Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The road to equality

An excerpt from a Cincinnati Enquirer column on equality

But for ordinary Americans, race still plays a large role in determining personal earnings, educational attainment, access to health care, housing options and social relationships. We measure our progress not yet in equality, but in inching forward to close considerable gaps.

That is why, despite the fact that schools and federal offices are closed today, Martin Luther King Day is not a day of rest, but of restlessness. It is a day of both pride and discomfort.

Just for discussion, I'd like to ask. Are there any "successful" african-americans in our society?

If the answer is no, then we still have a serious racial problem in our country.

But if the if the answer is yes. How is that so? Those successful african-americans face the same racial stereotyping and bigotry as all other african-americans, yet somehow find a way to transcend that? How can that be? It's not like you can hide your "blackness".

I've said it before and I'll continue to preach it. I'm not the smartest guy around but I follow what the smartest guys around are doing.

Maybe people that manage the urban leagues, NAACP chapters, and rainbow coalitions, can look at those people in the african american community who are successful and ask, "what makes that so?" and try and replicate it through out the community.

But it's probably just easier to sit back and bitch and moan. It shouldn't be a surprise that people like Sharpton and Jackson oppose Obama mania the way they do. After all, if we can elect an african-american as president what does that say about the victimization of blacks in our society?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

If Obama wins the nomination, you are correct, the race baiters are out of a job. It would prove that everyone is responsible for themselves, and the government(taxpayer) is not.