America's continued guilt over the issue of slavery is hurting both blacks and whites socially, politically and economically
Recently, in a Columbus suburban community, Pickerington City Schools, black parents protested the fact that black students who comprise approximately 15 percent of the student population represent 53 percent of student suspensions. Similar disparity patterns exist across the board relating to blacks vs whites in almost every social demographic aspect in the American culture, be it arrest, convictions, higher education or education in general, unemployment etc... One would have to ask, is the issue one of racism or is the issue one of a disparity in community standards?
For a perspective, whites in this country have had 200 plus years of established socialization and community building. Blacks have had only about 50 years or less to do the same. The clock actually started for blacks in regards to community building in the 70's and, what is even more amazing, is that the greatest effective aspect of the Civil Rights Movement, desegregation, appears to be one of the most profound issues that have hindered both black community development and significant socio-economic progress from a racial perspective.
The growing and pressing problems that are a logical results of family dysfunction among blacks and other minorities have clearly yet, not publicly acknowledged, have in fact, in minority communities, resulted in a high toleration of criminal behavior, non-performance or lack of development of youth in education, a large number of youth and minority adults not having acquired marketable job skills and, the biggie, moderate to little participation in the political process. If not for the political campaign donations of whites, few blacks could ever raise enough money to run effective public office campaigns.
For the benefit of many who are not familiar with the black family structure during slavery, let me take you to school. During slavery, for the most part, blacks were not allowed to get married, they would jump over a broom or some sort of ritual like that. A woman's mate was most likely and often chosen by the slave master and mates changed at will by the same.
Black family units, primarily for economic reasons that benefited the slaveholders, were frequently separated by the slaveholders. Black men were frequently rewarded for the number of children that they produced regardless of the women that they produced them with. The responsibility for raising these children often was laid solely on the shoulders of the black females. The black females was held in higher regard and often treated differently than the black males because the females were often favored by the white male slaveholders as both alternative entertainment and a means to control the black male. The sad truth is the control methods of the white slaveholders were deadly effective. During slavery, the white male slaveholders were God and God approved of the negative behaviors and mores being imposed on the black family unit therefore, everything, during those times, was OK. Then, slavery ended and America was stuck with two very different sense of community and family values and standards. With desegregation these standards or lack thereof, clashed big time. Whites, not wanting to live with blacks was for the most part not out of evilness but facing the reality of the situation that slavery traditions and mores had created. From a community perspective, whites knew very well the logical consequences of the anti-social monster that they (whites) had created in regards to black socialization. Whites knew because blacks and whites had lived together, but apart, for over 300 years under slavery conditions.
Lets get down to the basics. The center of a community is built around the traditional family unit. Because of the institutionalized practices of slavery, the black family unit is historically dysfunctional. Today, the dysfunction rate of black families is rapidly approaching that of slavery-like conditions. In response to this socially obvious situation, in many situations, both whites and blacks have mutually agreed to lower standards that represent what is success or what is progress for blacks and other minorities (a skin pass). Many black leaders and liberals in particular, strongly advocate group standards at the obvious expense of the individual, frequently ignoring the individual's personal protections and safeguards that are fundamental rights of being an American. When the general and accepted community standards of the majority are imposed by American institutions and business enterprises upon minorities, blacks in particular, the cry of racism rings out loud and clear and the white community, perpetuated by mainstream media, softly whispers "Those poor people". The bar is lowered, the outcry is silenced and blacks continue their retreat from social and economic progress.
Someone once said that "These are times that try mens soul." Community leadership, both black and white, to resolve this problem must embrace a collective position of tough love. There should be help for those who actively and aggressively seek to rise to challenges that are a part of life. That help should be administered on a person by person basis. There should be consistent and significant consequence for those who won't accept responsibility for their lives, embrace self-respect, refuse to seek out opportunities that would enable them to rise above the social and economic barricades that stand in their individual respective way to prosperity.
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