To WP: What Can Black People Do to Improve Race Relations in this Country?

[Anonymous]

This question is directed chiefly toward whites (though others may chime in):


What role would you say that African-Americans play with regard to improving race relations in America? In other words, what can we do?

Are there things that you wish people would say (but don't) when discussing race? In other words, what are some alternative ideas/viewpoints that you wish would get mentioned?

Why do you suppose that race relations continue to be tense--nearly 50 years after the civil rights movement?


BW here, btw.

[Anonymous]

Interesting question. I'm not sure it's something either blacks or whites can do proactively. I think we as a culture have to create a more economically equitable society. I think a lot of racism still has roots in fear of losing or not being able to acquire sufficient resources. I find among my white family and friends that the levels of prejudice seem tied to income and education. The less they have, the more bigoted they are. When people feel secure in themselves, the less likely they are to try to push someone else down.

[Anonymous]

One thing - I wish blacks would SERIOUSLY start addressing the issue of black-on-black violence. I live in what many would consider to be the 'hood - and I feel as though every week I pass a church where there is a funeral for a youth. When I check news reports, these deaths are barely mentioned. It's disgusting. But, the only solution will come from within the black community.

[Anonymous]

White or black, become the next Thurgood Marshall. As a lawyer, Marshall (and others) had a plan--take down Plessy v. Ferguson AKA separate but equal. That's why Brown vs. Board or Education was so important.

Dismantel the racist institutions. A big one now is all those ridiculous voter registration laws fronted by Republicans basically to stop people of color from voting. (Voter fraud is virtually non-existant.) Then become a Supreme Court Justice and re-instate the Civil Rights Voting Act in its entirety.

[Anonymous]

Embrace education. Walk the walk. No more of this attitude that academic success = "acting white" crap. That's utter nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing - I wish blacks would SERIOUSLY start addressing the issue of black-on-black violence. I live in what many would consider to be the 'hood - and I feel as though every week I pass a church where there is a funeral for a youth. When I check news reports, these deaths are barely mentioned. It's disgusting. But, the only solution will come from within the black community.

You have to understand that black on black violence has nothing to do with race. It is about low income and poorly educated people living next to each other. That is, people kill people who live close to them...because they are there. So the idea of "back on black" violence is really odd to me. But to say that it needs to stop is strange, does that mean blacks should be violent towards other races? I think what you are trying to say is that violence has to simmer down. Yes, that is true, but many many other social problems need to go away too.

[Anonymous]

I feel like it would go really far for black people to:

1. Strive to appear educated.
2. Speak more quietly in public.
3. Pick their pants up.
4. Smile sometimes. Every black mother I am friends with on FB who has a teen or older son has zero pictures of them smiling. They all look angry and menacing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Embrace education. Walk the walk. No more of this attitude that academic success = "acting white" crap. That's utter nonsense.

That is a rare comment from other blacks, very rare. There are other ways to act white, being educated is not one of them to most AAs.
That said, I fear that many AAs have missed the boat on when an education gave the greatest advantage and socioeconomic leap forward like from about 1945-1985.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like it would go really far for black people to:

1. Strive to appear educated.
2. Speak more quietly in public.
3. Pick their pants up.
4. Smile sometimes. Every black mother I am friends with on FB who has a teen or older son has zero pictures of them smiling. They all look angry and menacing.

OK, but honestly, in my culture, smiles mean something...in some cultures they mean very little, so that leads to some confusion where blacks accuse many whites of fake smiling, i.e. not to be trusted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Embrace education. Walk the walk. No more of this attitude that academic success = "acting white" crap. That's utter nonsense.

That is a rare comment from other blacks, very rare. There are other ways to act white, being educated is not one of them to most AAs.
That said, I fear that many AAs have missed the boat on when an education gave the greatest advantage and socioeconomic leap forward like from about 1945-1985.

So not true in the STEM fields. There is a lot of affirmative action and educational opportunities in these fields still available to AAs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing - I wish blacks would SERIOUSLY start addressing the issue of black-on-black violence. I live in what many would consider to be the 'hood - and I feel as though every week I pass a church where there is a funeral for a youth. When I check news reports, these deaths are barely mentioned. It's disgusting. But, the only solution will come from within the black community.

You have to understand that black on black violence has nothing to do with race. It is about low income and poorly educated people living next to each other. That is, people kill people who live close to them...because they are there. So the idea of "back on black" violence is really odd to me. But to say that it needs to stop is strange, does that mean blacks should be violent towards other races? I think what you are trying to say is that violence has to simmer down. Yes, that is true, but many many other social problems need to go away too.

If it is a poverty issue, why don't we see the major violence in poor rural areas that we do in inner cities?

I'd say it's more of a cultural issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like it would go really far for black people to:

1. Strive to appear educated.
2. Speak more quietly in public.
3. Pick their pants up.
4. Smile sometimes. Every black mother I am friends with on FB who has a teen or older son has zero pictures of them smiling. They all look angry and menacing.

OK, but honestly, in my culture, smiles mean something...in some cultures they mean very little, so that leads to some confusion where blacks accuse many whites of fake smiling, i.e. not to be trusted.

Not PP you quoted but I do think there is a cultural divide. And I'm not so sure advocating that AAs change their culture is the right thing to do. Of course, other people who were able to quickly adapt and assimilate into mainstream culture such as Asian immigrants have done very well for themselves. But they are sometimes also considered sell outs. What to do...

[Anonymous]

Not all, but some black people e.g. Al Sharpton can't let go of the fact black people have been victimized. I didn't victimize them but I feel sorry that it happened. The fact that I have white guilt and Al Sharpton feels that I should have white guilt inhibits my relationships with black people.

Al Sharpton would say its my fault, but of course he says everything is my fault. Maybe it is my fault and unfortunately as long as everything continues to be my fault, my relationships with black people will not be equal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing - I wish blacks would SERIOUSLY start addressing the issue of black-on-black violence. I live in what many would consider to be the 'hood - and I feel as though every week I pass a church where there is a funeral for a youth. When I check news reports, these deaths are barely mentioned. It's disgusting. But, the only solution will come from within the black community.

You have to understand that black on black violence has nothing to do with race. It is about low income and poorly educated people living next to each other. That is, people kill people who live close to them...because they are there. So the idea of "back on black" violence is really odd to me. But to say that it needs to stop is strange, does that mean blacks should be violent towards other races? I think what you are trying to say is that violence has to simmer down. Yes, that is true, but many many other social problems need to go away too.

If it is a poverty issue, why don't we see the major violence in poor rural areas that we do in inner cities?

I'd say it's more of a cultural issue.

I would agree.

In other parts, where people are much more impoverished than African-Americans, there is much less crime. You can't keep using poverty as a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing - I wish blacks would SERIOUSLY start addressing the issue of black-on-black violence. I live in what many would consider to be the 'hood - and I feel as though every week I pass a church where there is a funeral for a youth. When I check news reports, these deaths are barely mentioned. It's disgusting. But, the only solution will come from within the black community.

You have to understand that black on black violence has nothing to do with race. It is about low income and poorly educated people living next to each other. That is, people kill people who live close to them...because they are there. So the idea of "back on black" violence is really odd to me. But to say that it needs to stop is strange, does that mean blacks should be violent towards other races? I think what you are trying to say is that violence has to simmer down. Yes, that is true, but many many other social problems need to go away too.

If it is a poverty issue, why don't we see the major violence in poor rural areas that we do in inner cities?

I'd say it's more of a cultural issue.

Population density.