Good morning!
From Political Ticker:
Washington (CNN) – Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, has been a member of Congress for almost two decades.
Yet when he is walking down the street in Washington, D.C., at night and white women walk toward him, he says “I cross the street” to avoid making them uncomfortable.
Cummings says he rarely speaks about race or what life is like as a black man, but says President Barack Obama’s heartfelt remarks Friday afternoon made him more comfortable to do so.
“I think it’s important that he speak out and he brings a very unique perspective, because is the president and he has been extremely fortunate compared to most African-Americans, and yet still he can speak to the prejudices that most of us still face,” Cummings told CNN in a telephone interview.
Cummings lives in what calls the “inner city” of Baltimore, Maryland.
For emphasis, he says “when I say inner, I mean inner.”
The 10 term congressman says he loves to go shopping with his wife, because he likes to watch her try on dresses. But he won’t do it outside his district where people know him because “I don’t like the idea of people following me around.”
“People usually have the security guard following me, or questions with the overabundant, ‘can I help you?’ They think you’re going to do something wrong. We’ve seen it over and over again since childhood,” said Cummings.
He joked that it’s a bit better recently since, as the ranking member of the GOP-led House Oversight Committee, which is investigating IRS misconduct, Benghazi and more, he is on T.V. often and is recognized outside his district.
Still, he too talked about “feeling the tension” when he is in the elevator with a white woman.
“The tension… it’s hard to describe,” he said.
Some African-American leaders and activists have expressed frustration with Obama for not using his position to stir a national discussion about race. Cummings was not one of those people.
“It’s not that simple. People go crazy,” said Cummings.
“I see the way this country reacts to the littlest thing he says about race,” he said.
Plus, Cummings believes that before Obama was elected to his second and final term, it would have been “counterproductive to talk about these things because everything was in the prism of politics.”
“Now that he has the freedom to not worry about re-election, I think he has a better opportunity,” said Cummings.
A day earlier, Cummings’ race played out in an awkward moment during a tension-filled IRS hearing.
When admonishing Cummings, Rep. Darrell Issa, the Republican Oversight Committee chairman, referred to Cummings as “a little boy whose hand’s caught in the cookie jar.”
Later, Issa apologized to his African-American colleague for using the term “boy.”
“That is something I grew up with, it is intended to be about a small child, and in no way the use of boy or little boy to be anything else,” Issa said.
Cummings thanked Issa, saying he appreciated his words.
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Readers: I can’t imagine being a person and feeling the need to act like Cummings does. How sad that one feels that way. It really says to me that we need to have so much compassion for others, and to walk in the shoes of others to truly understand what it is like to live as another human being…whether they are a different race or gender than ourselves. It is when we can do this, and are willing to do this, that we can become more compassionate and understanding of the challenges and plight of others.
Io9: Your comment has been on my mind. From what I know about the lives of aliens, from what has been told here, I can understand how difficult that would be. Human life seems to last for just a blip compared to the lives of aliens. I HOPE you’re well.
Zarita: I really enjoyed reading your comment, and hearing about your sister Sonja and Costa Del Azahar. It sounds simply beautiful! Thank you for the invitation to visit. I would love to one day. I was so sorry to hear about the train crash in Spain. What a horrible accident. My condolences go out to the families who lost their loved ones. Thanks for being a loyal reader. Hugs to you and Sonja.
Zen Lill: Thanks for posting that video of the young girl. I was so taken by her. What a smart child, articulating so well the disgusting behavior of adults toward children. I HOPE for her safety and that her message spreads far and wide.
Social Butterfly: Thank you. And thanks for posting the write on GMOs. I signed. This is so important.
Zalika: Your point as been made before. It was true then and it is still true today.
Ellen: Obama has to pick his battles. And, with the repubs in control, he has to make very tough decisions. What is the lesser of two evils? I HOPE this is a lesson that just because Obama is president doesn’t mean we get to rest on our laurels. The midterm elections are once again going to be VERY IMPORTANT.
Nyika: Now that is the kind of attitude I like to hear from a strong, capable woman. Good for you and your daughter. You know you have my love and support.
Baako: Thanks to you and the other males for caring and for being a loving brother toward your sisters. I wish all brothers and fathers would protect their sisters and mothers like you have done. You are a wonderful example that I HOPE inspires others. My best to you and your family.
Mike, TM: Very interesting. I think you know that answer. My guess is yes. Perhaps someone knows something and will share. I HOPE all is well with you.
Peace & Love…
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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