I’m old enough to remember when older blacks used to tell younger ones that they’d have to work twice as hard as whites to get somewhere in life. There was no bitterness in the comment. The older people had lived through Jim Crow and knew what second-class treatment was like. Their own government codified racial discrimination, and the laws were definitely carried out.
Blacks once relegated to the back of the bus knew that even though laws were dismantled, bigotry and a sense of superiority would never go away. Working “twice as hard” wasn’t just a symbolic gesture to convince whites that blacks were worthy of full citizenship. It was and still is a necessary work ethic in a society where blacks had been subjugated for two centuries. Call it a game of catch-up or making up for lost time.
If you saw the dreadful movie “Soul Man,” you’ll recall that C. Thomas Howell’s character (disguised as a black man so he could attend Harvard on scholarship) failed to turn in an assignment because he’d spent the night in jail. His black law professor, played by James Earl Jones, didn’t accept the excuse, saying something like, “If you have to work twice as hard as these little white sh***, you damn well better work twice as hard.”
The line wasn’t at all shocking to me. It was a fact of life. To blacks younger than I am, however, it’s probably cringe-worthy or offensive.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a man I usually disagree with, but his latest column reminded me of the “twice as hard” adage I grew up hearing. He writes this about congressional crook William Jefferson and Cynthia “right hook” McKinney:
When they’re popped, they wail that they should not be held to a higher standard of accountability than white officials…Yet, blacks should be held to that higher standard. Their mostly black constituents view them not as politicians, but as leaders and advocates. They look to them to represent their interests and to confront institutional power. Any legal smear on them, which in some cases may be questionable, soils their name. This makes it much harder for blacks to have and retain confidence in them. This diminishes their political power and influence and creates distrust and dissension among black voters. This, in turn, makes it that much more difficult for blacks to generate any enthusiasm to get out to vote or get involved in community improvement actions.
It’s not just scandal that hurts black officials; it’s the race card that hurts too. In far too many cases, blacks accused of wrongdoing reflexively deflect, dodge and muddy the charges and accusations against them, even their guilt, by screaming racism. They strongly imply that racist prosecutors unfairly target them. They then promptly wrap themselves in the martyr’s cloak of persecuted civil rights fighters.
As I said, I don’t often agree with Hutchinson, but I had to comment on this column. Being from the old school, he clearly understands the retro “twice as hard” wisdom.
I’ve always argued explicitly and implicitly that blaming racism should be the last thing blacks do. Even if racism is involved, which in most cases it probably isn’t, accept responsibility for your part in the mess. Forget what whites may think of you. Hold yourselves to a higher standard and accept nothing less (like race preferences) from yourselves and your children. Slavery and Jim Crow are over.
Blaming racism is probably a reflex, but free, smart black people ought to be thinking on a higher level. When enslaved or told to enter through the back door, we could blame racism. But we’re free now. Freedom is not a “frolicking in the park, do whatever you want” kind of thing. It carries with it a heavy personal responsibility to be law-abiding, hard-working, and fair-minded. (Affirmative action is in direct contradiction to these ideas, but I’ll save that for a different post.)
Hutchinson mentioned honor, a trait that’s sorely lacking among politicians of any color. Black Americans’ dead ancestors knew what real racism was. Hiding behind it in 2006 to mask our crimes, character flaws, and failures dishonors them in unspeakable ways.
Addendum: Speaking of dishonor and low standards, the Congressional Black Caucus isn’t embarrassed one bit about publicly supporting a man of low character just because he’s black. That Jefferson hid cash in his freezer doesn’t bother them at all. That he was caught on tape accepting bribes is meaningless. He’s black, and white Republicans are out to get him, says this group of free, college-educated, elected officials. Disgraceful.
This is “black leadership,” people. Read and learn. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tried in vain to appeal to a “high ethical standard” by asking Jefferson to step down from his seat on the House Ways and Means Committee. She forgot that many blacks, especially political types, want to be judged by a lower standard while pretending they don’t.
Hope she’s learned a lesson.
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La Shawn
It workd both ways.
In a world with Affirmative Action, White people are adjusting as well – by letting their children know at an early age – if they want to get into the best school sthey must work twice as hard as the “privileged” – those qualifying for racial preferences.
Brilliant LaShawn. Working twice as hard as someone else is something I was brought up to do as well. And though I am white, it has served me well as a WOMAN. In many other areas of my life I am a total flake at times, but then who isn’t. But in my work life, I am completely responsible and hard working and it has paid dividends.
Frank
In a Gallup poll a few years back, an overwhelming majority of white Americans denied ever having been negatively impacted by affirmative action. The notion that whites as a whole are disadvantaged due to AA is a myth and I really doubt that white parents are telling their kids that they must work twice as hard especially since white women benefit more from affirmative action than any other group.
La Shawn it seems to me that a person pulling out the race card is in some way moving himself/herself to the back of the bus.
La Shawn, as much as I tend to agree with you, I disagree with you and the article in this case. I don’t believe that the general black population holds elected black representatives to a higher standard. (Examples: Ray Nagin, Marion Barry) These two cases plainly show that simply having blacks in power is more favorable whether or not they are honest, racist or drug users. Someone will have to show me a case where black voters made a stand against corruption. Sorry in advance if I stepped on any toes.
Chris, you misread Hutchinson’s column and my post. He’s not arguing that blacks hold black politicians to a higher standard. He’s saying that black politicians should hold themselves to a higher standard because their black constitutents often view them as leaders and protectors. I agree with Hutchinson’s assessment.
I argue that many blacks don’t hold other blacks or themselves to higher standards. I live in the city that re-elected a crackhead as mayor, so for me to believe blacks hold black politicians to a higher standard would be delusional. The re-election of the ineffectual, collapse-under-pressure Ray Nagin as mayor is also telling. Woe to the inhabitants of New Orleans when another Category 5 hits!
Correction noted. I did misunderstand.
As I recall, Nagin was one of the better mayors for the city before Katrina. The man simply made mistakes during a once in a lifetime tragedy along with several other government officials ranging from local to federal. It was actually a conservative type regard for the well being of the local businesses that delayed his actions. I think that it is reasonable to say that if another storm heads for New Orleans, the man will probably take the most extreme of safety measures. Just as is the case with Bush, Nagin can’t physically stop a storm from coming in.
Chris,
Did you get as up in arms when those white voters re-elected people like Edwin Edwards of Louisiana or Tom DeLay of Texas? Google them if you don’t know who I’m referring to.
Nagin can’t physically stop a storm (ridiculous remark), but next time a storm hits, he can refrain from crying on the radio and blaming Bush while doing nothing to help residents. He can do what he was elected to do and be a LEADER among men.
What a very deep and enlightening article La Shawn! Why is it that our Black people blindly follow liberal politicians even though many Blacks, especially those of Christian faith have conservative values in the home? Can’t we think and see for ourselves instead of voting and supporting party lines and ideas because of long traditions? I cringe every time I see McKinney on TV and I cringed when I saw her live in person at church on Easter Sunday. I cringe when I see Marion Berry (even though he’s a Fraternity Brother of mine). We must distance ourselves from all Black politicians and other “leaders” who are only self-serving and good at posturing in from of the cameras.
Older than you and yes, it was understood that nothing would come easy. It brings in mind the recent John McWhorter book, “Winning the Race.”
However, I have a difficult time squaring your support of this concept with your support of the Western Survival ideas from the 28th. Your endorsement actually shocked me.
While a particular site I linked to may leave much to be desired, western survival is very important to me and should be important to all Americans. I tell the truth on this blog, whether people approve or not. It’s ironic that while western values freed our ancestors from chains, some of their descendants dismiss the importance of these values in maintaining our freedom. Freedom to dissent and petition the government for wrongs, real or perceived, is a uniquely western idea, for example. Blacks in non-western, black-run African countries have no such freedom.
I stand by the post and will always recognize the importance of culture in protecting freedom. Which isn’t free, by the way.
Referrences to Bush not being able to physically stop the storm were widespread among conservatives when Bush detractors started blaming him. I just extended that to Nagin. As far as crying on the radio, I recall him going on the radio and losing composure in a desperate plea for rescue. Whether he went on the radio or not, at that point, the damage had been done. There was nothing that could be done at that point beyond a major rescue effort conducted by trained rescuers. Can one honestly say that he has NOT done everything that he can since the event? Does he deserve to put in the same sentence with a crackhead?
To be fair when they don’t take the fifth, the majority of white criminals also use every excuse they can think of when caught and some of them actually appear to believe it, such as Ken Lay.
I hope people aren’t intentionally misreading this post. Anybody caught with his hand in the cookie jar will make an excuse. I am not nor will I ever argue that excuse-making is unique to blacks. I’m arguing that using racism as an excuse is particularly odious, especially for younger blacks who have no idea what racism is. Appealing to skin color to slither out of trouble is a slap in the face to people who endured actual hardship because of their skin color.
I agree with the importance of Western values and protecting them. But I wonder who is the real threat to western values. Black Americans are almost unanimously English speaking Christians who practice a European based culture. Hispanics are unanimously Christians who speak a European language and practice a European based culture.
So when websites like that say “the West” they really mean “white people”. They don’t believe that black and Hispanic people have the natural capacity to maintain Western civilization even if they practice Western culture. Such opinions border of white nationalism which often promotes relocating groups of people to their “lands of origin”, no matter how far back in their lineage one would have to go to find their ancestors in these lands.
Have you no clue what goes on in places in Africa and Central America, Shade? Would YOU want to live in any of those places? A crucial missing component is law and order. What makes America attractive to you? Western values, yes? FREEDOM, perhaps?
What’s stopping black- and “Hispanic”-run countries from embracing these ideas? Whether it’s “natural” or not to embrace western values, such countries don’t seem to have the capacity to maintain Western civilization, and if that’s a code for white Europeans, so be it. I don’t care where the values derive. I’m just glad they exist and recognize that not all nations are capable living with such values.
Unlike most blacks, I don’t consider “white nationalist” a horrific idea. Few blacks have a problem with black nationalists, and all sorts of black groups get together for purposes of benefited their race. There’s too much hypocrisy and not enough critical thinking going on for my taste. This is why I don’t get along with black liberals. We start from different premises. I’m not afraid of, threatened, or incensed by ideas like white nationalism. I am not offended that some whites may want me to “go back to Africa.” The only way that will happen is to ship my corpse.
My standards are not based on Africa. I am not African and I have never been to Africa. I can probably trace my ancestry in American beyond the average white person as can most blacks. What I am asking is exactly what culture is overwhelmingly practiced by black Americans? Black Americans don’t practice African culture. Black Americans practice “Western” culture.
Likewise, what culture is being practice in Mexico? It seems to me that what is being practiced is Western culture. They are Christians. They speak Spanish, which is a European language. Most of the traditional dress and other traditions are rooted in Spanish culture. I see little tradition from Aztec culture. And really, the issue here regards Hispanics in America since the author of the writing wouldn’t be concerned about Hispanics if they stayed in their countries of origin.
If non-whites are naturally inferior to whites, then every single black person, if consistent, would have to acknowledge such natural inferiority within themselves and the possibility of passing it on to their offspring.
The thing about white nationalism is that it is often a euphemism for white supremacy and likewise white separatism. If whites decide that they want to get rid of minorities, then ALL minorities would have to go no matter what values they have. Also, the term “black” as used in the U.S. is synonymous with “African American” which denotes a particular ethnic group. So there is no real difference between “African American” organizations an Italian American, Irish American, Polish American, Russian American, Scottish American, etc. organizations.
If i understand your comment correct, you are not against the idea of “White Nationalist”? So there should not be anything wrong with “African_American” (put your group name here)promoting “African-American” prospectives. when people start to refer to each other as just plain American….I might pass out. I cringe at the idea of anyone calling me “African” anything. Bottom line, work twice as hard as the Asians in school, Work Twice as hard as Whites in the biz world. You do that, and see where your life takes you.
Didn’t mean to offend you or imply that you were “African.” I’d also be offended if someone said the same to me.
I was making the point that western values like individual liberty and such aren’t practiced by blacks and Hispanics across the world. You hurl straw men around like it’s sport. Who said black Americans practiced “African culture” and don’t “practice western culture?” Did I state or imply such a thing? If so, you’d better point it out.
Black Americans are “western” because they are of America and embrace (more or less) values this country was founded upon. Without a commitment to individual liberty, for example, the Civil Rights movement would have been impossible.
And just because someone is a Christian doesn’t mean he’s “Western” or embraces such values. Where you got that idea is a mystery.
No offense, but the rest of your comment is a bit rambling.
This whole discussion is off-topic anyway. This thread is not about western civ.
One thing about the whole Bill Jefferson situation is that those from New Orleans always knew he was a crook. It did not surprise me in the least. I worked for a shop that did business throughout the metro area, and at least twice a month some of Jefferson’s relatives would come in and ask “do you have anything for us?” I said no the first time, and then was instructed by the owner in a rather unpleasant phone call that I was to provide anything they asked for, as they “can make doing business very difficult.” The most remarkable thing was that people in his district didn’t care about his dealings as long as he could come home and crow about all the federal dollars he funneled this way. I wonder how much of it ever made it to its intended purpose?
Forget holding William Jefferson (sans Clinton) to a higher standard! I would be happy if he was held to the same standard as the rest of Washington politicians.
Won’t happen, though. Jefferson knows the Achilles heel of the Democratic party – the black vote. Democrats need to keep blacks in a permanent state of rage – and government dependency – of face electoral disaster. If Jefferson shrieks “Racism” long enough, he may even come out of this stronger than when it first started. Ask William Jefferson Clinton how he improved his poll standings by subverting the Constitution.
If Democrats take the House in November, you can bet that they will look for any excuse to drop the case. Impeachment of Bush is Priority #1 – not cleaning up Congress (since that would eliminate a half-dozen Democratic members of Congress right off the bat), and they will need every vote they can get. After all, failure to remove Bush will mean retaliation in 2008 by the al Qaeda wing of the Democratic party. Why should Speaker Pelosi pick a fight with the Congressional Black Caucus over something she is loath to do anyway?
My personal observation, it does not take much to work twice as hard as most white people and to be twice as obsessed with the materialism of white people would be impossible.
My story of a black guy that works his tail off: My former neighbor from when I lived in North Louisiana, Greg T., had one college degree, worked in Houston for a few years (IBM?) then returned home to his parents after a break-up with his fiancé. His mother worked for a company that manufactured cardboard boxes and his dad was a plumber. Every member of Greg’s family including relatives and guests were nice, polite, thoughtful and helpful. Would I want or expect anything more from anyone?
Greg got a full time job teaching in a public school while attending graduate school working on Masters degrees in both mathematics and education taking more hours of classes than anyone reading this would probably believe possible or allowed by the university. I would see him by his car with an armload of books and a briefcase and would ask, Are you coming or going?†His reply, “Going.†“To class?†“No. I do volunteer work at a community center when I don’t have class in the evening.†“When do you sleep?†Puzzle look from Greg… He also was made an acting Assistant Principal at the school where he was teaching.
Greg is the best example of a person of any race that today is willing to work as hard as the WWII generation was willing to work in their era. (If that makes any sense.)
Last that I heard (twelve years ago), Greg was still working hard and had re-established a relationship (dating) with his former fiancé.
If you have not been exposed to small town or country black people from working class familes that do not focus on materialism (and politics), find some.
“I hope people aren’t intentionally misreading this post. Anybody caught with his hand in the cookie jar will make an excuse.”
I don’t think people are or have any incentive to misread.
I think people including me usually read blogs and most websites rather quickly. Scan may be a better word than read.
A great web article should be quickly scanable in addition to being readable.
People usually also mouth off rather quickly without thinking, which sort of surprises me how you keep the conversation civil on this board.
La Shawn –
I wouldn’t fret about individual black corrupt politicians. They have a long way to go to catch up with white corruption a la Tammany or Abramoff…
If I had to pick three things I find discouraging about black leadership – they would be the (1)inability of a single black-led nation to excel on a global stage; (2) The tolerance in the black community of buffoons like Sharpton, Jesse, McKinney playing the race card and acting like fools as their liberal allies, black caucus cohorts dare not raise a peep; (3) The squandering of black leadership’s ideology to some 40 year old civil rights memes and the politics of Victimhood and demanded special rights.
Jefferson doesn’t bother me. “Duke” Cunningham was as bad or worse. Sharpton did bother me sharing a stage with elected men running for President and playing the shuck and jive jokester knowing he could get away with it, unlike any similarly unqualified and tainted white person or member of another minority.
Shade – “The thing about white nationalism is that it is often a euphemism for white supremacy and likewise white separatism. If whites decide that they want to get rid of minorities, then ALL minorities would have to go no matter what values they have.”
Shade, that’s loony! If whites (and blacks and hispanics) decide that Muslims are incompatable with Western Civ menace us and refuse to assimilate and should return to a majority Muslim country in the Ummah after a failed immigration experiment – that doesn’t mean gays or Asians must go, too. And it could be just the radicals that refuse to abandon their inamicability towards black, hispanic, and white infidels…while we find moderate Muslims that “fit in” can stay.
Comment for Ralph. AMEN! I am blessed to know a young black gentleman who worked for my employer for ten years. During the short time I knew him, I came to realize that he wanted to be known as many things, (hard-working, dedicated family man) but “black” was not one of them. His example is the one I would want anyone to follow. Be known for the “content of his character, not the color of his skin.” That’s exactly what we all (black/white/purple) need.
I don’t know what it’s like for a black person but looking at it from a neutral perspective, working twice as hard naturally improves a race of people over the years. As far as the West, well I want whites to survive as a race but that does not mean I don’t want other races here if they put America first. I don’t believe in racial superiority but I believe in racial differences. I don’t see a problem with that and I’ve never met a black person who seriously objected when I explained my position on this.
I share the sentiment. Racial differences, but not superiority…putting America first, etc. – Admin
Shade, Most of your comments make absolutely no sense to me but that is your right in a free society.
I agree with some of What La Shawn is saying in that no person nor politician should be held to a lower standard based on race nor any other qualifier. We as Americans and individuals should hold ourselves to the highest standards possible. Does that mean we would never be wrong or “get caught with our hand in the cookie jar”. No but we should be responsible for our choices and actions. Someone spoke of the WW@ generation and the biggest difference between them and todays generation is personal responsibility. My parents and grandparents were responisble for how well or poorly they did in work and in life. That is a part of the western culture. I don’t think that making excuses when you fail helps anything but further your feeling of woe is me..the man is holding me down. If you look at truely successful Americans of color. They all have one thing in common they “put in the work” to succeed. Keep in mind that freedom to succeed is also freedom to fail. As my favorite economics professor used to tell us “Choices have consequences” This is true in every persons life.
40 years ago, I took a group of black high school students (from the segregated school in which I taught) on a tour of the capital of Virginia in Richmond. The blue-haired docent showed us Lee’s portrait and rattled on about the “war years.” At the end of the tour, she looked at me and said that these “coloreds” were a true tribute to their race. She pronounced them to be “well behaved.”
I decided that she should go to her grave believing she was the superior champion of just causes. But I asked the kids what their reaction to her remarks was. One student responded by announcing that when he became governor, he was going to ask her to swear him in.
He is the same student who rattled a Red Cross lady. We were conducting a blood drive and as his blood filled a bag, he asked her to label it for use only on a white bigot in dire need.
There is more than one way to try “twice as hard”. It takes confidence, a healthy perspective and indomitable humor.
(That student, in my older age, is a best friend and travel companion.)
In today’s America, look no further than America’s thriving immigrant communities when you want to see the “work twice as hard” work-ethic assiduously applied. Their communities will continue to thrive with this admonition unless they make the mistake that we black folks made in the 1960’s, when we started acquiring a leadership class,– professional do-gooders, victim-mongers & race-hustlers….Civil-rights minus common-sense and morality yields disastrous consequences for any people.
vvarnado
Shade, Most of your comments make absolutely no sense to me but that is your right in a free society.
I think your confusion comes from the comments being related to a previous blog and a certain link in that blog as opposed to the blog that we should be responding to. That is why LaShawn stated that we are off topic.
Regarding Shade’s comment in #3.
I am a white mother who tells her son he must work twice as hard to succeed because he doesn’t have slots saved for him because of affirmative action. He’s going into his high school senior year, is #8 in his class and has already passed two Advanced Placement classes and is senior class president after being junior class president, and an Eagle Scout. We live in New Mexico. His counselor has told him several times it’s too bad he’s not Hispanic because she’d be able to find all kinds of college financial aid for him if he were. She says he’s just going to have to find the money for college on his own. He and his best friend (the son of an immigrant from India–thus an Asian–and #2 in the class,) often talk about how they have to work twice as hard to get whatever they earn because they are not considered minorities. Living in New Mexico, it’s amazing how Anglos are not considered the minority.
It was no glitch. My view on the matter that concerns you is irrelevant and off-topic on this thread. If you want to participate, change the subject. Don’t bother replying directly to this edit because I have the final say about which comments are posted, without explanation.
You may e-mail me to discuss further, if you wish. – Admin
Hi Louise
In pretty much all of the numerous studies on discrimination conducted by such groups as the Fair Employment Council, the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Urban Institute, the Justice Department, etc. etc., it has been demonstrated by testers that when individuals with identical qualifications apply for employment, loans, rental property, etc., white applicants are significantly treated more favorably than black and Hispanic applicants.
With regards to low level jobs, a Princeton study in New York revealed that black applicants without criminal records are no more likely to get a job than white applicants just out of prison and that young white high school graduates were about TWICE as likely to receive positive responses from New York employers as equally qualified black job seekers.
Affirmative action is simply a token and flawed attempt to offset the above trends and a good way for liberals to pander to mainstream black activists. One would be surprised with the amount of debate within the black community with regards to the need for affirmative action, the dependence on government, whether racism is exaggerated, how liberals have affected blacks, and so on. There is one thing that I know would be unanimous. The notion that white Americans have to work twice as hard as blacks to make it in this country would unanimously be considered a joke.
I was told by my father that a black man must be better than a white man to have equal success (I am LaShawn’s age). I likewise tell this to my sons. It’s unfortunate that these are the circumstances, but you have to do what you have to do. Excuses won’t overcome any obstacles.
Since we are pointing out personal experiences, I have a good friend who started his own business some years ago. For years, he struggled with gaining clients. His business involved him actively interacting with potential business. After limited success, he tried something different. He hired a white male assistant and had him to front as the head man. This assistant was assigned to solicit business among other things and business suddenly skyrocketed. This situation is quite telling. But you have to do what you have to do.
Shade,
I am a white male who works for IBM. I can attest to affirmative action impacting me negatively. I can definitely say that AA has benefited minorities, and created a fast path to management that I as a white male do not have the privilege of. We have special management programs specifically for minorities and women. Many that take advantage of these programs are Asian, Indian and women. So I do feel like this is reverse dissemination and I don’t like it. Now don’t call me racist because I feel this way, but this is my experience, in that if I was a woman, black, Asian, or Indian (I’m not referring to native American), It would be easier for me to move into management. Again, don’t call me racist, my wife is black, children are bi-racial, but I’m telling you the reality of the situation. I believe in what Martin Luther King Jr said … “one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. ” With affirmative action, we continue to judge based on skin tone.
Dt
#35 shade writes: “Since we are pointing out personal experiences, I have a good friend who started his own business some years ago. For years, he struggled with gaining clients. His business involved him actively interacting with potential business. After limited success, he tried something different. He hired a white male assistant and had him to front as the head man. This assistant was assigned to solicit business among other things and business suddenly skyrocketed. This situation is quite telling. But you have to do what you have to do.”
Perhaps your friend made the best of choices. Perhaps the employee has talents your friend does not possess. You attribute it all to race, but perhaps it is a fact that your friend is his own worst business enemy. Certaintly his business aura is in no way affected by who his friends are. Either he can cut it or not. If he and you are always looking for race, you will certainly always find it as a handy excuse for failure. Pathetic.
Correct me if I am wrong, and I don’t claim to be an expert in the field, but isn’t the liberal argument that seems to have some merit to me against “try twice as hard†that 1) some people will try hard but 2) others will decide it’s not worth the effort and decide on the street/prison life.
Perhaps the employee has talents your friend does not possess.
As a personal observer, I can tell you that this is not the case, especially since it is my friend who taught the guy the ropes. The guy brought a white face to the business and response was positive. It was a good business move made by a smart man.
You attribute it all to race, but perhaps it is a fact that your friend is his own worst business enemy.
Again, I can say through personal observation that this is not the case. The business is striving based 100% on his decisions including the decision at the beginning to use a white employee for what basically amounted to public relations.
This reminds me of when I played ball under a mostly black coaching staff. We had a couple of white assistant coaches and it was always one of them who was sent on recruiting trips because potential recruits tended to respond more positively to a white face.
Either he can cut it or not. If he and you are always looking for race, you will certainly always find it as a handy excuse for failure. Pathetic.
Interesting. I have post graduate degrees. I have a well paying profession, a private office, kids in private schools, a large house with a big back yard, a wonderful marriage, etc. etc. I couldn’t have excuses for failure since I have never failed. Likewise, my friend’s business is striving based on his decisions. What excuses are you talking about?
Let me ask something regarding the folks above who are claiming to be victims of AA. Have you asked them if it is possible that the blacks who got jobs ahead of them have talents that they don’t have? Couldn’t it be that AA is often an excuse used for whites who fail?
Good topic. As far as whites being the victims of AA, here’s my little sob story.
At my last job I had two black subordinates. One accused me of harassing both of them. He didn’t check with the other to see if he’d be supported in this. Big mistake. The other subordinate denied any harassment. The charge was investigated by the HR department and found to be without merit.
Not satisfied with that the “very sensitive” VP in charge of the office got the three of us together to reach an “understanding”. It went okay till I was asked to change my behaviors and I replied with, “In what area?”. No one had an answer but it was automatically assumed I had erred in some respect. After an hour of going back and forth on this with no resolution we ended the meeting.
I’ve always felt that, had we both been of the same skin color, once HR had deemed the harassment charge as being without merit that particular subordinate would have had his head handed to him. As it was, we played the “sensitivity” game.
From that episode I took to heart that though you may not be liked by someone he will still stick up for the truth (till then I hadn’t gotten along with the other worker). I also learned that for some people it’s all about race, and those people are just as likely to be white as black. Under the skin we’re the same.
Shade,
While that argument could be used “Couldn’t it be that AA is often an excuse used for whites who fail? ” The reverse could also be used as an argument as to why black people fail. Lets take a look at a scenario. A white man and a black man apply for a job. The black man is more qualified yet he does not get hired. The white man was hired, flat out, because he was white.
I know and understand this was a common practice, and I will be the first to say that is WRONG!
Scenario with AA, a black man and white man apply for the same job, the white man is more qualified, yet the black man is hired. Again, he was hired because he was black. And again, I say this is WRONG!
It was wrong, back in the day, it is wrong today. I’ve always been taught to treat all people equal. Which is why I had no second thoughts on dating and marrying a black woman.
AA = legal descrimination = descrimination.
dt
ay when the white man got a job over a black man who was more qualified
I always enjoy reading such topic matter, as the subject really is one with a lot of controversy. However I think many of the posters here are missing one key aspect. Playing the race card, no matter what race you are from, whether or not it’s government sponsored (AA), or any such nonsense is just making the problem worse.
My philosophy is leave it alone. Forget race as an indicator of anything. Wasn’t this the message of MLK in the first place? The more we try to correct the problem by being hyper-sensitive, the worse we make it.
Now that I think about it,
I was just told to “try hard” as in The Little Train that Could and not “try harder than X.”
There is no black and white when it comes to a discussion of Affirmative Action. Everyone should acknowledge that some employers have used Affirmative Action to hire less qualified (but still qualified) minorities over non-minorities. But everyone should also acknowledge that there are many minorities, despite Affirmative Action, who are not hired, promoted, or terminated because of their race. My point is simply that no one can simplify the complexities of Affirmative Action.
There are some realities we all must recognize and appreciate. People generally feel more comfortable with people who are like them. Granted, there are exceptions. I have no problem with this reality, which may explain by white business associate in Shade’s example was more successful in attracting business. Now the question that has been overlooked by that example, is whether Shade’s friend practiced a form of Affirmative Action. It sounds as if the white business associate was hired partly because of his race. Some may call this discrimination (which it’s not), and others may call it smart business. What’s the difference? Did race play a factor in the hiring decision? The answer would appear to be yes. Was it a smart decision? That answer would also appear to be yes.
As an employer, you have to know you customers and clients. If you are attempting to cultivate business in a white dominated field or demographic, you may do well in hiring a white business associate. If you were cultivating business in the Hispanic community, you may do well to hire a Hispanic employee. This could be true for any race. My point is that race will always be a factor in the business. Not from the standpoint of who gets hired or a promotion. But from the standpoint of who gets the client or customer.
Is there such a thing as reverse discrimination. Sure. But it does not happen as often as whites protest. On the other hand, whites do benefit from having whites making the decision.
Like many blacks growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, I was taught to be better and work harder than anyone else, not just white folks. But it was explained to me that working harder was not just a selfish pursuit, but was necessary to make sure that another black person could follow in your footsteps. My mentors have told me that if you fail to do your best, you make that much more difficult for the next black person in that company.
The interesting thing about the adage “work twice as hard” is that Christians should perform to their best level everyday. In reflection on what I have learned and seen, we don’t need to work twice as hard, we simply need to do our best everyday. This includes white, black, asians, hispanics, etc. If we do so, God will take care of the rest.
This is good opportunity to run one of my thoughts by LaShawn and the group here:
It sometimes seems that some “minorities” (who automatically identify themselves as among the “powerless”) actually see outrageous behavior one of their own as an act of defiance, a sort of “sticking it to The Man.” This fits in perfectly with the leftover elitist hippies at the NYT etc. with their “Question Authority” bumper sticker mindset and their White Guilt morality.
Add a few hucksters like Sharpton in a $2000.00 suit, and the stage is set for pay-back. Bigtime.
BTW, this form of what I would call retributive justice also is seen in women. How else to explain the joy so-called feminists take in the antics of Madonna, as she writhes about a stage simulating sex with inaminate objects? (Not to mention the child she via insemintation from nameless guy who is probably living in a cardboard box in L.A.)It’s pay-back to all those rotten men who think they’re necessary!
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