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Black history in America certainly has had its ups and downs. It’s troubling when, for political theater, those who should know better fail to emphasize the inspirational stories that highlight the strengths of blacks and the humanity of whites. While it is undeniable that cruelty and suffering are part of this country’s history, at some point, it is counterproductive to paint blacks as weak victims of the white man’s callousness.
It’s greater than sad that the race hustlers encourage young black folks to see themselves as victims. Race hustling is not new. Back in 1900, Booker T. Washington noted, “There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs. There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well.”
In reality, with a few exceptions, no one wants to be enslaved by welfare or dead-end programs that perpetuate dependency. People can’t get sucked in by the new oppressor/oppressed rhetoric ad the promise of making a quick buck from reparations.
Importantly, we should be telling our youth not to believe anybody if they tell them that they are not good enough. We should be telling them to rely on themselves. Yes, they need a fair opportunity, but they also have to work hard for what they want. Very few people are handed a good life and money on a silver platter.
George Washington Carver, famous black agricultural scientist who was born into slavery, said, “Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. There is no shortcut to achievement.” Booker T. Washington also said, “When a Negro girl learns to cook, to wash dishes, to sew, to write a book, or a Negro boy learns to groom horses, or to grow sweet potatoes, or to produce butter, or to build a house, or to be able to practise medicine, as well or better than someone else, they will be rewarded regardless of race or colour. In the long run, the world is going to have the best, and any difference in race, religion, or previous history will not long keep the world from what it wants.”
While society continues on its journey to colorblindness, not only is blaming others and calling people racists counterproductive, it is not representative of how everyday people live and feel. Let’s embrace the positive history of courage and self-determination, take a break from politically motivated vitriol, and encourage everyone to put their lives in their own hands.
With that, here are some more stories of strength, persistence, and talent.
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Amen. Finally someone gets it. Great piece.