I think a lot of people among blacks, see progress as being tribal, for the whole ghetto, and don’t see themselves as an INDIVIDUAL getting up and making headway. In Africa, collectivism, and group thinking dominates. People have the herd mindset, and that is why EN MASSE they want to get rough in Ferguson. Not any critical individual thinkers trying to figure a way out of the swamp. Is this statement racist....?
We need a very long thread on the etymology of the word, racism.
“I think a lot of people among blacks, see progress as being tribal, for the whole ghetto, and don’t see themselves as an INDIVIDUAL getting up and making headway.”
I think this is a very good point. I work in a very diverse workplace, and we have frank discussions about race. My black co-workers always say “our community” when they comment, and the non-blacks say “my experience.” They seem not to expect me to speak for all whites, yet they feel that they can speak for all blacks. That’s a huge difference in outlook.
Interesting .... original statement. Yes.
It is not racist, but is a clear social principle. In a South American country where I lived for a decade, there is even a name for it: Chaqueteo.
In a society that has historically been oppressed in one way or another, the herd mentality indeed rules. If some young buck tries to better himself by entering into the dominant culture, other members of the herd grab him by the tails of his jacket (chaqueta) and pull him back down.
In the black culture this is evidenced by ebonics (or worse), Uncle Tom accusations, imposed hopelessness, etc.
Even when the “oppressed” society discovers that it is no longer oppressed, it will take a long time for the culture to change, and in fact some members will do all in their power to convince the culture that nothing has changed, thus inventing oppressions that don’t really exist.