REdefinition
Superstar
Kinda long. But I want to vent some ideas I've been thinking...
Let me first say, yes, racism is real. It still exists. But its nowhere near the top of the list in terms of things negatively impacting the AA condition. My biggest problem is that we've allowed racism to become this big boogey man that's holding us back. Adopting this victim mentality allows us to psychologically avoid the accountability it takes to improve our condition and as a result we stay where we are complaining. I was watching the Trayvon Martin coverage and I saw an older black mother saying in light of the Zimmerman verdict she's now afraid to let her son go out and play. Her fear is that the boogeyman of racism could at any second snatch her child's life from her all because of this one incident. The reality is as a black man in this country, her son is probably 20 times more likely to be murdered by another Black man that any random racist white guy. That's a much bigger problem. But we've been so conditioned to believe racism is our biggest enemy that we're constantly looking outward instead of inward.
I used to work as a vocational consultant helping out of work folks find jobs. I can't tell you how many times I've given a job lead to a client and got "Oh, you know they're racist over there. They ain't trying to hire no black people." Again, This is an individual effectively eliminating himself from an opportunity because of fear of the racism boogey man.
Another example: Colin Powell at one point had the credibility, skills, and respect to pursue and win the presidency. After conversing with his wife he decided that the risk was just too great. A black man making it to the highest office in the land would surely face assassination attempts at the hands of a crazy racist. He ended up taking a subservient role under George Bush. Lending his credibility to prop up a unjust war that he later admitted to regretting. probably the biggest regret of his life. The boogey man won again.
Contrast him with Barack Obama who came of age post civil rights era. Raised by his white mother and grandparents who told him he could do and be anything he wanted to be and nothing could stop him. He aimed at the top and made it.
And this is my point. Our fear of, paranoia, and preoccupation with racism has become a bigger detriment than racism itself. If you have kids I think you're doing them a huge disservice inoctrinating them with this idea that wherever they go in life they will be met with this invisible gravity like force of racism that will hold them back. Again, this sh*t has a psychological affect that allows someone to view themselves as a victim instead of a person who is empowered to take charge of their own destiny.
What do you think Coli brehs and brehettes?
Let me first say, yes, racism is real. It still exists. But its nowhere near the top of the list in terms of things negatively impacting the AA condition. My biggest problem is that we've allowed racism to become this big boogey man that's holding us back. Adopting this victim mentality allows us to psychologically avoid the accountability it takes to improve our condition and as a result we stay where we are complaining. I was watching the Trayvon Martin coverage and I saw an older black mother saying in light of the Zimmerman verdict she's now afraid to let her son go out and play. Her fear is that the boogeyman of racism could at any second snatch her child's life from her all because of this one incident. The reality is as a black man in this country, her son is probably 20 times more likely to be murdered by another Black man that any random racist white guy. That's a much bigger problem. But we've been so conditioned to believe racism is our biggest enemy that we're constantly looking outward instead of inward.
I used to work as a vocational consultant helping out of work folks find jobs. I can't tell you how many times I've given a job lead to a client and got "Oh, you know they're racist over there. They ain't trying to hire no black people." Again, This is an individual effectively eliminating himself from an opportunity because of fear of the racism boogey man.
Another example: Colin Powell at one point had the credibility, skills, and respect to pursue and win the presidency. After conversing with his wife he decided that the risk was just too great. A black man making it to the highest office in the land would surely face assassination attempts at the hands of a crazy racist. He ended up taking a subservient role under George Bush. Lending his credibility to prop up a unjust war that he later admitted to regretting. probably the biggest regret of his life. The boogey man won again.
Contrast him with Barack Obama who came of age post civil rights era. Raised by his white mother and grandparents who told him he could do and be anything he wanted to be and nothing could stop him. He aimed at the top and made it.
And this is my point. Our fear of, paranoia, and preoccupation with racism has become a bigger detriment than racism itself. If you have kids I think you're doing them a huge disservice inoctrinating them with this idea that wherever they go in life they will be met with this invisible gravity like force of racism that will hold them back. Again, this sh*t has a psychological affect that allows someone to view themselves as a victim instead of a person who is empowered to take charge of their own destiny.
What do you think Coli brehs and brehettes?
3-6 good call...
I don't think it's c00nish at all I was just warning ya. Around here, if you're not calling everything racist and blaming white people for all your life's ills, you're labeled a c00n. It's not the most forward-thinking forum, you'll find.