[dreamdeferred]

Originally Posted by shadha

I'm almost 100% sure that no one is going to like what I have to say but hell that's never stopped me from saying my peace before, so enjoy.

I really am tired of this whole woe is me victimization that many in the black community dwell in. They dwell in the past and use the past as an excuse for the present and future. There is definitely a lack of motivation, self-discipline and self-accountability in the black community. Anytime something goes wrong for them, they want to blame the white man of today and of 200+ years ago. Enough is enough. We see the statistics of crime, HIV/AIDs, broken homes, prison population- enough of the excuses already. Yes, there is a lot going against them [socially] but that should not be used as an excuse. Yes there is still racism but again don't use that as a life-long excuse as to why you're unsuccessful. There are kids who come over to this country with jack crap and don't know a word of English yet they excel and succeed. Why do you think that is? Motivation. You can't tell me that black Americans, inner city and else where, have absolutely no chance at making something positive of themselves because I know far too many that have. They have so much opportunity in this country than others around the world- I mean for God's Sake the library, which is filled with thousands of books, is free! They can apply to tons of scholarships. They are given an education. Many states, if not all?, offer state funded Health Care.

Ahhhhhhhhh.........where to begin?

Who said Black Americans (inner-city or otherwise) can't make anything of themselves? I don't remember saying that. The fundamental problem with your perspective is that you gloss over the complexities of what we're discussing with this feel-good "pull yourselves up by the bootstraps" rhetoric. No one is arguing that African Americans can't succeed or that we should absolve ourselves of personal responsibility. That's silly and it doesn't resonate with me personally as an African American man who defies many of the stereotypes you harped against in your post.....of course we should emphasize personal responsibility, work ethic etc with kids in the family/community......this is common sense. The problem with Cosby's comments (and yours from what I can tell) is that his diatribe was fundamentally aimed at "lower economic people" (lol...his words) and failed to adequately account for the very real structural problems in this country. Honestly sister....read Dyson's article that MuslimZ posted.

The statistics you mentioned speak to the problems/issues faced by the black community but say nothing at all about the systemic and structural problems that produce them. It's simply not an "excuse" or "woe-is-me victimization" to be cognizant that slavery and the Jim Crow era continue to have an impact on the socio-economic lives of African Americans. This isn't living in the past.......it's explaining the present (not excusing it).

I have a kind of a unique view on this as I did community youth work with at-risk kids some years ago. When you see the challenges these kids are faced with up close it really puts the screws to any notions of "opportunity is abundant....if only you reach for it" type notions you might have. Some of the brightest, sweetest kids you've ever met.....some of whom wear the clothing you lambasted....are victims of a system that sometimes works against them aggressively. Of course we should encourage people to excel and overcome these obstacles but putting blinders on won't change the fact that they exist.

Afrakabob mentioned in the thread post about the stigma of dress- well who wants to hire some hood rat? Under no circumstance is that dress attire considered professional- so why are they sabotaging themselves by stubbornly sticking to it? Then they want to complain that they are being 'unfairly judged'. Please. It's like an emo kid complaining that he can't get a job on Wall Street. No **** sherlock. I have a real problem that many can afford hundred dollar shoes but they can't afford a decent shirt and dress pants? They can afford to deck out their cars lovely but they can't afford a library card? They can afford all that food to be overweight but they can't afford a decent shirt and dress pants? Many unfortunately have their priorities all twisted.

Can't comment on this because I'm not sure what you're talking about. Who says these kids don't have library cards? Are they wearing these clothes to interviews? Can you judge a person adequately (in terms of character) based on their attire? Will a black man still face disproportionate racial profiling by police regardless of attire (The answer to that one is YES lol)?

Afrakabob also mentioned about random here and there success stories. They are not few and far. Many bust their asses during the day and go to community college classes at night. Some have two jobs and go to school. That's what we call being motivated and having self-discipline. Even if it takes them twice as long to get the degree- they are putting the effort into it.

Ok I guess......

Bill Cosby is not the first black celebrity to speak out against such behavior.

You're absolutely right that he isn't the first to raise some of these concerns........regardless there's a reason he's being singled out. Have you actually read his comments? For anyone interested.....check it out
Bill Cosby Speech Transcript

He definitely raises some valid points (his screed against absentee fathers for example)....but he misrepresents a whole slew of complicated issues.

It was not right for the guy to make a sweeping generalization against ALL Black Americans but surely the points he made are valid and can easily be applied to many black Americans. This is not blaming the victim, this is keeping it real.


shadha-

Haha....we'll agree to disagree....I think it's more an example of "When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong"