Support NeoGAF

[Blackace]

But what does that involve? Who do we point the fingers at? White people? White Americans? White Americans with ancestors that can be directly linked to the slave trade?

Once those fingers are pointed, what then? Do we approach those people for an apology? For financial restitution / compensation?

I'm not sure how it 'rocks the boat' either. Is there a single American alive today that isn't aware of the slave trade?

I think, because humans suck, once we started explaining the real affects of slavery some people might resort to violence or revenge instead of taking the knowledge and trying to get ahead... Everyone is aware of the slave trade but as you can see in this thread "it happened a long time ago, it's an excuse and so on" line of thinking is strong..

I believe it is too late to ask for compensation but sugar coating the entire affair and giving blacks the shortest month of the year doesnt help at all..

 

[Shurs]

in here we have people that are not directly effected pretend to be experts about something they do not really understand. They use what they see on TV to gauge their understanding and anyone who is directly effected that tells them their wrong is making excuses.

You got me, dude. I've never met or interacted with a black person before. I didn't have a black roommate during my freshman year of college.

White people dont have single parent homes?? Snap! Wow you won.

Where do you think the lower expectations cone from? The fact that there is such a gap. If people were taught why, they could see that we need to work harder, being free doesn't make us equal yet.. Having rights didn't end the civil rights movement....

But it's all a crutch.. smh...

I'm not trying to win anything here. You're now putting words in my mouth (of course there are single-parent white homes) while falling back to the same argument you started with. There's really no point in going on.

 

[Londa]

No doubt, no doubt.



But what does that involve? Who do we point the fingers at? White people? White Americans? White Americans with ancestors that can be directly linked to the slave trade?

Once those fingers are pointed, what then? Do we approach those people for an apology? For financial restitution / compensation?

I'm not sure how it 'rocks the boat' either. Is there a single American alive today that isn't aware of the slave trade?



Better that than standing on the sidelines calling names and pointing fingers. Your contributions pretty much all boil down to 'get a clue'.

How does Measley fit into your little rant?

"in here we have people" not "All people in here".

Measley and his friend SSJ don't need to be mention. I've already talk to them. Just go back a couple of pages.

You got me, dude. I've never met or interacted with a black person before. I didn't have a black roommate during my freshman year of college.



I'm not trying to win anything here. You're now putting words in my mouth (of course there are single-parent white homes) while falling back to the same argument you started with. There's really no point in going on.

You want a cookie and a "black people expert" certificate for having a black roommate years ago and occasionally saying something to a black person?

 

[Blackace]

I'm not trying to win anything here. You're now putting words in my mouth (of course there are single-parent white homes) while falling back to the same argument you started with. There's really no point in going on.

Why should my argument have changed when there nothing to change it?

 

[Shurs]

want a cookie and a "black people expert" certificate for having a black roommate years ago and occasionally saying something to a black person?

Are you serious?

What's your deal, man?

I am, by no means, claiming to be an expert.

Don't act like you know me, where I come from or who I know.

Why should my argument have changed when there nothing to change it?

I'm not saying you should change anything, Blackace.

 

[Londa]

Are you serious?

What's your deal, man?

I am, by no means, claiming to be an expert.

Don't act like you know me, where I come from or who I know.

I'm not acting like I know you. You said yourself that you had a black roommate and have talked to black people before. So I'm asking you if you want a clap for that or something.

I say this:

in here we have people that are not directly effected pretend to be experts about something they do not really understand.

and you mention your black roommate and your occasional run in with people who are black. So I assumed your was using that to say that you have an understanding on this subject from your experience with your black roommate for one year and talking to random black people from time to time.

 

[Dead Man]

I think, because humans suck, once we started explaining the real affects of slavery some people might resort to violence or revenge instead of taking the knowledge and trying to get ahead... Everyone is aware of the slave trade but as you can see in this thread "it happened a long time ago, it's an excuse and so on" line of thinking is strong..

I believe it is too late to ask for compensation but sugar coating the entire affair and giving blacks the shortest month of the year doesnt help at all..

I'm sorry, but I would like a reply to my initial question, since you seemed to deem it worthy of a small response, maybe you could give me a better one? What then? I agree the reasons for the situation are to a great deal a result of historical forces, including slavery and institutionalised racism. I agree that many people downplay that. I am asking two questions I guess. Given that, what are solutions to the situation. And why do you think there is any way that everyone will come even close to agreement on the causes of such a complex interaction of policies and people over several hundred years?

 

[MrHicks]

I think, because humans suck, once we started explaining the real affects of slavery some people might resort to violence or revenge instead of taking the knowledge and trying to get ahead... Everyone is aware of the slave trade but as you can see in this thread "it happened a long time ago, it's an excuse and so on" line of thinking is strong..

I believe it is too late to ask for compensation but sugar coating the entire affair and giving blacks the shortest month of the year doesnt help at all..

native americans lost the entire continent and 90+% of their race is dead and all they got as "compensation" was a few small "semi-independent" reservations

compensation is a pipedream
nothing too late about it it was never gonna happen

 

[Shurs]

I'm not acting like I know you. You said yourself that you had a black roommate and have talked to black people before. So I'm asking you if you want a clap for that or something.

It was in response to you saying that the white people in this thread only know black people from TV shows, which is presumptuous and, frankly, a bit insulting.

 

[Londa]

It was in response to you saying that people only know black people from TV shows, which is presumptuous and, frankly, a bit insulting.

I guess you didn't see some of the comments in here that used popular media to judge the situation?

 

[Shurs]

I guess you didn't see some of the comments in here that used popular media to judge the situation?

So it was purely coincidental that your post saying that followed one of mine?

 

[SonnyBoy]

what are solutions to the situation.

One thing that would help is more funding. Any time budget cuts occur in the city, the first thing to go are rec-centers, after-school activities, mentor programs. These are the programs that are filling the voids of a missing parent, these are the programs that keep children away from additional negative influence. That's one solution to the problem but it'll never happen.

 

[onipex]

single-parent homes.

anti-intellectualism.

"good enough" attitude.

lowered expectations.

Pretty much the slave mentality.

People have to pull themselves out of it though. I've seen it a lot growing up in Baltimore, MD. People choose to stay in the mess that they are in. Some try hard to get out of it though. Crappy schools, bad parents, and run down neighborhood don't hold back everyone.

 

[SonnyBoy]

compensation is a pipedream

Oh, I agree and thats why any thought of ever "making it right" is also a pipe dream. It can't be made right. This country was built off of free labor (irony), none of that's coming back.

 

[SonnyBoy]

People have to pull themselves out of it though. I've seen it a lot growing up in Baltimore, MD. People choose to stay in the mess that they are in. Some try hard to get out of it though. Crappy schools, bad parents, and run down neighborhood don't hold back everyone.

Wow, never seen another Baltimore resident here. I'm in NE Baltimore, how about you?

 

[Dead Man]

One thing that would help is more funding. Any time budget cuts occur in the city, the first thing to go are rec-centers, after-school activities, mentor programs. These are the programs that are filling the voids of a missing parent, these are the programs that keep children away from additional negative influence. That's one solution to the problem but it'll never happen.

Yeah. It seems like a no brainer. Lower costs in the long run, less crime, more educated population, but it seems to be politically toxic.

Edit: I'm out for the night, hope you guys have fun in here, maybe solve some problems yeah?

 

[Londa]

So it was purely coincidental that your post saying that followed one of mine?

yes, I was thinking of a combinations of people in here.

I think its unfair to say slavery isn't a direct effect as if the people saying this have even experience the day to day life of a black person in America. Try getting a job with a black name. Slavery took away our African names, usually we are looked downed on for not having a white name. Yet an Asian or Indian can easily get a job and have a name that comes from their culture. I have had friends tell me that they go to interviews and the interviewer will look at them with shock. It's because they didn't expect a black person to have a name like Ronald or George.

 

[Blackace]

I'm sorry, but I would like a reply to my initial question, since you seemed to deem it worthy of a small response, maybe you could give me a better one? What then? I agree the reasons for the situation are to a great deal a result of historical forces, including slavery and institutionalised racism. I agree that many people downplay that. I am asking two questions I guess. Given that, what are solutions to the situation. And why do you think there is any way that everyone will come even close to agreement on the causes of such a complex interaction of policies and people over several hundred years?

Education is by far the best weapon... See how far we have come with the decks stacked so high.. Learn about the disparities and move from there.. I believe I addressed this earlier just not directly to your post

 

[JGS]

I'm sorry, but I would like a reply to my initial question, since you seemed to deem it worthy of a small response, maybe you could give me a better one? What then? I agree the reasons for the situation are to a great deal a result of historical forces, including slavery and institutionalised racism. I agree that many people downplay that. I am asking two questions I guess. Given that, what are solutions to the situation. And why do you think there is any way that everyone will come even close to agreement on the causes of such a complex interaction of policies and people over several hundred years?

This part doesn't matter too much (Since it is impossible to resolve) but it's the reason that solutions are never presented effectively. We know that blacks aren't underperforming for some evolutionary/genetic reason, so it's definitely solveable. I think seperating the issues may help a bit.

For example, being a single mother is not hindering black women from entering school or finding jobs. So what present day problems are hindering the black man from doing so- especially since it's not hard in a good economy to get a job? This is where one cannot go back to slavery or entertainment.

I don't believe that legalizing drugs will be the windfall to the black community everyone else does, but if others do, explain why. How will it empower black men to man up, stay in school, & change except that it keeps them out of prison?

 

[SonnyBoy]

So what present day problems are hindering the black man from doing so- especially since it's not hard in a good economy to get a job?

The lack of a consistent male role-model. Most boys use their fathers as a bar that they have to match, if not exceed. Humans fill voids in their lives with something/anything and it's usually not good.

 

[samus i am]

Whites and African Americans report using and selling drugs at similar rates, but African American go to prison for drug offenses at higher rates than whites. In 2002 African Americans were admitted to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of whites in the 198 largest counties in the country.

The results of the national longitudinal survey of youth showed that 13% of African American youth reported selling drugs (compared with 17% of white youth), however in 2003 African American youth were arrested for drug abuse violations at nearly twice the rate of whites.

I am shocked that people can look at the information that Karma Kramer just posted and derive any other information out of it than the blatant truth, institutionalized racism is REAL. It is damn near policy.

 

[Shurs]

yes, I was thinking of a combinations of people in here.

I think its unfair to say slavery isn't a direct effect as if the people saying this have even experience the day to day life of a black person in America. Try getting a job with a black name. Slavery took away our African names, usually we are looked downed on for not having a white name. Yet an Asian or Indian can easily get a job and have a name that comes from their culture. I have had friends tell me that they go to interviews and the interviewer will look at them with shock. It's because they didn't expect a black person to have a name like Ronald or George.

Obviously, slavery has had an effect on where black people are today.

The point I was trying to come around to was that, at some point, someone in the home is going to have to draw a line in the sand and say: "This is what I expect from you. I will not stand for anything less."

This is what happened in the home of my college roommate's parents when they were young. Both of his parents grew up poor, but their parents (his grandparents) decided that in order to get ahead, their kids needed to graduate from college. With that expectation in place both of Ben's (my old roommate) parents graduated from college and went on to become professors at the school I attended. When they had Ben, and his brother Mike, the expectation was already there. "We graduated from college. This is something you have to do, too." So now it wasn't even considered a special thing for the kids. It will likely be the same way for Ben and Mike's kids, as well.

I know that this is easier said than done, but I've seen the results first hand and it does work.

 

[Londa]

Obviously, slavery has had an effect on where black people are today.

The point I was trying to come around to was that, at some point, someone in the home is going to have to draw a line in the sand and say: "This is what I expect from you. I will not stand for anything less."

This is what happened in the home of my college roommate's parents when they were young. Both of his parents grew up poor, but their parents (his grandparents) decided that in order to get ahead, their kids needed to graduate from college. With that expectation in place both of Ben's (my old roommate) parents graduated from college and went on to become professors at the school I attended. When they had Ben, and his brother Mike, the expectation was already there. "We graduated from college. This is something you have to do, too." So now it wasn't even considered a special thing for the kids. It will likely be the same way for Ben and Mike's kids, as well.

I know that this is easier said than done, but I've seen the results first hand and it does work.

Quality parents do what you talk about. A bad parent won't. Sadly there are a majority of bad parents and if you try to help that bad parent they will outright tell you to yourself that they are not your kids and butt out of their life.

You can't make someone that wants to be lazy work. They have to learn on their own that they want to work. It's the foster children or children being raised by auntie and grandma that need support and help. Do you really think a grandparent will be aware of today's problems more than an actual parent with their kids? A Grandparent usually doesn't have even enough money to raise kids and need to work a job while retired. You think a older person is going to keep after a kid after a long day of work?

You can graduate from college but if you have a black name you are screened out of interviews. That is happening today (and it happened before the economy got bad). It isn't 20 years ago. Why do you ignore parts that blacks have no control over is what I wonder. But tbh it isn't just you in this thread that is doing it. It's most people that do not live in those shoes.

 

[SonnyBoy]

I know that this is easier said than done, but I've seen the results first hand and it does work.

So what you have to realize is that most of these families don't have 2 parents, nor do they have that tradition or expectation. Those are not expectations that you just randomly set at the age of 16, a child has to be raised and gradually built up to that point.

So, no, it's not that easy. Fundamental changes have to start at a young age, more funding needs to go into programs to help these young children who don't have mentors at home, so that they can be held accountable. It's going to take a few generations, it's going to take hella money. This is just part of the solution.

 

[JGS]

The lack of a consistent male role-model. Most boys use their fathers as a bar that they have to match, if not exceed. Humans fill voids in their lives with something/anything and it's usually not good.

This is true. But there have been many orphans throughout history and usually there has been a father figure of sorts. The best place for that in the black community is the church & school I suppose (Assuming there's no outreach like Big Brothers).

Lexington is a small enough city that it doesn't have "inner city" schools. There is a very big mix of demographics. Do inner city schools have any outreach programs within them and since it may be cheap to what would be stopping them? I know black community churches are drying up and being replaced by the big mega church type, but are men even going now? I know in ours, we don't have a particular program but we go out of our way to busy the kids' lives with stuff.

Someone mentioned correctly that just doing stuff had a profound impact on them. Maybe figuring something out on that end would be beneficial.

I am shocked that people can look at the information that Karma Kramer just posted and derive any other information out of it than the blatant truth, institutionalized racism is REAL. It is damn near policy

Blacks are dumber criminals. I don't know how anyone disputes this.

There are more of them in a higher concentration and they will literally sell drugs where cops can see them. It's idiotic, but necessary for their evil boss to make money. If white kids in suburbia were selling drugs on street corners, they would be arrested. They would have the means to beat the charges but that's not racism, that's having a good lawyer.

Does racism play a role? Sure. Is it systemic. Nope, unless criminal stupidity is systemic too.

 

[Blackace]

Someone mentioned correctly that just doing stuff had a profound impact on them. Maybe figuring something out on that end would be beneficial.
Blacks are dumber criminals. I don't know how anyone disputes this.

There are more of them in a higher concentration and they will literally sell drugs where cops can see them. It's idiotic, but necessary for their evil boss to make money. If white kids in suburbia were selling drugs on street corners, they would be arrested. They would have the means to beat the charges but that's not racism, that's having a good lawyer.

Does racism play a role? Sure. Is it systemic. Nope, unless criminal stupidity is systemic too.

look up crack laws and tell me there is no systemic racism in the drug laws...

Also calling blacks dumber criminals is pretty asinine

 

[SonnyBoy]

Do inner city schools have any outreach programs within them and since it may be cheap to what would be stopping them?

Budget cuts. But Baltimore has money for the Grand Prix!! And more light rail to get people downtown. LOL

I know black community churches are drying up and being replaced by the big mega church type, but are men even going now?

No.

Blacks are dumber criminals. I don't know how anyone disputes this.

LOL What? I'm not even going to get into that with you.

 

[JGS]

look up crack laws and tell me there is no systemic racism in the drug laws...

Also calling blacks dumber criminals is pretty asinine

Look up the damage crack does to communities over cocaine or pot and get back to me. However, I agree, the laws are out of balance. They should raise the cocaine penalties to crack levels.

Black criminals aappear overwhelmingly dumber than the people who hire them. Again it's not genetic, it's because being in public is the best way to get the most money for the scumbag that hires them. In my tiny little town, I know exactly where to go to get drugs even though I don't do them and have no interest in them. People are arrested in this part of town regularly. How is that racist? Cops don't even need search warrants.

They're low lying fruit and easily replaceable by the scumbag dealers. Not meaning to hurt feelings, bt this is what I mean by it being pointless to focus on the historical cause. The historical cause is not what's getting black men arrested. They are getting arrested for dealing drugs.

 

[SmokyDave]

JGS, I agree with you that black dealers aren't as crafty as white dealers* but how does that explain disproportionate conviction rates and sentences?

If Dealer 1 (Me) and Dealer 2 (Black Me) get caught, Dealer 2 is likelier to be convicted and likelier to receive a longer sentence. How is that caused by the stupidity (or lack of stupidity) of either dealer?


*I agree because I smoke a lot of weed and have met a lot of dealers. It's always easier for me to spot a black dealer because they're seemingly far less worried about doing the exchange in plain sight.

**I'm aware this is a blatant generalisation and I would hope it's taken in the spirit I mean it. I'm not saying all black people are drug dealers or any similar bullshit.

 

[Blackace]

Look up the damage crack does to communities over cocaine or pot and get back to me. However, I agree, the laws are out of balance. They should raise the cocaine penalties to crack levels.

Black criminals aappear overwhelmingly dumber than the people who hire them. Again it's not genetic, it's because being in public is the best way to get the most money for the scumbag that hires them. In my tiny little town, I know exactly where to go to get drugs even though I don't do them and have no interest in them. People are arrested in this part of town regularly. How is that racist? Cops don't even need search warrants.

They're low lying fruit and easily replaceable by the scumbag dealers. Not meaning to hurt feelings, bt this is what I mean by it being pointless to focus on the historical cause. The historical cause is not what's getting black men arrested. They are getting arrested for dealing drugs.

Crack is made from cocaine so wouldn't make sense to stop crack at the root? But it is a rich person's drug so it is a slap on the wrist...

And the historical cause has everything to do with why drugs are a huge commodity in black communities...

 

[JGS]

JGS, I agree with you that black dealers aren't as crafty as white dealers* but how does that explain disproportionate conviction rates and sentences?

If Dealer 1 (Me) and Dealer 2 (Black Me) get caught, Dealer 2 is likelier to be convicted and likelier to receive a longer sentence. How is that caused by the stupidity (or lack of stupidity) of either dealer?


*I agree because I smoke a lot of weed and have met a lot of dealers. It's always easier for me to spot a black dealer because they're seemingly far less worried about doing the exchange in plain sight.

The conviction rates are different because white people have access to better lawyers (The main part of where racism may come into play since attorneys may not even want to waste time on a black kid). White dealers may actually be wealthy or have their corrupt connections set up. A kid selling crack on the street corner is not rich, he only thinks he is.

Couple this with the sheer volume of kids doing it in a very concentrated area of a few square miles and you have easy pickings for the police. It really is that simple. So even if the justice system hated black people to the degree some like to think, they're still putting the noose around their neck. I would call them morons, but I realize they're being sold the story.

For the record In KY, the majority of white dealers are white meth dealers. Some of them are extremely wealthy, but the ones that aren't are getting regular high sentences. They are also spread out across whole counties of several hundreds of square miles rather than a few square blocks. So again, the sentences are similar but the conviction rates are higher for young black men.

 

[JGS]

Crack is made from cocaine so wouldn't make sense to stop crack at the root? But it is a rich person's drug so it is a slap on the wrist...

And the historical cause has everything to do with why drugs are a huge commodity in black communities...

You are preaching to the choir on that on. I promise I'm not disagreeing. However, the justice system looked at a problem and labeled it crack. It's easier to get to and the damage is more readily apparent. In fact, the outrage from the black community helped spark it.

Also, I'm not saying the historical cause isn't relevant, it's just not a key to a solution. To me it makes no sense to say that the thing that is hindering destroying black communities is what is it's salvation.

EDIT: I keep double posting. Sorry.

 

[dinazimmerman]

Heckman has written an excellent article (very readable, not technical or "wonkish!") on how to start attempting to solve this problem: http://jenni.uchicago.edu/papers/Heckman_2011_Daedalus_v140_n2.pdf

I'll post selected excerpts later when I'm bored and not busy with finishing a problem set that's due in a few hours.

BUT IF YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT WAIT FOR MY CLIFFNOTES. READ THIS WELL-RESEARCHED ARTICLE ON YOUR OWN.

(cap locks is cruise control for cool)

 

[CiSTM]

I recommend that people read The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander.

 

[SonnyBoy]

I recommend that people read The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander.

I was going to buy that for my GF, I'm assuming it's a good read?

 

[SmokyDave]

The conviction rates are different because white people have access to better lawyers (The main part of where racism may come into play since attorneys may not even want to waste time on a black kid). White dealers may actually be wealthy or have their corrupt connections set up. A kid selling crack on the street corner is not rich, he only thinks he is.

Couple this with the sheer volume of kids doing it in a very concentrated area of a few square miles and you have easy pickings for the police. It really is that simple. So even if the justice system hated black people to the degree some like to think, they're still putting the noose around their neck. I would call them morons, but I realize they're being sold the story.

For the record In KY, the majority of white dealers are white meth dealers. Some of them are extremely wealthy, but the ones that aren't are getting regular high sentences. They are also spread out across whole counties of several hundreds of square miles rather than a few square blocks. So again, the sentences are similar but the conviction rates are higher for young black men.

I don't know if I agree with you yet (I've only just started looking at the disparities in the US justice system and that's led me to looking at the same thing in the UK) but there's no doubt you make some very good points, particularly the line I bolded.

Heckman has written an excellent article (very readable, not technical or "wonkish!") on how to start attempting to solve this problem:

Cheers. Reading now.

 

[CiSTM]

I was going to buy that for my GF, I'm assuming it's a good read?

Can't complain, for me it was eye opening. It dealt with lot of issues that I knew were going on but didn't realise on what scale.

watch this, she talks bit about the book and other issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgM5NAq6cGI

 

[MWS Natural]

Obviously, slavery has had an effect on where black people are today.

Only point I was trying to make. Not using slavery as an excuse or a "card" but just to identify it as one of the problems affecting black people today.

Blacks are dumber criminals. I don't know how anyone disputes this.

There are more of them in a higher concentration and they will literally sell drugs where cops can see them. It's idiotic, but necessary for their evil boss to make money. If white kids in suburbia were selling drugs on street corners, they would be arrested. They would have the means to beat the charges but that's not racism, that's having a good lawyer.

Does racism play a role? Sure. Is it systemic. Nope, unless criminal stupidity is systemic too.

How is this not bannable? Racial profiling has been proven for YEARS and it has nothing to do with the intelligence of the criminals but the color of their skin. I don't know how anyone with a brain can dispute these facts.

 

[SonnyBoy]

Racial profiling has been proven for YEARS and it has nothing to do with the intelligence of the criminals

In his initial comment, he compared inner-city blacks to suburbia whites. IMO, you can't really compare the two. Those are two different worlds, the police act totally different. In addition, I doubt that a kid in the suburbs would have to hustle as often as someone in the inner-city in not so adequate conditions.

Of course, we can only generalize and can't account for each individual but that was the example posted earlier.


Aside from all of that, how about the NY cop that admitted that they plant drugs on innocents. I'd be willing to bet, it's easier to plant drugs on a not so well off black kid...

 

[Blackace]

In his initial comment, he compared inner-city blacks to suburbia whites. IMO, you can't really compare the two. Those are two different worlds, the police act totally different. In addition, I doubt that a kid in the suburbs would have to hustle as often as someone in the inner-city in not so adequate conditions.

Of course, we can only generalize and can't account for each individual but that was the example posted earlier.


Aside from all of that, how about the NY cop that admitted that they plant drugs on innocents. I'd be willing to bet, it's easier to plant drugs on a not so well off black kid...

He also generalized that white dealers are rich...

 

[Oemenia]

Most of us here have seen Boys In The Hood, even though Cubas parents split up, they don't forget their responsibility for him and hence why by the end of the film him being the only character with a father figure in his life, goes onto be successful.

We can do our best to fix the issue through other means but we really have to push the importance of family.

 

[RedSwirl]

I feel like many black people want to live in a black world, surrounded by only black culture. I've had many black co-workers over the years who only seemed interested in black music, black movies, and black television shows. Everything else was irrelevant.

However, every white person I know loved the Cosby show, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, 227, Sanford and Sons, etc. I knows tons of white people who love musics from lots of black musicians, movie stars etc.

I feel like this is part of the problem. I am far from your typical black guy, having the benefit of two parents who both got out of this vicious cycle while they could. Even now I don't let my parents catch me listening to "white people music," and much of the time when they hear something other than rap or R&B their brains don't even process it as music. They will also devote time to watching Tyler Perry movies, fully aware of their quality, but nonetheless watching them because those movies appeal to them more than anything else.

Back to my parents specifically though, reading through this thread kinda highlights out lucky my brother and I probably am. My parents were more or less born into the same system of poverty and fatherlessness, but in the Jim Crow south, got out of it, and even inspired other family members in doing so.

It was only relatively recently that I discovered that the man I know as my grandfather is technically my dad's stepfather, being (I believe) the fifth and final of my grandmother's husbands by which she had seven kids. My mom and her three siblings almost literally grew up in a matriarchy. To this day I'm kept in the dark about the dynamics of that whole generation.

Both of my parents were literally the first people in their families to ever graduate from high school, despite my dad having one older sister and my mom having two older sisters. Later on those siblings would get high school and college equivalency (to my understanding). Partly due to that and partly due to my dad's military life I'm still almost the only person in my family who didn't grow up in or near my parents' home towns. To be honest it makes me really disappointed that I haven't been able to find a full-time job in the three years since college.

Short black males must have it especially rough.

You don't even know man.

 

[Blackace]

Most of us here have seen Boys In The Hood, even though Cubas parents split up, they don't forget their responsibility for him and hence why by the end of the film him being the only character with a father figure in his life, goes onto be successful.

We can do our best to fix the issue through other means but we really have to push the importance of family.

did you just compare all of American Blacks' problems to Boyz N Da Hood?

 

[Bleepey]

This is true. But there have been many orphans throughout history and usually there has been a father figure of sorts. The best place for that in the black community is the church & school I suppose (Assuming there's no outreach like Big Brothers).

Lexington is a small enough city that it doesn't have "inner city" schools. There is a very big mix of demographics. Do inner city schools have any outreach programs within them and since it may be cheap to what would be stopping them? I know black community churches are drying up and being replaced by the big mega church type, but are men even going now? I know in ours, we don't have a particular program but we go out of our way to busy the kids' lives with stuff.

Someone mentioned correctly that just doing stuff had a profound impact on them. Maybe figuring something out on that end would be beneficial.
Blacks are dumber criminals. I don't know how anyone disputes this.

There are more of them in a higher concentration and they will literally sell drugs where cops can see them. It's idiotic, but necessary for their evil boss to make money. If white kids in suburbia were selling drugs on street corners, they would be arrested. They would have the means to beat the charges but that's not racism, that's having a good lawyer.

Does racism play a role? Sure. Is it systemic. Nope, unless criminal stupidity is systemic too.

But the Wire said that whites needed affirmative action in the drug game!

 

[Devolution]

did you just compare all of American Blacks' problems to Boyz N Da Hood?

Needs more Crooklyn imo.

 

[Bleepey]

I recommend that people read The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander.

http://www.generation-x.net/viewVideo.php?video_id=5088&title=THE_NEW_JIM_CROW_PART_1_OF_2

or listen to this summery.

 

[Takuan]

You don't even know man.

But what about Sisqo? YEAAAAAAAYYYYAYYAYAYYYaahh

 

[SonnyBoy]

Wait, why must short black males have it rough?

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Just read through the last few pages...

This thread has turned out exactly as I would've expected it to.

I'd say that I'm shocked and appalled by some of the responses I'm reading but after years of posting here, I can honestly say that I'm not.

Same ole GAF.

:|

Thanks BlackAce for at least trying to talk some sense in here.

 

[SmokyDave]

I'd say that I'm shocked and appalled by some of the responses I'm reading but after years of posting here, I can honestly say that I'm not.

I'd like you to call out some of these people and tell them why they're wrong in an effort to further discourse but after years of reading this style of whinging, useless drive-by post, I know you won't.