Pointing that out is by no means is a defense of slavery. Even some of our founding fathers knew the issue was going to eventually damn this nation. (Read the journals of John Adams for some eye-opening insights from a brilliant man.) That also doesn't mean the incidents depicted in Roots did not happen somewhere. It just means that Haley's story was untrue. And his lies stirred up an entire hornets nest in the 70s that we now see resurfacing with Barack Obama. Who is making money off the unrest this time around? I think we know the answer to that.
You make some very interesting points. Being a white person from Oakland, I find it very perculiar how white liberal suburbians view the black plight in this country. They seem to think of black people as trapped in a pit with the lid held down by corpotate America and racists white people. Many black politicians propetuate that myth as well. It coulkd not be farther from the truth, though.
The stairs to success are indeed available in the inner city. I walked up them myself. It was not easy!!! But, I always believed down deep that if I gave it my best effort, at some point something would work out. Many black people (not all, but many) simply believe that the hard work I was willing to do, would simply not pay off for them. My parents taught me what I believed. Jessee Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the Race Hustlers taught them what they believed. It’s just that simple. We both went with our belief system and I went on to be happy and many liberal blacks went on to be angry (I’m generalizing, but you get my point).
The only person who can hold you down is yourself. I constantly preach this to my liberal friends. Blacks will not get off the mat in this country until they stop believing in crooked politicians and start believing in themselves. They should ask the Asian communities for advice on this matter!!
Another footnote: I love Oakland and will drive anywhere and everywhere. It was my home and I visit there often and (I have season tickets to the Raiders....Uhggg-why did I bring that up?). Anyway, I have friends who voted for Obama, preach the liberal lines, and all of that stuff, but when I say I’m heading to Oakland they are like.....”Is it safe there?” It’s so funny because the City of Oakland is the Democrat Party. Sure it can be a rough town, but that’s what happens when the Democrat philosphy is put to practice in my opinion. It sucks, doesn’t it? Detroit is even worse. I ask them why they vote for it if down deep they are scared of it?
Bottom line is that suburban whites have an inner guilt I just can’t relate to.
Oh well.....