So i came across this story from last year, and i must say i was genuinely moved.
I think it illustrates perfectly several lucid factors.
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/w...ist-an-outcast
Quote:
On the main stage at the front of the rally, event organizer Tommy Gunn and conservative black Facebook personality Henry Davis took notice of Newsome and his group in their red, black, and green pan-African garb amid all the red, white, and blue. "Ignore them! They don't exist!" Gunn said to cheers from the crowd. At first, Newsome and his crew were unsure how to respond. But then all of them started chanting, "Black Lives Matter!" over and over again with raised right fists.
Then, the last thing any of them expected happened. A security guard leaned over and spoke into Newsome's ear. Apparently Gunn, a conservative internet personality who goes by the name Pissed Off American online, had changed his mind. Instead of ignoring the activists, he decided he wanted his security team to escort them onto the stage.
When BLMGNY finally reached the platform, Gunn addressed the crowd. "You guys know the Mother of All Rallies was to end the political violence. It's about freedom of speech. It's about celebration." Then he looked back at Newsome and the BLM members.
"We're going to give you two minutes of our platform to get your message out. Whether [the audience disagrees or agrees] with your message is irrelevant. It's the fact that you have the right to have the message."
It was then that Newsome took hold of the mic and delivered a speech. The six-foot-four, 250-pound New Yorker started off by introducing himself to the audience, first as an American, then as a Christian. Amid a lot of jeers and a few cheers, he explained why there was a Black Lives Matter movement in the first place: "Because you can watch a black man die and be choked to death on television. And nothing! Happens!" He went on. "The reason why we fight is to draw attention to issues and to fix it. We are not anti-cop! We are anti-BAD-cop!"
Finally, Newsome related that stance to something the people of the rally could understand. "If a cop is bad, he needs to get fired. Like a bad plumber. Like a bad lawyer. Like a bad fuckin' politician!" The crowd roared in approval. "If we really want to make America great, we do it together!" After he finished, a woman handed Newsome a miniature American flag, which he waved back and forth through the air. As BLMGNY stepped off the stage, hundreds of Trump supporters chanted "USA! USA!"
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First, he introduced himself by identifying with them. That often works.
Second, it's not about race. It's about respect. (Generally speaking) conservatives will have more respect for a black man who obeys the law than a white man who doesn't.
They'll have more respect for a black lesbian who is working than a white straight man who isn't and is not attempting to.
And they'll have more respect for a black athlete who stands for the national anthem than a white one who doesn't.
Third, the crabs in the bucket are probably one of the biggest contributing factors of divide. The fact that a good majority of his affiliates scorned him for having a dialog is indicative of the level.
Anyways, just a really interesting article i thought.