By Iche Cica Gaines
While there are many things I admire about America there are more than a few that appear puzzling. One of them has to do with the fact that African Americans seem to infer racial connotations into every untoward thing that happens to them.
As a foreigner, these events have confirmed my own long shelved thoughts about race in America. That is, although one cannot underestimate the effects of America’s racial history, progress will continue to elude blacks who decide to overemphasize it.
Blacks, to be sure, have over the years been at the receiving end of egregious racial discriminations. Some still speak of “systemic racism” which they say continues to plague many minorities. It is a fact that African Americans who live in poverty are twice the number of their white counterparts.
But is all this enough reason for Negroes to totally chuck out on America? After all race relations in America has come a long way since the days of the civil rights movement.
What is surprising is that even with the establishment of historically black colleges, the Associated Press reports than less than a third of the men (37%) at these colleges graduate in six years. It is also true that there are more black men in American prisons than there are in Colleges.
In my acquaintance with some African Americans their deliberate resolution to exploit their predicament—whatever it may be—rather than rise above it can scarcely be ignored. I once met a guy who told me that as an African America he can break the rules because once apprehended he could always scream: ‘race”. Such an attitude is inimical to any form of progress.
The point is that black people cannot attribute every misfortune to racism. How does one expect any real personal development or great quality of life if they indulge in a thug life, “gangsterism”, incomprehensible idleness and an overdependence on certain careers such as the pop culture phenomenon?
Black Americans will do well to remember that the idea that we’re in a post-racial era is a total myth. But no one other than themselves is responsible for their own fate.
There are a great many things that can be said in response to this article, the most important being that for the most part your observations are correct. I must reiterate... For the most part, your observations are correct. Racism, I believe, has become akin to a politically incorrect term and what holds strongly with every ethnic group in this country is prejudice. I haven't researched the topic enough for me to present any solid arguments as to it existence, I know only what I've seen, heard and felt. However, I will recommend something, a documentary that I watched not long ago on HBO. It's called Prom Night in Mississippi, and it's about a community that until just last year held separate proms for the black and white students and follows the story of their first integrated prom. And while some might say, "Well, that's Mississippi...", the six years that I've lived in New York has taught me that most people have learned to hide their prejudices behind a thin veneer of civilization and it takes very little to strip it away.
ReplyDelete'Black people cannot attribute every misfortune to racism.' Much so can Africa not always blame it's underdevelopment on slave trade count on foreign aid for its development.
ReplyDeleteA great piece well-written. Congratulations, Iche.
Hmm very interesting insights Wamuhu, i do remember the prom incident in Mississippi which kind of bolsters the author's argument that indeed we might not be in a post racial era after all but to assume willy-nilly that the predicament of black people is totally helpless is one proposition that i cannot accept.
ReplyDeleteI so totally agree with Elikem that this same line of thinking can be applied to the African situation because it's becoming so boring if not irritating to hear Africans eternally blaming the west for their problems.
ReplyDeleteIf Africans believe they had a history and a civilization far superior to the west before colonization, they must get their acts together and prove this without always crying foul.
It is true that slave trade, colonialism, racism and you name it have caused colossal setbacks, but until that day when the African whether in America or in Africa will choke their love for excuses and suffocate their rabid proclivity to shift blame; embracing in the same breath their responsibility for their past, present and future; stubbornly refusing to resign to their current circumstance and refusing to empower it against their progress; accepting the possibilities and potential which every next moment brings at the sometimes unimaginably difficult but not impossible to pay price of an indefatigable, calculated, determined, steely resolved hard work; they will continue to chase shadows as a people and the fast paced progress which other peoples have known will continue to elude them. To get honey you have to face the bees and those who focus on blaming the sting of the bee, must be quietly content with the bland taste in their mouths.
ReplyDeleteVery well put anhilaire, certainly more flowery or metaphorical than i could ever be but that's the beauty of language. I'm all for holding people responsible for their actions. Surely, cannot wish history away but we shouldn't let that be a stranglehold on our present or future circumstances either.
ReplyDeleteLook the only way for people not to feel like blacks are always crying about racism is to get our own land. yes i am talking about seperating, but please hear me out. I dont see separating as a bad thing, because if you do it in a peaceful manner then we would still be able to mingle, trade, and exchange ideas with anyone in the world. I am not racist, but blacks in America need a break from being oppressed. If you went to a doctor and told him that your step dad beat you, raped your momma, molested your sister, killed your daddy, and imprisoned your brother. What do you think the doctor would recommed? Stay where you are and get over it? I dont thank so. He would more so than likely recommed that you at least seperate for a moment of time if not completly. Black people wake up. It is not us that need help with dealing with racism, it is the people that built this so called great nation on the premise of racism that need the help. Staying in America is almost like sacrificing our kids for the sake of hoping that a few will make it out, because this educational system isnt about us, nor is the police system, or the employment sector. Remember we are in last place as far as racial groups avgerage annual income. And least not forget that we have an almost trillion dollar spending power but only about 10% of that goes back into our n-hoods. How can we fix this problem? Get your own and stop expecting for the white man to hire, and teach our children, and we should do it ourselves. I have seen black people united before and its a beautiful thing. Right now were not united and its a ugly thing.
ReplyDeleteHey Edward of PathGhana nice 'theory' there and good job with your PathGhana site. As much as what you've said transpires in the real world, what we're looking to do is to bring about change, challenge existing norms and conventions and create a society which will not be steeped in the old dichotomies of race and class.
ReplyDeleteThe incident that happened with Gates and the black professor is just an example of this. When it comes to the police there are even more signifiers here than race; 1) there’s the power dynamic and the abuse of authority. Blacks just happen to experience this to a higher degree because of their skin colors. Funny how Obama recognizing his folly called it a ‘teachable moment”…that’s just lame but we’ll not get into that.
I don't think we're going to get anywhere if we see this as a "chick and egg" situation. The buck definitely has to stop at some point. Surely, there certain things that will happen to blacks because of their skin color but I believe in this article Ms Gaines was mostly concerned with that illiterate, constantly idle section of the black population who have purposed that because their ancestors played a major role in building America per slave trade, now is their time to reap....
…and you don’t need to ask me for evidence because we have it all over the place… #1 ACORN...if that's too remote for you to decipher I will bring you a picture of what face the black population in the city where I live looks like...cheers.
Yes, If I can remember some of President Obama statements during during election 2008. He become who he was after visiting his father's family in Kenya.
ReplyDeleteThey have refuse to accept that they are African. They do not want hear or learn any thing from an African immigrants for example.
I will say they are suffering from clash of culture identity and post slavery syndrome.
Solution.
1. Trip to Africa
2. Learn who is a true black person e.g African Immigrant
3. Respect for black race
4. Help promote Africa
Recommended readings; Pres. Obama books for now as role model.
I rest my case.
LA Breeze, secession doesn’t look like a bad idea considering Texas is dilly dallying with the idea but it’s an extremist measure. Definitely impractical…. It paints the picture of running away from problems instead of dealing with it. You know it’s impossible for African Americans to lay claim to any kind of land. Even in Africa they will be treated as strangers. These are simply issues of personal responsibility which they must be honest enough to admit and do something about.
ReplyDeleteWell written article! However I don't agree with you LA Breeze on your ocmment that African Americans should take a break from their current residence and create their own. What is that going to solve? African Americans can't even find peace among themselves in their own community, what makes you think they'll find it in their own seperate land?
ReplyDeleteWhat needs to be found and quickly is a pride in our cultural heritage and acceptance for the life we have been given. Too often, as Africans/African Americans we tend to blame the white man for our situation, instead of just dealing and moving forward. The more we focus on the past, which of course we all know we cannot change, nor will any amount of reparations erase, the slower we will move forward, if we even manage to move forward at all.
As Africans we were created to be so strong. Let's tap into that strength and let it be our guiding force.
Thanks for such incisive comments omopapa. Part of it will be to lift up successful models and holding them up as examples to young African Americans. I have seen enough to be convinced that the hullabaloo surrounding racial differences is only a human creation. Blacks are just as capable, as beautiful and as human as whites. We just need to stop believing everything the world tells us which is inimical to our growth and development. You make two very important points: we cannot change the past and we need to tap into our strength...goods points there!
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