WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2007

Study: Black Pessimism On The Rise

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

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     (CBS/AP)

  • Photo Essay Rally In Jena

    Louisiana town at center of racism debate after black teens are charged in beating of white student.

(AP)  Growing numbers of blacks say they're worse off than five years ago and don't expect their lives to improve, a study released Tuesday shows. Black pessimism about racial progress in America, according to the study, is the worst it's been in more than two decades.

The survey by the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based research organization, paints a mixed picture of race relations following Hurricane Katrina and the Jena Six case, in which six black teens were charged with beating a white student at a high school in the town of Jena, La.

It found that just one in five blacks, or 20 percent, said things were better off for blacks compared with five years ago; that is the smallest percentage since 1983, when 20 percent also made that claim. In-between, the percentage of blacks who said things had gotten better had grown, only to drop back to 20 percent.

Another 29 percent of blacks said things had gotten worse as opposed to staying the same, the largest number since 32 percent made that claim in 1990.

In addition, fewer than half of all blacks, or 44 percent, said they expected their prospects to brighten in the future. That's down from 57 percent in 1986, during the height of the Reagan administration when the Justice Department actively sought to curtail affirmative action in favor of race-neutral policies.

Whites have a different view about black progress, according to the survey. Whites were nearly twice as likely as blacks to see black gains in the past five years. A majority of whites polled, or 56 percent, also said they believed prospects for blacks would improve in the future.

"As disturbing as these findings are, in one sense it's surprising they are not actually worse," said Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a coalition of 200 groups including the NAACP and National Urban League. "Most African Americans believe the government response to problems is one of benign neglect rather than forceful action."

Since the Supreme Court's Brown vs. Board of Education decision more than 50 years ago that outlawed segregation in public schools, blacks have seen substantial civil rights gains including the passage of laws in the 1960s and 1970s that sought, in part, to deter discrimination in housing and employment.

Decades later, blacks and whites are now at a crossroads, with the nation and even the black community itself divided over the best approach to achieve racial equality, whether by affirmative action to foster integration or more race-neutral policies to promote ideals of a colorblind society.

Fast Fact

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

Moreover, the income gap between black and white families has not narrowed, according to a new study being released Tuesday that tracked the incomes of some 2,300 families for more than 30 years. Incomes have increased among both black and white families in the past three decades, mainly because more women are in the work force. But the increase was greater among whites, according to the study conducted by the Pew Charitable Trust's Economic Mobility Project, which is separate from the Pew Research Center.

Among black men, incomes have declined in the past three decades, when adjusted for inflation. They were offset only by gains among black women.

In the Jena Six case, some black leaders said that only charging the black teens was questionable since the beating followed a number of racially charged incidents in which white students hung nooses on a school campus. Many poor and black people also faulted the Bush administration for its response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Pew poll involved telephone interviews with 3,086 people in the continental United States, conducted in September and October. The margin of sampling error was 2.5 percentage points for the total sample, slightly larger for whites, blacks and Hispanics.

Among the findings:

  • By a ratio of 2 to 1, blacks say the values of poor and middle-class blacks have grown more different over the past decade (61 percent to 31 percent). Most blacks, 54 percent, say the values of blacks and whites have grown more alike during the same period.

  • Most blacks believe racial discrimination is pervasive when applying for a job (67 percent), renting an apartment or buying a house (65 percent), eating at restaurants and shopping (50 percent) or applying to a college or university (43 percent). That's compared with whites who, by majorities of 2-to-1 or more, said blacks rarely face bias in such situations.

  • While saying prejudice is widespread, blacks were less likely to believe discrimination is the main reason they cannot get ahead. Fifty-three percent of blacks said they are mainly responsible for their situation, compared with 30 percent who blame it on racial discrimination. As recently as the mid-1990s, black opinion on this question tilted in the opposite direction.

  • Blacks are twice as likely as whites to view the death penalty as being applied in an unfair manner. On the other hand, a majority of blacks expressed confidence in police -- 55 percent say they have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in police to enforce the law, compared with 49 percent who said this in 1995.

  • Roughly eight in 10 whites, or 82 percent, say they have a favorable impression of blacks. A similar percentage of blacks, or 80 percent, hold positive views of whites; this is virtually unchanged from nearly two decades ago.

    Terence Pell, president of the conservative group Center for Individual Rights, said the Pew findings suggest racial preference policies aren't necessary, noting there are growing divisions among poor and middle-class blacks themselves. His organization is pushing for elimination of affirmative action at colleges and universities.

    "The use of racial preferences in admissions has become a sacred cow," said Pell. "In truth, these policies have not been that effective."


    © MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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    Add a Comment See all 68 Comments
    by denn034 November 13, 2007 7:33 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 November 13, 2007 7:37 PM EST

    Re: "More Blacks Wary Of Racial Progress"

    What a silly headline. That is about as meaningful as "More Americans Wary of Economic "Progress""

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

    Gee, I wonder why?

    How many whites think that they are better off than they were 5 years ago?
    Reply to this comment
    by kiwi_chick November 13, 2007 7:41 PM EST
    denn034...are you black? Even if you are, your reality is not necessarily that of others.
    Reply to this comment
    by denn034 November 13, 2007 8:00 PM EST
    kiwi_chick, That''s irrelevant.
    Reply to this comment
    by tbweb November 13, 2007 8:17 PM EST
    America is always portrayed as the great melting pot! So the real question is are we melting or has the flame been blown out under the pot instead, and are we sitting on the stove of real equality half cooked?!!
    Reply to this comment
    by vastr-wcon November 13, 2007 8:17 PM EST

    .

    Whining, sniveling, malcontents! It''s easier to bit''ch than work hard to gain the American dream.

    .
    .
    Reply to this comment
    by gunownerdan November 13, 2007 8:37 PM EST
    Bill Cosby should consider running for president!
    Reply to this comment
    by b-easy63 November 13, 2007 8:47 PM EST
    WHY" Whenever our country discusses disease or something, do they pit blacks against whites? As if there are no Asians, Hispanics, Polynesians, Native Americans or anyone else. For every disease it is a competition--"Hey more blacks die from it than us" Education, same thing "Hey we are smarter than blacks" Old age: "Hey we live longer than they do" Aren''t we all just a little suspiscious about why we seem to need these comparisons and why we seem to need to come out on top? But the truth is not what it seems. Ask how many whites are on welfare or in jail and you will be told that the fastest group applying for Welfare or being incarcerated is blacks or Hispanics--what they won''t give you is the raw data, that shows how many of each race are in jail. They''ll tell you that a certain % is in jail or poor but they know the numbers are based on the total number of that group so will look larger if the group is smaller---but after over 100 years of this, does anyone wonder why our government does this? Why is is necessary and what are they so afraid of in letting all of us just be people instead of 2 groups being colors and one is right the other is wrong, one is on top, the other is on the bottom...It is like they NEED to keep the race thing going...WHAT ARE THEY REALLY TRYING TO DISTRACT US FROM?
    Reply to this comment
    by b-easy63 November 13, 2007 8:50 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by grammawhamma November 13, 2007 8:53 PM EST
    FeelFree: Good post...I agree.
    Reply to this comment
    by b-easy63 November 13, 2007 9:00 PM EST
    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?
    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 November 13, 2007 9:09 PM EST

    GrammaWhamma,

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

    Thank you.

    Reply to this comment
    by libsluvsuvs November 13, 2007 9:37 PM EST
    "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.

    Reply to this comment
    by rfcnj68 November 13, 2007 9:37 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by l8c6 November 13, 2007 10:30 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by l8c6 November 13, 2007 10:37 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by rhs648 November 13, 2007 10:40 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by mo005 November 13, 2007 10:40 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by libsluvsuvs November 13, 2007 10:58 PM EST
    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..
    Reply to this comment
    by tburzio November 13, 2007 11:09 PM EST
    Whine whine whine. The Hispanics are coming, and they will be the minority who gets all the perks soon.
    Reply to this comment
    by cbville72 November 13, 2007 11:27 PM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by rushlimpdrug November 13, 2007 11:33 PM EST
    Blacks are THE most conservative of Americans
    and the repubs treat them like family.
    Reply to this comment
    by olebd November 14, 2007 12:17 AM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by antinaacp November 14, 2007 12:20 AM EST
    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 ?
    Reply to this comment
    by antinaacp November 14, 2007 12:27 AM EST
    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
    Reply to this comment
    by kailumego1 November 14, 2007 12:31 AM EST
    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".








    Reply to this comment
    by kailumego1 November 14, 2007 12:37 AM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by kailumego1 November 14, 2007 12:38 AM EST
    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.
    Reply to this comment
    by downtowner97 November 14, 2007 12:41 AM EST
    I''ve got news for you. None of us are better off than we were 5 years ago. The whole country is in trouble, and those at the bottom of the economic ladder feel it the most.

    The worst aspect of racism I see is that a black man gets caught with drugs and is put in prison quickly and without regard to the fact his actions didn''t hurt anyone. A white man steals 350 million people''s money, and gets to keep on being president.
    Reply to this comment
    by vancouverboo November 14, 2007 12:48 AM EST
    Things are going to get even worse for them. The illegals will be above them before long, and when the next administration grants them amnesty and as their numbers grow they will have no patience for black demands. The Mexicans can''t be made to feel guilty about the blacks like the European-Americans have been.
    Reply to this comment
    by b-easy63 November 14, 2007 12:49 AM EST
    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.

    Posted by rfcnj68 at 06:37 PM : Nov 13, 2007

    I disagree. People can be proud of where they came from as well as being American. So what is the alternative--everyone is just an American UNTIL you want to talk about blacks and whites? Ask yourself why are only 2 races described by color (which neither truly is) but the rest by ethnic ties?

    I''ve seen very few blacks who were black skinned and very few whites who were white skinned except for albino and even they weren''t totally white. Why do we want to describe those 2 races by color anyway? What is that all about?
    Reply to this comment
    by my2centss November 14, 2007 1:10 AM EST
    in response to: b-easy63 at 09:49 PM : Nov 13, 2007

    "Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn''t an American at all."
    Theodore Roosevelt, 1907
    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 November 14, 2007 1:21 AM EST

    "Racial Progress"?

    Are they referring to the 17 year old black boy who got sentenced to 10 years in prison for receiving a hummer from a 15 year-old girl?

    Are they talking about the Jena students that got threatened with nooses for sitting under a "white only" tree?

    Are they talking about the black man who was drug around behind a pickup truck until his head fell off, a few years back?

    That kind of "Racial Progress"?
    Reply to this comment
    by toolmangler-2009 November 14, 2007 1:36 AM EST
    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".
    Posted by kailumego1 at 09:31 PM : Nov 13, 2007


    And that leaves the world wondering why, what happened? The World remembers Negros of stature and grace, it also remembers wit and poise and says to its saddened heart, "What happened to Louis armstrong? is he all there is to celebrate in the black world of today? Is the song ''WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD'' the only thing that the future will remember of Negro music. How about Bill Cosby? is his ''FAT ALBERT'' the only legacy of Philadelphia???? There is also Prof. Walter Williams of George Mason University. To me he is the epitome of social conscience for Black, White, and Hispanic peoples in this "Melting pot" called America. Where has the leadership gone? It is now personified in the likes of preacher wannabes and socialist activists that ultimately are interested more in "Numero uno" than providing a base for the young Black (male & female) to grasp and hold on to. this is eveidenced by kailumego1''s apparent abdication of responsibility. sorrow for a situation is one thing, "Poor pitiful me" is something else again.
    Reply to this comment
    by toolmangler-2009 November 14, 2007 1:48 AM EST
    The people that wrote this article did no service for Blacks. All they did was to hold up a sign that says "YOU CANNOT COMPETE WITH OTHER RACES EVENLY" and rub the Negro peoples noses in it. They have in effect told them "YOU MIGHT AS WELL SIT ON A CORNER AND HOLD OUT A TIN CUP WHILE POPPING (WHATEVER). Is that what you want? I am white and I know better, why don''t you?
    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 November 14, 2007 2:12 AM EST

    Black people in the U.S. have made at least one recent major gain:

    Re: "Why blacks are not joining the military"

    "The Iraq War is changing the way blacks view the military. For decades, they saw military service as a route out of poverty and an escape hatch from discrimination. Not now."

    www.vindy.com/content/opinion/oped/322791021779193.php
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 November 14, 2007 2:14 AM EST
    I am white and I know better, why don''''t you?
    Posted by ToolMangler

    I, a "Black" American, did not read this article as you did, what I read was what every "Black" American already knows, the struggle is far from over, the recalcitrance of racism is as much with us today as yesterday, only in a more insidious form, and it is not yet time to put down the battle gear.

    Having said that, there is a more important struggle taking place today, the struggle for control of America, a battle between "We the people", and "Them, the Fascists", the constitution that we struggle to have include us as citizens deserving its full protection, is being destroyed by those sworn to protect it, and the effects have been felt first and hardest amongst us.

    Now that lower and middle class "whites" are also feeling the effects of the selling out of our country, losing jobs and watching their earning power rapidly diminish, even losing the lives of their loved ones for no other reason than the profit of a few, there are now at least two large portions of dissatisfied Americans. Once we all realize that our situations now coincide, maybe then we can find common ground to work together in the effort to make America into what it can and should be, a land of truly equal opportunity, not respecting persons, "races", religions, or gender, where the rule of law stands equally for all.

    But we don''t have a lot of time left to get it together, before what little we have gained will be lost forever...
    Reply to this comment
    by libsluvsuvs November 14, 2007 2:31 AM EST
    the struggle is far from over, the recalcitrance of racism is as much with us today as yesterday, only in a more insidious form, ......

    Having said that, there is a more important struggle taking place today, the struggle for control of America, a battle between "We the people", and "Them, the Fascists", .......

    Posted by brianbwb at 11:14 PM : Nov 13, 2007
    + report abuse

    **********

    thanks to al sharpton..jessie jackson..bleeding heart liberals..the ''african american'' version of racism is NOTHING MORE THAN A SCAM..

    gimme gimme.

    if these ''african americans'' want to know racism and poverty at ITS PUREST FORM..they should try durfur for a few years..

    gimme gimme

    Reply to this comment
    by radiob-2009 November 14, 2007 2:45 AM EST
    Laws do not and never had changed attitudes towards race or religion. Laws can only enforce equality for all which should never have to be enforced to begin with. Where are today''s spokesman for the blacks, the MLK, Malcolm X''s, Marvin Gaye''s, Sly Stone''s are they as lost in this America as the spokesman for whites, Hispanics, Germans, italians? Or perhaps blinded by the past, imagine a person of a different race standing up not for their race but for all. America as a whole is without leadership to address the problems of all of America. Race, gender and religion should not have to be mentioned today a person should be able to stand on his own merits with any "affirmative action" card, unfortunately bigotry still exist fueled by old attitudes on all sides. Has justice ever been given to our native Indians? Until the day we all lay down all of our swords, this shall continue. We are guilty of bigotry on so many levels, race, gender, politics, religion, atheism etc. that we no longer no where to begin by simply talking to one another without prejudice. The Ghost of JFK, MLK where are you, America is calling.
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 November 14, 2007 3:08 AM EST
    if these ''''african americans'''' want to know racism and poverty at ITS PUREST FORM..they should try durfur for a few years..
    gimme gimme
    Posted by libsluvsuvs

    Darfur (at least spell it right) is an example of a power struggle for control of an area, between the largely Arab "ruling class" and the indigenous peoples. This is their own struggle, and we have ours.

    Your response can be compared to this allegory:

    "Once upon a time there were two men. one would, whenever he was able, steal the other mans belongings. Later, after a long and hard struggle, the first man only stole half the man''s belongings."

    Your position seems to be that the second man should not continue to struggle until the first man no longer stole any belongings, that he should accept the loss of half. Your mock, "gimme gimme" is a blatant perversion of the goal of "give me what I''ve earned, and no less than what you would earn for the same effort"

    My position is that it is the second man''s duty to continue the struggle, until there was no more theft at all.

    But, as I also said, and you chose to ignore (the definition of the word "ignorant", is that at this point in time there is a more dangerous problem to be dealt with. To use an Arab phrase," First we deal with our common enemy, then we deal with each other."
    Reply to this comment
    by rhs648 November 14, 2007 3:11 AM EST
    I''ve seen very few blacks who were black skinned and very few whites who were white skinned except for albino and even they weren''''t totally white. Why do we want to describe those 2 races by color anyway? What is that all about?

    Posted by b-easy63

    There is something strange when some Americans feel the need to call themselves Afro-Ameicans. People of German descent do not refer to themselves as German-Americans and people of Russian descent do not refer to themselves as Russian-Americans. Color, on the other hand, makes sense. Some people are dark skinned while other people are light skinned. To deny distinctions in color is unrealistic. There is nothing discriminatory about recognizing differences in people. Even a toddler recognizes the differences in skin color.
    Reply to this comment
    by radiob-2009 November 14, 2007 3:16 AM EST
    First we deal with our common enemy, then we deal with each other."


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    Posted by brianbwb



    Our joint common enemy which is overlooked by so many posters is the corporate dogs who run the "poodles" (our representives) and our selves for not standing up to them and taking our nation back from the "dogs and their poodles" on both sides of the aisle. Until we as a whole unite against the "dogs" and bite them in their "Achilles Heel" America will continue to slide as Rome did into abyss.
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 November 14, 2007 3:16 AM EST
    IT''''S THE CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE., WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS SPREADING LIKE CANCER TO WHITE KIDS, ASIAN KIDS, MEXICAN KIDS...I THOUGHT I EVEN SAW A PAKISTANI WITH HIS DRAWERS HANGIN'''' DOWN ROWN HIS KNEES WITH HIS CAP ON BACKWARDS.BIZZARE. Posted by tiddsanbeer

    You also ignore that exposed "cracks" have been seen on whites for generations, from telephone linemen to the guy who used to shingle your roof. The backwards caps are that way to shield the neck area from sunburn, also a "fashion" trick seen on whites for generations. In fact, those who didn''t shield their necks from sunburn provided the model for the phrase "redneck".

    The reasons you post for your ignorant statements are clearly not based in reality, just admit you are afraid of proplr of other erhnicities, and let your racism stand as it is, unjustified...
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 November 14, 2007 3:20 AM EST
    Our joint common enemy which is overlooked by so many posters is the corporate dogs who run the "poodles" (our representives) and our selves for not standing up to them and taking our nation back from the "dogs and their poodles" on both sides of the aisle. Until we as a whole unite against the "dogs" and bite them in their "Achilles Heel" America will continue to slide as Rome did into abyss.
    Posted by radiob

    My point exactly, and their "heels" are the politicians (poodles) who enable their anti human agendas, and their profit margins. Both can be "bitten" with targeted, selective crippling boycotts and mass demonstrations.
    Reply to this comment
    by zootallures2 November 14, 2007 3:23 AM EST
    Our joint common enemy which is overlooked by so many posters is the corporate dogs who run the "poodles" (our representives) and our selves for not standing up to them and taking our nation back from the "dogs and their poodles" on both sides of the aisle. Until we as a whole unite against the "dogs" and bite them in their "Achilles Heel" America will continue to slide as Rome did into abyss.

    Posted by radiob at 12:16 AM : Nov 14, 2007

    Yup! And this story is nothing but planted jibberish and propaganda to keep the spot light off the real enemy.
    Reply to this comment
    by radiob-2009 November 14, 2007 3:25 AM EST
    Posted by brianbwb

    Exactly and when this $98 a barrel of oil makes the market if not before will be a opportunity as the truckers that I talk with are talking about going on strike. If other join in for other reasons, the war in Iraq, outsourcing of jobs, amnesty for illegals,dissatifaction of the state of our nation (wiretapping, habeaus corpus being thrown out the window, torture etc.) then they will be brought down or back to their senses of who OWNS America. The people.
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 November 14, 2007 3:29 AM EST
    WHERE 200 DOLLAR SNEAKERS, LOW RIDERS, GANGSTA RAP, GOLD CHAINS, FRIED CHICKEN AND ALL THE OTHER STEREOTYPE CRUD IS EXTREMELY RARE. Posted by tiddsanbeer

    Again, ignorance. Who owns the companies that sell and market the $200 sneakers?

    "Rap" music is found even in China, it is a popular form of poetry, but who in America owns the distribution and marketing channels that only let this negative portrayal of "Black" culture into the media?

    Gold chains are sought after by all the world''s cultures, gold is actually a smart investment, given that the Dollar is based only on illusion, and whose fault was that?

    Last time I checked, Col. Harlan Sanders was a "white" man.
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 November 14, 2007 3:37 AM EST
    "Yup! And this story is nothing but planted jibberish and propaganda to keep the spot light off the real enemy."
    Posted by zootallures2

    You are of course correct, but there is also a (probably unintended) consequence, we can see those amongst us who will protect the status quo until this country is no more, and we can see who they are, and what means they employ. Take posters like "tiddsanbeer" for example, he is one of those who cannot be counted on in the struggle, he will turn on his own side out of fear, and failure to see the bigger picture.

    This is valuable information, from the posters here we can see which political candidates deserve prioritized treatment, and from the media we can see the advertisers who also deserve our prioritized attention.
    Reply to this comment
    by sgtrds November 14, 2007 3:40 AM EST
    The republicans are in charge. The republicans hate blacks and are the favorite party of the Klan. Blacks are pessimistic.

    A + B = C.

    This is a surprise to anyone?
    Reply to this comment
    by sgtrds November 14, 2007 3:42 AM EST
    Whine whine whine. The Hispanics are coming, and they will be the minority who gets all the perks soon.

    Posted by tburzio at 08:09 PM : Nov 13, 2007

    Actually in a few decades (less then 40 years) they''ll be the majority of people in America, even more of them then white people. Then they''ll run the country.
    Reply to this comment
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