Is racial prejudice our only problem, or could it be a fragment of everything else. I would personally believe it would be the latter. But what do I mean by everything else? Blacks are the most known social copycats of styles; trends, habits and traditions of other people, and you can see some of the strangest conformity within the church.

When some live in areas of the country that's not predominately black, it's not usual to see a little bit of the dominant culture in them. Some may believe it's because of socialization, but many years of observation says most of it's by choice. When you hear them say they lived in areas that were mostly white, somehow you almost expect them to show many of the characteristics of whites. Is this a good thing, or bad?

Maybe neither, but it keeps blacks from holding on to a little bit of their own culture. But why would a black person relinquish something so valuable that would assure their ethnic pass would always be intact? Every race or culture of people in this country has something about them that defines who they are. Blacks are the only group who doesn't.

Yet a little bit of most other cultures seems to exist in them. The loss or choice to adapt to other people has created a disparity and arrogance that allow many to criticize their own. Fortunately, the criticism has rarely had any validation of truth. Maybe it's because it's often carries some measure of comparing blacks to whites. What could have turned things around was having less concerned about integrating. Even though some degree of integration could have helped the circumstances of blacks in the long run.

Integration allowed many to live amongst whites, which only helped to detain their own growth. Few would make a move forward unless whites said it was okay. Even today, many blacks are still waiting for a black messiah to lead them to the promise land.

But it only keeps them from doing things for themselves. Regardless of their ability to obtain many of the same things whites have, their social standing is still second best. The most obvious thing to cause blacks most of their problems, was and still is, skin color.

When blacks grew up in areas that were better than where most blacks lived, skin color became an identity that came forth because of socialization and intimacy. Although the intimacy of blacks may have been forced on some, it's impossible to believe most occurred the same way. Of course, this would accuse black men and women of crossing the color line, but that's something that can't be considered rare.

Most important, since blacks have always accused some blacks of acting white, it's not something that has been clearly defined either. But the most obvious thing that's been avoided seeing is whites social presentation and demeanor.

Since whites have less-restrictions during their lives, they process a surety about most things that allow them to act different than non-whites.

When a black person tries to show the same characteristics, it's often more obvious to be nothing more than theatrical, because they try so hard to express it. But it would still be difficult for blacks to show the same even with other groups, because similar essentials exist amongst them.

Although in all groups the main theme is human, the difference in them will always be cultural traditions. That's why blacks accusing blacks of acting out of character will always be a factor. The white agenda will suggest concentrating on health, wealth and status, although education is usually a prerequisite.

Blacks, on the other hand, desire education but many will push it aside if wealth-bringing status comes first. This isn't to say blacks care less about educating themselves, being admonished most of their lives to believe education is what's suppose to prepare them to get there.

They taught themselves to accept whatever comes first because of social drawbacks. Assimilation has always been a negative for blacks because integration has helped to encourage it. What it's also done is allowed some of the most talented and influential blacks to better the standards of whites, which detains the building an infrastructure of their own. But their chance of survival is always at risk.

The only guarantee they have to stay afloat depends on their ability to deal from the fence, so to speak. They have to know how to work both sides without seriously offending either. Those who fail to do it could be labeled sell outs from blacks, or removed from their positions, if they're not willing to occasionally point a negative finger at their own, on command.

But regardless of blacks status as a group, many still feel safe, secure and comfortable amongst whites. This may say, regardless of how far we've come, even being qualified to do many things, some of us still don't feel as equal or better then whites. On the other side, it may also say some don't like the appearance of being black. Not visually, but the facade American blacks have shown to the rest of the world.

They insist on separating themselves from the statistics of aids, crime, teenage pregnancy, lack of education and the all around demeanor of the black experience. But it's like looking out the window of your Hyundai being overwhelmed by the sight of the BMW, traveling next to you, when a loud noise and sudden stop brings you back to reality, realizing you've just hit the wall.

Now you've destroyed what you've got because you were impressed with something that still couldn't improve your circumstances. It's easy to feel because someone else's life may seem better, you must join. But all we have to do is address our problems one by one, correct them and then move on to the next, to remove them all.

© 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.

To subscribe to Duffy's column join the Afromerica email list to receive new information as it is updated. Or E-mail T Duffy at: tduffy870@msn.com or tomas@afromerica.com

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