Posted by Imagine for a moment that channel 5 was a multibillion dollar media and Entertainment Corporation named “White Entertainment Television” (W.E.T.) and that it ran advertisements and ads championing the message of “White Star Power.” Or picture a congressional White Caucus in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate whose political agenda centered solely on the advancement of “white America.” Imagine “Historically White Colleges and Universities,” or the “National Association for the Advancement of White People, both organizations receiving federal grants. Or more pointedly, what would the political and cultural fallout be if prominent academic, religious and political leaders, business executives and entertainment moguls, etc. met at George Washington University to discuss the “White Agenda” and when the President was going to take said “agenda” more seriously?
Now of course these scenarios are all hypothetical but what if they were all-of-a-sudden the reality of today, in 2010? There would certainly be social conflicts and disorder everywhere.
Meanwhile, in totally unrelated news, Tavis Smiley’s “Black Agenda Summit” was held at Chicago State University and included a panel and among the guest were Minister Louis Farrakhan, Georgetown Professor Michael Eric Dyson, Jesse Jackson, and Princeton University professor Cornel West, to name a few.
Although the controversial event was overshadowed this past weekend by coverage of the healthcare reform debate, Smiley says he was still “motivated to host this panel because of the reluctance of Black leaders to hold President Obama accountable for problems that specifically or disproportionately affect Blacks.”
Really?
The reason why blacks continue to statistically produce numbers in unemployment two times as high and in academic achievement almost twice as low as our white counterparts is because for more than fifty years blacks in America have sold out and bought into the notion that because of America’s racist past the system is forever rigged, most blacks are poor, there is a racist at the heart of all whites, and that because of these things, regardless of class or opportunity, no black American should be held to mainstream, (white) standards of morality or “academic achievement.” Farrakhan, West, Dyson, Jesse Jackson, Tavis Smiley and an unnamable many more so-called “black leaders” are not willing to hold any meaningful dialogue on what are the real threats to achievement and excellence in the black community.
And even with the best intentions in mind and the most media coverage possible, the motivation needed to “uplift” and “advance” “Black America” has, and always will begin with blacks in America—not self-serving politicians and emotive policies.
But unfortunately, America is constantly reminded by today’s “black leaders”—who are ironically a disproportionately influential and affluent contingent; that blacks can’t possibly be expected to succeed in the face of such obvious systemic inadequacies.
Excuse me, but I beg to differ!
There exist a number of occurrences to take into account when considering general and specific shortfalls in the “black community” and among them are the following few:
1. Since 1940, rates of divorce and non marriage have soared among black adults, and, as a result, the percentage of black children born to unmarried mothers has risen from 17 percent to 70 percent.
2. Father absence has risen greatly in the last four decades. Between 1960 and 2006, the number of children living in single-mother families went from 8 percent to 23.3 percent, and 34 percent of children currently live absent their biological father.
3. Father absence contributes to family poverty and In 2003, 39.3 percent of single-mother families lived in poverty, but only 8.8 percent of father present families lived in poverty.
4. The Pew Research Center has concluded that 7.32 million American adults were in prison, on parole or on probation in 2007, a tripling over the last 25 years. That makes it 1 in every 31 American adults in prison, on parole or on probation. For Blacks, the numbers are a depressing 1 in 11.
5. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, blacks make up 12% of the population (36 million), but 35% of the abortions in America.
All statistics coming from: www.fatherhood.org
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see that the elephant in the room is that there is a lack of a real dialogue on the choices that blacks have made in regards to self improvement and empowerment in the last several decades.
And until questions are asked, relevant to the real ailments in the “black community,” no President or panel will be able to lift the plight of an afflicted minority.
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Good article. Do a cursory spell check before you post, though. “According to the U.S. Centers for Dieses Control”
I was taking an ethenticity class in my college. I so appaulled by the “down with Whitie” and the poor “under priviledged” non white groups I wanted to vomit. Yet, I a a awhite unemployed female with an school age child that cannot a living wage job, nor can I get any assistance. Yet I see every non white person getting all the assistance they need plus more……….
Talk about a wacked out system….Let’s talk about the outcome of a black agenda…. Has anyone seen Detroit lately….. Perfect example……
“. . . no black American should be held to mainstream, (white) standards of morality or academic achievement.”
Politically correct White America has been had. Other minorities do not play the “poor me” fiddle at every public concert. It is appalling to think that these same individuals are demanding that they receive something that no one else in America has gotten — thats a free ride.
They have the same opportunities to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, as do all other Americans. Yet, they, in spite of the millions of dollars spent and the many different support mechanisms currently in place, have failed THEMSELVES by not taking full advantage of these dollars and support.
NOT one White American is given FREE anything — someone has to pay for it — Medicaid, Section 8 housing, food stamps, SOME WHERE SOME WHITE PERSON IS PAYING HUGH TAXES SO THESE WHINERS CAN CALL WHITE PEOPLE RACISTS — OMG, GIVE ME A BREAK!
JP, my apologies. I’ve corrected the errors. If you find anything in any article on this site that needs addressing, please bring it to our attention. We try to stay on top of things, but sometimes we need a little help.
WOW…what a great article. FINALLY, someone has the courage to speak what so many of us think.
Thanks Jerome!!!!!!!!!
George Washington Carver !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone care to remember him??????????
Enough Said – -
jerome, what are you like 12? while i agree with most of your article, you could have left the first paragraph out of it. most black people know that BET exists because black america was largely excluded from mainstream american entertainment until recently. most any black institution that is “geared” towards a black audience exists because until only recently, blacks have been excluded from most of the mainstream and in many cases ostracized. you certainly look old enough to realize this. just trying to be controversial to make a name for yourself, i suppose.
i understand that you were “trying” to link causation – but your foundation was all wrong. sorry if i hurt you feelings, it just kind of ticks me that a young black man would jump off with this.
@kab – what are you, like 6? You obviously do not get the point that is crystal clear.
“it just kind of ticks me that a young black man would jump off with this.”
So, it makes you mad that a young, intelligent, educated black man can think for himself and not buy into what others try to tell him? Narrow minded i would say.
But, of course, your response would probably be something like “who cares what you have to say!”
Your way of thinking, kab, in my opinion, is one of the things that is wrong with this country, and it breaks the barriors of race…having others think for us instead of thinking, acting and working for ourselves.
Jerome,
Brilliant first piece here on PIN! Nicely said, my friend.
Long Live the Republic.
A racist attitude is not the issue in America; it’s the racist structure of laws & public policy that affect people of race.
Jerome,
I can understand your frustration, why add to the segregation and separation between Americans, by having Black this, Hispanic that? Unless, of course, there is an agenda here that few Whites want to see.
The agenda uses this “supposed backlash” against the White majority by starting Black and Hispanic Entertainment Television Channels, Black and Hispanic Congressional Caucasus.
The whole idea is to stop Blacks and Hispanics from integrating into mainstream society and thereby building hate and distrust for the BIG BOSS MAN. Why would any group want to actively prevent their own people from succeeding by separating them from all the opportunities Americans have?
Guess — and the first two don’t count — MONEY and lots of it. These groups get grants, funds to implement special non-discrimination laws, college student aid money, and donations to help elect people who are sensitive and supportive — you know the ones —
The far left Democrats, the old Hippies, 1960′s crowd, the one’s who dropped out and turned on to “far eastern religions (Beatles influence), hating Capitalism (Dylan, Joan Biaz (spelling ?), LSD dropping (Timothy Leary (spelling again ?), marijuana (Cheech and Chong), and as Joe Biden just proved — F&%k is the new way to say COOL.
What these organizations are really all about is keeping their own people down. They do not want to see Blacks and Hispanics, who have not bought their lies being successful. In fact, these people believe that any Black person or Hispanic person who is living above the poverty level has sold out, especially if they are not involved politically to add to the growing undeserved huge amounts of money given to these organizations. These groups don’t care that they are not helping their own people get out of poverty — in fact they want to add more people to our already growing poverty rolls by promoting Immigration Reform.
All they care about is protecting their own lifestyles as most of this money is spread around between a few top level members of these groups — they call this money “salaries.” They are paying themselves huge paychecks for destroying their own people’s opportunities to be successful. Yet, they continue to blame White people for this. When will these people who are being used and exploited — say enough is enough — give us what you promised — give us a chance to be part of main stream America — let us find the American dream for ourselves — Stop telling us why we can’t work and do well in America.
Ask yourselves, why don’t the Asian-American groups have a visibly vocal caucus in Congress demanding ear marks, grants and immigration reform for Asians? Why are they not out protesting against White America?
Could it be that they want their people to earn their way, like White Americans, when they first came to this country as Irish, Italian, Polish, French, English,German, etc. did when they got off the boat as LEGAL immigrants? No one ever hears that Asians want free handouts — during WWII, they had their businesses, bank accounts, and homes taken from them. Many of them never recovered their pre-war wealth. The U.S. government just took it. Germans had the same thing happen to them, including internment camps.
Were Hispanics, who were living in the U.S., placed in internment camps and their homes and businesses taken from them during the Mexican-American War for fear they may take up arms against the U.S. army? NO.
Were free Blacks, who were living in the North, placed in internment camps and their homes and businesses taken from them during the Civil War for fear they may be enemy spies or southern sympathizers.
But, these two groups are the ones who believe they were treated worse than any other group of people based on their unique situations!
When did Americans stop having common sense? When did we stop believing EVERYONE could succeed if they wanted to — in spite of the odds — look at the diverse group of people who overcame the stigmas placed on them by those who lived in America before these new immigrants got off the boat — this is what has made America great — the “I’LL SHOW YOU I CAN MAKE IT AND I’LL MAKE MORE MONEY THAN YOU EVER DID IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE!”
Where did that go?
perfectly said jerome. in my opinion the gov’t and these huge organizations are the ones who purposely made this world so “PC” , for if people could say what we actually thought- the whole racism thing probably would have been dealt with a long time ago. no they want us hesitating to speak, thats more money they can figure out how to rob in the name of “fairness” and such..