I think in many ways things have gotten better. African Americans are more visibly accepted and African Americans culture is more mainstream. What I mean by this is that at least there are more African Americans in the work place and public sector. So we don't have to "strain" as much as before to be ourselves. At least in many cases, we are no longer the only black person in that particular area and hopefully department. At least if we say we listen to jazz or hip hop or mention certain prominent figures in our lives, we are not looked at with confusion or as though those figure are less than the white mainstream culture. But that said, things have pretty much stayed the same. You can still go into corporate circles and there usually is not a black person at the head of the leadership team. Employment among black people is less than other races particularly black men. I think in our own "house" there is a moral erosion. So behavior that our parents' parents would consider unacceptable - i.e. stealing, wearing clothes in a certain way, the way we talk, too many unplanned out of wedlock pregnancies and poor relationships - these things are considered the norm. Yet they are disfunctional and causing us to be dysfunctional.
Having a Black president and first family is definitely a shot in the arm for us. But the practices of discrimination, prejudice and plain ignorance is still very prevalent. We can't sleep on this. We've got to continue to perform at 200% and we've got to continue to work to lift up one another.
So glad the Fed Legislature made the officlal apology yesterday, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-simmons/the-healing-has-begunus-s_b_217901.html How best we proceed w/healing? Are reparations in order? How might we pursue them? Thanks for the question!
I got issues with June-teenth! Leave it to us (in Texas) to continue to celebrate getting the news late. We, as a people ARE SOOO not normal--and not always in that super creative drag-queen/director of the Matrix kind of way...
As I view the state of affairs in the United States of America, it is my opinion that we are going backward in race relations. It remains to be seen if with the election of President Obama (of whom I am very supportive) we will meet the challenge to change.
Economically: Very large percentage of African Americans are still the "Last hired, first fired!"
Family: Too many of our Babies are having babies. Who is really raising the kids?
Faith: "Love one another...."
Nuf said...Let's keep faith alive and PRAY! Remembering that Faith without Works is Dead...We must be people of ACtion and not one of Reacting!
We can and must help set the agenda for the day of change.
I was in Memphis this pass week for Urban Network and a non african american male called Kevin Black the N word and all he was trying to do was pick up his tap for stepping on his toe! So what do you think about racism???
I think the younger generation dont appreciate the history. its not taught in the home and not examined enough in the schools. they think that its been like 'this' forever, eventhough for them it has. not enough reading going on.
Clearly things have improved for us in our larger American society - socially, politically, educationally. However, we must also note our greatest challenge: "internal moral crisis." I think we've lost sight of simplicity, faith, and "doing unto others what you would have them do unto you." I'm sure many of you were raised on these timeless (and necessary) philosophies. In general, we even have greater material positions...but at what cost??
I think in many ways things have gotten better. African Americans are more visibly accepted and African Americans culture is more mainstream. What I mean by this is that at least there are more African Americans in the work place and public sector. So we don't have to "strain" as much as before to be ourselves. At least in many cases, we are no longer the only black person in that particular area and hopefully department. At least if we say we listen to jazz or hip hop or mention certain prominent figures in our lives, we are not looked at with confusion or as though those figure are less than the white mainstream culture. But that said, things have pretty much stayed the same. You can still go into corporate circles and there usually is not a black person at the head of the leadership team. Employment among black people is less than other races particularly black men. I think in our own "house" there is a moral erosion. So behavior that our parents' parents would consider unacceptable - i.e. stealing, wearing clothes in a certain way, the way we talk, too many unplanned out of wedlock pregnancies and poor relationships - these things are considered the norm. Yet they are disfunctional and causing us to be dysfunctional.
ReplyDeleteHaving a Black president and first family is definitely a shot in the arm for us. But the practices of discrimination, prejudice and plain ignorance is still very prevalent. We can't sleep on this. We've got to continue to perform at 200% and we've got to continue to work to lift up one another.
ReplyDeleteSo glad the Fed Legislature made the officlal apology yesterday, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-simmons/the-healing-has-begunus-s_b_217901.html
ReplyDeleteHow best we proceed w/healing? Are reparations in order? How might we pursue them?
Thanks for the question!
Great question. It has gotten better in some cases and in others it still remains the same...when we were the ones forced to come here.
ReplyDeleteI got issues with June-teenth! Leave it to us (in Texas) to continue to celebrate getting the news late. We, as a people ARE SOOO not normal--and not always in that super creative drag-queen/director of the Matrix kind of way...
ReplyDeleteAs I view the state of affairs in the United States of America, it is my opinion that we are going backward in race relations. It remains to be seen if with the election of President Obama (of whom I am very supportive) we will meet the challenge to change.
ReplyDeleteEconomically:
Very large percentage of African Americans are still the "Last hired, first fired!"
Family:
Too many of our Babies are having babies. Who is really raising the kids?
Faith:
"Love one another...."
Nuf said...Let's keep faith alive and PRAY! Remembering that Faith without Works is Dead...We must be people of ACtion and not one of Reacting!
We can and must help set the agenda for the day of change.
I was in Memphis this pass week for Urban Network and a non african american male called Kevin Black the N word and all he was trying to do was pick up his tap for stepping on his toe! So what do you think about racism???
ReplyDeleteI think the younger generation dont appreciate the history. its not taught in the home and not examined enough in the schools. they think that its been like 'this' forever, eventhough for them it has. not enough reading going on.
ReplyDeleteClearly things have improved for us in our larger American society - socially, politically, educationally. However, we must also note our greatest challenge: "internal moral crisis." I think we've lost sight of simplicity, faith, and "doing unto others what you would have them do unto you." I'm sure many of you were raised on these timeless (and necessary) philosophies. In general, we even have greater material positions...but at what cost??
ReplyDelete