When Barak Obama was elected president in 2008, most of us knew little of him except that he was Black. He was elected with wide support of the White community and America was justly proud of itself. It had thrown off the yoke of Black denial and exclusion. Maybe we were a bit naïve. Although the Black community has come a long way, many achieving the highest levels in government, in business, in the media and in academia, many are still left behind.
But on whom falls the responsibility to rectify this? Much can be done by organizational reforms, improved educational opportunities, etc. but the Blacks cannot wait for the government to do all of the heavy lifting. Many Black leaders have admonished their own people to rise up, not in demonstrations and protests, but in creating an in-house environment conducive for broad advancement. They point to the extremely high number of children borne out of wedlock, to the equally high number of children raised by a single parent, and to the disproportionately high criminal prosecutions in Black communities. The building block, the nucleus, for a strong and progressive society is the supportive family unit. That is the springboard from which so many launch successful and contributing careers.
There has been no ethnic group more persecuted throughout history than the Jews. I have not seen them protesting, demonstrating or creating mayhem on the streets anywhere. Over the centuries they have valued strong family ties, quietly building from within, helping each other along the way, excelling in all fields and advancing to the highest levels in every arena. (While I am not applauding Israeli policies in the Middle East), we can all admire and maybe even emulate the Jewish formula for success.
– – – Just a view from a common man
Views of a Common Man 
Ollie has now touched on a subject that most people are reluctant to publicly address. No matter what or how it is said, there will be someone who is offended. William James, the American philosopher, said, “Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” Regardless of anyone’s attitude on this subject, I find it interesting enough to reply.
First Some History
The years immediately following the Civil War were a time of hope for African Americans on all levels: politically, economically, and socially. The ratification of the 13th Amendment freed them, for the first time ever, from the hands of their Southern masters. Blacks gained control of their own destiny and had a chance to rise above their squalid condition. The Congress, dominated by anti-slavery Republicans, was determined to ram through sweeping civil rights legislation equalizing blacks and whites. Republicans passed through the Civil Rights Bill of 1866 over Democratic President Andrew Johnson’s veto. Under the Bill, discrimination because of race was made illegal. (Sound familiar?).
The Fourteenth Amendment, added to the Constitution two years later, ensured that the rights gained by blacks under the Bill would be protected from repeal by later Democratic Congresses. In a final blow to Southern Democrats, Republicans also legally guaranteed black male suffrage in the 15th Amendment, bypassing Democratic obstructions in Southern state legislatures. These sweeping pieces of legislation paved the way for blacks to live as equals with whites, making them citizens and supposedly protecting their citizenship against discrimination Unfortunately, the amendments that supposedly gave blacks political power and social protection proved easier to write than to enforce.
Identity Politics
Among other things, it seems that “identity politics” helps keep racism alive. The short definition of identity politics is a tendency for people of a particular religion, race, social background, etc., to form exclusive political alliances, moving away from traditional broad-based party politics. Words using “identity” (Black Lives Matter) is the tool that seems to now stimulate social and political action against inequality and injustice..
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Black Diversity
As with any group, not all blacks are alike and not all blacks are equal. As the black population in the United States grows, the diversity in the black community is unprecedented. According to research by Nielsen, the number of black immigrants in the U.S. has more than doubled since 1980, to a record 3.8 million, accounting for 1 in every 11 blacks. By 2060, 1 out of every 6 U.S. blacks will be immigrants.
What is the difference between Black and African American? The term Black American became popular in the 1960s, and refers to those who are immigrants from Africa, Caribbean, and South and Latin America. African American became popular in the 1980s and refers to those of African descent. Black immigrants actively differentiate themselves from African Americans. This is done through various narratives of distinction that, significantly, at times involve the rejection of shared cultural affinities with African Americans and a foregrounding of their own distinct and complex histories and experiences.
Black Immigrants and Different Economies
Black immigrants from Africa are driving the recent growth in immigration, accounting for 36% of the total foreign-born black population. Blacks from Nigeria and Ethiopia account for much of that growth. Still, the Caribbean population accounts for nearly 50% of all blacks, with most coming from Jamaica. As the black differences emerge, different economies are also emerging. The Nielsen research finds that the median household income for foreign-born blacks is 30% higher than U.S.-born blacks. Many Black immigrants acknowledge that because they are immigrants, they do
not have the luxury (or the political leverage) to “dwell” on racism and, therefore, turn inward and to their specific communities for support
How do we explain the different economies? Andrew McCaskill, senior vice president of global communications at Nielsen, states, “A lot of the African . . . immigrants are coming specifically to get an education in the States. High numbers are college-educated, and not only have college degrees, but also masters degrees. The black immigrant population in the U.S. has a higher percentage of entrepreneurs, and an increased ability to keep dollars in their own communities. They’re creating jobs in their communities, they’re buying products from their entrepreneurs. There typically is a culture of recycling dollars, which contributes greatly to the rising fortunes”.
Interestingly it seems that the immigrants blame a lot of the racism on United States-born Blacks for not acting in more “self-respecting” ways and for not taking advantage of what they believe to be this country’s numerous economic opportunities. They assail what they see as African American “destructive” practices and lack of “cultural values,” “moral laxity,” “government dependency,” and the “breakdown”of the family structure (Sutton and Makiesky-Brown 1987)
Welfare – Perpetuating Dependence
The key assumption of the culture of poverty is that the behaviors and values it indexes as those of the poor have “converted their poverty into a selfperpetuating world of dependence”. The welfare programs introduced perverse incentives for men to remain committed to their families, and created consequences of family breakdown. What is forgotten, however, is that many of these men found it difficult to find employment because of the racist practices of labor unions and other types of employment. The black family was delivered devastating blows during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s as a result of social injustice and dependent on government “assistance.” It may be that labor unions undermining economic opportunity, and politicians imposing uninformed social and economic visions destroyed black progress after 1950.
So while black urbanization was on the rise, black men were being kept out of the jobs that could financially sustain families coupled with a greater call for more and more welfare programs to provide “assistance” to black women with dependent children. These programs may have made matters worse and destroyed the potential for black urban families to flourish. What followed were generational cycles of dependence. We can only imagine what the state of black America might be today if blacks had not been kept from participating in employment opportunities, and the federal government had not undermined the black family with its “War on Poverty” programs.
Nido Qubein, an American Lebanese-Jordanian businessman, once said, “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” Education, not welfare, is a good place
to start.
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Reblogged this on Views of a Common Man and commented:
History we should all remember
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Thank you, Jeanette, for the lesson in history – – so important in understanding the present and confronting the future.
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I enjoyed both opinions. I grew up in the deep South in the 60’s and it was certainly not easy being Black. Unfortunately, while many Southern areas have changed for the better, many others haven’t and that needs to change. Unfortunately, it will not until the schools are improved and families do a better job of preparing their kids for a different world than they grew up in. I,like most, are certainly in favor of peaceful protests. But, many Blacks (and Whites) are hurting the cause with destruction of property and violence (much against the police, 99+% of who protect them). And, the violence comes from both sides — radical liberals and racists. I don’t agree with all the things going on (like not standing for the national anthem), but we can’t have policemen killing or injuring blacks when not necessary. And JUST as IMPORTANT, we can’t have Blacks killing policemen and other Blacks.
Ollie, as you know, I’m also Jewish and I appreciate what you have said about the Jews. They have studied and worked hard to become good citizens. The same can be said of the Asians. The Hispanics also work extremely hard (but need more education). Many (hopefully most) Blacks have succeeded by doing the same. The urban cities and the deep South need to improve education in mostly Black areas. I wish I knew the answer on how to do that.
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Thanks David, Really appreciate your response.
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