Update: I don’t always agree with Debra Dickerson, author of The End of Blackness, but she usually makes me laugh. 
Check out “Black History Month is coming soon. I wonder: Will anyone pay me to be black for them this year?”
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John McWhorter certainly doesn’t need me to sell his books, but I’d like to recommend Authentically Black: Essays for the Black Silent Majority as a Christmas gift.
In a collection of essays, McWhorter covers topics like the idea of a black “double consciousness,” reparations, black stereotypes in television, skin color diversity, and so-called black leadership.
I referenced Authentically Black in my latest Townhall column, “A Minority’s Minority View.” The column, primarily written for new blog readers via Townhall, is about why I write about race so often. I’ve explained it all before to regular blog readers, so for you the column will be somewhat redundant.
Feedback from new readers below the fold:
Yvonne O. wrote:
Dear Ms. Barber,
I’m one of the thousands who read your blog daily. I like your writing style and I like what you have to say. You do bring another perspective to what is happening. I have never contacted you before, but after your latest column in Townhall, I just felt I needed to tell you that.
Keep up the good work. I know you don’t need to hear this, but stay true to yourself and don’t let PC pressure get you down.
An anonymous reader wrote:
I’m a black female conservative here in Lieberman country, so your words are resounding in my ears as a welcoming truth. As I agree with you, I also think there are deep rooted psychological reasons why blacks (and white liberals) automatically portray us as victims… African-Americans are easily 80 to 95% democrat, which means we have not only bought into the liberal victim philosophy, we pertutate it among ourselves…With this, comes the entitlement factor…[W]henever we as a community try to combat these issues by having conservative ideas or not upholding the status quo, liberals (the media) [are] there to socially combat and tear down these alternative solutions.
John D.
Good for you, La Shawn. As an old white guy, I think you and McWhorter and Sowell and Cosby and many other influential blacks are to be commended for preaching positiveness, to counter the MSM and the elite establishment and poverty pimps like Jesse J. and Al S. This is analagous to providing everything in Spanish for immigrants, making their lives easier in the short run, but depriving them of equal opportunities in the long run. I just wish more prominent black athletes like LaDamian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers to mention one would spend more time as
role models to disadvantaged kids in the ‘hood, this too would help open doors of opportunity.
Anonymous reader:
WOW! What a refreshing outlook you take on race and victimology. I can only imagine how you must be hated by the “race hustlers” and their flocks of mindless followers. These are what I call VIP’s; “Victims in Perpetuity”. From all indications, neither I, nor my children will live long enough to see the day most blacks see reality the way you do, but I’ll “keep hope alive”. You correctly recognize the prerequisite white guilt, or liberal aloofness necessary to nurture this PC poison; this black dependence on (white) government. I applaud you.
Sharon K. writes:
As one who knows that there are MANY brilliant, compassionate, hard-working, talented, religious, philanthropic,etc., black people in the world; I am soooo happy to see you and other blacks set the record straight and work for all your people to know they can succeed in this country. Here’s to you!~ May God bless you as you continue your very important good work.
Gene E. writes:
I am most concerned about the plight of urban blacks and the stoking of “we need help,” self-defeating remarks from Rangel, Jackson, Kennedy, et al.
Keep telling the truth; I will pray for you and do everything I can to dispel the notion blacks aren’t up to life’s challenges.
{ 12 comments }
Give a word for Thomas Sowell, whose books are excellent and who is not appreciated.
Keep up the good work! We’re on your side (some of us anyway).
La Shawn,
Must be a slow Monday. Your articles on issues of race usually generate volumes of comments by now.
Your townhall article was an excellent piece (as usual). Those that commented concerning “white guilt” raised some interesting points.
My contention is – there really is no such thing as “genuine” white guilt (emphasis on genuine). One has to have done something that warrants being guilty, to have it.
Slave owners don’t have it – they’re all dead. Racists don’t have it because – well, because they’re racists. Those that have atoned for those sins through repentance to Jesus Christ and their fellow man don’t have it (anymore).
Those that “should” have it, pathetic White liberals who originated the white guilt concept in the first place don’t have it. They are the ones who care the least, about anyone (except there own pathetic self interests). And so, they’ve spent the past 40+ years spewing and promoting their con job on the black community. And with almost total success.
I see no hope for any large scale reconciliation between the races in my lifetime. I believe people like you, La Shawn, will make a great contribution within the black community. Unfortunately, just like any malignancy, we will always have white liberals in our midst.
And concerning the totality of black liberals; with all the family, friends and relatives I have, I don’t really know any that I would consider “true” liberals.
La Shawn,
I really do like the way you think and write!! Each of us are responsible for our actions and which direction we go in our lives. I guess I am lucky to have been taught that it’s not a person of the same race that you can call a friend but by a person’s words and actions. Also, I am proud of my heritage, all of them, German, Dutch, English, Irish, Native, but what I am most proud of and what I call myself first is “An American”! As a country we have been so caught up in finding where we came from that we forget who we should be first and foremost and that is AMERICAN!!
Another excellent post, Lashawn!
About a week ago, another of my favorite bloggers ran a video from YouTube, calling it hate speech. I watched and listened to a young black man making a speech to other young-looking black people. This seemed to take place in an academic setting, with a small audience scattered among the seats. I have no idea whether this speech was written for a speech class, whether it was meant to be taken seriously, or was poorly-written satire.
The speaker calmly, “rationally” listed a host of problems, all of which he laid on “the white people.” His solution? “Kill all the white people.” Kill them all, and the problem goes away. He said it more than once, so I know I heard him correctly. There was no hint in his eyes, his face, or his tone of anything other than serious intent.
Being white, I found that most unsettling. Being an American, I found it most unsettling. Is there really such a movement on, or was this the paranoid rambling of an individual? He sounded no different, to me, than Bin Laden, laying the blame for everything he doesn’t like on (a) the Jews and (b) America.
LaShawn,
You are an awesome lady and you are doing a great service to many people, especially blacks. I too am tired of hearing about “race”. Don’t stop your writing on this subject. There are a lot of folks that need to hear and read your point of view. My prayer is that more black will wake up and take personal responsibility for their lives. I believe that you are doing God’s work by informing people as you are. Continue to press on and know that you are in my prayers.
Keep up the great work.
#5
I heard about the event you are talking about. That event took place (I think) at Howard University. The man saying those vile things used to be a professor somewhere. I noted with dismay that the audience applauded him about he advocated exterminating white people…
Had a white person said such a thing about any other race, there would be widespread public outcry, and the institution that hosted the event would be bending over backwards to soothe the angered masses, but there has been nary a peep from the MSM or the university about this…
Miss Ladybug – Thanks for filling me in. You’re right: Change the race of the speaker to white anglo’ and it’s all over the news, widely (and justifiably) condemned.
I am not comforted by the knowledge that this man was ever a professor! I wonder if his views were responsible for his no longer being a professor–assuming he isn’t.
Hannity talked about that guy on his radio show again today – he used to teach at North Carolina State…
I’m an admirer of John McWhorter. His book Winning the Race I believe is better than Authentically Black. If you haven’t read it, check it out. Like you LaShawn, he engages in the necessary cultural critique regarding blacks in America.
“My contention is – there really is no such thing as “genuine†white guilt (emphasis on genuine). One has to have done something that warrants being guilty, to have it.
“Slave owners don’t have it – they’re all dead. Racists don’t have it because – well, because they’re racists. Those that have atoned for those sins through repentance to Jesus Christ and their fellow man don’t have it (anymore).
“Those that “should†have it, pathetic White liberals who originated the white guilt concept in the first place don’t have it. They are the ones who care the least, about anyone (except there own pathetic self interests). And so, they’ve spent the past 40+ years spewing and promoting their con job on the black community. And with almost total success.
“I see no hope for any large scale reconciliation between the races in my lifetime. I believe people like you, La Shawn, will make a great contribution within the black community. Unfortunately, just like any malignancy, we will always have white liberals in our midst.”
(Dave in AZ)
That just about nails it. Very well put!
As much as people tire over talking about race, it’s necessary because there are so many half-truths and untruths that continually go unchallenged.
There are petty, even predatory people from every group and exceptional people as well.
A Conservative, of any background has more in common with a Conservative of another background than he/she does with a Liberal of the same ethnic background as him/her-self.
Intuitively, we all know this.
Certainly Liberals do, as they consider Conservative blacks de facto whites and smear them at every opportunity.
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