For your first question, could you please elaborate a little more?

For your second question, allow me to give a quick answer and then elaborate: Leave people to their own vices.

The one thing I did not touch on in this article is a bit of Black history that proves my point.
As Blacks were able to obtain their freedom during the waining days of slavery, many of them migrated to the western parts of the United States. Mind you, there were no laws guaranteeing them equal access. Law enforcement only continued to enforce the status quo as it related to race. We were left out of the economy and every on-ramp to participate in it. It was at this juncture that Blacks began to establish their own communities and towns in various places around the west. We created our own banks, our own schools, our own businesses. These businesses existed for many years before the clutches of racism once again found and wiped out some of them. Others were able to withstand the onslaught and exist to this very day.
Did you know that in the Northwest back in the mid to late 1800′s, Black women were more highly educated than White women? There was one town (the
name escapes me now) where the literacy rate was above 70% amongst Blacks.
We were able to accomplish all of this with NO assistance from a government
that cared nothing for us.

Fast forward to today and you have literacy rates in low income Black
school districts that are below 50% with millions and millions of dollars
of government funding. Something is very wrong with that picture. We have
many of our brothers and sisters who can pony up $200 for a pair of
sneakers, show up early and on time to get into the line, will fight you if
you dare cut in front of them in the line. But on the flip, many of these
same people can’t seem to find the ability to show up for a parent/teacher
meeting.

When people know that there will always be a safety net for them to cover
for their lack of initiative, they will never put forth the effort. That is
human nature. No. I do not suggest that all government programs be
immediately cut. Instead, we should gradually reduce them while gradually
increasing personal responsibility. You will find that when people really
want to improve their situation, they will find the means to do so. Black
history is filled with these wonderful examples.

Take care and Happy New Year. I look forward hearing from you again real
soon.

Duane

It seems that “self sufficiency” would be the act of a person saying I am going to step out and do something different- take the necessary steps to make something happen; so co dependency no longer exist. Another words I agree with you and would only add that it is a collaborated effort.

To Duane- I wholeheartedly agree that the prize is always sweeter when you actually work for something.  Two things jumped to mind when I read this.What other cultures have forged their way and why? When you really understand those two things, you can figure out the how.

First, Asians and Jews are two groups of people that come to mind. Both have suffered and endured thousands of years of abuse. I don’t mean to undermine the hardships of slavery as my husband, my two brothers (half and step), my FIL,and BIL, as well as my own child are technically “black”. I am white. However, Jews and Asians have suffered tremendously. Obviously, we think of the Holocaust, but Jews have endured much more suffering than that. I’m sure Asians the same. However, both groups have managed to (for the most part) educate their children and become productive members of society.

Why is this? Well for starters both place a high emphasis on education. How is it that Asians come to this country and manage to learn the language? It’s because they value educating themselves and pass that on to their children. How often do we see Asian children struggling to keep up in school? Almost never. Jews have managed to establish themselves in tons of coveted industries. Do you realize that Jews actually had to hide their identities to prevent being accepted at Harvard? Why? Because they took individual responsibility and communal responsibility to educate their own.

It’s also because in both groups, a strong sense of community is valued more than anything. Asians families stick together. So do Jewish families. You can say whatever you want about Jews looking white, but they set themselves apart and make their own community. Yes, they look white on the outside, but they don’t keep friends that don’t have the same views as they do. Asians obviously look different than whites, but Jews wear their funny hats, keep Kosher homes, and don’t mingle with people who don’t share the same values. It’s not easy blending in, when you don’t celebrate Christmas and wear a yamulka to work. The point I’m making is that you don’t have to “blend” in to be successful, you can be yourself. The second point I’m making is that establishing a community that lends itself to success, is of outmost importance. Blacks seemed to be coming together, but after the death of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King no one has really replaced them. My FIL has told me that segregation here in Texas, was better before than after integration (he lived it in college). The sense of community was lost afterward.

So how do you fix this? As a Black member of society, in my opinion, you need to take on a greater responsibility for your community’s welfare. Other groups listed above have already done this. Instead of saying, “well I’m doing what I need to do” you need to say “I’ve done what I can for myself, I’m going to move on and help MY community”.This is crucial, I think the culture has become “what can I get for me” instead of “how can I make me better AND help others.”

What are the biggest things to do

Promote education-not just sports. Start it at home. Read to your kids, turn the damn tv off, educate yourself and then educate your children.

Promote self-sufficiency by cooking for your own family (saving money and buying healthy foods). Blacks have one or the highest percentages of diabetes and a slew of other health issues.

Promote entrepreneurship with young black males. Obviously, stereotypes exist (drug dealing), but young men who would like to make some money and not “work for the man” could put their skills to good use by understanding how knowledge could help them put their skills to good use.

Find members within your own black community who have similar values and collaborate! Apply for grants to start your own non-profit, grow, and teach!
I just heard Maya Angelou say, “If you have, give. If you learn, teach.”

Your argument is an excuse, a defense too often used for lack of legitimate logic. Hard work does in fact equal prosperity. I am proud proof.

God bless.

we’re way ahead of Detroit on this one

stay tuned

http://bit.ly/bslVmr

I am happy that you do not live the life of entitlement. But where I, live and own a small building where the population is 13% black. 98% of the people applying to rent my property that are black are on Section 8. The same with the Hispanics from Central American. Almost every person that is of light skin color pays their own way. They struggle with the payments and at times have to move out because of losing their jobs but at least that are trying to work hard and pay their own way.

I am sorry to say but I, am at the point that it makes me angry but I, am required by State and Federal laws to treat everyone fairly and equal because I, am business owner. I am required to consider everyone regardless my personal beliefs. I will treat anyone fairly and equal regardless BUT it infuriates me to see ladies in their mid forties that have never worked in their entire life because they have been living out of the government and tax payer’s money. I, see them coming with fancy $100+ dollars boots (Ugg boots), with new cars, well dress and in welfare! I, see that they have kids of the age of 21, 18, 17 and 4 years old?? yes, the pattern is the same. As the kids get older they have a baby to extend their welfare benefits. The later pattern is that after they are almost done they come and tell me that they are their adopting their 10 year old niece/nephew!!! Why? Ahh because they are almost done with their own children and cannot longer have more children.

Now you will think that if you are home raising your children they… their children will be better students and on their way to College. No, that is not the case regarding the people that I, see. What I, see is the pattern repeating again with their 15 year old daughters.

It is sad to see how these kids are being raised without fathers. One lady might have 4 kids with each kid with different last name.

Somewhere I, read that California has about 13% or so of the population in the USA but has over 30% of the welfare recipients. I, bet that most of the welfare recipients here in California are blacks and Central American Hispanics.

As a regular, plain citizen it makes me sad to see that politicians looking to secure votes are mostly responsible for helping destroying the black fatherless families… A.K.A welfare families…

If you are black or Central American Hispanic … instead of getting offended about people reacting negative about blacks and welfare, about blacks fighting on a video and the reader’s/blogger’s comment(s)… what people should do is talk among themselves, discussed with someone and convince them that on the long run the welfare system is bad for any family blue, black or red. They should do everything on their power to get out of it.

You can call me a racist…as people tend to do when the truth is being told..call me a racist all you want but it is very obvious how the welfare system have destroy the black families and is on the way to destroy the Central American Hispanic families. Of course at the end it is not my fault, your fault or the government fault. It is the fault of the individuals wanting to be on that system.

I have to be careful as a business owner what I, say to the black and/or the Central American Hispanics applicants. What I, say could misinterpret and get me in a legal problem. But I, feel that we are all here together and what they and everyone else for that matter do… it will eventually affect me, my kids, friends, neighbors and our country. I usually turn to their children and ask them about school, their grades and what they want to be when they grow up. I encourage them to do their best and often tease them about becoming doctors and so, forth. They typically laugh but I feel that if they hear those words enough they will start believing it….

No longer are blacks wearing chains, but (with a growing exception) they have become more and more dependent on the government… The same government that pushes them to the cycle of drugs, crime & prison. The percentage of black men in prison is a direct result of their failure as a group to stand tall, take responsibility for themselves and make their way in the world.

God bless you for sharing this… I have been saying these things for years, but being a fat old white guy, I usually get called ‘insensitive’ or the old stand-by ‘racist’

I will link to this post & share it with many.

Tom O’Halloran

I hope more people read this.