I believe sometime during our ancestors ride to this land or other places, they probably felt if they followed the rules, "time would change things for the better". So their first attempt to change their circumstances was to smile, bow down, and shuffle along, not knowing it would eventually become the demeanor of some.

They even tried to learn to read, probably to show the masters they wasn't animals and they had a brain that could learn. But soon they realized it was something the master would never approve of, especially after feeling the sting of the whip on their backs for trying.

But a slave was smart enough to recognize reading was more important for them, than trying to please the master. Since the future looked bleak, hearing they were never going to go back home, they had to teach themselves, but only at night from the light of the moon.

Soon anxiety and paranoia filtered through the population of slaves because some were afraid they would be caught and get the next beating. So out of these circumstances came untrusting slaves other slaves had to fear also.

This gave the masters a chance to use this to their advantage, because they had to keep the majority from rising up and rebelling. They knew they couldn't trust the black males, with muscles as big as the bulls that roamed the plantations, so it was a better choice to use the women. But the longer women were kept separate from their men, the less they had in common.

Eventually, living amongst the master caused her, out of compassion many times, to encourage her man to submit to spare his fate. So as she became an important source in the life of the master, her children looked to her instead of their black father who had no privileges or support.

Suddenly the sounds of social disagreement started ringing throughout the land, about land, politics, morality and the hideousness of slavery. Men with opposing views were bearing arms and sometimes killed each other, feeling justified. As the civil strife began, slaves who believed the conflict that was on the rise was in their behalf, offered their bodies in war, to fight for something they thought could free all slaves from bondage. Little did they know, it was never about them, so nothing would change.

This short story could go on and on with the same events, even now in the 21st century. Even how some blacks still believe as those in the past, "that time would make things better."

The first thing we must believe is we're good people, who have had a hard grind to get to this point in this country. Accept the fact there will be blacks who will abandon us, as other's will do things that sometimes taint the race. But neither should ever change our direction of going forward.

Finally, be pleased we've been able to do what most other people haven't been able to do, just by observing where we came from. As we look at our genetic make up, it should be easy to see there has been maximum intrusions for decades. Although none of us in the true sense of the word are slaves today, few blacks could say they don't know someone personally who's white.

Yet whites even today have said, they don't know anyone personally who's black. So here's a tongue twister, do most blacks have some relatives in their family who's white, or do some whites haves relatives who's black? Which of the two sounds more common.

Although blacks seem to reach out to whites more often than whites do to them, the first part is the most common to believe. Of course, they will search for us when there's some benefits. But when we do it, our rewards are actually lesser, since the whites that blacks usually emulate aren't those with similar characteristics, but are those who can often change the course of their lives. They must see that everything that would allow them to live as comfortable is in jeopardy.

I don't remember who said it, but "the people who control the media, controls everything". Since we know we have no real power in this area either, any negatives they want to sling at us will always be channeled through it. As people who are hopeful and determined to succeed as most others, what should be important? Good living conditions, safe environment for self and family.

Next should be the opportunity to excel at your ability and a good education for your children, yet they have always been a struggle to obtain, or maintain for many blacks. Since these things are basic for other's as well, why are they so difficult for blacks to attain and hold on to? Why are they often absent, but still at the center of controversy when directed at the black community? Theory maybe, but also my opinion.

Since they are the principal fuel that sets the foundation for most individuals' lives, the movers and shakers who monitor the system behind the scene fear anything that shows positive for blacks, would caused things to be removed from their control.

In addition, since we have as much knowledge about this country than most other groups, we also have the ability to set standards and change policies. So it's necessary to occasionally tally up some weak points to throw into the mix, and redirect our concentration. Adding to that, they get support from other elements behind the scene to support their opinions on the total make up of the black community, from blacks and whites.

We must also be aware of the majority of people who respond impulsively from the things they hear and automatically accept. They usually have the tendency to react without reason and change their demeanor only because of the same information. Remember racial profiling usually takes place at a level below those who ultimately encourage it. All we have to do is learn how to stand fast and challenge any criticism instead of complaining and doing nothing, as we've been known to do.

Just by confronting them and demanding a solution if they have one, would keep this from happening as often as it does. It's our anger and sometimes, offensive rhetoric that gives us less opportunity to deal with it in an intelligent way. Most of the time, they expect to get a negative response, so it dignifies their criticism. But here are a few things the average black person rarely seems to be concerned about.

Although Affirmative Action may have never been needed for some blacks to get jobs, or enter most educational institutions, they should realize there are blacks and whites trying to do away with it. The evidence that shows there's a reason they should give it more attention is to know in many areas, fairness for blacks is still sketchy, especially if you're a black male.

When we listen to pros and cons about the public school system and the finger points at black children, we should applaud ourselves for any reasonable amount of success we've made in this area, knowing it was accomplished even with the shortage of resources.

What gives us this right is it's rarely directed at white students who are the majority, or other races who may also be lacking. We should remember, no other race of people in this country are scrutinized as often, or can compare their past or present to ours. Yet we're still expected to not have areas that need help.

Moving on, I can say we rarely see statistics that show who's the most educated or the most unemployable between white men and women. Regrettably most of these surveys are prepared for us. But I still wonder why there's such a concerted effort to bring it to the surface as often as they do, because it rarely helps to improve anything for us.

Only if they compared whites and blacks or others could it then have some importance. What it does for us is play down the black males chances of bettering his circumstances, but seals the black females changes to remain in hers. It also adds to the division and hostility that already exists. Unfortunately, what gives it more opportunity to reoccur and maybe open old wounds are black women who read it and instantly feel superior.

When I overheard a group of whites talking and joking about this in a restaurant, I realized I wasn't paranoid or hated black women like some believed. It meant I wasn't the only person who saw this. Anyway, since we often flair-up instead of dealing with certain things head on, we miss seeing, there are many other ways to protect ourselves from things that could impair our growth.

For instance, I'm impressed observing the riches of blacks today. But I still fear some could someday return to where they began with nothing. It's not difficult to believe looking back at black men and women, who only have memories of their greatness. Although I included black women, black men seems to be the most vulnerable, so it should be more sensible for them to use caution.

But even after they see many others fall explicitly from the hands of whites, it still seems not to matter. It's not the white's friends of blacks; it's those who are determined to take advantage of anyone they can to make their lives easier. So because of celebrity and believing they're part of the elite, they opened to be victimized. I always believed, the most obvious circumstances of a people betrayed, were the Jews who trusted the Germans.

But any warning to my brothers or sisters seems to fall on deaf ears as they continue playing in dangerous territory. Old news maybe, but we have yet found the antidote for the poison that was interjected into our minds and souls that started it all.

So the important things we have ignored cause us to not be able to gain what we need that's equivalent to what we were expecting for ourselves. But I know it's better to voice my opinion about us on paper sometimes, because I've been in situations where I had to be concerned for my personal safety. I can't forget how I had to deal with the anger and attitudes of blacks when we ended up in a heated debate.

First, they didn't approve of my complaints about their callousness and reluctance that clarified why things were not working in their favor. I may have agreed about what the power structure has done and is still capable of doing, but I still felt they should realize their lack of protecting themselves, or their negative contribution adds to it. I asked why they haven't dealt with the frequent crimes in the neighborhood that keep the communities in fear.

When I told them it was their responsibility to remove it, a few people walked away. But in the end, I knew how to deal with them without giving up also. I quickly told them about the dedicated people like Martin Luther king Jr., who gave up more and didn't live in their community.

I remind them about the streets named after martyrs like him, that only show the reluctance of people who see what's going on and do nothing. I see how blacks feel about each other so I had no doubt how they felt about my presence. I also warn them to not get weak in the knees when whites call them "bro" or "sweet heart", because they also know what's going on the dim lit streets near and around the projects in many black neighborhoods.

The turning point came when I ask them why no one has complained about there being more kids standing on the outside of school building than inside during a school day. I got a few "I don't knows", or it ain't my damn business", then it's over.

I'm not the only black person who knows what disturbs our social peace and forward motion. So sooner not later, we all must agree on what it is. I realize there are those who are still reluctant to indulge themselves primarily because they will have to give up something or make adjustments in their lives. Or maybe they're like some others, waiting for so-called black leaders to come forth. They should remember how today is showing, we can no longer depend on them.

The way we mishandle our personal lives, families and communities, have always been my personal gripe. I know I shouldn't be so ridged and sometimes repetitious about these matters, but learn to compromise as I expect of other blacks. But we can start by stop blaming the less fortunate for everything that's wrong and still going wrong with us.

We must use our minds instead of anger to make mental notes. We must understand what has caused the disparities in the race and why the black experience seems to not be worth talking about for many blacks. So with a minimum amount of awareness, it should be clear the only reason we're scrutinized the most is because of perseverance, adaptability and knowledge of a country we could run as well as the people in office today.

It will take the efforts of all blacks with determination and diligence to keep our lives out of the book of diagnostic and scrutiny. We must not feel comfortable when we can see blacks moving into many of the important areas in this society, maybe feeling the fight should be over. It should continue for generations, because those who come after us will expect more opportunities, with minimum complications and less obstacles.

© July 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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