A serious question for my fellow Black DCUMers

[Anonymous]

Growing up with no father or a positive male role model. Being born into poverty. Having a young mother with no college education or the ability to obtain intervention support. And being surrounded with other boys on the same boat and seeing adult males go to jail vs holding a steady job. These in my opinion are the source of the problems.

[Anonymous]

Upwards of 70% of Black babies are born out of wedlock. The complete breakdown of the family unit is a big piece of this puzzle, I believe.

[Anonymous]

Actually, studies show black and Latino men are more involved fathers than white men.

Those out of wedlock births are just that. The parents aren’t married but they are often living together.

That’s not it.

I don’t know what black men or boys you think are horrible. I worked in Baltimore City jail and will attest anyone can get locked up. Most who are arrested are good guys who have done something bad. They should t be judged on the worst they’ve done without taking into consideration all they have done.

Most people are good, OP. By far.

[Anonymous]

White mom of privileged white sons that will never know 1% of the heartbreak and worry my friends raising black sons have. I think the premise of the question is wrong. The black youth you speculate are unredeemable are trying to exist and survive in a culture that is openly hostile to them and you ask why they aren’t thriving. What is the problem to fix? Everything. Safe, quality schools. Affordable and accessible healthcare. Affordable, safe housing and transportation. Reduced police bias and violence. Just to start. As a society we need to stop asking why people without boots can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Upwards of 70% of Black babies are born out of wedlock. The complete breakdown of the family unit is a big piece of this puzzle, I believe.

This is the problem in my opinion. The breakdown of the family is a real thing. Think back to the 1960s and segregation. Yes blacks were allowed in but the family structure of black men was there, they dressed well, had jobs, even if it was for their areas only. Further wealthfare programs again placing no value in the family structure exacerbates this.

There is a economic component too. poor whites have this issue too. The same things that have made meth towns.

It’s the breakdown of institutions. Churches, libraries, government, no trust no respect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upwards of 70% of Black babies are born out of wedlock. The complete breakdown of the family unit is a big piece of this puzzle, I believe.

This is the problem in my opinion. The breakdown of the family is a real thing. Think back to the 1960s and segregation. Yes blacks were allowed in but the family structure of black men was there, they dressed well, had jobs, even if it was for their areas only. Further wealthfare programs again placing no value in the family structure exacerbates this.

There is a economic component too. poor whites have this issue too. The same things that have made meth towns.

It’s the breakdown of institutions. Churches, libraries, government, no trust no respect.

The Churches were the traditional center of cultural for black families when I was growing up.

[Anonymous]

Part of it has been systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans. This recent Propublica/New Yorker article covers one example--black families passed down land to descendants, and the land is sometimes later taken from them by courts, developers, etc. I'm black (although 1st-gen American) and I had no idea stuff like this had occurred recently and is still ongoing.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/22/kicked-off-the-land?utm_brand=tny&utm_source=facebook&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1O7GdqtpMZK7fjhGnTFgzNfrm3ShGBmRmydq0pG7c11bKpcTi0zsnNtDc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of it has been systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans. This recent Propublica/New Yorker article covers one example--black families passed down land to descendants, and the land is sometimes later taken from them by courts, developers, etc. I'm black (although 1st-gen American) and I had no idea stuff like this had occurred recently and is still ongoing.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/22/kicked-off-the-land?utm_brand=tny&utm_source=facebook&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1O7GdqtpMZK7fjhGnTFgzNfrm3ShGBmRmydq0pG7c11bKpcTi0zsnNtDc

This is an interesting piece. But you should know seizing land and valuables happens in small towns too. Texas has a huge problem with this, and it’s not just against Blacks. I only skimmed the piece but it’s seems it’s a lack of education of how laws are in flux that results in land losing.

I’m Hispanic (2nd generation), I’m the pp poster with my family idea. I think Op that the ones that do this have drugs and nothing to lose. Most people are good if they aren’t on drugs. If they had a good family unit even poor, there would be something to turn to. Money does buy opportunities. But love care and togetherness is not bought with money. If they could turn to church, they could turn around. I don’t think they are past rehab. But it can’t be the government fixing this. Yes there’s millions of issues they can fix. But you can’t fix instrisic value with a law. Foster children have the same issue.

[Anonymous]

Unless reparations are part of the discussion, there IS no discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of it has been systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans. This recent Propublica/New Yorker article covers one example--black families passed down land to descendants, and the land is sometimes later taken from them by courts, developers, etc. I'm black (although 1st-gen American) and I had no idea stuff like this had occurred recently and is still ongoing.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/22/kicked-off-the-land?utm_brand=tny&utm_source=facebook&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1O7GdqtpMZK7fjhGnTFgzNfrm3ShGBmRmydq0pG7c11bKpcTi0zsnNtDc

This is an interesting piece. But you should know seizing land and valuables happens in small towns too. Texas has a huge problem with this, and it’s not just against Blacks. I only skimmed the piece but it’s seems it’s a lack of education of how laws are in flux that results in land losing.

I’m Hispanic (2nd generation), I’m the pp poster with my family idea. I think Op that the ones that do this have drugs and nothing to lose. Most people are good if they aren’t on drugs. If they had a good family unit even poor, there would be something to turn to. Money does buy opportunities. But love care and togetherness is not bought with money. If they could turn to church, they could turn around. I don’t think they are past rehab. But it can’t be the government fixing this. Yes there’s millions of issues they can fix. But you can’t fix instrisic value with a law. Foster children have the same issue.

PP here. I read the entire article, but it's been a few days. My understanding is that this practice certainly affects many people, but it may disproportionately affect descendants of slaves. Here's one of the early passages:

"Heirs’ property is estimated to make up more than a third of Southern black-owned land — 3.5 million acres, worth more than $28 billion. These landowners are vulnerable to laws and loopholes that allow speculators and developers to acquire their property. Black families watch as their land is auctioned on courthouse steps or forced into a sale against their will.

Between 1910 and 1997, African Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. This problem is a major contributor to America’s racial wealth gap; the median wealth among black families is about a tenth that of white families. Now, as reparations have become a subject of national debate, the issue of black land loss is receiving renewed attention. A group of economists and statisticians recently calculated that, since 1910, black families have been stripped of hundreds of billions of dollars because of lost land. Nathan Rosenberg, a lawyer and a researcher in the group, told me, “If you want to understand wealth and inequality in this country, you have to understand black land loss.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, studies show black and Latino men are more involved fathers than white men.

Those out of wedlock births are just that. The parents aren’t married but they are often living together.

That’s not it.

I don’t know what black men or boys you think are horrible. I worked in Baltimore City jail and will attest anyone can get locked up. Most who are arrested are good guys who have done something bad. They should t be judged on the worst they’ve done without taking into consideration all they have done.

Most people are good, OP. By far.

I'm OP.

I agree with you that many Black and Latino men are involved fathers. We love our children as much as any other racial/ethnic group. When a child is old enough to understand, I do believe it makes a difference whether their parents are married, or not. I never set eyes on my father and often wondered (still do at 50 yo) if he even loved my mother. That has impacted me in certain ways.

It was difficult to read your comment that I think our boys horrible. I don't. But there are some, a small number, that seem beyond reach. We likely read the same news (Google: Tony Antoine McClam) - these examples, specifically, are too common in our community and I'm sure you'll agree that they are "horrible". I really do hear you, but this isn't about selling weed on the corner stuff.

I know, firsthand, that most Black men are good and I think most people are good, too. I tried to make that clear in the opening post. But I also know we've got to face it that these heinous killings in our community occur way too frequently. I believe we, as a race, have to get serious about what to do about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless reparations are part of the discussion, there IS no discussion.

I'm OP.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on how reparations would work. Reparations in what form? Do you believe reparations will solve these problems? If so, how? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard pass.

+1 this website has so many racist and prejudice people.
I’m not about to have normal black get together convo on here. I call troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of it has been systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans. This recent Propublica/New Yorker article covers one example--black families passed down land to descendants, and the land is sometimes later taken from them by courts, developers, etc. I'm black (although 1st-gen American) and I had no idea stuff like this had occurred recently and is still ongoing.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/22/kicked-off-the-land?utm_brand=tny&utm_source=facebook&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1O7GdqtpMZK7fjhGnTFgzNfrm3ShGBmRmydq0pG7c11bKpcTi0zsnNtDc

This is an interesting piece. But you should know seizing land and valuables happens in small towns too. Texas has a huge problem with this, and it’s not just against Blacks. I only skimmed the piece but it’s seems it’s a lack of education of how laws are in flux that results in land losing.

I’m Hispanic (2nd generation), I’m the pp poster with my family idea. I think Op that the ones that do this have drugs and nothing to lose. Most people are good if they aren’t on drugs. If they had a good family unit even poor, there would be something to turn to. Money does buy opportunities. But love care and togetherness is not bought with money. If they could turn to church, they could turn around. I don’t think they are past rehab. But it can’t be the government fixing this. Yes there’s millions of issues they can fix. But you can’t fix instrisic value with a law. Foster children have the same issue.

OP here.

Yes, the drug and alcohol mix has a lethal history in our communities. These twin demons take more lives than just about anything else. And you're right, they are powerful enough to change genuinely good people into shells of their former selves. But I've seen rehabilitation even among these desperate circumstances. I'm sure you can think of individuals who were lost on drugs or alcohol and have since been reclaimed either by wise counselors, by religious conversion, or by personal epiphanies that lead them to come to themselves and to go straight.

But I'm talking about a different breed, here. Those who commit "senseless" killings: accounts of robbers who kill their unresisting victims; accounts of killings for such trivial affronts as an odd look or being cut off in traffic; accounts of wild-firing killers (Google: Makiyah Wilson) who pursue their targets through streets, playgrounds and schools, with utter disregard for innocent bystanders. I feel like these individuals are on a very different level and I question whether it's possible to reach them through any means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White mom of privileged white sons that will never know 1% of the heartbreak and worry my friends raising black sons have. I think the premise of the question is wrong. The black youth you speculate are unredeemable are trying to exist and survive in a culture that is openly hostile to them and you ask why they aren’t thriving. What is the problem to fix? Everything. Safe, quality schools. Affordable and accessible healthcare. Affordable, safe housing and transportation. Reduced police bias and violence. Just to start. As a society we need to stop asking why people without boots can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

This is stupid. Sorry, there is no other way to say it. This so-called woke and compassionate response is a big part of the problem, starting back in the 70s. It is not compassionate to people to blame their problems on society. They cannot control society. Society is not persecuting or holding them down. If anything, our culture glorifies the maladaptive behavior through music, film and imitation.