Where Will the Black Community be in 40 years? (activist, racist, Reed)

[macmeal]

Originally Posted by backfist

Let me just say that I don't mean to sound condescending, arrogant or chippy. I really don't.

The primary reason you don't understand why I still identify as Black is because you never had to. Now that's not a slap at you, so please--please--don't take it as such. Rather, it's the only basis for understanding why. Understand, I was born at a time when I could not choose how I wished to identify. Society had already established those rules. Not only was that was part and parcel of American culture, it wasn't that long ago (I'm only in my early 40s!!).

As a family, we don't spend a whole lot of time on identity. We are a Black family by choice, and not by mandate. We all know that Black encompasses everything from jet black to pasty white and every shade in between. So it's no biggy. But we also know that our children may change their minds as adults, and may not identify at all. Again, that will depend entirely on what kind of society they live in.

OK, fair enough. In closing, I'll make an admission to you. We've had a few 'racist' incidents here, and on rare occasions have been 'snubbed' or made to feel uncomfortable. And my wife and I have always made 'sport' of this, and in all honesty, the 'racists' have provided some of our most memorable family stories. We've shared 'racist' stories with our kids, friends and in-laws, too, and much of the time, it ends with a laugh...

But (here's my admission)..I noticed your address, and it reminded me that I've always said that, if we DID live in other parts of the nation, it could well be that 'racists' weren't nearly so funny as they seem here. So I'll give you credit for your views, which you've arrived at from your OWN life experience, and I'll realize I can't speak for you.

Thanks for your posts...

[backfist]

Thanks. And be well.

[EarthMother1951]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

Which mirrors the rest of the citizens in the USA, so integration appears to be working.

Yes, and proves that affirmative action is not needed anymore.

[nat_at772]

Originally Posted by johndoeboy

Wow you need to stop generalizing all black men. Only 3 categories either a CEO, rapper, or live at home with mama. I have several black male friends who want to be in real estate or insurance. I have some who want to be a engineers, doctors, or lawyers. I have some who want to be accountants, or college proffessors. I know some who want to be singer and not a rapper. And i know some who are going to be blue collar workers and nothing more.

Everybody doesn't want to be a ceo, a rapper, or stay at home with mama.
Im in college right now and i have found out nobody is alike. Everybody has diffrent goals set for their life.

I know several young black males 20-30 like myself who know the value of owning something. Last time i check its mostly black men who are hiring and given young black men a chance in their field. The black middle class has been rising since the 70's in america. The projects were alot worse in the 80's than they are now for the low income black population. Most projects are being torn down in favor of mix-income housing. Check out the black business owners in cities like atlanta, and dallas. I think you will found out most of them are owned by young black males not even over 40 yet.

I didn't say all. I said most and I was basing that on what I know. Good for you that you know so many progressive black men. But here in Orlando Florida on UCF campus you would be hard pressed to find a male who didn't fall into one of those categories.

I wasn't being literal when I said rapper, CEO or stay at home with their mama's but those are the extremes.

The one's who I'd place in the rapper section are those who want a lot of money, really quickly and without really working for it. Many rappers have proved time and time again that you don't have to be talented to be platinum. I know there is more to it then just talking in rhythm with the music but the ones who simply say "I want to be a rapper" don't see rapping as a real job. It's like selling drugs legally.

The one's who I'd place in the CEO section are those who want the biggest houses, the fanciest cars and are planning their careers on how much money they will make rather than how happy they will be in life. They are all about status.

And the one's that stay at home with they mama's - those are the slick talkers, usually very smart but just lazy brothers. If they do move out of mama house, they probably living with another woman.

yes of course I know black men who are very career minded, family oriented and active in their community - my brother happens to be one. BUT the majority of the ones I see coming up now in that 18-25 age group are of a whole different breed.

It's not just the men though it's the generation itself. When I was a teenager, I would have never cursed in public and especially (forgive me if this sounds racist cause it's not meant that way) not in front of white people. I had to catch the city bus the other day and a group of black kids got on at the community college. The bus driver had to ask them 3 times to quiet down and watch the language.

My grandparents raised me to not let stereotypes define my actions.
But these young men and women today seem to be pulling their personalities directly from the movies that portray us in the worst way. Looking at my peers - not my immediate friends but just those in my age group - I don't see those loving, attentive grandmothers who knew every child on the neighborhood. I don't see the lady down the street who had a candy store every summer. I don't see the deacons of the church, or the old men who would sit outside playing dominoes while they watched the kids.

I may not be expressing my point in a way that's understandable to you, but what is frustrating me is that it seems like my peers are basically throwing away everything that our grandparents and great grandparents worked so hard to give us. And once again, I'm wondering what will happen when those older generations have passed on...what will this generation have to pass on to the next?

I'm not even trying to exclude myself from this because I certainly can't teach my daughters how to make my grandmother's candied yams and I know I don't have the work habits of my grandfather. One afternoon in the sun pushing a lawn mower would have done me in

[nat_at772]

Originally Posted by macmeal

That's what I'm trying to find out....Why? Particularly when you've got loved ones who aren't black, why would it be important to identify yourself as "black'? Identify it to yourself? Or to society at large? Or to your wife (who must already KNOW you pretty well)?

And lastly, if "both your parents are black, though one is part Asian", how would THAT be different from having a 'black" parent, and the other parent "Asian--even though they're part black?"....

Well most people of mixed races will usually identify themselves as black (if that's one of the backgrounds) my paternal grandmother was Asian but my father considered himself black. My sister-in-law is Indian and white, but their kids consider themselves black. I guess it's because at some point you have to choose something. Otherwise we'd all be checking "other" whenever we filled out something that asked for racial background.

Although I've recently noticed that there's one that says "black, not of Hispanic descent". I didn't know you could be black and of Hispanic descent. I assumed if you were of Hispanic descent, you would identify yourself as being Hispanic.

[Shizzles]

I think more than any other group, Blacks are moving in two directions. One group is skyrocketing towards the top and the other plummeting towards the bottom. The truth is that many inner-city AAs don't respect Blacks who have made it and vice versa. Blacks who have made it often seem to run as fast as they can towards white views/neighborhoods/buisnesses/women(yes, I said it)/culture. This can turn off more economically challenged AAs, which return the favor with the "Uncle Tom" attitude.

[LeavingTheSunshine]

Originally Posted by ATLater

Other nationalities will move in and buy them. Then either black people will stop going to them or they will rob them until they finally shut down. And then you'll have an empty storefront which will become a hangout for thugs and will attract the wrong people and before long the community will become the ghetto.

So what you're saying is that only black people can own businesses in black communities?

[nat_at772]

Originally Posted by Shizzles

I think more than any other group, Blacks are moving in two directions. One group is skyrocketing towards the top and the other plummeting towards the bottom. The truth is that many inner-city AAs don't respect Blacks who have made it and vice versa. Blacks who have made it often seem to run as fast as they can towards white views/neighborhoods/buisnesses/women(yes, I said it)/culture. This can turn off more economically challenged AAs, which return the favor with the "Uncle Tom" attitude.

It's okay that you said it. I know many successful black men who are married to white women. I'm not against interracial relationships, but I do hate to see those ones who feel that having a white wife is some of kind of status symbol. i.e the trophy wife. On the flip side of that, I also hate to see the ones who claim they married a white woman because she is easier to "handle". Marry who you want because you love them not because she'll blend in at the office party or play Donna Reed at home.

[Miker2069]

Interesting, I'm reading this thread while watching the "American Lives" (by Henry Gates). Essentially it's an exploration of the family tree of several African Americans- one being Chris Rock. He found out his grand-father 4 generations back was listed simply as a hash mark on a property record (right next to the pigs, goats, and cattle). Anyway, he paused and commented that it's amazing that black people were able to survive and rise above it.

So...to answer the OP, in 40 years and beyond, "where will black people be"- thriving. Having survived slavery, and not faded into oblivion and extinction, that's a clear indicator that the future is bright.

I guess that makes me a "Hope Monger"

Hey macmeal, to bad, I didn't get to tango with you. We don't see eye to eye, but I've always had a great deal of respect with your attempt to try and articulate your points with thought and (somewhat) of an open mind

[truthhurts]

Originally Posted by Shizzles

The truth is that many inner-city AAs don't respect Blacks who have made it and vice versa. Blacks who have made it often seem to run as fast as they can towards white views/neighborhoods/buisnesses/women(yes, I said it)/culture. This can turn off more economically challenged AAs, which return the favor with the "Uncle Tom" attitude.

Can you explain to me this comment, what exaclty do you mean by this? What the heck are white views? Please articulate a response. I'm black my grandfather a very darkskinned black male graduated from an all white college in mid-west in the 1950's (after attending an all black college for the first 3 years) went on to get his master degree in the 1960's from a fairly prestigious all white college in the south. My grandmother who is french/black/indian also did the same long before civil rights movement.

Anyway, point is to tell you not all black people were out being the victims of society even in the 1900's, 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's. When you make a comment about blacks inheriting "white views" what does that actually mean? Last time I checked every last black american that is either the decendants of slaves or slave masters speaks the King's English and not in some African tongue, so it would seem that all blacks have inherited "white views" some choose the educated whites way of life, while others have choosen the "redneck whites" way of life.

Education, taking care of one's self, getting married, working, and taking pride in manners and a work ethic are all black values. Now, those in the black ghettos and white media would have you think otherwise, so when you say something that offensive i think you need to articulate exactly what you mean. White views as in what? What exactly are white views? and furthermore what are black views?