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[siddx]

I'm taking a doctorate level class right now on socioeconomic issues in education and one of things we talked about recently is the fact that there is an assumption that minorities perform worse so they are given less help and also less push to achieve because "why bother, they aren't as smart/able. So it becomes this cycle where because of stereotypes or assumptions about their abilities, they aren't given the attention and support needed to perform at or above general expectations and counter those assumptions.
When you shift to areas with a low minority population the assumptions take on a different form in that teachers, administrators, parents and other students assume that the poor kids are stupid and that they can't perform at the same level. So once again these students, acutely aware of the fact people are expecting them to perform at a lower level, very often do.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Haha, when you post a picture as suggestive as this in the OP, the thread basically writes itself.

Looks at your avatar.....

 

[Esch]

So its ingrained in the black mans DNA to run from his children, something the evil white man bio-engineered hundreds of years ago? Is that what you are saying?

No, genetics isnt mentioned.

 

[BeEatNU]

We're behind the curve culturally. I mean, let's be real. The clock for black folks in America started ticking in 1964. Prior to that, there was an insane amount of social limitations in terms of what a black person could aspire to be. Where they could work. What jobs they could have. Where they could go to school. I know some people don't like history being brought up, but we do not live in a bubble where the past didn't impact out present. So I'm not going to pretend that centuries of being denied education/employment opportunities in the very country you're trying to live in isn't going to take a toll on a group of people. It's also a problem that existed for many generations. It stands to reason it's going to take a few generations to fix.

Throwing money won't fix it. As my momma told me when I was a kid..."You have to remember, you're black. There's just things people are going to assume about you because of the color of your skin. You're going to HAVE to work twice as hard for half as much".

so true.

I'm not 100%black but I still had to work twice as hard but realistically I been in every shitty possible scenario available. You gotta have that strive to do better yourself and want better things for your life to actually be ahead of the curve

 

[Log4Girlz]

The Thug/Gangsta mentality is so deeply ingrained in so many youths today that I don't see this problem being solved in our lifetimes. Focusing on school and later a career path is an alien concept to so many nowadays.

 

[TUSR]

Where I grew up the only sketchy people were actually the white males and their trash-tastic girlfriends.

Maybe they just think they have to act like thugs to make it in life?

Don't want to sound racist here, but I think it all comes down to their idols and who they look up to.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

so true.

I'm not 100%black but I still had to work twice as hard but realistically I been in every shitty possible scenario available. You gotta have that strive to do better yourself and want better things for your life to actually be ahead of the curve

When I was a kid, hearing that from my mom really, really upset me. I had no context of "race". People were people. I didn't know I'm apparently suppose to separate people based off of color, ethnicity, gender,...etc

It was a completely alien concept to me. I just couldn't grasp it and I remember being upset at how UNFAIR it seemed.

Having grown up, you learn to accept the world the way it is. Not the way I think it should be. She was right.

 

[SonnyBoy]

There’s too many issues to fix and the state can’t fund them. The easy way would just be to have every mother ensure that there are positive black role models in the child’s life. Their mentorship makes a great difference and it’s obvious that a woman cannot always teach a boy to be a man. It’s a fact. . . there are just things that we don’t know; however, due to previously stated facts. . . that isn’t always possible and every mother doesn’t care. The state/city is shutting down a lot of community centers where a lot of youth go after school to hang out or play ball. They’ve been statistically shown to make a great difference. AAU and other after school/athletic programs are also great, but they require funds to keep afloat. In the midst of an economic crisis, the state begins to wipe out these programs out. So, it really requires time and money. Some concepts are really basic, but people don’t want to take the time to execute them.

 

[SmokyDave]

When I was a kid, hearing that from my mom really, really upset me. I had no context of "race". People were people. I didn't know I'm apparently suppose to separate people based off of color, ethnicity, gender,...etc

It was a completely alien concept to me. I just couldn't grasp it and I remember being upset at how UNFAIR it seemed.

Having grown up, you learn to accept the world the way it is. Not the way I think it should be. She was right.

Do you think that hearing that tainted your perceptions of the world around you?

If my mum had told me I'd face problems because we were poor, I'm not sure how that would've affected the way I saw things. I feel like I'd have been more defensive whenever any topics involving money or status came up. I wasn't really aware of the class system until I was in school.

 

[DominoKid]

Nothing. We're fucked!

Spoiler

(not serious)

 

[Arozay]

Bring on the edu-tainment rap music!

 

[Londa]

the percentage of black males that graduate is just plain sad....

tbh no matter how hard you try you can't make a child want to do well in school.

I remember in school there only being one or two in my entire class that stayed on honor roll and got A's on their tests. Those people got made fun of for the most part. But they had the last laugh when they left high school with scholarships.

 

[Dunk#7]

The emasculation of the black man was engineered during slavery. The emasculation of the black man is still an issue in black society. But yall can keep blaming rap music.

I'm not saying that every issue that plagues blacks is coming from slavery. But that is the starting to point and to ignore what was done, does not give u a complete understanding of what's going on today.

I cannot stand people who use their childhood as a crutch much less people who use their ancestry as a crutch. It is such a cop out.

My mom is a drug addict who is currently in a nursing home and ran my father into bankruptcy and ruined my older brother's credit ratings by taking out credit cards in his name. My 18th birthday was spent on the run avoiding a guy my mother had met in jail that had threatened to kill my father for not forcing me to go see my mother.

My last name is German, but nothing that my ancestors did has an effect on me today.

Everyday you have numerous choices. Just make the right ones and you will be fine.

It comes down to personal responsibility. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore. Everybody feels entitled to everything and wants to blame anything that they do wrong on somebody else or their own past.


I know I will get flamed for this, but there is no way that the slavery that your ancestors went though, while it is atrocious and terrible, has any effect on your actions today. That would be like me blaming my current economic standing on my great grandfather's actions.

 

[Mr. B Natural]

At this point, the only solution is a cultural reset, which is not a solution because such a thing is impossible to do without war or something absolutely horrible happening to a large group of people or some kind of extremely unconstitutional and morally repugnant freedom killing action, which I am not for and nobody would be for.

 

[SonnyBoy]

If you truly study this issue you'd see you could not be more wrong.


In the 50's/60's, black families were every bit as tight as white families. Somewhere around the beginning of the 70's things changed, and have only gotten worse since.

So you're saying that none of the effects of the emasculation of the black man are around today? That's exactly where the mammy figure stems from, and that is still seen throughout media/culture.

As far as the 70's.... Drugs hit. Especially heroin, where I live in Baltimore....

 

[ChocolateCupcakes]

I cannot stand people who use their childhood as a crutch much less people who use their ancestry as a crutch. It is such a cop out.

My mom is a drug addict who is currently in a nursing home and ran my father into bankruptcy and ruined my older brother's credit ratings by taking out credit cards in his name. My 18th birthday was spent on the run avoiding a guy my mother had met in jail that had threatened to kill my father for not forcing me to go see my mother.

My last name is German, but nothing that my ancestors did has an effect on me today.

Everyday you have numerous choices. Just make the right ones and you will be fine.

It comes down to personal responsibility. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore. Everybody feels entitled to everything and wants to blame anything that they do wrong on somebody else or their own past.


I know I will get flamed for this, but there is no way that the slavery that your ancestors went though, while it is atrocious and terrible, has any effect on your actions today. That would be like me blaming my current economic standing on my great grandfather's actions.

You make a point about the entitlement that I will agree with but saying that slavery has nothing to do with black peoples current culture is not right.

 

[Londa]

Did you know that in African American Art History class they still show those Mammy and black face images? Why? African American's did no create that art. But yet in college teachers are forced to cover those images.

 

[Dunk#7]

You make a point about the entitlement that I will agree with but saying that slavery has nothing to do with black peoples current culture is not right.

The slavery of the past and the racism of today are two totally different topics.

The slavery has no effect today, but there is still an effect of racism

 

[Londa]

The slavery of the past and the racism of today are two totally different topics.

The slavery has no effect today, but there is still an effect of racism

And how do you know this? Because its 2011 and well its 2011?

Also, would you say this same statement 30-40 years ago?

 

[SonnyBoy]

I cannot stand people who use their childhood as a crutch much less people who use their ancestry as a crutch. It is such a cop out.

A crutch? Dude, we're having a discussion. Nobody is using it as a crutch. The effects of those actions are still prevalent in the black community in some ways. I'm sorry that it makes you feel some kind of way that slavery has a hand in this. I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings or makes you feel uncomfortable. But if people truly want to discuss or solve any issue, everything has to be put on the table. I'm sure it's a lot more comfortable for you and others just to blame it on rap music. It's funny hearing people outside of the plight try to tell those of us living in it, what's really happening. LMAO

I have a brother who has a different father than me. His father was NOT around and mine was. We went down to separate paths and the father figure had everything to do with it. Even tho my father was there, I had to take personal responsibility for my own actions. The thing is, I don't disagree with you entirely, but I do disagree with completely ignoring the root of some of these issues. We cannot do anything about what happened, nobody here is mad about it, but it has to be discussed.

 

[Mr. B Natural]

So you're saying that none of the effects of the emasculation of the black man are around today? That's exactly where the mammy figure stems from, and that is still seen throughout media/culture.

As far as the 70's.... Drugs hit. Especially heroin, where I live in Baltimore....

The mammy culture stemmed from the fact that black women took care of privileged white kids for generations and therefore were wiser as mother figures and "lived more true life" than white people did. It has nothing to do with black men and their roles in it because they had no role in it. They were out working or doing whatever, white mom and daughter didn't see them or care and thus stories about those white people didn't have black men in it. I fail to see how that emasculates in any way.


And yes, I agree that drugs are the catalyst of what we see today. It destroyed the interconnected positive influences between black communities and well, pretty much made what we have here today possible.

 

[DrFunk]

I cannot stand people who use their childhood as a crutch much less people who use their ancestry as a crutch. It is such a cop out.

My mom is a drug addict who is currently in a nursing home and ran my father into bankruptcy and ruined my older brother's credit ratings by taking out credit cards in his name. My 18th birthday was spent on the run avoiding a guy my mother had met in jail that had threatened to kill my father for not forcing me to go see my mother.

My last name is German, but nothing that my ancestors did has an effect on me today.

Everyday you have numerous choices. Just make the right ones and you will be fine.

It comes down to personal responsibility. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore. Everybody feels entitled to everything and wants to blame anything that they do wrong on somebody else or their own past.


I know I will get flamed for this, but there is no way that the slavery that your ancestors went though, while it is atrocious and terrible, has any effect on your actions today. That would be like me blaming my current economic standing on my great grandfather's actions.

Flamed? I somewhat agree with you, we have all we need to become productive members of society. Granted, it may be harder for some than others, but that's with all races, not just with blacks.

My opinion may seem unpopular, but we can't blame the white man for everything anymore. Racism exists whether you like it or not. You can still prove successful in spite of it.

 

[polyh3dron]

The shit that all these rappers say and the whole rap image is a symptom, not the disease.

 

[Takuan]

Don't want to sound racist here, but I think it all comes down to their idols and who they look up to.

The problem is that their fathers aren't around to be their idols, so they latch onto celebrity figures who preach ignorance. I used to think rap was a significant problem, but am now quite certain that having a responsible father figure around will help kids realize that rappers are only selling an image, a fantasy. It all begins at home. I don't know how we keep family units together, though, with generations of broken families out there, but putting money into the ghetto could help with stability?

Given time, hopefully, ignorant black people will stop calling educated, successful black men "Uncle Toms" and such, and they'll be alright. The day the concept of "acting black" no longer has any real meaning is a day worth looking forward to, and one worthy of celebration.

 

[MWS Natural]

Tbh, what does GAF even know about Black people, from what they see on TV or WSHH?

My thoughts exactly. You are asking a board of probably 80% white males what they think the solution is for under performing black males. I'm shocked it's been this civil so far. There are better forums and literature out there if you really want an answer to this question.

 

[Clevinger]

I cannot stand people who use their childhood as a crutch much less people who use their ancestry as a crutch. It is such a cop out.

My mom is a drug addict who is currently in a nursing home and ran my father into bankruptcy and ruined my older brother's credit ratings by taking out credit cards in his name. My 18th birthday was spent on the run avoiding a guy my mother had met in jail that had threatened to kill my father for not forcing me to go see my mother.

My last name is German, but nothing that my ancestors did has an effect on me today.

Everyday you have numerous choices. Just make the right ones and you will be fine.

It comes down to personal responsibility. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore. Everybody feels entitled to everything and wants to blame anything that they do wrong on somebody else or their own past.


I know I will get flamed for this, but there is no way that the slavery that your ancestors went though, while it is atrocious and terrible, has any effect on your actions today. That would be like me blaming my current economic standing on my great grandfather's actions.

Personal responsibility is only one part of the equation that includes socioeconomic variables and luck.

 

[Londa]

The problem is that their fathers aren't around to be their idols, so they latch onto celebrity figures who preach ignorance. I used to think rap was a significant problem, but am now quite certain that having a responsible father figure around will help kids realize that rappers are only selling an image, a fantasy. It all begins at home. I don't know how we keep family units together, though, with generations of broken families out there, but putting money into the ghetto could help with stability?

Given time, hopefully, ignorant black people will stop calling educated, successful black men "Uncle Toms" and such, and they'll be alright. The day the concept of "acting black" no longer has any real meaning is a day worth looking forward to, and one worthy of celebration.

would it blow your mind if I said that me, a black person, was raised by their single father? Just wondering.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Do you think that hearing that tainted your perceptions of the world around you?

If my mum had told me I'd face problems because we were poor, I'm not sure how that would've affected the way I saw things. I feel like I'd have been more defensive whenever any topics involving money or status came up. I wasn't really aware of the class system until I was in school.

Honestly, it instilled upon me the notion that life isn't fair. And that some things aren't right. But as I got older I was able to put the meaning of her words in context of what I experienced and it ended up helping to keep my disciplined. Still to this day.

 

[Lebron]

Both my parents had graduate degrees before I was born in '87 and pretty successive careers, so not doing well in school or getting in trouble with the law simply was out of the question. They came down hard on us and I'm glad they did. All of us have been Honor Roll/Dean's List scholars all our life and haven't had any run in with the law outside of getting a speeding ticket.

It really does have to start and end at the home for Black folks. If the parents don't step up, then all is really lost. Yes, the community needs to change for the better too, but the real impact will come from the home.

 

[Dunk#7]

A crutch? Dude, we're having a discussion. Nobody is using it as a crutch. The effects of those actions are still prevalent in the black community in some ways. I'm sorry that it makes you feel some kind of way that slavery has a hand in this. I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings or makes you feel uncomfortable. But if people truly want to discuss or solve any issue, everything has to be put on the table. I'm sure it's a lot more comfortable for you and others just to blame it on rap music. It's funny hearing people outside of the plight try to tell those of us living in it, what's really happening. LMAO

I have a brother who has a different father than me. His father was NOT around and mine was. We went down to separate paths and the father figure had everything to do with it. Even tho my father was there, I had to take personal responsibility for my own actions. The thing is, I don't disagree with you entirely, but I do disagree with completely ignoring the root of some of these issues. We cannot do anything about what happened, nobody here is mad about it, but it has to be discussed.

I am not really mad either. You have brought up some good points.

I personally like a lot of the meaningful rap music on the market. It is the only thing I listen to, but I cannot stand the ignorant pop/rap ramblings of the majority of today's artists. I am not blaming anything on rap music. Same reason I do not blame violence on video games. The concept is ridiculous. I have listened to rap music and played violent video games my entire life and it did not cause me to follow what was being depicted in those forms of media

As far as your friend goes that also has nothing to do with slavery. It has to do with his father leaving. That is not a slavery issue. It is a personal issue with the father and that family.

 

[AiTM]

The emasculation of the black man was engineered during slavery. The emasculation of the black man is still an issue in black society. But yall can keep blaming rap music.

I'm not saying that every issue that plagues blacks is coming from slavery. But that is the starting to point and to ignore what was done, does not give u a complete understanding of what's going on today.

How has slavery directly affected any black man living in the US today?

 

[FoneBone]

I cannot stand people who use their childhood as a crutch much less people who use their ancestry as a crutch. It is such a cop out.

My mom is a drug addict who is currently in a nursing home and ran my father into bankruptcy and ruined my older brother's credit ratings by taking out credit cards in his name. My 18th birthday was spent on the run avoiding a guy my mother had met in jail that had threatened to kill my father for not forcing me to go see my mother.

My last name is German, but nothing that my ancestors did has an effect on me today.

Everyday you have numerous choices. Just make the right ones and you will be fine.

It comes down to personal responsibility. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore. Everybody feels entitled to everything and wants to blame anything that they do wrong on somebody else or their own past.


I know I will get flamed for this, but there is no way that the slavery that your ancestors went though, while it is atrocious and terrible, has any effect on your actions today. That would be like me blaming my current economic standing on my great grandfather's actions.

Who's using it as a crutch? Obviously "personal responsibility" is important, but it can only do so much when structural inequality is as deep as it is.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

The shit that all these rappers say and the whole rap image is a symptom, not the disease.

It has nothing to do with rap. The VAST majority of rap music is listened to and purchased by young Caucasian males.

 

[Dunk#7]

Personal responsibility is only one part of the equation that includes socioeconomic variables and luck.

Did you not see my other post?

Racism of today is entirely different from blaming slavery that you were not involved in.

Racism is still a terrible issue and yes I am positive I have benefited from being white. I do not disagree with you on that topic

 

[AiTM]

My thoughts exactly. You are asking a board of probably 80% white males what they think the solution is for under performing black males. I'm shocked it's been this civil so far. There are better forums and literature out there if you really want an answer to this question.

Well its obviously a real issue with no hope of being alleviated in the near future, probably only getting worse. Plus if my tax money is going towards paying for a wasted education I think I should have some say.

 

[Dunk#7]

Who's using it as a crutch? Obviously "personal responsibility" is important, but it can only do so much when structural inequality is as deep as it is.

YET AGAIN

Please differentiate between racism today and slavery effects

Racism today does play a major role in the structure of society. It is terrible, but true. It is slowly changing, but I do not think it will ever go away entirely. It happens in every society with people of differing looks. It wouldn't even have to be skin color. If there was a minority of people missing their left ear they would be looked at differently.

 

[Takuan]

would it blow your mind if I said that me, a black person, was raised by their single father? Just wondering.

Not at all. I think having a responsible male figure is DOUBLY important for females.

I'm personally curious to see the percentage of strippers/pornstars with absentee mothers vs those with absentee fathers.

 

[Ducarmel]

The problem is that their fathers aren't around to be their idols, so they latch onto celebrity figures who preach ignorance. I used to think rap was a significant problem, but am now quite certain that having a responsible father figure around will help kids realize that rappers are only selling an image, a fantasy. It all begins at home. I don't know how we keep family units together, though, with generations of broken families out there, but putting money into the ghetto could help with stability?

Given time, hopefully, ignorant black people will stop calling educated, successful black men "Uncle Toms" and such, and they'll be alright. The day the concept of "acting black" no longer has any real meaning is a day worth looking forward to, and one worthy of celebration.

I mentioned this early in the thread, in Pennsylvania some schools were trying anew program to give black kids the opportunity to be mentored by a positive black figure in school during homeroom hours, because the data they collected showed it was there attitude towards success was the problem for their low test scores and general negative attitude.

GAF blasted the program for being racist. Despite the program showing positive results and also being race neutral so all students got the same treatment if they wanted to participate.

 

[captmcblack]

the problems are too numerous to possibly list them all

1. cultural
2. family structure
3. peer pressure
4. stigma of how non-blacks view blacks
5. stigma of how blacks view themselves
6. poverty
7. educational opportunities
8. financial opportunities
9. lack of access to capital
10. apathetic leadership to the black's plight/situation
11. vicious cycles
12. media portrayal

So who's to blame? Honestly, the country has failed black people from day one and black people have failed themselves, for the most part, a long time ago.

Can the situation be "fixed"? Yes, you can fix anything, no matter how bleak the outlook is.

This.

And black people have failed themselves since 1964...we did so much work, fighting together and fighting tirelessly - fighting selflessly - only to slow down and stop after that great civil rights victory. Our ranks were shattered, and our collective resolve was beaten down by all of the various systemic/structural issues in America that are in place against black people. Even the bonds we shared with other struggling minority groups who once may have fought with us, like Hispanics, have frayed as non-minorities have created the concept of a "model minority".

Sometimes, it seems like it's "anything's better than blacks" in America...so in that way, not much has changed.

The issues we face collectively are going to take some generations to fix, and that's because the game just got started for black people. Our ancestry was destroyed, our families destroyed, and our legal rights literally didn't exist until the 60s. We have to fight together like the 60s never happened, and it starts with that family and financial stability at home. It's a lot easier to survive when you have a mom and dad that give a shit, a belly that isn't rumbling, and the ability to deal with money troubles in the family

 

[The Albatross]

The emasculation of the black man was engineered during slavery. The emasculation of the black man is still an issue in black society. But yall can keep blaming rap music.

I think that one post blamed rap music, out of like 150.

 

[samus i am]

Gaf is incapable of intelligent discussion regarding African-americans. Three pages tops, before thinly veiled racism turns to blatant racism.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

I cannot stand people who use their childhood as a crutch much less people who use their ancestry as a crutch. It is such a cop out.

My mom is a drug addict who is currently in a nursing home and ran my father into bankruptcy and ruined my older brother's credit ratings by taking out credit cards in his name. My 18th birthday was spent on the run avoiding a guy my mother had met in jail that had threatened to kill my father for not forcing me to go see my mother.

My last name is German, but nothing that my ancestors did has an effect on me today.

Everyday you have numerous choices. Just make the right ones and you will be fine.

It comes down to personal responsibility. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore. Everybody feels entitled to everything and wants to blame anything that they do wrong on somebody else or their own past.


I know I will get flamed for this, but there is no way that the slavery that your ancestors went though, while it is atrocious and terrible, has any effect on your actions today. That would be like me blaming my current economic standing on my great grandfather's actions.

Fuck slavery man. Let's talk about from the DAY the slaves were freed (1863) up until about the signing of the civil rights act (1964). You know...that 101 year period where blacks were TRYING to assimilate but DENIED the ability? Do you know who Lloyd L. Gaines was? Because that's what happened to many people that fought an entire social system that sought to deny them educational and employment opportunities.

I'll come out and say it: Jim Crow and Segregation did FAR more harm to black people in terms to destroying their social progress than slavery did.

You're right, slavery doesn't have an affect today. But over 100 years of being denied the right to vote, education, employment opportunities, social status...etc that still reverberates today. Does it guarantee blacks can't rise above it? Fuck no. I'm living proof every time I wake up and go about my day. No one is saying that, but I'm not going to sit here and allow you to attempt to completely ignore the past either and pretend the social policies then haven't played a detrimental role in where we are now.

 

[evilromero]

Anti-intellectualism. Performing well in school is sometimes seen as 'acting white' and therefore terribly uncool. I'm sure there are a million other reasons.

67% coming from single parent homes is a crazy number.

This could be a big part of it. I think holding on to a tightly knit community-based culture is keeping many individuals from integrating with their peers.

 

[Sky Chief]

Take inspiration from people like Herman Cain, not mock them and act like they aren't black.

 

[SonnyBoy]

My thoughts exactly. You are asking a board of probably 80% white males what they think the solution is for under performing black males. I'm shocked it's been this civil so far. There are better forums and literature out there if you really want an answer to this question.

LOL, you gotta just read some of it and laugh it off.

How has slavery directly affected any black man living in the US today?

There's no clear cut answer that you can just google and find. Now if you'd like, I'll share with you something I was recently reading. Basically it stated that the lack of self-worth engrained into blacks during slavery still has it's mental effects today. A lack of self-esteem often leads to destructive behavior and a belief that you'll never be accepted as an equal member of society. The mind is a powerful thing. So while even tho slavery is gone, the effects of it are still around mentally.

On a personal note, all I heard growing up is that you'll have to work twice as hard then a white dude that's 50% less qualified than you. So yes, those ideals that you're not equal is still prevalent in the community. And please don't give me any bull like, the parents are wrong for teaching that because they're just passing down to us what they went through. Even though our situation is "better" than theirs, it still happens....

 

[Mammoth Jones]

This.

And black people have failed themselves since 1964...we did so much work, fighting together and fighting tirelessly - fighting selflessly - only to slow down and stop after that great civil rights victory. Our ranks were shattered, and our collective resolve was beaten down by all of the various systemic/structural issues in America that are in place against black people. Even the bonds we shared with other struggling minority groups who once may have fought with us, like Hispanics, have frayed as non-minorities have created the concept of a "model minority".

Sometimes, it seems like it's "anything's better than blacks" in America...so in that way, not much has changed.

The issues we face collectively are going to take some generations to fix, and that's because the game just got started for black people. Our ancestry was destroyed, our families destroyed, and our legal rights literally didn't exist until the 60s. We have to fight together like the 60s never happened, and it starts with that family and financial stability at home. It's a lot easier to survive when you have a mom and dad that give a shit, a belly that isn't rumbling, and the ability to deal with money troubles in the family

Fucking truth. I was discussing this with my mother. She basically said the marching she did was wasted on many this generation that just don't "get it" and are apathetic.

 

[dave is ok]

Take inspiration from people like Herman Cain, not mock them and act like they aren't black.

Herman Cain wants to triple their taxes and make it even harder for them to rise above their current situation.

 

[Londa]

Take inspiration from people like Herman Cain, not mock them and act like they aren't black.

whaaatt?

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Herman Cain wants to triple their taxes and make it even harder for them to rise above their current situation.

And that's fine. Don't vote for him for his policies. I know I won't. But when people make snide remarks about "house negro republicans", it damages us all.

 

[ScOULaris]

My thoughts exactly. You are asking a board of probably 80% white males what they think the solution is for under performing black males. I'm shocked it's been this civil so far. There are better forums and literature out there if you really want an answer to this question.

Okay, forgive me if I'm an idiot, but... Am I the only one who gets the impression that blacks are actually very well-represented here on GAF? Like proportionally more than a lot of gaming forums?

*ducks into bomb shelter and latches the fucking door*