Do you think black people got it all wrong?

Question

I see alot of social ills that are self inflicted by us to us. (I am black, by the way)

There are alot of fatherless children, vindictive mother that don't allow honest fathers access to their children and proceed to brainwash the children into thinking like them, and just straight ignorant thinking when it comes to attitudes about work, the police, etc.... there is alot of backbiting done when some achieve, which causes hatred for even the ones that beat the odds!

Is it me, or is there a generational problem that is beyond solving?

Answer 1

I don't think that the situation is beyond fixing; what I do believe is that it the social ills that have befallen the black community requires great sacrifice and a lifestyle change on the parts of many. The situation may be extremely difficult to solve but it is not beyond repair if people would be willing.

Social ills can not be blamed wholly on slavery or legal discriminatory laws and practices. Issues such as poverty, drug/alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, illiteracy, illegitimate children and the like, are thriving today because of poor lifestyle choices and a lack of empowerment and self sufficiency. These are all things that blacks can correct regardless of what the white man does or doesn’t give them.

I know plenty of people who are broke or on welfare who live and exaggerated lifestyles. They have premium cable, expensive cell phones (kids have them too), fancy cars with all the trimmings, designer clothing (even their babies), fly hairstyles, etc. Even if a family doesn’t have these things, do they know about saving, spending frugally, and not falling for financial scams?

Really, how difficult is it to turn off the Xbox and read a child a book? Very hard for the person who has made the TV and video games the permanent babysitter. Parents have chosen not to raise their children and teach them responsibility and discipline.

Who by now is not aware of the dangers of smoking, drugs, and alcohol? People have chosen to do these things to themselves.

People don’t change because change is hard. Some people find a strange sense of comfort in their own filth. The solution to social ills is easy. Are people willing to do what they need to do to improve their situation? Not always. Some people are waiting for someone else to come along and magically fix their problems instead of realizing that they can have the power better their lives.

Answer 2

Coming from a strong two parent household, who graduated from College & has a steady decent paying job no. You just lumped the entire black race into this problem & that is not even true, there is a difference that comes from ones who are broke/middle class/ upper middle class & rich.
yes, we glorify the ghetto we being MTV/BET, but then back in the day those voices were squelched & all we could do was dance in black face & sing about the good ol' south. Before you're quick to point out problems what about all the good? The higher education rate increasing? The amount of consciousness? The Improvement of Black professionals as well as blue collar workers? You have glossed a lot of us who don't believe this.

We've been in the country for 387 years, (1619)
We've been enslaved for 247 (1866)
We've been discriminated/worse for 350 (1969)
We've been 'free' for 37 (-?)

I think we could use some more time to improve.

Answer 3

Hi. I agree. However, all of the modern problems that face the black community can be traced back to the Democrats of the 60's. Actually our whole country is in a serious moral quandary, but it hit blacks especially hard with the welfare programs. Before the 60's morals, families and religion were very strong in the black community. Material poverty may have been a problem but certainly not moral poverty, which is the real problem. Let's just keep praying for a positive cultural revolution to fix this mess and do what we can as individuals. I'm been involved in several programs-right now I'm in the Big Sisters program-also write your lawmakers and other authorities to raise awareness. And SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE, reproach those that don't. And don't support institutions that morally corrupt black children.

Answer 4

I'm NOT black, and I see the same things in whites and hispanics also. I think it all depends on the parents. Parents need to take responsiblity for their children. I work with children in an intercity school. I see 3 year olds coming to class in gang colors, smelling like Pot (parents smoking it in the car), kids as young as 3 wearing their pants slung low with their boxers hanging out. Little girls dressed like little hookers. The parents are uneducated, or just don't care. Do these kids have a chance? I sure hope so, and some will make it, but others won't, and the parents will blame society, instead of themselves.

Answer 5

I think that's a very perplexing question that involves many facets and simply cannot be answered with a yes or no. However, if you think about it, couldn't the same be said for alcoholics or racist people? I mean if they don't change their behaviour, they hand it down to their children and the cycle continues. Perhaps there is a section of black culture that thinks/behaves the way you described, and if they don't seek to change that, then they will pass it on and continue that way. Maybe an inquisitive person such as yourself can be a catalyst for change! Look at Oprah! She has inspired so many people beyond just race.

Answer 6

O.K. I am white and I have had a lot of black friends over the years. I find most black women are paranoid. The police are after only their kids. Their men are screwing every black and white woman alive. I don't understand why and I don't think they do either. They have a chip on their shoulders. I don't see that with younger black women, it's not as bad. There was this incident that I called one of the girls and said, "hey, girlfriend"! She told me I wasn't black so I couldn't call her that and I shouldn't try and act black. My response was, "if I am your damn friend I will call you anything I feel like!" She gave me a kiss and a hug. Go figure.

I love the black man's personality. I am not talking about the bad black (white men included) that are not educated, walk and talk that stupid "cool" s--t.

The blacks do have problems but I understand why. Most black people have a lot to deal with. Most of it isn't even brought on by them. There are changes that I have seen and most of them positive. Especially where the parents are willing to get involved.

I don't have the answer to a lot of things. You take what is handed to you and do the best you can with it.

Answer 7

The problem isn't only with the black community. This is pretty much a societal problem. Lots of fatherless children and women who can be vindictive regardless of their race.

It's solvable, but we need to stop handing the attitudes down with the generations.

Answer 8

No, I'm afraid it's not a black thing. It happens across the board. And no, I don't think it's a generational issue except that women are in a better position to be vindictive than they use to be. But vindictiveness isn't a trait exclusive to women - we're just better at it.

Answer 9

I am so glad to meet another black person that feels the same way I do.

I think the majority of the problem is that black people are not moving on. They're in such a pit of their own pity that they don't realize that they have the power to change the way things are.

Even when you succeed, you have other black people calling you names and such. I have had more racism by people that should be proud that one of their own is making it, than by the people that blacks purport are the true racists.

It's not beyond solving, but it's going to require people to grow up. And growing up, even metaphorically, takes a lot of time and effort.

Answer 10

Problem... Duh.

Beyond solving... No

I completely agree with you, and Bill Cosby. They need help. Bill Cosby got a lot of criticism for his statements, but he was completely right. And, don't yell at us for this. It is not all black people, and not all of them are black, just mostly.

We need to teach these children how to go in the right direction in their lives. It's not their fault, it's their parents fault. Their dads left (for the most part), their mothers live on welfare, and they stop caring about their kids. Then, the kids stop caring because their parents don't care. They slack off, they join gangs, do drugs, and commit crimes. We need to stop this, but I don't know how. It can be done. If we show these kids how to straighten out their lives, it may be fixed in a couple generations. It may work, it may not. But it's worth a try.