I have always respected Juan Williams, even more so after this interview in yesterday's Dallas Morning News. An excerpt follows:
Juan Williams has had it. The veteran black journalist – after a long career at The Washington Post, he joined National Public Radio and Fox News – has had it with aspects of black America that have failed to capitalize on the civil rights revolution. He's had it with a rap music culture that has become a "masturbatory fantasy."
He's had it with African-Americans who prefer to blame all their problems on racism instead of taking responsibility for their own lives. And he's most definitely had it with old-style black civil rights leaders, who in his view maintain their power by manipulating black anger and white guilt.
In his recent book, "Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America – And What We Can Do About It", Mr. Williams delivers a strong – and highly controversial – challenge to black America. Mr. Williams, a civil rights historian and progressive pundit, brings his message to Dallas tomorrow night as the keynote speaker at a public symposium on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., sponsored by the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
Had the weather been warmer, and the streets less icy, I would have traveled to downtown Dallas last night to see/hear Mr. Williams. At $15 a ticket, it would have been a bargain. But I thought better of it, and it was probably wise of me to do so. Coming to work today (same place, i.e., downtown Dallas) via bus was no problem, esp. since we had no more ice/rain last night. Thanks for the information.
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