Bria Fleming has been through a lot in the last year, including her mother's hospitalization and job loss and a fire in their home. It'd be enough to get most 18-year-olds down.
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comPoll: Black teens more optimistic than peers
Seeded on Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:44 AM EDT (msnbc.com)
— Filed under: health, barack-obama, elections, government-and-politics, social-affairs, public-opinion, marco-rubio, mid-term-elections, walter-payton
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This is news?... or even surprising? It's already been well shown that their is a positive affiliation between African-Americans and Obama regardless of what Obama does or says or if there is a difference in core values. They even had a string of videos made asking African Americans about McCain's policies, but called them Obama's... and amazingly... they all thought McCain's ideas were great, and loved that he (Obama to them) had picked Palin as his VP.
The reverse of the argument is that white people don't affiliate with his skin color... and thus must be racist claim you see too often, but hold the phone... there is a also a disagreement between these people and Obama and what he says/does/core values.
Gotta love stories based on race and the divide the media thrives on... I don't think we'll ever get out from under this thumb so long as people and groups benefit from it.
Yes, the 62% of white teens that aren't optimistic must be racists. /sarcasm.
There is no such things as "post-racial" America, because the media and liberals will not allow there to be, you're absolutely right.
If you disagree with Obama, you must be a racist. If you support the immigration law in AZ, you're a racist. If you demand Charlie Rangle be removed from office, you must be a racist. If you oppose astronomical deficit spending on social programs, you must be a racist.
The good news is ..... The media and the left have been strumming this twang for so long now, it isn't really working for them anymore, because it's simply not true.
I figured many would make "race" the issue in the article when in fact its just about having a role model that looks like and sounds like you. That isn't racist at all. As kids we all had our role models. For most kids those go along racial lines.
This is a feel good article, black young people are feeling they can compete and better themselves. That's a good thing.
Sure, there is a feel good point in the article about African-American kids... but the article was written with the racial spin by including numbers involving white kids. The author might be able to fall back on the excuse of "good reporting" and giving all the statistics, but if his intent was to write a feel good article - he could have kept it to his feel good point.
Bottom line is that I thought that the hopes of our Civil Rights leaders, like Martin Luther King, was to get to a point where people did not see the color of each other's skin, but saw each person as ... a person period. This article demonstrates that we are far from that point as elements in society continue to reinforce the practice of dividing people by skin color, sexual orientation, sex, etc.
In the heated discussions, and the declarations of racism emerging in virtually every topic these days... it would be hard not to link this article to stoking the flames behind these claims.
ERADICATING RACISM WILL TAKE MORE THAN CASTING A VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liberal Progressives will continue to abuse the race card as justification for their existence. The same party will pull the sacred race card on any issue but if there is a rebuttal by the other side they are then deemed even more racist. This is a no win situation for either side. The Left keeps the minorities on its side by proclaiming their concern and bleeding heart Liberalism will somehow help get them out of the forest of oppression and bias.
For all the HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS that have been poured into the wars on poverty, education, crime and other social programs the statistics have not supported the effort. Equal opportunity, affirmative action, quotas and other programs have helped but the inequality continues. Perhaps this is happening because government has never been able to correct social, domestic or fiscal issues. The constant intrusion into the private sector has created an animosity to government and everything it represents.
The inequalities we see in our society based on racial divides are more due to the inabilities of society to see the solutions rather than some special government or institutional study trying to fix it. Many minorities have succeeded and gone on to enjoy the American Dream. Unfortunately many have not. But the same can be said for white people. Why is this not perceived as a problem or racist? The breakdown needs to be evaluated on the basis of society itself.
The home and family that provides support and encouragement for minorities has unfortunately become fractured and divided by divorce, abuse and abndonment. The children we all so cherish as our countries future are NOT being nurtured and guided. Many have assumed the streets and gangs are the only way that they can survive in our society. Even our schools have been hoisted as the "parent" that is not available at home and should be the guiding light. TV, video games, the internet, Facebook, texting and other social media have become an obsession for our children with little if any guidance from parents. This is the shame on our society.
We are constantly bombarded by the media congratulating the single parent for providing for their children. While this is comendable, where is the utter disdain for the deadbeat "other" parent that is ignoring his or her responsibility for their children? Why is the single parent or athlete or rap star or entertainer praised as the "heroes" of our culture? The dissolution of the family unit and the moral and social disjointing of our nation has created an atmosphere of public need for the "system" to fix everything. This is unsustainable. The only way to provide any child or adult in our society the means to succeed is to make them WANT to succeed not feel entitled to succeed. But in order for this to happen they need the support and love that a family can provide.
These articles are nice to read for their "feel good" effect. The reality is we as a society need to revive the family and the support it provides to allow our children to be successful in this growing global economy. Without the true heroes, parents, we will just see more and more of this inequality in our society and its attendant pitfalls.
Bottom line is that white kids are being told so many negative things about their future that they do not think they can change it. I am going to guess forty years ago these numbers may have reversed. African American kids are being told for better or worse you can make it if you try. For whites and some old school blacks it may not be a post racial environment, but for these young black kids it is. They have no idea how hard it is going to be to make it. But you have to admit if they believe they can do it, they have jumped most of the hurdle. We have got to give the white kids the same feeling.
Eric, the title of the seed - "Poll: Black teens more optimistic than peers" - people aren't making race the issue. The article is doing fine making it about race by itself.
Civil rights was NEVER about lifting one race above another. Civil rights was, and is still about making race IRRELEVANT. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." - Martin Luther King Jr. Notice, that statement works for anyone with four little children. The next step forward is to remove race as part of a person's identity. As a society, we take backward steps every time the media makes race important.
Eric:
When I saw those coal miner families that died in the blast last week, I did not think black or white. I am not sure what color they were. But I thought about the desparation of some of the family members who said they did not want to do that job any longer but had lost hope for any other opportunity. This article though it breaks things out by race tells us we need to nurture the white kids a little more. So folks wether you are black or white when you see a white kid let him know you believe in him or her and she can do as well in America as he or she wants to do. I hope this does not sound too much like a bleeding heart liberal. But I am getting soft in my old age.
Good points El Presidente, kids especially today need more nurturing.
Please realize for black kids, having never had a president of their race before, that it lifts a ceiling that they too can be president.
I'd be ecstatic too if I had a homey in the White house promising to steal more of those evil, oppressive honkies' money and give it all away to me and the rest of the welfare puppies out here sitting on our asses sucking on the government tit and eatin' our gov'ment cheese.
scarab wrote: I'd be ecstatic too if I had a homey in the White house promising to steal more of those evil, oppressive honkies' money and give it all away to me and the rest of the welfare puppies out here sitting on our asses sucking on the government tit and eatin' our gov'ment cheese.
Im mad too. Here I am working my butt off paying taxes, to feed some greedy lard butt, old ass white couple, who blew all their money on bingo and flea market velvet Elvis paintings, living in a trailer, kids on meth, pick up truck bed full of Bud cans, smelling like day old hot dog water, having 2 first names (Jim Bob, Earletta Sue), ain't got enough sense to move away from tornados (sounded jes like a freight train), clogging up the lines at Wal-Mart and the Piggly-Wiggly, pissed at me cause they think I ate all their gov't cheese. Hell they even picket at tea parties, paying for gas and motels on their (socialized) SSN checks.
Mabye I should've been just like all the other blacks and got my free ride huh?
kb
Me thinks you doth protest too much.
scarab-
Just a little light hearted humor. Nothing like showing people that all coins have 2 sides...
kb-
White Trash, illegal aliens, and minority welfare puppies are all actually on the same side of the coin. They are all a drain on society and living as parasites off the rest of us.
scarab--
OK--if you said this:
White Trash, illegal aliens, and minority welfare puppies are all actually on the same side of the coin. They are all a drain on society and living as parasites off the rest of us.
there would be zero response from me.
But this:I'd be ecstatic too if I had a homey in the White house promising to steal more of those evil, oppressive honkies' money and give it all away to me and the rest of the welfare puppies out here sitting on our asses sucking on the government tit and eatin' our gov'ment cheese.
That provokes a response. Who thinks black use those terms? Whites. White trash will not call a black president a homey. And they sure don't call rich whites honkies.
Differentiation, my friend, is the key.
BTW -scarabs are killer boats also
kb-
Granted. But the article was about black teens and I was just keeping with the theme. I would not want Tyler to say I was off topic.
And for good reasons. Obama is president which means everything is free. Remember Peggy when Obama was elected? Oh my God!! I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage. I won't have to fill my gas tank anymore.
Ben-182373
Yep.
The "Obama effect" at its best.
That's all a little petty isn't it?
Yes, Eric. Yes it is.
@Ben-182373,
Everything is free for me now because I'm black!? Woo-Hoo! Thanks for telling me! Now I can quit my dead-end job, move into a mansion and go pick up matching Ferraris for myself and the wife! Now I can spend my summers on the Italian Riviera, sipping mint juleps while she buys shoes by the cargo-ship load. Chances are, on top of that, I can probably start expecting BIG checks in the mail so I can pay for all this---but wait, I don't have to pay! It's all free, free, FREE! At last, I can finally get my share of all those handouts we blacks have been living high on the hog off, all these years.
All that BS looks just as ridiculous as your post. There's not a black person in America who thought for an instant that Obama's election meant free houses, gasoline, or anything else besides getting up in the morning (or evening) and going to school, going to work, or looking for work. Push back from the KKK propaganda about how stupid and lazy blacks are. It's eating holes in your brain...
Bravo BAJ!
Thank you, Shellie!
Make sure the crowd throws flowers...or cash...but not rocks! LOL!
Why just blacks and whites? Are there no longer any other races living in America? Where are their statistics? Also, why not try to interview students from conservative states also? I also wonder how many students they interviewed saying they did not like president Obama and just did not bother to mention them. Talk about a biased article.
If you want Obama's approval across race go to www.gallup.com and look at the president approval section they have a break down.
I do not really care about approval ratings...I just feel that the media needs to tell the whole story rather than being biased.
Good point, Unknown0080,
There are other good Americans that are neither black nor white.
You just can't get the crazies on both sides stirred up when you talk about them---sad but true, even coming from someone who increasingly feels (myself) he might be one of the crazies. Actually, that's not totally accurate---these days you can start a pretty wicked fight if you mention "illegal immigration," too.
It's legacy of some 800-lb. gorillas called "chattel slavery" and "Jim Crow oppression." We try to ignore them, even as they take steroids and get even larger---not that they were ever small.
Of course they are optimistic. How can one commit suicide by jumping out of the basement window?
It's more than that Ty, and there are many blacks that don't live in basements.
WOW. It's sad to see all the terrified white people who live in constant fear and loathing of the black president.
Of course they're optimistic. With a black president they feel free to do and say anything they want. They can have their congressional black caucus, their black education television, their black this and that, but if whites do the same thing they are labeled racists. Blacks are just as racist as any white person in this country. Something unfortunate happens to a black person and out comes the race card.
White people are born to privilege, and most blacks don't have the same opportunities. Racism isn't over. I don't even know who created the "post-racial" thing because its not true.
All kids need role models no matter their race.
I agree, its totally rediculous. I'm so sick of the race issue I could hurl. Bottom line is, there are plenty of POS of any color, but with "Mr. Entitlement" in the WH why wouldn't they have a warm and fuzzy about their future
@jim-373311,
Should black teenagers not feel they can say and do anything they want? Isn't this America, where everybody supposedly has that right---except for the blacks, until fairly recently? Maybe you would be more comfortable if "those people" would get back in their "place..."?
Amazing---somehow black people seldom seem to catch a break on Newsvine. If a kid in the 'hood actually thinks she can get somewhere worth being in life, it's because the government is just going to hand it all to her on a platter---it never occurs to some of you that black folks are no strangers to hard work. Yet tell a story about a kid in the 'hood doing all the wrong things, and "that's just the way those people are."
A whole lot of "unfortunate things" happen to these kids, every day and---surprise! The race card isn't even thought about, let alone "played." Guess the card's only a problem because it's not exclusively in the decks of some white people.
Wow Eric..... I think that has to be one of the dumbest things I've seen posted on here. "White people are born to privilege." I guess to you Eric all white people are rich, republicans and KKK members? It's people like you that cause all the idiotic race baiting in this country. You really need to drop the stereotypes.
Well gday, do some reading on white privilege before you throw daggers my direction. A little knowledge never hurt anyone.
Why does this anger you so much? Is it your thought..."we let them vote!...we let them go to school where we go to school...they don't have to go through the back door anymore...they not being lynched anymore...we even let them put one of their own in the president's chair"
What is your problem?
...and please, stop it with the race card! you act as if black people enslaved themselves, caused the government to create laws against them, lynched themselves, jim crowed themselves, impoverished themselves etc.
Black people did not create or invent the race card as if it were a deck of their liking or choosing. It kills me when people say, oh, how original you use the race card! News flash! Black people did not create the race card...it was forced upon them like a plague.
The fact that after and through all of that they have pride and self assurance is a problem for you?
Get over it. If this is their moment (African-Americans) then let them have it! They don't have many in comparison.
By the way...there are may white kids who feel the same way about Obama.
That's a load of crap, Eric. Everyone in this country is born with the same opportunities. You could even argue that minorities are given preferential opportunities through such misguided programs like affirmative action. This country is all about equal opportunity. Unfortunately, many blacks listen to their poverty pimp leaders like Jackson and Sharpton. They have convinced many of their followers that equal opportunity should mean equal outcome. They have even coined a code term for it, social justice. Well equal opportunity does not gaurentee your success and/or happiness. Only your hard work and perseverence will. Unless of course you can get some Marxist elected who will steal others hard earned money and give it away to you.
Whites are taking the whiney approach exemplified by the tea baggers - "I had it all handed to me now I may have to work for it". Blacks always known they have to work for it - and work twice as hard as whites to get as much - but are now seeing they may have almost the same chance as whites for once.
(BTW - I'm white)
Was that sarcastic, or do you really believe what you just said?
TheTruth1323
I guess we could ask the same of you.
You believe otherwise or was that sarcasm?
Hey Jim-373311 try checking your history when every president has been white male you have always been able to do and say what you wanted. so what is the problem Now????
Jims problem is pretty obvious.
True that!
I am not sure how realistic this is for the majority of African American youth. But I can say with out hesitation you are a product of your environment. The Pygmilian affect if you will. If these kids think they will do better than their parents, it is a good chance they will. I hear a lot of parents complain in front of their kids and spew negative remarks and this only reinforces what they think of their environment. I am glad to see so many AA youth are positive, but it saddens me to think so many white and Hispanic kids are so negative about tehir future. They have so much to hope for and gain in this great country. We must work to reinforce the positive. If for some reason they do not like the policies of the government, it is their duty to work to change it for the positive. Not sit back and think there is nothing they can do. This is defeatism at it's worst because it is our youth and our future.
El--
Good points. Wonder what tea bagger kids are gonna be like.
I guessing they will buckle down, pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, and be successful just as they are taught. I'm not a tea partier but I can relate.
The knowladgable hispanics are pessimistic because they fled countries like this one is turning into.
You see, when you crush a man's soul by making him dependent on the government, (actually your neighbors, governments make no money) nothing good will happen. There is 25% unemployment in the black male community. That means 25% of these kids fathers are dependent on others. Their self esteem is low, their pride is low and their future is getting bleaker. Yes, these naive children think a half black man in the White House gives them hope, which is good, but reality is he will send their community back to the early 70's.
At least that's what you are hoping for huh living? Can't have those black kids doing well now can we?
So Shellie, you do not believe having a father with self-esteem is good for raising children? I dream of the day when we are beyond this race B.S., but until you look at it clearly and honestly that will never happen.
It is sad when a man can't talk honestly about problems and some idiot calls him racist. There are many black people that I love and they love me and we have open truthful conversations. Try it sometimes!
I believe your self-esteem argument is a bogus one. It's 2010 not 1950. And I didn't call you a racists. You jumped to that one all on your own.
So what was the hoping for comment about?
You also need to learn something, the self esteem thing is very important. An able man feels inferior if he can't fend for himself and his family. Our government, by not enforcing the laws that protect our workers, is expanding this problem immensely.
well what is it living, you have been on the vine on more than one occasion screaming for "smaller government". "Socialist take over". Leave the free market alone. Just WHAT is it that you want?
Enforcement of the law of the land! You see I do not like people keeping their foot on peoples heads and telling them they will take care of them. That type of person disgust me. You see a large government consumes prosperity and forms riches just for a few. History proves it!
Governments do not produce, they can't take care of anyone. It is the producers that are the true kind hearted liberal people of the earth, not the people taking the money from these people in name of someone else. This is what are forefathers knew and is what makes this country great.
When you have more consumers than producers, we are at 47%, the next step is socialism!
living-When you have more consumers than producers, we are at 47%, the next step is socialism!
The question you have to ask is how did we get down to 47%? From the way I see taxes are structured, lower incomes pay less taxes. So, did bottom incomes get lower, (the floor) or did the ceiling get raised? Econs say that the ceiling was raised and the middle/lower classes stayed the same. Which means (essentially) a pay cut. Which means lower tax brackets.
So in real life terms, a guy making 30k in 2000 might be making 50K in 2010, but a EVP making 200k will be making 500k 10 years later. The 50k guy is still close in the adjusted income family of 4 (48k) life of poverty.
The guy making 500k is bicching about another $7500 (3% diff in income taxes when Bush cuts expire--on the 250k difference). So while the guy making 50k is barely treading water (hell gas was $1.09 in 2000). the other guy is mad about getting a $625 a month tax hit, even though he is grossing $41,500 a month,
Funny ain't it
Its not hard to figure that out. Most black kids hear the work hard, pull yourself up mantra, but they don't see anyone that they can relate to that can be deemed a success. A lot of these kids only see the success (materially) of the dealers and the crooks, or rappers and ballplayers, and thats why they emulate them. Working at a bank or insurance company-white collar professional jobs, for some of these kids, does not jibe with their definition of success. The black attorney or banker is not riding around on big-ass chrome wheels. So even though they may have the wealth, they don't necesarily flaunt it, which is what catches the eyes of some of these kids.
You're comments are such BS..
As evidenced by you're well reasoned and eloquent response...
Good for young blacks. I hope you see a future in a United States of America.
Might be bad news for Jackson and Sharpton and other race baiters though. They seem to only thrive in Divided States of America. They love to divide people.
econ--
Of course they do. Thats how they get paid. But what a lot of whites do not realize is that most blacks ( I'd say 80% minimum) do not pay any attention to Jesse or Al. In fact, most blacks run the other way when they see them coming. Lots of whites/media think they are 'leaders of the black community' because thats what they named themselves.
I agree with you completely, kb in nc. I get really annoyed when I see Jesse and Al putting in their two sense, because they are stuck in a past time. Racism still exists, but their arguments and "leadership" have not evolved to meet the current issues very well.
AA--
Ever notice you never hear the leadership terms for Asian, Latino or any other nationality (community). And how come the black ones all have to be Reverends?
"A poll released Thursday by Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., found that 70 percent of black students ages 15 to 18 thought their standard of living would be better than their parents, compared with just 36 percent of white students."
I find this interesting. I don't think it is a bad statistic for either race. But I would like to see the economic make up of the kids in the poll. My guess is that a good chunk of the white kids, compared to the black kids, are living a fairly middle class life already and there fore don't see a "likelihood" that they will do better than their parents because "middle class" is the "standard for Americans."
The other factor might just be a cultural thing. A lot of black parents grew up just after integration really started to take effect in the 60s and 70s, and are still instilling in their children the "Take the rights that were fought for, for you and make them better."
Excellent point. According to statistics the majority but not all blacks live below the poverty line and most whites live above the poverty line. So if this is a good survey they would take all of these things into account. Though I have to say if 818 kids were surveyed that means less than 100 were AA. And if a majority live below the poverty level say 60 then the poll would sku towards most thinking I can at least do well enough to get out of the projects. Most of the white kids are probably saying how in the world am I going to buy a $500,000 home in the suburbs like my parents. Either way I hope they all become more optimistic about their future black Hispanic Asian or white. By the way they did not mention Asian kids, but I bet they think they are going to do better. Just aside note those $500,000 homes will be worth about $100,000 by the time the white kids buy them, so they may have a chance nayway.
AA- at 11
I'm wondering that also. My first questions would be what are the white parents telling their kids? Are they hollering about todays buzzwords (socialism, taxes etc...)? Are they getting so many ipods and gadgets that they don't have to work? Would love to see the demographic breakdown of the survey. Bet a lot of info is buried in there.
kb, they should be hollering about those things!
Free college, free food, free housing, free money and no taxes. Heck, I would be optimistic too!
I can just about guess where your kids fall on the survey.
They are the ones wondering why their friends can get a Pell Grant while they have to pray for scholarships and college loans that are ethnic neutral. Very few of those around.
Want to take a guess where Obama is going to push low rate loans now that he has seized control of the banks and College Loan Programs?
Navy--
Thats complete BS. Blacks do not get free college. If they do, can you call Sallie Mae on my behalf? I don't get free housing. Can you call Wells Fargo on my behalf. I don't get free money and I get my ass handed to me in taxes. Can you call the IRS, Mecklenberg County (Charlotte NC), and the NC Dept of Revenue on my behalf? Just tell them since I've been working all these years I should have a massive refund coming.
Thanks
Also, if you read up on the loan program you should be happy: Why should the gov't PAY BofA to loan money that the gov't backs anyway? Only thing they did was cut out the middle man.
Let me know when I get my reimbursements...
KB in nc
They cut out the middle man so they could go into business for themselves. That money could then be used to help in scoring the health insurance reform. And yes blacks do get free college, those who qualify. That you didn't is not anyone's fault except your own.
That was the problem with colleges who gave preference to blacks. It did two things. It gave the impression that blacks were not capable of competing and that thurt your cause. Secondly it caused some people who were not concerned about race to suddenly become concerned. Or in your terms they became racist because they thought blacks were given an unfair advantage. But that was what your "Leaders" needed to stay in power.
And you bought into it. Be careful what you wish for.
Calvin:
They cut out the middle man so they could go into business for themselves. That money could then be used to help in scoring the health insurance reform.
So what? Why should banks make the money? Student loans have almost always been BACKED by the gov't. Why should they pay a middle man? Take the interest earned and fund HC--no prob from me. If I'm loaning MY money, why should I pay you to hand it out for me? Thats business 101.
And yes blacks do get free college, those who qualify. That you didn't is not anyone's fault except your own.
And where, pray tell, to these blacks get free college? Minority scholarships? You know whites get minority scholarships at primarily black schools don't you? And the UNCF gives scholarships to everybody right? Hell, there is even a John Lennon scholarship--and you you know blacks just love John Lennon huh?
Also, its my fault that my parents made too much money huh? BTW scholarships are based on NEED, not COLOR. Brilliant reasoning Calvin. Maybe I should've told my parents to quit their jobs, qualify for welfare so I can get free college and prove Calvin on NV right huh?
Or in your terms they became racist because they thought blacks were given an unfair advantage. But that was what your "Leaders" needed to stay in power.
First--who are my leaders? I don't follow anybody. I'm a grown ass man who makes my decisions and calls my own shots. (I do love the GWB line--I'm the Decider)
I never said ANYTHING was racist- would you like to reprint my whole comment--racist is not in there. Way to put words on my comment. Why don't you learn about legacy admissions in colleges, they have way more impact than minority admissions.
Legacy admissions means that if a relative (g-dad, parent etc...) went to a college, they were more likely to get in, regardless of GPA. Here in NC, UNC-Chapel Hill there was a study that showed that if a legacy student has a lower GPA (say 2.8) they would likely get in over a 3.5 GPA non-legacy student.
Since you are putting words on my comments why don't you call some colleges GPA-cists?
BTW, I don't wish for anything--I go out an earn it.
You sound like one of those people that got beat out on Affirmative Action by a woman, but blamed the black janitor.
Ignore them kb. It's quite obvious what they are hysterical about. Navy want's a free ride so he can sit back and call others freeloaders and calvin is pissed because below average white kids don't get the preferential treatment he would like simply because they are white.
Thanks Shellie--I just can stand stupid motherf%%ers.
Also, I have noticed the lower class whites have now noticed that they are not as insulated as they thought they were. So they gotta blame somebody.
Anytime kb. Ironically enough, I was one of those lower class whites. Grew up dirt poor. But I did what I had to do to ensure that my kids were better off than me. And I didn't blame anything or anyone for it. It was just the hand I was dealt. And I've played it rather well I think. Have a great husband, one kid out of college and the other one in. They will do better than me. That's the way it's suppose to work right?
yup-- it is.
the problem is that a lot of people that started out like you have to blame somebody if they failed. OR (like the demographics of teabaggers) if they make it, they don't want to help anyone else come up behind them.
That's just it, I did fail. A couple of times. Then I FINALLY got it right. I just had to keep plugging away. I guess I could have layed down and died. But I never really saw that as an option.
thats where the difference is. Its not racial, gender etc. Its all individual make-up. But the issue with a lot of conservatives is that after all that sacrifice, they do not want to share/help out/give back.
Do they realize that one of their paychecks per month will be cconfiscated because our lovely government is putting us in more and more debt everyday.
25% unemployment for black males! Why not poll adults, who actually have a taste of reality?
Education and hard work will pay off. Glad to see that the black youth may be turning that corner. (fingers crossed...hoping)
Hard work only pays $8 an hour nowadays, until we remove the artificial bottom, the black community will be screwed for decades!
Take the $8 dollars an hour save $1 of it. If you work 40 hours per week, you will have $2,000 in one year. Work hard see if you can get a raise. Learn from the job and go up or use your newly learned skill set and find another job making $10.00 an hour, now save $3.00 instead of $1. You will now have $6,000 at the end of the year. add $2,000 to the $6,000 and you now have a total of $8,000. Live within your means and prosper. My friend the glass is either half empty or half full. Take a lesson from these young blacks and see the half full glass. Burn a candle do not curse the dark.
Raise a family on that.
No hardworking adult should get paid that little. Are you illegal? Is that why you like the artificial bottom that keeps every worker in this country down.
In 1983, I made $12 an hour as unskilled labor as a summer job. Labor needs a raise or capitalism will not work. That is why we are heading towards countries that have people called El Presidente! You see, when labor is grossly underpaid, the only place they can turn to is socialism! They have no choice, they can't work and grow. It is impossible!
are you saying that all 18 year old black girls already have at least one child?
In 1983 Barefoot, I made $4.50 an hour, BFD!!
Buy a condom, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A FAMILY. Maybe that is why it is important to study hard, stay in school. Then you can afford to buy a home and raise a family. Don't expect society to pay to raise your children.
Not everyone is smart enough to become a chemist. Should they be shun from making a livable wage and raising a family? What kind of elitist attitude is that? Labor is way underpaid, raise it up and we all get a raise. That is how capitalism works.
I'm just saying that you have to access your financial situation and make realistic decisions on what you can do based on that. If you can't afford it, you don't do it/buy it. (I'm not an elitist, and I'll bet you make more money than I do). Again, don't expect society to pay for the raising of your kids.
Besides, many of those $8/hr wage earners don't have to pay any taxes on their income. What do you want? Someone who works as a checkout clerk at Target to earn $30/hr?
Not that much, but at least twice as much as they do. The more pure the capitalism, the better the little guy is. You see, when he does not make enough the government has to intervene and when that happens we lose 90 cents on a dollar.
The poor always vote for guys that say they will stick it to the rich. They do, but the problem is the money goes into their greedy hands first. Our country would be much better if we stuck to the rich the proper way. Make them pay more for their labor, goods and services.
lvingbarefoot lets compare apples to apples. Most families in the USA have electricity, water, telephone and television. Are there some that do not? Yes but in comparison to who do is truly insignificant. Now mind you that there are some people who choose not have these luxuries. Many people take these luxuries for a God given right. Now lets look at your main topic Money:
George Washington was paid a salary of $25,000 a year from 1789 to 1797 as the first president of the United States. The current salary of the president has recently been doubled to $400,000, to go with a $50,000 expense account, a generous pension and several other benefits. Has the remuneration improved?
Making a comparison using the CPI for 1790 shows that $25,000 corresponds to over $585,000 today, so the recent raise means current presidents have an equal command over consumer goods as the Father of the Country.
When comparing Washington's salary to an unskilled worker, or the measure of average income, GDP per capita, then the comparable numbers are $11 and $24 million. Granted that would not put him in the ranks of the top 25 executives today that make over $200 million. It would, however, be many times more than any elected official in this country is paid today. Finally, to show the "economic power" of his wage, we see that his salary as a share of GDP would rank him equivalent to $1.8 billion. The purchasing power of the dollar has only decreased by 4.1%. July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 per hour. This is based on continuum of purchasing power (COLA). Going by your proclamation that workers do not make enough, if the minimum wage is increased by 4.1% or $7.54 an hour then everything is fine. This is based on needs not luxury. If you make this amount you will qualify for many programs like free health care, depending on family size you will receive food stamps. This is done so these families can afford the luxuries of life. Such as tv, cell phones and nike sneakers. I did not have these luxuries when I started out but I am afraid that these luxuries are now viewed as a right.
Unfortunate that the people that can run for public office usually are rich. You need to be super wealthy if you wanted to run for president.
How do you make the rich pay more for labor, goods & services without increasing costs for everybody?
It is okay if cost goes up for everybody, they are making more. The key to a capitalistic society is to keep government small and keep only the truly needy dependent.
We are making millions and millions of able workers dependent on the government, that does not work. You will become less capitalistic and more socialistic everyday.
living Barefoot. First of all do not disparage me or profile me because my userid is El Presidente. I happen to like the sound and I will share that I am not Hispanic, but if I were I would be proud of it. Just as I am sure you are proud of whatever your heritage is. After all I do not really think you are living barefoot. I think it is just a userid that sounds good to you. Having said that I can say that I may have missppoke in that I do not know your personal financial situation, but I was really reffering to the youth of today since this article is about teens. I will say that it would be difficult to house and feed a family with $8.00 per hour, which works out to 1200 per month or $15,000 per year. BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
I never assumed that, I have lived in Miami-Dade county my whole life. I am quite intertwined with the hispanic community, hell my 3 grandkids are 1/2 hispanic. My point was that we are headed in the direction of the countries these people fled from. Half our population pays no income tax and I did taxes this year, you would crap if you knew how many people get thousands of your dollars.
I want anyone who hires an illegal arrested. I want a guest worker program in agriculture with a clear defined path to residency and eventually citizenship. I would much rather see a million immigrants live the American dream, than 25 million living in poverty and taking that many of us down with them.
Really? That's a surprise to me and my coworkers who haven't seen a raise since 2007. The economic collapse of 2008 put a dent in the generosity of our employer, business is down since, so no raises for us. But I'll bet the average welfare recipient received a "COLA" since 2007, probably several.
I'll agree with you there. For me, starvation was a great "motivator" to make something of myself.
Agree there too.
ElPres, Do you know how I got by when I was making that kind of money? I lived with 5 other freinds in a 2 bedroom apartment until I was able to afford better. Living, you make adjustments to your lifestyle to get by.
Me too, why couldn't we get E-verify passed?? it made so much sense.
Interesting....I was listening to a radio station this morning talking about immigration and the "American Dream" comparing the immigrants in the early 20th century to the immigrants of today. You know what the difference is? Welfare. The early 20th century immigrants came here with no sense of "entitlement", there were no programs to hand them money. They worked hard to achieve the "American Dream." Today, immigrants come here to get on welfare programs (free schooling, housing, food stamps, child support etc....). They know what they are doing to this country, and don't care. They put their own interests over that of this country. They are bleeding America's future / prosperity away, and anybody who sees this and still supports entitlement programs and open borders are "enablers."
Some may call me cold hearted because of how I feel. I'm not. I just see this happening and it breaks my heart.
lvingbarefoot the average salary for ditch digger job is $24,000. Average ditch digger salaries can vary greatly due to company, location, industry, experience and benefits. The majority of 8.00/hr jobs are just that, a job not a career. The average associate degree earns 36,000 yr. The Koreans in my neighorhood have a harder time fighting off the black youth trying to steal from their store then trying to turn a profit. At Brooklyn College there are plenty of blacks who do not look down on a "artificial bottom", whatever that means, but up to a promising future discarding the elder generations view of the "oppressive man." So yes my fingers are crossed that the black youth are breaking from the mentality of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The mainstream media and ideology of the progressives continue to promote racism and intolerance for the sake of a vote. Why do you think the issue race and hate have been placed in the forefront over the past year or so? The overblown hate and fear of a "teaparty" that is nothing more than a bunch of old white people with a smattering of minorities? All for the November vote. If people would look past their ideology they would see it. Disgusting.
I do not know where you live, but it is not representative of where I do. These jobs no longer pay a livable wage!
You can no longer make a living using your hands, sweat and back. You should be able to. That is how capitalism becomes the best and most liberal equalizer. It makes people pay a proper amount for their labor, goods and services. When they do not make enough, friendly politicians collect money on "their" behalf. Of course these politicians take their 90% handling fee first.
With the the massive egregious discrimination against whites, I can understand why they feel better. Affirmative action is giving millions of jobs to less qualified people. They get also sorts of welfare including aid to dependent children, free health care, subprime mortgages, food stamps, etc.. But what used to be the middle class is sliding into poverty and struggles working two or three jobs. The workers are taxed at nearly a 50 percent level to support all of the benefits to others. The workers can't afford to have a family and no enjoyment but work. But the media and the government doesn't care about the honest workers.
@James L. Farmer,
Many of those millions of "less qualified" people were white females. Nearly 60% of the subprime mortgages went to white folks. There's something like 300 million people living in the USA; about 40 million are black---that means a whole lot of white folks are also getting ADC, free health care and food stamps. In fact there are probably more whites on welfare than there are blacks, period. But the blacks are all gaming the system, and all the whites are truly in need. Yeah, suuuuure they are. I was born at night---just not last night.
Are all the "honest workers" non-black, then? For the record, I'm a black man with two jobs. The only reason why I even have access to medical care is because I'm a combat veteran, but these days I guess that one single "benefit" is unearned---and it is not free health care, BTW. "Black man" trumps "veteran"? As for massive egregious discrimination against whites, I'm assuming you're white---the next time you're assaulted by three clowns with a chainsaw trying to use a gas station bathroom (as happened recently in South Carolina) or have a relative dragged to his death behind a truck (the infamous James Byrd case in Texas, not that long ago), please let someone know.
BAJ--
Im with you man. There are more whites on AFDC than Blacks--total, not percentage. In fact, I had a white girl tell me she got denied welfare because the blacks took it all. Read about the Blue case in SC also.
What it happening is that a lot of lower class whites (income wise) are realizing that they are no better off. They realize that the calss they thought they were in aint happening. No money-no honey, and thats why they are so bitter
Bravo again BAJ!
This article is SOOOO racist.
The article is soooo true.
Of course a "majority" of young black teens are going to be optimistic about their future, with the new administration and current affirmative action entitlement programs set up they only have to show up to earn as much as another person of any race that works twice as hard.
Truth--
You might wanna learn the 'truth'. The primary beneficiary of AA has been white women. Look it up
Boy the terrified white men are coming out of the wood work aren't they.
Yup Shellie- they are.
I heard this some where: People are like teabags (no pun intended), Put them in hot water and you'll see what color they really are.
Young Black people are "optimistic". That is a good thing. No matter where the optimism comes from "it is a very good thing".
There is nothing wrong with having a role model. If President Obama is credited with giving young people in this country hope, then he is doing a good job. No one complained about President Bush and his rape of this country. If they did they were called "unamerican" and were told they were aiding and abetting the terrorists.
Google President Obama and see all of his achievements. Look at the accomplishments, look at the good he has done. Stop being so negative!! This is a positive article about young people being positive. Better than an article about someone being arrested.
"Go young people". Go!! I hope all young people find a reason to hope. They are our future.
Post-racial society, my foot.
I'm sure that this story will draw a lot of wingnuts talking about how blacks are just given so many benefits that they by definition don't deserve---jobs, educations, whatever. I'm also sure that none of these people actually know any black Americans, or anything about black Americans.
Meanwhile, every other black father I know is telling his children that they'll have to work twice as hard and be twice as careful in order to get half as far as anyone else---we're telling our kids they can't count on affirmative action, but they don't need it because they're smart, hard-working, proactive and won't accept anything but excellence. From themselves, and from others---whether the others want to give it or not.
Someone else might not like the champion---but they still gotta call him THE CHAMPION!
Stop whining about non-existent "reverse discrimination" and make something out of yourselves, those of you who are inclined to be haters. Isn't that what blacks are supposed to do?
Our country is failing the black community.It takes generations for things to equal out. We were on our way and then we were set back 30 years.
Our government has failed to enforce the laws of our nation that protect the worker. The R's allowed it for cheap labor for big business. The D's allow it because they have the poor vote wrapped up, so they want more poor people.
Arrest anyone who hires an illegal and watch the economic rise of the black community. Give them all immunity and watch the demise of the same community!
BAJ--
Im with you. I can't stand it when I hear from whites: "You're not like other Blacks-you're different". I have to constantly remind them that I'm the norm. Blacks that are robbing people etc... are the same as whites robbing people--they are the minority. And why do whites think that black get free stuff? (see 13.3). They cannot be that stupid.
living--The problem is people have only one loyalty--their wallets. They can pay illegals less money and they will work harder. I had a friend of mine tell me that the blacks mans new worst enemy was illegal aliens--workwise. I replied that if that was the case, how can she justify unskilled white workers getting a pass, and where were they working? And why was it that if you had unskilled Latinos, blacks and whites, only the blacks and the latinos had to fight it out? Where were the jobs the whites were getting? Deer in headlights look of course
@kb in nc----
Some whites actually believe the racist propaganda bout how "easy" life supposedly is for black Americans, that the government has just gone into the 'hood and started handling out cash, cars, houses, jobs and any other benefits they could think of. I'm still not sure how black Americans went from people who wouldn't work to people who are just excused from working---we're just given everything, "just because."
I have no doubt that affirmative action helped me get into college--- I also have no doubt that a GPA north of 3.0 and a near-perfect SAT score helped too. Nobody handed me these. I had to work my @$$ off, just like anybody else---and I still wound up in the Army in part because I couldn't get one of those free high-paying jobs through affirmative action. Something like 20 years later, I'm still waiting on my free pass to this easy life some racially-resentful whites think I have....
BAJ and @kb
Many times perception is reality. There is no doubt that most, probably some where in the high ninety percent, of blacks get up in the morning and put their pants on just the same as everyone else. They go about their day trying to do their best, what ever that might be. BUT there is a small percentage of blacks who profess to speak for you and push things like affirmative action. That looks to many others like a free ride. BAJ, you said AA helped get you into college. I suspect that it was more your attitude and willingness to work hard. I have emplyed many people in my life and I don't recall any resume including "I have affirmative action experience". I wish you had left that out of your post.
But my point is that when you let black leaders set up conditions to divide the nation without taking them to task for doing so you allow perception to become reality. If you call some people "RACIST" long enough they will become what you call them.
BTW life was not always easy for all the whites. But i don't think you can actually agree with that.
I wish you both the best
BAJ, I do not think any group has a free pass. I actually think the black community is being really screwed. Affirmative action helped equal years of injustice and break up the good ole boy clubs. But affirmative action in present day kills equality. If people get jobs and promotions without bettering themselves it is an injustice to others and themselves.
The problem we are having is 25% unemployment for black males. You know how many people used to start off mowing lawns, get good accounts and build a nice business. You can't do that today. You could lay block and make $20 an hour. Yes this was hard work and no I am not saying that these are the only type of jobs for the blacks. But. you must have these jobs make a decent wage because the majority of your work force does not have college educations.
If a man can't support his family he feels inferior. He loses self esteem and usually bails on his family. Now you are left with a single mother trying to raise the kids. There are remarkable women that do a great job at this, but not all and even the good ones are likely to lose their children. Lose in the sense they stray from the path we would all like our children to follow. So now you have another generation going back to the same original problem.
The working class needs to make a living so they can have the confidence, self esteem and drive to pass onto their children. We must arrest anyone who hires an illegal or our country, as we know it, will die.
I know I do not know what it feels to walk in a black man's shoes. But I do know what it feels to walk in mine and I want everyone to be able to enjoy the life I have been afforded.
Thanks for your service.
Calvin--There is no doubt that most, probably some where in the high ninety percent, of blacks get up in the morning and put their pants on just the same as everyone else. They go about their day trying to do their best, what ever that might be. BUT there is a small percentage of blacks who profess to speak for you and push things like affirmative action.
If that is the case (which it REALLY is) then why do you listen to the 10% who biCCH? WE sure don't. These are the same people that listen to Jesse and Al btw. It is almost the same as some white guy following these militia people or crazy Tea baggers.
The sad part is people like you would rather base your perceptions on the 10% instead of the 90%.
BAJ, you said AA helped get you into college.
That was sarcasm in case you missed it. You obviously did.
But my point is that when you let black leaders set up conditions to divide the nation without taking them to task for doing so you allow perception to become reality.
This is what you fail to see. THERE ARE NO BLACK LEADERS. PERIOD. THERE ARE NO BLACK LEADERS.
What you fail to see is black people realize that Pat Robertson, Limbaugh, Beck, Palin etc...do not speak for all white people. When Jesse and Al are on tv, they named themselves leaders. There was no black special election. If you hate those two fine, have at it. But do not make the simplistic mistake of thinking they speak for blacks. The do not. They speak for themselves and their wallets. Period.
BTW life was not always easy for all the whites. But i don't think you can actually agree with that.
I do agree with that. Everybody cannot be named Trump, Hilton or be in the lucky sperm club. Thats where your assumptions fail you. I worked my ass off all through college and have never had anyone in my family on ANY aid program. Quit projecting. How you would like it if all blacks judged whites by Larry the Cable guy? Aint fair, is it?
OMG Calvin and living, you two are making me physically ill.
Calvin, you speak of black people as if they are another species. THEY ARE PEOPLE. PERIOD! Just like YOU and just like ME. Get over your phobia and you might not be so miserable.
Livingbarefoot, In your fantasy world where you claim that a man who can't support his family eventually leaves them, well in my world, we pull as a team. We being the key word. If one stumbles , the other is there to pick up the slack. It works that way with all of my family members. Kids included. We are a team. No one stands alone. You may want to step into the 21st century and out of the back woods of 1950.
BAJ and kb, you are my heroes! And BAJ, thank you for your service to OUR country.
Shellie, chose to ignore reality. You may be living a nice life with a great spouse that realizes that it is the two of you against the world, but if you do not think a man not being able to earn a living is not a problem, you are living in lala land.
It is a serious problem, grow up and address it!
Thanks Shellie-friend request sent
Actually living has some good points. Basically because of the welfare laws, a man cannot be in the household. Some men tough it out--some dont, but here is why: It was intended to mean that he would/should be offering support, but the side effect is that low paying unskilled jobs paid less than welfare. So the family was better off if he was not living there. That is the economic reality. And what living is saying (I hope) is that those union, unskilled jobs that USED to be there are no longer available- outsourced or taken by illegal aliens. That means a lot of black men are between a rock and a hard place: Live with the family and hope to survive, or get out the house and they can get help. (I've seen this firsthand--it starts at birth with the birth certificate.)
In short, the days of the unskilled laborer (warehouse, landscaping, light assembly etc...) are over. Minorities have gotta come to the interview with sheepskins--that is the only way.
Thanks kb, we are pretty much on the same page about this. The get out of the house for the good of the family escapes me, you will have to enlighten me. I do understand how many times his minimum income can cost many benefits, but I can't make the jump to leaving your family.
Possibly, you live in a small enough community where they check those things out and I live in the fraud capital of the world, where everyone just lies. I could see it then.
living--Here is how it works:
The man cannot be in the home, otherwise the kids/woman cannot get aid. He also cannot be on birth certificate, school registration etc.. because they can get child support from him or deny the family money. So he may be a guy making $10 a hour, but his child support may be $80 a month, and she cannot get AFDC/WIC. But without him in the picture she may be eligible for $250 a month in support. So they are better off financially if he is gone, but the men usually don't leave.
The issues pop up when the woman has some kind of falling out the the guy (for whatever reason-other women, she meets a guy, he didn't call etc...). Then the mom hollers that she is not getting support anyway (technically true) and its a downhill spiral from there.
I understand the rock and hard place scenerio. And I do not dispute that it is a bad situation. In fact, I do not dispute that the entire employment structure we have now in this country is bad situation. We seem to have the top of the pay scale and the bottom with not much in-between. And there are a whole lot of people scratching for that inbetween.
What really gets me going though, is the BS you hear such as many of the posts above. The very ones that screech and scream about personal responsibility and working for what you have are the very ones who are whining the loudest about wanting the very "freebies" they accuse others of living on. I have read posts from these very posters telling others to buck up and work at McDonalds for 6.00 an hour if that's what it takes and chastise people as if they were inferior then turn right around and piss and moan about only making 8.00 an hour and how it's all someone elses fault. And usually, that someone else is either black or brown.. It makes ones head spin. I do apologize for rambling, I tend to get a little heated when discussing politics, race or religion. Particularly with some of the posters here that have made it pretty clear what their real issue is not only on this thread, but many others as well.
Gotcha kb, so they don't actually leave in many cases.
Shellie, one of your problems is you attack people when you are ignorant. If reading comprehension is not your strong suit, then reread a few times until you understand. You indirectly called me a racist, which I get used to here, and I do not appreciate that.
Shellie--
The reason people do that is because they always try to think about what THEY would do. As in I would suck it up and work at a car wash, why cant you. But they never fully understand the whole issue---transportation, daycare etc.... Plus it helps their self esteem to make oneself look like they are not one of those lazy people who just lack effort.
The plain stark reality is that a lot of the little people realized that they have been pimped by the very same ideals that they have been raised to believe in. Fairness, hard work, sacrifice have all been sold out in the name of profits. Basically, I need to get as much money as fast as I can. And if you catch on to the game, I just have to make sure the risk was worth the reward. (see Goldman Sachs)
The racial aspect thats popping up is a guy like Joe the Plumber is realizing that he is just as broke and screwed as Leroy the Mailman. Where he might've gotten a pass on getting laid off, because the boss is white, (or perceptions of blacks taking too many days-or whatever) now the whole department is shut down. So he has gotta have somebody to blame. Which is why you hear a whole lot now about reverse racism. In reality its all about the haves and have nots--no more no less.
@Calvin,
You'd be wrong---I don't think life is easy for millions of white folks in America right now. In fact, I don't think life is easy for most people right now. There is a small number of people who are already richer than Croessus and getting richer---in no small part because our corrupt Congress and at least the last five Presidents have been bought and paid for. And BTW, not all those folks are white.
And no, I'm not giving Mr. Obama a pass--- before he was President, he was a Senator, and that means he's a Washington insider. That means "hope and change" will only go so far. Put a guy who owned his own construction business, or worked as a janitor in the White House and you might see real change. Pack the government with non-lawyers who actually remember what it's like to work hard for a too-small paycheck, then crack down on the lobbyists and special-interests and things for everyday people would improve.
What gets under my brown skin is this--- people come on Newsvine and post all sorts of garbage about how easy life is for black Americans, that we're just handed all sorts of wonderful benefits that we by definition can't or didn't earn and don't deserve. I'm wondering where this America is, because in nearly 50 years of life I have never seen it. I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXIST! I know other people have it rough, but let's stay on issue here. Somebody writes a story, and mentioned that black teenagers are optimistic about their futures---and it's because Obama somehow is going to hand them everything they could ever imagine they'd want---and they won't have to work for it. Any of it. Not even the most burnt-out crack zombies in the 'hood believe this. Why do so many of the 'Vine? Some of you are either high or insane with hate, resentment and ignorance.
Dude, even GOD doesn't do that. And don't get it twisted---nobody in the black community is going to mistake Barack Hussein Obama for GOD, whether you think God is Allah, Jesus Christ (welcome to MY camp!), Buddha, Krishna or Eric Clapton.
You see, in my world I see too many black teenagers who are 13, 14, 15 years old---and they're planning their FUNERALS because they don't expect to make it much past 20. These kids are not doing this because they're considering the military, and possibly ending up in Iraq or Afghanistan. These kids are expecting to catch a bullet in their own neighborhoods. And too many of them will, in fact, die like soldiers---less than a mile from their own homes, not on a battlefield on the other side of the world. The reasons why this environment exists are complex---and frankly, that it still exists in 2010 cannot entirely be blamed on white people, if it can be at all. So I'm glad that some of these kids are holding their heads up, when their lives are anything but easy.
And yeah, AA did help me get into college---because I went to a school (albeit a small one) where the student body was about 2% black. I had the grades AND the test scores. Nobody patted me on the head and said, "Here, you poor benighted soul, here's a free degree---even though you don't have the grades and can't even read." You're right---I busted my @$$, just like every other black college graduate I know, because we knew that some people would assume we didn't deserve to be there regardless of how hard we'd worked. And FYI, the population of white kids with inferior academic records who were there on "legacy" (mom or dad graduated or taught there) was much higher than 2%...
I agree that perception is reality---but beware the BS you see in most of the media about black folks (even, sadly, from some black folks). Too often, this stuff (and I want to use another word that also starts with a 's') is agenda driven.
Sorry if i rambled, but sometimes you have to fire all your ordnance. I hope someone reads this and wakes up...
BAJ--
Amen brother---PREACH!!!
@kb,
And the collection plate doesn't even need to be passed.
This one is definitely on me!
BAJ--
You sure you don't need anything for the 'building fund' or some love offering??
LOL
Nah, I'd probably just squander the money on an Aston Martin and some kind of scandal, then find myself sleeping outside in my ol' pick-up after my wife kicked my @$$ out of the house.
Thanks anyhow. LMAO!
Yes It is real positivethey think that they will get a welfare check in ever mail box.You know they are entitled to it.
George I mean Ty. Did you think of that joke all by yourself?
I would thinik most African American youngsters are proud of Barack Obama-- so why wouldn't they feel good about their future? This survey is no big deal.
I pray for more whites like this man!
Andrew M. Manis is associate professor of history at Macon State College in Georgia and wrote this for an editorial in the Macon Telegraph.
Andrew M. Manis: When Are WE Going to Get Over It?
For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it?
Now I want to ask:
"When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?
Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes", "Sarah Palin Says, It's Time To Reload", or Glenn Beck saying, "We All Need To Grab Our Guns And Get Ready", should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in "Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."
Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.
We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps. But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.
But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven what conservatives are always saying -- that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that school children from Maine to California are talking about wanting to "assassinate Obama."
Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?"
How long before we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us?
How long until we white people can - once and for all - get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color?
How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior?
How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?
How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?
I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?
How long before we start "living out the true meaning" of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that "red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God's sight?
Until November 4, 2008, I didn't believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem.
But here's my three-point plan:
First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built, I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from us white people.
Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama.
Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of our damnable color prejudice,
"We HAVE overcome."
...wow.
Fear and ignorance is a hard thing to get past for some. Some of the posts on this very thread is a shinning example of it.
Here's the bright side. As toxic as they are (the whiners), they are only a small minority who are not proud of what this country as a whole have accomplished. Although we have a long way to go, we have made major strides and we all should be proud of that.