Ari Meier's Blog, page 3
October 18, 2016
Raising the Black Bar
I want to discuss a serious subject and hope that I don't start a flame war, but hope to shake out a little complacency from us .It's time that we have frank conversation that was needed 30 years ago.
Please keep in mind that these words are not speaking about members of other ethnic groups that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that don't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and will agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering if this is all about what other people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that needs to get their lives together. I'm talking about aligning this group of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within (again, only the ones truly needing to do this).
The list is derived from many years of observations and talking to mostly black people and others from a few other ethnic groups and is not a scientific survey by any means. The listed items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. It's weird how whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn some of us act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This would create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your home. When you're proud, it's hard to let the lawn grow up to the roof of your home. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. There are many that do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the non-black person that dared to speak out about something that he or she doesn't like is most likely expressing what others (including many blacks) don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it. I suspect that many non-blacks that don't truly hate us don't want to live or heavily socialize around us simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look similar.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many others that don't want to work. This gets a mention because, again, I am speaking from my experience with us black people. When we don't like to work, we are broke, and are a burden to many productive people such as family and friends. This is unnecessary reliance when we are physically able to work. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If I was an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
I'm sure someone will say that this doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with black and white people. This is our time to work out things. Some may say I'm throwing shade or call me a 'traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to gain more respect on the world stage.
Please keep in mind that these words are not speaking about members of other ethnic groups that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that don't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and will agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering if this is all about what other people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that needs to get their lives together. I'm talking about aligning this group of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within (again, only the ones truly needing to do this).
The list is derived from many years of observations and talking to mostly black people and others from a few other ethnic groups and is not a scientific survey by any means. The listed items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. It's weird how whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn some of us act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This would create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your home. When you're proud, it's hard to let the lawn grow up to the roof of your home. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. There are many that do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the non-black person that dared to speak out about something that he or she doesn't like is most likely expressing what others (including many blacks) don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it. I suspect that many non-blacks that don't truly hate us don't want to live or heavily socialize around us simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look similar.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many others that don't want to work. This gets a mention because, again, I am speaking from my experience with us black people. When we don't like to work, we are broke, and are a burden to many productive people such as family and friends. This is unnecessary reliance when we are physically able to work. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If I was an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
I'm sure someone will say that this doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with black and white people. This is our time to work out things. Some may say I'm throwing shade or call me a 'traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to gain more respect on the world stage.
Raising the Black Bar: Why Others May Dislike Us
I want to discuss a serious subject and hope that I don't start a flame war, but hope to shake out a little complacency from us .It's time that we have frank conversation that was needed 30 years ago.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking about members of other ethnic groups people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that don't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what other people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between us and the truly non hating other ethnic groups.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community).
The list is derived from many years of observations and talking to mostly black people and others from a few other ethnic groups. The listed items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. It's weird how whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn some of us act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This would create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your home for when you're proud, it's hard to let the lawn grow up to the roof of your home. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. There are many that do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the non-black person that dared to speak out about something that he or she doesn't like is most likely expressing what others (including many blacks) don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it. I suspect that many non-blacks that don't truly hate us don't want to live or heavily socialize around us simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many others that don't want to work. This gets a mention because, again, I am speaking from my experience with us black people. When we don't like to work, we are broke, and are a burden to many productive people such as family and friends. This is unnecessary reliance when we are physically able to work. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If I was an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
I'm sure someone will say that this doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with black and white people. This is our time to work out things. Some may say I'm throwing shade or call me a 'traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to gain more respect on the world stage.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking about members of other ethnic groups people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that don't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what other people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between us and the truly non hating other ethnic groups.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community).
The list is derived from many years of observations and talking to mostly black people and others from a few other ethnic groups. The listed items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. It's weird how whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn some of us act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This would create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your home for when you're proud, it's hard to let the lawn grow up to the roof of your home. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. There are many that do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the non-black person that dared to speak out about something that he or she doesn't like is most likely expressing what others (including many blacks) don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it. I suspect that many non-blacks that don't truly hate us don't want to live or heavily socialize around us simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many others that don't want to work. This gets a mention because, again, I am speaking from my experience with us black people. When we don't like to work, we are broke, and are a burden to many productive people such as family and friends. This is unnecessary reliance when we are physically able to work. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If I was an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
I'm sure someone will say that this doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with black and white people. This is our time to work out things. Some may say I'm throwing shade or call me a 'traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to gain more respect on the world stage.
Raising the Black Bar: Why Other Ethnic Groups May Dislike Black People
I want to discuss a serious subject and hope that I don't start a flame war, but hope to shake out a little complacency from us .It's time that we have frank conversation that was needed 30 years ago.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking about members of other ethnic groups people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that don't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what other people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between us and the truly non hating other ethnic groups.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community).
The list is derived from many years of observations and talking to mostly black people and others from a few other ethnic groups. The listed items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. It's weird how whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn some of us act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This would create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your home for when you're proud, it's hard to let the lawn grow up to the roof of your home. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. There are many that do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the non-black person that dared to speak out about something that he or she doesn't like is most likely expressing what others (including many blacks) don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it. I suspect that many non-blacks that don't truly hate us don't want to live or heavily socialize around us simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many others that don't want to work. This gets a mention because, again, I am speaking from my experience with us black people. When we don't like to work, we are broke, and are a burden to many productive people such as family and friends. This is unnecessary reliance when we are physically able to work. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If I was an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
I'm sure someone will say that this doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with black and white people. This is our time to work out things. Some may say I'm throwing shade or call me a 'traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to gain more respect on the world stage.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking about members of other ethnic groups people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that don't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what other people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between us and the truly non hating other ethnic groups.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community).
The list is derived from many years of observations and talking to mostly black people and others from a few other ethnic groups. The listed items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. It's weird how whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn some of us act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This would create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your home for when you're proud, it's hard to let the lawn grow up to the roof of your home. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. There are many that do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the non-black person that dared to speak out about something that he or she doesn't like is most likely expressing what others (including many blacks) don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it. I suspect that many non-blacks that don't truly hate us don't want to live or heavily socialize around us simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many others that don't want to work. This gets a mention because, again, I am speaking from my experience with us black people. When we don't like to work, we are broke, and are a burden to many productive people such as family and friends. This is unnecessary reliance when we are physically able to work. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If I was an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
I'm sure someone will say that this doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with black and white people. This is our time to work out things. Some may say I'm throwing shade or call me a 'traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to gain more respect on the world stage.
July 3, 2015
Reincarnation is Real and Do I Have a Story for You!
Do you believe in reincarnation? Do you believe that you've been here before, maybe living in another country, as a different race or sex? I do, and not only do I believe, I experienced something profound a little over a decade ago and will share it...soon. It's about a past life. My past life. I've not told many about this, but the few that I've told, were all amazed, while a few may have given me a couple of side-eyes and 'he may be a little weird' looks; my experience is valid. I will start writing this book soon and I hope that this book will inspire others to explore this subject for their own understanding of this thing called...life.
June 8, 2014
I Think I Saw a Civil War Ghost on the Subway
Okay, this has been on my mind for a few days. I've not wanted to talk about it, I didn't even tell my wife of 11 years. It's something that's hard to talk about, especially to her. It happened on the way to work.I was on the westbound blue line heading towards the center of town when I saw it. But did I really see it? Was I half asleep as I am most of the time on the train? Naw, I saw IT. I remembered soon after the conductor announced the station, an older woman walked towards the senior seats. Behind her and a little to the left, I saw it!
It was a man dressed in what looked like a military uniform. But it wasn't a modern uniform, it looked old as in real old. I almost want to say it looked like a civil war type of uniform. It was bluish with slightly worn collars and patches of a reddish hue on the chest area. The man was white with a lot of hair on his head and a growing beard. He seemed to be about 20 but he looked worn and sad.
I briefly looked the other way as we caught each others' gaze. A chill ran down my back and then up again. The train conductor announced the next station. I looked back over to the strange man. He gave me a hard, cold stare. Did anyone see this dude? Was he homeless? No one seemed to notice him. This is normal on the train anyway, but NO ONE seemed to SEE him. He kept his eyes on me.
I looked down at my phone to take my mind off of his piercing eyes, opening up and playing a round of Othello. I felt uneasy about the man. It was as if he was speaking to me but without actually speaking. The other odd thing I noticed was he seemed to be sitting HIGHER than every one else on the train. I didn't dare look up from my phone because I didn't want to see the eyes.
"Andrew, Andrew. Do you remember me?" I heard the voice, but it wasn't loud. It was inside my ear, like a slight ringing, buzzing sound, but words. I looked up and around me. This is crazy. Why and how did this happen? This is a work day and this is impossible at this point in the trip. The train was completely empty, except for me and the strange man.
I Saw a Civil War Soldier Dude on the Subway
Okay, this has been on my mind for a few days. I've not wanted to talk about it, I didn't even tell my wife of 11 years. It's something that's hard to talk about, especially to her. It happened on the way to work.I was on the westbound blue line heading towards the center of town when I saw it. But did I really see it? Was I half asleep as I am most of the time on the train? Naw, I saw IT. I remembered soon after the conductor announced the station, an older woman walked towards the senior seats. Behind her and a little to the left, I saw it!
It was a man dressed in what looked like a military uniform. But it wasn't a modern uniform, it looked old as in real old. I almost want to say it looked like a civil war type of uniform. It was bluish with slightly worn collars and patches of a reddish hue on the chest area. The man was white with a lot of hair on his head and a growing beard. He seemed to be about 20 but he looked worn and sad.
I briefly looked the other way as we caught each others' gaze. A chill ran down my back and then up again. The train conductor announced the next station. I looked back over to the strange man. He gave me a hard, cold stare. Did anyone see this dude? Was he homeless? No one seemed to notice him. This is normal on the train anyway, but NO ONE seemed to SEE him. He kept his eyes on me.
I looked down at my phone to take my mind off of his piercing eyes, opening up and playing a round of Othello. I felt uneasy about the man. It was as if he was speaking to me but without actually speaking. The other odd thing I noticed was he seemed to be sitting HIGHER than every one else on the train. I didn't dare look up from my phone because I didn't want to see the eyes.
"Andrew, Andrew. Do you remember me?" I heard the voice, but it wasn't loud. It was inside my ear, like a slight ringing, buzzing sound, but words. I looked up and around me. This is crazy. Why and how did this happen? This is a work day and this is impossible at this point in the trip. The train was completely empty, except for me and the strange man.
March 5, 2014
Man Secrets: How to Tell if He Wants to Marry You
Okay, many online and print publications, have opinions or 'facts' about this topic. Millions of love starved women then click on the links hoping to find some groundbreaking information about the 'man will marry me signs'; only to come away with paragraphs of theory (fluff) about this age old dilemma.I'm going to simplify this for the ones that need or want to know and will probably either piss off or gain some male fans with exposing this little known 'secret'.
Are you ready to find out the truth? Do I need to add more paragraphs to make you feel it was worth your taking the time to click this link?
He Will Discuss his Intentions
While this is a no-brainer, women must know that it's in our nature to want to chase after, capture and hold onto what we treasure or love. A man with a clear intention of marrying you will not have to be coaxed or pleaded with or 'I hope he wants to marry me one day-ed'. He'll discuss it because he can't stand the chance of another dude coming in chasing and capturing you.
No Excuses
If you've been in a serious relationship with your guy after 3 years and he's still making excuses about why you can't get married soon; just know that you probably won't get married to him. It doesn't cost a lot to get married, but can cost a fortune to have a big wedding. Know the differences. It may cost much upfront money to buy a house, but doesn't take much to move a new husband or wife into a present home or apartment (providing that all of your belongings will fit). Careers don't die because of suddenly getting married and schooling shouldn't be affected. Of course if you're marrying a time thieving, envy monster; then the career and education part will matter.
Stop Drinking the Kool-Aid
If your man is saying "I'm going to marry you" every year and you have been together for 3, 4, 7 years; do yourself a favor and stop getting drunk off of the Kool-Aid and have a serious discussion with him and if this is fruitless; plan your exit strategy.
Photo courtesy of OMGGhana
Man Secrets: How to Tell if He Wants to Get Married
Okay, many online and print publications, have opinions or 'facts' about this topic. Millions of love starved women then click on the links hoping to find some groundbreaking information about the 'man will marry me signs'; only to come away with paragraphs of theory (fluff) about this age old dilemma.I'm going to simplify this for the ones that need or want to know and will probably either piss off or gain some male fans with exposing this little known 'secret'.
Are you ready to find out the truth? Do I need to add more paragraphs to make you feel it was worth your taking the time to click this link?
He Will Discuss his Intentions
While this is a no-brainer, women must know that it's in our nature to want to chase after, capture and hold onto what we treasure or love. A man with a clear intention of marrying you will not have to be coaxed or pleaded with or 'I hope he wants to marry me one day-ed'. He'll discuss it because he can't stand the chance of another dude coming in chasing and capturing you.
No Excuses
If you've been in a serious relationship with your guy after 3 years and he's still making excuses about why you can't get married soon; just know that you probably won't get married to him. It doesn't cost a lot to get married, but can cost a fortune to have a big wedding. Know the differences. It may cost much upfront money to buy a house, but doesn't take much to move a new husband or wife into a present home or apartment (providing that all of your belongings will fit). Careers don't die because of suddenly getting married and schooling shouldn't be affected. Of course if you're marrying a time thieving, envy monster; then the career and education part will matter.
Stop Drinking the Kool-Aid
If your man is saying "I'm going to marry you" every year and you have been together for 3, 4, 7 years; do yourself a favor and stop getting drunk off of the Kool-Aid and have a serious discussion with him and if this is fruitless; plan your exit strategy.
Photo courtesy of OMGGhana
February 4, 2014
Real Talk: Black People, We Need to Get Our Sh*t Together.
Okay, I'll admit that the title may be construed as a little off the top or 'controversial'; but I am going to touch on a serious subject and hope that I don't start a flame war (actually I hope to start a mini flame war because after the thunderstorm comes beautiful weather). It's time that we have serious face to face (although I'm safely tucked behind my keyboard and house walls), frank conversation that was needed 30 years ago. I bring the thunderstorm.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking on the white people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that doesn't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what white people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between the truly non hating white people and black people.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community) before any conversation can start between white and black people (you know, the usual headline grabbers: the racism, bigotry, etc conversations).
The list is derived from many years of talking to white and black people and the items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. One of the problems is that whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn we act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This will only create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your shelter for when you're proud, it's hard to let that grass grow up to the roof. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. I know that many black people do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the white person that dared to speak out about something that he doesn't like is most likely expressing what other whites and blacks don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it(except Bill Cosby). I suspect that many whites that don't truly hate black people don't want to live or heavily socialize around black people simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many white people that don't want to work. This gets a mention because when we don't like to work, we tend to like the government to work...for us. This is unnecessary reliance when we are able to work. Free up those government benefits for the temporarily unemployed, the long term sick and elderly. It's criminal that able bodied people are mooching. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If i were an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
This is concludes my list of what I think white people don't like about black people. I'm sure someone will say that it doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with white people. This is our time to work out things. Some blacks may call me a 'race traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to blossom on the world stage. I say to them 'thank you' for confirming that I need to do this.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking on the white people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that doesn't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what white people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between the truly non hating white people and black people.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community) before any conversation can start between white and black people (you know, the usual headline grabbers: the racism, bigotry, etc conversations).
The list is derived from many years of talking to white and black people and the items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. One of the problems is that whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn we act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This will only create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your shelter for when you're proud, it's hard to let that grass grow up to the roof. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. I know that many black people do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the white person that dared to speak out about something that he doesn't like is most likely expressing what other whites and blacks don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it(except Bill Cosby). I suspect that many whites that don't truly hate black people don't want to live or heavily socialize around black people simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many white people that don't want to work. This gets a mention because when we don't like to work, we tend to like the government to work...for us. This is unnecessary reliance when we are able to work. Free up those government benefits for the temporarily unemployed, the long term sick and elderly. It's criminal that able bodied people are mooching. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If i were an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
This is concludes my list of what I think white people don't like about black people. I'm sure someone will say that it doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with white people. This is our time to work out things. Some blacks may call me a 'race traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to blossom on the world stage. I say to them 'thank you' for confirming that I need to do this.
Black on Black Love: Why Some Blacks Need to Stop Pulling the Race Card
Okay, I'll admit that the title may be construed as a little off the top or 'controversial'; but I am going to touch on a serious subject and hope that I don't start a flame war (actually I hope to start a mini flame war because after the thunderstorm comes beautiful weather). It's time that we have serious face to face (although I'm safely tucked behind my keyboard and house walls), frank conversation that was needed 30 years ago. I bring the thunderstorm.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking on the white people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that doesn't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what white people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between the truly non hating white people and black people.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community) before any conversation can start between white and black people (you know, the usual headline grabbers: the racism, bigotry, etc conversations).
The list is derived from many years of talking to white and black people and the items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. One of the problems is that whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn we act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This will only create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your shelter for when you're proud, it's hard to let that grass grow up to the roof. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. I know that many black people do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the white person that dared to speak out about something that he doesn't like is most likely expressing what other whites and blacks don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it(except Bill Cosby). I suspect that many whites that don't truly hate black people don't want to live or heavily socialize around black people simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many white people that don't want to work. This gets a mention because when we don't like to work, we tend to like the government to work...for us. This is unnecessary reliance when we are able to work. Free up those government benefits for the temporarily unemployed, the long term sick and elderly. It's criminal that able bodied people are mooching. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If i were an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
This is concludes my list of what I think white people don't like about black people. I'm sure someone will say that it doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with white people. This is our time to work out things. Some blacks may call me a 'race traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to blossom on the world stage. I say to them 'thank you' for confirming that I need to do this.
Please keep in mind that this collection of words is not speaking on the white people that truly hate black people for no obvious reason other than skin color. Also there are many white people that doesn't have any issues with black people on any level (even the points made below-they just don't care) just as there are many black people who'll get this and may agree with the points made below.
In case you're wondering that this is all about what white people do or don't like and is yet another 'acclimate ourselves again to what other people are comfortable with'; no, this is not about that. This is about aligning the strata of the black population that is a continuous source of embarrassment, family and community destruction to other black people. I'm talking about aligning this strata of black folk to your everyday, 'go to work, business owning, care about your child's welfare, want to do good in school' black people.
If this realignment can occur, then we should slowly see more harmony not only from within the greater black community, but between the truly non hating white people and black people.
Below is a list (I'll call it the 'Get your Home in Order' list)of items that black people should address within(again, only the relevant strata in the black community) before any conversation can start between white and black people (you know, the usual headline grabbers: the racism, bigotry, etc conversations).
The list is derived from many years of talking to white and black people and the items are in no order of importance. Here goes:
1. Teach our children to be respectful and be aware of behavior that can be misconstrued as aggressive. This was a tough one, because in many instances (if not most, black boys are labeled as aggressive when in fact they're not aggressive at all. One of the problems is that whites and blacks have lived, worked and played close to each other for a long time, but we are still thousands of miles away when it comes to actually knowing each other. We are fed news stories that inaccurately reflects TRUE cultural group reality and in turn we act out based on this 'media feeding' or think in those biased terms.
2. Put more energy into our children's education. This is a no brainer. The world is cruel enough place without a college degree, but it's downright hell without a high school diploma. It's also time to destroy that several decades old demon that whispers into some of our kids ears that being smart or excelling in school is NOT cool. Realize that the school is NOT the only teacher for your children. We should integrate learning into our everyday family environment. This will only create a 'love to learn for the sake of it' mental environment in the child.
3. Cut the grass, keep up the neighborhoods. Be proud of your shelter for when you're proud, it's hard to let that grass grow up to the roof. This is also about being considerate to your neighbors. I know that many black people do an awesome job of keeping the homestead looking nice.
4. Stop being so sensitive about everything. Racism is alive and well. Gender based inequality is alive and well. Criminal-ism is definitely alive and well. The reality is the white person that dared to speak out about something that he doesn't like is most likely expressing what other whites and blacks don't like.
It's a tough love assessment that is expressed by someone who you think shouldn't say it, but has the balls to say it when the people that look the most like you won't say it(except Bill Cosby). I suspect that many whites that don't truly hate black people don't want to live or heavily socialize around black people simply because they, like most other ethnic groups; feel the most comfortable when around others that are culturally similar and who look the most like them.
5. Get a job. While this is not only a black problem as there are many white people that don't want to work. This gets a mention because when we don't like to work, we tend to like the government to work...for us. This is unnecessary reliance when we are able to work. Free up those government benefits for the temporarily unemployed, the long term sick and elderly. It's criminal that able bodied people are mooching. This only creates a below mediocre standard of being. It shouldn't be about only wanting to survive, we should want to rise economically as high as we can. Destroy the 'get over' mentality.
6. Men, respect our women. Stop calling them b**s, h*s and any other name that is derogatory. I find it amazing that white rockers don't diss their women the way some rap and r & b artists do black women. Some people will say that it's because you're dealing with young men. Yeah right. I'm sure young white men musicians 'feel some kind of way' or say derogatory things about their women, they just don't do it as a default in their music and definitely not so publicly.
Black people will get angry when white men say derogatory things about black women in the public realm; but this is made more possible because it's allowed in the black community on a wholesale level. Also stop supporting music (no matter how good it sounds) that objectify and disrespects women. It has to start somewhere.
We have to evolve beyond the bubblegum r & b and rap that has metastasized on black radio. It's funny how we're doing music that's 'composed' on machines without a full array of instruments, but more white people are creating soul music, all with a full array of instruments. What happened here?
7. Stop embracing the thug life. All black men are not thugs. Not all white men are serial killers. I find too many of our young dudes embracing thuggish behavior (especially suburban kids from good backgrounds). If i were an alien that tuned into the average black radio station, I would think that the artists are addressing humans that only love hyper aggressive behavior towards each other, are violent for the sake of violence towards each other and only makes a living selling drugs.
Every ethnic group sell drugs (white men AND women probably do it more than others), but black people must have a wake up call: in the United States of America, the criminal justice system will look for you (black man) first. It's designed by people that want you out of their social and economic hairs. Is it a conspiracy, maybe, but I'm not one to go into that because if you truly don't sell drugs or do anything illegal for that matter; you don't go into the criminal justice beast. It's really simple. The victim slant of this doesn't hold much merit.
This is concludes my list of what I think white people don't like about black people. I'm sure someone will say that it doesn't address more issues or that this can be said about any other ethnic group. I'm not addressing other ethnic groups. I'm black and I've dealt mostly with white people. This is our time to work out things. Some blacks may call me a 'race traitor' for daring to speak out what we as an ethnic group need to be mindful of and what we need to do to blossom on the world stage. I say to them 'thank you' for confirming that I need to do this.
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