As a whole, why are black people in the position and condition they are in?
I want you to think about this question and answer with first thoughts that come to mind, or from an instance or life experience that makes you say that "wasn't fair" or "something isn't right."
The reason we as black people are in the position we are in now is because we do not value nor understand our history. By us not knowing our history of our race it set us back far such as, not speaking, respecting and feeling better than one another when we are not. It is terrible to know that we are the only race that could not take a trip back to our motherland due to our family trend not going back that far, where as other race could plan trips.
Black people are in the position we are in because of two reasons: lack of knowledge and the stressed idea of individual achievementare . Many of us dont know our history so we cant fully appreciate what people before us sacrificed for our progression. Because we so far removed from the past our main goal is self achievement. Many of us could care less about the next person as long as we "get ours".
I agree with stclair in that black people do not value let alone know much about their history. Black people do not understand that it is alright for help and for unity. It is all we have in a world that took our descendants from their homes in Africa, enslaved them (just to say the least), dismantle their families in their attempt to dehumanize and capitalize on our race. These profilings of race and stereotypes are going to be prevalent until we come together as a union to tackle them head on as our ancestors before us have done.
I agree with St. Clair. As Asante suggsted that black students take two set of note, one set of the history we learn in school and a set that is not taught in schools, the truth about our rich history. If we knew more about where we came from we would put forth more effort to accomplish similar achievements or just realize how great and strong we are as a people.
I would like to agree with St Clair as well. My friend and I were just having a discussion a week or so ago about how most black people do not have a history due to the African diaspora. Asians and Hispanics have their food, decorations, and a history full of past relatives that date back past the 16th century. I would guess that a lot of black people cannot research their bloodline past the 18th century (if that) with out realizing they are mixed with white, Italian or Indian. The point I am trying to make here is that black people as a whole do not have a history that helps to bring us together.
I believe that black people are in the position that we are in because we don't have any unity in our community. I feel like I repeat this answer for almost every post, however that is because I believe that its true. It was said during the Revolutionary War by whom I believe was Ben Franklin, that Together We Stand Divided We Fall. Which is why they divided us from the people we knew during slavery. Which is also why they dismantled black groups and associations after the civil rights era.
However, We are in the condition we are because the lack of education about our rich history as St. Clair said. Because we don't know where we came from we have nothing to lean back on. I believe we are a lost people walking blindly into the future. We have to educate our youth so that we can move forward.
I “we” are in the condition we’re in only because there seems to be an apathetic attitude. What I mean by this is simply there a nonchalant attitude about the progression of culture. Well black culture. I have to admit, even before taking this class I had no real drive to improve the black community. Sure I would engage in community service projects but the fact of the matter is, subconsciously I would do things for myself, immediate family, etc. Not to say I didn't care, but there was no immediate drive or sense of desperation. Eventually we have to cast selfish intentions aside and think about the bigger picture. Which is of course improving the condition we’re in.
There are a number of reasons why blacks are in the conditions and position they are in today. Some are listed below: • Lack of education • Oppression • Being marginalized • Gentrification • Negative Stereotypes • History • Lack of Drive/Lack of willingness to change/Complacency • Laziness • Low expectations • Lack of community/lack of support: black people are very individualistic and competitive towards each other. Blacks also hate to say others black people do well and get ahead. • Hating • Lack of leadership: That what’s this class is for. To help build future leaders… • Lack of role models at home and in the community • Broken dreams and broken promises
I Feel like people put their self in the condition they are in, if people are gonne get into fights at every party then you cant expect the police to not be waiting outside after everyone. If someone is actually gonna sit there and put their hands on the police then you cant expect the police not to mase the whole party, sure it may not be the best idea but they are going to react on what they feel is necessary at that moment. If the black community does better as a whole then there will not be as many problems
I can give so many answers to this question but I think the better answer is simple and easily understood, Black people are in the position/situation they are in because they have placed a blindfold on their aspirations and focus on their goals. There is a big difference between these two because most people in general can only think as far as a month or two ahead instead of focusing on what they can do now that can appreciate with time and give them more to look forward to in a few years even.
Although there are numerous approaches to this answer that can be made, I will narrow down my reasoning to it being simply because of ignorance. It seems ever since the Civil Rights Movement, African-Americans developed this belief that everything was perfectly fine from that point on. Wrong! Instead of Majority of the African-American nation continuing the legacy of the leaders in the past, we seemed to get attacked by a sickness of ignorance. Today, we have so many of our people committing numerous, unneccasry crimes, that we are beginning to go back to that phase of being viewed as animals. What makes matter even worse is that in majority of those cases, we are doing all of those unneccesary things to another Black individual. To me, this causes the idea of living for Myself instead of my race to be the best one...
i feel like black people are in this current position for alot of reason that are not entirely their fault but one thing for sure is nothing is being done about it by the black community as of now. The oppressive factors that play into this are not hidden , just simply not taught to the youth, for example all the black political orginizations that were started in the late 60s and were impacting on the community for positive and empowering growth and awareness are all but gone (eliminated to be exact), its quite sad. This society of oppressors play on " the less they know the less they care" and that is exacly what is keeping blacks in the cycle like system of ignorance, crime and poverty.
There are many things that contribute to black people being in the position that we are in today. We are just as much to blame as the external forces that work against us. Examples of these forces would be a perpetuating cycle of poverty as well as institutional racism. As a community we lack unity and good leadership. My generation also lacks respect, drive, and a knowledge of self. A lot my generation thinks that we've made it and that is far from the truth.
Most of the things that I wanted to talk about has already been mentioned in most of the comments above, but I cogitate that the reason why black people are in the same position and condition is because of lack of education, laziness, and the most important, not striving for the Best, taking Challenge, and accepting Responsibility.
To respond off of St.Clairs comment of we not knowing our history, we are not at fault for this, majority of our history has been hidden from us for years. There are several reasons such as that not knowing are past that has contributed to the reasons why black people are in the conditions and positions they are in today. I believe the main reason that Asante had brought up several times was the issue of not being unified not only with each other but with everyone else that is being oppressed as Malcolm X expressed "The only way to fight oppression is to unite with people who share the same spirit of resistance against inhumanity and injustice,"(175). -As Tristan also expresses Lack of education as mentioned above also contributes to this issue but I believe even though the "No child left behind" policy was set to educate all, it still comes down to the quality of education the black community is receiving, and presently the quality is very very low.
As a whole, black people are in the position and condition they are in because of the growth of individualism. That is black people have grown to fend for themselves as a community, and when this happens the community is not at full force to face such battles.
I don't want to put the blame only on outside forces for why black people are in this position. I know that throughout history we have been dragged to the bottom by slavery and such in the past, but its our own fault why we're still there. I feel as though if we didn't live down to the expectations that are set for us we could raise out from under it. I don't understand why most blacks feel they should comform to the stereotypes set before them. I for one find the greatest pleasure in proving people wrong. I don't know why blacks conform to the way things are set. I feel like its their own fault for not trying to make something of themselves. I also agree with the fact that we are lazy. It is much easier to just slide into where its comfortable and go with the crowd, but we need to break out of the mold that we're set in. Thats the only way we can change.
Black people are in the position and the condition they are in for a variety of reasons, but I won't mention them all. I feel it all stems from slavery. The government held us in oppression then and in a way that oppression still exists now. I feel as if blacks were never "completely" freed. Racism, oppression and the idea of segregation still exists today, but in a covert form. Blacks still have to work harder than whites to get a good job or to be taken seriously in the world. Blacks still don't have all the resources and opportunities that whites have and been had since the beginning of time.
I am so tired of people saying that blacks are lazy and don't want to do anything for themselves, and how since we got a black president anything is possible. That idea of being lazy may be true for some blacks, but many try to get good jobs and get a good education, but the government has made that as hard as possible for us. Many blacks don't come from wealthy families, and therefore don't live in the best neighborhoods around doctors, lawyers etc. that could be of assistance to them. Many blacks are doomed since birth, and its up to us to find back routes to make something of ourselves.
I come from the projects, where going to school was not a priority, it was an option. The main things people were focusing on was living to see another day and how they were going to make their next dollar to eat. I didn't choose that neighborhood to be raised in, but I had to make the best of that situation. I had to work my butt off to make sure I went to school, to do homework with guns shots ringing throughout the neighborhood, to maintain my sanity when everything around me was corrupt and negative. Many blacks that came from where I'm from weren't strong enough to maintain and get out the hood like I was, but I don't blame many of them for it, they were a given a life that they had to make the best of at that moment. They couldn't go to school because no one was making money in the household, so it was either education or having a place to live and food to eat.
BLACKS HAVE BEEN DOOMED FOR A LONG TIME, SOME PEOPLE CAN GET OUT OF THE HORRIBLE SITUATIONS THEY WERE BORN INTO, WHILE MANY CAN'T...THEN THAT CYCLE OF DOOM REPEATS ITSELF FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME...
I feel as if people put themselves into the situations that they are in. This is because many of them don't think that they can make a change in their life so they decide to do what everyone else around them is doing. They think theat they're "stuck" like Asante mentioned in his book. People think that they are stuck and that there isn't a way out, but in reality there are ways to get out, they just don't want to make that effort and change becuase they are familiar to their surroundings. Its like they don't want to get out of the positions and conditions that they are in because they don't want to change.
Black ppl have definitely come a long way, but its because of those historical experiences that forced us to want to progress. Nowadays I just dont think as many ppl understand or remember or are even educated enough so that we can continue to evolve. Like i mentioned we've come a long way but there is still struggle that we must overcome, and a lot of black ppl have gotten comfortable and content with our position in society today. For example the questionnaire that we completed last week in class, asking about the use of the word nigga and if a white guy said it how we would respond. Thats just one of the many issues that we face in the black community. Why do we use that word so often? And now white boys are also using it, seeing no problem with it. We need to do better
There are both external and internal forces that work to put blacks in the current situation that we are in. Blacks are partly responsible for the position we are in because we allowed the external forces to push us there. No one is standing up to the systemic oppression that the government is forcing upon us, from harsher punishments for crimes committed mainly by African-Americans, to the failure of the incarceration system to effectively rehabilitate its inmates thus merely producing recidivists. We cannot completely blame others for our problems because they are OUR problems and we are the only ones who affected by them and need to address them yet we haven't.
Like Phallon said, Black people are in the condition they're in due to the lack of knowledge. This saying says it all, "If it's something you don't want a black person to know, put it in a book." Also another reason black folks are in the condition they are in is because we believe what everyone says we are. Asante talks about the real black and the reel black. The REEL black is how the media portrays us, and they portray it so much that after while even we start believing it. For example the ghetto is associated with low-income, shooting, drugs, typical negativity. It's also the subject of most "rap" songs today. While the ghetto does possess those characteristics, people rarely mention that ghettos are also full of culture and community and that some of the greatest African-Americans are product of an American ghetto. The reason they don't mention this is because its associated with the REAL black. The reason black people are in the condition they are in is because we have forgotten the REAL black and because we are not working towards all the goals generations before us set. Our focus is not towards education, equal rights, and opportunity. Its towards rap and sports and becoming how mainstream America wants us to be. Black owned things such as Hip-Hop is not owned by black people anymore. Everything "Urban" is associated with us. Our race as a whole does not realize that these tools that are supposed to be for us and by us are the same tools that are being used to destroy us.
Ta'les L makes many good points about the reasons why we are in the conditions we are in. nothing is owned by us anymore what was once ours is now owned and operated by big corporations who market it to lil white boys to enjoy. they can't enjoy it if the artists start talking about their REAL situations that plague that life. They got to keep it REEL, because for whites who listen to these songs it for entertainment, I mean no one really lives like that right? Another reason why we are in the conditions we are in is because black people don't go out to VOTE! I hate to make thing political..actually I don't. But why don't black people young blacks don't like to vote? how can our situation ever change if we don't vote for the people who represent our views and want to change our situation. Just a quick question. How many people in our class are registered to VOTE this nov. election? I'm going to make an educated guess and say not more than 50%. I hope I'm wrong. But I believe it's our fault we are in these conditions. Not saying voting will change everything, but it makes a big impact. if we sit back and let others choose our representatives who make policies that impact our lives negatively then that's nobody's fault but ours. PERIOD!!!
The current state of black life in general is in a dismal state because of the domino effect that is catalyzed by the results of our sociological identifiers. As we know race is a social construct. The construct was used to identify of hierarchy that led from black to white, with black being at the ladder end of the spectrum. Slavery was the first phenomena that leads to the current state, with very little regulation after emancipation and promises that were not kept, the majority of the population was left uneducated with little finances. The Reconstruction period gave birth to the Jim Crow laws were systematic laws built on segregation. With the segregation, in general, black were forced to live and use second rate housing and resources. Again, Jim Crow left many blacks in the country poorly educated and financially weak. This weak financial status leads to poor neighborhoods, which leads to a dilapidated school system, which leads to poor education, which allows for low matriculation into college and ultimately the workforce. It is also documented that statistically the lower class are more susceptible to disease due to poor diets and poorer living conditions. In addition, crim is statistically higher in poor neighborhoods as well. These factors combined lead to the poorly educated, unhealthy and crime ridden condition of the black community.
Black people are in the position and conditions they are in today for many reasons previously listed by st. clair, Marquis, and some of the other bloggers. I believe that the main reason for the condition that we are in is that black people have been miseducated on their true history. Most of us have been brought up without knolwedge of our ancestors' countless contributions to the world. If all black people knew about the culture of ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley civilizations and the knowledge and contributions that those people had and gave to the world, then black people would all have much more pride, love for each other, and a mindstate of inherited greatness.
In my opinion black people are in this "condition" for a variety of reasons. Times changed and most black people didn't change with the time or adjust to it very well. We don't live in a society where large groups of people stand up to social injustices anymore. We don't stand for hardly anything unless money is involved. I admit black people really stood united as President Obama took office, but prior to that we only came together for parties or tragedies. We still continue that trend after his election. Along the way from the Civil Rights Movement, The introduction of Hip Hop music, to the present time we live in today, we lost something. I remember years ago hearing that the political agenda started focusing on values. Now at first I thought it was just a ploy to get the gay and pro-life votes, but as I become older I see that they were just talking about values period. We have become a selfish people and a selfish society. And I'm not just talking about black people. Over the last 20 years we watched as our Educational system dropped down the drain. Every year a different program was cut, money not being given to schools, public services being privatized, prison systems turning from rehab centers to outsourced manufacturers where rights are stripped away for life to citizens of America. And we as black people who used to be a strong voice of the American people have been silenced and subjected to "not snitching". We aren't holding people accountable for actions nor are we working to constantly find solutions but steadily blaming everyone but Jesus for issues of today. I take that back, some people do actually blame Jesus. Funding for college students is constantly being cut, but the media forces our attention to wherever LeBron decides to take his "talent". We sold our voices and values to the highest bidder and many of us expect one man to restore it. That's how we ended up in this situation.
I can agree with most of the class when i say that knowledge is the reason that black people are in the position that they are in now. Personally, i feel it is the number 1 reason as to why we as a race are so disadvantaged. I feel that if there was more attention paid to these inner city communities to one improve the information they are being handed and two show the youth where education can take you i believe that some children's lives could be saved. I feel that in todays society there is such a stain on getting money by any means necessary that education falls behind for most. I feel like by addressing the issue and hold the youth, parents, community, and the system accountable instead of pointing a finger in every other direction black people could find a means to improve for self and not because society says too.
The reason we as black people are in the position we are in now is because we do not value nor understand our history. By us not knowing our history of our race it set us back far such as, not speaking, respecting and feeling better than one another when we are not. It is terrible to know that we are the only race that could not take a trip back to our motherland due to our family trend not going back that far, where as other race could plan trips.
ReplyDeleteBlack people are in the position we are in because of two reasons: lack of knowledge and the stressed idea of individual achievementare . Many of us dont know our history so we cant fully appreciate what people before us sacrificed for our progression. Because we so far removed from the past our main goal is self achievement. Many of us could care less about the next person as long as we "get ours".
ReplyDeleteI agree with stclair in that black people do not value let alone know much about their history. Black people do not understand that it is alright for help and for unity. It is all we have in a world that took our descendants from their homes in Africa, enslaved them (just to say the least), dismantle their families in their attempt to dehumanize and capitalize on our race. These profilings of race and stereotypes are going to be prevalent until we come together as a union to tackle them head on as our ancestors before us have done.
ReplyDeleteI agree with St. Clair. As Asante suggsted that black students take two set of note, one set of the history we learn in school and a set that is not taught in schools, the truth about our rich history. If we knew more about where we came from we would put forth more effort to accomplish similar achievements or just realize how great and strong we are as a people.
ReplyDeleteI would like to agree with St Clair as well. My friend and I were just having a discussion a week or so ago about how most black people do not have a history due to the African diaspora. Asians and Hispanics have their food, decorations, and a history full of past relatives that date back past the 16th century. I would guess that a lot of black people cannot research their bloodline past the 18th century (if that) with out realizing they are mixed with white, Italian or Indian.
ReplyDeleteThe point I am trying to make here is that black people as a whole do not have a history that helps to bring us together.
I believe that black people are in the position that we are in because we don't have any unity in our community. I feel like I repeat this answer for almost every post, however that is because I believe that its true. It was said during the Revolutionary War by whom I believe was Ben Franklin, that Together We Stand Divided We Fall. Which is why they divided us from the people we knew during slavery. Which is also why they dismantled black groups and associations after the civil rights era.
ReplyDeleteHowever, We are in the condition we are because the lack of education about our rich history as St. Clair said. Because we don't know where we came from we have nothing to lean back on. I believe we are a lost people walking blindly into the future. We have to educate our youth so that we can move forward.
ReplyDeleteI “we” are in the condition we’re in only because there seems to be an apathetic attitude. What I mean by this is simply there a nonchalant attitude about the progression of culture. Well black culture. I have to admit, even before taking this class I had no real drive to improve the black community. Sure I would engage in community service projects but the fact of the matter is, subconsciously I would do things for myself, immediate family, etc. Not to say I didn't care, but there was no immediate drive or sense of desperation. Eventually we have to cast selfish intentions aside and think about the bigger picture. Which is of course improving the condition we’re in.
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of reasons why blacks are in the conditions and position they are in today. Some are listed below:
ReplyDelete• Lack of education
• Oppression
• Being marginalized
• Gentrification
• Negative Stereotypes
• History
• Lack of Drive/Lack of willingness to change/Complacency
• Laziness
• Low expectations
• Lack of community/lack of support: black people are very individualistic and competitive towards each other. Blacks also hate to say others black people do well and get ahead.
• Hating
• Lack of leadership: That what’s this class is for. To help build future leaders…
• Lack of role models at home and in the community
• Broken dreams and broken promises
I Feel like people put their self in the condition they are in, if people are gonne get into fights at every party then you cant expect the police to not be waiting outside after everyone. If someone is actually gonna sit there and put their hands on the police then you cant expect the police not to mase the whole party, sure it may not be the best idea but they are going to react on what they feel is necessary at that moment. If the black community does better as a whole then there will not be as many problems
ReplyDeleteI can give so many answers to this question but I think the better answer is simple and easily understood, Black people are in the position/situation they are in because they have placed a blindfold on their aspirations and focus on their goals. There is a big difference between these two because most people in general can only think as far as a month or two ahead instead of focusing on what they can do now that can appreciate with time and give them more to look forward to in a few years even.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are numerous approaches to this answer that can be made, I will narrow down my reasoning to it being simply because of ignorance. It seems ever since the Civil Rights Movement, African-Americans developed this belief that everything was perfectly fine from that point on. Wrong! Instead of Majority of the African-American nation continuing the legacy of the leaders in the past, we seemed to get attacked by a sickness of ignorance. Today, we have so many of our people committing numerous, unneccasry crimes, that we are beginning to go back to that phase of being viewed as animals. What makes matter even worse is that in majority of those cases, we are doing all of those unneccesary things to another Black individual. To me, this causes the idea of living for Myself instead of my race to be the best one...
ReplyDeletei feel like black people are in this current position for alot of reason that are not entirely their fault but one thing for sure is nothing is being done about it by the black community as of now. The oppressive factors that play into this are not hidden , just simply not taught to the youth, for example all the black political orginizations that were started in the late 60s and were impacting on the community for positive and empowering growth and awareness are all but gone (eliminated to be exact), its quite sad. This society of oppressors play on " the less they know the less they care" and that is exacly what is keeping blacks in the cycle like system of ignorance, crime and poverty.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things that contribute to black people being in the position that we are in today. We are just as much to blame as the external forces that work against us. Examples of these forces would be a perpetuating cycle of poverty as well as institutional racism. As a community we lack unity and good leadership. My generation also lacks respect, drive, and a knowledge of self. A lot my generation thinks that we've made it and that is far from the truth.
ReplyDeleteMost of the things that I wanted to talk about has already been mentioned in most of the comments above, but I cogitate that the reason why black people are in the same position and condition is because of lack of education, laziness, and the most important, not striving for the Best, taking Challenge, and accepting Responsibility.
ReplyDeleteTo respond off of St.Clairs comment of we not knowing our history, we are not at fault for this, majority of our history has been hidden from us for years. There are several reasons such as that not knowing are past that has contributed to the reasons why black people are in the conditions and positions they are in today. I believe the main reason that Asante had brought up several times was the issue of not being unified not only with each other but with everyone else that is being oppressed as Malcolm X expressed "The only way to fight oppression is to unite with people who share the same spirit of resistance against inhumanity and injustice,"(175). -As Tristan also expresses
ReplyDeleteLack of education as mentioned above also contributes to this issue but I believe even though the "No child left behind" policy was set to educate all, it still comes down to the quality of education the black community is receiving, and presently the quality is very very low.
As a whole, black people are in the position and condition they are in because of the growth of individualism. That is black people have grown to fend for themselves as a community, and when this happens the community is not at full force to face such battles.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to put the blame only on outside forces for why black people are in this position. I know that throughout history we have been dragged to the bottom by slavery and such in the past, but its our own fault why we're still there. I feel as though if we didn't live down to the expectations that are set for us we could raise out from under it. I don't understand why most blacks feel they should comform to the stereotypes set before them. I for one find the greatest pleasure in proving people wrong. I don't know why blacks conform to the way things are set. I feel like its their own fault for not trying to make something of themselves. I also agree with the fact that we are lazy. It is much easier to just slide into where its comfortable and go with the crowd, but we need to break out of the mold that we're set in. Thats the only way we can change.
ReplyDeleteBlack people are in the position and the condition they are in for a variety of reasons, but I won't mention them all. I feel it all stems from slavery. The government held us in oppression then and in a way that oppression still exists now. I feel as if blacks were never "completely" freed. Racism, oppression and the idea of segregation still exists today, but in a covert form. Blacks still have to work harder than whites to get a good job or to be taken seriously in the world. Blacks still don't have all the resources and opportunities that whites have and been had since the beginning of time.
ReplyDeleteI am so tired of people saying that blacks are lazy and don't want to do anything for themselves, and how since we got a black president anything is possible. That idea of being lazy may be true for some blacks, but many try to get good jobs and get a good education, but the government has made that as hard as possible for us. Many blacks don't come from wealthy families, and therefore don't live in the best neighborhoods around doctors, lawyers etc. that could be of assistance to them. Many blacks are doomed since birth, and its up to us to find back routes to make something of ourselves.
I come from the projects, where going to school was not a priority, it was an option. The main things people were focusing on was living to see another day and how they were going to make their next dollar to eat. I didn't choose that neighborhood to be raised in, but I had to make the best of that situation. I had to work my butt off to make sure I went to school, to do homework with guns shots ringing throughout the neighborhood, to maintain my sanity when everything around me was corrupt and negative. Many blacks that came from where I'm from weren't strong enough to maintain and get out the hood like I was, but I don't blame many of them for it, they were a given a life that they had to make the best of at that moment. They couldn't go to school because no one was making money in the household, so it was either education or having a place to live and food to eat.
BLACKS HAVE BEEN DOOMED FOR A LONG TIME, SOME PEOPLE CAN GET OUT OF THE HORRIBLE SITUATIONS THEY WERE BORN INTO, WHILE MANY CAN'T...THEN THAT CYCLE OF DOOM REPEATS ITSELF FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME...
I feel as if people put themselves into the situations that they are in. This is because many of them don't think that they can make a change in their life so they decide to do what everyone else around them is doing. They think theat they're "stuck" like Asante mentioned in his book. People think that they are stuck and that there isn't a way out, but in reality there are ways to get out, they just don't want to make that effort and change becuase they are familiar to their surroundings. Its like they don't want to get out of the positions and conditions that they are in because they don't want to change.
ReplyDeleteBlack ppl have definitely come a long way, but its because of those historical experiences that forced us to want to progress. Nowadays I just dont think as many ppl understand or remember or are even educated enough so that we can continue to evolve. Like i mentioned we've come a long way but there is still struggle that we must overcome, and a lot of black ppl have gotten comfortable and content with our position in society today. For example the questionnaire that we completed last week in class, asking about the use of the word nigga and if a white guy said it how we would respond. Thats just one of the many issues that we face in the black community. Why do we use that word so often? And now white boys are also using it, seeing no problem with it. We need to do better
ReplyDeleteThere are both external and internal forces that work to put blacks in the current situation that we are in. Blacks are partly responsible for the position we are in because we allowed the external forces to push us there. No one is standing up to the systemic oppression that the government is forcing upon us, from harsher punishments for crimes committed mainly by African-Americans, to the failure of the incarceration system to effectively rehabilitate its inmates thus merely producing recidivists. We cannot completely blame others for our problems because they are OUR problems and we are the only ones who affected by them and need to address them yet we haven't.
ReplyDeleteLike Phallon said, Black people are in the condition they're in due to the lack of knowledge. This saying says it all, "If it's something you don't want a black person to know, put it in a book." Also another reason black folks are in the condition they are in is because we believe what everyone says we are. Asante talks about the real black and the reel black. The REEL black is how the media portrays us, and they portray it so much that after while even we start believing it. For example the ghetto is associated with low-income, shooting, drugs, typical negativity. It's also the subject of most "rap" songs today. While the ghetto does possess those characteristics, people rarely mention that ghettos are also full of culture and community and that some of the greatest African-Americans are product of an American ghetto. The reason they don't mention this is because its associated with the REAL black. The reason black people are in the condition they are in is because we have forgotten the REAL black and because we are not working towards all the goals generations before us set. Our focus is not towards education, equal rights, and opportunity. Its towards rap and sports and becoming how mainstream America wants us to be. Black owned things such as Hip-Hop is not owned by black people anymore. Everything "Urban" is associated with us. Our race as a whole does not realize that these tools that are supposed to be for us and by us are the same tools that are being used to destroy us.
ReplyDeleteTa'les L makes many good points about the reasons why we are in the conditions we are in. nothing is owned by us anymore what was once ours is now owned and operated by big corporations who market it to lil white boys to enjoy. they can't enjoy it if the artists start talking about their REAL situations that plague that life. They got to keep it REEL, because for whites who listen to these songs it for entertainment, I mean no one really lives like that right? Another reason why we are in the conditions we are in is because black people don't go out to VOTE! I hate to make thing political..actually I don't. But why don't black people young blacks don't like to vote? how can our situation ever change if we don't vote for the people who represent our views and want to change our situation. Just a quick question. How many people in our class are registered to VOTE this nov. election? I'm going to make an educated guess and say not more than 50%. I hope I'm wrong. But I believe it's our fault we are in these conditions. Not saying voting will change everything, but it makes a big impact. if we sit back and let others choose our representatives who make policies that impact our lives negatively then that's nobody's fault but ours. PERIOD!!!
ReplyDeleteThe current state of black life in general is in a dismal state because of the domino effect that is catalyzed by the results of our sociological identifiers. As we know race is a social construct. The construct was used to identify of hierarchy that led from black to white, with black being at the ladder end of the spectrum. Slavery was the first phenomena that leads to the current state, with very little regulation after emancipation and promises that were not kept, the majority of the population was left uneducated with little finances. The Reconstruction period gave birth to the Jim Crow laws were systematic laws built on segregation. With the segregation, in general, black were forced to live and use second rate housing and resources. Again, Jim Crow left many blacks in the country poorly educated and financially weak. This weak financial status leads to poor neighborhoods, which leads to a dilapidated school system, which leads to poor education, which allows for low matriculation into college and ultimately the workforce. It is also documented that statistically the lower class are more susceptible to disease due to poor diets and poorer living conditions. In addition, crim is statistically higher in poor neighborhoods as well. These factors combined lead to the poorly educated, unhealthy and crime ridden condition of the black community.
ReplyDeleteBlack people are in the position and conditions they are in today for many reasons previously listed by st. clair, Marquis, and some of the other bloggers. I believe that the main reason for the condition that we are in is that black people have been miseducated on their true history. Most of us have been brought up without knolwedge of our ancestors' countless contributions to the world. If all black people knew about the culture of ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley civilizations and the knowledge and contributions that those people had and gave to the world, then black people would all have much more pride, love for each other, and a mindstate of inherited greatness.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion black people are in this "condition" for a variety of reasons. Times changed and most black people didn't change with the time or adjust to it very well. We don't live in a society where large groups of people stand up to social injustices anymore. We don't stand for hardly anything unless money is involved. I admit black people really stood united as President Obama took office, but prior to that we only came together for parties or tragedies. We still continue that trend after his election. Along the way from the Civil Rights Movement, The introduction of Hip Hop music, to the present time we live in today, we lost something. I remember years ago hearing that the political agenda started focusing on values. Now at first I thought it was just a ploy to get the gay and pro-life votes, but as I become older I see that they were just talking about values period. We have become a selfish people and a selfish society. And I'm not just talking about black people. Over the last 20 years we watched as our Educational system dropped down the drain. Every year a different program was cut, money not being given to schools, public services being privatized, prison systems turning from rehab centers to outsourced manufacturers where rights are stripped away for life to citizens of America. And we as black people who used to be a strong voice of the American people have been silenced and subjected to "not snitching". We aren't holding people accountable for actions nor are we working to constantly find solutions but steadily blaming everyone but Jesus for issues of today. I take that back, some people do actually blame Jesus. Funding for college students is constantly being cut, but the media forces our attention to wherever LeBron decides to take his "talent". We sold our voices and values to the highest bidder and many of us expect one man to restore it. That's how we ended up in this situation.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with most of the class when i say that knowledge is the reason that black people are in the position that they are in now. Personally, i feel it is the number 1 reason as to why we as a race are so disadvantaged. I feel that if there was more attention paid to these inner city communities to one improve the information they are being handed and two show the youth where education can take you i believe that some children's lives could be saved. I feel that in todays society there is such a stain on getting money by any means necessary that education falls behind for most. I feel like by addressing the issue and hold the youth, parents, community, and the system accountable instead of pointing a finger in every other direction black people could find a means to improve for self and not because society says too.
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