Posted on 04/25/2005 9:55:53 PM PDT by CHARLITE
For most of the history of this country, differences between the black and the white population--whether in income, IQ, crime rates, or whatever--have been attributed to either race or racism. For much of the first half of the 20th century, these differences were attributed to race--that is, to an assumption that blacks just did not have it in their genes to do as well as white people. The tide began to turn in the second half of the 20th century, when the assumption developed that black-white differences were due to racism on the part of whites.
Three decades of my own research lead me to believe that neither of those explanations will stand up under scrutiny of the facts. As one small example, a study published last year indicated that most of the black alumni of Harvard were from either the West Indies or Africa, or were the children of West Indian or African immigrants. These people are the same race as American blacks, who greatly outnumber either or both.
If this disparity is not due to race, it is equally hard to explain by racism. To a racist, one black is pretty much the same as another. But, even if a racist somehow let his racism stop at the water's edge, how could he tell which student was the son or daughter of someone born in the West Indies or in Africa, especially since their American-born offspring probably do not even have a foreign accent?
What then could explain such large disparities in demographic "representation" among these three groups of blacks? Perhaps they have different patterns of behavior and different cultures and values behind their behavior.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
The problem is not blacks, the problem is American Blacks - who walk around with a perpetual chip on their shoulders reminded daily by the likes of people like Jackson/Sharpton/Clinton/Lee that they are victims.
Take a wild guess as to where most of the black students that I met at U of C (yes there are some among the Asians and whites despite what Jesse has said in the past) were from or where their parents were from.
The smartest ones, btw, had parents from Trinidad.
Sowell nails it. Essentially, your culture matters more than your skin color. Look at the cultural influences of Condi Rice vs. others - Condi's parents were musically inclined, helped instill in her a culture of being excellent at what you do.
Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit. It is not the color, it's the thinking.
I feel sorry for black American boys. No one expects anything from them except a spot in the future work release program. Otherwise, yes many black West Indians I've known have attended ivy league schools in this country and abroad. Thomas Sowell is right on with this piece. I always find myself getting unnaturally thrilled whenever I meet a black American with a mind of their own and I don't mean politically speaking either.
Lets call it what it is: "a GHETTO mentality." Creating a wall in one's perspective is a sure way to prevent success in life.
When your biggest heroes are NBA player/thugs, gangsta rappers, and crack dealers, your culture is terminally ill. Racism has little-to-nothing to do with it.
You are absolutely right.
As a counterpoint, I'm right now cleaning up code written by a black guy that grew up in the Chicago suburbs and went to MIT. Smart guy, but his coding style sucked. ;-)
It's good to grow up in the suburbs sometimes. It's not the hell that some people make it out to be.
Why do they keep re-electing leaders who keep them stymied "down on the plantation?" It's the same query that I have about why Sharpton and Jesse Jackson maintain any credence at all. You'd think that after a few generations, people ("folks") would get "sick and tired" of being sold victimhood.
As Dick Cheney said in his speech at the RNC convention, "A litany of complaints is not an agenda." (It's not a force for change, either......or there would have been change and improvement in the ghettos, what with all of this glorious, exhilerating "victimhood" that the victocrats keep bringing to them, especially during election cycles. Why do they keep on buying it?)
Speaking of red neck culture.. the closest thing I can think of is all the kids in Levittown who think all they're cut out to be in life are cops and firemen and that's it. They're going to go to Nassau College and whatever else well hey... even white people have their own ghetto fabulous living.
Because some people are too afraid to take a step of faith... they rather be around the incompetant black people they've known all their lives rather than step out (and be among white conservatives who may not like them just for being black).
ROTF.....the blacks overseas are very friendly, but most in America either distrust, dislike, or hate us honkys : )
Tell me about it. I went to elementary school in Valley Stream. The main difference between New York Rednecks and Southern Rednecks is that the former "tawk like dis" and often wear horns around their neck.
I guess it all comes down to what YOU think you are capable of. We get that from our parents and the surrounding community. What I don't get is why anyone would put limits on a little kid?
My brother was never a good student, and my parents worried about him. But they always encouraged him in his strengths. My mom and dad always acted as though I could do anything in the world. I try to do that for my kids, and as a soon to be teacher, it's a high priority for me.
I guess some people don't realize how they limit their children. It's pretty sad. Teachers have a lot of power, more than they realize, to affect the future of students. It's just like parental power.
Nope -- the problem is white elite liberals who have kept American Blacks down on the liberal Plantation. It was only after the white libs showed the way with LBJ's "Great Society" giveaway that the Black race whores took over. While MLK had some major flaws he was a decent man who believed in working within the system. Things started going seriously bad when the New Left and the Panthers made the scene.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.