Comments on: “Willie Lynch Letter” – Part II – “Did Willie Exist; Is The Letter A Hoax?” http://www.rupperadio.com/people/%e2%80%9cwillie-lynch-letter%e2%80%9d-part-ii-did-willie-exist-is-the-letter-a-hoax/ website reviews, photo blogging, music blogging, etc. ... Tue, 11 May 2010 16:13:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Sean http://www.rupperadio.com/people/%e2%80%9cwillie-lynch-letter%e2%80%9d-part-ii-did-willie-exist-is-the-letter-a-hoax/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Sean Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:58:20 +0000 http://www.rupperadio.com/?p=616#comment-191 I'm glad to hear that this topic has/is being debated. I feel as though I should elaborate a bit more on my comments. I was referring to the danger of teaching as fact biased material. I was also referencing the state of the community in which I teach. I am certainly not in denial about the disgusting and inhumane nature of slavery. The danger I spoke of is the danger that can result from misinformation. If a counterfeit letter can be taught as it were true or even debated it is given credibility. Similar "letters" exist making claims that the Holocaust never occurred, that slavery was actually preferred by most blacks and was only changed by liberals and other extremist views. We begin to head down a slippery slope if this is the case. Any powerful document becomes scripture to its believers, true or not. H. Lewis Smith referred to the fact that blacks were broken both physically and mentally. This is very true and should be taught as it happened and with historical accuracy and integrity. Minority students in urban, lower income demographics suffer from extreme lack of motivation and a feeling that they are a marginalized part of society. As a result, this lack of motivation translates into extremely low achievement, low test scores, and hostility towards authority. This, I firmly believe, is a result of a magnified teaching of the challenges that have and still do exist for African Americans. There is no doubt that there is still a long way to go for America to truly have equality, but inequality is negated if basic skills do not exist. After all if after graduation a student can't read effectively, write properly, or even understand how the nation works, racism becomes a non-issue because they won't be able to compete in college or get the best jobs. Racism never even has to come in to play at this point. Sadly, these failures will then be attributed to racism by the student taught to expect it at every rejection. Sorry for the long response, I only want to clarify. My intentions are of course only the best and hope that I message is received as one of compassion fueled by realism as I have intended it to be. I’m glad to hear that this topic has/is being debated. I feel as though I should elaborate a bit more on my comments. I was referring to the danger of teaching as fact biased material. I was also referencing the state of the community in which I teach. I am certainly not in denial about the disgusting and inhumane nature of slavery. The danger I spoke of is the danger that can result from misinformation. If a counterfeit letter can be taught as it were true or even debated it is given credibility. Similar “letters” exist making claims that the Holocaust never occurred, that slavery was actually preferred by most blacks and was only changed by liberals and other extremist views. We begin to head down a slippery slope if this is the case. Any powerful document becomes scripture to its believers, true or not. H. Lewis Smith referred to the fact that blacks were broken both physically and mentally. This is very true and should be taught as it happened and with historical accuracy and integrity. Minority students in urban, lower income demographics suffer from extreme lack of motivation and a feeling that they are a marginalized part of society. As a result, this lack of motivation translates into extremely low achievement, low test scores, and hostility towards authority. This, I firmly believe, is a result of a magnified teaching of the challenges that have and still do exist for African Americans. There is no doubt that there is still a long way to go for America to truly have equality, but inequality is negated if basic skills do not exist. After all if after graduation a student can’t read effectively, write properly, or even understand how the nation works, racism becomes a non-issue because they won’t be able to compete in college or get the best jobs. Racism never even has to come in to play at this point. Sadly, these failures will then be attributed to racism by the student taught to expect it at every rejection. Sorry for the long response, I only want to clarify. My intentions are of course only the best and hope that I message is received as one of compassion fueled by realism as I have intended it to be.

]]> By: H. Lewis Smith http://www.rupperadio.com/people/%e2%80%9cwillie-lynch-letter%e2%80%9d-part-ii-did-willie-exist-is-the-letter-a-hoax/comment-page-1/#comment-156 H. Lewis Smith Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:50:22 +0000 http://www.rupperadio.com/?p=616#comment-156 Hummm! Read Sean's comments and can't help but to be mystified as to what dangers he is alluding to. The Making of a Slave gives a most accurate account as to what blacks were subjected to. It is consistent with information from different sources as to how blacks were broken both physically and mentally to become the consumate slave. Other than being in denial I would be interested in knowing what Sean finds to be so dangerous about the letter. Hummm! Read Sean’s comments and can’t help but to be mystified as to what dangers he is alluding to. The Making of a Slave gives a most accurate account as to what blacks were subjected to. It is consistent with information from different sources as to how blacks were broken both physically and mentally to become the consumate slave. Other than being in denial I would be interested in knowing what Sean finds to be so dangerous about the letter.

]]> By: stephen http://www.rupperadio.com/people/%e2%80%9cwillie-lynch-letter%e2%80%9d-part-ii-did-willie-exist-is-the-letter-a-hoax/comment-page-1/#comment-150 stephen Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:49:49 +0000 http://www.rupperadio.com/?p=616#comment-150 Thank You Mr. Lewis for your comment. I have to say that your comment and Sean's > http://www.rupperadio.com/people/the-willie-lynch-letter-origin-of-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-103 < have shed some much more needed light on the matter... Thank You Mr. Lewis for your comment. I have to say that your comment and Sean’s > http://www.rupperadio.com/people/the-willie-lynch-letter-origin-of-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-103 < have shed some much more needed light on the matter…

]]> By: H. Lewis Smith http://www.rupperadio.com/people/%e2%80%9cwillie-lynch-letter%e2%80%9d-part-ii-did-willie-exist-is-the-letter-a-hoax/comment-page-1/#comment-126 H. Lewis Smith Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:35:39 +0000 http://www.rupperadio.com/?p=616#comment-126 The odds are that more than likely the character Willie Lynch is a fictitious one, however, that is beside the point. The Willie Lynch character can easily serve as a metaphor for slavemasters in general. The point should then be, not whether Willie Lynch actually existed, but whether or not there is any merit to the content or message of the letter. Whenever, I refer to the Willie Lynch letter I use the term Willie Lynch Syndrome. When one does a research on the making of a slave in other areas the content and message of the letter is highly supported. The Willie Lynch character is insignificant, what is significant is the message that's being conveyed. The odds are that more than likely the character Willie Lynch is a fictitious one, however, that is beside the point. The Willie Lynch character can easily serve as a metaphor for slavemasters in general. The point should then be, not whether Willie Lynch actually existed, but whether or not there is any merit to the content or message of the letter.

Whenever, I refer to the Willie Lynch letter I use the term Willie Lynch Syndrome. When one does a research on the making of a slave in other areas the content and message of the letter is highly supported. The Willie Lynch character is insignificant, what is significant is the message that’s being conveyed.

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