Have Black people reached a level of Equality in the United States, ?

Question

Do women of color have a tougher road than their white male counter parts...

Great answers you guys.. seriously !

Answer 1

Yes they have a tougher road, partially because of how we (black men) treat them. Actually, how they allow themselves to be treated.

Answer 2

I as a white man believe for the most part YES. I know there are the few who may not still agree but I think the majority of generations of children going to school together and learning not to hate other races has overall helped this country. Women of color have had in the past a far tougher road than men in general not just white men when it comes to achieving rights. For centuries in Africa, black women were concealed behind their dominant husbands, and American slave women were not only black but female which kept them far down on the totum pole. Now this day 2000s women have the same rights as men and can't be put aside anymore. I feel like that equality outweighs the few bad apples in America on this issue and men do respect women including women of color. I believe color is no longer a factor anymore for most people and being female don't keep you from getting that job.

Answer 3

I think everyone's got it tough these days. Looks like when groups or races stick together it almost excludes them from being accepted, but when "doing it alone" it's like you don't belong to a particular group. Make sense? Probably not. I'm Black and Filipino and have a Jewish last name and look Hispanic or Samoan. Because people can't classify me I don't think they look at me as "anything" other than a person. I think/hope diversity is more common so that's true but who knows?

I've had good experiences with work and jobs without having a college degree ( I went, just didn't finish - not a political thing, I had good SATs!) and I know I have a better job than many people with degrees, but it depends on the person and where they live and all that other stuff that has nothing to do with race: common sense, education, self-improvement, luck (!), how they interact with others, etc.

I can't think of any friends of any race or gender who are professionals or non-professionals who think about reaching equality as you ask about it - day to day life takes up a lot of just "being". Could be equality is a concept/idea that works itself out and evolves on its own. With every generation there seems to be less hate and inequality (less = not a complete eradication) so maybe it will work itself out as each generation lets go of past issues as everyone works together more.

p.s. I do agree with the Caucasian guy that things are a little beyond equal. If a bunch of white kids start a club, people automatically think KKK, but for other cultures it is a "Cultural" group.

Just to show an extreme, I know guys in Black frats who brand themseves - yes, with metal brands, and it is common - as a sign of brotherhood,etc. I bet a million dollars that if someone not Black suggested that be done it would be a "racist" statement. Look at the michael Richards thing and the "N" word...Blacks use the "N" word all over in music, but because Blacks say it, it is OK?

I'm generalizing a lot, but as a part Black person I can even see some things are unfair. Who cares if it is "in our favor"? Equal should mean equal for everyone.

Answer 4

I think women of color do still have it tougher than white males, but overall I think Black people are on the same level of equality. Many black people hold prestigious positions in careers, there's the potential for the first black president in 2008, they are amazing sports athletes, very knowledge and work just as hard as whites. It's taken a while in the U.S. but I feel it's pretty even as far as being equal.

Answer 5

Totally situationally dependent. That's why it is so hard to tell anymore. For instance, I'm an ethnic minority, and I'm a woman. I've had a lot of people say stupid sh*t to me just because they could. However, I'm also successful in my career, in my personal life, and financially. I definitely would not call my journey harder than my best friend's journey. She grew up poor. She's white.

I think the "tougher road" you speak of deals more with discrimination and unnecessary comments from stupid people rather than opportunities. As I've said before on here, opportunities do not discriminate; people do. And there are more opportunities than there are stupid people; therefore, everyone has an equal shot in life. Those who are complaining about the lack of opportunities likely spend more time complaining than finding a new path.

Answer 6

most people I have talked to are not very happy with the disparity between the blacks and the whites , they all say the blacks have a much more advantage in almost every thing such as social services, housing, job preferences , loans, I could keep going , but the gov has actually made 2nd class citizens out of the whites in the last several years, and in so many cases there is no advancement for a white because company's will almost always promote a lesser qualified black instead of a white

Answer 7

Even though much publicity is given about the equality of Colored people with the whites, the truth is they have got to travel a lot to attain that position. No body would like to shed their racial and color superiority so easily, when once tasted. Out ward changes are only for publicity, there should be a real change of heart. No where you will find equality. It is law of Nature.

Answer 8

Of course they do. They are still Black. Even if it's 2006, and even though there are more opportunities, there is still a long way to go. For example, I mean, in many races, a Black wife is not seen as something to be looked highly upon. But, a white wife is. And the fact that we are women still means that we deal with gender discrimination as well as race discrimination.

Answer 9

We are equal genetically. We are born with the same abilities, TECHNICALLY
But the messages society sends to the black community arent in line with the messages everybody else gets.

For example...
I am white and went to a school that was about 80-90% minority. You know those companies that come in to give you "career testing", well they came in and asked everybody "Who in here wants to go to college?" Most people raised their hands. They said "Well you might as well forget about it and start learning a trade, because most of you are not going to make it into college"

Same company, 99.999% white school, next year...we got "you can do anything you put your mind to... reach for the stars..." blah blah blah


Also look at music...rappers that are mainstream are...lets face it...probably mildly mentally challenged. Smart hip hop artists like talib kweli, common, mos def stc...dont make much money off of white crowds.

Another thing to consider is that we are only about 5 or 6 generations out of slavery. Slaves had to teach their children to live with abuse in order for them to survive. This legacy of abuse is still present today, and because of stigma and outside reinforcement from the mainstream, little is being done to heal this problem. (look at how poorly abused people do in life statistically)

So the answer is yes, progress has been made... but in order to heal the wounds of slavery we have to stop pretending they don't exist. And most of all we have to change our attitudes about the idea race...because scientifically race dosen't even exist. We need to realize these problems are social problems not "race" problems.

Here is an intersting site:
http://www.pbs.org/race/006_WhereRaceLives/006_00-home.htm

check out "a tale of two families"

Answer 10

I don't want to sound racist or anything because i'm not but i think that we went beyond equal. I am a senior in high school and don't qualify for many scholarships because I am just a normal white guy. Our school has a mexican culture club and an Indian club and an African american club but when students at a nearby school tried to start a Caucasion club they were suspended. I wish we could just be completely equal

Answer 11

I agree with the man with the first answer,"moremadme".
I'm blessed to say that I was raised to treat ALL Women as Queens. My opinion on equality for Black people, its a roller coaster, you have many non-blacks living in the past with prejudicial views they were taught by their Parents, Grandparents, and etc.