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CULTURE

The Search for Thugs

Sean Taylor's death proved one thing. Young black men are stigmatized as gangstas, asking for trouble.

By Raina Kelley | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Dec 10, 2007

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  • Posted By: thug @ 01/29/2008 7:39:52 AM

    Comment: that s right

  • Posted By: Potion78 @ 01/17/2008 9:41:25 PM

    Comment: ILL GEE-

    I understand your opinion in relation to self responsibility but what does it have to do with the article? I am a product of the single family home, I am educated and I too had to overcoming obstacles but this article, most media and some of the people on this board have a "you most have done something to deserve it" type of an attitude towards African-Americans regardless of whether an African American committed a crime or was a victim of a crime. I can turn on the News and count down to the second of when I???m going to receive the ???everything wrong in the black community" report. Seriously, if an African American is the culprit or the victim of a stabbing, shooting, robbery, murder or if they are simply trying to run for office the media give an update. It doesn???t matter how self-determined and disciplined you are, this is lop-sided coverage of the African -American community and it is discouraging to our youth. No one community can boast they have less crime than the other. Crime happens in every race not just in the black community. If Americans are going to get the "everything wrong with the black community" report from the media ???the window to all nations, then this type of report should be provided for every race but if we as Americans are going to continue raving to other nations that we treat everyone equally it???s time to end this selective chastising.

    • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/18/2008 2:46:11 AM

      Comment: Well said my friend!

  • Posted By: thug @ 01/17/2008 8:14:36 PM

    Comment: hay southerngal some brother was giving you to much milk .sterilized i can tell you how to stop the problem keep your southern legs close for a while .......... have a nice day .your pal the thug........

  • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 01/17/2008 1:01:10 PM

    Comment: ILLGEE, your comments started out intelligently enough, but like other brain-washed negroes, you are blind to what your eyes are showing you--then you began to put your foot in your mouth.
    First of all, why do black people like you say stupid *** like "Black folks need to stop using White folks as an excuse". We don't. But we are going to point out *** when we smell it. Most Black people like myself (I just turned fifty) have never pointed out, or reported racial slurs on the job, bigoted co-workers or supervisors, and predjudice restaurant workers. Most Blacks like myself NEVER complain about racism--even when we were justified in doing so. We simply live in an era now when whitey can't get away with the *** they use to get away with. As Malcolm X once said in the early sixties..."We now have a Black man on the scene who refuse to turn the other cheek". And tahe honkies today--along with their parents and grandparents--can't stomach the fact that Blacks will now kick their asses if they are crossed.
    Oh, yeah...How can you be best friends with people who will stab you in the back the first chance they get? And smile in your face while they're doing it. Stay on guard--BROTHER.

  • Posted By: ILL GEE @ 01/17/2008 8:50:20 AM

    Comment: Personally, I think most of the posts here are a bunch of crap. I am an African American male, 30+ years old, married with 3 children, raised in Brooklyn, NY and has never been to jail... not once. I have seen and been a victim of prejudice. Did I let those experiences take control of my life? No. You have the power to shape your own future. You have the God-given power to make your own choices in life. No one ever said that the choices we make are easy ones. My father was an alcoholic and my mom is a recovering drug addict. I chose to take what I saw around me and do the opposite. Being black and growing up in the environment that I did, you would think that I'd be screwed up... locked in a cell or dead. Race isn't the real issue here. The real issue has to do with choices and finding the bravery...the courage.... to do what is right... to do what is morally correct. We were all born with free will. Try using it once in a while. Black folks need to stop using White folks as an excuse. Yes, there are still race issues out there. I can't deny that. But we can't let those issues consume us and shape who we are as a people. When you look back to the Civil Rights era... our people were strong... when you look back to the slavery era... again, our people were strong... if you go through Africa's history our people were kings and queens. Why is it that in this present day and age our people are so weak-minded? Why are we so weak spiritually? Take responsibility for your lives. There is always a way out. It's called "choices". Where there is a will there is a way. Most folks aren't "willing" to make a change. They are too stuck and comfortable in their ways to do something positive. They think that they'll be considered "soft" or an "uncle tom" if they choose to leave the hood for a better life. To me, that's a sign of weakness. Why wouldn't you want better for yourself? Why wouldn't you want better for your family? We all, Black and White, need to stop blaming each other for past sufferings and work toward building healthier futures for our families; which will in turn build better communities; which will then lead to a better country. It starts with self. Instead of spreading all the hate mail that i've read on this discussion board, how about we all take a real long look at ourselves and find out what we can do for ourselves to get the results that we desire. Hate begats more Hate. My brothers and sisters, how is it that we can physically fight with our own and somehow find a way to end up being best friends later on down the road? I know I'm not the only one that has seen it happen. People that you couldn't stand a few years ago are now your best friends. Why should race be any different?

    Bottom line here, most folks are legally grown.... and the majority of those still got a lot of growing up to do.

  • Posted By: 1easylay @ 01/17/2008 2:35:39 AM

    Comment: and southerngal, just cause you had to wed your cousin doesn;t give you the right to make such a disgusting statement.

    You, my dear, should be spayed before you inflict any futrther damage on the world as it needs people like you like I need a 2nd as_hole.

    Your mother would/should be ashamed of you.

    • Posted By: southerngal23 @ 01/17/2008 10:48:48 AM

      Comment: If all the Negroes would be sterilized then they wouldn't reproduce and the world would be a better place

  • Posted By: southerngal23 @ 01/16/2008 6:05:33 PM

    Comment: i am a young white woman and I can say that black men are the problem. They all white women like me and I certainly would never talk to one of these animals. I think that we should be tougher on blacks and start to put them in special camps so we can keep a close eye on them.

    • Posted By: Potion78 @ 01/17/2008 8:25:49 PM

      Comment: Watch what you say. The delight you plan for yourself and the turmoil you plan for others can be your closed casket six feet under and the jubilation of others.

    • Posted By: ILL GEE @ 01/17/2008 9:07:17 AM

      Comment: No... you can't say that black men are the problem. You have no sustainable proof of that. After reading my last post, can you say that I am an animal? Is that how you view all balck men? Is that how you view someone like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr? Is that how you view someone like Donnie Simpson? Is that how you view someone like Muhammad Ali or a Barak Obama? Is that how you view Colin Powell? Tiger Woods? Magic Johnson? How about the many Black inventors, doctors, and scientist who helped produce the very products that you use and enjoy in your everyday life. Your comment is unsubstantiated and blanketed to fit your own purposes and twisted views of the African American male. Don't be surprised if your daughter brings one of these so-called animals home one day. You waste too much time sitting in front of the "idiot box" and not enough time out in the real world interacting with people. The same animal that you claim is the issue may be the same animal that saves your life one day.

  • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 01/16/2008 5:03:02 PM

    Comment: KoreKash, white people like you make me sick when you try to use the words of King. You people don't believe them, nor have any of you had any respect for him King new this, too. It makes me laugh when I hear or read ignorant comments form red necks like you. The days when you white's tell us what we need to do, or who our leaders are have long gone. This is just another example of your superiority complex. Blacks aren't moved by what you think WE all should do. And who are our leaders. How old are you. Oh--I'm glad I disgust you--I was aiming for that. Whites like you are a joke. You try to act as if you're not a bigot, but it's just hard to keep inside, isn't it. Every ignorant word that comes out of your mouth demonstrates your bigotry. Bill Cosby? What? You whites are always trying to pick who speaks for us. Who speaks for whitey? Bush, Newt, Rush...You know nothing about the black community--or who speaks for black Americans. I--like most of my people--speak for myself. .

    • Posted By: Angry blackman @ 01/17/2008 3:13:16 AM

      Comment: Raven, you are my god, you are one of the best black racist i come acrossover the last ten years.
      Black people must lookup this letter digest it , and save it, you enlightened me with your logic and vast experience of the white sadistic savage barbaric beast, you educate me with your wisdom of their culture life, and morality, the beast have no dignity he or she are sexual devianl, The fathers shagged their daughters and when daddy is finished with her he then passed her on to his sons so they can shagged her as well, please correct me if you may do the sons shagged their mummys as well., that is why we blacks must take of our women, included white women.

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/16/2008 9:27:48 AM

    Comment: first of all kore krash check out some of Malcom X's stuff,,im sure the old and the new Malcolm would agree with most of my views,,next thing i will refrain from using the term"whitey",,its a very racist term and is not directed toward the average good white person,,yes i admit there are some,the term refers to this racist establishment thats running things,,you seem you have a little insight to the plight of black males,,now if you just connect the dots on the things you say, you might see things a little differently,,you say that the male missing from the home is one of the main reasons are youth is out of control,i agree,,you also say that 1 out of 3 blackmales is incarcerated,i agree,,but this is where we probably will disagree,,i think that this is by design,the powers that be have always tried to keep the black family broken,,broken families produce broken children,and thats what we are seeing,,but im sure you and most whites think this is just paranoid,racist thinking,,well if im wrong then there must be a genetic disposition for blacks to be violent criminals,,it has to be one of the two,,unless someone knows why black men make up the majority of inmates,,id like to know,please tell me,but krash you did say some thing that i must 100% agree with,,"by recognizing our own ignorance can we recgnize the ignorance of others",,how many whites do you honestly think recognize their own ignorance on this issue?and please lets leave Bill Cosby out of this,,he has lost touch with who he is and whats going on in the black community,,just because he's black doesnt make him an authority or spokesman for whats going on in the hood,he makes a few good points,but his thinking has obviously been shaped by the media also,im sure he doesnt get his info first hand from the hood,,all he knows about his people is what he gets from the media.....

  • Posted By: Potion78 @ 01/15/2008 9:00:41 PM

    Comment: I find it interesting that whenever a black person commits a crime or is a victim of a crime, the media, people who do not live or positively contribute to the black community or both feels the need to give an update on the dire issues in the black community. For example "70% of African American families in this country are a single parent household almost always headed by the mother". Why is it when during the Columbine incident or the Virginia Tech incident we didn???t hear the media chiming ???For every 100,000 white males 19.6 commits suicide compared to just 9.6% of every 100,000 black males??? or ???86% of white homicide victims are killed by whites???? If you can???t offer an EDUCATED solution why continue quoting the problem? Who does it help? For the record, having a male in the household doesn???t equal reduction in poverty and crime. You will just have two uneducated, under-paid or unemployed people in the same slum of an apartment. How does that solve poverty? As for discipline, in most American families, whether it is single family or two parents household, the matriarch is usually the disciplinary. So, I???m not sure where you people are going with that fantasy. Educational funding in school for under-served communities is shameful. Truly, I don???t see how some of these politicians can say we have the best educational system in the world when most of the children in under-served communities can???t read at an 8th grade ???level. If we are going to say in this country that we believe every man should be treated equally we need to start walking the walk. A child should get the same educational opportunities whether they stay in a prominent community or an impoverished community. This illusion of desegregation in the educational system needs to stop.

    • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/16/2008 5:59:01 AM

      Comment: Great, Great Post My Friend! Keep on writing!

  • Posted By: korekrash @ 01/15/2008 5:23:23 PM

    Comment: Black leaders have to start stressing the importance of the family structure instead of blaming racism on the problems of African Americans.

    One could also argue that the problems created by racism have also caused the disruption of the familial unit in the black community. People of all colors are essentially the same. If I repressed you and everyone that looks like you for hundreds of years, wouldn't you carry a bit of a chip on your shoulder? This sounds very much like the Dr. Cosby argument. I will agree that this is a beginning, but it comes far from addressing the whole problem.

    Also, the statement "The characterization of Blacks in this country as" Thugs ' i'm sorry to say has been well earned!" is just ignorant. How many young black men do you know? Also, most white men in the jails are from lower midlle-class and poor families which also turn out the most "motorcycle type". The guys with the harley-davidson jackets and disheveled beards. Do you immediately assume they are in a biker gang?

    This is the type of ignorant thinking that makes it so I can't speak rationally to 93jaguar. You are an "educated redneck" sir, and I hope you will look a bit further into your beliefs instead of taking an intellectually lazy stance on this topic. It means too much to too many, black, white and brown, for it to be taken lightly.

    Only by recognizing our own ignorance can we begin to recognize the ignorance of others.

  • Posted By: korekrash @ 01/15/2008 4:32:10 PM

    Comment: Ok, I am now convinced of it. You are a racist. I do not believe I have ever heard anything from any of the civil rights activists that sound like you. Yes they pointed out many of the things you have, but they did not hate. They also did not stereotype or have such a negative ideal toward the changes that can be made. I have tried to speak form my heart, but I am sorry to say it appears your heart is too cold to receive anything but more hate. You are no different then the white rednecks I have also tried to have a conversation with. You slander and hate, you group an entire race into a single category, you focus on the negative and not the positive. These are actions of hate. You are speaking as if "whitey" is below you. Which is exactly how the rednecks speak of african-americans and anyone else of color. Ignorance breeds ignorance, their is no doubt about that....so I would suggest you confront your own prejudices before you try to speak so strongy about others.

  • Posted By: bobkatn3 @ 01/15/2008 4:30:21 PM

    Comment: The sad fact is that 1 out of every 3 black men in this country have been or are presently involved in the Criminal Justice System. 70% of African American families in this country are a sinle parent household almost always headed by the mother. Without a sound family structure and a father figure to provide discipline , guidance andlearning nothing is gonna change for blacks in this country. 64% of the murders in this country are commited by African American youth and yet they make up only 25% of the population. Black leaders have to start stressing the importance of the family structure instead of blaming racism on the problems of African Americans. Once the 2 parent family is restored then poverty and crime will begin to decline in the black community, unfortunately i don't see it happening anytime soon. The characterization of Blacks in this country as" Thugs ' i'm sorry to say has been well earned!

    • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/16/2008 6:26:22 AM

      Comment: Even if 1 out of 3 African-American men are part of the Judicial system, That means that 65% are not! How does America act as if the lesser is the majority? It is this type of terrible calculating that lays the foundation for idiotic racist thinking. If I tell you that 90% of serial killers are white males should people then assume that most white males are serial killers? See how Percetions can be shaped if we let ignorance be our guide?

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/15/2008 4:07:52 PM

    Comment: Ffirst of all the people in the civil rights movement thought exactly as i do,,thats why they were marching and fighting against this racist society,,,thay knew exactly what whitey thought of us,,just like i do now,,and another thing the reason whitey has the power is because they are the majority,,for now,,do you think that the people in the civil rights movement would disagree with my thinking,,if so,,tell me which part they wouldnt agree with,,and im not talking about Martin Luther King,,he was a different breed,,most brothers then and now wouldnt let whitey slap them and only turn the other cheek,,and as for the chldren,no i wouldnt want them to have to read this,,but we shouldnt lie to them either,,they should know that they have to be twicw as good as whitey,,and if so that still might not make them equal in whiteys eyes,,you know the thing is whitey hates to face the truth about himself and his ancestors,,everything whitey touches he destroys,,in america or aound the world,,whitey thinks he has the right to tell all peoples of all countries what to do and think, and who to worship

  • Posted By: korekrash @ 01/15/2008 1:15:58 PM

    Comment: So you accept this as the staus quo and relent to the prejudice? This is defeatism. If everyone thought as you did then the civil rights movement wouldn't have happened and the advances of the past 40 years would not have happened either. Do you not realize that by accepting all of this as inevitable and withstanding that you are giving those same racists the power they need to continue?

    I concede that much of what you say is true, which is why it is so important to continue the fight for equality for all people. Would you want a child from an impoverished neighborhood to read what you are saying and believe it is his destiny? That no matter what he does white people will make it so he can not be the man the wants to be and should be? I am not telling you that what you say is untrue; I am saying that with your attitude it NEVER WILL be any better than it is now. If you believe that it CAN'T EVER change, then I am truly sorry for you and anyone you come to influence. You have defeated yourself better than any white person could do it for you.

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/15/2008 12:50:28 PM

    Comment: mamaof3,,are you telling me that you dont know about white privilage?if you dont then i cant help you,,obviously you must think that there is an even playing field for whites and blacks in america,,you must think that minorities are treated as fairly as white are in all aspects of our society,,,explaining white privilage to you would be a waste of time,,,,,and to karekrash,,it wont be long before barack is reminded who he is,,after he won in iowa whitey woke up and realised that this is getting serious,,thats why he lost New Hampshire,,,any one who thinks america is ready for a black man to lead is a fool,,,barack is the only nominee being protected by the secret sevice(other than hillary,she was first lady),since march,,and why is that? because of the amount of racist death threats he gets,,,only whites have been president,,thats one privilege right there mama//

    • Posted By: mamaof3 @ 01/15/2008 11:38:11 PM

      Comment: to 93jaguar, Oh I am sorry I must have misunderstood you i thought that you knew about all of the privilages that I enjoy just because I am white. It sounded to me like you had a book stating you are missing out on this because you are not white. My mistake. No I do not think that minorities are treated fairly in all aspects of life but then again that may be because I live in what is considered a black neighbor hood in a black part of town and my kids used to go to a school where they were the only white kids in their class. So I would say that their have been times that I have not been treated fairly because I am a minorty in my little corner of the world. So you see the race card can be played both ways and looked at from many diffent angles. Oh and on the subject of presidents no their has never been a black president and I can not say if that is a good or a bad thing but their has also never been a woman president and you don't hear me complaining about that do you. Racial equality is not something that will come about because minorities think that they deserve it , it will come to be when all of us can look past color and see people. I for one am sick and tired of having to show respect to black people because of things that happened before I was even born. So please walk away from the mirror and forget about your skin color for one moment and think about what kind of person you are and would like your children to be rather than playng the blame game with me just because I happen to have a lighter skin color. By the way I read your comment about whiteys anccestors well for your information my ancestors went through a little thing called the Holocaust, and came to America to get away from racism. I would also like to add that my husband is German, so because some Germans many years ago did unspeakable thing to my family should I hate him and expect him to repay me for those wrongs. NO! Get over it everything that happened in this country before the civil right movement happened, happened period. There is nothing that anyone can do to change that but you need to remember that that was the past. So I say to you and everyone else who wants to get on me about what whitey did to their race decades ago, Get over it, I never made you sit at the back of the bus just like my husband had nothing to do with what happened before and during WWII.

      • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 01/16/2008 2:39:22 PM

        Comment: Jews a minority? What a laugh! You're WHITE, too. And how pathetic to hear whites whine about leaving a white country because of "racism", only to come here and practice it. The way you people treat each other is worst than the way blacks are said to treat each other. You talk about not talking about the past, yet you mentioned the so-called holocaust. YOU get over it. WE didn't to that to you, either. You honkies are paathetic, filthy, murdering, incest-happy, child-molesting pigs.

      • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/16/2008 6:19:04 AM

        Comment: Get over it huh? It is amazing how many people talk about "getting over it" but don't REALLY want to talk about what it is we need to get over. People talk about what happened "Before they were even born", not even listening to what people of color are saying is occurring now in this country. You can read up and down this comment board and see that there are issues and prejudices that seem to be much deeper than just "getting over it". Most African-Americans are productive citizens in this country, but if we say "anything" about a percieved prejudicial slight, we are pigeon-holed into some "complaining/not wanting to wok/always making excuses/welfare recipients. Maybe just maybe if you would take the time to listen, you would find that there is layers of substance to the concerns of "most" African-Americans.

        • Posted By: mamaof3 @ 01/16/2008 4:33:41 PM

          Comment: to raven never sad jews were a minority. Yes I am white, sorry I guess I should be ashamed by the color of my skin and I should also tell my children I am sorry that I married a white man because they have to white to. I never said that you did anything to me but you should realize that I never did anything to you either. I admit that there are racial inequalities in this country but you know what that is not my fault either. I would like to know where you get offcalling me a pathetic, filthy, murduring, incest happy child molester. What kind of crap is that and if that is the way that you feel about us honkies then you are the raciest not me. To writer, yes get over it, move on with your life and try to look toward the future and not to the injustices of the past. I have listened to what people are saying on this board and what I do not see is anyone saying that yes this is something that is causing a problem in our culture, This is the last post I will be making because no matter what I say it will be turned aroud and made to sound racist because I am white and I could never understand the hardships that other races must face at my hands. So I guess I better get busy boinking my brother, molesting my kids and finding someone of another race to murder so that I can live up to the sterotypes put upon poor filthy, pathetic me by other races because I am white. .

          • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/17/2008 6:35:40 AM

            Comment: I hope that you will be reading this(because you said that this would be your last post). First let me say that I am not calling you any derogatory names. That is not the person that I am. I am a person who cares deeply about race relations and would hope that people of all colors would respect one another. With that said, the point that I was trying to make in my earlier comments were in regards to you saying for us to "get over it, and how you were not even born when those things happened to us. The fact that you are detached from what is presently going on in this country(Racial Profiling/Red-Lining of Home loans/Sentencing Disparities/School Funding disparities/Job Hiring inequalities/Hate Crimes....ect) leads me to believe that you are not listening at all to what African-Americans are saying PRESENTLY! We are not all running around talking about Slavery and what happened at the turn of the century. You disrespect the intellect of many African-Americans when you speak as if we are a group whining about injustices which happened a hundred years ago or more. As for the Jews (which I believe You are), they have groups set up today to deal with problems of today, yet they still address issues of the past. I do believe that within the past few years your people have recovered monies from banks who held funds collected from Nazi led Germany from WW2. So don't act as if your people do not presently deal with injustices facing them and also dealing with things from thier past that has effected them. Things are not always as simple as "just get over it". It is easy to say, but there are many layers to the problems that people face. Let me ask you this my friend, If your child was molested when they were 8 years old and grew up to be a troubled individual, do you just tell them to "get over it", or do you try to deal with the layers of issues that helped shape their pesent state? It is easy to not connect with the other people when you are not them, but I would hope that you REALLY LISTEN when others are speaking as to REALLY HEAR what they are saying....you may learn something beyond the boundaries of your own personage!

  • Posted By: korekrash @ 01/15/2008 10:08:18 AM

    Comment: 93Jaguar, As it is the anniversary of Dr. King's birthday I think I will allow him to speak:

    Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
    I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.
    This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"
    And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."

    Unless we are all willing to fight racism it will never end. You seem to relish in your adversity, which I will not denegrate, and you seem to have a lot of passion. If you used that same passion for spreading good you could do great things.

    I believe things can, and are, changing. Barack Obama won the Iowa primaries; a state that is 95% white country folk! Do you hear Mr. Obama talking about how "Whitey will never change?" No, he is too busy changing their minds for them!

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/15/2008 9:54:29 AM

    Comment: korekrash,,just to answer your question,,i do not expect whitey to stop being prejudiced,,are you suggesting that if black people are nice to whitey that their superior attitude toward us will change,,if thats what you think youre in a fantasy world,,,and to mamaof3,,you are probably a nice lady,and im sure you really believe(like a lot of nice whites do)that you have never benefited from being white,,have you ever heard of white privelege?well see the thing is if you enjoy the benefits of white privelege you may not realise it,,but if those priveleges were taken away,then youd know,,

    • Posted By: mamaof3 @ 01/15/2008 11:22:12 AM

      Comment: So 93jaguar, what are these white privilages that I will miss if they are taken away? Because for the life of me I cannot think of anything special that I get just for being white. I have worked hard for everything that I have acheaved in my life and so has everyone else I know black and white. Please tell me what all of the great privilages are so that I can take advantage of them. It makes me so angry to see young men of any color demeaning themselves to fit into the thug stereotype, But I guess that we will just blame the media and whitey (your term not mine) for all of the problems that face young black men today, instead of trying to find a soluton to this problem so that every one is equal in their own eyes not just in everyone elses. But that is just the opinion of a nice white lady.

  • Posted By: mamaof3 @ 01/14/2008 11:51:01 PM

    Comment: I would just like to say that this is one of the most ignorant, raciest discussions that I have ever read. Almost everyone here needs to pull their heads out of their a*** and realize that this is the kind of crap that keeps our races divided. I will admit that I am a white woman and no I have never dated a black man, not because I never wantedto but because I never found one that I was attracted to (it was just as hard to find a good white man). I am not talking physical attraction I am talking about trying to find a man of any race that does not belittle himself by buying into stereotypes. Race should not be an issue anymore we all have the same opportuities, trust me I have never gotten any special treatment because I am white. Everyone needs to wake up and stop blaming the color of their skin for their problems, life is what you make it and if you chose to dress and act like a thug then that is what you no matter your color.

  • Posted By: korekrash @ 01/14/2008 5:50:16 PM

    Comment: hey, 93jaguar, how do you expect people to stop being prejudiced when you use "whitey" to describe white people. Do you describe all people of color as "Colored People" the way white people did in the 50's and 60's? Remember, treat others as you would prefer to be treated....or more simply. lead by example.

    Raven, that is one of the most disgusting remarks I have ever heard. You have brought my opinion of this discussion and those involved to a new low....

    EasyLay, you wonder why all these guys look at you when you walk down the street? If you look at them the same way you were talking in your post, with disdain, then I am not surprised at all that they look at you as the racist that you are...

    • Posted By: 1easylay @ 01/17/2008 2:22:56 AM

      Comment: They look at me with disdain cause my fiance is beautiful and I am no sack of potatoes, either.
      She speaks clearly, is educated, smart, dresses nicely and holds herself like a lady, regardless of her color.

      I DO NOT give looks to black guys with white girls. I really don't give a flying fu_k who ANYBODY is with as long as they are with who they want to be with as I am.

      Growing up in NY was a mixed bag. I went to school were it was like 1/3 white, 1/3 black and 1/3 everything else. I have black, white, hispanic, asian and even a somalian friend from Minneapolis.
      I get along with everyone, except assh_les like 93 jag who is having a prolonged pity party for himself.

      We are both college educated, both from less than ideal households and both with a stigma attatched that shouldn't exist, but does............since she is quite dark and I am quite white. But, we love, laugh, cry and suffer the same losses and celebrate the same victories together.............everyday regardless of what some knuckle dragging, uni brow wearing ass_ole on some internet message board says. I know 93jag be "tearing white women up" while his attitudess and actions are tearing race relations down, cause he/she/it is an elitist who thinks everyone should do that it wants.

      Fu_k you 93Jag. Grow up and be a man. Go to school, learn a craft or trade and pull your head out of your a__ and realize that nobody, regardless of color, gives a sh_t what you think.

      I wouldn't pis_ down your throat if your guts were on fire you racist, self hating moron.

  • Posted By: korekrash @ 01/14/2008 5:39:44 PM

    Comment: This discussion is a joke; mostly the ramblings of desperately ignorant racists. If you would stop thinking in narrow stereotypes you may all be able to get your head out of your rear. White racists, black racists, your all the same. Until people of all colors stop thinking in this manner and start thinking in terms of furthering the HUMAN race then racism will never end. If you are human, you are my brother or sister. If you can't agree with the basis of that statement then YOU ARE RACIST...black or white...

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/14/2008 5:29:50 PM

    Comment: damn Raven,,i though i was rough on whitey,,but you got me beat brother,,but i have to agree,,even though i must say that some white boys are alright,,and have charmed a decent sister in to loving him,as he truly loves her,,but i dont see that often,,usually the sister is using him,,well thats what i hear from the sisters anyway,,but of course whitey knows all and would disagree,

  • Posted By: Eracism @ 01/14/2008 1:36:18 PM

    Comment: As an educated, successful and well travelled black man, I must say I abhor rappers and thugs!

  • Posted By: keron333 @ 01/14/2008 10:20:52 AM

    Comment: i guess not even fake ass 9/11 can bring people togeather ....why do u have so much judge ment remeber white had education since day one black men are only just now (afew ) graduateing college so the literacy gap is wide talk about that

  • Posted By: keron333 @ 01/14/2008 10:19:37 AM

    Comment: i guess not even fake ass 9/11 can bring people togeather ....why do u have so much judge ment remeber white had education since day one black men are only just now (afew ) graduateing college so the literacy gap is wide talk about that

  • Posted By: thug @ 01/12/2008 1:43:55 PM

    Comment: blacks and white people treat eachother like a dog do a cat we keep fighting each other we will be left behind in our own country other people comming over taking over we still acting like bad kids grow up everybody.... have a nice day your pal the thug..........

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/12/2008 12:32:19 PM

    Comment: and one more thing SEAN,,what do you know about this foot ball player,,do you know what he has done in the past to make him a thug,,or do you just believe it because thats what you heard????

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/12/2008 11:57:53 AM

    Comment: okay im done dealing with easy lay,,hes ina dream world,,and just for the record i am college educated and am doing pretty well,,lets get to SEAN1030..brother,let me ask you something,,where do those young blackmen get those drugs and "illegal cigarettes"????????does that stuff grow in Queens or do these young men get in their planes or on their boats and go get them from other countries?and im sure they manufacture the weapons that are so readily available to our youth,,you probably have some of these black imported drugs and black manufactured guns in your school,,i guess i was wrong about whitey,,you see all this time i thought he was the one flooding our streets with these things,,silly me........oh and by the way i grew up on W129th and St. Nicholas Terrace,,my father was a homicide detective in N.Y. for 30 yrs,,im going to have to call him and share this new found information with him,,thanks for enlightening me,,im going to have to tell all my people that guns and drugs are being manufactured in new york,,and all this time i thought our kids were getting these things from whitey,,i bet we even own some of the media,,the source for a lot of terrible influence on our kids,,ive been in the dark all these years,,thanks for shedding light on this for me my brother,,have a goood day SEAN...........

  • Posted By: erica924 @ 01/12/2008 8:08:08 AM

    Comment: Sean Taylor's behavior had nothing to do with him being a thug. He was young and immature. Evidently, he was trying to better himself and grow up for the sake of his daughter and family. It was just fuel for some of the media to justify his murder. He was not an angel but he was certainly not the worst. Truth is, if the spotlight was on us, how would we appear to the media. Sean Taylor was a young man that made mistakes but what human doesn't.

  • Posted By: 1easylay @ 01/12/2008 2:03:40 AM

    Comment: I actually hate the anger I see in the brotha's eyes as me and my soon to be wife walk down by the pier in the summer.

    If only they could speak proper english, hold a job and treat people with respect and not make all their assumptions based on things that didn't even happen to them.

    Young black males have plenty of ample opportunity to accel, but it requires hard work, guidance and love, which unfortunately many young black men don't get cause whitey's holding them down, or their mom or dad skipped out and if they have any paremt figure, they're probably working 3 jobs to take care of garbage like you.

    Actually it's just easier to sling rock and live the "thug" life cause it doesn't require work.

    • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/14/2008 8:20:58 PM

      Comment: It's interesting how you (1easylay) begin your latest comments as being directed towards 93jaguar, and how you don't have a problem with any particular race, but then as you keep writing we find you spouting off more and more words that declare your racial prejudices and stereotyping of Black men. I am not going to debase this comment with anything referring to who you date or who you may not date, but let me say this to you my friend. In the future when getting into a discussion with someone about the racism, stereotyping and other topics of likeness in which your stance is that you are not a active participant, be sure not to write words that indicte you of being that which you proclaim you are not.
      You also said that your fiance is Black and she agrees with your assessments about Black men. If she can read the posts that you have been making here on this site and feel comfortable with the man you are concerning racial topics, there would seem to be an issue of racism and prejudice with her as well.

  • Posted By: 1easylay @ 01/12/2008 1:58:29 AM

    Comment: Oh and Jag.................I know it's true about you and the ugly white girls. Guess you never saw Damon Wayans stand up routine, huh? Grew up in Brooklyn NY, douchebag. My fiance is black..............and would turn lesbian before dating another black man, for reasons I mentioned earlier and proffessed by her to be correct.

    You are a loser..................sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

  • Posted By: 1easylay @ 01/12/2008 1:54:39 AM

    Comment: Jag is a moron. The only people I fear are the stupid, uneducated morons who think a gun, money, jewelery and being "street" is worthy of respect.

    They are only worthy of a 6 x 9...................be them black or white.

    If you "blacks" wanna take oevr the country from whitey.............go ahead you monosyllabic ***. Only problem is we don't own it anymore. The Saudi's amd the Chinese do................and they ain't white.

    You gonna stretch their women out, too?

    Jag.................you are a pathetic, stupid, myopic waste of cytoplasm that should've been swallowed or flushed down the toilet in a latex container.

    I'm sorry the white man is keeping you down. Why don't you grow a pair, and go to a white college for free on a minority scholarship and learn how to be a human being and stop using your color as an excuse to e a loser.

  • Posted By: Sean1030 @ 01/11/2008 2:18:27 PM

    Comment: AS a 40 yar old African American male who is a school principal in New York city, I have to take issue with the fact that the writer wants to "blame"society for paiting young black men wth this brush. Many (not all,but many of our young black men have worked hard to earn the stereotypes that mainstream American has against them. Walk through Jamaica Center in Queens, NY any weekday morning and you will see that honest, hard working people cannot get on the train to go to work, for all of our young men blocking the subway selling drugs and illegal cigarettes. And we, as the older ones who should have more sense, do them no favors by making up excuses for why they cant follow society's rules. We want to get all upset when a white person calls a black man a "***", yet our young men use it everyday towards each other, and we think it's alright. If I have no respect for myself, then I have NO right to ask you to have respect for me. BOTOM LINE: If you live a voilent life, you're a thug. It's that simple! He was a thug!

    • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 01/14/2008 3:40:49 PM

      Comment: Sean1030, you're an idiot. You demonstrate that even with an education (A principal?), you can say stupid sh-it! I'm older than you, and I know that not ALL young black men are thugs. Not even the ones who get into throuble. Whites don't get into trouble. You speak about "our young men" as if they all act a certain way--because they are black. Or that they do what ever they do because they are black. Many young black men are graduating from college every year. But the media and ignorant negroes like you don't want to acknowledge them. I feel sorry for you. You have been brainwashed to believe that every young black man who gets into trouble is a thug. And not every black person blames the "white man" for his problems, either.

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/11/2008 10:08:58 AM

    Comment: oh yeah i forgot,,we do go downtown and after that we stretch em out,,and as for me being a racist,,white people expect us to put up with whiteys bull quietly,,if we retaliate and give back what we give,whatey calls that racism,,get real,,i have no problem with anyone unless they have a problem with me or my people,,and most white people even lie to themselves about themselves,,if blue people treated black people the way whitey has treated us,i wouldnt like them either,and id jump at the chance to hit em where it hurts,,but you probably think blacks are imagining discrimination,,dont you?or probably not,,you know the truth about how whitey treats blacks,,but your european psychosis has you to the point where youd rather LIE than admit the truth,,and just one more thing,,i do love the envy i see in the white mans eyes when he see me with one of their women,,please believe id never touch white trash,,all of my little toys look good,,face the truth,,THE BLACKMAN IS THE STRONGEST,FASTEST,SMARTEST,BEST LOOKING,AND WELL SOON BE TAKING OVER,,,,,,LOL,,whitey knows this,thats why the blackman is feared by whitey....

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/11/2008 9:46:27 AM

    Comment: first of all easylay,,im not offended by what you said,for one i dont believe that you and whoever else youre talking about is bedding down a bunch of beautiful black women,,you guys must be hiding,i never see that,,and im sure youd like to think that black men are only having their way with ugly white women,,im sure youknow better than that son,,i guess thats just another example of the white mans blurred vision of the truth,,you guys seem to have a problem with whats true and whats not,,even the top whitey is a liar,,,where are all the WMD's in iraq,,,just an example of european psychosis,,,

  • Posted By: 1easylay @ 01/11/2008 6:05:25 AM

    Comment: Find what I said offensive? I hope so. Although it's true, I believe the only difference between black and white is the color.

    All our blood is red, our tears have salt, we grieve loss, celebrate accomplishments and worry about our loved ones.

    For anyone to blame everything on any one group is as assanine as the assumption itself. All stereotypes have a basis in truth, but let's try and reveres them instead of continuing to perpetuate them.

    I feel bad for the kids today. With people like 93jag out there, races will never respect each other for just what they are..........................human.

  • Posted By: 1easylay @ 01/11/2008 3:08:18 AM

    Comment: well 93jag we white guys do it to you too. I have many black girls and they are really getting smart about dating white guys. We aren't hung up on bling and BS, don't need an Escalade, are respectful, work and take care of our families. Plus, we go down son them and treat them like women, not property.

    Maybe you should try it sometime. As for taking our white women.....................go ahead.................you always take the fat andd ugly ones, anyway. Whereas we, and myself, get the pretty black girls, which ironically are usually half or part white.

    Funny, huh?

    Oh, yeah...............you are a racist douchebag, as well.

    • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 01/14/2008 3:57:45 PM

      Comment: You honkies like believing in myths. You definely don't get the pretty black women. If you do, they're using you and taking all your money-- which makes them whores and prostitutes. And you can look everywhere and see pretty white women on the arms of some of the darkest black men around. And it eats you up. And any black woman who lays down with a piece of white filth--you can have her--she's one of the nastiest bitches alive, now.

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/10/2008 4:42:01 PM

    Comment: to: Natiwhat,,i agree that no child should be exposed to the conditions some of our little brothers and sisters are,i was just pointing that out because its usually white people that criticize our childrens behavior,,and rightly so in a lot of cases,,i was just trying to make the point that this thuggish behavior is instilled by society ,it is not a genetic trait,,ans ass for pissing whitey off about the women thing,,whocares,,i dont,,i hope it hurts the white man,,hes taken every thing he can from everyone he comes into contact with,,,as a consequence we play with his women like toys...LOL.

  • Posted By: Kik777 @ 01/10/2008 2:02:12 PM

    Comment: Reaction to Dirtysheets2729: College does HELP you become more successful, but attending college doesnt guarantee that you will be. College does reach you loads of lessons about life (if you take it seriously). I am a black man/veteran who now currently works with youth (Boys and Girls Club). I work in a low in come area and I see the young black youths aversion to education. They seem to think that something is uncool about being smart. This sickens me and I dont know where to place the blame. We should encourage the youth to strive for more education ands not lean on old excuses of why their prospects for success are so grim.

    • Posted By: dirtysheets2729 @ 01/11/2008 12:06:09 PM

      Comment: i have to disagree. it helps you to potentially get a better paying job. why do you feel that that is translated into success. i guess you would have to define "success" for me. i went to college and don't believe you learn much about life at all, maybe you had a different experience. i also am a veteran and learned tons more about life in the military than i ever did in college. college may teach you to recite the exact bullcrap, racist, political, and religious feelings of that particular professor, but not life lessons. sorry. maybe they have an aversion to education because they are aware that some of these educators are simply trying to force their "white" views down their throats. we should encourage them to be the best that they can be. whatever that means and to whatever end they want to achieve. if i were black, i would only consider a black college. even when a black person does rise to the ranks of a "successful" person (i.e. your lawyer and doctor), white people will deny that you are truly black and you have somehow overcome your blackness. and we will take credit for that. education our way (meaning the majority way) is just a means to keep certain groups down.

    • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/11/2008 4:35:36 AM

      Comment: Kik777, I applaud you for your work with kids in lower income areas! As far as our youth using excuses, it is in keeping with the traditions of American society. Whites can blame Mexicans for job losses; Whites and others blame Blacks for Crime; Why would we find it odd that some Black folks blame "The Man" for them not acheiving? We (African-Americans) have had a rich history of acheiving "in spite of" and we need to keep pressing forward, but the blame game in America is as American as Apple Pie. Unfortunately, when African-Americans complain about something it is perceived as a cop-out, but when European-Americans complain, it is shown as a legitimate concern. Isn't it funny how perception is perceived?

  • Posted By: Natiwhat @ 01/08/2008 3:00:24 PM

    Comment: Jaguar, your post starts off pretty well, and ends horribly. Yes, it doesn't take much looking around to find racism in our culture, and it is regrettable. Perusing people's comments, you can see where they are coming from pretty quickly, even if they aver to the opposite. Some people are racist and are not even aware of it, or of how their comments may affect others. Also, some people are remarkably terrible at empathy - even sympathy for that matter - so asking them to walk a mile in another man's shoes is just not going to work. I agree that socioeconomics affect children and who they grow up to be, as does the specifics of the culture they are born into. However, I wouldn't "love" to see any child grow up in such an atmosphere just to prove a point on a message board - especially one which you admit is lacking in character. Treat ignorance like it should be treated - argue it logically, but if you can't make an impact after that, ignore it. To end your post in the manner you did is to fuel the fire against the black man. All the best.

    • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/09/2008 4:09:45 AM

      Comment: This was a very well thought out and articulated post. Thank you so much! In reading many of these post, one gets the sense that deep and concise thinking and articulating is not at the top of many people's list.

  • Posted By: 93jaguar @ 01/07/2008 11:34:44 AM

    Comment: im new to this message board thing,but after reading some of these posts,i now see for a fact that racism is alive and thriving in our country. i almost fello for this Obama dream,,but ive come back to my senses.America will never let a blackman be president,,but it was good to see a positive role model on t.v..Now we can all wait for the white media to destroy one of the only positive black male images on t.v...and just for the record socioeconomic conditions do effect the kind of person a child becomes,,id love to see what would happen to these good little white boys if the tables were turned,,usually white people collapse or snap under half the pressure that young black men face,,white men are so jealous of the rich black athlete that they cant stand it,,not to mention the fact that our young black men are just having their way with these little white girls, they are tearing their little white asses up,,LOL,,these brothers are spending white daddies money too,after their little white girls are dick whipped,,maybe thay could handle it better if they could get some of the black cherry,,but it aint happenin,,lol,,,,,,,,,,,,

  • Posted By: knowthelegde7 @ 01/07/2008 10:57:27 AM

    Comment: "they give us guns and drugs then wonder why in the *** we thugs"
    -ice cube

  • Posted By: 71monte @ 01/06/2008 4:18:44 PM

    Comment: Good article but tthe list of things he's been involved in DOES make him a gangster, raise you're expectations and you'll have a chance. Take responsibility for you're actions , these problems were the result of his poor choices, him wanting to be a tough guy, aka angry black man, do not blame whitey all the time. You laid some of the blame on racism, this is wrong , it's black americas problem. Listen to Bill Cosby! Even Jessy (shakedown ) Jackson feels unsafe with a black kid walking up behind him.

  • Posted By: writerjdrichardson @ 01/05/2008 7:29:38 AM

    Comment: It is very sad and troubling to read the majority of these post. People seem to be bickering and engaging in some nonsensical and non productive retoric. But of course this is what so many want us to do, bicker on one level while ignoring or minimizing the effects of the 800lb gorilla in the room.

    2 FACTS 2 KNOW

    #1. ???In perusing the annals of America???s Historical text and media offerings, it is readily apparent that America is conspiratorially willing to minimize the true lasting effectual stain of Racism on the Mind, Body and Soul of those subjugated to it???s debilitating grasp???.

    ***************************************

    #2. ???As an African-American surveying the vastness of the entity which constitutes the African-American community, a most troubling ascertainment is the lack of commitment of our young to the continual pursuit of greatness. Which has been a constant in our painful yet purposeful navigation through American Society???.
    ?? 2007



  • Posted By: The Chief @ 01/05/2008 4:05:16 AM

    Comment: Act like a respectable Man or a respectable woman and you will be treated as such. Act like a punk or a street B#*** and you will be treated like one. So do you choose the life you live? I believe Sean Taylor did. Raised by a respectable Father and sent to a private school. I'd say he had an above average life, or above average chance on life. He chose to live the wanna bee gangsta. So now his family is paying for the life he chose. I am sorry for that. The Chief!

  • Posted By: The Chief @ 01/05/2008 4:04:42 AM

    Comment: Act like a respectable Man or a respectable woman and you will be treated as such. Act like a punk or a street B#*** and you will be treated like one. So do you choose the life you live? I believe Sean Taylor did. Raised by a respectable Father and sent to a private school. I'd say he had an above average life, or above average chance on life. He chose to live the wanna bee gangsta. So now his family is paying for the life he chose. I am sorry for that. The Chief!

  • Posted By: WARLOCK @ 01/05/2008 3:29:00 AM

    Comment: Who dose the most harm in seeing black men in this light? Black men them selves. As entertainers some glorify it. Alot of black women are charmed by it, and when faced with our own reverse racisim we go to extreme lenths to claim how many time we have been the victims of it. Look at the magazines of the hyped up sports stars, and the videos of half naked black women paying tribute to gangtsa like characters who was really just a regular high school kid with some talent. They over shadow the docters, lawyers, soldiers, husbands, and fathers who make the biggest decisions when concerning the youths we bring up. Who is to blame? I say some of the same entertainers and sports figures our children idolize, and to black men and boys who try to emulate these frauds. No wonder some folks look at us as if we're crazy, cause in the end we do look crazy. I say to those so called gangtsas, I'm not a pimp, I'm a father and husband, My mother is no ***, she raised me and my two sisters, my sister is not a Ho, my mother taught her better, my son is no ***, I taught him he's bigger than that and living the life of a gangsta is a fairy tale told on tv by some fool name Two cents. Oh it's fifty cents I think.

  • Posted By: DivaKai @ 01/04/2008 5:16:35 PM

    Comment: As I read this article I was so hurt that I cried! Talk about reality check. Society has truly been unfair to our black men.The way they depict our brothers is so sad. My hope is that one day we as a people can demolish those stereo types and society can see that ALL black men are not hustlas thugs, absentee fathers and pimps. We have black men that are docters, lawyers, students, and good fathers. Try writing or airing more stories that are on the positive things that my brothas do!

    Kai

  • Posted By: practical honesty @ 01/04/2008 3:18:39 PM

    Comment: It could be worse. Imagine being stigmatized as a racist, scared, nerdy, weak little man with a small ***. That is how white men are stigmatized in mainstream media, but there don't seem to be many articles about that. I'd rather be viewed as a thug.

    honest


  • Posted By: pbmax @ 01/04/2008 11:00:57 AM

    Comment: I am white. I grew up with a lot of black people in the "hood". I still have a lot of black friends who think they are stuck in that world. I didn't have rich parents to send me to college. I didn't even finish high school. Eventually, I decided that I didn't want to live the "thug life". I ended up graduating college, and got a decent job. Everyone has a chance to better themselves. I am tired of people blaming their faults on racism. I am white, but I guarantee there is more financial assistance for black people who want to go to college. You can change if you have a desire to. That is what is so great about America. Do something to better you self-image. Don't just complain about "racism".

  • Posted By: thug @ 01/03/2008 10:25:12 AM

    Comment: lets see what kind of black and white talk we can do today no thanks this thug has a legal job to go to peace for everyone your pal the thug............

  • Posted By: MDOSR01 @ 01/02/2008 6:50:01 PM

    Comment: The issues that we are dealing with today are in a large part the sins of our father's. This is nothing new, the idea of what it means "to be Black". This idea of creating an identity all "our" own has plagued communities for too many decades. I'm 25, and I recall many times that my own parents would say things like, 'This person sounds white, acts white or dances white." So as a young child hearing this I made an association to what it meant to be Black by my parent???s indirect influence alone. And when you consider that most of my peers where subject to the same thing it became an acceptable practice to be this "anti-white". It was not until classmates began calling me white, because of the way that I talked and the grades that I was receiving, that I began to realize the errors in this idea that Blacks are this and Whites are that. Because by stating that I was acting White because of my speech and good grades was to stating that Blacks could not be educated. I received this from even members of my family from the youngest to the oldest.
    Many claim that it is the rappers or TV that has spoiled us rotten to get to this point, but I say where the parents, the family, are and the community that states this is not acceptable behavior? I don't blame the rapper that makes millions off of the ignorant. I blame the parents that don't help the ignorant realize that there is so much more to life than what is on the CD.
    The blind cannot lead the blind, however, so maybe that is why we keep reliving the sins of our fathers.

  • Posted By: MDOSR01 @ 01/02/2008 6:49:41 PM

    Comment: The issues that we are dealing with today are in a large part the sins of our father's. This is nothing new, the idea of what it means "to be Black". This idea of creating an identity all "our" own has plagued communities for too many decades. I'm 25, and I recall many times that my own parents would say things like, 'This person sounds white, acts white or dances white." So as a young child hearing this I made an association to what it meant to be Black by my parent???s indirect influence alone. And when you consider that most of my peers where subject to the same thing it became an acceptable practice to be this "anti-white". It was not until classmates began calling me white, because of the way that I talked and the grades that I was receiving, that I began to realize the errors in this idea that Blacks are this and Whites are that. Because by stating that I was acting White because of my speech and good grades was to stating that Blacks could not be educated. I received this from even members of my family from the youngest to the oldest.
    Many claim that it is the rappers or TV that has spoiled us rotten to get to this point, but I say where the parents, the family, are and the community that states this is not acceptable behavior? I don't blame the rapper that makes millions off of the ignorant. I blame the parents that don't help the ignorant realize that there is so much more to life than what is on the CD.
    The blind cannot lead the blind, however, so maybe that is why we keep reliving the sins of our fathers.

  • Posted By: verbale @ 01/02/2008 11:51:10 AM

    Comment: am a 23 year old black male and I have been saying this for years. I have also been sighted for not keeping it real because my pants aren't past my butt and my shirts fit. We are doing it to ourselves and the world is laughing at us. People aren't impressed by your chain or you new J's they're happy that your investing in that instead of your future, do you think black people are making money of your twenty two inch rims I don't think so. WE NEED MAJOR CHANGE!

    • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 01/02/2008 4:35:13 PM

      Comment: WE NEED MAJOR CHANGE? It appears to me, verbale, that you need a major change. You are 23 and still are bothered by peer presure? Who cares if you don't wear you pants pass your butt? People can spend their money anyway they like. They can throw it away if they want to. What's your point? Do something possitive in your community and stop whinning; it's YOU who is being laughed at.

  • Posted By: verbale @ 01/02/2008 11:50:58 AM

    Comment: I am a 23 year old black male and I have been saying this for years. I have also been sighted for not keeping it real because my pants aren't past my butt and my shirts fit. We are doing it to ourselves and the world is laughing at us. People aren't impressed by your chain or you new J's they're happy that your investing in that instead of your future, do you think black people are making money of your twenty two inch rims I don't think so. WE NEED MAJOR CHANGE!

  • Posted By: kaypossible @ 01/02/2008 7:49:32 AM

    Comment: Why or how could we possibly go back home when that to has been taken over by whitey

  • Posted By: kaypossible @ 01/02/2008 7:47:25 AM

    Comment: I wonder how we could possibly go back home when that to has been taken over by whitey.

  • Posted By: KKK4EVER @ 01/02/2008 12:11:15 AM

    Comment: I say sterilize them and ship them all back to akifra

    • Posted By: verbale @ 01/02/2008 11:52:29 AM

      Comment: Very bright comment you must have gone to college.

      • Posted By: dirtysheets2729 @ 01/10/2008 9:28:48 AM

        Comment: and by going to college you assume that he would be less of a racist. sounds like you are the bright one. it is wrong to think that you must go to college to be anything and wrong to think college teaches you much about life and being successful at all. alot of these comments refer to doctors and lawyers like that is what it means to be successful. is that the standard? obviously the school system is geared towards the white population and geared towards people with money. i work in the social service field and see many young black man working to help others. this is in keeping with their very christian beliefs and is a very rewarding profession. this is a profession that a number of young black people are drawn to. not much money involved in this type of work, but to me these are very successful people. let us start looking from a christian vantage point of success as opposed to what the media portrays as successful. what is the difference between a rich black rapper and a rich white lawyer. suuuurrreee, the rich white lawyer earned his spot by being straight up, honest, and hard working. he probably was born rich, teachers passed him, went to yale, stepped on a few other people and was givin' his degrees. oh yeah, what a successful man. i am white and have no desire to become that or be that, and do not consider that as being successful. two of my best friends were recently in the newspaper, young black men, for the work that they do at the boys and girls club. i thought that was awesome and thought what great role models. even some of the black people on this post talk about success as being a lawyer or doctor, come on now. personally i believe that they are drawn to the social field because of their deep christian faith and have a desire to help and care for others. let us focus on this as being successful. let the black community talk about their successful young men in the social field. stupid white media make up all of the rules about what is and what isnt important.

  • Posted By: blinkiedozer @ 01/01/2008 10:36:32 PM

    Comment: i live in a predominently white neighborhood, yet the countless times my family and property has been victimized it has been by blacks. i believe it is safe to assume that it is an issue of charecter and values, not socioeconomics or a failed school system. the anti-white attitudes i've witnessed lends to a much deeper reason that displays itself as a self destructive self defeating mindset that values the free given benefits of maintaining a status of being a "victim".

  • Posted By: John.Q.Public007 @ 01/01/2008 6:22:27 PM

    Comment: Jesusonly, you have got to be some type of racist idiot!!! There aren't white or black men dying in Iraq, they're green and AMERICAN. That's all the insurgents see and that's all we should see as Americans or as human beings. I am a black soldier and I served in Iraq. I saw a few friends die, both black and white. Just like Bill Cosby has been saying; we, as a people, are suffering from the social breakdown of our families and communities. My father busted his behind working two jobs cleaning floors to keep me straight. He set an example for me to follow and I am. I've been happily married for 9 1/2 years and still giong strong. Neither me or my two brothers have gotten in trouble with the law and our children haven't either and dare I say won't. If you look at thw 4 young men who killed Sean Taylor; where are their fathers? Stop blaming everything on the "white man" and look a little closer to home first. That's not to say racism isn't out there because it is but it's not running rampany in every aspect of life.

  • Posted By: John.Q.Public007 @ 01/01/2008 6:22:12 PM

    Comment: Jesusonly, you have got to be some type of racist idiot!!! There aren't white or black men dying in Iraq, they're green and AMERICAN. That's all the insurgents see and that's all we should see as Americans or as human beings. I am a black soldier and I served in Iraq. I saw a few friends die, both black and white. Just like Bill Cosby has been saying; we, as a people, are suffering from the social breakdown of our families and communities. My father busted his behind working two jobs cleaning floors to keep me straight. He set an example for me to follow and I am. I've been happily married for 9 1/2 years and still giong strong. Neither me or my two brothers have gotten in trouble with the law and our children haven't either and dare I say won't. If you look at thw 4 young men who killed Sean Taylor; where are their fathers? Stop blaming everything on the "white man" and look a little closer to home first. That's not to say racism isn't out there because it is but it's not running rampany in every aspect of life.

  • Posted By: JesusOnly @ 12/31/2007 11:51:25 PM

    Comment: Well as all of us know black men make up about .05% of all human beings and are inca