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What's most interesting is that we are shown by the taking of two elections, the disaster in the Gulf Region, especially New Orleans, a war that was never valid, and institutional racism at every corner (Jenna Six). After years of (still) unpaid labor for the work of our ancestors, so many paid the price of Jesus to save us all, yet we spend most of our time and resources killing one anothers dreams placing ill will, ignorance and mis-directed discernment in the way of our brothers and sisters. We needto look internally as these beautiful, valuable members of our community have expresses. To love one another as we have built a legacy on our ability to forgive and trust again, maybe we should continue this legacy on one aother. We can be our own saving grace or our fall from it. ONE LOVE
7:21 PM | Semba
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Cornel West is so full of himself. One of the worst isues facing Black people are these tired, fake azz, beourgeoise Negroes who over look Black women in favor of relationships, marriage and making a family with a white woman, like Cornel. The Black family is in disarray and depsite the loyalty that Black women have for brothas, we are continuosly over-looked and taken for granted by Black men! I don't want to hear anything that Cornel has to say. His personal life is his business but I'm sick of his, "Igot love for he people" rhetoric when he doesn't even love Black women enough to marry a partner who looks like his mother!
12:09 AM | An Angry Black Woman
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It is time for a women of celeb status to speak out to women of all color. Lets face it we are not superwomen of the 21st cent. Life can bring std's & Hiv. Use protections and be wise on picking a mate. Get to know person first before you jump in the bed. Life is too short. One day you wake up your are age 18 and next thing your 28 years old. Use your head instead of your bed stills. Peace
5:22 AM | ronnie, West Palm Bch Florida
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Everyone has a word of thought. But, truth must be heard. What is purpose of life when we dont know how to leave it. We the people on earth calls AIDS
11:51 PM | Janice Watkins Huff
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As a 24 year old mother and wife who has not yet gone to college am still debating whether or not to even do it. Yes education is important, but we need to research what education actually is. The Latin root this word came from means to lead out. That issaying what we are so focused on white people trying to put into us, which is mostly lies, is already in us and just needs to be cultivated and enhanced. Euro teachings don't cater to us and the ways we learn. If we ever hope to get ahead, it certainly won't be through an American education. I'm not saying I dislike white people, but the things that some past and some present white people are in charge of are miserable failures in terms of what they have taught or how they have advanced black people. Most of what I have learned I didn't get from the public "fool" system. The only reason we need a particular degree in any one subject is to get a job, because America says so unless we begin our own business which most black people don't
8:48 PM | Kendra
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until there is a white America version on this you give sh*t about racially biased anything.
4:00 PM | chris
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Witness Fears For His Safety Amid Allegations of Police Intimidation ???there is no way in hell I???m going to Philadelphia; I know there are innocent people in prison, but I guess it???s just something that I???m going to have to live with fof my life.??? (Wayne Richman) Read how two wrongfully convicted men are into their 17th year of a sentence of life without parole by clicking on http://www.giovannireid.com, click on "Update 2008" to read who the witness blurted those words out to. Aclick on "The Case" for a background on this ongoing egregious case of wrongful conviction.
4:09 PM | Witness Scared Out of Testifying
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Well, its time African Americans quit playing the race and exploitation card, living destructive life styles with theitr gangster rap mentality, and do what every other ethnic group does - get educated, work hard, and live right. Its been almost 50 yearssince the civil rights movement, time to grow up.
4:19 PM | Dr. Fitz
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I have always been taught that I am in charge of my own destiny. I work hard and I have worked hard ever since I can remember. Self-pity was not an option in my upbringing. I am sad that there is anyone in this country who has more disadvantages than others - white, black, green or purple. Why can't "we" as a nation move past hate, blame, and racism and work together to create a better world for our children and grandchildren. I am sick and tired of hearing the same old story from some people: "It is someone else's fault." Parents and children alike need to be held accountable for anti-social behavior, laziness, and drug abuse.
4:26 PM | Louise Simon
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People of color need to stop blaming everyone else for their lack of Education, good jobs and what have you. If you work hard and go to school, stay out of trouble , act like a person of value, take responsability for all of your actions good and bad, get married before having children and only have the amount of children that you can afford to raise on your own and then raise them correctly. Treat other people as well or better then how you want to be treated. All of this put together will get you thegood life you want so badly... blaming others for your lazy behavior will just get you no were.
4:55 PM | Just Me
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Education and responsibility are blacks biggest downfall and I think it will be what put us on the playing level that we so much desire!
4:59 PM | cf
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I think that the greatest problem in the black community is that fact that only 25% of households with children are two parents. Single mothers wind up on welfare, work so hard to make ends meet or work part-time that that cannot spend enough time to educate their children, end up in poverty or both. In the 1960's, 68% of black families included both parents in a household. You can throw all the money you want at the education system, but parents need to take the time and responsibility to educate andraise their children. Schools alone do not do that regardless of the race of the child attending.
4:59 PM | Eric
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I agree that poverty and education are problems affecting Blacks in this country. But what shocks me is that blacks who are poor see blacks who are making it and call them sell outs. Those who have become successful should be seen as role models. Bill Cosby is right and it is time for people to start listening to what he is saying. He is talking about the ghetto culture, in which it is more important to have brand name clothes than to have a good education. Yes, the govt should provide people witheducation and I believe they should provide all Americans with health care. But the govt cannot make Blacks respect themselves or motivate them to work or obtain an education. They cannot force parents to tell their children how important it is to get an education. If parents told their kids to respect the teachers and to get an education so they can get out of poverty and were active in their schools, the school systems would not be broken. They cannot stop Blacks from calling ot
5:04 PM | Kris
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BLAME....BLAME...BLAME.... when are we going to just stop Blameing everyone else for our failings ? We have messed up admit it take responsability for it and do what is right... But no we do not do that we look for anyone or anything to take responsability for OUR mess... No group that has ever come to this country has ever had it free and easy.. the only difference between us and any other group is that they work and make a way for their children in this world and all we trach ours is blame some one else for our lack of desire to make our own way in this world... that is why we people of color are always left empty handed in the end... becuse WE did nothing to get ahead like people of value have done since the begining of this country. We will never get ahead as long as we play the Blame Game... Grow up and take responsability.... no one likes a layabout or a cry baby.
5:23 PM | Just Me
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The Reason that our Young men and Women can not get and keep jobs is becuse they can not speek proper english. DO not know how to dress for a work enviroment or how to behave in public. It is sad and sickning to see how our young dress and behave in public. Why would any company waste time and money to train people that will not be of value to them ? We need to teach our young how to act like young men and women of value.
5:34 PM | Just me
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You might be focussing on results, rather than causes of Afro-American opression in the U.S.A. My screenplay, currently near completion, focusses on the causes, and how to change them. One major cause is fatherlessness. The U.S.A. must begin developing a foster father program for ghetto born A.A.s.
5:38 PM | AlanFrank@biblefootball.com
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We as blacks need to take more responsibility for our own actions and stop blaming others. We need to stay in school, have two-parent households, and work hard for a living. That's how you succeed.
5:54 PM | Concerned
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What makes the black community different from all the other ethnic communities in this country? There is one difference. We were not brought to America by choice. You can look at Chinese American communities or Cuban American communities or other ethnic conclaves throughout this country in big cities where they are united by their culture, their food, their language and their homeland. They came here by choice, determined to make a better life. In the black community we have only a fragmented view of our culture, born of slavery, dismantled by desegregation and run down by a society that cannot avoid racism. It is like abuse or dysfunctional families where patterns of bad behavior are passed from generation to generation. We must break this cycle. We must find pride in ourselves as Americans. We must see education as the key and the golden rule of ???do unto others??? as being the building block to respect ourselves and others. To show respect is not to bow to the white man. It is t
6:54 PM | L M Franklin, TN
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The so-called intellectual respondents are all wrong! The number one issue in the black community is the blatant absence of noble, honorable character. The absence of good character is manifested by the tens of thousands of black men who have fathered little black babies only to leave them to grow-up as wards of the state. Over 70% of black kids grow up without fathers - while most men of color use their time and resourses doing drugs, chasing wild women, hanging out in the jailhouse, and other such foolishness. The intellectuals have it WRONG - DEAD WRONG! The number one problem in the black community has nothing to do with education, economics, immigration - none of that gibberish! The big problem is that we (black people) have become selfish, sorry, pathic, stupid and wicked - and we have allowed our sorryness to blind us to the most important issue, which is: the woeful absence of strong, upright, principle driven men! To fix our sorryness, we need to stop blamming everything and
6:58 PM | William T. Washington
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I see a lot of simplistic thinking coming from great minds. Education dollars spent are worthless unless the black community steps up to place a high value on completing that education. The minute dollar disparity quoted on black students versus white students doesn't explain why black students don't care as much about education as a family priority. Until it MATTERS more to the black family the government can throw largesse around all it wants - it will likely mean that the students who were ALREADY going to attend college get out with lower costs, when they weren't the ones who needed help. Learning how to speak English well is a gate to opportunity. Sounding like you just fell off the turnip truck will get you a job picking turnips.
9:00 PM | John
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I think the greatest challenge is fair, honest, persistent leadership. It seems that when we get someone fighting for our cause, 30 seconds later, they've sold out for 30 pieces of silver - more or less.
12:28 AM | Shirley B Dean
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Wake up, people! Two incomes are twice as much as one! If you became a ???Baby Mama,??? you all but GUARANTEE that your child will grow up in poverty. This isn???t rocket science, folks. Marriage is the greatest anti-poverty program ever invet 70% of all African American babies are born out-of-wedlock. That???s one of many reasons God created the institution of marriage! God knew what he was doing! So let???s get back to basics, take responsibility for our choices and actions, and stnting fingers. YOU CAN DOUBLE YOUR INCOME TOMORROW---GET MARRIED & STAY MARRIED!!!
12:48 AM | Keep It Real
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SOLVING BLACK POVERTY IS SIMPLE: Stop having 70% of babies without a husband (i.e. second wage earner). Two full-time workers = living above the federal poverty line. The solution is so painfully obvious. Do people have the right to have babies out of wedlock? Sure. Do people have the right to make you PAY for their right to have babies out of wedlock? No. Not at all.
12:54 AM | Ron
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We're never going to fix our communities until we have strong Father figures and Male role models for our young men to look up to. How can our sons become men if they don't have any around to pattern themselves after?
12:58 AM | Candace
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I am appalled by the racism these snipettes fuel. Carving everything into black and white segments with "the whites" being the bad guys does not help the cause of justice any more than labeling "the blacks" as bad. The reality is that most of us in an academic, longitudinal, black/white analysis are mixed race. Carving the world into segments of poverty, educational opportunity and legal justice may not be as easy but it is much more right than simply playing off of skin color.
1:57 AM | for shame
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I believe that a person who cannot manage their campaign budget efficiently and timely pay their bills should not be given the responsibility to run the U.S. economic budget. Hillary Clinton does not speak about her unpaid bills, but Barak Obama should raise the awareness of that issue, not just how much money was raised in a particular quarter.
6:50 AM | J Ragsdale
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So, it's not your fault, right? Blame society and the whites for everything? Blacks are in control of their own demise, and it's not looking good. Want equality and respect - earn it.
6:58 AM | Mike
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I believe it's important for young African-American children to start believing that they have a future just like anyone else and for their parents to help them grow up with that mentality. I hear lots of African-Americans that
7:30 AM | Sal
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Every comment in the article above compared the situation to "white people". Perhaps we, as African Americans need to look more "inward" to help solve these problems, instead of begin so focused on discrimination. Discrimination comes on all forms: Age, Sex, Color, Religon, Weight, etc. You can never completely eliminate it. When white children hang a noose, over 20,000 black men and women rise up and march for justice. When 70% of black children are born to and raised by single black women; Whencrime, drugs, and gangs are rampant in the black community; When black culture promotes women as "hos" and thugs as heroes --- we do NOTHING. Where's the outrage? We teach our children from a young age that because they are black they'll have to work twice as hard to get half as much. Is it any wonder when they grow up they blame every failure on racism? C'mon people, we're better than that.
7:47 AM | dm
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Cornell West - married to a white woman?!!! She can KEEP him! :)
12:08 PM | Donna
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Im happy for Cookie and glad that she is doing more then speaking by taking action, however am I the only one who doesnt belive that MJ has aids? I mean, 16 years of living with an HIV virus? There are only two ways to look at this, (1) there is a cure for AIDS, you just need enough money to purchase it, which the majority of the people with it doesnt, or (2) he never had it! Is it possible for a women to sleep with an infected man and dont become infected herself? Wake up guys, this is bigger than you think!
12:41 PM | a7467
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I am a young black beautiful sista that dated outside my race and it has been my first experience I love this man for who he was not what he has done for me,but the time he spends with me. It's just that while I was dating this young man he started acting strange and tryin 2 belittle me an I thought that was a little troubling and that's when he started stayin away from home and always wanted me gone that he was bring other women in the house when i was away at work,ladies if you are in a relationship and have a man that everything is good and he start acting differ the signs are always there we just look past them you know when it's time 2 leave, he just don't so never fill like you are alone because god is always on yourside just remember the song never could have made it with out you
12:46 PM | janetrufflin
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Ever heard of Condoleezza Rice?
12:52 PM | J. Bohannon
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I'm glad that I can share my thoughts with everyone,I'm a black young woman who for the first time dated a man of a differ race and fell in love with not that I don't love my black man because I do, But I been with this man for mre then 5yrs.It just tookme time 2 walk away,But I walked away for the wrong reason I thought at first,I mean he came back home with gentle warts and I know I didn't have it so when I went 2 the doctor with him I was setting their thinking how in the heck I'm I going 2 tell my parents that I left this wonderful man who was spending so much time with me,But we just wasn't really that big on sex, He then start tryin 2 belittle me and I just know it was ending and other things like he wanted me gone out the house and while I was atwork people would be over and I would ask him who is that and he'll be like that's david or stan but it would sound like a female laugh in the backgroung and I can't leave work 2 found out then his sister comes 2 my job saying that he
1:18 PM | janet Rufflin
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Excuses are like a$$ holes. We all have one and they all smell like SH*T.
3:44 PM | Hard Work = Better Life
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I'm ashamed to say that some of my african american family have been used by the Democratic Party. They have said they want to help us but if thats true when Reverend Al Sharpton ran for President they would have gave him full support. I believe that they have just been waiting to not only have someone who could get Democratic power in the Oval Office, but also use Race as a wildcard to garner our support. I'm not saying that Obama isn't good. I'm saying you should not vote just because a majority of blacks do. It is time for us to decide on our own.
12:06 AM | Anonymous
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If the white people establish the rule, so will it be. Why is it that the Black population is intrinsically isolated as a group? Why do so many things seem to be made more difficult for them than for other populations? Why have so many Black men, disproportionately, fall down and have little help in standing again? Yes, there is a percentage of success in the general Black community, but IT IS NOT ENOUGH!
9:25 AM | Willie
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1. Equal education 2.Equal justice 3. Good paying jobs. Black people must stop being fool by things that's not going to get them ahead. there is a big world that we live in and we must stop being distracted.
10:06 PM | northsideChris
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I'm tired of us (African Americans) not keeping our business IN HOUSE. Instead, we ridicule and air our own dirty laundry which makes other minorities and the majority view African Americans in an unappealing manner. Our IN HOUSE business is in the media, these blogs, and other technological outlets in which this is one. Instead of talking positvely about our community and our people, we are doing what the "majority" is doing. This blog completely degrades our own people and we are proving the "majority" and other minorities that we have issues. As one person put it on this blog, we are not black, we are American people whose ancestors are of African descent which make us African American. Black in my opinion is a racial stereotype and I am tired of this word. There are many people in this country who are Afro-Hispanic, Afro-Latino/a, Afro-Asian, Afro-Indian, and they "some" don't identify or learn about their African heritage. So again we need to keep our business IN HOUSE a
3:51 AM | Cassie Gibson
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Whatever happened to the "Covenant with Black America" that I thought Tavis Smiley, Tom Joyner and others promised to bring and keep before ALL the candidates--way before we got down to the last two? Now that we are down to two, when will that promise bekept--for the benefit of ALL Americans, not just us?
3:43 PM | Judith G.
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We have to stop devaluing ourselves and attacking each other!!!!
1:10 PM | LD
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That sister is right on. At every turn, in every office, on every phone call, there is someone Latin. They do lie, they will harass, they will all of a sudden become your supervisor and then have you fired. What the hell is going on ? Barely, clearlyspeaking english. This is across this country, but it is egregiously rampant in California. Some unwritten treaty has gone into effect. I hate it !
12:34 AM | Fahay
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The greatest challenge is that we are still looking for hand-outs. We ignore that family structure (that means father and mother). If the Vietnamese can come here penniless and make a living above poverty, why can't we? Too much me, myself, and I. Too much bling in our kids faces on tv. Too much TV.
10:17 PM | Nate Brown
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As an African American woman we need to get all the education we can, befau
1:38 PM | Anonymous
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Stop living in the past. This the year 2008 we have blacks in every part of the government, sports, business,entertainment that are very successful because they are no looking to blame white people for all their trouble. All races have the same stugglesits your attitude how you are going to overcome them is what counts. It seems to me the family in the black community is no there, men not taking responsibility for children that are being raised by a mother that is a child herself.
7:17 PM | roy
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I am not white and I am not black. I see racism all around - for and against all races. But the real question is how much racism exists that actually significantly impedes the economic and social progress of African Americans as a group? I see plenty of favoritism towards African Americans - there are plenty of scholarships and corporate set-asides specifically for "minorities" which actually means African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans - other racial minorities cannot apply. How much favoritism towards African Americans on an educational and economic basis is fair? There are plenty of people looking to raise themselves and provide for a better life for their offspring - and have none of the advantages that an African American enjoys today. Examine the histories of other immigrant groups - those that arrived with nothing, that did not have an education, that did not have connections in the U.S. As a group, African Americans should compare themselves to these other immigra
1:22 PM | Bill
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West: "poverty = missing quality health care, education, child care and employment = privilege, privilege, privilege and legitimate income" Brazile: "lack of education = low per pupil spending, decrepit facilities, no high-technology and limited curriculum = irrelevant, helpful, often harmful, irrelevant = government's fault" Malveaux: "economic injustice = predatory lending and no access to higher education = gullibility and most grad students in the US are poor internationals = government's fault" Canada: "lack of education = no government spending makes people live in violent neighborhoods = ???? = government's fault" So the themes are that it's poverty which is CAUSED BY a lack of education which is more or less the government's fault. The solutionto these problems seems naturally to be the government forcing the Black community to become educated, which would then take care of the poverty issue apparently. Being artificially propped up by the government is no long-t
2:05 PM | JS
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You know one of the biggest loads of wasted text is, ???Racist come in every color black, white, red, blah blah bah???.This is the biggest piece of adolescent articulation I???ve ever heard. Act like you have some knowledge. African Americans (akeople as some prefer) represent about 13% of the population in America. This number, is quite far from the majority nor can it be said that blacks had one of the largest most hateful TERRORIST organizations in America, the KOO KOO KLUTZES! It is one thing to be a racist and ???not do anything??? about it i.e. refuse you (those non-black) for a job or entry into a club, or charge you higher interest rates etc. THIS is what blacks go through and there are statistics to back this up so please don??some made up BS that is so often the case with those of you that are so put off by blacks complaining about racism. You sicken me! Look at the numbers, hell you use them all the time! We (Yes I???m black) make up about 24% poverty rate
2:06 PM | EEEsdom
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Jesus said you will have the poor with you always! Why are we trading salvation for money$. I want to live in a nation that is under God and Jesus' word, if we don't turn back we will be just like Sodom!
4:50 PM | Sabrina
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Statistics have shown that many of our black young men and women have two or more felonies on their criminal record. Many of these young adults were charged with these crimes as teenangers, and now that they are 25-30, 35-40 they can not get a job. It's a real burden on their families, if they have one. There are few programs available to assist these individuals in their adjustment back into society but no where near enough and they are too hard to find. Perhaps some of our own barber shops and hair salons could hire some of these felons who are serious about turning their lives around. We need rehabilitation programs that teach them a trade like being a plumber, electrician and even landscaping brings in a good paycheck. Some can even be their own boss. But we need alternatives to the revolving door in and out of jail. We've got to get serious or much of our next generation will be lost.
4:28 PM | Jobs for Black Felons
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It is time for black people to get out of this negative mentality of blaming the white man or white people for all our problems and failures. What we need to do as a race is become more positive and focus more on positive things. If we focus on the positive, our lives and our race would be much better off. I am tired of hearing about half of our young black males dropping out of high school and teen girls getting pregnant. I'm tired of the violence that continues to plague our neighborhoods. I'm tired of hearing that statistics show we make up the majority of the United States Prison Population. I'm tired of hearing and seeing how dysfunctional many of our black families are. I'm tired of going many places in my travels and I see very few blacks or no blacks at all. We need to take in more positive things and expose our children to more positive outlets here in the society and show them that there is more to life out here than just the streets, video games, television, and wrap
6:19 PM | Phillip Jefferson
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Racism is alive and well in 2008 on economic fronts all over the US. However what underlines race struggles are the senseless obstacles that we (African Americans) place in our way. Such as the unwillingness to get a good education by any means necessary. We are not boycotting or marching in protest of educational inequities in public education. We are instead allowing our own to "dumb down" education. It's no longer "cool" to get educated!?! This has a tidal wave ripple effect on our abilities to escape the grasp of poverty and dispair. Just a thought.
9:03 AM | David Greenwood
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I have a master's in information systems and a bachelor's in mathematics. Despite my educational background, I have been unable to obtain a job that will offer me enough money to support my family. I am too busy being passed over because I am not a good "fit" for the position (I filled out the biographical information) or they are hiring their best friend's daughter. So education is not my issue as a black american. Unfortunately, despite the work done in the Civil Rights movement, America has just found keener ways of disquising prejudice.
1:33 PM | anonymous
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They look for us to be on television with barely no clothes on and shaking on behinds to ignorant music but they don't look for us to be a CEO of a major company.
1:35 PM | anonymous
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I've read many of the comments, the scars are deep concerning oppression and racism towards people of african descent. However, do matter how deep we must remain focused on the family and the vision for success for our children no matter what it is. Practical skills are sufficient...... electricians, plumbers, carpenters, community services. There seems to be too much emphasis for hitting the big time through educational attainment. We need people to service the communties we live in and partner and learn for each other. There are also issues around mistrust among our people we need to solve if we are to truely move forward. It will always come down to the little things and what we collective do in our lives from the time we get up in the morning till the time we go to bed that has a positive impact not only in your own life but in the lives of others particuliar our families. Maybe we've gotten too caught up, never give up!
10:48 AM | Darren, NY
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The biggest problem in the black community is anger. Black men are angry and black women are angry and nothing is as explosive as a household with 2 angry adults. That why it appears that interracial relationships work better because one half of the equation is not always angry. we have to forgive each other and strive to become quality human beings. Dick Cheney is educated and he's the worst animal in the world. I don't hink that black men run from raising their children I think that they run from theirabysmal relationship with the black woman.
1:04 PM | Magic Marc Miami, FL
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As wicked America sinks into the cesspool which she so richly deserve-- here we go again with another network speaking to "Our" children who truly don't have a clue or the hand-picked leaders who speak eloquently about what "massa" has taught them. As a people we have many issues that need to be address-- and one thing is for sure-- Barack Obama nor the American government is going to solve them. Here are those words again: God Damn America-- expeditiously please.
1:09 PM | Bobby Beverly
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I'm quite amused by some of the comments I've seen here. We're our own worse enemy but we still look to other places and races as the blame. We idolize the ignorant and heap praise on those that have done nothing more than play a sport, or acted in a film. We're too simple-minded for our own good. As for blaming black men for the degradation of the family,....I'm sure black women had nothing to do with it,....right? I guess we (black men) just naturally, genetically shy away from family as if we're animalistic. Sorry ladies,.....I think the blame for the breakup of the family is no small measure belongs to black women too. After-all,.....who opened theirs legs to make all these kids?
1:13 PM | Mark
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Oh, by the way for those vacuous bias intelligent fools both black and white-- we've grown-up and matured. If you don't believe me-- look in your court systems-- the reparations lawsuits are there. America has two choices of payment-- all that we ask or the wrath of the real God. Look out your windows and see the fires in California, the flood in the mid-west, the failing dollar...want more evidence of your demise. Refuse what we ask and watch it get worse. In conclusion, we won't suffer because we're strong. See you at the bridges jumping off. Have a nice flight into hell.
1:20 PM | Bobby
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Wow. We've got a woman complaining she can't get a job even though she was a newspaper editor when she can't even post a grammatically correct "scribble board" entry, much less make a persuasive written argument. We've got a man who is blaming the women for "opening their legs" to create all of these children. We've got someone who doesn't want to listen to Cornel West's point about economic disparities because of the person he chose as a life partner. And we've got a twenty-four year old who posts an entry that looks and reads like it was written by a fifteen year old on a cell phone but the author says she doesn't understand the point of an education. Wow.
1:53 PM | A
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In todays world when the black man/woman can be anything or anyone he/she chose to be its people like anonymous that keep them under the watchful eye of the white man
2:02 PM | sad for you
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We have to stop blamimg racism for everything wrong with it and look at our own lack of initiative, poor work ethnic and low sense of personal responsibility. Racism is a fact of life that will never leave this planet, just like poverty is here to stay according to Jesus. We whine and complain too much about emotional issues when we should be focused on reason, education and hard work. Who cares that someone doesn't like the color of your skin? Tough. That doesn't stop the East Indians many of whom are dark brown-to black, because they no what really matters in the world. EDUCATION and a strong family unit and sense of self. That's why when they immigrate to this country they keep their noses to the grindstone, go to university, study hard and pursue careers in highly technical fields like medicine, engineering and math. While we take the easy way out and ghettoized ourselves in Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, and so on. The new era of leaders need to be from the fields of Sc
10:31 AM | Rita
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THE PAST IS THE PAST AND WE STILL HAVE TO LEARN FROM IT THE PROBLEM IS WHAT ARE WE PUTTING INTO ACTION FROM WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED. BY ACHIEVING HIS GOAL AS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE BARACK OBAMA IS RAISING THE BAR FOR ALL BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA TO BE RESPONSIBLE . HE DID THIS WITH HIS UNIQUE GIFT OF ORGANIZATION. ALTHOUGH WE ARE A BATTLE TESTED PEOPLE WE KEEP LOSING THE WAR WHERE IT COUNTS TO THE GANGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO PROMOTE THE NEGATIVE AND REJECT THE POSITIVE TO A GENERATION OF YOUNGPEOPLE HUNGRY FOR LEADERSHIP BUT BEING MISLEAD INTO BELIEVING A LIFE OF CRIME IS BETTER THAN FORMAL EDUCATION.WE NEED LOTS OF POSITIVE WORKSHOPS IN AMERICA THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR THE PROGRESSION OF ALL RACES TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE THE NEXT GREATEST THREAT TO THE LEGACY OF THIS COUNTRY WILL COME FROM OVERSEES . NATIONS LOOKING TO BECOME THE NEXT SUPERPOWER ARE WAITING FOR THE CRACK IN AMERICAS FOUNDATION WE WILL HELP THAT CRACK TO WIDEN IF WE DONT BECOME MORE O
10:34 AM | DOUGLAS GOLSON
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I think the biggest obstacle that African-americans have is themselves. Quit behaving like the poor victims and take responsibility for your actions. O.k so maybe the schools spend more per student in wealthier districts. That doesn't keep you from getting an education! Go to the library. Parents need to instill values and direction into their children. And be PARENTS for crying out loud! Make sure your child is in school every day. Make sure that they do their homework. Make sure that they are in their beds at night instead of running the streets! I get so tired of the white man being blamed for everything. Life is hard, for everyone! Get an education and work hard.
5:58 PM | TpaDragonfly
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Where are you when your child comes home from school with homework? How often do you even check their schoolwork? Do you make sure they are keeping up on ther studies? Do you see that they aren't out running the streets all hours of the day or night? Nothing good can be done after dark. My folks taught me that much. Nothing but bad things and trouble. When I was growing up, I better be in my house before it got dark and doing any homework. Ask yourself these questions and you'll know where our young are headed.
1:49 PM | LEE
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The root to any race is the family structure and obviously our family structure is messed up. In "What Black Men Think," it talks about how our 90% of our families were together during slavery and nearly 90% during civil rights, so why are we clashing so much now. We are feeding into negative stereotypes about what our women should be, what our men should be, and we are lost. When you come from a two parent household where love is prominent and you have a strong structure, no one can penetrate that. But we are too busy bobbing our heads to lil Wayne and catching up on the latest phones, clothes, and cars to even notice that we are only so interested in that because we have a diminished self esteem. "When you are moving 100 mph, you don't know if youare moving backward or forward!" We medicate ourselves with drugs, tobacco, and alcohol either because it is the accepted norm or to be a vice to our nagging feelings of insecurity and incompetence. Last, but not least we have allowe
4:05 PM | Devon
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It seems that the power of the white structure, is still very much interested in slavery as they were 100 yrs ago. Know they just use modern methods to apply that theory.
4:39 PM | Laylow Jones
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The greatest threat to Black America is the system of free-market capitalism that is utterly incapable of providing enough jobs, not to say decent-paying jobs, for all Americans. In my community of Mount Vernon, NY, for example, the true unemployment rate is about 18%. How can you have a livable society, I ask, when nearly 1 out of every 5 working age adults is unemployed? Proponents of free-market capitalism dub our economic system as the "great jobs machine," but it never has produced enough jobs for the "hood." As the historian Manning Marable rightly points out, the last time Blacks were fully employed was during slavery.
10:56 PM | Rob
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The real challenge of 2008 and the 21st century is for black America to stop being a separate group. Why do we insist on being grouped by race as though we all live some common experience in America BECAUSE of our race. Sure, there are incidences of racism against black Americans...and white Americans and Hispanic Americans....there are other "isms" against American women, southern Americans, northern Americans, etc. No one group has a monopoly on "isms" against them. I feel until we start looking at ourselves as individuals in America, America will look at us as a group to be treated as a group. The only group I want to be a part of is Americans. My successes and failures should not be seen as black American successes or failures...it is my success or failure...period.
9:42 AM | william thomas
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You all should visit www.dropthedash.com. This website is promoting dropping the hyphen from our nationality...not African-Americans but Americans. Why do we use our ethnicity as our nationality, race, and ethnicity? After all the struggles and accomplishments, why are we so slow to claim the American nationality? Why do we feel the need to qualify our birth nationality? Is it really about heritage? Do you practice any African traditions or speak any African languages? What about American traditions? Ethnically speaking, American blacks are not a disctinct group with our own distinct culture. The urban/hip hop culture is too often made analagous to black American culture but it is not. hiphop/urban is a culture of its own with people of all persuasions living in it...black, white, brown, asian, etc. I and most of my friends of color do not share the same life experiences because of our dominant genes anymore. If we have similar hobbies or interest, we bond bec
9:57 AM | dolarbil
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I think that everyone need to start looking at the big picture of this system instead of each individual racist issues and experience.
5:00 PM | The Dreamer
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I am excited about the attention given to this ever-present and crucially important issue, but am dubious about the impact it will have. I have been watching the experts in New Orleans talking about causes and effects and what needs to be done regardingBlack single parents. However, I am most bothered by three things: 1) the absence of actual young single parents' input (whom are not being asked for direct input, nor are they being held to task while being talked about). 2) the backwards logic of trying to fix a problem with more government input AFTER the fact. This is bothersome because it actualy serves to REINFORCE the actions that led to its necessity in the first place! Not unlike welfare which has imprisoned welfare recipients FOR GENERATIONS! Why get married when Uncle Sam will foot the bill? 3) How about challenging the cultural aspects that glorify the causes of the problems more fervently? The brutal irony is that only African-Americans can fix the problems of Africa
8:51 PM | Dr. William Bennett
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As I watch the special presented by essence; I observe that most of the emphasis was place on college as if graduating from college is our only mode of success. Perhaps some of our young people would like to learn a trade. Maybe; on future programs we can address the importance technoligies in schools and the communities. There are men that is doing great things in their communities; using technical skills as their living
9:45 PM | Charlie Wilson
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I am a father of 3 boys. I live in the city. I am a soldier been deployed 2 times one in war and the other Katrina. My 3 sons can't go out and play on thier street. I live in the USA in the middle of a combat zone. Strange enough I left one in 2004-2005 only to come home to one in my neighborhood. The only problem Americans will protest bring our soldiers home but I don't see that same type of protest to stop the killings in our streets. The body count in our streets are five times that of the soldiers who has died in combat. I serve to keep America free but Americans can't protect thier own children. My kids are more in danger just living in America than I am fighting in Iraq. Is this freedom where my 3 sons can't go out and play on the street. My 3 sons are more in danger than the kids in Iraq are. Is this land of the free or land of the free if you serve childhood. Which America am I defending? Land of the free and home of the brave or Land of the free only if you serve childhood.
2:19 AM | Soldier home from combat.
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I am filled with Black Pide. It's a different kind of Pride, you see, because I am white. I was fortunate to catch the "Black In Ameria Show" tonight. My whole life (54 years), I always had this strange experience watching T.V. with so few Black people on it. The rise of Black People in American society is so exciting and invigorating and fills my heart as I sit and still ask why did it take so long.? The visions, strength, intelligence, creativity, and worthiness of Black Culture and influence has always been a necessity in America. Watching it blosom into fruition is a glorious and momentus occasion. So, tonight I am filled with Black Pride for my brothers & sisters of color. I welcome your deep rivers of well thought out solutions to problems thatare common to all and your ability to present it in your own very special way....thank you...
5:01 AM | Anonymous
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