A ‘No More Excuses’ Christmas?

As I white man who grew up in a predominantly white town, I can honestly say that racism is a concept which I have mainly seen existing as a discussion topic in the media and in the classroom. I have honestly never seen a white person discriminate. As a kid I used to go into the city to play basketball, and there were a few black kids who liked to use the terms "white motherf-ck-er" and other derogitory terms, but me and my friends always shrugged it off knowing that these black kids were misinformed and had been told how much whitey hates them. Many blacks are afraid of admitting that racism is for all effects dead in America bk then they would be held acctble and would not have an excuse. If you are African American ask yourself honestly how many times you have been turned down for a job or missed out on an opportunity bk of your skin color. Many blacks say that discrimination is "subtle", but what does that really mean? There are people who may make jokes about fat people, skinny people, redheads, blonds you name it.. this is not discrimination. I hear more talk about lynchings in the south than I do about gang violence. There are more black on black gang deaths each year than there have been lynchings in the past 200 years. If African Americans want to do something for themselves, they need to live in the present and see the real reasons behind their problems.

You nigs need to go ahead and get married first before you have your niglets.

Our job, speaking as a Black Man, might be to keep everything in its proper perspective. While we cannot fall prey to thinking that America has finally decided to love us, we should work on losing baggage that many of us have carried on our shoulders, given to us from past generations. For those of us who have forgotten, we must take back our freedom to love openly ourselves.

I love our new First Family! Michelle and Barack Obama should be viewed as an example of what a loving couple can accomplish when working toward a common goal. It appears that their sacrifice and patience led to great rewards, which is what many of us were taught by praying parents and grandparents.

We share a brutal history in this country, one of slavery and facing institutionalized discrimination. However, we are still a diverse group ??? we???re not all fathering babies out of wedlock, we???re not all pimps, and we don???t all need to be ???dragged??? to the alter. And while the ???Obama??? experience remains quite unique to most Black men; our commonality has caused many to consider raising our level of consciousness by asking how we can become a better man, a better person, or a better American.

I don???t call it a ???no excuses??? pledge, rather an opportunity to realign goals and aspirations. The Obama victory has enlightened so many people, by revealing that despite a very bitter and still racially biased society ??? dreams, decency, intellect and the ability to focus on important matters can prevail. Clinton gave it her all to discredit his campaign, but it didn???t work. Next, the Republican machine took over, with their spin doctors and tom-foolery. Their efforts not only failed as evidenced by the landslide victory, but many were jumping ship up until the last minute, praising Obama as if they were looking for after-Bush employment.

The statistics you quoted are horrible and need work. I believe that statistics on poverty, education and violence are directly related to how the government has ignored schools, playgrounds, medical facilities, whole communities. If you disagree, drive through several lower-economic neighborhoods over the weekend. You???re sure to find ???Children Left Behind.??? Restoring depleted budgets to programs designed to assist children with early development, sufficient school supplies and nutrition, and help pave the way to a good education will eventually affect those numbers, but it will take generations ??? just as it has taken generations to get there.

Our job, speaking as a Black Man, might be to keep everything in its proper perspective. While we cannot fall prey to thinking that America has finally decided to love us, we should work on losing baggage that many of us have carried on our shoulders, given to us from past generations. For those of us who have forgotten, we must take back our freedom to love openly ourselves.

I love our new First Family! Michelle and Barack Obama should be viewed as an example of what a loving couple can accomplish when working toward a common goal. It appears that their sacrifice and patience led to great rewards, which is what many of us were taught by praying parents and grandparents.

We share a brutal history in this country, one of slavery and facing institutionalized discrimination. However, we are still a diverse group ??? we???re not all fathering babies out of wedlock, we???re not all pimps, and we don???t all need to be ???dragged??? to the alter. And while the ???Obama??? experience remains quite unique to most Black men; our commonality has caused many to consider raising our level of consciousness by asking how we can become a better man, a better person, or a better American.

I don???t call it a ???no excuses??? pledge, rather an opportunity to realign goals and aspirations. The Obama victory has enlightened so many people, by revealing that despite a very bitter and still racially biased society ??? dreams, decency, intellect and the ability to focus on important matters can prevail. Clinton gave it her all to discredit his campaign, but it didn???t work. Next, the Republican machine took over, with their spin doctors and tom-foolery. Their efforts not only failed as evidenced by the landslide victory, but many were jumping ship up until the last minute, praising Obama as if they were looking for after-Bush employment.

The statistics you quoted are horrible and need work. I believe that statistics on poverty, education and violence are directly related to how the government has ignored schools, playgrounds, medical facilities, whole communities. If you disagree, drive through several lower-economic neighborhoods over the weekend. You???re sure to find ???Children Left Behind.??? Restoring depleted budgets to programs designed to assist children with early development, sufficient school supplies and nutrition, and help pave the way to a good education will eventually affect those numbers, but it will take generations ??? just as it has taken generations to get there.

An intelligent thought out article. Maryann Reid give me a new found hope in Black White relations in this country. She has a world view i thought was lost in the Black Community. Now it's time for the respectable people like Obama to cast out the hate mongers like Al Sharpton and Rev Wright as enemies of the Black community.

It pains me that as a fully functioning african american male, father, businessman and proud hubby to a beautiful black woman that now now it has become trendy to be a positive role model. Just how long will this trend be trendy? Now versus what people like Maryann Reid has done as a "community organizer around a specific mission" and what we are doing at iluvblackwomen.com to put out to black women that there are black men who do love them and appreciate what they do for us. So what happens if Barack Obama doesnt live up to expectations then what Black People we dont need role models we just need to do the work at home, at school, at work, in our families, and in our neighborhoods regardless.

Smite me: As an African-American female that came from a working middle class background, I have to say there has been no red carpet laid out for me or my friends who came from varied households as well. My parents worked to afford me the things they did not get growing up and I worked for every scholarship, degree (Engineering bachelors and Masters) and the career I have begun. While yes some people do get scholarships, not hand-outs, they had to work hard to qualify for them, And while yes affirmative action is in-place to meet quotas that have been established to ensure fair acceptance to institutions and hiring practices due to the backward thinking of a several generations of people trying to continue to hold people back.

As for this article, I'm getting tired of these articles on "will black America change because of Obama". While I am a proud supporter, he is not my messiah. Oppressed people will not suddenly rise up and become great overnight. Will this inspire a few people yes, other than that folks will be the same until they are ready to make a change for themselves. Excuses will be coming from all ethic backgrounds this season.

Smite me: As an African-American female that came from a working middle class background, I have to say there has been no red carpet laid out for me or my friends who came from varied households as well. My parents worked to afford me the things they did not get growing up and I worked for every scholarship, degree (Engineering bachelors and Masters) and the career I have begun. While yes some people do get scholarships, not hand-outs, they had to work hard to qualify for them, And while yes affirmative action is in-place to meet quotas that have been established to ensure fair acceptance to institutions and hiring practices due to the backward thinking of a several generations of people trying to continue to hold people back.

As for this article, I'm getting tired of these articles on "will black America change because of Obama". While I am a proud supporter, he is not my messiah. Oppressed people will not suddenly rise up and become great overnight. Will this inspire a few people yes, other than that folks will be the same until they are ready to make a change for themselves. So sorry to say excuses will be coming from all backgrounds this season not just black families. We can all stand to do better.

Obama was elected by Americans from various ethnicities. If one should ask what Obama should address in his new role, one will elicit responses that may be marked by personal agendas. One must be reminded that it is quite impossible for Obama to fulfill all the personal requisitions that will be made of him by each individual. However, it is possible for individuals to take personal responsibility and ensure that that they, being responsible, informed and mature beings, do not participate in stereotyping to the extent that it demands that a candidate such as Obama fix racism or any other philosophical and social frame work contrived by a less than open mind over several generations. It is hoped that the election of Obama will motivate all to live lives wherein blame is not cowardly showered on race, age, culture, gender or any of these paradigms. No, pulling ones self up by the bootstrap is antiquated since we may not all have boots but if we see someone that has achieved much success, let us not make less of their success by demeaning the manner in which such success was achieved. Let us become motivated to do more for ourselves and our communities. It is our responsibility to release ourselves from the mental slavery that has led us to conclude that one man can fix all the misgivings of society. The change is within each of us and this change has to come from the perpetrators and well as the oppressed.

Isn't that what Cosby has been saying all along? Obama winning is a wonderful thing - sad that this is what it took for the Black community to believe and understand what the rest of the country already knew, and has known for some time - that there no longer really are any acceptable excuses.

I would like to think that I understand arguments on both sides of the coin that seem to be developing here. The sad racial history of the US is not fixed by the election of Barak Obama but, it does stand as a marker. I think it would help to recognize that if you look at the equal rights struggle it helps to look at it in terms of of generations rather than years.
This election made me think of an old joke that Eddie Muphy used to tell about all Texans being prejudice (back in the 80's I think it was) . A white guy working at the airport asks, "is this your bag sir?" then as the joke goes, "Yea that's my bag! Can't a black man have a suitcase! " as the white guy wonders " what wrong with this guy". Telling this joke tells my age a little bit but, point is, I hope that now a few more people can feel the way that Eddie did in this joke. I feel like my generation (genXers and younger) have figured out how much a load of garbage the race issue is. Color is literaly pigment in our skin and hair. There are no other differences, and it separates us no more than a blond is separated from a redhead. I (and I know I speak for others as well) don't believe in colors or communities, only families and friends. Any differences between any groups or families is only because ideas or attitudes were passed down from the previous generation. I completely dissagree with Obama on economic issues and on the 2nd amendment. However, there's still a big part of me that was proud of this country and My generation on Nov. 5th. I wish Obama the best of luck. He will need it.

A thoughtful column with an uplifting message. Kudos to Ms. Reid for her efforts on behalf of unmarried couples. People can and should live as if their dreams are achievable and the world malleable to their grasp. To have that belief is to be most authentically alive.