An other one about racism...I'll remake my question.?

Question

Thank you for everybody who answered my question. Most of them were respectful. But I think I didn't make myself clear.
After reading lots of questions about racism, I've seen a lot of replies about slavery. I asked why.
Here's what I meant: Let's get it straight - most of black people have decent lives, jobs, degrees, good families, good friends, etc. But for those who don't; why do you say it is due to slavery that happened many many decades ago? A lot of black people made it in life even if they had a grand or great grand parent who was a slave...Of course I don't want you guys to forget about your history, this would be ashamed. But why do you give slavery as an excuse when your life is hard? Many other races have a hard time too today, even whites. Sorry, just trying to understand.

Answer 1

To be honest, very few black people have any of those things (decent lives, jobs, degrees, good families and good friends). Sure, you see people on TV all the time that have those things, but most black people live in poor communities, work entry-level jobs and don't go to college because they can't afford it. And, all of this actually is due to slavery. It's much like the "trickle down" system; our great grandparents weren't allowed to read, our grandparents went to "seperate but unequal" schools, our parents learned from our grandparents (the lucky ones had parents that told them to go to college) and we are learning from our parents. And, although it isn't as obvious as it was, racism is still around, which makes sense considering the fact that segregation only ended 50-something years ago. And all the negative media attention (news, television, and even mainstream rap music) only makes it worse. If the world was full of serious sources saying "men are violent"- from both men and women- wouldn't that influence your decision to hire men? Yes, all races have it hard, but it only feeds the fire when you're struggling with everyday problems and problems arising from your skin color.

Answer 2

The product of slavery created a race of humans that were made to feel less significant. It was literally beaten into them that they are animals and will never amount to anything. This is why slavery is blamed. And it's sad that it is that way. This is true for all races, not just blacks. Your question raises a good point and hopefully through this, others will be able to be educated and hopefully will stop and think for a minute about the big picture. I agree with the other answer that suggested an African American history class.
I would like to add to my answer by responding to some answers, for those of you who commented about Africans selling their own people into slavery...yes the world revolves around "money" no matter what the form, however, does that justify beating, raping, lynching, and demoralzing an entire human race? Again, this goes for all races in the history of the world, not just blacks. Closed minds result in closed answers.

Answer 3

I don't know about using slavery as a specific excuse. And I wouldn't say that "most" black people have decent jobs, degrees, etc. A lot do. But, I wouldn't say that it is the majority. While slavery is over, there are still ways that we (black people) are oppressed in this country. Even in this world. People still have those same stereotypical views that they had back in the slavery days. And now with media, a lot of the music, and the way blacks are portrayed on TV, etc.... it keeps those stereotypes going. Unless you are black, there is no way that you could ever understand.

Answer 4

Humans have many failings , laziness, greed, envy, the desire to shift blame, etc.
Many minorities who are too lazy to make a success of themselves, or keep themselves doped up making success impossible look for excuses ( it has to be someone other than themselves ).
For blacks, slavery is a good excuse. Of course, it has absolutely nothing to do with success or failure, otherwise all blacks would be failures. But to many, that's all that they have.
The bulk of people living here today are the descended from people who came over long after slavery was abolished. They came to a completely strange land, didn't know the language or customs but still made out without griping about worse than slavery that they were subjected to under the inhuman royalty of some of the backward countries.
Even right now, many are coming from oriental countries. Without any knowledge of our language or customs they are at the head of their class in school, while our own blacks are ay back, or drop out. Oh yes, they have excuses for that also. Some people are very very poor at doing anything, except they're expert at making excuses.

Answer 5

If you really want to burst the "slavery bubble" ask why whites take all of the blame for slavery when all of the slaves were captured and sold into slavery by rival tribes in Africa. Had it not been for this, the only slavery would have been in Africa. Not that slavery was right, for assuredly it wasn't, but were it not for others of the same race, the black man would have never known slavery in the US. It's called "Root Cause" and is where the blame lies!

Answer 6

These are two entirely different topics

Racism as defined by the dictionary:
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

However, your question is about why people blame their current situation on historical events.

Now, to your actual question that has nothing to do with racism. My interpretation is that most people need something to explain their situation, in this case blacks often use slavery to explain their failure to live up to their own expectations. If they don’t then they would have to accept responsibility for their current situation, those that do often rise out of the situation that afflicts many.

So in essence, it’s a failure to accept responsibility for their actions.

Answer 7

If you get a group of people to develop a certain mind set it stays with them, it is hard for what has been planted in them to be removed. Sure some people in that group will stray from this mind set but most of them will not because their minds have been trained to believe that they are lower than others and thinking outside that box will most likely result in rejection and or acts of violence. Now on the other hand you train another group of people to believe that they are better than most and as they pass that on form generation to generation they begin to develop a more confident character.

Now over time black people have been treated as second and even third rate. While white people have had the absolute freedom that they desire. Making it hard to be black and EASIER to be white. And now we have people telling us that we can be better but most of us don't have the lineage or even immediate family to support us. And you may say that some white people don't have families, but it is still easier to be white because in a society where white is prettier, more pleasant, more wealthy, and presumed to be right, it will always be easier to be white and harder to be black. So Slavery has diminished our self worth making it harder for us to succeed.

Answer 8

I am poor and white no degree, and from a broken home, and now divorced with a min wage job and at first I blamed my ex I stayed home he got the degree and when it became my turn he left but If I wanted bad enough then I could have gotten it

All I can say is some people are proud of the history and some people use there family history to blame no matter what race they are.

It great to be proud of who you are

Answer 9

Slavery was not only Black their were white and Indian slaves, Now with the law it should be no more. but there is all around the world women and kids are being forced to comply, with all kinds of work and life styles . and they do not compare with hard times in the USA.

Answer 10

Well its not just slavery, it is the way African Americans were treated after that matters. the oppertunitues were not as great it has only just begun to get better in the last 50 years, i mean look at the 60s. sepreat but equal was still legal. people are still around who went through tis time. when you tell people they are not allowed to the same oppertunitues as others the results can be devestating.

you should take a African American history class