Let's ask some black people: Have you folks done anything other than "just be mad?" Have you tried to educate yourselves? How about educating others? Have you petitioned? Have you fought crime in your own neighborhoods? Have you tried running for office? Have you tried starting businesses? Have you done anything in an attempt to gain political and social capital so that you can change the power structure more in your favor?
If you've done any of that, how's that been working out for you? Or do you all "just be mad all the time?"
I asked my friend these questions.
His responses:
1) Yes. He's protested, demonstrated, marched, and stood in solidarity with other protesters and demonstrators, as well as called and written to government officials and representatives.
2) Yes, he's very well-educated on what's happening.
3) He's tried. He says most people in our area ignore him. Most of them are, of course, white. "They admit racism exists, but of course THEY can't be racist" he tells me.
4) He has.
5) He has.
6) He says he is not cut out for politics, mostly due to being a poor speaker, poor team player, and generally being quite awkward in public.
7) He's struggled to find employment period and has no means to start his own business.
8) He says any attempts to do so are met with walls of discouragement, indifference, and even outright hostility.
He ultimately says it's frustrating as hell because, at the end of the day, he's a big, giant, tall, large, intimidating-looking black man who has faced discrimination and prejudice for decades, and any attempts to speak out are shut down, any attempts to gain influence are last, any attempts to get promotions are looked over, and any attempts to protest are met with anger.
He's the type of guy who took me to his church. I was the only white guy there, but he did his very best to make sure everyone made me feel welcome and appreciated. He didn't care where I was from or what I looked like; he just wanted to be my friend, and screw anyone who thought I didn't belong there.
