Is there anyone out there who agrees that African Americans are still in oppression? if so why?

Question

Me and some friends got into an argument because i feel that African Americans are not in oppression anymore. Want to hear some other views

Answer 1

I don't think they are oppressed anymore, but I am not black, so I don't know how it really feels, I am not in their shoes.
But, I also believe they think they still are, it feels better to blame someones problems on others, outward.
I look at the many opportunity they have, some of them take advantage of them, while other would not, and chose to think how society is against them.

Also, it does not mean they don't have problem. Because they do. Their opportunity, Thu they have them, are not as great as ours. They have to work harder for it, and when they do, some look at them as if it was given to them, not that they work so much harder to get it.

I heard this racist joke the other day, you judge for yourself.
'If a person saw a black guy behind a fast food counter, they say good for you for working instead of being on the street. But, if it was a white guy, they wouldn't say that. Is it because they think if the black guy is not working he will be selling or doing drugs, but the white guy wouldn't!' that was an awful racist joke. It shows the mentality people have over the black or whit guys. Just a thought, by the way, edited the joke out, because I don't like it.

I believe if you want something done, then you got to get up and work hard for it, and make. and I refuse to blame society or whatever on others. My life, my choice, my responsibility to make. period. It seems some black people still look to the past and what happened to them, and those are the one who are still not making it, but those who stop blaming others for their troubles live a great life and then some. ex. Rice, O. Winfrey, C. Powel and many more.

Answer 2

I do feel that African Americans are still oppressed. The kind of oppression that these folks endured will take many generations to overcome. Do you realize that it wasn't until the 60's that the first black female attorney graduated and passed the bar exam? It's not my lifetime, but certainly not that long ago. The long-term effects of the oppression are present every time one looks at statistics regarding the poor, prisoners, etc. It's not because African American's are "bad" people, they aren't any worse or any better than anyone else, but it's because they did not have the chance to "start" where other races, mostly white, had the cance to "start". When you come from nothing, don't know that there is anything better out there, then it is hard to overcome. Some are doing it, and it's getting to be more and more as time goes on, but I really think that it won't be until my grandchildren's lifetime that MOST of the oppression will be overcome.

Answer 3

I would say that BLACK AMERICANS are no more oppressed than any other minority in any region of the country. I'm sure that there are plenty of Italians in Boston that feel smothered, or white people in Detroit that are afraid to go out at night. Oppression is no longer a matter of race, and blacks are no longer a true minority.

As for the term "African-American," I agree with a previous poster in asking, "Why is it AFRICAN American?" 1% of all blacks in the US have probably actually been to Africa. You live in this country now. You're American. It's not a matter of rejecting your ethinicity but embracing your nationality. I'm half Mexican and half Philippino, but if people ask my nationality, I say, without hesitation that I am an American - not Asian-American or Latin-American. I've never left this country and I probably never will (unless another Bush gets elected...)

So in answer to your question, "oppression" is relative. Everyone feels it in some form or another. Black people have no more right than anyone else to claim the title of Oppressed. What about the Jews?


"[Slavery]...it is a bully adventure and worth all that I have paid through my ancestors for it."
-Zora Neale Thurston

Answer 4

I completely agree with you and I use to get into discussions with another African American all the time, because he spoke all about how African American are still oppressed, how 70% of white people are still racist and think they are better than African Americans, how slavery never should have happened and how horrible white people are because they did that, regardless if it was now or then it never should have happened and that is how white people think that they are better than everyone else and that we need to control everyone else, how all African Americans need to ban together and just all move back to Africa (changed his view on that, I guess after he did research on Africa) - there was another African American that disagreed with him, and he said that they didn't consider him an African American, I still don't understand that idea, how cops still racially profile, and when I asked him what if an African American pulled him over, he said well he's not African American because he's a cop,... and on and on and on.... we use to get into some heated discussions because I never agreed with him....

Answer 5

There is a pecking order in society, No matter what color you are. So if they are oppressed, it is not necessarily because of where they came from are because they were slaves.
They make themselves into a minority group, each time they holler oppression. A person cannot have it both ways. others see them as they see themselves.
Plus, lots of African Americans live in poverty and live in a life style that portrays them as oppressed.
If you want respect you need to require it, and your you not doing that with this whole Ghetto image.

Answer 6

In some cases yes but that's life. It just depends on where you are and the circumstances.

I grew up in the Bay Area in California. Very rarely had any type of problems.

Then I moved to the Midwest. KC MO. Biggest Bunch of racist bastards you would hate to live around. But depending on how you handle each situation will depend on the outcome. And here even the black people are not friendly to each other. The whole state is dysfunctional.

It has just become human nature when someone cry racism everyone jumps on the ban wagon. Look at the crap with Mexicans. I can't figure for the life of me how you hold a rally to support an illegal act.

Answer 7

Yes. We as African Americans are oppressed. You don't see it because you dont have to deal with being African American everyday of your life. There are ignorant people who don't like us and will discriminate us just because our skin is darker than theirs. What sense does that make? There is no scientific proof anywhere that says that any race is superior to any other. But their are still those who believe that African Americans are inferior and because of those people there is still oppression in the year 2006.

Answer 8

Yes they are in oppression but not from the source many think.
1. They are in oppression to their own cultural mistakes in thinking clearly about the world and opportunities. Sadly, many young blacks are raised in homes where they are taught that society is racist against them from the start. Therefore they grow up with the false notion that the deck is stacked against them therefore they don't try as hard as other young people do to succeed. If society is racist--why try? You will never get ahead anyway, even if you work hard. So just live off the government and don't even try.

2. Many young blacks are oppressed by ignorance of morality and gooid decision-making skills. Too many young black girls come from homes with no father (nearly 50%) and therefore they have no positive male role models. As a result they get involved in sexual relationships prior to marriage to make up for the lack of attention they had from a father and then bring into the world more black children without fathers (OEVER 50% of ALL black children born in America today are illigitimate.)
3. They are oppressed by unclear career choices and how to be successful in life. Too many young black men think they are going to make it in the NBA or become rap or hip-hop superstars. As a result they don't pursue the sane and safe method to wealth--education. Just imagine if a bookstore was giving out free books--how many blacks would you see in line and how many whites and Asians would you see? Now imagine that a sporting goods store was giving out free basketball shoes. Would you see the same make-up of young people in THAT line? That single example reveals volumes about one of the biggest problems facing blacks in America today. They want wealth (like we all do) but too many blacks don't understand how to achieve it.

So yes, many blacks are still oppressed today but NOT by whites or Asians. They are oppressed by their own refusal to take advantage of the opportunities placed before them and choose instead to continue to believe they are victims of some unfair system and as a result result forever produce less in society.

Answer 9

My niece is black, and smarter than the white kids at her junior high, but the teachers never let her in the advanced classes, nor do they nominate her for GT. They opened a new computer class at her school called EAST LAB, and nominated only preppy white kids to be the first to try it out. These same kids run the newspaper and the yearbook staff. Why do they not let smart black students have a chance as well? I believe it is a form of oppression.

Answer 10

Nope. I don't see how anyone could say that, when indeed the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Miss BLACK America, ***** college, the list is endless. I do believe that parents that don't make their children go to school and obey the law are dooming those children... of whatever race. Love your children enough to show them there is a way out of the inner-cities of America.