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)
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Photo Essay
Rally In Jena
Louisiana town at center of racism debate after black teens are charged in beating of white student.
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
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.Most blacks believe racial discrimination is pervasive when applying for a job (67 percent), renting an apartment or buying a house (65 percent).
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:
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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See all 68 CommentsRe: "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?
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Whining, sniveling, malcontents! It''s easier to bit''ch than work hard to gain the American dream.
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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.
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,
Re: "FeelFree: Good post...I agree."
Thank you.
******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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
and the repubs treat them like family.
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 ?
look it up quit blaming whites for your problems you do it to yourselves
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".
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.
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.
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.
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?
"Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn''t an American at all."
Theodore Roosevelt, 1907
"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"?
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.
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
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...
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
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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
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."
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.
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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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A + B = C.
This is a surprise to anyone?
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.
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