That was exactly what I asked myself when I saw that ballot - What year is this!?! It's appalling, but I'm not, unfortunately, that surprised.

I truly don't understand why anyone would want to live in Mississippi

Life as usual in Mississippi: "Oh, but we've always done it this way!"

And now the lookout for "outside agitators stirrin' up trouble" will begin.

How dare anyone look closely at Mississippi! Better yet, I dare you to go there and look, really look past all the smiling "hospitality". It is not funny. It is pathetic! And yes, IT is still happening in 2010 - it's Mississippi!

This sort of thing is emerging all across the south. I live in Alabama and if you are white, people seem to think that it makes you a member of the "club" and they feel free to make any sort of crude racist slur that they feel like. One of our senators never makes a speech without reminding the audience that his family once owned 170 slaves and the other constantly reminds people that he was turned down for a federal judgeship because he had affiliations with groups (the KKK and Aryan Nation) who only sought to protect white interests.

I haven't hears such overt and open racism since the 1950's when I was a kid. And it seems to be getting worse by the day. Some of the remarks I hear on a daily basis just make me ashamed that anyone would ever think that I agreed with that sort of trash talk. I am "associated" with the University of Alabama and students and faculty who are of foreign origin or not fundamentalist christian express real fear of the locals. Many have expressed that they have considered leaving and returning to their home countries because the level of religious and cultural hate speech has grown so bad that they are frightened for their children's safety.

Affirmative action at work. Honestly, this is prolly something to do with trying to meet some kind of quota. In their effort to be 'fair' they broke everything down into sex/race and tried to divy it out. This is why affirmative action, quotas, hate crime stuff doesnt work as intended. We end up with unfair results that usually hurt everyone, including the people it was meant to help.

I read the portion of the memo they put up. Where does it say this?

"The memo indicates that only white students can be president of the school’s eighth grade, while only black students can be vice president."

This foolishness is not representative of Mississippi. I'm an African American who lives in MS, and I've never encountered any of this type of nonsense. This foolishness is also not isolated to just Mississippi. From California to Maine, ignorance knows no boundaries.

Wait a sec...

At the top of the memo, where it says, for example "President - White, Vice President - Black," etc., is that a racial requirement for filling the position or the race of the people currently in the position?

I first read it to mean the latter, but then thought that, since the school year just started, there probably aren't any people in that position.

Oh My God! Are you freaking Serious??? Wow, Martin Luther King would be so proud of how far we have come! That is the most unbelievable thing I have heard in a while!!!!!

Oh...just read robeson's post. Wth?? I need to pay attention to another news source I guess. Are there any good ones left???

OMG

Stuff like this should have ended 40 years ago with the Civil Rights Act. Just horrible. Awful. This saddens me sooooooooo deeply. How far as America fallen?

So I suppose they burn crosses for the big Homecoming Football game instead of the more traditional bonfire....the words shame on you don't seem to fill this void of stupidity and racist behavior....it's like stepping into the Twilight Zone, but instead of Rod Serling, the show is being hosted by Lester Maddox.

Ham White - You are an idiot - or one of the fatest people alive since you equate size to intelligence!

I really do not believe this, I believe this must be a bad joke, someone put out; no School administration can be that stupid !

This type of incomplete, incendiary, race-baiting reporting really gripes my butt! There are so many unanswered questions in this article ... we as readers must know those answers before we jump to conclusions.

Maybe last year the requirements were reversed in an attempt to be fair year-over-year. Maybe last year it mandated:

President - Black
Vice President - White
Sec-Treas - Black
Reporter - White

Nowhere in the report does it discuss what happened last year or the plans for next year. Or, why the school feels this quota system is necessary.

Also, as Alaric-2241907 points out above, with 67% of the school population being white, maybe blacks were never elected to class government positions and the school has made a ham-fisted attempt to rectify the situation. We don't know because the reporter - Ryan McCartney - didn't do a thorough job!

Why would a news agency release such an uninvestigated article unless the intent was simple race baiting. Shame on MSNBC. It's time to send some folks back to Journalism 101.

I hope somebody does some thorough research on this situation so we can read the complete story and draw informed conclusions.

Why are all of you so surprised by this? Bigotry and hate are alive and well in all parts of the United States. I found that out when President Obama was elected and my daughter was threatened because she wore an Obama tee shirt to school. Kids at that school said the President should be killed and so should his supporters. We live in a Dallas suburb and the principal did nothing about it.

Hey Nikita :)

You are right to say in a while, because there is more to come. Seems like we are regressing back to the good ole hateful days. While it's not cool to be hateful, you can always choose to send your kids to a private school or home school them. The fact that you are in a public school setting with public $$ and sending out a memo like this, only set the school district up for lawsuits and people on the outside branding the whole state of MS as backwards (not fair to the state on a whole, but dumb stuff keeps coming on the subject of race/sexuality).

To marlen101917... "Let me guess Tea Party folks, the CIA (on the orders of Obama) created this "story" to further divide this country?"

Let me guess, another ignorant human being trying to drag the Tea Party into another racial issue which it has absolutely nothing to do with, which REALLY does divide this nation...

Your ignorance is breath taking... People like you are truly the problem with this country, not the solution...

Allen_Shore

Are you seriously defending this? Does what happened last year or next year matter? If in an injustice has occured, and injustice has occured! Ohhh.... how far America has fallen.

rrobeson,

I did read the hand book and no where does it list radial requirements for officers. It DOES list that the races of home coming queen and maids will be equally divided. (Equal numbers of both races being queen and maids) It appears that this was someones misguided attempt and affirmative action.

Apparently Mississippi wants to be Arizona. Or Arizona wants to be Mississippi, hard to tell. They cannot do this, it's against the law. But I would never want my children to live in a warped place like that. Think of the crazy conversation that created this?

All you people dragging others into an obviously twisted and sick little pocket of the US are equally as twisted and sick...

Anyone in that town that is involved should be fired, period. That includes the entire teaching staff, all the way up to the leaders within that school system. Maybe even all the way to the mayors office. Anyone being paid our tax dollars or the states tax dollars that knew about this, needs to be fired. Maybe even prosecuted. Unbelievable this has perpetuated for as long as it has, and there is simply no excuse. Fire them all, and prosecute. It is a big deal.

I'm a white male conservative, just so you know who's saying it...

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/phil_ochs/heres_to_the_state_of_mississippi.html

What's to review? Why is a school Superintendent taking the time to review the issue?

I understand that, most likely, there is an attempt at affirmative action, but to tell anyone they can or can't do something based on their race is ridiculous.

Sad that kids are still exposed to this.

For that matter...I have no idea why anyone/anything would live any place in the South...in the Bible noose. I lived in Oklahoma for years...but after living in Colorado/Arizona/Idaho...would never move back to any place in the Bible noose. I wouldn't even want to be buried in that area after I die.

Texana Deb , I also find it interesting that half of the Homecoming positions are set aside for blacks when only 32.5% of the students are black. That sounds discriminatory to whites to me.

rrobeson, thanks for the post. It adds a completely different angle to this story.

Without a doubt, racism still exists throughout our country and many other countries. However, make no mistake...it goes both ways.

What they failed to tell you in this article is that the Principle and Vice Principle are both black. Now how can that be if this is such a raciest hater community with a 67% white population? MSNBC propaganda at work again.

When we live in a world where Glenn Beck can 'take back' the civil rights movement, this is the results of how some in our society want it to be.

Sad, but true.

It's too bad that there are people stupid enough to not be able to see past the color of another's skin.

I agree they should fire the principal for allowing this and then prosecute under the Civll Rights Act. The principal is a black woman, and a successful prosecution will show our government is requiring everyone to adhere to the law.

The idea being pushed by some that msnbc is making it up and this stuff doesn't actually happen is ridiculous. We had to live in Georgia for a while, Academia you go where the jobs are, and a couple of High Schools in our area had separate Proms/Homecoming courts for AA students. Further when two of them were pressed to allow the Blacks to go to the main Prom they canceled the event instead of allowing "mixing" to occur. This was only 5 years ago.

Hard Core racism in the deep south is still very much alive and well. Go to any Deep South University and look and see how many of their Fraternities have Confederate Balls. Look and see how many of their Sororities and Fraternities have the Confederate Battle flag on their event t-shirts. This is not the average rednecks wearing this trash it is the future power brokers of these states. They have learned that it is not only OK but necessary to wear your racism quite literally on your Sleeve!

This is both sad and pathetic. How do these folks sleep at night.

not only is this stupid, but what were they thinking what is this supposed to accomplish, better yet how is this supposed to help the students both emotionally and academically. Aren't they violating a law and what if another race wanted to be president or a reporter. In case this school hasn't notice it's not just white or black anymore. its Hispanic, asiasan, etc Im seriously annoyed and pist cant the parents rally cant the governor say no you cant do that apologize or pay a fine, i dont understand. my family taught me (im a mut in case you wanted to know) that not to judge people by their race or religion but by their actions. For example pedophile are bad no matter what race or religion they come from, drug dealers are bad, etc. Common sense stuff. Where did theses people common sense go and how on earth did school officals allow this to pass

I think again most people are missing the issue...I understand perhaps qualified black children were getting shut out of positions...but the fact that they could get shut out in the first place because they aren't white is the most disgusting thing...i'm pretty sure this is the brainchild of the black administrators that wanted to ensure the black kids got a chance to be involved in student government...The biggest thing this story illustrates is that racism EVEN exists in children..And that its a LEARNED behavior prepetuated by ALL institutions and people in america. I know a couple of people from Missisipi who still suggest that white people have a deep hatred of black people there...And don't think these attitudes are limited to mississippi...As long as racism exists, no nonwhite person will be elected to anything (not even student governent) by a majority of white people...simply wont happen. I'm confident that it will never end...at least not in my lifetime. And with the accounts of segregated proms and everything down there, i hardly think that this article is "race-baiting"

Will all of the Palin, Tea Party, FOX haters please restrain yourselves. This has NOTHING to do with them. Just TRY to say something intelligent and of value, okay? You only prove that you are just as narrowminded and as ignorant as the administrators of this school and/or school system, IF what the article is reporting is true. But....whether or not it is, you all will still make your lame comments. If you have nothing to offer besides partisan hatred, then stop taking up space on the vine. Why do you insist on showing your ignorance and embarrassing yourselves.

I can honestly say that I am having a hard time wrapping my head around just how @!$%#ed up this schools actions are!

I sense a deeper agenda in this story...

Like, report anything racial no matter how small or how isolated and keep it as a "front page" issue to divert attention from other things more important...

Like the economic collapse being caused by the government that's going to affect EVERY race...

And since the president is black (sort of), keeping racial tensions alive as much as possible gives the left some more name calling "ammunition" to use by saying that anyone against the president is a racist like those people in Mississippi....This way the left wont have to talk about our president's failure on the issues, they can just turn it into a racial DIVERSION instead...

I would never live in that backwater State. Buncha right wing Christian Fundamentalist Racists. We are a mixed race marriage and I don't believe in an omnipotent invisible being guiding my life. So, white guy, Asian wife, Atheist. I'd be tarred and feathered within a week by those morons.

someone once told me this and it STUCK !!..it goes Like this in the Real World; if you're White your All Right, if your Black, don't Come Back, if Brown your stick around..please don't judge someone by their Color..the ignorance has become arrogance, Like; the same stuff, only in a different package...........

@MS1900...IF you are black, you need to get out of Jackson some...but stay in Mississippi. You absolutely have no clue or are white.

@Ryanin TX: stay in Texas, please!

To Jemma77... "Apparently Mississippi wants to be Arizona. Or Arizona wants to be Mississippi, hard to tell. They cannot do this, it's against the law. But I would never want my children to live in a warped place like that. Think of the crazy conversation that created this?"

Really? You're really that ignorant? Trying to draw some parallel to people entering this country illegally, and outright segregation that was banned almost 50 years ago? Unbelievable...

I agree with previous posters. When I first read this article I was shocked, to say the least. But then, when I realized the racial make up of the school, it was obvious to those of us who can actually look at something with wanting to scream RACIST!

This was their way, as misguided as it may seem, to insure blacks held office in student government. I wonder if something happened a few years ago that forced this issue - say no blacks in student government, so there may have been rumblings of racism? So in an attempt to be fair, they are deemed racists.

Sometimes you can't win. I believe this will be one of those times.

Ryan, it is impossible for "black" or anyone not designated as "white" to be racist...
They can hate white people, or be prejudiced...and if they did...given the way they are treated in this country, could anyone blame them????
The Obama vote statistics are weak evidence...black people have voted for the democratic party 90% plus for the last 40 years...They have voted for white people in EVERY other election...even the one where Jesse Jackson ran....
Not even 40% of white people voted for obama...Almost 80% of whites over 30 voted for McCain...what does that tell you???

70% of Hispanics voted for Obama...so no it wasn't evenly split...stop spreading misinformation

Whuts up Jahmekan!!!

Actually I take that back..the woman who threw the cat in the garbage can in England was pretty disturbing. And I was dumb enough to get caught up on that Vine, with 2,000 some odd comments, and arguing with anti cat people..haha..I don't know why I waste my time really. But, I digress..

Unfortunatley there is a lot of hate in this country. My mind is boggled right now by all of the posts tagging MS as backwards. And still wondering why Robersons post got collapsed by the community..I think I have been on here too long or something..haha..time for a break? LOL

Meh. I've heard people get called racists so many times the last 2 yrs any time someone disagrees with Obama or someone doesn't agree with supporting ILLEGAL aliens when there are hispanics that got here legally that could use the jobs that it's just crying wolf now. I'm sure the reporter took it out of context. The only racism that still exists is the 'no whites need apply' affirmative action quotas (which is probably what this was - rotated, guaranteed positions for offices each yr). The real question is, will MSNBC fess up and apologize like Fox News did when they ran their racial story that was disproven?

What about the white kids who wanted to be Vice President? I mean, growing up in school myself, everyone already knew who the President was going to be. It was a popularity contest. I always ran for VP or treasurer.

Hey Tyler,

one of the kids apparently had a Native American parent and a so called Italian Parent...this is what the admins told them...i'm pretty sure the administration of this district is white..

They told me that they "Go by the mother's race b/c with minorities the father isn't generally in the home." They also told me that " a city court order is the reason why it is this way."

also, i think in missisippi...nonwhites would be considered black.

the more interesting thing, is what if a black child with a white mother tried to use this logic to say he was white...what would they have said then??

You're right. It doesn't represent all of MS. It represents all of america, heck it represents all of the globe. White people dominate. They run things, everywhere.

U bring up an interesting point though. Does anyone know of any works that chronicle how non-black non-white people lived during segregation in America?? I would like to know

This is just sad. I am white and this is just plain wrong. AND how could parents let this go on. What are we teaching our children???

Ummm, people? There are no quota systems in affirmative action. That is a commonly believed myth--there have been no quota systems pretty much anywhere since 1973 and Bakke. There was a college that was trying to award a preset amount of "credit" to race to try and raise the number of non-whites in the school--and that, too, was knocked down.

One can look at race in order to monitor it and take action if it appears that a particular group appears to be getting locked out--and one can have "targets" one wishes to reach--but these can only be addressed in terms of "affirmative" behaviors such as outreach and mentoring. Well, in government work--private companies can do as they choose, but that's not Affirmative Action (which is a government program).

It amazes me that people are stupid enough to believe that there are quotas. This is really just a reflection of the fact that so many people think that if they see a person of color in a position of power or at a high-achieving school, that this person could only have gotten in if there were a "quota" system to protect him/her. That is, anyone who really thinks "quota" every time they see minorities in any position other than grunt-level work is a racist who believes that there must be a better-qualified white person.

Personally, I think that Affirmative Action should be done away with simply because it isn't really helping (as it is so limited in its scope) and because it does feed the attitudes of the very stupid. In its place should be Equal Opportunity offices that actually bother to prosecute silly behaviors instead of the Bush-era offices that lose paperwork and watch porn on government computers.

Schools in the South still segregate proms and do everything they can to gerrymander districts so as to de facto segregate the schools and distribute funding unequally so that the white students get the most. Schools in Louisiana have teacher-led Protestant prayer, etc. People in the Deep South simultaneously scream that they are unfairly portayed as racist and bigoted and then turn around and pull stunts that in any other part of the country would mean a person would be permanently unemployable. But, they are lauded for it in the "South."

Still, who knows what is going on at this school--whether it is an attempt to get "some" black students in leadership positions by reserving the highest ones for the white students, or whether the school trades off each year, or what is unclear. But, the people who really believe that "the race card" is bogus and far too quickly played really should have to live as black people (or, better yet, black and gay) in rural Mississippi for a year. If they survive it, I think they will find out very quickly that accusations of racism are extremely accurate.

well I noticed something nobody else seems to notice this here articles is between the lines all about! Theirs no mixed races! Thats what the big deal is all about they want people to be mixing theyre races. How come they make such a big deal then to say they only got the blacks and the whites? that dont have nothing to do with it but they put that their in their to make a point about people mixin now that we even got a mixed up president! tell me whats that all about then? Propaganda! thats what.

I found their school web site. Interestingly enough, the Principal and 1 of the 2 Assistant Principals of the middle school are black. http://www.nettletonschools.com/schools.cfm?subpage=6336

I really think this was taken out of context.

Gaspee - "This is just sad. I am white and this is just plain wrong. AND how could parents let this go on. What are we teaching our children???"

FYI - I think the is pretty F'N Stupid but when I see comments like this I have to ask?

What is sad? that blacks aren't allowed to be President or Whites aren't allowed to be Vice President? And what the hell does it matter if you are white or black?

Would everybody be up in arms if they article said no black student ever elected President in school? Because like others have pointed out little or no research has been done or presented.

Also it makes me sick when people above say that with 67% of the school white a black would never be elected. Why does skin color even play a part in a election either the kid running has enough friends to get elected or he/she doesn't

please, base people on their homespun values; honesty, integrity and respect, Not by their Color..if any Man/ Woman treats me Like dirt or filled with Criminal Character, I will Not be their friend and I will keep my distance, No Matter who/ what Color they maybe..

"What's stupider than an American? WHy, people that voluntarily read MSNBC, that's who!!!"

So who is forcing *you* to read MSNBC? You are obviously far too superior to the rest of us to read it "voluntarily".

Oh, and while you are busy condescending and enjoying your "AHA!" moment, you might consider that unlike the 'news' outlets that I suspect you consider far superior to MSNBC, IF this story is wrong, there will be a retraction, correction, etc...

Also, who is "stupider"(sic), someone who considers quotas like this wrong, or someone who thinks that just because the principal and vice-principal are black there can be no racism at that school? Is it possible that a black principal and/or vice-principal might just have to go along to get along? Ever heard of a school board, superintendent, or PTA?

“We are reviewing the origin of these processes, historical applications, compliance issues, as well as current implications and ramifications.”

Hint: It doesn't matter! Make it open to all, problem solved. Why is irrelevant. Period.

Ummm, people? There are no quota systems in affirmative action. That is a commonly believed myth--there have been no quota systems pretty much anywhere since 1973 and Bakke.

I couldn't go to the major of my choice back in 1991 in 2 different colleges and was told directly by the counselors (they were black) that it was because of affirmative action quotas even though there were empty seats. I got accepted via mail 5 years later after I was already done with college in another degree plan at the same school. It may not be true now, but I can guarantee you it's been used since way beyond 1973.

Here's the wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action

In 2003, a Supreme Court decision concerning affirmative action in universities allowed educational institutions to consider race as a factor in admitting students, but ruled that strict point systems are unconstitutional.^[12]

Apparently it went on uncontested for another 12 years after it happened to me. It's NOT a "commonly believed myth".

Drill Baby Drill, are you kidding me? You think this is the result of a liberal agenda? Right. Whites only in the top position. That's liberal? Give me a break! I know of not a single liberally minded individual who would support a ridiculous system like this. If anything, it might be a cynical response from someone who didn't want to include minorities but was told they had to be more inclusive. You are out of your rightwing mind. And calling it a quota system is nonsense. Quotas have to do with percentages, not race-specific job openings. And quotas aren't nearly as rigid or broadly enforced/followed as conspiracy theorists would like you to believe. Not to say it doesn't happen... but it is not the reason every failed white man failed.

And for those of you arguing that this racial make-up of 60+% to 30+% means no black child would ever be elected are misguided at best. This statistic means 1 in 3 students at this school is black. That is actually a pretty high ratio when you consider the general population is closer to 13-15% black. The only way no black children would ever be elected for anything in this school is if the students really are die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool racists who will only vote for people of the same skin tone. If that is the case... this school is even more messed up than this policy implies.

Yep more race baiting by the Liberal Lame street media!! Hey when its all you have left then let it fly!!

I have news for you the "race" card has been played out thanks to President Obama,Rev.Wright,NAACP,black panthers and Acorn..and its about damn time..

Noone is falling for this nonsense anymore and I have a challenge for all the blacks out there how about vote for someone other than a black man for a change on the issues and not skin color!! And you call us the rascist. Pathetic

and when has a white majority voted for ANYONE nonwhite for ANYTHING EVER???

N E W S F L A S H

Apparently Mississippi is reversing this policy.

This is where the MEDIA helped a situation by exposing the truth.

Put the correct spot-light on a story, with the correct facts, and stuff DOES get resolved

Tek,

And when a black man or woman is on the ticket when has a majority of blacks voted for a nonblack on anything ever???

TekKnowledge

and when has a white majority voted for ANYONE nonwhite for ANYTHING EVER???

Um, hello? Didn't a predominantly white country just vote in a nonwhite man as President?

Ryan, you must not have read my post.

Black people have been voting solidly democratic for over 40 years by not...95% of black people did NOT vote for Obama because he was black...he was the democratic nominee for president...

You can't be serious...Reagan OVERWHELMINGLY won the deep south by going to a town where Willie Horton was LYNCHED and saying he was for "states rights". (Get out your codebooks if you don't know what states-rights are). Made the crowd go ape-ish...

here we go again with the black people are lazy myth...whatever, i won't change your mind so i won't go there...

LOL, you're not making any sense reading the rest of your post...Black people have been the most oppressed people ON THIS PLANET for the last 450 years.

Aleen_Shore - obviously Tek meant How many times has a white majority voted for anyone nowhite, except for when the voted non-white?

Allen_shore

Not even 40% of white people voted for Obama...Had it not been for Hispanics, this election would have been a LANDSLIDE.

Scole

I believe Dukakis had the majority of the black vote in most states over Jesse Jackson...not to mention SEVERAL white mayors of predominately black cities...

And Ben Cardin as Senator of Maryland over Michael Steele last congressional term...

where is your proof?

TekKnowledge - in the last 450 years wouldn't you have to say Women have been the most oppressed based on sharia law and possible prior to the suffrage victory?

We do all know that others besides blacks have been slaves don't we?

Unreal... I really don't know what to say... Truly embarrassing for all Americans.

I totally agree.

Tek - I will fail for your race baiting again, but isn't Michael Steele the RNC chairman?

The 40% of whites that voted for PBO don't count?

Sharon Sayles Belton was mayor of MPLS, but please don't do any research yourself, I am sure you might have to re-think your racist beliefs.

drill baby drill,

If ignorance is bliss, then you must be the happiest person on earth!

I would actually disagree...but i won't say they are very oppressed...

Were they lynched??
Shut out from employment??
Subject to apartheid??
Slaughtered in diamond and gold mines??
Put in zoos ( This still goes on today) ?
Enslaved in CHATTEL SLAVERY??
Countries robbed of natural resources???
Made to pay reparations for A REVOLUTION OF INDEPENDENCE????
Poorly Educated??
Considered Lazy and Stupid??

i could go on and on...

Let's tune this place up and build a mosque there.

Patton- Is all one has to do is look at your remarks throughout newsvine and it will show them how you stand on any race issue. The whole story may very well not be laid out but some of the vermin here need to really get help. People wonder why we have alot of problems within our country only need to spend time here. I thank the big guy in the sky for all the level headed, educated, and great people here that see more than a persons color or religion and will speak up about how things are. And please understand that I agree you do have a right to a point of view, though I don't agree with it. this is america.

This is an attempt at political correctness, nothing more. When one attempts to carry affirmative action to the extreme, this is the result. There is no intentional racism involved here at all but simply an exercise carried out by people in authority that have zero common sense. Before anyone disagrees with me about any racism issues here I would remind you that the principles of these two schools are black women.

People can express indignation all they want but it should be directed at the lack of common sense, not racism.

Tom,

get real..of course the RNC needed a negro after Obama was elected to office...and Michael Steele wouldn't have been RNC chairman if so called "racist blacks" voted him into US Senate in Maryland.

i didn't say that 40% of whites DID NOT COUNT...but it doesn't mean EVERYONE in that 40% aren't racist (they most possibly viewed him as an exception to black people...Tim Wise, a WHITE MAN said this) ...and that means that if it was only white people, the election would have been a landslide...

How am I "racist" for stating that black people have been the most oppressed group IN THE WORLD for 450 years...

Tek - I guess being stoned for being seen with a man that is not a family member is completely different.

If you research some of the things you say above (which are all true) you just might find that some of them can't be blamed on the US, let alone white people.

I sure hope everyone is happy that the school reversed their policies!!

Now there want be any blacks nominated to any positions in the eighth grade seeing that the school is 67% white and in Mississippi! I am not saying I agree with it but the policy was there for a reason Idiots!!

All the black students at the school tell everyone you said THANKS alot!! Be careful what you ask for because you might not like the results it brings.

Tom give me one thing....

And stop diverting from the subject...Of course those women are oppressed...I never said that they weren't...I actually made a typo in that last comment...they are very oppressed...i'm correcting the typo

I agree! I am so sick of this "racial divide." When is American going to grow up and start treating each person with respect? This is disgraceful and so old school already!

African slave trade

Sudanese slave

Put in zoos - in the US?

Before you become so judgemental, you have to realize that in order to guarantee minorities so called equal opportunities, quota systems were put in place. It was not unusual to "guarantee" a minority a position. Go back to the early seventies when two Louisiana teacher organizations merged under the demands that the black organization was guaranteed the president of the new organization would be black three of the first five years. Similar rules were put in place in a number of schools to guarantee a position whether it was merited or not. In recent years, a mandate from our federal government made such arrangements illegal. This school should have followed the federal mandate.

White men deceived black men to sell their prisoners of war to them...And if you don't think it was a deception, then why did the white people come in to their autonomous nations LESS THAN 100 YEARS LATER...and "colonize" them. African slavery as well as Arab slavery was NOT like slavery in americas...
Torture?? Rape??
nor was it racialized...This is what they did...they came to shores all around the world to "trade with them" and ended up exploiting the people and the natural resources...

Sudanese Slaves...directly derived from White Supremacy...

Sudan Was colonized by France...which gave the Nubian-Arab hybrids more privalege and a higher class and ENCOURAGED these people to mistreat the other Dark Skinned people to the south of them. This ladies and gentleman, is called the buffer class. When the French left, the oppression continued. The same thing happened in Rwanda...

Human Zoos?? There are quite a few in Europe...There have been several in the US...and one coming to a Texas near you....

http://www.antropologi.info/blog/anthropology/2010/protest-against-african-forest

Yes, the headline is misleading but if everyone had bothered to read the article you would have discovered the truth. The policy was nothing but simplified affirmative action. Courts draw electoral boundaries to ensure race representative political districts and schools use affirmative action to have diversified student bodies. We used to have busing and some have talked of going backed to it. All of the aforementioned behaviors happen all over the USA even in those so enlightened liberal blue states. How is this any different other than it is simplified?

All of the shocked statements were likely from people who didn't even bother to read the article. Not surprising, reading skills aren't strong among some on these boards.....

Give me a break! I know of not a single liberally minded individual who would support a ridiculous system like this.

Until the 1960s the Democrats had been fighting having a black person elected to congress or senate. The Principal of this school is black. One of the 2 vice principals is black. Some of the career Democrats still in office were in office in the 50s and 60s when it was supported by them.

How am I "racist" for stating that black people have been the most oppressed group IN THE WORLD for 450 years...

If you had said in the US I would agree. There are countries where women are in pretty much the same boat slaves were even today. There are literally slave women and children still being sold today from Asian countries into prostitution (WAY worse than forced labor, IMO).

chris-335678

All of the shocked statements were likely from people who didn't even bother to read the article. Not surprising, reading skills aren't strong among some on these boards.....

You may want to tone down your comments, chris. The current article is significantly different than the original from which most of the comments were posted. It's a neat trick MSNBC plays - post a bunch of sensationalized half truths, then go out and actually do research.

Okay Allen, I'm with you on the forced slave labor in Asia...

but let me ask you, who most frequents these areas (and any area) for that matter, for sex tourism and the exploitation of these nonwhite victims??

Asians work for slave labor producing most of the things we buy in this consumer society...

They are severely mistreated as well...But by who?? I'm not quite sure sexism is the ultimate answer...

SCOLE 1.95, you’re exactly correct. With the racial makeup of the school the principle (a black woman) concluded the only way black students could run for and hold these positions was to reserve some for certain students based on race.

Now, with the reversal I seriously doubt black students will have any chance at holding these positions.

Consistent with my prior post on this subject it seems political correctness strikes yet another blow against common sense.

RAWR!!! The headline says "Race"!!! Quick, put it on the front page and people will debate it endlessly regardless of what the article is about!!

What is the common sense, Wet Willy???

That white people should run things??

Oh come on people...this is the affirmative action that liberals want. Hmmm, maybe affirmative action doesn't actually work the way everyone thinks because this sure is causing a big stink.

This is another example of officials in our government whether state, federal, or local; getting too involved and trying to micro-manage ever situation which comes down the road. Their job is to guarantee equal opportunity! But many officials in all levels of government today think it is their job to try to guarantee equal RESULTS! We need to give children the opportunity equally the succeed or fail. Trying to guarantee success for eveyone does not prepare our children for life. Part of life is learning how to handle failure and to pick yourself up off the ground when it happens. It makes me believe that our education administrators need to get some real life experience.

The knee jerk reactions say that this must be some scheme by Whites to oppress the Black man.

But the facts show a different story.

Tell me where in the world a black man has a better opportunity than the US?

Nothing would thrill me more than for African Americans to just become regular Americans, and behave like most Americans.

Try voting for different political parties for a start. Every other race does that. We still (USUALLY BY COURT ORDERS) divide Congressional Districts by race. As if a Black can't represent a White or visa-versa.

Work hard. (With apologies to the many who work their butt off). Other groups faced adversity and are overcoming it. Read Booker T. Washington. He knew that pulling yourself up was way better than taking a handout.

People came here with nothing. They were malnourished and oppressed. Look at how Vietnamese immigrants are doing. Don't tell me they had it easy.

We are all generations past slavery. There is no living slave or slave owner. You can act like it affected you directly, but it didn't.

The sooner Blacks stop seeing race first, the sooner the other racists will as well.

Or we can dwell in the past, but then we will never get past it.

Did you people not read the article? This is "Affirmative Action" at work, NOT racism! You have been duped by the crafty writing of this author. RACE BAITING......................

"Under former policy, blacks could not be class president" and next year WHITES will NOT be class president - Affirmative Action.

"the practice had been in use for more than 30 years with whites and blacks ROTATING among offices annually."

ROTATING....people.

Why are so many people upset, specifically BLACKs, when this policy was designed to give BLACKS (30% Of the population) protections and a voice? Did you people not read the article?

We need to grow up and move on in this country.

Thanks MSN for your RACE BAITING activism - Good job for stirring the pot just before the elections. It took one lone family to move in after 30-years to discover this travisty? MSN SUCKS!

This is just affirmative action at the primary school class office level. If you are calling for an end to this practice at this school, then you need to call for an end to affirmative action.

The emotional responses on this vine are representative of society. DRAW - FIRE - AIM. First, we should assume that well-meaning, thinking folks are running the school. I also thought that it looked bad and I disagree with the policy but there was a voice that said to wait and try to learn more before posting a comment. There must be more to it. I agree with the Board versing the policy but understand that the policy was put into effect to be sure that the minorities in the school (sounds like one primary minority) had some representation. Further, I understand that the offices were rotated relative to race from year to year. I think that was probably progressive for thirty years ago in Mississippi - so give them some props for it. It is time the policy goes bye-bye, but the school administrators were NOT the idiots and bigots many of your comments made them out to be.

I wanted to take a trip to an ancient, Third World Country, but going to Mississippi saved me on international airfare.

Heck of a Job, Mississippi.

While I can't say I agree with this, I also don't see why there is so much fuss over this when we see this every day. The story states:

"According to the district's statement, the practice had been in use for more than 30 years with whites and blacks rotating among offices annually."

It sounds to me that the intention was to give black students representation in the student body that they might not have had otherwise (since only 33% were black).

I really do not see how this is different then affirmative action, or the fact that every time I bid a government contract I have to put that my company is not minority owned (which reduces my chances of getting the contract). The federal government, in many areas, is practicing the same principle as this school.

I wonder how people would have reacted last year when only BLACK students could be elected to the position of class president?

It's funny how the story changes when ALL OF THE FACTS COME OUT.

My guess is this is an unintended consequence of making sure minorities get a certain quota of the positions available. It is possible that without the quotas, the positions would be filled with all one racial segment.

Since the demographic is 67% white to 32% black, you can almost gaurentee all positions would be filled with white students. Can you imagine the howling you would hear then?

That was my thought as well. Or - if it was a school that originally was predominantly black and they were bussing in white students - it may have been to make sure that white students were fairly represented. The way the headlines read, you would think the school was saying that no black student could ever run for class office - and if you read the article, you'll find that's just not the case.

You are probably right. It is a quota system---like the ones used on all federal, state, and local contracts. I would not be surprised if the ratios are flipped each year.

The ratios ARE flipped every year - perhaps that wasn't stated in the original article?

Brett######,
Good lord, someone who read the article.

This is "Affirmative Action" at work, NOT racism!

People - you have been fooled/duped by the crafty writing of this author. RACE BAITING......................

READ the ARTICLE:

"Under former policy, blacks could not be class president" and next year WHITES will NOT be class president - Affirmative Action.

Yea, the article brings into question what happens when other races move in the district. But this policy was written 30-years ago to INTEGRATE people, NOT divide. IDIOTS! Back then, everyone was white and black. The affirmitive action policy is out of date, not racist, depending on how you see affirmative action.

"the practice had been in use for more than 30 years with whites and blacks ROTATING among offices annually."

Key word: ROTATING

ROTATING....people. Afirnative Action. WOW, and look at all the "pots calling kettle black."

WOW... I am stunned at the ingnorance of the posters. And many will go to bed tonight telling their kids, look here is another reason why whites are all bad (unless they are Robert Bird, and Democrat).

And I am hearing the Principal and assistant are BLACK. "Unconfirmed", but WOW if thats true. In todays age do you not think they could have made a stink over this if blacks were getting a raw deal for 30-years. Heck, an ARAB women who "just" received her citizneship is sueing Disney because she has to wear a "theme hat" over her head peice.

This ARTICLE is LIBERAL RACE BATING CRAPP "DESIGNED" to DIVIDE, REENFORCE and CREATE HATE before the election.

I can't believe in this day and age people still can't get it their heads...color doesn't matter...never did. As can be seen by some of the replies here...stupidity/ignorance is color blind.

Allen_Shore: You've actually tried to figure out what actually might've happened. Don't you feel ashamed for not having flown off half-cocked, relying only on your preconceptions and personal prejudices about blacks/whites/rednecks/Christians/conservatives/Martians (not to mention your own belief in your own unassailable moral rectitude and godlike wisdom)? You're a square peg in a round hole, sir, and I'd say it even if the conclusions to which you came were mistaken.

God bless you and well met, sir.

Ryan, it is impossible for "black" or anyone not designated as "white" to be racist...

Possibly one of the most idiotic statements I've ever seen. In case you didn't know, "racism" means judging another individual SOLELY on his or her race. That means that if, for example, a black man is judging a white man strictly based on his race, he's a racist. If you want further examples, try looking at some people in neighborhoods that were traditionally black where Asian immigrants moved in. What was done to the Asians by SOME blacks can't be considered anything BUT racist. There are examples of racism in EVERY race - it is not, nor has it ever been, confined to whites.

Umm... It was probably put into place BECAUSE of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Did you read the article. Similar "equality" type programs were in place in Seattle Schools until just last year. The school your child attended was based on a pre-determined number of each racial class. In Seattle, my son was shipped across town because he was the wrong race to attend the local highschool. Kids learn racism from the society and parents. This sort of racism is wrong. Color of a child's skin has no place in determining the school they attend.

Color of skin shouldn't determine anything about a person, except what illnesses they are more susceptible to based on genetics, and that only so the person can take precautions. I hope this country finally sees what an appalling failure Affirmative Action was. Racial Equality should never be forced, but should be embraced. I'm a white male, looking for work, and I still run across the demographic questionaire.

SeattleDad, you are so right. Racism is taught. If it isn't taught, it simply isn't there. Case in point.

I was sitting in the local WorkSource office, and seated to my left, about five feet away, was a little white girl, about 5 and a little black girl, about 5. They were talking about dolls, and drawing with pencils on sheets of paper. As I listened to the conversation, I heard them ask each other's name. Clearly they didn't know each other, and no one had told either of them that skin color was an issue. Oh I prayed everyone around would notice!

MSNBC= Twist the truth to the extent possible when necessary in order to meet liberal agenda. You left out the part where they ROTATE years. Meaning, next year it is probably only black kids that can be President.

Ed Schultz twisted this to the extent possible on his show without even hinting at the truth that they rotate years, he just mentioned the fact that the black students couldn't be president this year period....not the fact that they rotate years.

In either case, it is a stupid policy. It is called Affirmative Action that leads to these types of policies and it is a LIBERAL agenda item and has been for YEARS! EVERY CHILD no matter what their race is should be able to run for any office/position. And if ALL BLACK Students win one year that is the way it is and get over it, if ALL WHITE students win the next year, that is the way it is and get over it. Stop trying to make things a race issue!

So in reality, MSNBC is really criticizing it's own stance on Affirmative Action. MSNBC= LIBERAL PROPAGANDA......look it up.

this is part of affirmative action. whites had to live with it. we werent allowed certain jobs unless a certain quota of blacks was filled first. didnt matter about qualifications. so now it is just biting back.

spg64-1292127

The idea being pushed by some that msnbc is making it up and this stuff doesn't actually happen is ridiculous. We had to live in Georgia for a while, Academia you go where the jobs are, and a couple of High Schools in our area had separate Proms/Homecoming courts for AA students. Further when two of them were pressed to allow the Blacks to go to the main Prom they canceled the event instead of allowing "mixing" to occur. This was only 5 years ago.

Hard Core racism in the deep south is still very much alive and well. Go to any Deep South University and look and see how many of their Fraternities have Confederate Balls. Look and see how many of their Sororities and Fraternities have the Confederate Battle flag on their event t-shirts. This is not the average rednecks wearing this trash it is the future power brokers of these states. They have learned that it is not only OK but necessary to wear your racism quite literally on your Sleeve!

Ok, look at how many sororities and fraternities won't accept anyone that isn't black as well. Racism works both ways. NAACP, United Negro College Fund, etc., a white person can't get help from places like that, but blacks can get help from any place that whites, mexicans, etc can. Native Americans can get free college, whites can't, unless they can prove they have some NA ancestors. Racism occurs in all races and I'm sick and tired of the whole "you owe me" attitude some blacks have against some whites because their ancestors were slaves. Our generation had nothing to do with that, GET OVER IT! No need to respond to me, I've stated my opinion and I'm moving on. Have a good day!

Alaric-2241907

I would have to agree that being the percentage of whites were so high that to strike some sort of fairness the school decided this was the best way but rotation would be a good method if they were to use their system, of all positions so there is no whining about this being racist, other than that it could be very one sided if there was not any race policy in place ...The school is just trying to make things more fair and accusing them of being racist may not be fair ...

This is absolutely absurd in this or any day and age to think that anyone is just White or just Black. We are ALL people of Color in God's eyes. The funny thing is that a mixed race child could run for both the Black & White position if going by race alone. In reality, they could hold the most positions. It is very obvious that these rules were created by White bigots to keep their view of segregation alive. We all bleed the same, think in the same unspoken language & have all the same body parts, with exception to Gender. I say all this and I am a Tanned/Pink skinned German/Irish descendant. Am I right when I say that there are truly NO fully Black or Fully White people? Even Albinos have pink eyes & a pinkish hue to their skin color.

This happens everyday in the working world its called affirmatve action, and it should be done away with. If you do not believe that then you are truely stupid. Dr. King's dream was for a world where race/color was not noticed. In today's world it is noticed more than ever, and this is mostly due to obama. He is the worst president in history.

AD123. Preach it man.

Also spg64-1292127 there is nothing racist about the Confederate Flag or Confederate balls. It is our heritage and if you dont like it you can kiss my Confederate @SS.

You lost, @!$%#. Get over it.

This is nothing more than a government-based mandate to ensure that both races of kids were included. Typical government bureaucracy. If the south had not been so racist in the first place, it would not have been needed.

It is obviously dated, however, and needs to be revised or gotten rid of.

"This is "Affirmative Action" at work, NOT racism!"

So how exactly is affirmative action not racism? Every definition of racism I have ever read says basically that it's treating someone differently based on race alone. Other than also considering sex, A.K.A. sexism. how does affirmative action not do that?

Sorry folks but legal racism is still out there in most of the country.

jemma77, immigration and segregation are two entirely seperate things, perhaps you should read up on it before you make idiotic comments

Ryan, i'll deconstruct your argument..

The knee jerk reactions say that this must be some scheme by Whites to oppress the Black man.

But the facts show a different story.

I'll agree with you here and only here...I think the school was actually doing the right thing by not enforcing the system of white supremacy. If these children were left to their own devices, no black kid would have EVER been in a position in student government...which reinforces the system that says whites should be in charge and blacks shouldn't. It was a rather clumsy way to set up this affirmative action up...
However, no where in the "real world" does this type of affirmative action show up. In fact affirmative action is only for government employment. You wouldn't want to teach these kids that black children can't be in student government like the white kids now would you?? They're just kids...

Tell me where in the world a black man has a better opportunity than the US?

Oh wow, we have a lot to learn...Where in the world does anyone have a better opportunity than in the US?? And i suspect you are practicing racism right now for conveying that "white savior civilize the savage beast" mentality. White people to the rescue. Black people were JUST FINE in Africa...Everyone was JUST FINE where they were...stop acting like we're the burden when you chose to kidnap and enslave the universe...

Nothing would thrill me more than for African Americans to just become regular Americans, and behave like most Americans.

Oh wow, i suggest you read Robert Jensen, he's from your neck of the woods. University of Texas Professor...google search "the heart of whiteness". What is a "regular" American?? What is an "American"??? these are words, but do you even know what you mean when you say these words. I'm pretty sure we don't opt for movies with black people in it to be categorized in "African American" movies, our hair products to be grouped in "Ethnic Beauty" "Afram Literature", etc. The default position in this country is WHITE, which represents everything good and normal...Black hair, Black Culture, Black everything is looked down upon as culturally inferior...oh that is until its copied (white supremacy has a knack for that). Other than having a unique subculture, a different interpretation on family, ethics, cuisine, entertainment, philosophy, etc, i don't see how we do not behave like "regular" Americans. Honestly, part of our problem is keeping up with the Joneses and behaving too much like white people.

Try voting for different political parties for a start. Every other race does that. We still (USUALLY BY COURT ORDERS) divide Congressional Districts by race. As if a Black can't represent a White or visa-versa.

Oh wow, the lies...Why would black people vote for ANY political party that isn't in their best interest?? Although i see your point, i mean I am VERY SUSPICIOUS of liberals, but some of them seem to have our interests at heart. Why would we vote for anyone that doesn't want to talk about our agenda?? It is clear that republicans are going to continue playing the scapegoat game with black people..why should i vote for them?? Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Mexicans etc LARGELY vote democratic, in similar numbers to black folk. Cubans are the fly in the ointment for hispanics, and they largely vote republican..but there is history behind that. Jews largely vote democratic, but some Jewish communities are heavily republican. Of White people in the deep south, i'm sure nearly 100% of them vote republican. Hell, a democrat hasn't won a state down there in 40 years...lol. Congressional districts aren't seperated by "race", they're seperated by district. There is a white congressman in tennesee that represents the memphis area, voted in by the black majority EVERY TERM...if those regions are racially based, white people are to blame for that. Ever heard of white flight???

Work hard. (With apologies to the many who work their butt off). Other groups faced adversity and are overcoming it. Read Booker T. Washington. He knew that pulling yourself up was way better than taking a handout.

Oh wow...LOL...as if black people don't work hard, twice as hard as white folk to accomplish the same things. Booker T Washington??? That accomodating house negro?? "Lets wait for white people to stop being racist"...LMAO give me a break...
WEB Dubuios or Marcus Garvey would be better reads from that era.

People came here with nothing. They were malnourished and oppressed. Look at how Vietnamese immigrants are doing. Don't tell me they had it easy.

Deception. Vietmenese immigrants aren't doing that well. And what about the Cambodians, the Laotians, Hawaiians, Somoans, etc...They're doing worse...hmm they have dark skin too...Coincidence??

We are all generations past slavery. There is no living slave or slave owner. You can act like it affected you directly, but it didn't.

Slavery didn't really end until the end of Jim Crow..mid 60s...try again. black people have been free in this country for 2 generations. 2.

Slavery and Jim Crow have dramatically impacted generational wealth?? You held people back hundreds of years, and directly profited off of their mistreatment. just wow.

The sooner Blacks stop seeing race first, the sooner the other racists will as well.

Or we can dwell in the past, but then we will never get past it.

The sooner racists stop practicing white supremacy, the sooner black people won't have to worry about race. Your whole rant is proof of this. and again, people of color cannot be racist. Racism is a system of maltreatment of one group from another...I don't think black institutions can do anything to harm white people as a group...so please use correct terminology.
To illustrate this mistreatment, i'll use 2 examples. One is from here in the good ol' USA
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/articles/david-myers.htm

This one is from South Africa

http://abagond.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/sandra-laing-a-black-girl-born-to-white-parents/

Two nonwhite black people mistreated by their own white parents...disowned actually, because they were not white enough....

LOL you can't make this ish up..

Ok, I live in this area of Mississippi, and this school is in infamous (Constance McMillen) Itawamba county. The thing is, the article paints this as simply being discriminatory towards blacks when in fact it is so much more. Sometimes only the whites can run, and sometimes only the blacks can run. They change it up, but either way, one race is getting discriminated against. Also if there were to be biracial children, hispanic kids, asian kids, etc. they woule inevitably get left out in the cold. The 21st century is reaching this area slowly but surely. Try not to make rash generalizations about the south. There are actually some very nice, intelligent people here and we don't care to be painted with the broad "inbred, stupid, racist" brush.

ColoMtnWomen

I agree with you. At a time like this America has to put up with this??? You get fired for worshipping God in public but if you are "Black get back?"

Who are these principals and teachers down there? True, the Civil Rights Movement was a watershed for us. There's a few drips hanging in the shed crying" Black"! Still there some people who don't want to sit next to us but welcome all these terrorist here. Blacks were already citizens in the 16th century, but they didn't know it. Some people down there are still in the 16th century shame. Shame!

LOL, i just saw this...

Vicki wrote

Possibly one of the most idiotic statements I've ever seen. In case you didn't know, "racism" means judging another individual SOLELY on his or her race. That means that if, for example, a black man is judging a white man strictly based on his race, he's a racist. If you want further examples, try looking at some people in neighborhoods that were traditionally black where Asian immigrants moved in. What was done to the Asians by SOME blacks can't be considered anything BUT racist. There are examples of racism in EVERY race - it is not, nor has it ever been, confined to whites.

LOL..wow, in a system of worldwide white supremacy, white supremacy is the only functional form of racism. Prominent sociologists have CLEARLY laid this out...

Google "racism" and you won't be so misinformed. I would like to point out that you called me an idiot...But i'm sure my feeble negro mind can at least do research and read. I won't call you anything, i'll just say you're misninformed...

Some sociologists have defined racism as a system of group privilege. In Portraits of White Racism, David Wellman has defined racism as "culturally sanctioned beliefs, which, regardless of intentions involved, defend the advantages whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities".[8] Sociologists Noël A. Cazenave and Darlene Alvarez Maddern define racism as "...a highly organized system of 'race'-based group privilege that operates at every level of society and is held together by a sophisticated ideology of color/'race' supremacy. Sellers and Shelton (2003) found that a relationship between racial discrimination and emotional distress was moderated by racial ideology and public regard beliefs. That is, racial centrality appears to promote the degree of discrimination African American young adults perceive whereas racial ideology may buffer the detrimental emotional effects of that discrimination. Racist systems include, but cannot be reduced to, racial bigotry,".[9] Sociologist and former American Sociological Association president Joe Feagin argues that the United States can be characterized as a "total racist society"

and i'm am NOT aware of any cases of black on asian violence except when they were put up to it by white people. Most crimes black people happen to commit on people who aren't black are CRIMES, not HATE CRIMES...we do it to each other much more often than to whites or asians. My black community has had asians in it for YEARS...never been a problem...we're on the same team...
historically, the white man has been the enemy of the asians. They were lynched and castrated just like the black man was for even acknowledging a white woman. And they were extremely despised for taking the white mans job...especially because in a system of racism, whites consider asians an intellectual equal, although not a social or cultural equal. Also, i'm not aware of black people hating white people solely because their white. It probably has to do with generations of racism that continue until this day...

TekKnowledge – 1.106, Yep, white people should run things if they were voted into office. I would vote for a white person, does that make me a racist? If so, do I have a lot of company considering 95% of blacks voted for Obama simply because he’s black?

Never has the term “racist” been used so cavalierly and frequently as since Obama appeared on the scene. It seems every little thing elicits mindless rants of racism these days attempting to silence those with differing opinions.

I wonder what slur du jour will replace “racist/racism” in the future since the term has lost almost all of its impact, a consequence of such overuse.

Obama has divided this country as never before.

Really? You'd paint the whole nation with one simple brush stroke based upon something published in a "news" medium? Do you always jump to such negative conclusions without all the facts? Is the rest of the world even more ignorant based upon its civil and human rights records which pale in comparison to America's? Sure, this nation and her people are not perfect but the ignorance, it seems, is all yours.

What 'facts' could possibly mitigate this story or that memo in any way? Can you just give me a hypothetical example?

Hey Michie,

Here's one. How about the fact that not one reporter, not one citizen, not one tourist, not one fed official, not one black in Mississippi, bothered to report this story (until now). This story has existed since (and before) 1968. The remarkable lack of curiousity by Americans is uniquely American.

That's a reason to blame the whole nation. We are supposed to be 'one' nation under God.

Joe-839181....... You're an idiot! It's people like yourself that ruin a forum.

Handgunner... Well put!

The memo says 2020-2011, what did last years memo say? Not that it would make it right but other parts of the handbook that are accessible from the story say that 3 black females and 3 white female will each be maidens, and if last year they allowed that only a black president was possible it might be that they were trying to guarantee fairness, sort of like affirmative action. The population of the town is 2-1 white too black, it is possible that if voted on racial lines there would be no black officers in the school at all.

Sure! I can imagine the school board or administration sitting down trying to figure out how to distribute the student leadership positions so they aren't all filled by one race or the other. So, they come up with an apportionment scheme like this that gives 2/3s of the positions to whites and 1/3 to blacks according to the school population. I think it's stupid, but plausible.

Folks, we all make dumb decisions in our lives at some time or another, but very few of us do it intentionally. Let's get off the name calling and derogatory remarks toward people who are different from us. The world would be an awfully boring place if we all agreed all the time.

Handgunner, that same analogy of yours can directly be put to the idiotic controversy of the community center/mosque. Paint the Muslim-AMERICANS with one simple brush stroke based upon the stereotypical beliefs that all Muslims are terrorists.

Yes the rest of the world is ignorant but not nearly as ignorant the hypocrites that live here.

I agree with Upstate and Alaric in the above post. This looks like it was written to make sure at least half of those positions be filled with black children. Is it the best policy to make sure that there is a mix of race? No. Was it created out of hate of one race? I don't think so.

Don't paint the whole country ignorant because of this. If you look around the world at the customs of other countries then you would have to say THE WORLD THE IGNORANT!!! The racism in America is pretty tame now if you compare it to the rest of the world and how other counries treat foreigners and even their own women. I'm not trying to belittle the problem of racism in America, it still needs a lot lf work, but lets put it in perspective. It is not America the ignoarant nor Mississippi the ignorant, it's the ignorant people of that small town in Mississippi and anyone who agrees with them.

Let me tell you just how ignorant....My nephew who has bi-racial children, invited his wifes step-father and her mother to visit their large 3,500 sq ft home and when they did visit, they arrived in a winabego. This couple are living on hard times, so why. Not understanding why, because the house was certainly big enough, of course they slept in the winabego, the stepfather living and being from Mississippi couldn't stay in his house. We can all figure out why.

Only ignorant people like you and me are the ones to blame. Why are we ignorant. Because we waste our time reading MSNBC (which now ranks less viable than the National Enquirer).

CHeck it out: http://www.nettletonschools.com/schools.cfm?subpage=6336

The principal and assistant principal are black. Ok, clearly this is a social experiment and we're the guinea pigs. HA HA! Jokes on us.

OF course, if this isn't a joke and the blacks of this town are leading this type of segregation then we'd better start checking the water for poisons and the people for mass mental illnesses.

Pats

pretty nice spin there - "half the positions to be filled by blacks"

check the sample ballot again -

8th grade - 4 positions - 2 available to blacks
7th grade - 4 positions - 1 available to blacks
6th grade - 4 positions - 1 available to blacks

12 positions available - 4 opportunities for blacks - does that appear to be half to you?

your spinning is about as good as your math - weak!

Handgunner really? What part of if your black you cant be class president don't you understand? May be if we ( yes i am an american) hold ourselves to our own standards and stop worring about what everyone else does we wouldn't have the proublems we do. I find you a great example of an ignorant American that gives us a black eye around the world. May you check the other three fingers on your hand next time you point at someone else next time and tell me where they are pointing. The state of Mississippi whos govenor said the oil is like mousse you eat not toxic at all cannot get this right either. After 46 years to make this change they failed yet thier not raciest. Ignorance is the inability to reason why something is right or wrong it perfectly describes this situation. Here are the facts if your black you cant run for class president. Find a way to spin this news. We are what we do and do to others so yea even though I hate to say it we have been ignorant on this. We not the rest of the world have alowed this to continue . People of this country need to wake up and relise that others see us in the light we shine.

I dont care what others do but what they say about me I find inportant. It shows me what we are showing the rest of the world. What do you want them to say? How should they see us after this? Why is this ok to have allowed to continue for 46 years?

affirmative action, just looks a little different on this scenario. i dont think any position to be filled should be based on anything other other than qualifications period. it is sickening to see this year in year out. companies are backed against a wall and fear if they hire one ethnic background as opposed to another based soley on qualifications they will the be facing penalties and jesse jackson for having done so. i believe race should not be concidered at all. it has become a very thin line and hot button issue for america and this law has caused far more problems than help. we all have equal oppertunity and if one is hired simply for the color of their skin over a qualified proffessional of any race it is nothing more than discrimination. the race card is to easily dropped and used to often and it is dividing our nation. just like the liberals to cry racist if you dissagree with policy under the current administration! now just to play devils advocate: had the positions been reversed would it have made news in a negative light? or would it have had obama on the front page smiling and promoting "change" ? again... before all the race card libs flag my post i will again say I DO NOT AGREE with what has happened by any means!!!! as i stated race should never have had a impact on the need to fill a position over qualification period!!!

people its a middle school election- the only qualifications should be are you passing all your subjects and can you get 10 people to agree that you should be x- this is not political science.

Chances are this School is in a District that no longer teaches Evolution or the Big Bang Theory either!

If you are going to paint all of Mississippi the same as you do this one backwards town you might as well say the whole world. You can't group all of Mississippi as one. There are plenty of people that live in Mississippi that believe in equality.

Michie:

What 'facts' could possibly mitigate this story or that memo in any way? Can you just give me a hypothetical example?

Joel:

Handgunner really? What part of if your black you cant be class president don't you understand?

How about the part where the Principle and one of two vice-principles are black women? How about the part where 1/3 (almost exactly) of the population is black, and 1/3 (exactly) of the student leadership is required to be black? This is obviously Affirmative Action gone horribly wrong. But, then, is there any other kind?

Very sad to note that as enlightened as we are becoming, as regards civil rights, that there are still some backwoods redneck racist fools in the Nettleton, Mississippi school system from the school superintendent on down! Every one of those in authority condoning this blatant racsim deserve to be stripped of their jobs immediately! The children there deserve much better. The mother in the article did the right thing and I say Bravo to her!

b dune -

1/3 of the positions will go to blacks because 1/3 of the population is black.

It is as even as it can possibly be. The only other solution would be to exclude specifying a race from each position and let the chips fall where they may. But Lord knows if that happens and all of the positions are held by whites, they'd be called racists!

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

All the self-righteous indignation reflected in the vast majority of these posts should be of more concern to us than what is purported in the story. ALARIC... and RROBESON... adeptly point out what indeed could be the basis for the "structure", as it were, and their comments are indicative of a level of maturity to which many of us should aspire.

The mature individual looks for the true nature of things. If you run off at the mouth before understanding the facts, you may well find yourself embarassed over your comments when the facts are presented. This, of course, does not apply to people who go around half-cocked, as they rarely recognize the things for which they should be embarassed.

Ed-NavDoc, by "redneck racist fools" are you referring to the two black women who are principals at this school? Just wondering...

don not pretend to delude yourself into thinking racism is a whites only thing everybody has a piece of this pie,

yeah a southern saying we do not all talk the same or think the same no matter what race, religion or region

What this issue points to is that there are still problems with racism in Mississippi because middle-schoolers can't be trusted to vote based on the content of their peers character. That is a problem of parents and teachers setting a horrible example. The fact that the school believes the students will vote based on race is to me the deepest problem, that and what of the students who are neither black nor white. At my child's school which has an explicitly anti-racist orientation they don't need quotas because the kids really vote based on who the leaders are. In this last class election that turned out to be 7 African American Girls, 1 Latino Girl, 1 Latino Boy and 1 White Boy and this is a school that is 50% white, 60% female.

What scares me (aside from the guilt) is the fact that I am old enough to remember when this quota solution would have seemed reasonable. A kid from New Jersey, who considered a trip to Mississippi like a visit to the set of a Johnny Weismuller Tarzan movie! A beloved aunt would inform me that John Ford and John Wayne were filming 'The Horse Soldiers' at a nearby Military Academy and I would reply: "SURE, they had to find a spot well away from civilization." My aunt was horribly offended. Only now do I realize how appropriate my comments were.

unbelievable!!! these administrators have clearly given a garaunteed position to the black children of this school as they make up 1/3 of the pupils. they were set asside 1/3 of the positions! now had there not been anything done to "ensure" they got a position on the board one can assume that 2/3 of the pupils being white law of probability suggests that there wouldnt be a minority in position at all. it apears as usual no matter how much gets done to ensure the minority gets a chance to accel it becomes racists! perhaps it should go strictly to magority vote as most say it should but when the magority votes on the magority the issue would again turn "racists" since the minority didnt get voted in.... shocking! i do feel it was a poor decision to have garaunteed a position and should have been left to electorial voting. but then its another issue of "its not fair". i doubt the BLACK principal and vice principal thought this through very much other than the obvious of lets garauntee these kids a chance and now theyre being fired upon! typical behavior.

"According to the district's statement, reported by WTVA, the practice had been in use for more than 30 years with whites and blacks rotating among offices annually. "

"It is the belief of the current administration that these procedures were implemented to help ensure minority representation and involvement in the student body," the statement said.

now all you race card throwing liberal racists minorities have what you wanted!!! now it will simply be a vote amongst the students in which 2/3 are NOT minorities!! there goes any positions at all!! great job with throwin the race card!! i guess now that the position is pretty well garaunteed to a non minority i presume its gonna be racists that there isnt a black class president????

Okay, now that there's clarity to the situation, who's embarassed over what they posted? Raise your hand. (smile)

not I hahahaha!! i believe affirmitive action was my first thought!

4AStrongAmerica, the answer is yes. If the two aforementioned individuals are part of the school board and condoning it, they are racist. Racism knows no color! My apologies if I offend some people here, but I am just calling it the way I see it. All should have the same opportunity regardless of skin color.

Affirmative action was a feeble attempt to right a terrible wrong. All SHOULD have the same opportunity regardless of skin color, as Ed states, but all did NOT.

Bungled and mismanaged as it was, it was a step in the right direction. Now, however, I believe affirmative action has done its job and needs to be re-thought. With the number of biracial kids nowdays, it seems kind of moot.

in america, we have a representative democracy that allows us to vote against the ignorance and bigotry of the right wing, rather than move.

Mr Director..would you please enlighten us to what type of polls, surveys, etc you used to determine exactly what southern whites think & feel. How many years did you study southerners to be able to come up with all this wisdom? I guess all the work you put into gathering enough information to make these determinations must have been staggering. I would also guess it must have been one helluva financial burden also. You sir, are nothing short of a blabbering idiot.

Unfortunately Naughtia,

a representative democracy also allows us to vote 'for' ignorance and bigotry. Don't blame the politicians, blame the electorate that springs them forth like daisies in a meadow.

Please don't lump all southern whites in the same category. I'm an Alabama white and have lived here all my life and I was as appalled by this as you were. Thank you very much.

Director: You are a jackass. I am a Southern white, so do not group me in with the sheeple racist mind set. However, regarding the "right wing attacks on Muslims", I'm sure it never occured to you that perhaps these right wing attacks, as you call them, might be deserved? Actions speak louder than words, afterall. It helps to put your brain in gear, before you open your mouth.

Jet in your statement you grouped yourself with them. Maybe we should do like our non christian founding fathers did ( T. Jefferson, B. Franklin, T. Paine etc.) and decide to not restrict religion. Why are they deserved? Priests where raping children and being protected by Vatican City. I have yet to see people scream about them building a church by a school. Fair is fair after all unless there is some other reason for your bias. McVeigh was a republican we should we move all republican offices away from federal buildings? What about the christian man who flew a plane into the building in Texas. Should I have to see a church when I go to regester my car?

Jet Mech,

You do not want to be lumped in with the racist whites from Miss. and yet you are more than willing to lump all Muslims together. Yes, That is too hypocritical !

jet mech

next time you post put your own words into action - put your brain in gear first...

This is a perfect example of that, you have what truly is how most southern whites would like to have happen,

This comment is a perfect example of racism. Replace the word "whites" with any other race and tell me it's not.

Aleric:

Actually, most Americans live in amalgum of both democratic and republic governmental systems. It is true that the Federal government and most state governments are republics. But nearly all local (city, county, parish, borough, etc.) governments are democratic. And while these local governmental bodies must comply with federal and state laws, actual implementation of such laws are carried out by democratically elected officials - like school boards, for instance.

Also, since the subject of 'quota' has come up, it is worth discussing the differnce between a republic and a democracy. Basically, a republic is attemp at a quota system, only one based not on race, but geographical or geopolitical boundaries. And there is a logic behind this. Our founding fathers were concerned that the rights of the minory could be "trampled" by numerical advantage of the majority, a big weakness in a straight democracy. Our republic, with three "equal" branches and our bilateral congress, is their design for a government that attempts to address this flaw. But, really, it's a quota system. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the US Senate, where a senator from Wyoming (population ~550K) has as much influence (theoretically) as a senator from CA (population ~40M), and a senator from Rhode Island (~1500 sq. miles) has as much influence as a senator from Alaska (~660K sq. miles). Our government guarentees that every STATE gets a QUOTA of two senators, regardless of population size or land area, with the DESIGNED purpose of giving MINORITIES (not racial, geopolitical) equal representation. We do this because we believe this is necessary to operate a FAIR government.

How exactly are racial quotas different?

How is making attacks agains muslims and casting aspersions any different than painting every sounter white person a racist. I am a southerner, do not hold predjudice against any person white, black, pink, purple, christain, jew, muslim, etc. I reject the notion that racism is more prevalent here in the south than other regions I think racism transends whites, blacks, right wing, left wing, christian, jew, region etc. Racism or prejudice takes many forms such as this and also the mosque in NY is another example and all of it. Racism and prejudice is motivated by fear, fear of the unknown or the different. I think that is how the Natzi's got the ball rolling and I feel that several factions here in America profit by keeping the ball rolling here.

I also think the school district should change or not be allowed federal funding not to mention any risk management they may want to take a look at for litigation issues.

It is rather said and scary to know that people are so upset and enraged that we have a Black president that the citizens in a town that is majority White and (i'm betting the farm) majority Republican, they will do anything to show their displeasure. I bet they are card carrying Tea Party members also. This is supposed to be the greatest nation in the world but each day I see foolishness like this and the constant display of racist attitudes and discriminatory actions against others who aren't like Caucasion middle America. This just sickens me and I am sick of the foolishness. People grow up!!!

Found this on another site! No harm no foul, they felt this was necessary in the past and now they corrected it!

Media Statement

After being notified of a grievance regarding upcoming student elections at Nettleton Middle School, research was conducted that evidenced that the current practices and procedures for student elections have existed for over 30 years. It is the belief of the current administration that these procedures were implemented to help ensure minority representation and involvement in the student body. It is felt the intent of these election procedures was to ensure African-American representation in each student office category through an annual rotation basis.

It is our hope and desire that these practices and procedures are no longer needed to help ensure minority representation and involvement. Furthermore, the Nettleton School District acknowledges and embraces the fact that we are growing in ethnic diversity and that the classifications of Caucasian and African-American no longer reflect our entire student body.

Therefore, beginning immediately, student elections at Nettleton School District will no longer have a classification of ethnicity. It is our intent that each student has equal opportunity to seek election for any student office. Future student elections will be monitored to help ensure that this change in process and procedure does not adversely affect minority representation in student elections.

Thank you

Superintendent

Russell Taylor

This is different from affirmative action, how?

"What 'facts' could possibly mitigate this story or that memo in any way? Can you just give me a hypothetical example?"

Lets see, just off the top of my head I can think of a few very good examples that even you should know of (yeah bad sentence ending but who cares). In America it is legal to redraw electoral districts to ensure minority representation. We have policies requiring minority participation in public contracts. We have mandatory bussing to ensure diversified schools. Colleges have affirmative action to ensure diversified campuses. All of this is ok with the Supreme Court BTW. The school did something to ensure minority participation in school events. One would think people woul think that a good thing but instead of thanks they get criticised. Whatever....

How is making attacks agains muslims and casting aspersions any different than painting every sounter white person a racist.

It wouldn't be if that's what was happening. It's not attacks against Muslims, it's against the extremist terrorists. Most of them just happen to do it in the name of the Muslim faith so some are caught in the crossfire by the media who don't know the difference between the 2. The media and those on the left spreading crap like that and saying we all hate people from Mexico are doing damage that could take a generation or 2 to heal. I honestly feel that in the last 2 years we've lost at least a decade of progress in equality.

North, South, not all are racist or not racist. It's just that racism (Jim Crow) was more institutionalized in the South than in the North.

But the Northerners could be just as bad when it came down to it.

You are right this is awful. Unfortunately there is still a lot of racial inequality in America. The best thing our President has done is starting to change the education system for all. Raising standards and tying student and teacher performance, enlarging types of classes offered. If kids don't get a good education they are stuck in hopelessness.

It has to be. Mississippi schools are still under court supervision.

Not really i live in Ms and I am black. There is a racial divide in this state that is so deep until its not funny. There is a thought process that seperate is good as long as its equal.

I went to public school in Alabama and my High School had a black homecoming queen and a white homecoming queen. Shameful then, shameful now.

I, too, found it appalling that racial discrimination still exist in the 21st century America. Everybody can say we are a country of tolerance, a big melting pot, etc. Unfortunately racial discrimination is still alive and well, not just here in the US, it's everywhere. Don't get me wrong. I am in no way condoning racial discrimination. It's wrong and it has to be stopped.

Sometimes I think Americans got attacked by the rest of the world for being ignorant only because we do not pretend to know what we don't and how we truly feel about things. We are outspoken and sometimes naive to a fault. We are not master in hiding our dirty laundry in a secret chamber... Somehow I believe this is what makes us great.

A lot of people have never lived in small towns in the South and don't realize what goes on. I have, and unfortunately, this doesn't totally surprise me. There are schools that still hold separate proms for black and white students. Other than on sports teams, there is often little social interaction between black and white students (this is usually self-imposed). They typically live in different parts of town, and attend different churches. That doesn't mean that there is overt hostility. That's just the way its always been and nobody locally sees any need to change it. Things usually only change when unwanted publicity is shined on a situation such as this.

Affirmative action

Anyone responsible for this memo, for that matter anyone who even knew about it and did nothing, should be FIRED and barred from ever working with children in any capacity again! The only way we're ever going to have a nation free of the prejudices of the past is if we raise up the next generation without those prejudices. Children do not naturally hate - they have to be taught hate. Shame on you all in that school - and I'm sorry beyond words that more parents didn't speak up as soon as the memo arrived.

my opinion,

A lot of communities have set-asides, and they are always for blacks or browns. Remember the Conn. fire department that set-aside all promotions because no blacks qualified?

spike, the New Haven fire dept case was more complex than that, actually, if you are familiar with the case. DOn't have the time to get into it here though as I am about out the door.

But barring a child of any race, gender, religion, etc. from aspiring to a certain position is just plain wrong. It is immoral, unethical, and most likely, illegal. And even if you feel that things have gone wrong in other places in other ways - there is just no excuse for condoning or accepting a situation like this.

Educated whites in Mississippi will tell you that "You don't understand. Blacks are different down here."
What they do not understand is that the whites in Mississippi are light years behind the rest of the country and they will fight anyone who tries to change their way of life, hatefulness. Just ask the many Mississippians who were sickened by the backward hate there and now live across the country in other states, rearing their children in the real world! The underbelly of Mississippi is the real twilight zone! Things have not really changed that much there. A stroll thru the state will reveal nothing...you have to live there to really see "how things are done".

It is all about economic control, cheap labor, and with-holding education and opportunity. Poor blacks and poor whites in Mississippi do not have a chance. Not one.

I am amazed at the appalling ignorance of such a comment, dorrit. You speak as if you have some knowledge of life in Mississippi, but your comments actually disclose an amount of ignorance and bigotry of your own that should make you stop and think about stereotyping people from Mississippi or any where else.

I can't recall, for instance, the last time that white police officers in Mississippi were involved with raping a black man with a mop or broom handle, but I can recall one a few years ago in NYC. And where were the last major race riots in the U.S. ? (If you can't remember, it was California). Mississippi certainly isn't perfect, but most of the self-righteous snobs posting comments might be better served at working to eliminate racism in their own back yards. Any one who truly knows Mississippi will acknowledge that there have been enormous strides over the last 30 years. The policy in this case exciting all these comments wasn't established to protect segregation, but to try to insure that African Americans wouldn't be excluded from participation. It has outlived whatever usefulness it had, and, as with many things that bureaucrats create, inertia allowed it to remain in place until now. But to attack Mississippi generally on the basis of a well-intentioned, but dated policy displays bigotry of another sort.

As far as chances for the poor, I don't see the poor in NYC, Detroit, Chicago or LA doing a whole lot better.

The word "Race" in all forms of documents/talk should be ommitted throughout our country. You never fill out a form in Europe that says: "american, european, white, black, red, yellow" etc..only in America, where we are ignorant of the civil rights movement to make us all equal.

This article is absurd. The whole school board administration should be fired, period... Oh, but let me guess, even the law enforcement, etc are all white....betcha I'm right.

That's my thought as well. I think there may be more to this story than we've seen. This may have been an attempt at affirmative action in the past that never got updated to today's standards. It may have worked back in the '50's and '60's, but it's 2010 and we have much better practices than this.

Jeff, I think you hit the nail on the head. I believe as well that it was some sort of attempt at a form of affirmative action, because in the aggregate the "school government" would be equally represented by both races.

That being said, this is a completely ludicrious solution and as a white mid-westerner I am frankly embarrased by it.

On another note, I also agree with another poster that the title of this article should be changed because it is inciteful. In many ways it's like yelling fire in a crowded theater, which is technically a crime. People will read the headline, skim the article, and then claim racism without fully understanding the situation. This is par for the course in journalism today (it's all about shock value) and it needs to stop.

LOL - Ya, good thinking. This is a CLASSIC example of lefties in an ultra-liberal enclave in a progressive Southern town taking liberalism to far with "affirmative action based" quotas.

Do you seriously think that?

No, simply, I doubt he does, particularly because you put so many words in his mouth that he didn't even come close to saying.

I think that if it was an affirmative action move they would have had placement for all of the positions. Also, I've never seen affirmative action so blatantly displayed. Generally, its a more behind the scenes kind of system.

This just looks like segregation that has been slightly altered since 1950 as they are even allowing black students to run for anything. I think this is really sad and I'm surprised that there hasn't been a person who took action against this sooner. Its horrible to think that children somewhere are still being taught that some races are better than others. Obviously there are still ignorant people in the world but when it comes from a school something is really wrong. The school board should have known about this and done something! People need to be fired for letting this one slip!!!!

Jeff-803009 says:

A hypothetical....since blacks were not specifically excluded from any position, is it possible this outdated policy is the product of an attempt at affirmative action based on the census at the school? I agree this policy is offensive but maybe the intent wasn't racism.

Unfortunatley Jeff & zaxxon23, I beleive you have not fully understood the memo in question.

No black child may be President of any grade, and in 7th grade they may not be either vice president nor president. These positions are specifically 'slotted' for white students. I don't know what your motive is, but I emplore you to re-read the memo as printed. I look forward to your opinion after doing so.

Thanks

What angers me is that people are all up in arms (as they should be) about black kids not being able to run in certain offices, but the white kids aren't being allowed to run for the black offices either, so in effect, both of them get shut out. It's not right to discriminate against either race and yes, the white children are being kept out of certain offices because of their race as well.

It wasn't challenged because they were all white before this black family came to town, I betcha. Or if there were blacks there, they are descendants to the slaves themselves and was told to keep mum or move out.

The Springers are a mixed-race family, that's how the topic came to light at www.mixedandhappy.com. You can read the original story here: http://mixedandhappy.com/archives/3343

It wasn't challenged because they were all white before this black family came to town, I betcha.

Considering they gave the census information on how many of each are in the population in the town, I'll take that bet. I seriously doubt a family of about 1,000 showed up.

Absolutely hilarious!!! Perhaps the administrators thought that whites needed an advantage. After all, our president is the racist. *wink*

Very funny and probably true.

Just to give you a little education, it was southern DEMOCRATS who fought passage of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 (and the Voting Rights Act of 1965), and then fought its implementation.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a perfect example of the mean-spirited, illiberal nature of many liberal democrats. No evidence was presented that Beck or Palin were in sympathy with this school's policies. This is just a gratuitous kick at one's political opponents.

So true. And it was a Republican who freed the slaves and wrote the Emancipation Proclamation.

Let me give you a little education - the Democrats and Republicans have switched agendas several times throughout history, including in the 70s.

This isn't about labeling people as Democrats or Republicans - it is about people spewing hate. And no one spews more hate than Beck/Palin/Fox. Muslims/Gays/Anyone different will destroy this country and eat your children...

Grasping a straws! Posters here have no clue!

It was Democrats AND Republicans in the South who fought Civil Rights!Neither party in the South has ever been FOR blacks unless it meant getting their votes after the poll taxes, courthouse intimidations, and idiotic questions were banned! You need to read historical records and listen to oral histories to understand the Deep South.

Yes, and all those revolutionary Republicans are rolling over in their graves, seeing what the Republican Party has become today, undoing all the good they did all those decades ago.

Shame on these current Republican idiots!

um, BOYD: let me quote the brilliant Ms Effin Palin: "Dr laura, dont retreat...RELOAD"--nope she isnt racist AT ALL!!!! she needs to go hibernate somewhere--for EVER!

Reply to: Rev-2267946

"Just to give you a little education, it was southern DEMOCRATS who fought passage of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 (and the Voting Rights Act of 1965), and then fought its implementation." (Your words)

Your attempt at educating people is a misleading statement!

They, the hard-core racists, switched to the Republican Party, en masse, between Nixon's election in 1968 and Reagan's election in 1980. There they (you) remain.

The school administrators promise to fix this, as soon as they return from tomorrow's Beck/Palin rally on the Mall in DC.

http://www.nettletonschools.com/schools.cfm?subpage=6336

Look at the pictures and you might want to rephrase that.

They, the hard-core racists, switched to the Republican Party, en masse, between Nixon's election in 1968 and Reagan's election in 1980. There they (you) remain.

Ah. So another liberal who likes to believe everyone on the right is evil racist bastards. You've been watching too much liberal media. News flash - everyone isn't a clone who thinks the same way on either side. If they were, you'd be guilty of eco-terrorism. I'm no racist I can assure you. I'm really getting sick of all those on the left buying those mud slinging slogans from their politicians. They're only doing it so you'll stop focusing on what they're doing wrong.

Well, if you believe in Adam and Eve, then your very naive....lol. And the gays come from Sam, Dick, and Harry, right?

No, all those gays come from Sam's Dick IN Harry......../sarcasm.......humor.......bad joke...Don't even know why I wrote this, but SOMEONE HAD to.

There we go... this is the maturity level of these people who are looking down at this school...

I like how this ended up on Christian-bashing and gay jokes.

Just let people believe what they believe, no reason to call them stupid or naive.

I know your defense already "Acemanz" will be some general statement about Christians preaching to you, but how does what someone in your past did to you make it okay to insult the beliefs of someone who has never even talked to you.

Well, according to Kelley 2267839, we are all descended from an incestuous relationship. If we're all descended from Adam and Eve who beget Cain and Abel, who did those boys marry? Must have been their sisters.

Current (as of 2010) genetic evidence suggests interbreeding took place with Homo sapiens sapiens (anatomically modern humans) between roughly 80,000 to 50,000 years ago in the Middle East, resulting in Caucasians and Asians having between 1% and 4% more Neanderthal DNA than indigenous sub-Saharan Africans, who show 0%. However, specimens with combined human and Neanderthal traits have also been found in Spain as recently as 40,000 BC, suggesting long term and widespread intermingling of 'anachronistic races' throughout history.

Richard E. Green et al (2010). "A Draft Sequence of the Neanderthal Genome". Science 328 (5979): 710–722. doi:10.1126/science.1188021. PMID 20448178.

Rincon, Paul (2010-05-06). "Neanderthal genes 'survive in us'". BBC News (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8660940.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-07.

I have an easier time believing this scientific data which puts Kelly 2267839's biblical theory to rest.

It will never end...its a two-way street. Thanks to Jesse Jackson and his followers, they hate whites just as much as whites hate them. I have to leave America to enjoy conversations with other cultures that don't think about race all the time, and I'm white...geez. Racism just shows how ignorant people are.

Ace, are you serious? in essence you're blaming this on Jesse Jackson and his followers. While Jesse and I disagree on a great many issues, he certainly is not to blame for the egregiously racist policy addressed in the article.

I do not blame any black in Mississippi for hating whites. There is no other area in the US where black hate is better justified as it is in Mississippi. However, the most hate in Mississippi is from whites. Some of the most impressive and courageous human beings you will ever meet are black and in Mississippi. They may not have your education, but they have heart and they have soul. They can teach you what is meant by and why Booker T. Washington said:

"I shall allow no man belittle my soul by making me hate him."

and

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life...as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."

While I think the article was published to start a heated racial divide debate (which it did by the way) I would venture to say that the only reason the policy will be reviewed is because not only did a parent bring it to their attention, that parent made it known to the public at large. You have a black principal and vice principal - obviously they are so status quo they saw no reason to change the policy. While I think this was a bad attempt at trying to be fair to the children who attend this Mississippi school, I think because of the overwhelming majority of whites to blacks, in their eyes, this was a "fair" way to allow each race to be represented at some time during their school year. Segregating it as they did only intensifies and keeps the "status quo" as it has always been. Unfortunately, the only way to change racism is to keep things as fair, equal and colorblind as possible. Alas, I doubt if we as a poeple will see that come to fruition in this country.

LOL - I think it just proves there are more blacks in America than whites...J/K

Sadly, attitudes of using race to hide ignorant hate and race baiting are easily recognized and very obvious.

I want to ask racists:

Do you really feel good after acting in such a way?
Do you meet with your cronies and justify things to each other?
Do you feel that you are really teaching your children truth when you teach hate and intolerance?
Why do you still pick on black folk in 2010?
Do you really feel grander and smarter and why?
If you did not keep others down, would you possibly feel better about your selves?
How do you practice your religion?
Do you really think that by denying your racism that your words and actions do not reveal your hearts?
What is it like to be consumed by hate for fellow human beings?
Do you go home and take it out on your wife, your kids, your dog?

Clue: racism does not make racists superior to anyone or anything - racists only advertise themselves for the useless and destructive haters that they are.

LOL, Jahmekan, felt the sarcasm! Sincerely though, as far as we have come, we always seem to take three steps back from every one that we take forward where racism is concerned. You know what I love? Being sarcastic here..is when people say, I don't condone the N word, however, there are black people that act like N's! Now that always gets me! Dripping with hypocrisy and these people you can't argue with as they are so indignant as well as ignorant!!

dorrit, those are the questions I feel should be answered every time someone on the left calls me a racist, muslim hater, etc just because I'm white and don't like liberal agendas. Hate and intolerance is all I hear from the left these days (especially on here).

Make an alt and just post that you support legal immigration but not illegal, that you're white, that you supported Condi Rice & Colin Powell but not Obama, that you think it's in bad taste to put a mosque up that close to ground zero this soon after 9/11, you hunt for your own food when possible, and that you volunteer to help the poor at your church and see how many intollerant attacks you get.

Apparently, you've been drinking too much liberal kool-aid. If you actually WATCHED Glenn Beck, you'd know that he absolutely does NOT advocate turning back the clock on blacks, muslims and others. And what is wrong with being a 'white Christian'??? I am one and I will not apologize for it, just as I do not feel anyone should apologize for being who or what they are.

OYE VEY!!! I spent TOO MUCH money on my TV to watch Beck--Im not ready to buy another one after I kick his face thru the screen. Im a white Christian as well--who sees CLEARLY that Beck/Palin & their cohorts are extremly racist--pay attention!!! (puhlleeeez)

Oh please, give me a break. You're not a white Christian. Even if you were, who cares?

Ya know bob i think the same thing. Only it's the other way around. All the sellouts better wake up.

Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, etc. aren't mentioned, so I guess they aren't welcome to run for any position. And can you imagine if a Jew, Muslim or Hindu wanted to hold class office?

LOL - good point...oh well...maybe next year

As the article stated, there are ONLY Blacks and Whites on register in that town, and only 0.3% even listed as "mixed race"

That's exactly why we brought this to the public's attention. Not only is it segregation of black and white students, but also TOTALLY exclusive to students of any other heritage, and those who are mixed-race, like the Springer family.

That's what that town needs, more Asians and Hispanics!

Didn't the register say that good moral character was required? That explains why hispanics are left out.

I wouldnt pull my kids out, I would file criminal charge against Civil Rights Act and have the Principal arrested immediately. He/She is in fact in charge. Isn't that how it works?

probably approved by the school board.

Acemanz have you ever dealt with small town politiics especially down there?i mean honestly. these people are still living in th dark ages.it's almost pathetic. like i said unbelievble . i'll curb the language.Naughtia exactly you have a very valid point.

I agree with "Acemanz" - don't pull your kids out - and file criminal charges against the Principal under the Civil Rights Act. Since the Principal is a black woman, a successful prosecution will show that everyone must adhere to the law.

AH yeah i pulled a stupid. i didn't know the principle was black.duh!!!!!!!!!!!now i see the picture.your treichel3, i like your suggestion better.

well then I went to a school that had lots of races and what i know is they separated themselves anyhow and the black people didnt want anybody to sit with them and so did the white people just only there own races so if thats how they want to do it who cares anyhow its natural. whats funny is everybody always wants to make them mix even if they dont want to. how would you like it if people made you mix with somebody that dont even like you. the black races in my school were mean to me when i even tried to talk to them so i just leave them alone. they would fight all the time too and beat people up. how come everybody cant just leave people alone and want to make them do things they dont want to do. its not right.

i went to high school that had a small number of blacks this was during the civil rights time.i grew up in a neighborhood with an apartment building on the corner of my street the lady rented to all blacks, again this was before civil rights,i was a young kid.we never ever had a problem with them. they were good to us, and we got along believe it or not. in highschool i hung around with the girls never had a problem again we all got along.hung out together and went to each other houses.again i never had a problem.they were good to me.

Wow gloria such nice language for a lady. You have the same problem a lot have in this country. If your ass isn't kissed the way you want it sue,sue,sue. I'm glad you had a nice time with your buddies but a lot of people that have tried haven't been so lucky. aethelina you are absolutely right. Everybody keeps wanting to push everybody together and it won't work. Let people group to thier own group and leave them the hell alone.

Wow warchief sounds like your on the war path.your statement is full of ignorance. nobody is pushing anyone together. get a freaken grip.yes we did have a good time, and were friends to this day..

before you go shooting your stupid mouth off my post had nothing to do with pushing groups together.you stuck your foot in it bigtime on that one chief ugabug.you have no idea what the hell your talking about. my only post was to show that some groups did get along thats all nothing more nothing less. perhaps your too ignorant to grasp that.plus you sound a real hick racist.people make their own decisions who they want to hang around with.no matter what , race ,religion, nationality, and all the other conglomerates thrown into the mix.that's my stance chief ugabug, again nothing more, nothing less.i'd be alittle more careful before you go stepping in it again. because mister after awhile it really starts to stink.

as far as my language gee that's too bad.i have some advice for ya DON'T READ IT!

it's too bad aethelina couldn't get along with those people.it wasn't her fault, that's just the way it is in her neck of the woods.

yeah well your lucky they was only a few in your school or maybe they would of been mean to you to.

aethelina. i know that.i'm sorry for the situation you encountered.it's sad when people become mean. no matter what the color.yes there were a few african americans in my school, and yes we all got along.

i have to really real admire you for taking the initiative, of trying to be friendly. that's a hard thing for alot of people to do. you are the real deal. that's a good thing.good for you.

thank you you are nice too.

You are an idiot. I am sure you have never been south of the Mason Dixon line. You are one of many pretentious people who make blanket assumptions based on decades old stereotypes. I am a Southerner. My family never owned slaves nor were members of racist organizations. I have a college degree as do many, many other Southerners I know. People like you make me sick.

Thank God you're not prejudiced like all Southerners!!

The SILENCE while things happen are still in your heritage and practiced today, Southerner! There are still "things" that are "just not talked about"! Get real! Get honest! Look in front of your face!

What incredible hypocrisy by you bigots who make generalizations about an entire region. As mentioned in earlier, if you weren't to lazy to follow the link, the principal of this school is African-American.

I don't understand what the principals race has to do with bad policy.

Bad is bad. The policy must change. Although I do agree, and I'm a hardcore lefty that if the policy is changed to include a truly democratic approach to electing student officials, AND there are still racist underpinnings in the community, AND whites are 66% of the population that a black student may not havfe a chance at winning ANY position.

So then what?

Again, I'm a hardcore Dem, union loving, Obama voter. I just think that there are ALWAYS unintended negative consequences for both AA and the removal of AA. double edged blade and all.....

And I'm sure he got that position for not rocking the boat ...so to speak.

I have lived in the state of Mississippi my entire life. While I attended Quitman High School (Class of 2000) we had a segregated prom and homecoming dance. The homecoming dance for the whites was usually held at the country club just so the blacks could not attend. One of my BEST friends, who played on the same football team I did, wasn't allowed in the homecoming dance. Once I protested, they made me leave as well. So we went to the blacks homecoming and had a great time. The school board was FORCED to make the change a few years ago once the story made it to the news media outlets around the area.

Just another sign of how truly pathetic this sh!thole state really is...

Ted, you make a good point. The situation is just not that simple. Is the rule wrong if it prevented an all white student government? I think the real shame here is that MSNBC portrayed this story in such a shallow way.

By the way I'm a hardcore Dem, union loving, Obama voter too...

AH yup a roasty toasty law suit!

Since its a government entity, there will not be a monetary lawsuit, just a change in procedure/document lawsuit. Government don't pay anything, they just take take take.

The government entity will be a state entity, not federal, Acemanz, so they'll have to pay up!

If the leadership of this school system knew what the hell they were doing, no money would have to be expended. I say make the school board members pay!!! After all, they set and/or continued an illegal policy that discriminated against the students. They should have known better.

Well, well, well. Isn't it interesting that the school system reversed that horrid, backward policy in a hurry? Similar to the Mississippi high school a few years back, that segregated their senior prom. They got their a$$e$ in gear, too, and change that rule as well.

Honestly, I think someone should investigate all of the school systems in the south for latent segregationist policies like this one. I'm quite sure there are more out there.

This is "Affirmative Action" at work!

"Under former policy, blacks could not be class president" and next year WHITES will NOT be class president - Affirmative Action.

"the practice had been in use for more than 30 years with whites and blacks rotating among offices annually."

Why are so many people, specifically BLACKs, railing on whites for "keeping the black man down" when this policy was designed to give BLACKS protections and a voice? Did people not read the article?

Soooooo.....Why are people just NOW waiting to bring this up? Liberal RACE BAITERS stirring the pot for the election is why. More Hollywood LIBERAL MEDIA ACTIVISM. More BLACKS played, deceived, and fooled into believing that WHITE, Republican, Tea Party, etc... equates to bad. Good job Dem's!

Black America needs to wake up and quite drinking this crapp. Blacks have been working under this policy for 30 years. Your telling me they are all idiots up until now and did not have a voice. Think about it. Give me a break. The system benefited Blacks. It guaranteed blacks class presidencies every other year with only 30% population.

Republicans are no more racist than Democrats. Hell, there are many places in this country a white person cannot even set foot with out being robbed, beaten or killed. You do not see white rent-a-mobs bussing to protests. I have better things to do. It's called have a life. Born equal; the out come is not.

We need to grow up and move on in this country.

Thanks MSN for your RACE BAITING activism.

You want to know why there are places a white man cannot go without getting beat up or killed?

www.fedupintolerant.com

It's all explained there.

It is funny how you responded to that one comment. What about the people being misled in this article over " Affirmative Action"? The school system ROTATED the positions yearly – by race- for 30-years.

I do not have time to worry about what color people are and do not care until people point it out to me. I am tired of being called a racist because I am white and republican. To those people, kiss my @#$%

There are just as many racist blacks, latinos, asians etc… No matter party they align with, they are all BUMB ASSES! And people need to quite getting sucked into this crapp.

This ARTICLE is LIBERAL RACE BATING CRAPP DESIGNED to DIVIDE, REENFORCE and CREATE HATE.

so Anon Coward,

what is a n!553r as mentioned in your link...and what should b done with them??

america,

in an eurocentric hegemony, i don't think any minority group can participate in they systemic discrimination against the majority group. So while i agree with your assessment that there are a lot of minorities that hate white people...i can't agree that they are "racist".

And i would conclude that there are A LOT more white bigots than bigots of any minority group...

You talk about get over it, but when your ancestors have been beaten, lynched, tortured, etc...I think its kind of hard for a person of color to trust ANY white person (dem, republican, independent, agnostic, christian...it doesn't matter) ...Especially when the people who did this ARE still alive and are the parents and grandparents of the "responsible" adults in this society today. What do you think about that viewpoint??

Decline in aggregate social mood is the cause of polarization of groups within the society. Social mood directs the markets, economic, politics, culture. Bear markets appear as a result of pessimism that spreads. Recessions and depressions occur. Wars follow. Social mood is the engine of history.

You, sir, are an ill-informed, simple-minded sheep.

While I agree this is ridiculous and embarrassing, I would like to point out that not everyone in Mississippi is a Bible beating conservative. I live in Mississippi and happen to be a black person voting, homosexual loving, ANTI-religious "evil liberal." I graduated from high school in 1997, and our "Mr. High School" was black even though only approximately 20% of students were black. I realize that parts of rural Mississippi, primarily in the Northern part, are a bit backwards, but don't spew the lies that it's just Mississippi that is like this. I'm very familiar with the race "wars" that go on in the Northern part of the U.S., and I'm also familiar with the high number of KKK members in states suchs as Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa, so learn your facts before you pick on an entire state. Some of us are open minded individuals down here, and one thing we hate are ignorant, rude Northerns.

Thank you Mol in MS, well said and very true.

Well put Mol. This is an example of a few really stupid circumstances still around, some bad, some with some good intent. Thankfully, this ridiculous situation at this school has been rectified.

You sound a little racist against northeners with your yankee comment Mo, LOL

Jason, you're kidding right? Everyone deserves equal rights, civil liberties no matter where they're from.

yea, because no blacks live in NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore......Are you really that stupid?

Boy are you time warped and backwards, to say the least! unfreaken believable. even these generations now WOW!i suppose you wouldn't drink from the same glass or get a blood tranfusion either because they're black hey?

then there is the eloquent line of, it's just different than other places. oh really?why exactly? i suppose if you had your way you'd still own slaves right?because it's just different than other places. give me a fuching break!hello we're in 2010, not 1910, or the 1860's for that matter.there's LAWS ON THE BOOKS KID, IT'S CALLED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.THESE EXCUSES FOR EDUCATORS JUST BROKE THAT LAW.i hope they get the hell sued out of them.WAKE UP SON YA CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE!!