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It doesn't take long to find a thread in politics or current events or somewhere else on this forum for someone to ask a question like "Why does the black community do XYZ?" or "what is wrong with the black community in relationship to XYZ?"
This implies all black people are the same (behave the same way), and all black people should atone and repent for the behaviors of other black people.
Why don't we hold other groups to the same standard? What is with this obsession with defining the "black community," that is monolithic community with a single set of experiences, behaviors, values and actions? Why doesn't American individualism apply to black people?
*I posted this here hoping we can have a civilized scours on this without devolving to stereotyping and the like!
Simply because people are racist, but don't want to account for the racist past. Black people just didn't get on a boat here themselves you know.
Doing this makes people say ''this isn't my fault, it's YOUR fault. You fix it". It's ironic this happens because if Timothy McVeigh or James Holmes...it's an individual thing.
The biggest problem being, of course, the ''minority'' community is always a 'problem' with the majority community. But it never addresses the underlying issue ''those'' people contribute too. Segregation has played a large role in the state of many cities today, including Detroit. The fixes suddenly start to involve ''my taxes'' and suddenly nobody wants apart of it.
You're actually getting to the core of liberal/conservative.
Conservative view points are typically that you are responsible for your own well being and it's up to you to work to improve your situation. No other group (government or other race) should be able to hinder you, but at the same time, they are not responsible for you.
Liberal view points are typically that those who "are better" are obligated to help solve the problem of the people who aren't. Whether it's being better educated and helping those who know less, better financed and helping those without money, or better empowered helping those who have less power, it always comes back to those who "are better" have an obligation to help those who aren't.
The same liberal way of phrasing the question regarding the black community would simply be "why don't more people help the black community do xyz?" or "Why don't more people help change the black community's relationship with xyz"
It's just a matter of where you stand on the political spectrum when it comes to left vs right.
It's also a well documented observation that people are more likely to notice a stance that they don't agree with than one that they agree with. A conservative watchin Bill O'Riely will quickly notice if he took a liberal stance on a topic. By the same logic, if a conservative wound up on a left leaning talk show, the conservative stance would quickly attract the ire of the audience faster than the 10 left leaning stances mentioned before.
There's also no lack of "white racist" type statements that get made indicating that "all white people should atone and repent for the behaviors of other white people." People just tend to notice the things they don't like the most. I don't really think either one is more prevalent than the other personally.
Maybe because the black community is so fast to defend black people who are clearly in the wrong on issues.
And I have noticed a lot of guilt playing to get people to help people who never seem to appreciate it and constantly look for more handouts. I used to have a boss who said. "If you think something needs to be done then maybe you are the one that should do it."
I guess just like all whites are suppose to atone for slavery when their ancestors probably hadn't even immigrated to the US before the late 1800s, well after slavery.
Blacks shouldn't have to be responsible for other members of their race. But Black leaders in this country need to speak out more about the deficiencies among many of their race....high crime, lack of fathers being involved with their children, mothers who have children from a variety of fathers, etc.
I don't think it has to do with racism at all. What they are saying is that if "X" happens in your neighborhood and you know it is wrong, why aren't the good people in that neighborhood doing something about it. Who's kids are they that are joining gangs? Get control of them. Teens having babies....who's teens are they? Shouldn't they be given instructions on birth control? Dropping out of school....Shouldn't there be a way to instill the importance of education in them.
The old Peer Pressure goes a long way. Lavish praise upon positive accomplishments.
It may be easier said than done and it will take the cooperation of that neighborhood and the community in general. Have discussion groups meeting at regular times to decide what has to be done. As it is they are letting the worst among them set the pace and thus the whole neighborhood is considered bad.
Jeo123 hit alot of it on point.
I'd also add that in many cases the black community presents itself as a monolithic group on certain issues. There are very vocal leaders in the community that present themselves (right or wrong) as THE voice of the community. The white community has no such well defined borders or leaders. From laid back surfers, rednecks and hill-billies, to suits on Wall Street and everything in between. The white community isnt thought of as being so monolithic in thought, lifestyle or experience. The black community is (wrongfully IMO) viewed as much more singular which is where a great deal of the "take responsibility for your own community" rhetoric comes from.
I guess just like all whites are suppose to atone for slavery when their ancestors probably hadn't even immigrated to the US before the late 1800s, well after slavery.
Blacks shouldn't have to be responsible for other members of their race. But Black leaders in this country need to speak out more about the deficiencies among many of their race....high crime, lack of fathers being involved with their children, mothers who have children from a variety of fathers, etc.
What black leaders are you talking about?
There is no such thing as "black leaders".
When did black people elect these leaders?
I think white people in this country have this idea that black americans are separate from white america.
For example,there should never be a "black" community and "black neighborhoods".
The stats should be included all in one. What is the purpose of goverment separating stats by race?
Before anyone says that black people forced themselves to be separate from everyone,not true.
Whites did,and they still do.
I guess just like all whites are suppose to atone for slavery when their ancestors probably hadn't even immigrated to the US before the late 1800s, well after slavery.
Blacks shouldn't have to be responsible for other members of their race. But Black leaders in this country need to speak out more about the deficiencies among many of their race....high crime, lack of fathers being involved with their children, mothers who have children from a variety of fathers, etc.
I think the OPs point is that what do the things you listed in your last sentence have to do with a black person who doesn't commit crimes, sire children out of wedlock, etc.?
If you are black and you know that there's a stereotype against your race, doesn't that mean you *should* go out of your way to make sure you go above and beyond to make sure that stereotype is wrong?
Don't give people who feed into the stereotype the statistical information the need to make a case that the stereotype is correct. Find a way to be the race that's the most honest, the most hard working, the least likely to show up in jails, etc.
Honest and hard working blacks are not responsible for their "community" but if the "community" keeps screwing up and keeps going to jail and keeps fathering kids out of wedlock and so on and so forth, that does nothing to put this stereotype to bed forever.
In order for this stereotype to go away, the people being stereotyped have to work extra hard to prove the stereotype is wrong. Its not fair for sure, but life's not fair, sometimes you just have to play the hand you're dealt.
Why are all black people expected to be responsible for the "black community?"
Cuz people are stoopid. And they generalize. And they's ig'nant.
Seriously, they'd never take responsibility for the "white trash" poor of the country or the little white thugs that run around wreaking havoc...
People are people. Black vs White is a great smokescreen for the real threat in this country: Radical Muslim terrorists.
Keep focusing on the age old issue of race <-- spoken to the racists. We're like frogs in a frickin' frying pan.
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