“White People Tell Me What I Am Looking At With My Eyes Is Not Real”

I have heard Gary say some amazing things that make me think I want him to be the Mayor of New Haven at some point in the future.

I have heard him talk about kids in the city having "not a fancy life. But a life worth living." Now I hear him address the fact that white people speak with certainty without perspective. To me the police and the school system do that.

This is a bright guy. May we allow him to be part of the solution for all of our neighborhoods in the future.

Gary is very vocal, loquacious and pointed individual statesmen up there at the state level, but back here in New Haven, he is as quiet as a church mouse. He never appears at the weekly police comstat meeting to register the very concerns he raises up state.

Just a showman? You decide!

No, I am not at the weekly meetings. I am in Hartford every week day from about 10 in the morning until 9 at night or later. That is what I was elected to do. And, I generally will defer to local elected and activists as I spend so much time out of direct contact in order to do that job I am elected to do and they are right here on the ground.

FINALLY finally someone is speaking the truth in the statehouse.

We are the most racist country in the world because anyone in a gene pool with slightly darker skin or slanted eyes, anyone VISUALLY different, is at a great disadvantage from day one. This is our history which by the way is not taught by many schools. Americans like to kill off the visually different because they are the OTHER, the sub-human, not like us. As a group, we have wiped out blacks, native Americans, Phillipinos, Asians of all kinds with abandon.

Our country is run like the South won...and they did. Ignorance and Injustice prevail here along with greed. The answer is blowing in the wind....full integration.

Every time I look in the eyes of a black person, I feel deep shame.

Slightly major correction to SenGHWs statement. The legislature is in session for four months during even numbered years and six months during odd numbered years. Nice work if you can get it. The jackpot if you're sly enough to get elected 5 terms (although once is as good as 5); retirement benefits as if you'd done 30 years of service like other state workers.

Bad answer Gary. You are at the state house from Jan. to June, six months. That leaves you six months to involve yourself at the local level. If Blumenthal and Murphy can perform dual responsibilities, so can you.

Deferring to local elected officials about an issue personal to you; does not ensure the issue will be taking up by the local recalcitrant alders.

Don't forget the rule of thumb:

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

NAACP, Affirmative Action, UNCF, Black Panthers, the "black national anthem" ... but blacks aren't racists against whites ... please.

Senator, first I'd like to see your time sheets or some form of evidence to prove your claim that you're in Hartford every week day for over 11 hours most days.

Second, you are in a position of power, with the clout to reach into the black community to prove that hard word and a no-quit, no-excuses attitude can yield success.

Finally, you are vice chair of the ed committee. Please explain, with evidence, what you are doing to ensure that urban schools, in the most poor and crime-ridden areas, receive the supplies, support staff they already lack? In addition, what are you doing to ensure that special needs students receive the services that their IEP mandates they receive?

I have seen with my own eyes what goes on in some under-performing schools in New Haven: Over-crowded classrooms, a shortage of basic supplies, young administrators with less than 10 years teaching experience enforcing "my way or the highway" policies against teachers, and special needs kids routinely failing to receive speech, ESL, ELL, etc.

That's real. Just like all those assistant superintendents, department supervisors, assistant supervisors making over (or close to) $100K while spending the majority of their time at 54 Meadow Street -- when they're not giving non-constructive workshops to teachers.

MARCUS GARVEY ON "Negro leadership and what it means"

"I would not exchange two five-cent cigars-even though not a smoker-for all the Colored or Negro political leaders, or rather misleaders, of our time. The fraternity is heartless, crafty and corrupt. They exist for themselves only and give no honest thought to the future, nor the condition of the people, except to exploit the aid condition to... their political benefit.
The leaders of the race are vision less and selfish. They think of none but themselves
Among the whites, we have a few political charlatans and crooks, but that race can well afford, under the circumstances, to tolerate them, because they are surrounded and circumvented by Statesmen and race Patriots who are ever vigilant and on guard in protecting the rights of their people. Among us Negroes, there is no relief from such a class, because they monopolize our politics and obstruct our outlook. The only tempering hope is religion, and that is like dry bones, we have to wait a long while for them to come together in the Valley.
To use our present political leaders there must be a conversion and reformation in head and heart. I believe it to be impossible with the inviting system of graft, therefore I suggest that leadership be assumed by our uncorruptec youth, with a program clear, positive and determined,

posted by: Blue on April 4, 2015 5:12pm

NAACP, Affirmative Action, UNCF, Black Panthers, the "black national anthem" ... but blacks aren't racists against whites ...P lease

If you study the history of this country,You would find the above organizations started due to Racism in this country against people of color.

My bad I forgot.Did you know the NAACP'S FOUNDERS WERE WHITE SOCIALISTS.


http://blogs.christianpost.com/thinkingoutloud/naacps-founders-were-white-socialists-10757/

The back lash against Gary Holder Winfield is predictable and revealing.
Attack the minimal requirements of his elected position in an attempt to smear him for a) speaking of HIS experience as a person of color in a racist socity and b) blame him for not solving all the problems he didn't create.
A white male is a person of privilege since the inception of this country.
It is simply insane to argue another person's experience.
Try listening.
Allow some time to process what you hear.
Resist the impulse to blame the bearer of bad news.
Denial still rules.
And I don't want to hear more stories of white victimization at the hands of the police. It is a transparent and ineffectual way to diminish the history that is documented and of long standing.
Thank you, Gary.
I too hope you'll be Mayor here one day.

If Blue believes that black folks should simply embrace white culture and expect white people to be worthy of trust, I don't even know how to share my opinion of his/her viewpoint without getting in trouble with the NHI censors.

Blue... seek wisdom. Perhaps pray on it.

Race baiting. It's tired, ignorant, and deceitful. Sad to see this public servant's comments. How is this not considered a form of hate speech? You falsely accuse people time and time again, pass your racist misconceptions as the standard or fact; I suppose Dr. Martin Luther King's words have no effect on those living in the present regarding judging people on the content of their character NOT the color of their skin.

We are all hard working Americans, let's stop trying to be divisive, and start focusing on merit, positive actions and cooperation.

I commend you for your comments Senator. Thank you.

DS,

I was showing my disdain for the fact that our entire legislature is part time with embarrassingly rich benefits because in fact, their minimal requirement is to preserve the welfare of the citizenry, starting with sound fiscal stewardship (a task that the legislature has failed miserably to accomplish for the past two decades.)

So why don't we quibble over how long the legislature is in session or over what they accomplish instead of what the article was about (or the elephant in the room)- race, racism and the complete dismissal of Black perspective by whites on the issue.

@Dwightstreeter: My grandfather came to the US from England via Italy. Settled in NYC. He was discriminated against because he was Italian. He was viewed as a peasant, spat on and chided for his background. But guess what? He went to work in a factory for the same number of hours senator Winfield-Holder claims he works in Hartford. My grandfather worked hard, didn't ask for or receive handouts, and eventually opened his own hardware store, and made enough money to relocate first to the Bronx, then CT. He didn't make excuses. He stepped up and worked for what he eventually got. I suggest to brush up on your American history. It wasn't only blacks who were discriminated against.

Theodora: You failed to address any of my points. IMO, you either know my points have merit but won't acknowledge that, or you have an agenda to merely advocate for the small but vocal number of black people who live in the far past and play the race card. Or is it both?

BLUE- my grandfather as well- he was an Italian immigrant. No one said he was "making excuses" when he was discriminated against.
The problem is that your post (and others like it) presumes that discrimination against Blacks has ended. It hasnt. My life today as an Italian-American is VERY different from that of my black friends who still face racism every day. You can choose to ignore that, but it doenst make it false or a "card game".

Robn: we agree the Legislature has failed at fiscal responsibility, but that is a distraction when a man of color is trying to get recognition that HIS experience every day of his life is different because he has more pigment in his skin and that is an issue for people who don't.
As for Blue, you assume I know nothing of the immigrant experience. Wrong. I know quite a bit.
The story of one person or family that is eventually assimilated does NOT negate the 300 years of racism that people of color have experienced.
I urge you to check out the writings of Te Nehisi Coates in the Atlantic magazine and read about the systematic "red lining" that prevented qualified blacks from getting mortgages and confined them to ghettos.
Of course there is much more, but this is just a comment.
Haven't you wondered why blacks are over-represented in the prison system and under-represented everywhere else?
How can you or any other white person consider yourself more knowledgeable than Holder-Winfield on what it is like to live life as an African American?
I am stunned at your hubris.

BLUE---I guessed you were "white".

No Italian, Irish, Jew, German, Swede, or other group got treated like the visually different. I am tired of listening to your "immigrant stories" of hardship. Your folks were not part of a black holocaust.

If I was black, I would NEVER forgive or forget. As a white I dont require cultural immersion from anyone, but I refuse to live in a PLACE where I cannot see every gene pool at play. No apology now will ever buy us redemption but the truth is worth hearing even if it hurts. WAKE UP.

The problem with cops isn't that they are racist. A lot of cops have abuse their power, which gives racist cops more room to express their racism. A lot of cops are good folks too, and everyone agrees that if there is a psychopath on the green shooting a shotgun in the air, we are glad to see the cops there. People don't understand the full extent of police work. 1. Police deal with violent life threatening criminals on a daily basis. their job relies heavily on spur of the moment judgment calls. Which is tough, because in stressful situations police are overtaken by adrenaline. 2. People don't understand that you don't make your argument when you are arrested. u get a court date to say what you want to say. Don't say it to the cops. Just allow them to legally kidnap you even if u disagree. u will be given a voice down the line. They should have free classes teaching people how to properly cooperate with police. 3. Racist cops abuse their power, bad cops abuse their power, and good cops are usually people who didn't have enough money to finish college and are just providing for their family. I'm white, I've been arrested with entirely false police reports, but who's going to believe me? the cops? Cops that abuse their power are the problem, and a subcategory of those cops are racist cops 4. Racist people report false things to good cops. I was frisked for walking home with a black man once...Apparently we were reported for trying to steal a car... 5. whatever your opinion is, racist cops exist and need to be dealt with. 6. white privilege is very real. Not that us whiteys have a network of racist buddies that help us out in everyday life, but that in the 21st century I have the privilege to date black girls, work with black colleagues, and collaborate with black peers. Thankfully CT is a progressive and liberal state, and the racism here is minimal compared to what it is down south where people are proud of their racism. if you end abusive cops u end racist cops.

Wendy, I'm tired of apologists like you. You should read the black on black statistics. They're astounding and alarming. Further, my wife's predecessors were part of the holocaust, you know, the one in which Jews were thrown in ovens and burned to death by Hitler and his Nazis, simply for being Jewish. In fact, Jews are still persecuted to this day. If you want to apologize, go live on Congress avenue or near Whalley & Sherman. Make sure your kids are in the schools in those neighborhoods, too.

As for the rest of you apologists, let's look at all the successful black people. Why weren't black doctors, black surgeons, black nurses, black teachers, black public servants, etc., held back because of their skin color? Further, it's only in this country where some blacks scream racism. Sad.

posted by: Blue on April 6, 2015 3:24pm

Wendy, I'm tired of apologists like you. You should read the black on black statistics. They're astounding and alarming. Further, my wife's predecessors were part of the holocaust, you know, the one in which Jews were thrown in ovens and burned to death by Hitler and his Nazis, simply for being Jewish.

How about the black people who were also part of the holocaust that are nver talked about.

The Holocaust's forgotten black victims – the 'Rhineland Bastards'

http://www.afrikanheritage.com/the-holocausts-forgotten-black-victims-the-rhineland-bastards/

How about The 'Liberation Of
Dachau' By Black Soldiers

The accounts of Army African American veterans that they helped liberate Dachau have been attacked by some. But the testimony of at least one Jewish survivor supports their stories.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/01/opinion/la-oe-perlman-dachau-20120201


Part one.

Blue, I'm a Jew.

I have written about the police many times. I also know the Black Man's Code and frankly I use it everytime the cops approach me---Never argue with or touch an officer. Keep quiet with your hands in sight at all times.

Part two.@ Blue.

As for the rest of you apologists, let's look at all the successful black people. Why weren't black doctors, black surgeons, black nurses, black teachers, black public servants, etc., held back because of their skin color? Further, it's only in this country where some blacks scream racism. Sad.

who said they was not held back.

Dr.Charles Drew was an African-American surgeon who pioneered methods of storing blood plasma for transfusion and organized the first large-scale blood bank in the U.S.Drew protested against the practice of racial segregation in the donation of blood, as it lacked scientific foundation, an action which cost him his job.

If you would read the history of people of color you will find black doctors, black surgeons, black nurses, black teachers, black public servants, etc., held back because of their skin color.How about The Negro professional baseball leagues that was not allowed to play in the major leagues because of their skin color.Wendy speaks like a Anti Racist.

My bad I forgot.If you start with that Black people sold there own people into slavery. Have you every heard of Hitler's Jewish Soldiers.They were call Mischlings.

http://www.jewishmag.com/158mag/hitler_jewish_soldiers/hitler_jewish_soldiers.htm

I am anti ignorance, anti prejudice but I am a white boomer and admit to being a racist. Until I was 14 the only black I knew was our family cleaning woman. The town I grew up in had no black or brown families until Chirlane McCray's family moved in and by that time I had been shipped out of town to private school like my siblings. I grew up in America and I am honest about what I see, what I've been, and what I've learned. No excuses, no BS, no rationalizing...I'm as guilty as anyone else but since 14 I have been an urban dweller in well-mixed neighborhoods. I stand by my past comments.

I was very distressed to read the attacks on Gary as of 4 April, and the thread has only gotten worse since then. There has been, and continues to be, serious, systemic racism here (and in much of the word). When I read (or hear) people deny this, or trivialize it, I wonder do they really believe what they are saying? What Sen. Holder-Winfield said to his colleagues – and their response – has been echoed here.

Yes, blacks can be racist too, I have met some, which is why I am no longer an officer in the Newhallville CMT. But would anyone who is white trade their skin color for all the affirmative action in the world, cooler action stars that look like you, and a reduced risk of skin cancer?

Before, and after he was elected, Gary's attendance at the Newhallville CMT was very good, and he was always a strait shooter who would answer questions.

I support Gary Winfield.

I took a couple of classes with him and he is an outstanding individual.

I have since counted him among my friends and I am proud to call him thus.

Do I wish his stance on public education were different? Yes. However, I support him in all his other policy positions.

I too hope that he become Mayor some day.

The future mayor of New Haven should probably be someone who isn't soft on drug dealers near schools.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/holder_winfield_drug_free_zones/

posted by: HhE on April 6, 2015 9:28pm

I was very distressed to read the attacks on Gary as of 4 April, and the thread has only gotten worse since then. There has been, and continues to be, serious, systemic racism here (and in much of the word). When I read (or hear) people deny this, or trivialize it, I wonder do they really believe what they are saying? What Sen. Holder-Winfield said to his colleagues – and their response – has been echoed here.

For Me as MARCUS GARVEY said the major of Black political leaders have sold out.What happen to Black political leaders like Adam Clayton Powell who march for the people not the machine.Gary Winfield is for the machine and white liberals.Even Malcolm X said when whites like Black political leaders,Black People should run from those leaders.Malcolm also said You give white politicians all of your support, and get nothing in return. You put the Democrats first, and they put you last. Dr.king saidAlthough popular Negro leaders are now emerging, most of them are still selected by white leadership, elevated to positions, supplied with resources and inevitably subjected to white control. The masses of Negros are suspicious toward this manufactured leader. We have to create leaders that have virtues that we can respect, who have moral and ethical principles that we can applaud. We have to refuse crumbs from the big city machine, and demand a fair share of the loaf.

Part one.

Part Two.

posted by: HhE on April 6, 2015 9:28pm

Yes, blacks can be racist too.

I disagree.Blacks can be prejudice.In order for black people to be racist against white people,they would have to feel the need to conquer,colonise,dominate and enslave white people in the quest of proclaiming their superiority as black people They would further have to create standards of what constitutes beauty on the basis of their own skin colour and appearance and force such standards of beauty on white people.They would have to create systems which enable only people of colour to benefit people economicaly, socially and on any other basis on an extremely large scale to the exclusion of white people, and subject white people to slavery for the next four hundred years.For as long as black people cannot and will not do all the evil actions stated above, black people cannot be racist.

This conversation has been fascinating. We need dialogue like this on an ongoing basis.
As for Three Fifths observation about black politicians who have sold out, I don't disagree, but seeing how soft Holder-Winfield's statement about his experience was and the firestorm of protest that followed, it's still hard to speak truth to power.
Everyone loved Dr. King when he addressed civl rights, but when he started opposing the Vietnam War and started focusing on poverty and wages, that's when he was assassinated.
Holder-Winfield's speaking softly doesn't mean he isn't holding a big stick.

threefifths -- Stop living in the 50s and '60s. Come join us in 2015; where many black people are thriving as homeowners, working professionals, and even President; where there are so many programs to assist black people to ensure equality. It is past time for excuse-making black people and white apologists to discard the race card. It's old. In fact, I'd be happy to exchange my white skin for the black skin of colleagues, doctors, friends and working professionals with whom I've encountered.

"If you would read the history of people of color you will find black doctors, black surgeons, black nurses, black teachers, black public servants, etc., held back because of their skin color."

Laughable. They're doctors, surgeons, nurses, teachers ... but they've been held back. Do you even read what you write? Or do you simply look for links and stories about the past?

Nobody is denying slavery occurred and that it was disgraceful. Nobody is denying there are some bad apples in every profession with racist views.

But black people who claim they're being held back, profiled, etc., need to look into the eyes of and say it to the many other black people who somehow, someway, made successful lives and careers for themselves.

How long do "whites" have to pay for slavery and segregation? Seems to me, every time, blacks and their apologists don't get their way.

@Blue: I understand your opinion, but I do not agree with it. In fact, it is a symptom of a greater societal problem, one that seeks to dismiss an entire group's complaint of an institutional bigotry that has been in place since before our troubled nation's founding. To say that the existence of black doctors, lawyers, judges, etc., is proof of the non-existence of bigotry is non-logical and ignores the anecdotal and statistical evidence that proves otherwise. To speak on the former, several prominent black professionals have cited times in their life when they had to overcome racial prejudice and discrimination, the most recent example is Chris Rock, who has stated that he gets pulled over on an almost monthly basis. But, I don't like to hang on anecdotal evidence, instead one should look at the myriad of statistics that show how institutionalized racism has created an inequitable playing field for our fellow citizens. The stats are out there and you should look them up and read them, if only to inform and widen your own myopic opinion.
We should not expect black men or women to have to work harder to achieve the same goals that white men and women achieve with less effort. Such inequities are the foundation and proof of a society created on racial and cultural segregation. Every citizen, regardless of the color of their skin should be afforded equal opportunity to achieve. This is not the case in our nation today. Sure, it is not as bad as it was, but it should be better, a lot better.
How long do whites have to pay for slavery and segregation? I would say for at least 400 years. That sounds fair, that's about how long white "Americans" profited from slavery. Segregation continues to the present day so that bill is yet to be enumerated, but I am sure we will be paying for it for a long, long time.

posted by: Blue on April 7, 2015 12:56pm

threefifths—Stop living in the 50s and '60s. Come join us in 2015; where many black people are thriving as homeowners, working professionals, and even President; where there are so many programs to assist black people to ensure equality.

Give me a break.Things for people of color in 2015 have goten worst.Let us start with police killing of people of color.You speak of Black homeowners.How come they pay Pay Higher Interest on Mortgages then whites?How come there is a Black-White Wage Gap when it comes to Black professionals.So what we have a Black President.We have more Blacks in office they ever and noting has change for Black folks.

Nobody is denying slavery occurred and that it was disgraceful. Nobody is denying there are some bad apples in every profession with racist views.

You did.Look at your words.

Further, it's only in this country where some blacks scream racism.Sad How long do "whites" have to pay for slavery and segregation? Seems to me, every time, blacks and their apologists don't get their way.

But black people who claim they're being held back, profiled, etc., need to look into the eyes of and say it to the many other black people who somehow, someway, made successful lives and careers for themselves.

How about asking some of those successful black people you talk about,how many times they have been victims of Racial profiling.

Blue wrote: it's only in this country where some blacks scream racism. Sad.

What's sad is that you are unaware of the racism that Africans were taught by whites when the Hutus and the Tutsis were pitted against each other because whites gave jobs to the lighter skinned Africans and taught prejudice against the darker skinned Africans.

When American blacks, such as Mohammed Ali or Malcolm X, have gone to Africa, they came back with refreshed hearts to see people of color living lives without the taint of racism - at least where they were the majority in charge.

White male privilege has cost women and men of color their pursuit of happiness.

The children of the immigrants of your grand-father's generation have been assimilated, but the African American continues to be stopped on the streets and racially profiled, may not get a job interview because of a creative, ethnic name, has its young sons shot for incidents involving minor crimes, even when they are unarmed, etc.

You are one of the privileged white men, even if you don't know it.

You do NOT know the world of people of color because you haven't lived it day in and day out.

Just stop blaming the victim. Or trying to compete for victim status.

My Ethnic Makeup
African 56%
(West Africa 54%, South-Central Africa 2%)

European 23%
(Scandinavia 10%, British Isles 7%, Southern Europe 4%, Eastern Europe 2%)

Jewish Diaspora 21%
(Ashkenazi Diaspora 21%)

Maybe we should all take DNA tests. It has made me look at race from a different viewpoint.

Darnell, we all the same species. Your looks depend on your genetics. We are all mutts so to speak but I have noticed in life the more mixing, the better the looks.

Watching this exchange prompts me to picture a debate between The Young Turks and Fox News, moderated by Russia today. I could go on, but I am going to let State Sen. Gary Holder-Winfield (an all around good egg) and Brutus2011 (our best commenter on race and education) by the role models, and walk away from this.