[cyborg]

Distilled down into basic elements....

Get up off your a$$ and stop whinig and work like you mean it, save your money, invest and be a productive citizen.

Hey EVERYONE needs to do that IMHO

[cyborg]

whinig=whining

There is no excuse for people not be a success in the year 2003 in America.

[cyborg]

bc ping

I think this article is a bit outdated. I don't think black people should only be thinking about selling in 'their own community'. I do not see anything stopping any black person from doing what Donald Trump does. That may sound indealistic but America was built on idealism anyway.

[liberallarry]

ping

[TheWiz999]

This article really hits the nail. I've grown up near black neighborhoods and I notice more and more asians control all the retail locations. They barely speak english but they work hard, save money, work harder, save money, and eventually buy a business and prosper. Most asians in these communities all drive luxury cars and send their kids to a good college.
The black people I know generally don't have business sense. They think the only way to make money is to be an entertainer, athlete, lottery or by suing someone.
I know some of you will say I'm racist. But I'm also a minority (hispanic) and only white men can be racist remember?
This is a general statement. I'm sure there are a few unique cases where black people move up through hard work and saving, (I know a few) but I'm afraid thats becoming increasingly rare.
Maybe thats the only way Democrats can keep blacks in their party, by keeping them poor. Rich blacks (or those on their way) eventually leave the party, don't care about politics or become repubs.

[kidd]

I grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota about a mile from where the Twins played baseball. Our only black neighbors were on the baseball team (Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Zolio Versallies). They, and their kids, were motivated and talented. They remained "black", but fit in well with everyone else. And they lived well.

I went to Andover for prep school. The year I took SATs there were two perfect SATs - both by black students.

I work with several blacks. Nobody considers them to be lazy or some sort of "Uncle Tom". They do their job.

I do not know of any blacks who are held back by racism. Nor do I know of any blacks that can attribute their successes to preference.

[SSN558]

The main reason for this is black lack of understanding of our capitalistic system of government.

There are two economic systems in the United States. Capitalism for the middle class and rich, and socialism for the poor. Socialism is a trap and carries a stigma, but eveyone has a choice. Once a person picks socialism they have doomed themselves and offspring to a life of dependency and poverty.

Then you have to define poverty. In the U.S. the poor have running water, heat, color television, phones, plenty to eat, and all the trappings of the middle class. Yet they are still poor, so what is poverty?

It is dependancy on government programs. It is also a state of mind. It is the lack of movitation to take the risks, work hard, and determine your own destiny, instead of waiting in line filling out forms and get a government handout.

[Old Professer]

Usually, it's attitude that holds most people back.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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[Capriole]

Everybody ought to run out and read Star Parker's new book, Uncle Sam's Plantation. Excellent evocation of some of the same points and an evisceration of the culture that holds black people back.

I see it around me in the place where I work. I see intelligent and talented but lazy and sullen black people who think there is racism everywhere, and blame racism for their failures instead of taking responsibility for their unwillingness to focus and work hard. There are also some more thoughtful young black people who have made a rather painful decision to move forward and leave their friends and family in the ghetto culture behind while they achieve success. I feel sorry for them as I watch them struggle with one of the big ethical questions of life.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

Black people must pool their capital in order to help themselves. They must establish retail sales organizations throughout their communities and also must go into light manufacturing where retail selling has already produced an outlet for the products light manufacturing can produce. This will enable blacks to help solve their own problems. . . .

Yes. I heard Rev. Jackson saying much the same thing just the other night ... NOT!

[HamiltonJay]

Here here, now this is a leader that would have advanced the cause of Blacks in America.. and instead they hitch their fortunes to opportunists like Sharpton and Jackson.

Just today my wife and I, who recently purchased a rental property in a predominantly black and rental area of town, realized, the sheer lack of fundamental services local to these people... and how they get into cars and drive to other neighborhoods for many just basic services. Now I know it is a higher crime area than neighboring communities, but its not a war zone, or completely drug den, in fact this neighborhood in many cities across america would be considered relatively safe, and frankly it it largely is.

The opportunities are huge, in fact there are neighborhoods in this town, significant ones that don't even have a grocery store.... And what do these people do? Complain that the large chain in town won't open a store there and they have to trek miles away to get food... All of them in the community recognize the need, but not one among them is willing to open a store to serve the community... what is wrong with this picture?

In the 1950s and 1960s, the whites would bring services to these communities, and go home to live... now many of these communities have gotten so bad, many whites will not invest at all in these communities... and even still no one in these communities will invest in themselves... they will get into a car or hop on a bus to go to another community for basic services, rather than offer the service to their own community... and then they wonder why there is no economic activity in their communities etc.... Its truly sad.

you know what you can find in that neighborhood though? Three basement recording studios for local rappers to make albumns... but not one gas station, and if I am not mistaken there isn't even a laundrymat left in the neighborhood either..... go figure.

[WaterDragon]

Terrific article. Thanks for posting this. What is said here is true for all Americans....the opportunities abound in this country for everyone.

I hate it that the Democrats insist on blinkering so much talent and potential in the black community. America really cannot afford the loss.

[Argh]

bump

[lainde]

bttt

[John Robertson]

interesting, and thanks for it. but why would you change "Negro" in a speech given in the 60s? You present it in historical terms and perspective, then proceed to Bowdlerize the text--or, as we say nowadays, politically correct it. Otherwise.

[gitmo]

Because Fuller refused to "toe the party line," his speech touched off a firestorm of rage that would lead to much of black America boycotting his businesses -- thus destroying much of his fortune.

Things haven't changed, have they?

[Luke Skyfreeper]

bump, although most who were in on this thread will probably miss it.

I just found an interesting, perhaps more complete biography of S B Fuller:

http://www.africanpubs.com/Apps/bios/0512FullerS.asp