Even Beneath the Haze, Blacks Used to Do Better
As Cosby is teaching us, we do not need to eclipse racism to solve our problems. Or, if we do, the case needs to be spelled out more carefully -- and in a hurry.
John McWhorter, a culture and politics Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is a columnist for the New York Sun and author of Losing the Race.
Ta-Nehisi Coates ode to the N-word. Sen. Barack Obama urges parental responsibility. John McWhorter 's'quick and dirty blackness primer. Melissa Harris Lacewell shows how far Kevin Powell has come.
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Even Beneath the Haze, Blacks Used to Do Better
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View All Comments »bareian at 06/10/2008 8:28:06 AM
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In a society where laws are skewed against blacks, problems will always exsist. From Bill Crosby's era, until today these problems will continue as long as there are bias views and the art of division.
kanlauf at 06/08/2008 10:24:36 AM
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I will not defend my neice's ridiculous behavior. I don't blame anyone else for my neice's behavior except for HER. It is certainly not the black community that is at fault. She has chosen to do every act, thought, decision, behavior, attitude, etc. She has been ostracized from her school friends and some of her family because of her behavior and decisions. I agree that she has no business talking about black culture because she is certainly no expert. The boyfriend is the one who says that his culture/family does not discourage his type of living. And she did know what kind of man she was getting with but she likes an element of danger I guess (she's stupid). We tried to raise her to be a good partner in humanity with morals and values and the like. We are still trying to figure out where it went wrong that she chose this life of struggle. I'm just trying to understand and gain knowledge so I can be the best person I can to my great nephew and guide him to be different than his father and mother if possible. I know I can't possibly have the right answers but thru education and learning I may gain a way to mend a bridge.
BIZMARKER at 06/08/2008 2:22:15 AM
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I BELIEVE THAT THE DIFFERENCE IS THINGS WERE MADE TO EASY FOR BLACKS TO STAY HOME ESPICALLY WOMEN. THEY WERE GIVEN WELFARE AND CHILD SUPPORT ETC. AND THEIR CHILDREN LOST THEIR VALUES BECAUSE WE LOST OUR VALUES. AND WE WANTE DTO BE MORE EXCEPTED THAN OUR GRAND PARENTS AND OUR PARENTS WE TRIED TO BE LIKE THE FAMILY ON THE TV OR THE WHITE FAMLIES THAT WE SEE ALL THE TIME. THIS CAUSED US OUR CHILDEREN. AND IT KEEP US IN POVERTY BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE IT WAS OK TO LIVE LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS GIVEN TO US WELFARE TO USE WAS FREE MONEY BULL. IT WAS HEY BECOME LESS PRODUCTIVE STAY HOME GET PAID FORGET HOW YOU GOT WHERE YOU ARE. WE STOP TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT AND MORAL. JUST EXCEPT WHATS GIVEN TO YOU. HAVE A BABY IT DOESN'T NEED A DAD I CAN GET WELFARE THATS MONEY, PUBLIC HOUSING ETC. I CAN MAKE IT ON MY OWN . NOT REALIZING THAT IT IS NOT THE WAY OUT IT'S THE WAY IN TO A LIFE OF JUST GETTING BY. AND IN THIS WE LOST OUR PRIDE AND SELF RESPECT. IT WAS A SMOKE SCREEN AND IT WORKED LOOK AT US NOW. INSTEAD OF SINGING WE SHALL OVER COME WE SHOULD BE SINGING A NEW SONG WHAT HAVE WE DONE.