It seems every black person I have spoken to since the election is upset about the results. But I had to ask why, realizing few blacks, other than those who may have had some political interest, knew why they were voting anyway.

First, in their urgency to elect Kerry instead of Bush, few were probably concentrating on what would make a difference in their future. So-called religious blacks were in conflict after hearing the incumbent express many of the same feelings about what gender should marry each other and the life and death of an embryo.

But my consensus of the voting frenzy was the same that existed during the OJ Simpson murder case. It was whites against blacks. Blacks didn't like what whites allegedly did to them in Florida, which got Bush first elected, so they were not going to let it happen again.

Statistically, most blacks will vote Democratic. So since most voted their party instead of the issues, why would they be annoyed learning republicans have a direct connection to big business and their needs. But knowing some facts about the historically dark side of the democratic party in the past, if that information became part of the incumbent's campaign, the margin of winning could have been greater, especially if there was a degree of anger to cause a sudden change in voting.

So misguided intentions was just to tally up more votes. Nevertheless, say Kerry won instead, how would blacks have benefited anyway. How soon after he was sworn in would they have seen any rewards for the efforts? Remember, the usual rhetoric about housing, education, crime and other social issues, got less interest than the war in Iraq, or proposed safe guards to prevent more 911's.

So the entire theme of the campaign seems to center around patriotism and morality. People with family member's in the war showed little concern about domestic needs or problems, although many were dealing with losing their jobs and at odds about other jobs being out sourced. So, now that the fighting is over, where do blacks go from here? What could they do to help improve their circumstances that would also help blacks that still don't have a foothold on their lives?

It's okay to applaud independents like Bill Cosby. But what have never been examined are the causes. It's the same element that also taints blacks as a group. But even if what he's asking for happened over night, would the components that affect many within this group suddenly disappear? What would he suggest be done for young single women with children, who may continue on the same path. How would he arrest AIDS and cure the crime that continues plaguing their communities.

[Scenario], too much to be concerned about, too late to save most, far too many in need. [A new social issue]. Few blacks if any, may know the federal government may soon create programs and spend money that could be redirected from their needs to help support illegal aliens, who have suddenly become vocal about their rights. So not only has the war in Iraq created a void, but also a new domestic situation unrelated to them will soon add to it.

However, the fault lies with blacks that have wealth and expertise. They've shown little insight in the direction of self-help, but complain about black's shortcomings. Instead of investing money to build a system that would be independent of the bigger structure, they build self-serving foundations.

Self-serving because foundations only serve one purpose. It's to protect their money and usually, the people who handle their money make those determinations. [Situation], I didn't think it was funny when I overheard what a black couple in a Dunkin Donuts one night, was talking about.

One of them wondered why, one race of people owns all of the Dunkin Donuts throughout the country. I felt it was more jealousy then curious, but it should not have been, especially seeing the kind of car they got in when they left. But I would have told them if they could have dealt with it.

It's because of the system they built and control only for their group. More so, being independent from the main structure allows them invest in their own people to insure domestic and economic tranquility. Blacks have the same ability and finances, but use misguided criticism and emotions instead of intelligence.

At the upper level, they act petty and get upset by street lingo and the "N" word. From the middle, anger erupts because our so-called leaders have not dealt with the problem. From the bottom, they ask, " why they're concerned about what they say, they usually don't care what they do anyway".

It seems blacks cannot function without some degree of inner turmoil. Not realizing the shortest distant between tension and tranquility is death. Moreover, it seems to get more intense when whites are not listening. It reminds me of a child pulling their mother's coattail to get their attention. It has said to be a syndrome, or slave mentality. A condition that has been around for generations.

Because soon after getting someone to listen, next starts the degrading of each other. Of course, some may argue this theory, being common amongst blacks. Most truths will end up in debate. Many blacks fail to admit the weaknesses of the group, and some may only agree it exists, if they can exclude themselves.

The unfulfilled aspects of their lives are often expressed by recalcitrant behavior. But it's time to move on for our needs. Blacks must agree to learn how to deal with the [politics of running a race of people], but also how to avoid being overly concerned about blacks that abscond. If they learn to handle their own lives and expect nothing, unless it's a matter of giving and taken. Then choices will out weigh following the leader for the next 400 years.

© 2005 By Thomas Duffy
Afromerica staff writer

Brother Thomas Duffy will be keeping the Black community updated on the most current Black expereinces effecting our lives. Visit regularly for new information that could help you overcome and make the best of your everyday experiences.

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