I am more concerned about the content of that person's character be they Black or White. What is sorely needed in our country is character, a return to the golden rule, and peace among all people!

AMEN!!!

http://www.shanmonster.com/2005/scaredkitty.jpg

But seriosly, steretypes of blacks really do not help the advancement of Dr. King's message. If anything, he fought against this.

I would hope that people understand that not EVERY (heck, not even the majority) of blacks think, live, or believe in the dream of the lottery ticket and legislation. Don't let ONE side shade your whole view of people. I like Lady of Pearl's post - judge people on their character...not on generalizations. Heck, if we're going to generalize, let's talk about all the positive, college educated and above blacks on this board that work hard and contribute positively to their local communities. :D Generalize that!

Is his family still fighting each other or is that done now?

-Rudey

One son, MLK III I think, didn't show up for the big MLK excitement in ATL Mon.

Half the family wants to stick the govt. with the MLK Center (now needs $13 mil repairs/updates), and half want to hang on to it (but would be willing to let the govt. pay for the repairs). The lib Atlanta newspaper has a crusade against the family, and it gets a lot of coverage.

The wife/mother (who lives in nice Peachtree St. Condo Oprah gave her) has unfortunately suffered a stroke, and can not speak or walk. She has recovered enough to make an appearance at a banquet last weekend.

And another part of that message is that we all need to work together to achieve progress. Self-empowerment is great, but it has to be balanced by involvement to better the community.

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

All I'm saying is that the Dream, Self-empowerment, involvement, utopian society, take a holistic approach that goes beyond the issue of the color of one's skin, advancement in opportunities, etc. will all come sooner, and be even better, if you do it yourself.

They might eventually come, but I doubt it, thru slogans and govt. programs.

Hi MysticCat,

My post was in response to Hoosier's post, which implied that folks would be better off if they simply take responsibility for themselves, rather than relying on others. I was pointing out that, while that is important, it is also quite important that we work as a community to alleviate some of the conditions that make self-empowerment difficult. I think that your post said essentially the same thing, but please let me know if I mis-read it.

You didn't misread it. Perhaps I wasn't clear in the way I quoted you.

I was agreeing with your response to Hoosier's post and adding my own $0.02. That's all.

Of course, if laws or other societal conditions prevent you from doing it yourself, well then the advice to "do it yourself" availeth little. Remember Jim Crow?

I'm not at all discounting personal responsibility. But I'm also not discounting the importance of the community providing an even playing field. The field may be more level than it used to be, but there is still work to be done to make it even.

Good point.

Gotcha! :D

Exactly!

Just this morning, there was an obituary for a white man who hocked his ring to buy lottery tickets, and hit for the whole ball of wax. His life was hell from there on. So, the myth of blacks being the big lottery ticket buyers ends there.

As for lending a helping hand, my (biracial) cousin was one of the first out of state nurses to volunteer in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, not me. She's a wife & mother who put herself through school while raising a family - I depended on scholarships, family, and working. Can't call her lazy!

As Honeykiss has said, there a quite a few (hundreds?) of people of color who are on GreekChat - they seem to be taking care of themselves, not depending on public assistance.

In my job, I see a lot of strange people (and that's the understatement of the year!). I know quite a few people who are on public asistance or SSI - illegally. One family has FOUR generations of sponging of the government - and they're descendents of one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence! Another myth blown.

Whoever said that his & my ancestors worked hard to get where they were, yes, they did work hard (at least, I know mine did). But are you trying to insinuate that slaves worked less hard? At least our ancestors were PAID for what they did!

I'll say it again: until we start looking at each other as people (or as said, at the person's character) FIRST, then the color of their skin, we will perpetuate racism.

I don't believe that hoosier ever mentioned any specific race.

Now if people read his post and assumed it was geared to a certain race...well that says something.