How can black people rise up and overcome?
114896
So many people here answering the questions don't have a clue what they're talking about. Blacks haven"t completely risen up and overcome yet. Some many blacks are stuck with dead-end jobs, welfare and section 8 housing, do you call that rising up? I'll admit some of this stems from laziness, some of the problem stems from oppression, some just from hard times. And as for the person who said just go back to Africa ...(god) that had to be one of the most ignorant things I've ever heard, I mean really do know what's it's like to live the life of a black person. There still is oppression, racism, and prejudice out there. We've come a long way way but, we have more ground to cover for ALL races.
524614
Yes, the real question is why don't blacks value each other.\n\n2pac said "I got love for my brother but we can never go no where unless we share with each other, we got to start making changes learn to see me as your brother instead of two distant strangers"\n\nAnd Coolio said "tell me why are we so blind to see that the ones we hurt are you and me."\n\nWhat do you have people who oppress their own people not only hurt their people but also bring a curse upon thereself because of their wrong doing. Then what do you have a seed of generational curses. How can you create a Peace when you have a lot of your own people who are hell-bent on keeping you down so they can look good.
310237
Interesting inquiry...My family taught me to be a racist because of the treatment they experienced while living in the south back in the 50's and 60's.  When I went to college and found out that I could be friends with people of all races my entire existence expanded.  I had to learn how to take a stand for what I believed in whether my family and friends agreed with me or not.  Learning to be my self and bridge the race gap with others has been quite enlightening.  Then again...I challenge myself to grow spiritually, so letting go of the past is one lesson I have been able to conquer.  The gift is not to resist, but to examine and inquire.  You're on the right path.  Peace.
446135
Excellent points!  We're always being told that our ancestors enslaved them, but we're never told that our ancestors also fought and died to free them.  It's been 140 years since there was slavery.  There are so many programs to help black people, at the expense of white people.  Its about time black people quit looking for excuses and try to make it like I know they can.  And don't start calling me prejudice cause I aint!
365407
Continue to be who you are. Please don't feed into any of the stereotypes that are overwhelming Black people.
494649
the reality of it is once people hear black that's all that counts. No matter what your complextion is ... Sorry dude but why don't you just stop telling them all together what your are and let them guess since, they seem to know more than you anyway. (you tell them one thing and they tell you something different!)\nAsk them "why ask if you already know the answer or at least think you know?" that should shut them up. And you Are 1/8 black and 7/8ths something else.
942270
Thank you Pale Rider for asking these questions.\nI wish I had an easy answer for this, because it is one that my sisters and girlfriends are always asking ourselves.\nBlack men are failing themselves, first and foremost.\nThere are a great deal of them that are true heroes that step to the bat and take responsibility. I don't want to leave that out, because it hurts to get bunched up with the bad apples and not be appreciated for trying.\n\nThat being said, there are a great deal of black men that are suffering from a lack of true mental development. They never make the transition from irresponsible teenager to responsible adult man. Their children are viewed as the woman's child, not theirs. Their American dream looks like a 50 Cent/P-Diddy video. I've seen this with a lot of men of all ethnic backgrounds, but when you are black and in the United States you cannot afford to be this way.\n\nAnother factor to take a look at is most black people in the United States are running around with Post traumatic syndrome. It is a direct side-effect of U.S. brand racism and classism. We suffer great deal of "self-dissociation" both on an individual level and on a collective consciousness level.\n\nBlack women want that American dream with the house and picket fence. We get caught up in day-to-day struggles and so we lose patience when our men are don't step up and carry their own weight. We feel sometimes that they want too much credit for doing what everyone does and should do: take responsibility for their actions. We forget sometimes that our men struggle too. We need to be more supportive and less enabling.\n\nThere are no easy answers but a step away from the more frivolous, self-seeking hip hop culture could be a great start. To get young black men to desire to become electrical engineers and theoretical physicists would be a great way to start.
1140938
black people love life, they love to have a good time, and they love to laugh, some of the best comedians are black people. They love to be heard, and get loud too. But black people are not loud all the time. only when they get together with their friends, and they want to make sure that everyone knows that they are proud and loud about it. They love to listen to loud rap music, not all of them, but most, because the louder your bump, the better your rap, the more attention you get, and black people love to be the center of attention.
311745
This was actually discussed on Real Time with Bill Maher a few weeks ago.  Tavis Smiley (an african american himself) said that there are so many african americans trying to break into rap (and basketball) because to many of them, those are the only opportunities they feel they have to have a better life. They see the "bling", the fancy cars, hear about lucrative contracts and see women throwing themselves at these guys and they want that. \n\nThe problem is, the ones who have no chance of making in those fields are wasting their time trying when they could be working toward another positive, achievable goal.  Sure it's great to take a shot, but at some point you have to say to yourself "it's time to be realistic about this".\n\nIn a lot of African American communities, the kinds of role models available are only musicians and sports stars you see on TV...there's almost no encouragement or educational outreach to become doctors, lawyers, engineers and they don't see other african americans in these positions very often.  Let's face it, even on the night time TV shows, most of the African Americans you see on mainstream TV are orderlies in hospitals, secretaries, and public school teachers.\n\nI can tell you for a fact that the scientific community is constantly looking for african american scientists and the number of them is so small that they've begun trying to reach into the public schools to let black kids know there are other choices out there.
693808
To say that black people just train harder is ridiculous. Look at any sport or position where speed of jumping ability is essential. These positions are dominated by black athletes. Sprinting, long jump, basketball, speed positions in football, etc. Genetics has to play some part. And the ONE white guy to win the dunk contest was Brent Barry. And Carlos Arroyo can't dunk!!
301327
Blacks who commit crimes usually have a lower income level than white counterparts so cannot afford good attorneys. It all starts there. To fix this, the first thing would be to truly eliminate racism. And then promote economic development in impoverished comunities, and community and personal pride. Education would help, too. \n\nThe state won't do it - it starts with the individual. People feel hopeless and stop caring about themselves, their families, their communities.
817720
Of course they made some difference, but folks need to think \nfor themselves . I have noticed that blacks in general do not go \nout of their way to help each other like Jews, etc. have gone \nthrough a rough time, but have supported one another.
623590
if you strongly reject them they will never come back. but lot of african are too poor to act so pray hard and one day GOD WILL SEE AFRICAN THROUGH.
47951
To answer the first question, I think that the reason black men are not underestimated-especially in today's society is because they feel determined to prove themselves to NOT be the white person's stereotype.  It is not uncommon to see a black man with more determination and drive to succeed than his white counterparts.  \nI dont understand the second question... a little clarification?
188972
Well, first you have to take into account the dominant group.\n\nIf you take a look at Black-White relations, the power has always went to the Whites and the Blacks were either oppressed, enslaved, or devalued.  There has always been this belief that if you want to be valuable and admired, you have to be white.\n\nIt's an awful, awful result of white oppressiveness.\n\nNow take into account that aesthetics results from cultural acceptance.  Isolated African tribes LOATHE the appearance of the white person.  It's hideous.  They look like their insides were turned out.  Ghostly.  Dead.  So unappealing.  \n\nBut they're isolated so they've never had to accept white power.  They don't experience many white people -- and their culture does not have to accept them as the source of freedom.\n\nBut urban third and first world countries that the English and French once ruled all dominated the culture.  It was difficult for anyone darker than white to be recognized as a person.\n\nNow although racist superiority is not taught like it once was, our parents and their parents all experienced some of these teachings.  Even if they did not pass down these teachings, we learn these lessons from interactions.\n\nWhite men still, overall, have the power AND they are trying to keep it this way.  Minority groups are usually under-represented in positions of power.  Lessons do not have to be verbally taught in order for them to be accepted.\n\nEveryone likes to believe they are valuable and everyone wants at least the opportunity for power: the most oppressed group-- black men-- realize on some level that the light women are associated with money and power and light children are associated with opportunity.\n\nWhite men control the media and they definitely encourage this nonsense.
544833
I'm very proud because the statistics say from teenage years to age twenty five a black male will be dead or either in jail. Well you don't meet them statistics. You make this black female very proud and very proud to be black..congratulations. there isn't nothing you can do wrong, because the only way there is to go is up. What ever decision you make is the best. I am graduating high-school one year early. I plan on going to MVCC...then transferring over to a university for production in film and advertisement..and the best part of it all is i am black. A BLACK beautiful women and you give me inspiration. You do not need advice. You are your own inspiration, so keep on inspiring others because you inspired me
272944
What is it about black people that intimidates you? Is it the bass in my voice? The seductive sway of my hips? The fire in my eyes? The firm and decisive set of my mouth? The naturally healthy and desireable colour of my bronze skin? The strength of my resolve? Or simply my audacity to exist?