Over the past few months there has not been a lot of discussion on the Michael Brown case in Ferguson but today I wanted to put something out to provide a forum for discussion. Also to inform our readers where we as blog, bloggers and most of all Black men stand on this issue. I won’t spend a lot of words because I’m sure you prefer your commentary from whomever you’ve already become accustomed to hearing your commentary from but I will provide perspective.
SBM has not stood for Single Black Male for a long time, it’s just a title. SBM has been a place for the urban male perspective for some time now. That’s why it’s hard for me not to at least say a few words because the situation strikes a chord with me. None of the bloggers on this blog have been immune to interactions with police officers. Most, if not all of us have encountered white police officers in our travels. What troubles me about this issue is that I’d like to think that our police officers are here to keep us safe. What we know now is that isn’t always the case and it’s not an exaggeration to say we feel like feeling safe is a minority opinion for Black men in this country.
I had my thoughts on what would come out of the Michael Brown grand jury and that’s not important. Let’s just say, none of what I thought would happen happened. And that’s the crux of the matter, nothing happened. We rely on all the laws that we have in this country to maintain order and when these laws fail us we lose faith. This is a tragedy that affects everyone not just Black people. For non-Black folks understand that as disappointed that we are that no indictment was returned in the homicide of Michael Brown, we’re generally just sick and tired of shit like this happening.
It’s okay for people to be mad, upset, angry and disappointed. The system continues to fail us or come short of protecting us. It’s hard not to feel like a second class citizen when we can’t say with full confidence that if the tables were turned the outcome would have been the same. Chris Rock once attributed the progress of race matters in the US to the fact that America has gotten “less crazy.” Last night tells us that maybe Chris Rock was speaking too fast.
People always ask me how I’m doing and my response is the same, “Given my circumstance, the best that I could be.” That holds true today. Now brothers and sisters in the fight; Black, white or indifferent please channel your efforts positively or at least effectively. And y’all don’t lose your job today or find your way on probation. God doesn’t like ugly and we ain’t got to be ugly.
Stay safe but most of all stay alive.
Cheers,
Dr. J
Updated 11:58AM
For blacks justice in America is like gambling in a Las Vegas casino: you may gain a victory here n there, but the house always wins. Always.
Not shocked by that verdict. I am actually 100% fearful of ever having kids (notably a black boy) and raising him in a world where his life is considered expendable. Can’t blame the looters or the violent reaction. You want to be mad at Obama, go ahead. Understand a US president cant incite a riot. This is beyond him no matter his color. You see the disrespect he gets, what makes you think we are above it?
When are we gonna cut the rhetoric about “looking in the mirror and controlling our reactions” When are we as AMERICAS going to put the magic mirror in front of our faces and ask it what does it see? Must be nice to look down in ivory towers of privilege and oblivion while people of color are reduced to just “act non violent”. So fed up with all of this.P.S. 100 middle fingers to Don Lemon! What a disgrace to us…
Streetz
Updated 12:12PM
St. Louis is my home. Watching everything you’ve ever known burn to the ground is unbearable. The fact that I, as well as my peers knew this would be the end result is sad. It’s crazy to me that in 2014 these types of things are still happening. I’m angry, I’m hurt and I’m scared for our future as a people. We have been devalued, oppressed, targeted, profiled, provoked, hunted and now we are being destroyed one by one with no recourse.
I just pray that my city is strong enough to endure the days to come. We aren’t crazy, we are hopeless, and until someone who is in a position of power can look at the bigger picture and see that this will be the end of the ideology of a country United and only the start of a civil war, we are doomed.
– Keita Wheats
Updated 12:36PM
As a young black man in America I’m confused as I head to the office this morning. Where does the law protect those affected by blatant crime? These things continue to happen in large part due to lack of consequence for the offender. There’s got to be action beyond any black Friday boycott, that’ll just be a flavor of the month deal. How can we begin a real movement?
– Damn Pops
Updated 12:45PM
Watching how the DA basically refused to do his job and seek a prosecution while at the same time discrediting witnesses, blaming news outlets and social media it let me know one thing. He colluded with the defense. The past 100 days for them has never been about seeking justice but proving to the world that white privilege is more important that black life.
The narrative I’ve watched today and what I’ve seen on social media across all races seems to focus on the rioting as if there haven’t been 100 days of peaceful protest. Its amazing that a family won’t get the see justice served but all everyone can focus on is looting and rioting. I’ve seen us get called animals and good for nothing as if white people don’t riot when their team loses or wins a championship. I don’t care about any of that because I’m not worried about [white] America’s feelings towards us. Property can be replaced but life cannot.
Lastly, just want to leave an excerpt from MLKs “Letter from a Birmingham Jail. I saw posted by Raphael House of Portland:
“You deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. But your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations. I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes. It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city’s white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative.”
– Tunde
Updated 1:50PM
I’m still a little numb and at a loss from words, especially after seeing someone’s comment on Facebook and one of their friends’ responses referring to Mike Brown as “a thug who caused his own demise”. I’m tired of waiting, though. When an officer, who was “in fear for his life”, can receive no indictment for murdering a young, Black man with not just one or two shots, but multiple bursts…what alternatives do people have? Non-violent protest after non-violent protests and then this? You can’t be surprised that people responded in kind, but I choose something different. I choose to remind young men that they matter in this world, despite what the #FergusonDecision. I choose to have honest questions about race with no judgements. I choose to create community in love. I choose to take action. As opposed to thinking of individual initiatives the time now is ripe for collaborative efforts. I’ll leave with what I left with a quote I shared with my mentoring program, “You are important and you matter. Your feels matter. Your voice matters. Your life matters. Always.” Prayers out to Mike Brown’s family and our brothers/sisters in Ferguson.
– Amir Figueroa
Updated 4:36PM
I’m tired of being shocked, I’m tired of feeling hopeless. It’s time to be outraged. It’s time to be proactive. My random, disorganized thoughts, in a nutshell. My advance apologies, because I’m about to go HARD:
-It’s interesting that the National Guard managed to get to Ferguson on time to stop the “rioting” but back when Hurricane Katrina was going down….
– It’s funny how people want to criticize how Blacks react to injustice. Politicians are telling us to imitate Martin Luther King Jr. and be peaceful when MLK’s peaceful attitude didn’t stop the U.S. government from arranging his assassination. *sips tea*
– I’m fed up with the marches, decades of Black history have showed that they don’t work.
– Why are we being scrutinized for a tiny percentage of people rioting over the murder of a teenager when whites riot twice as hard over pumpkins and sports? Why don’t their riots get as much media coverage?
– We have to stop spending money on corporations who invest that money to influence laws that work against us!
– We live in a capitalist society. Their language is CAPITAL or money. We need to speak their language and make sure they understand our message. Not through marches, but through our refusal to feed their economy. The main reason we were desegregated wasn’t because they felt compassion for blacks, it was to benefit from our MONEY. It’s time to take it back and empower ourselves and our communities.
– Boycott Black Friday. Boycott major corporations. Pool that money back into your own community by buying black.
– The biggest mistake you can make is thinking things have changed, things are the same, they’ve just taken on a new form. We’re still getting lynched except the nooses have been replaced with guns and we’re lynching ourselves as well. We still have the house slaves who would step on the backs of other slaves just to get approval from massa’ (the Stacy Dash’s and Don Lemon’s of society). Take a look at yourself and visualize what role you would have played during slavery. Would you be helping the movement or hindering it?
– Why do we continue to support and brush aside negative images of us on the media via ignorant rappers and reality shows? Black people used to pay to watch minstrel shows back in the day too. Are you one of those that financially support the coonery and degradation of your own people then get mad when people of other races don’t take us seriously?
– After all the outrage wears off, are we going to go back to obsessing over sex, sports and a popular culture that disrespects us until one of us becomes the next hashtag?
– @GeeHooks
Updated 4:55PM
After the choice not to indict Darren Wilson was announced, I couldn’t breathe. I was standing in Union Square and I felt my lungs empty of oxygen, my body went numb.
As a journalist, I’m supposed to remain objective. I keep reminding myself of that. But it’s almost impossible to do, when this oppression is so personal.
All I could think about, as I was walking along 7th avenue with the 1600 other people who were hurt and appalled by the decision, was my grandmother.
She was born in Mississippi into a family of sharecroppers and when she witnessed President Obama’s 2004 win, she was thrilled, to say the least. She died several years later, and as she was passing all she talked about was how she was happy all of her children and grandchildren were well taken care of.
That’s what all of our ancestors have prayed and wished and died for– that we would be better taken care of. And it is absolutely suffocating to think that, after all this time, we might not be.
– Celeste Little
Updated 11/26 – 9:53AM
I didn’t feel anything when I found out Darren Wilson wasn’t getting indicted. I sat there, looking at the screen, and felt nothing. I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t hurt. I was actually more pissed at Don Lemon’s “there is OBVIOUSLY marijuana smoke in the air” comment than I was by anything Robert McCulloch had to say. That’s telling. I cried tears when Trayvon Martin died, shook my head in disbelief at the news of Eric Garner, was dumbstruck when I saw what happened with John Crawford III, and motivated to take a bus from DC to Ferguson when Mike Brown was murdered. Justice being outside the grasps of black men in America no longer has an effect on me because I don’t ever expect for us to get it. I’ve known this point for the majority of my 28 years on this Earth. It’s strange what you can get used to. My girlfriend, however, is not used to it. She cried. And cried. I held her while she cried and asked me “how could this happen? Why didn’t they do anything? How are we supposed to raise kids in this world?” I didn’t have an answer for her. For the first time in our two year relationship my girlfriend brought me a problem and I just…I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t even pretend I could come up with a solution. And that’s what is starting to sink in. We’re running out of answers. Black people in this country are running out of legal and safe ways to get white America to understand that black lives matter. I don’t fear what happens when Black folks stop asking for white America to stop shooting us down like dogs. I fear my children might grow up without a father because should the day ever arrive when Black people take up arms against mainstream America, I’ll be right there with them.
– Garfield Hylton
Updated 12:48PM
I wanted to share a little perspective from outside the America.
I was really shocked and appalled to hear what happened, I didn’t know what to think really and what can a foreigner bring to the table what you guys don’t already know?
Nothing much, but there has been a whole discussion about police with cameras and using technology to aid solutions in the British media.
Every time I hear this my hand gets a little tense, as using technology to aid or solve human problems is not a good idea.
Its far too easy to turn off cameras and get around systems which are only there to keep those who play by the rules.
You only have to look at piracy to understand this.
Talking of rules, what makes things worst is the rules don’t seem to apply to the police in the states.
You don’t think a police officer which has no problem gunning down innocent black men, wouldn’t break the camera lens, remove the power or find another way?
Technology can help but only when people are willing to be helped. Its like an addict, you have to admit you need help before you can be helped.
The police are clearly not willing, the courts are clearly not willing and the system just backs them up.
Lawrence lessig a Stanford lawyer turned his head to understanding the endemic corruption and although not directly applicable is worth thinking about when talking about what’s wrong.
I’m not saying the UK is any better but the system out there is so corrupt and so broken, something has got to give…
Keep on fighting the good fight people and never give up
Ian Forrester | @cubicgarden | Cubicgarden.com
needed to read this today man, good looks.
Knowing the outcome of this trial even before the verdict was read i have come to terms way before that america’s justice system has no justice for those of darker colors. Where the problem lies.may not be the law eenforcement but it is within the justice system those who hold the courts. The system is racist and doesnt value our race or any other race that isnt anglo breed. The cop may have shot Mike Brown without intent of killing him due to his race but the justice system has rewarded him with the freedom of getting away with murder and reckless endangerment.
I no longer want to take the local police path to be a Federal Agent…………….. Since I’m in the National Guard, I may or may not make a career out of it but if I don’t look for me to dabble in Politics…………. John S. Crawford.
thank you for sharing. thank you for the outlet. thank you for allowing our voices to cry out.
You know, I ask myself what has Attorney General Eric Holder done while he was in office. He had the executive responsibility for law enforcement for the entire nation.
I don’t think it’s fair to put so much pressure on one man or woman. I think the next logical step would be legislation that requires all officers to wear a body cam. That’s what the family of Mike Brown is proposing.
I guess it is too much pressure to ask someone to do their job. Especially when our taxes pay for their 6 figure salary plus benefits.
I feel you wholeheartedly. I’m not aware of list of accomplishments, but its definitely something I will look into.
They can enforce these body cams but don’t be suprised when the footage of a body cam is lost due to a scuffle that leads to death of an unarmed boy/man.
Also, I think it is up to the states or the police jurisdictions if they want to implement the body cams or not. I will have to check on that.
When a large and obvious “vanilla” segment of the nation calls you a Racist Bulldog for the Racist-in-Chief, it’s kinda Hard to enforce and get cooperation……….. But go right ahead and omit the City Council, the Mayor, Governor, State and Federal Congressional Leaders -_-
If Eric Holder is worrying about what the “vanilla” segment thinks about him and is worrying about the names he is being called, then he is too weak for that position. I didn’t omitt anybody but I don’t think people understand Eric Holder’s position. He has the power to change and reform how law enforcement handles certain situations throughout this nation.
Honestly, the situation doesn’t mean more to us than the response of the people after the verdict. Everyone wants to say that a ‘kid’ was murdered for no reason. I have several issues with this:
1. He attacked a police officer after committing a violent robbery; whatever the police officer did after that was likely done in fear and self-defense.
2. It’s strange how the Black community refers to the 18 year-old as a ‘kid’ while they are trying to make a point but the same 18 year-old Black MAN would be considered an adult if he wanted to go out and have s-x out of wedlock as most of them do and have a baby out of wedlock.
3. He was high on drugs and possibly alcohol; it is very likely that he would have taken the gun and killed the police officer if the officer didn’t take the first shots.
4. It seems that the Black community is saying that ‘Black lives matter’ but other lives of other races do not. I doubt that they would be saying anything if the ‘kid’ had murdered the White police officer.
5. I am sad that a young man lost his life in this situation, but it is the Black communities fault as much as anyone else’s. WE allow are children to dress as hoodlums with hoodies over the head, curse, listen to hip-hop music, have s-x whenever they want, talk with slang or Ebonics, and encourage them not to read or learn too much because that is ‘acting white’. When will we ever let them know that it is okay to be intelligent and to speak with correct English at all times and that doing so is not ‘acting white’ but acting like a human being?
6. I notice that there are a lot of Black women crying for this poor Black MAN, but if the same thing happened to a Black woman, the Black men would be sipping their tea.
7. I am Black (but of multiracial heritage) and I have been stopped several times by the White police for no apparent reason. However, I was very polite, did not raise my voice, and complied with everything that they asked and nothing ever happened too terribly. I was even let out of a few tickets (Praise The Lord) that I might have otherwise received if I cussed and yelled like this poor young man did to the police officer.
It’s time that we figure out that slavery is over and anything that happens to us now is more than likely our own fault. Stop blaming the White man and grow up!
The reality is we were not present to state what did or didn’t happen. I can believe this officer cursed them telling them to get the “F” out of the street, proceed to ride past the two young men only to recklessly pull right in front of them. I can believe the officer reached out of his window grabbing Michael through the window initiating justification for using his weapon. The officer threatened shooting Mike, and he ran away. 1st he was shot in the back….Mike then reversed facing officer, and he continued to shoot 5 more times. However, we weren’t present, but these are the accounts of the young man/boy with Michael. The outrage is that black life in the courts is irrelevant. The outrage is justice in certain neighborhoods is handled differently than in others. Michael Brown was no saint, but the ends don’t justify the means. Post the gunning down of Brown, why was no one called for 40 minutes? If the Officer really called for back up, why didn’t other officers come to his aide? Why didn’t he wait for the back up? You’re entitled to believe that black people are rude and disrespectful to officers, but you should consider it’s a response to being disrespected by officers.
You’re entitled to all of your dislike and regard for blacks (which is so apparent) but channel that to the people you know. It’s sad that it’s all you know, but consider that blacks are more civilized than your experiences or the negativity you’ve been taught. For all I know, you’re describing yourself.
This site was initiated by men who defy your #5. I have a son who is a young adult, whose education was always encouraged. He may have spoken slang with his friends but he speaks proper English and is able to handle himself in any situation. He is not alone and is attending an HBCU filled with others just like him. He is nothing remotely like a thug but that doesn’t keep him free of harassment. If wearing a hood makes you a thug, then I’m one. I guess only white people can wear a hoodie outdoors…..you’re just not worth it. I wish you many blessings, common sense, the ability to relate to others free of judgment, and a Happy Thanksgiving.
Hello!
As far as possibly “being one of those people”, I am far from it. The only thing that I have in common with those people that I’ve described is being Black. I lived in the inner city and I went to school with these young Black people that don’t care about anything except gangs, drugs, and s-x. A lot of our Black administrators in the school didn’t care much either and we didn’t have the best school system. However, the White teachers would step up and use their own monies to purchase books and other materials to make sure that we, at the least, had the same opportunities as the White students in the suburban areas. Thus, opportunities were available, but most of these students would not even take advantage of them. The White teachers would beg us not to join a gang, not to use drugs, not to have s-x outside of marriage, etc. Do you know what these Black students would do about it? They would laugh about how ‘proper’ the White teachers sounded and after school, they would still participate in these activities.
I actually used the materials that the White teachers would give away and I graduated at the top of the class in every school in which I attended and I am now a Ph.D. student at a prestigious university. The thing that hurts the most is, these same students that would laugh at the White teachers who were trying to help us are now ‘baby mamas’ with STDs and children with different fathers or deadbeat fathers with STDs selling drugs and talking about how ‘the White man’ is ‘mean’ and wouldn’t help us. Nonetheless, these types of women and men make fun of Black people like me because we’ve never used slang much or drugs and we typically don’t have s-x outside of marriage and have no children. The Black women in these scenarios quickly become jealous of my degrees and the Black men become upset because I don’t subscribe to the Black dating routine (Black man calls Black woman to the house over the phone, demands s-x, and if the s-x is ‘good enough’ for him, he MIGHT take her to dinner, otherwise, she is put out to pasture and must wait for the next Black man to do the same thing).
I just think to myself…”why did these people mistreat the White people that wanted to help just to accuse these people of not helping due to their own poor decisions?” I’ve been discouraged in so many of my career choices by Black people but uplifted and inspired by White people that did not want to see someone with ‘so much potential’ become another statistic.
Therefore, Black people really need to come together and stop blaming White people for their problems. The community must be cleaned from the inside out. Many White people will help Black people if they would act civilized and allow it.
I think you are a white troll posing as a disillusioned biracial mutant result of a science experiment gone horribly wrong!
Actually, I never said that I was biracial… I identify as Black but to be politically correct, I said ‘multiracial heritage’ because my parents are both of more than one race. Whenever I tell people that I’m just Black, I get the response “well, you don’t look just Black” or “you’re lying”… but I think that I look “Black” and I’ve always considered myself to be “Black”.
Wow, it got ugly…. I cannot persuade you or change the essence of hatred you’ve been taught. Please consider, if you’re “black” and don’t act like the “blacks” you’re describing, then just maybe there are other law abiding, goal seeking, educated blacks just like you. You missed this point and continued to belittle blacks…smh. ALL teachers purchase supplies, right up to present day. It’s also a tax deduction for all people.
I can walk along any sidewalk and greet every person I see from the scariest redneck to gang-banger and because I show respect they give it back. I don’t judge people because I don’t know their life experiences. When I see a bad looking kid I don’t get scared at all, mainly because most are punks. If I ask teenagers to show respect they always stop cursing, and apologize. What’s wrong with blacks is that we’ve subscribed to white life. We’ve forgotten about the village and purposely pushed others out of their lives. We’ve become as selfish and disrespectful, with dreams to move on to bigger and better while leaving the “trash” behind.
I’ve been belittled and discouraged by people of all races. Everyone is an individual and should be treated as such. When a situation arises I don’t simply blame everyone of that race, but then I am mature enough to know the difference. Although you’re adamant to proclaim your difference, you are not much different at all. You say they blame the white man for all that is wrong, yet you blame blacks for your bad experiences… I guess you must be black in order to deflect with blame. You too should probably self reflect a bit more and accept your place in the misery that exists in your life. I truly wish you the best and hope your blessed to lose the negative thoughts you have.
Gray, his friend who was with him lied, as did many other witnesses who said brown was shot in the back and basically executed. They have admitted to these lies after the autopsy results were revealed to them. So please try again, oh you won’t because the facts don’t support your victim hood, racist views?
Another pathetic attempt!!! It’s always ok to respond but try not to be too ridiculous. Newsflash! You don’t actually matter to me. I’m no victim, but you are definitely a jerk. You fail at both intimidating and and your psychic abilities.
Girl, I have been stopped by white male police officers in Alabama, Georgia, etc and for the most part they were gentle sweet talkers and they let me off with warnings and what not. It helps if you are a pretty female but they won’t treat your son the same way so you can miss me with your # 7.
Alright biracial otherness. Besides the overt ignorance expressed by your sentiments, it is clear that you do no seem to comprehend that these situations are bigger than an issue of “acting right for whites.”
You are diminishing the unique black mannerisms as reducing them to the summation and catalyst to our demise.
1. Ebonics has varying levels of understandability from the most basic slang, to the most “pigeon” sounding linguistics. Bad gramma’ is not a valid reason to dismiss a race. In fact whites often inflect their words with multiple “likes” and unaturally high frequencies that are improper as well.
2 Being polite at a traffic stop doesn’t change the fact that you were still profiled. That is the issue, the interaction is the after effect. The cowardness is assumimg the worst of all blacks at all times.
3. Blacks need not to negate their humanity. Period. It is a born right. To constantly be having civil discourses with racist beast is buffonery and self-delusional.As is making excuses for them.
Be happy that your obviously sheltered “Im biracial so let me pretend whatever racism happens to me isn’t that bad. Cause you know I’m not really THAT black.”
JUST STOP…
I know that racism exists and, for a little while, I worked in a racist town. I received glares from White people before and I have been overlooked for positions in which I was more qualified than the White woman with the blonde hair that was selected. However, I still continued to excel in school and didn’t give the Whites any ‘attitude’ until I was able to get a position elsewhere in a place where there is little racism. There is still a sensible method to react to racism (or perceived racism). There is no need for violence or cussing as this man chose to do.
However, I work in an environment where there are people of many races but there are still more Blacks and Whites than any of the other races. The managers have a hard time disciplining the Black workers, especially the Black men for things that they have actually done, such as s-xual harassment or poor performance in general because as soon as they are called to human resources, they automatically file a report citing ‘racism’. Because the company has a strong discrimination policy, these bad men often keep their jobs and still continue the poor performance; the company can’t get rid of them because they are Black, in a sense. Yet, White workers with poor performance are dismissed instantly because they can’t really play the race card.
Again, I understand that racism exists, but when a company can’t get rid of a s-xually deviant Black man because he will cry racism and threaten to sue the company, it’s ridiculous. We cannot move forward to better our communities as long as we allow this type of behavior.
In addition, whenever I am walking along the way by myself and I see a young Black man headed my way, I become afraid. It is not because he is Black (so am I), but I know that there is a chance that I am going to be harassed in some sort of way. It has become ingrained in the Black culture for the Black men to behave in an aggressive manner and to uphold an attitude of entitlement. I am actually about to exercise in my house right now because I would have to pass a neighbor’s house to go to the gym – a young Black male neighbor-who has been mildly harassing me for no reason. This type of behavior is nothing new to me. Of course, I know that not all young Black men behave this way, but the acceptance of this ignorant and arrogant behavior in the Black community leads to more of our young Black men adopting the behavior.
It won’t stop until we acknowledge that we have a problem.
It has become ingrained in white culture to be overtly afraid of black bodies and stuck in a “higher than all ” self perception.
Your picking a side between two evils…I know what side you’re not on.
I’ve picked the side that won’t get me killed (unless I try to take a weapon away from a police officer).
And you believe this excuse because you were there? Or because this same lie told by white officers “He reached for my gun while standing 5 meters away and I panicked,” Is always true?
You are white. I know it.
I waited for the investigation to end and the scientific evidence happened to support the officer’s statement more than anyone else’s statement. As for me, my skin is about as dark as Halle Berry’s skin, so there is no possible way for me to be White.
We are a product of our experiences, and I can’t help that I’ve been cussed out, blackmailed, assaulted, and generally treated in a rude manner by young Black men that have an attitude of entitlement. However, non-American Black men and non-Black men and women have not treated me or my family this way. I know several other people that acknowledge this problem in the community.
Sadly, it probably won’t change in this century.
When you say ‘non-American Black men and women’ do you mean black people living outside of the US? Have you ever lived outside of the US to make such a statement or breifly visited other countries?
My career has allowed me to meet and speak with men and women from Africa, Haiti, Jamaica, etc. 🙂
That is nothing compared to living outside the US and/or briefly visiting other countries.
That is nothing compared to living outside the US and/or briefly visiting other countries.
Right but did you live in these places when you met and spoke to them or are they of Caribbean or African descent and living in America? Cause they would still be considered American even though they may not have been born here or their parents were not born here. The reason I ask is because you seem to be implying that there is a difference between African Americans and blacks who are not American. Do you think there is?
I’ve never lived in these places, but the people that I’ve spoken with and worked with were born in these places but moved to America as a young adult. There is no difference as far as appearance, but their upbringing is different and it influences the personality. For instance, most of them were not allowed to have a ‘C’ average in college or else their families would be upset, they would be looked down upon if they had children out of wedlock, etc. Furthermore, these aspects are shared with the families while what an adult ‘child’ does in an American Black family in college or in romance is ‘none of their business’. For some reason, we don’t have that accountability. When I was in college as an undergraduate, I had to hold myself to these standards. The ‘Foreign’ Blacks still have that responsibility to family and friends to do well in society.
Well I could tell you from personal experience, being raised by West Indian parents, I was raised to put my best foot forward and be the best I could be. Maybe this is a generational gap or something between you and I, but my friends who were black and of American ancestry where held to the same standards my parents expected of me.
So forgive me but I am having a very hard time understanding your point.
I think you’re right and there must be a generational gap. I have met American Blacks who are older than me that seem to be appalled at the ways of the ‘younger’ generation.
Yes, because she doesn’t like being harassed by black men she has chosen the wrong side. Nice attitude.
We don’t have a problem, individuals have problems. In my neighborhood I have 6 white, hispanic, black(1) registered sexual predators, and I still trekked 3.5 miles this evening. I too have neighbor’s who I am uninterested in one Spanish the other Haitian. I tell them both no thank you. Harassing isn’t saying hello or asking you out. The Spanish one is married!
Yeah O_o
This is false! White, black, or otherwise can be terminated. Your HR person must be a perv too, and from one perv to the next they’re both still around. If I were harassed I would personally go beyond HR, but that’s me.
I don’t support the violence and destruction going on post the grand jury’s decision not to charge Wilson. I do not feel Wilson is innocent by a long shot, but understand in every legal jurisdiction an officer is justified in the recourse he chooses to use. Although Brown was guilty of theft the ends did not justify the means. Those that justify Wilson’s actions due to that fact are idiots. Brown had rights just as Wilson did. I am a well spoken professional woman, and I have had my share of encounters with rude young adults and officers. When I ask young adults to use different language and show respect, in every instance the black ones apologize and watch their words. I am 5ft tall. These young men tower me, and they still soften up and change their words and tone. When I’ve been stopped for “driving while black” the officers are rude and disrespectful. When I’ve told them their behavior and tone was unnecessary, they continued and smugly stated “sorry you feel that way”.
There are people who believe that white privilege and discriminatory acts on blacks are nonexistent. Those fools are either in denial or live within a bubble. I don’t put anyone down to make myself feel better.
RESPECT IS LACKING, EVERYWHERE. People feel justified in expressing themselves ill-respective of the impact simply because they have a thought. We see our leaders, politicians, etc…spewing disrespect daily and those that agree with it, find ways to justify the rhetoric even when what they’re saying defies the definition of words they are using. Rude is Rude, without justification or cause.
Driving while black. I love that one. I bet you think that if someone asks you if they can help you find something in a store that they are being racist.
You don’t know me….no thanks for trying
It’s a shame and RIP Mike Brown but this “Boycott” business is not serious. I fully promote and have been saying for a long time we as blacks need to have our own large corporations and business support from our own, but the problem is lets be real, it’s easy to say “BOYCOTT!” what’s not convenient to us. Yea I could easily skip buying the fly jacket from Macy’s and the Camera from Best buy
But are ya’ll gonna cancel your cell phone providers? Your internet carriers? These same large white owned corporations? I’m willing to bet the answer is no. The real answer is for us to get into legislation and then bring our influence into policy enactment. The more blacks we have in office and in the judicial system is key, not this boycotting stuff which. Education and then getting into more prominent positions is the way. Like Jigga said “Only spot a few blacks the higher I go” and that is why results like the verdict happen
I have read some people comment about what Mike may have been doing
before he was murdered. The fact is None of What they Mention Deserved
the Death Penalty. White people shoplift, smoke funny things and act
aggressively every day and live not to regret it. That is just a distraction.
I have also read people suggesting that if black men are plantation-polite that
will save them or help something. It won’t. It will just embolden the ones who
dreamed of antagonizing you but were too intimidated to act. Nobody
cares about your manners. It is your skin they find offensive.
When
I was growing up I couldn’t understand why people around me were so
angry at whites. I thought them petty, history was past. Now I
understand. The tokenism is on a much grander scale than ever but when
you are close enough to see the whites of their eyes a black man is
still a N to many Americans. When they are not keeping an eye on you they are
moving away just in case.
The bottom line is this: we cannot
change who hates or fear us. What we can change is how vulnerable we are
and whether or not we prop up a system determined to keep us on our
knees or if we are finally and permanently decide to support
each other instead.
Means: Support black businesses whenever you
can, big corporations just give your money to politicians who have no love for you. Get your degree(s). Not being
educated just makes it easier for people to dismiss you. Know who your political reps are down to the local
level. Vote and pass it on. Take care of
yourself, speak up for yourself and defend yourself.
What the
verdict means to me is childhood is over. Live or die black men need to
stop trying to be what anyone else wants or worrying about being what
anyone expects and just focus on being Men who Handle Our Business.
I have read some people comment about what Mike may have been doing before he was murdered. The fact is None of What they Mention Deserved the Death Penalty. White people shoplift, smoke funny things and act aggressively every day and live not to regret it. That stuff is just a distraction.
I also read people suggesting that if black men are plantation polite that will help something. It won’t. It will just embolden the ones who dreamed of antagonizing you but were too intimidated to act. Nobody cares about your manners. It is your skin they find offensive.
When I was growing up I couldn’t understand why people around me were so angry at whites. I thought them petty, history was past. Now I understand. The tokenism is on a grander scale than ever before but when you are close enough to see the whites of their eyes a black man is still a N to many Americans. When they are not keeping an eye on you they are moving away just in case.
The bottom line is we cannot change who hates or fear us. What we can change is how vulnerable we are and whether or not we prop up a system determined to keep us on our knees or if we are finally and permanently decide to support each other instead.
Means: support black businesses whenever you can, big corporations just give your money to politicians who would prefer to ignore you. Know who your political reps are down to the local level. Vote and make sure your people do. Get your degree(s). Not being educated just makes it easier for people to dismiss you. Take care of yourself, speak up for yourself and defend yourself.
What the verdict means to me is childhood is over. Live or die black men need to stop trying to be what anyone else wants or worrying about being what anyone expects and just focus on being Men who Handle Our Business.
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