Friday Feedback: American Blacks and Iranians

Every Friday the LA Progressive features a comment that was particularly noteworthy. This week we are featuring a comment submitted by Devin, commenting on David A. Love‘s “The Revolution Will Be Twitterized.”

Here’s Devin’s comment:

You had it right until you said “Cairo protest surely provided a catalyst for the Iranian protests”. We must remember that discontent does not form overnight or from one speech. Obama, as great as he is, was only a young boy when the roots of the present Iranian protests were formed.

I recently told a close black friend of mine that what is happening to the Iranian people is like what occurred to the blacks in America. He looked at me with a disbelieving sideways look as though to say “shame on you”. He said remember, they hung black people for over 200 years.

He is right. The brutality against the black people in America is unmatched in its cruelty. However, similarities exist and the emotional bond among oppressed or violated people is strong. After all, we are all humans and we empathize.

The lasting impression from these times will hopefully be a strengthened bond between seemingly disparate cultures. American Blacks and Iranians.

Thank you for the article.