Now that we're in a new year are we going to do anything differently? My working definition of ""INSANITY" is when we do the same things over and over again, and we EXPECT it to turn out differently! Many African American "civil rights" leaders became upset with Mexican President Vicente Fox for saying that his people (Mexicans) were willing to take jobs that our people (African Americans) won't take.

The reverends Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton as well as a cadre of "civil rights" organizations immediately began their tirade about how "we were slaves and are victims of that slavery."

The facts don't lie! The African Americans' unemployment numbers are higher than many other segments of the American population. Therefore, logic suggests that since Mexicans are able to come to our country and obtain employment, in such large numbers, there must have been a large number of available jobs. If those unemployed African Americans were willing to work on "ANY" job, until they could do better, it would be the Mexicans who would have the higher unemployment statistics.

Last year Dr. Bill Cosby held a mirror to the African American population & told us that we, African Americans, were responsible for our high teen pregnancy, high incarceration and high illiteracy rates in America. These same "civil rights" organizations were outraged that Dr. Cosby had the nerve to "air our dirty laundry in public" by exposing our irresponsible behaviors and lifestyles. Their attitudes were, "How dare him tell the truth about us!"

President John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." Mr. James Brown said, "I don't want nobody to give me nothing, just open the door and I'll get it myself." He also said, "Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud!" During the last forty years, our "civil rights" leaders and organizations have made vast fortunes playing the "race/slavery card" as an excuse for our not trying.

Consequently, we have many among us who are consumed with the misguided belief that America owes us something for the enslavement of our ancestors. I beg to differ with this premise. Had my ancestors not been abducted from Africa and brought to America and enslaved in the most heinous form of slavery in recorded history, I could have been a citizen of Rwanda during its recent genocide, which resulted in nearly a million reported deaths. Or I could be living in some other repressive and undeveloped African country.

However, like Joseph in Genesis 50:20 "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Therefore, every African American need to place their hands over their hearts and pledge allegiance to America, OUR COUNTRY TIS OF THEE! Then we need to take a very serious look at us as a people and accept the fact that in general, we have become our own worst enemies!

There are three basic steps to problem solving. Before we can fix a problem, we must first admit that there is indeed a problem. Then we must break it down to its lowest common denominator. Finally, we must honestly fix the problem. As I see it, the real problem with us as a people is that we are wandering aimlessly through life. This is the first time since our arrival on the shores of this great nation of ours that we as a people do not have a primary agenda.

Many in the African American community are victims of our own choosing. Most successful African Americans are the product of America's racism and apartheid, yet, because of these hardships and obstacles, we were determined to make a better life for our children as well as ourselves. This has been the mindset of every generation of African Americans, going back to those who were enslaved, except this present generation.

Sadly, once the generation before mine was successful in defeating apartheid and Jim Crow, complacency set in and we became stuck. Like a scratch on a record, it was not able to move to the next groove. Therefore, it began singing the same old tune over and over and over again. That tune is to blame the white man for every negative behavior that we engage in. We are now singing the tune that says:

• Our high unemployment, high illiteracy and high poverty rate is because the white man enslaved us.
• Our pre-teen and teenage daughters are having multiple babies because the white man enslaved us!
• Our pre-teen and teenage sons are making babies, committing crimes and filling up America's prisons because the white man made enslaved us!

The truth of the matter is that we have not because WE WORK NOT! As Americans, we are citizens of the greatest country in the world, in spite of racism and sexism! Because we are Americans, we are guaranteed the right to, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Mind you, that is the "PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!" So let us start 2006 on the "Good Foot" by realizing that "IT'S STILL TIME TO STOP BLAMING THE WHITE MAN." Feel free to contact me at www.jerry@itsstilltime.com or visit my website at www.itsstilltime.com to preview my book. January 3, 2006

© January 2006 By Afromerica

Brother Jerry Smith will be keeping the Black community educated on ethical issues of life and living in America. Visit regularly for new information that could help you overcome and make the best of your everyday experiences.

To subscribe to Smith's column join the Afromerica email list to receive new information as it is updated. Or E-mail Smith at: jerry@itsstilltime.com

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Afromerica: Where its all Black & white and some gray areas.

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