A ‘No More Excuses’ Christmas?

this article is terrible on so many levels. but thanks for helping everyone else stereotype black people, because they couldnt do it alone.

It continues to amaze me how many educated people write about race. The issue isn't race, the issue is socio-economic.. The "characters" could be white black or yellow; it is not racial. Perhaps Obama's election can dispel the victum politics of race and simply allow poor behavior and character to stand on its own.

I agree with Kellymd and PGvoter. The day of generalizing any group is over...It seems that the only focus in times past has been either families from the hood or the stereotypical black family. But, families who are totally opposite are ignored. My family doesn't and hasn't tolerated mediocrity, misuse of their female partners, and poor performance in school. Furthermore, many of the problems in the community are class issues. Matter of fact my oldest son has been interviewed for one of the best schools in America, "Woodberry Forest". Also, like PGvoter, I changed my party from Republican to Independent.

This article is horrible. Who edited it? It is chock full of blanket stereotypes. The issues that negatively impact the black community are class issues. Blacks are not monolithic. Poverty is the leading driver for single parent households, unemployment, and crime and it does not matter what color you are. Any editor worth his or her salt would never have let this piece of trash go to print without demanding further research. Broad generalizations about a race of people is not newsworthy, it's just unproven, lazy, and shoddy reporting. As a Black woman in grad school with no baby daddy and no pathology, the only excuse I will be making at Christmas is that I shouldn't have that 3rd glass of spiked egg nog!

This article is horrible. Who edited it? It is chock full of blanket stereotypes. The issues that negatively impact the black community are class issues. Blacks are not monolithic. Poverty is the leading driver for single parent households, unemployment, and crime and it does not matter what color you are. Any editor worth his or her salt would never have let this piece of trash go to print without demanding further research. Broad generalizations about a race of people is not newsworthy, it's just unproven, lazy, and shoddy reporting. As a Black woman in grad school with no baby daddy and no pathology, the only excuse I will be making at Christmas is that I shouldn't have that 3rd glass of spiked egg nog!

To Ms. Reid, by looking at many of the comments posted to your article, you have indeed proven yourself to be a very eloquent writer. If it were the opposite, no one would have commented. Let me say, however, I started to read your article, then abandoned the thought. As a black man in this country, and a successful black man residing in the wealthiest black county in the country, Prince Georges County, Maryland, I have to take exception to the notion that "black families are changing their expectations", after this historical event. I say this because, the expectaions should have always been that of dignity and pride, regardless of the victor to assume the Office of President of the United States. As a matter of record, President elect Obama was very instrumental in my changing political parites, from Republican to Independent.

But, let me attempt to entertain many of the mindless comments I read within. First, it does not matter who is elected President, ignorance will still flourish in this country. One need only read many of the comments to your article. Yet, several of them was true, but lacked a logical progression. But, to assume, as many writers here have, that the welfare pheonemon in this country is a "black" thing, well, demographics will refute their believes. It seems that, when an opportunity arises for people to express their right to free speech, they often abuse any logic that should direct their comments. Neverhteless, people will be people.

Personally, I will not attact any particular person's comment here, but, they know who they are, if their argument lacked logic and was spoken mindlessly.

That's all.

I'm afraid we are all in for an Obama bumpy train ride to hell. The only hope we have is that he truly is a Kennedy.

PunxsutawneyPhil - I agree with you that welfare is the cause but is it possible that its the ABUSE of welfare more than the welfare itself? I completely agree with your stand and wish it was headlines. Two solutions I have thought of is 1. If a man OR woman gives birth to a child while on welfare, the benefits are revoked and the children taken away as this is Child Abuse, pure and simple. 2. There should a statute of limitations on collecting child support that extends 20 years AFTER the CHILD turns 18 and the child should have the right to collect this. The breeding has GOT to stop people. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THESE POEPLE CAN NOT COMMIT TO A PaRTNER FOR LIFE BUT MAKE A DECISION TO SADDLE A CHILD WITH THEM AS A PARENT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE? Narcissism is an understatement. STOP BREEDING...EVERYONE!!!! If you think you have that much to offer a child...adopt! I've seen the gene pools out there and most dont need reproducing....and i'm referring to some of my own relatives!!! I digress. My apologies. I'm happy to see that no on ehere suffers from apathy tho :)

After reading a few of the comments, this goes to prove that, no matter who is elected President of the United States, ignorance will continue to prevail. Single family household and mothers on welfare is color blind. To even suggest that a black woman is more apt to be on welfare, or, a black maternal father is morally responsible for the rise in welfare cost to single families is atrocious. To begin, demographics prove's that to be wrong. Nevetheless, people will often times abuse their First Amendment right to free speech' which by the way is not an absolute right.

I believe, however, if anyone want to attribute President elect Obama is the central force in their lives to become more productive, should look at themselves, not in general, but particularly. I welcome the new Executive Office transition. In fact, I will be out there battling the cold to witness this historic moment. But, who his parents were is of no consequence to me, as a voter. President Obama was not raised in a white society. Nor was he raised in a black society. He was raised in a society. My children were raised in Hawaii while I performed my moral responsibility to supplement their financial upbringing. But, the very fact that we were raised in two different enviornments does not negate the fact that they were raised well, and I fought the challenges of the inner city. They were raised.

To Ms. Reid, I did not complete your entire article because I never had any excuses, when Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, or whomever, was in office. Look in the mirror people. The difference start there.

WOW???!!! I planned to write a short word of encouragement supporting your column and the work you do with unmarried Black couples. I support what you do and believe a positive nudge is all many people need to cross a threshold. The advantages of marriage over ???hooking up??? are so great that it might actually be life changing to the self image. I???m with you, I support you and I wish there was something I could do concretely to lift up what you are doing.

The ???WOW ???that I used when I started writing was in response to the blast of bitterness and racism I read in the comments about your column. The comments weren???t even about your topic; most were just a general ???shout out??? on what was wrong with black people. Does that happen every time you publish something positive or hopeful about Black people on a national stage? The comments following your column remind me how unfortunately some people turn their lack of happiness or satisfaction with their own life into bile and venom.

Our great country still has a long way to go and a lot of growing up to do. You just keep doing your part and I???ll keep supporting you and I???ll keep doing my part.
Harold619

Mr and Mrs Obama have a solid marriage because they are both highly educated! The odds are in their favor but if we want to exclude Mr Obama's white side (shhh...he was born to a white mommy and raised in white society) well then statistically their marriage will fail once Mr Obama goes to jail for some sort of domestic violence or drug trafficking!