Washington Post "social change reporter" Sondhya Somashekar reports that key organizers of protests over "police treatment of African Americans lashed out at Oprah Winfrey Friday" over comments she made to People magazine criticizing their movement as “leaderless.” It showed a rift between "older black trailblazers and a younger crop of black activists," none of which can be identified by the Post as left-wing.
In the interview, Winfrey suggested that the protests that have unfolded lack the disciplined strategy of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. “I think that what can be gleaned from our film, ‘Selma,’ is to really take note of the strategic intention required when you want real change,” she said.
“Strategic peaceful intention,” she emphasized.
“I think it’s wonderful to march and to protest, and it’s wonderful to see – all across the country – people doing it. And when you watch Selma, that’s what Selma’s all about. It’s all about the strategy. Those marches just didn’t happen, and they weren’t happening haphazardly. They were happening out of an order and a design for change.”
“I think it’s wonderful to march and to protest and it’s wonderful to see all across the country, people doing it,” she said. “But what I’m looking for is some kind of leadership to come out of this to say, ‘This is what we want. This is what we want. This is what has to change, and these are the steps that we need to take to make these changes, and this is what we’re willing to do to get it.’ ”
Somashekhar reported Winfrey's statements "provoked outrage from protest organizers, most of whom are young and who have purposefully embraced a diffuse, leaderless approach. They pushed back against the insinuation that they have not articulated any demands, and accused Winfrey of being out of touch and elitist — in typical fashion, using Twitter to convey their anger."
Once again a Black 'celebrity' shows just how out of touch they are. So, while @oprah searches for an outdated leadership model, #weworkin.
— BrownBlaze (@brownblaze) January 2, 2015
You have been PAINFULLY quiet, @Oprah, until this movie.
— Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) January 2, 2015
. @oprah there are youth orgs set up and ready to roll .. How about some of the black elite sit at the table w/us and discuss our demands ?
— Tef Poe/FootKlan (@TefPoe) January 2, 2015
Occupy Wall Street preferred a leaderless structure, and that didn't exactly work out. What if the Oprah elites have a point?
