I read all your links to the articles about black parents having “the talk” with their kids. Each reflects a naive idealism, that life should be fair and if there are misunderstandings, their kids are the victims of ill-intentioned whites.
It may surprise, but as a white family, we have had “a talk” with our son. It enumerated many of the new dangers in this world, and our hopes that he would behave discreetly so as to avoid being arrested, having his education or emotional life wrecked by unmarried sex or an unwanted pregnancy, or ruining his credit and personal reputation. It’s something every good parent should do; it’s not Mayberry anymore, and his white skin or expensive education may not protect him if he messes up.
Having raised him in the city with plenty of diverse neighbors of every walk of life, his own observations and having been mugged when he was 12 by black kids, he has developed his own cautions in the streets — yet we were proud to note that his group of friends has always included people of many races and backgrounds.
Raising kids well is hard work. Those who are unmotivated will always be looking for someone else to blame. My own experience as the “first woman” in corporate management, and in this, that and the other thing in the 60s and 70s, has taught me that the pecking order exists even among white men of privilege. No matter how much things hurt in business or social life, they may not be intended as personal.
There is no free lunch. If someone is picking on you or putting you down, no matter how unfair, it’s a sign that you need to bring your game — or else find a different game better suited to your skill level. I have experienced many gender- and now age-related incidents of discrimination by other whites. It doesn’t make me hate men, other whites or anyone at all. Something more blacks need to realize — it’s not always about skin color. It’s just the usual pecking order. One of the most wasteful emotions in life is self-pity.
Wise comment.
Unfortunately, accepting personal responsibility is a painful but absolutely necessary and non-negotiable first step in solving one's problems and developing real character. There seems to be a wholesale failure in the leadership of the black community to appreciate that fact.
In fact, said leaders usually denigrate those who do assume mature responsibility as traitors to their race.
And as a result...we have an entire segment of our population which has not, will not, indeed, cannot assimilate into our culture as mature citizens.
And now, the President of the United States is fanning the flames of revolution by this self-segregated population.