[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

OK, I better see where you're coming from; I guess it's just that throughout my childhood I lived in an integrated neighborhood, went to an integrated high school (that was originally--as well as now currently a predominately Black high school--it was integrated from 1982-96).

My point is that when I grew up, while I dealt with my share of bigots and racists, for the most part everyone got along with everyone. I didn't even know about the sociological problems involving Black people until high school--which was beginning the whole Africentric movement that looking back, I wish in some respects I didn't learn about. But I digress.

I am highly pro-diversity (not tokenism, but true diversity), hence my posts in the caliber they were presented.

Regarding the bolded text, it really saddens me to read this even though it doesn't look like you want to go into this topic (you can PM me if you wish), but I'm curious as to why you would feel such a way. Your heritage and history (not just in America, but in the African diaspora) should inspire, motivate, and uplift you, not make you feel as if you can't embrace diversity or other cultures. You learned what you learned about Black peoples because you needed to and you probably need to know more, regardless of how and where you grew up. I moved around a lot as a child so I've lived in Black, mixed, and predominently White communities. I've lived among the lower, middle, and upper middle classes and never once did I want NOT to know my history. I feel that this is the major problem in the Black community right now, from which all other problems stem. It's so important for our people and our children especially, to know who they are and from whence they came. If you truly know WHO you are (and I'm not talking about any militant type thinking), you will be more than comfortable in embracing people of all races and cultures because you will not be so insecure and envious of others. It is because of what I know about myself that I can feel free to embrace anyone despite the many incidents I've had fighting racism in the various communities in which I've lived. Yes, ignorance is bliss but it doesn't solve anything. Knowledge of self is the key, not the problem.