking a "non bending stance" can be as bad as some of those bigoted (sorry dubba.)

If it weren't for the "backlash" of the "anti-marriage" bills passed, I would have said we are on the rise still.

But we have a long road to go to treating others with the respect we wish to ourselves...also known as "The Golden Rule."

With respect, I am a mutt of European, mid-eastern and a third generation US born citizen with 3 of 4 of my parents and grandparents born not only in the US, but in New York city as well (the other grandparent was from Russia, which is fine too.)

This in a future immigrating time when not just Austria/Hungry/Prussia/Germany, but Russia, Poland and other "border nations in conflict with each others' border lines" would look to blame the minority (Jew, Romini sorry if misspelled, African, crippled/handicapped, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered, poliically differing of the power dictatorship of fascism/communisim/"free nations," etc.) for any downturn and...now the term is ethnic clensing....instead or murder or genocide of Hitler's later action in the latter war after the former wars. (And notice all groups listed as example DIED in the Camps...not just "The Jews.")

All this shaped what I became as of now and can be...as well as what presently happens as I look with a mind personally thinking, "the only constant is change itself."

Not only do I follow a way of philosophy and the moral path of "be a good soul and do the right thing" as a personal truth, but I follow the religions of reformed Judism and non-denominational Christianity, but walk the path of Buddhism as well when it comes to foundations of my philosophy. Even so I respect and even follow other World beliefs and religions (well Sikhism and Hinduism as additonal for examples maybe but I doubt I'd qualify as a Zorostrian or Athiest, but I *DO* qualify as a FORMER Angnostic :p)

All this has shown (at least to my eyes) we have so many similarities, when told to foucs on the details of the few differences, we forget the message of FORGIVING those who transgress and LOVE of those who are our neighbor no matter what kind of neighbor And in the "Judeo-Christian" US especially, forgetting that we must turn the other cheek as Jesus reminds us to hate the SIN but FORGIVE the sinner. Only God determines our judgement, not us on this earth. Many agnostics and atheists can also remind us that we need to take responsibility for our OWN actions FIRST before comdemning OTHERS. Not all are suing American government because they are "offended" at the mention of faith.

Yet, we also must respect the US's foundation of SEPARATION of "Church and State." Nothing is wrong with Religion or with Civics...but neither one should run the other. We shoudl ALL have the right to our beliefs...but not publicly shout them in "optional prayer" or "adding god to a pledge" which was to fight the "Athiest communist people," or sue the Boy Scouts...and so forth.

For our biggest enemy is not the Jew or Muslim or Christian Israel or Palistine, the Devil US or Socialist Argentina......

it is ignorance and those who speak with it more than knowledsge; those who have learned "enough;" those who speak on "fundamentals" yet ignore anything that does not meet their definition of such.

And the hiding of murder in all of the above and more in its name.

So ask no more why "you" weren't included, and make yourself heard, but do not drown out the voices of our chorus in this melding and melting pot US country we call simply "home."

Oh, if I may add an addendum to our widening race/religion/color group:

If you follow Buddha...more power to ya!

I AM,
--the truthseeker

If its yellow let it mellow and let brown stick around... was he talking plumbing? Nice going Obamsa! Let black not give back? Did he say some Americans should be held accountable differently? Nice going Obamsa.

Obamsa true colors....hey he signed Freedom for Abortion Act. What better way to kill the infidels then to have their own mothers do it

The most influentential people in my life have life have been Irish Catholic Jessuit Priests. The heleped me re-discover my Hindu culture.
I came from a very narow minded Presbyterian backgroud.