Quote:
Originally posted by DoggyStyle82:
As an excuse for what? That we have to play catch-up? That like abused women and children, we have developed self-destructive issues as a race that are hard to overcome?. Why must we continue this self examination that always leaves us feeling less than everyone else? There is less Black unemployment, more home ownership, more Black-owned businesses than ever before. Less teenage pregnancy. An expanding Black middle -class. I feel great about being Black. I never compare myself to the least of us. The least part of these "model minorites" are not here for us to reflect upon. Yes we can be more as a race, but then again, we can always be more as individuals. Do you realize that all of this gnashing of teeth about how we compare to others is really the self-hatred that you claim to oppose? It is not just the crabs at the bottom of the barrel that are holding us back. It is also the ones that have made it out who look back in and tell the rest that they are not trying hard enough rather than encouraging them. My last post on this subject, don't want to monopolize your forum.
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I don't necessarily think that comparing our success to the success of others is self hatred. I also don't think that today's generation has that same fire that our parents and grandparents had. They were boycotting buses and stores, facing police dogs, fire hoses, jail time and other indignities. They didn't allow slavery and racism to hold them back. The things that didn't kill them made them stronger. Present generations aren't taking advantage of all the opportunities past generations made for us. Racism is part of the problem, but it's not the whole problem.
[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited January 20, 2001).]