The Search for Thugs

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.

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!

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

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

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".

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.

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.

We have a MAJOR black-on-white crime epidemic that's been going on for decades now. Prior to Ted Koppel coming on the scene 30 years ago, things were getting better between blacks and whites. But Koppel came along and setup shop with his Nightline show and proceeded to assume the role of Race Pontificator, decreeing by way of smugness that his word and points of view on complex matters of race took top spot in their veracity ... never to be challenged by regular working stiff Americans. (Remember how Jimmy-the Greek-Snyder was fired from his job as a sports commentator for responding honestly to why blacks do so well in sports, and how a week later Ted Koppel "explored" the same question but was not canned due to is supposed "legitimacy"? And what about the time when he dressed down some "whites" on his show by saying "You know and I know that if it were possible for you to become black, you wouldn't do it for a million dollars!"?! What a "journalist," trying to go so far as to make Caucasians feel guilty on account of God placing our souls into bodies of the Caucasians race!)

One only needs to look at what Ted Koppel did to this country with regards to how he brainwashed everyone via his silver tongue by searing into our collective psyche the message "black good, white bad" to get an idea of how the Rupert Murdoch led national news media is abusing its power!

Yes, the liberal phony from England, Koppel, did a number on us that has caused so many blacks to believe that whites are all out to get them, while many whites have thrown up their hands in exasperation and said, "Why keep bending over backwards to help blacks if the media libs are going to keep brainwashing blacks to hate our guts?"

When Ted Koppel dies he'll no doubt take a seat right next to his idol Joseph Goebbels ... being able to boast that he was the greater bastard of the two, as he never once during any of his Nightline broadcasts made a "fair and balanced" mention how it is that blacks benefit a MILLION times more from Caucasians than the other way around!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! simply put, are you doing your all to make a difference in the world that you live in? Not rhetoric , not self, or group hate, actually DONE SOMETHING? Until you do, don't judge hate or speak ill of the other. I am the product of the world as we all are, Yet the world does not and never will define me or mine. Educate yourself, ther is ONE RACE: THE RACE OF MAN. The comments on here range from frightfilled racists ,self- loathing miscreants,mis-guided fools,and uninspired slackers to altruistic good-hearted people, socially aware dynamic catalysts for change, to folks just yearning to understand the world we live in.To quote Chuck D of Public Enemy" IT AIN'T WERE YOU FROM,BUT WERE YOU AT!!!!! If you want chane in our world you must make it. Have you the dedication, the courage, the heart to do so? Ask yourself that.

the year is just about over a lot of black hate i look up thug did not see blacks but guess who did i see let it go .i work very hard my kids go to school i am doing my part in making my people proud the ones in the past paid a price for us to even be this for so calling us thugs don t compare i will not stop i will not let the past be for nothing people died for us lets keep going .happy newyear your pal the thug.............

I would really like to know Caucasian people in your mind how long ago do you really think slavery ended? How long ago do you REALLY think that racism was over for African-American people? I see a response from a 18yr old who joined the KKK (oooo I'm scared). I read the comments of "theQ" and his take on loud blacks. But if these same people knew the struggle of a typical AA family who's grandparents were born in the south, who can trace back only 3-4 generations ago of slavery. How can they (white society) judge what they caused. Who was it that told the AA man sorry you are not allowed to read and write? If caught you will be punished(like sold away from your family). Who was it that owned the stores, shoe shops,restaurants, land etc.. and only put the AAman/woman in the kitchen? The African American man/woman did not make the laws that kept themselves down. It has only been 40 yrs since the AAculture has demanded anything to better themselves and n matter how many were beaten, whipped, hosed, falsely imprisoned and hanged were small changes made. why is it we glorify Italian gangsters in the movies which is based on some part of real life, are they not considered thugs, The Departed-Irish mob (good movie) but did we all call Jack Nickolson a thug. Video game Grand Theft Auto is to me violent, but how many caucasians play this game and enjoy it? Before speaking about the AA society of today, think about the society and how it was treated less than 100 years ago.

Wow, another thug here! Only I left Detroit finished school and am a successful IT technician. I'm currently in Iraq as a civilian working along side brave white, black and every other kind of race. I really don't think this is the most pressing issue for us over here. Blacks and white as well as others get along amazingly well without regard to their own race. Funny how you take the fish out of the lake, he can still peacefully swim among other fish from which he has no common ground. In other words, our point of focus should be on the greater concern of a peaceful society over all, for everyone regardless of origins. I do agree this would have to start with a strong family base to teach children the importence of tolerance and understanding. I started this colume introducing myself as a thug, though I am not a thug by performing violent acts rather simply because I'm just another black man raised by a single mother who couldn't spend quality time with me because she worked shift in a car factory. It's sad, but very true, I'm a thug by default. Normally I should have died 15-20 years ago I guess. It's a wonder I actually joined the army at one point, went and spent 14 years in Germany and married a beautiful German woman have two beautiful good kids and really look forward to getting back to them. For the rest of the thugs out there, you must determine your own fate in this cruel world. For me I'm content in knowing I'm the good thug, because if anyone thinks I'm a soft batch pushover. They just better not test my love of my family!

Hollywood loves to make movies about the bad side of black life and sadly profit from it.When will black actors and society say enough is enough and refuse to act in these movies and view them?? What a shame when blacks themselves say that young black men who try to get educated and climb up the ladder in life are acting white!!! What many young black men don't realise is that the way they dress and act keep people from giving them a chance because it fits a sterotype.