And in reference to shinerbock's "blaming the big white devil," acknowledging structural constraints based on race (class and gender) isn't about blaming "white people." Power differentials are largely in favor of whites and the upperclass in this country but to change the social structure means looking at institutional practices and how we recreate the structure through daily interactions. Blaming white people has never accomplished anything because what's going on exists above and beyond what "white people do." Socially conscious and well-read people of all backgrounds know that.

Paranoia, defensiveness, and anger over feeling blamed also accomplishes nothing (looking at shinerbock).

brains are sexy

Well said my soror:D

I was going to refrain from adding to this but I must put in my 13 cents. No one is calling any one the "big white devil", however the situation is what it is. Unfortunately due to the terrible institution of slavery and an attempt to maintain the status quo, blockades were set up to keep blacks in their place such as a residency requirements to vote. These subterfuges were in place 50 years ago and some are still in place now. The generation of people who fought to overcome these barriers are still alive today. The inability to progress at that time has of course affected the status of their family. I agree that everyone has hardships, no one is denying that, but no one can accurately deny that these events of the past still influence the present.