Comments on: Study: Black Pessimism On The Rise

Just One In Five Blacks Say They Are Better Off Compared To Five Years Ago, Survey Shows

[kailumego1]

Racism, classism, and egoism will always exist within societies where the fight for resources, wealth, and power is paramount.

Jack Nicholson, in the "Departed", said a mouth full, inference to blacks, "no one is going to give it to you, if you want it you''re going to have to take it"..

That''s the problem, there was a time when a black man and woman had the strength of a 100 men/women, both were hardworking, industrious, and family orientated, of which there were a few exceptions [indolent, trifling, and contrary].

Black folks were vehemently committed to getting an education and vocational training, of which they fought tooth and nail through tumultuous opposition, because they were full aware of the obstacles they had to face from whites.

[kailumego1]

That''s why they knew they had to work twice-three times as hard at a job or in school in order to succeed tantamount to whites. Back then, it was the white folks who were considered as lazy, lacking industriousness and stammered.

Read the autobiography of Booker T Washington, W.E.D. DuBois, Frederick Douglass, who taught himself to read, these stories give light and testimony of the struggles and strength of blacks during these turbulent times. This evolution of black folks are not the genetic product of past generations whom excelled "hand over fist" in education, creativity, craftiness, and industriousness.

Black folks need to stop harping on "Jena Six" as a symbol of racial injustice, research inequality in health care system for blacks in America, this has more "teeth" and merit..

Hurricane Karina was merely a symbol of how the poor are devalued and treated in America, and it doesn''t matter what color.

Focus on the educational system, and what can I do as parents to better equip my children for the challenges in a "hostile" society, instead of harping on what Bush failed to do.

[kailumego1]

This music is not the social/creative consciousness of black people, it doesn''t even come close to groups like Earth Wind and Fire, the Isley Bros., Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Patty Labelle, etc.

I''m lost, this obscene/absurd, non-redeeming refuse has absolutely nothing to do with the creative juices and flow of black music.

This music is a "handout", a welfare check, a demoralization of what black music stood for, it''s a disgrace to all those that came before and merely a tool of capitalism.

And the black family has become nothing more than a faded memory of yesteryear, when a black man stood proud and with strength in the eyes of his wife and children. Now he''s merely a fallacy, a sperm donor, a ghost, and nonexistent, where the black woman has to assume the role of both parents reluctantly..

There are no more black leaders, because most have become products of commercialization joining the ranks of their white brethren to become members of a homogenized society where intellectual thought has become obsolete.

Black leaders like Sharpton and Jackson are tokens of materialism and opportunism, watered down versions of past prominent leaders like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, etc., of which they lack in objectivity and tenacity.

This leaves psychologically impoverished/disgruntled blacks and racially overzealous white folks to battle over resources, wealth and power, of which white folks are the "VICTOR".

[antinaacp]

flame me if you will but where is the national association of caucasion people ?or the white mayors conference ?or the united caucasion college fund ?or the 100 white men organization ?or any of the many and varied organizations that blacks name themselves by ? when the civil war started the largest slave owner in the state of virginia was a ... black man ...
look it up quit blaming whites for your problems you do it to yourselves

[antinaacp]

until blacks accept the fact that they are at least 50% to blame for their problems ie they sold there own people to slavery /they accept the fact that not going to school leads to **** poor job prospects /the list goes on and on .. i call for an investigation of all the racsict black organizations for at the very least conspiricy to poison the minds of uneducauted blacks that whites are the cause of there misfortune!
seen the movie amistadd?great movie but why did black organazations pay money to keep the historical fact of the end of the movie being shown ?its because when the slaves won ther freedom and went back to africa ...........they went into the slave trade ! look it up its true face yourselves black people why do your people want to keep you down ?

[olebd]

Many good posts here. Blacks need to take a serious look from within. Embrace and emphasize education first before having babies, get married, stay together, raise a family together. Live within the laws. Improve your neighborhoods any way you can and assist law enforcement in catching the criminals. Set a good example for your children to follow. Reject the inner-city/ghetto/rap/hip-hop attitudes and stereotypes. Dress appropriately and speak clearly. It''s okay to conform to general society. Bill Cosby is so right to address these issues. If only the majority of blacks would listne to him.

[rushlimpdrug]

Blacks are THE most conservative of Americans
and the repubs treat them like family.

[cbville72]

Here''s the problem ...
The Black culture does not put nearly enough emphasis on education. They don''t put nearly enough emphasis on the family unit. Look in any major city today and this is the case. When asked what they aspire to be, Far too many young black children say "rapper" or "NBA Star". Until the answers change to police officer, doctor, or judge, they are going to go through the same continual cycle they are in now.

Collect money from the govt.
Stop education before college.
Get pregnant or become a father way too young.
become a lifetime welfare recipient.
The data all say the same thing. Blacks are less educated than any other group of people in this country, they are also more dependant on welfare than any group in this country. Until that is brought to their attention and they are called to the mat by a black leader (not jesse jackson or al sharpton, because they are no good peices of $hit) they will be giving the same answers on these polls 20 years from now and you know what, It''s all THEIR fault. They have to take ownership of their problems. The schools and the jobs are not the problem. Their priorities are.
look at any rap video and you''ll see where their priorities are.

[tburzio]

Whine whine whine. The Hispanics are coming, and they will be the minority who gets all the perks soon.

[libsluvsuvs]

lets cut the cra p..lets skip money for education..skip affirmative action..skip asking the ''african american'' race to earn thier keep..JUST GIVE THEM MONEY..

[mo005]

The blacks of yesterday were tough, they had to be. Most blacks today are whiney little babies that complain at the drop of a hat. I myself am sick of it. I rememeber trying to join a roofing union twenty-five years ago, They told me I couldnt get in because they had to hire so many black people first. That makes me the minority. I never complained just would''nt join the union. But my point is they all have better chances of getting a job then I do, because of the minority status I don''t have. I have no compassion for these people, When I am the one standing in line behind some dude that does''nt have the experience I do but gets the job anyways.

[rhs648]

That''''s alright, when Obama is elected president of the United States he will make it all better. He understands the importance of taking care of his own people.

Posted by SkyFive

Obama would not be electable if the voters believed that he would only take care of his own people. He and his staff probably understand this concept. White voters are crucial to Obama winning the elections.

[l8c6]

That''''s alright, when Obama is elected president of the United States he will make it all better. He understands the importance of taking care of his own people.

Posted by SkyFive

You have made the point most precisely without perhaps knowing it. How would it sound if based on skin color a white president were rumored to do a great job for "his people" It''s past time black people take responsibility for their racism. Racism amongst black people is overlooked but is a serious problem none the less. There is no excuse for it. To say there is would then make black people hypocrites.

[l8c6]

It''s not better for many if not most americans in the past 5 years or more. It''s been a steady decline for the middle class. The elite have redefined what middle class means. Anyone looking at the situation providing an honest assessment knows the new definition of the middle class includes what used to be the upper poor.

As for black people, some parents it would appear have failed to teach their children proper ways for self-advocacy and instead have raised a bunch of entitled, militant racist punks who alienate avenues of opportunity. I just encountered it walking down the street. The attitude is pitiful and tragic for these kids.

[rfcnj68]

didntinhale, I agree with you, stop crying the places where things are bad for black people is because of the black gangs that bring violence to their own people. One thing though I am tired of hearing African American, Asian American if you are born here or came here and became nationalized you are an American period, this is not like when a woman gets married and keeps or hyphenates her last name.

As Teddy Roosevelt said in 1907 we welcome our immigrants but once you become a citizen you are an American with allegiance to this country and only this country. We are all of different decedents and have a right to honor our heritage but to continue to say we are anything other than American shows the great divide that is happening among our own people. I have never heard a black person from England say I am African British; they are British with loyalty to the crown.

I really like what you said about Al and Jessie they only care about themselves and as long as there is a racial divide they will profit.

[libsluvsuvs]

"Most blacks believe racial discrimination is pervasive when applying for a job (67 percent), renting an apartment or buying a house (65 percent)."

******despite of affirmative action, most blacks are not qualified..simply because they lack the necessary skills to do the job (thanks for watering down our educational system so most blacks would pass). Most blacks has bad credit, oh they will get loans for 50% interest..which in turn they cannot pay..the cycle repeats itself and on every cycle the wieght on thier shoulders are getting heavier and heavier BECAUSE IT IS TIME TO REALLY WORK FOR WHAT YOU HAVE INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR HANDOUTS OR PITY.

[feelfree1]

GrammaWhamma,

Re: "FeelFree: Good post...I agree."

Thank you.

[b-easy63]

That''''s alright, when Obama is elected president of the United States he will make it all better. He understands the importance of taking care of his own people.
Posted by SkyFive at 05:58 PM : Nov 13, 2007

Let''s see...he''s a blend of white. black and Malaysian. So does this mean that at least Whites, Blacks and Asians will have it made? Does he have any Native American ancestry too? Are they in like Flynn?

[grammawhamma]

FeelFree: Good post...I agree.

[b-easy63]

Honesty demands that one say more needs to be done to stop racism. However, I think it''''s an overreaction to say that things have gotten worse in the last 5 years.

Posted by denn034 at 04:33 PM : Nov 13, 2007

honesty also demands that we accept that terms are all relative. If you wake up being called slurs or enduring threats, nooses or ugly behavior, or if you are pushed out of a job etc, you are apt to have a different view of life than someone who hasn''t endured those things. For some, things are worse, regardless of race.


We all can only speak for ourselves. Are you a minority? Is life better for you these days? If so, that makes ONE.