is it all in our heads or is it really people who are fighting to keep black people down?
548341
We (black people) keep ourselves down. The stories I could tell you. Everyone wants to blame the white man, but what happens when the white man isn't around? \nNO white person is telling these kids not to go to school. I know a girl whose mother let her skip the entire school year. I know kids that are proud to be 18 years old and in the 9th grade. A lot of black kids I know hate school and you can't tell them anything.\nI know black that hate me because I went to college and their child didn't. I've lost jobs because of that and left one because of it. We won't hold each other accountable for our actions. Blaming the white man is easy.\nI refuse to blame the white man for something in my community. I've seen too many people try to help blacks and give up because it fell on deaf ears.
943381
yes, I was married to a black man for 20 years.  I loved him very much but we caught hell from both sides white and black.  People were always trying to under-mind our relationship.  His family had problems with it, especially the females in his family.  My family at first was not happy, but when they saw him for who he was, we had a great relationship.  So, you can't force people to except your love of another person of any other color or country.  You both have to work on  your love of one another because there is always going to be hateful, mean people out there who are not going to be thrilled with your love and will say things and try to do things to end it.  People are just hateful.  But, I don't regret it.  My husband died and he was a good person and we endure a lot, but we loved each other and people saw that and pretty much had no issues with it.
398523
Yes, I must say that hearing African-Americans, or Black People (whichever they prefer to be called) complain of racism, has grown quite tiresome - like to the point where it's embarassingly laughable.  \n\nBeing of bi-racial ancestry (which includes an ethnic minority), myself, I have experienced all sorts of racism, but none has been so bitingly memorable as that I have experienced from A.Americans, or Black People.  \n\nIt is a little known fact that there are a lot of A.Americans/Black People who are doing their fair share to perpetuate all sorts of negative stereotypes, racism, hatred, and ignorance amongst THEMSELVES.  I find that completely deplorable. It's rather frightening, really, because a race that hates itself will, in all probability, eventually destroy itself.  There should be more strength and unity among this specific race of people, if for no other reason than the preservation of historical, traditional, cultural, developmental, educational, occupational, and spiritual values, instead of generating fodder for embarassing crime statistics.  \n\nThere are places in the United States, where crime in ethnically populated, or "urban" areas, is so out of control that the local law enforcement and/or government has little to no interest in taking any steps toward protecting those citizens or making any effort to reduce criminal activity in areas such as this because the residents of such neighborhoods are only menacing, terrorizing, stalking, molesting, assaulting, raping, robbing, and killing EACH OTHER.  \n\nI believe the self-destructive behavior, and INTRA-RACIAL HATRED of A.Americans/Black People is probably at the root of this problem in our society today...  \n\nSo yes, I DO feel that "the race card" (to use the parlance of our times) HAS been abused by A.Americans/Black People, because I know that as people, they cannot seriously expect anyone to respect their views, values, and ideas until they can begin to demonstrate solidarity amongst themselves.  It's unfortunate to say that, but I think it's true.
342289
Man... some of you people have real issues!  My wife is black and I see none of any of this crap some of the answers have been spewing!\n\nSome of you need to wake up, throw away those stereotypes and look at reality.\n\nWhere I live you see more and more BF/WM couples.  Like another answer said, this is the fastest growing IR relationship type.  \n\nWhen people start to realize people are people, regardless of race, then, this country can really start to do great things!
108533
yes i there still is. but it is in little dribs and drabs here and there. People are so afraid to be out and out racist that they say and do things quitely. For instance they may not give a black person as much work because they think they are lazy and not dependable. They may not serve them at a resturant because they think they won't get a tip. (See the question about black people at resturant). What makes me mad his how white people get mad when we say that actions against us are racist. but what they don't seem to understand is that if you are so upset that we play the "racecard" then stop dealing it! know the reason why we feel the way we do  and have some empathy. Look I am not blaming todays white youth for the problems of slavery. but if you know the history you would try to change it!
561719
Because most of the are afraid to get their ass kicked!!! If you say that word around a black person and you are white you will get beat the hell up that is why they don't say in front of us!!!! That word holds a hurtful meaning and a terrible pain of a past that we as African Americans had. It was made up to make us feel less and made to be less. It is very disrespectful to use that word around blacks if you are white, alot of people know this and use it when blacks are not around knowing that it is sensitive and hurtful to us but then claim to love and enjoy our company.. most of the time I have a sixth sense to racism and will know if someone is really not feeling me...\n\n\nI just came back and read what Bronson wrote and you have a serious problem, You can not blame everything on the other races.Let me drop some real knowledge on your ass.. I see that you wrote that blacks in your neighborhood hate whites okay well the door swings both ways just leave each other alone, all that mess you wrote about Jews and MLK you have to be out your mind!!! Martin Luther King Jr. was for the civil rights of black people thus called the civil rights movement. He was not a racist and did not hate whites, hell they even marched with him. So where do you get off saying this mess? You sound like you are rasict Bronson and you need to get some serious help, yes ANY race is wrong if you use rascist words and act as if you are better than others. But keep it real europeans(whites) took africans from their home land, pushed the indains out and took land from the hispanic people, placed japense in camps. So if you really want to place the blame look at what your anestors have done and what some people are still doing. Don't point the blame until you know... now I love everybody if you are good to me but you must know the TRUTH so you will be set free. Take care Bronson....
114896
So many people here answering the questions don't have a clue what they're talking about. Blacks haven"t completely risen up and overcome yet. Some many blacks are stuck with dead-end jobs, welfare and section 8 housing, do you call that rising up? I'll admit some of this stems from laziness, some of the problem stems from oppression, some just from hard times. And as for the person who said just go back to Africa ...(god) that had to be one of the most ignorant things I've ever heard, I mean really do know what's it's like to live the life of a black person. There still is oppression, racism, and prejudice out there. We've come a long way way but, we have more ground to cover for ALL races.
769284
If you mean TALK down to black people, then believe it or not but not ALL white people do that.  People are people regardless of race, religion, sex.....it's all about attitude.  Positive attitude begets positive response.
595658
Yes that black part was racist but I agree with the thought of not helping and not the racism part. Personally, i think if anyone cant help themselves then they might as well perish. What was it again? "Anything not worth defending isnt worth having" not limited to life btw.
426731
Singling people out no matter what the race, creed or color is wrong. I'm disappointed to hear that this happened especially on the elementary school level. It perhaps sent out a message, but one we are trying to avoid. As my school prepared for a MLK Day celebration one elequent speaker came to our school and said the following:\n\n(Yes, I'm paraphrasing)\n\n "In our day and age, I feel that sometimes people of my own race are bringing judgements upon themselves unnecessarily. They preach of equality, but when given the rights, want more. Yes, we cannot deny the treatment of Blacks was unacceptable. But must we dwell on the past instead of embracing the future? If we seek equality, why do we draw attention upon ourselves? Why have a "Black History Month?" Is there a "White History Month?" We are asking not to be set "a part." Yes we insist on our own month to celebrate our fine figures from the past? Shouldn't EVERY day of every month be a celebration of what these fine people did? We should live by their words, not force their word."\n\nI think what the world needs is to accept that we are more open-minded than we were 30-40 years ago. Sure, we have pockets of our population that will never be. But the change has been immense. Thank God! This speakers words spoken so elequently made so much sense to all those in that room that day. I think it brought the school together with a "sigh" of relief. All races realized we were working together.....no one is set apart. There is no need to favor a soul in our world today. We all prove who we are by being.....who we are. \n\nThank you for sharing the poem. My hope is that schools such as this, ideals such as this, practices such as this will so very soon be a thing of the distant past.
1014855
I think that black people too often look for an issue when there isn't one.  They often blame people for looking at them wrong, giving them bad service, etc. because they are black but there is no proof of that.  Watch the TV show Black White and you'll see some good examples of that.\n\nI also agree with the first person who answered.  Do you have any idea what it is like to be called a racist simply for walking into a room?  It's disgusting.  You don't even have to do anything to be accused of such a bad thing. \n\nI have a good example of what I'm talking about.  My husband and I were at a Denny's restaurant one night.  The waitress was horrible and didn't pay any attention to us.  It took us nearly 20 minutes to get our drinks and we got our food about an hour after we got there because I complained to the manager.  Towards the end of our meal a group of black teenagers came into the restaurant.  They too were ignored.  After about 15 minutes they got up and started yelling, cussing, and making a scene accusing the Denny's staff of being racist for not serving them.  I told them that we waited even longer for drinks and they called me a bitch and left.  They were completely unwilling to believe that they were being treated just like every other person in the restaurant that night.  Those teens were biased and went looking for things to prove their biases. \n\nI'm not saying that racism or bias doesn't exist but I am saying that someones people are way too sensitive and look to put a racist spin on things that just aren't racism.
996865
They're not "trying" to. It just might seem that way sometimes. But just keep your spirit and everything will work out fine :-) They can only keep down the people that will let them keep them down.
524614
Yes, the real question is why don't blacks value each other.\n\n2pac said "I got love for my brother but we can never go no where unless we share with each other, we got to start making changes learn to see me as your brother instead of two distant strangers"\n\nAnd Coolio said "tell me why are we so blind to see that the ones we hurt are you and me."\n\nWhat do you have people who oppress their own people not only hurt their people but also bring a curse upon thereself because of their wrong doing. Then what do you have a seed of generational curses. How can you create a Peace when you have a lot of your own people who are hell-bent on keeping you down so they can look good.
416533
I'm not sure, but it really bothers me. I think it's mostly the current political climate. Scapegoating minority groups, whether racial, social, or whatever, is just a way to distract people from the real and serious problems going on elsewhere.
545069
Yup agree with u those people just know that deep down inside here must be something more! They jsut dont want to admit it so they end up fighting it
437814
People like you keep racial tension going
846575
Black people feel that because their ancestors were the victims of slavery & oppression, they have the right to complain about what white people do. I feel sorry for the whites today that have to constantly watch what they say around us. It causes white people to act more hostile towards blacks. I think black people need to have a sense of humor & stop gettting offended when whites open their mouth to say something...life is just too short to harbor any resentments.