Below is my response to an article in the washpo which concerned racism in this country, and how so many of the issues get their 15 minutes of fame, then shoved on for the next issue, while the real deal of racism in this country is never really discussed.
I don't know what those episodes are, but they are not a part of the greater discussion that isn't going on. Racism is deep and it is underground in this country, no matter what anyone thinks, from the segregation of the neighborhoods in this country, to the racism in our schools that sets our children up for failure, to the encouragement of the welfare state that has virtually destroyed black family life. Racism in this country is no longer discussed because whites think that blacks in this country have everything they need or are going to get while all the long discriminating. Liberals are just as bad as conservatives. They may espouse views condemning racism, but they, too, live in segregated neighborhoods, with their segregated schools, or kids in private schools, just as much as the black hating conservatives. Until whites can either look at racism in the forms in which it now exist, or get over the fact that it's more underground than they know, then we cannot possibly have a conversation about racism. In order for us to move forward in this country whites will have to face the fact that the race card is still be played in this country against blacks. Need proof? Just look at immigration and illegals. For generations whites have used education along with low wages and racism to keep blacks out of the skilled crafts jobs held by white men and passed on to their sons until their grandsons began to go on to college to escape hard labor. Blacks, already locked out of those jobs due to racism were further locked out - due to racism. Only now another group of people is being used against them; illegal immigrants. These people accept low wages, no benefits, and bring down the wages of everyone else in doing so. Employers who hire them do not want to hire and train low income blacks and whites who so desperately need the skills and the work. Believe me, this isn't all as I can tell you from my own personal experiences with whites and discrimination. Check out how many blacks consider themselves to have been discriminated against in looking for work or in their current employment. How many young black male children are shuffled off into those low achieving classes when there is nothing wrong with them? They are worth next to nothing when they come out, poor babies. The educational system, instead of trying to figure out how best to serve black children does nothing more than warehouse them in under achieving classes, dumbing down our children. Believe me, these things are nothing to the discussion which really needs to happen in this country. We gained our rights, only to have them deviously subverted and no one wants to talk about it. Why should I, as a black person, wish to talk about illegal immigrants in this country? Just another group of people to discriminate against me as they already have. And let's not forget about reparations. This country had paid every group going, even some it shouldn't have, except African Americans, monies that could go a long way to easing some of the ills we face in this country. Where should the conversation begin, education? Jobs? Housing? Reparations? All of the above, of course, but I won't hold my breath. I do agree with the last statements in this article. Blacks don't need to be victims anymore, but it takes a great effort to out and snatch what is rightfully yours, take it from the hands of whites. The mental effort to do so on a daily basis is almost killing. I'm actually not even sure whether or not any of these small potatoes ought to be punished, really. Except Imus, who had such a huge following. They don't really make a dent in what needs to be done, and besides, we know they're out there, lurking. I grew up with the Dogs of the world, I know who they are. No, our discussions need to be more finite than this, but there is a problem. Those who are white must not only listen, they must hear. Then they must do something to begin to help correct the mess that underground racism has created, so that we can all move forward.
I don't know what those episodes are, but they are not a part of the greater discussion that isn't going on. Racism is deep and it is underground in this country, no matter what anyone thinks, from the segregation of the neighborhoods in this country, to the racism in our schools that sets our children up for failure, to the encouragement of the welfare state that has virtually destroyed black family life. Racism in this country is no longer discussed because whites think that blacks in this country have everything they need or are going to get while all the long discriminating. Liberals are just as bad as conservatives. They may espouse views condemning racism, but they, too, live in segregated neighborhoods, with their segregated schools, or kids in private schools, just as much as the black hating conservatives. Until whites can either look at racism in the forms in which it now exist, or get over the fact that it's more underground than they know, then we cannot possibly have a conversation about racism. In order for us to move forward in this country whites will have to face the fact that the race card is still be played in this country against blacks. Need proof? Just look at immigration and illegals. For generations whites have used education along with low wages and racism to keep blacks out of the skilled crafts jobs held by white men and passed on to their sons until their grandsons began to go on to college to escape hard labor. Blacks, already locked out of those jobs due to racism were further locked out - due to racism. Only now another group of people is being used against them; illegal immigrants. These people accept low wages, no benefits, and bring down the wages of everyone else in doing so. Employers who hire them do not want to hire and train low income blacks and whites who so desperately need the skills and the work. Believe me, this isn't all as I can tell you from my own personal experiences with whites and discrimination. Check out how many blacks consider themselves to have been discriminated against in looking for work or in their current employment. How many young black male children are shuffled off into those low achieving classes when there is nothing wrong with them? They are worth next to nothing when they come out, poor babies. The educational system, instead of trying to figure out how best to serve black children does nothing more than warehouse them in under achieving classes, dumbing down our children. Believe me, these things are nothing to the discussion which really needs to happen in this country. We gained our rights, only to have them deviously subverted and no one wants to talk about it. Why should I, as a black person, wish to talk about illegal immigrants in this country? Just another group of people to discriminate against me as they already have. And let's not forget about reparations. This country had paid every group going, even some it shouldn't have, except African Americans, monies that could go a long way to easing some of the ills we face in this country. Where should the conversation begin, education? Jobs? Housing? Reparations? All of the above, of course, but I won't hold my breath. I do agree with the last statements in this article. Blacks don't need to be victims anymore, but it takes a great effort to out and snatch what is rightfully yours, take it from the hands of whites. The mental effort to do so on a daily basis is almost killing. I'm actually not even sure whether or not any of these small potatoes ought to be punished, really. Except Imus, who had such a huge following. They don't really make a dent in what needs to be done, and besides, we know they're out there, lurking. I grew up with the Dogs of the world, I know who they are. No, our discussions need to be more finite than this, but there is a problem. Those who are white must not only listen, they must hear. Then they must do something to begin to help correct the mess that underground racism has created, so that we can all move forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment