Regardless how I word it, it's a way of describing how some blacks sometimes do things that's not only degrading to themselves, but to their own people. It may hurt sometimes to know the truth, but prior to and during the civil rights movement, some of the most controversial and educated blacks could have went on with their lives and waited to see how it was going to turn out.

But many chose to get involved, where many were beaten, some lost their lives, other's forced into exile or put in jail unnecessarily for long periods of time. Blacks today with similar credentials who could be committed are steadfast on not showing any bond or concerns to those times, yet are bringing forth their own notion that blacks have the same chances as other people, if they work hard. Oddly this sounds like whites bootstrap idea.

So I used those details to maybe ask blacks and whites if they believe blacks encouraged racism; although I felt most blacks would say no. Whites may not totally agree, yet feel to some extent they do. What I was certain of, neither answer would get me nearer the truth, but if what I believed was true, what causes it and why.

We all have something we dislike in general. Of course, people are on that list. But prejudice may not have any direct relationship to how people are treated. For some reason before taking on this project, I changed my mind. Maybe feeling I could be wasting my time asking anybody, especially blacks who I felt would be more difficult, knowing most probably dealt with racism, and so would tie racism and prejudice together.

But there are definite reasons that will prove blacks do and it can become as forceful as most people know it, when stimulated by some degree of prejudice. I find this is evident of blacks that seem to be unnecessarily uneasy and protective to allegedly not damage their identity. They often distant themselves from being connected to any black's in certain social situations, especially those who may require some care or any degree of supervision.

So should I blame racism entirely on whites, or any other group today? Maybe not, because this demeanor creates new concerns, since it's provoked by a philosophy that's often passed to the most dedicated of blacks that are struggling to keep their heads above water. Here the criticism is more severe.

In addition, it claims their limited efforts restrain their ability to strengthen their social, economic and political independence. Unfortunately, those who make these claims don't realize it could be guaranteed if they shared the responsibilities. But maybe they don't because they feel they have since risen above adversity. They have a right to express their opinions even publicity, or by any other means without facing rebuttal. This may not be pleasing to whites or others.

Since history shows they need no encouragement. Except it may arouse the prejudices they already have about us to feel they have no reason to show tolerance. But again, it may not be done with intent since it may express to the status quo that they're more conservative. So not to be typecast, as individuals who would give support to people with many weak points who could be labeled a minority indefinitely, what's difficult, but really important.

There are no advocates committed long enough to disclaim it as often as it surfaces. So it continues to pile up, leaving those who are aware of it frustrated and wondering why those who should be concern are as thoughtless as those they always expect to be.

It's okay to believe if you're black or not, we all have an equal chance. Truth is, that idea is rarely believed amongst blacks that may sometimes experienced some form of institutional bigotry. But the privileges and advantages of whites and others they may tolerate, is usually shared less with the core of blacks unless there some willingness to compromise or conform to certain specifics.

So after doing it my way, researching books and literature, listening and occasionally observing it happening, I was happy. Not because of what I discovered, but realizing it kept me out of heated situations, knowing it's as controversial as arguing about religion.

So after putting it all together to see if my thoughts were prejudice also, I discovered I was right. It's something that's been going on for decades, but again possibly without intent, but more often, to be accepted and recognized to be someone, who's above the magnitude of their race. But sometimes intelligence leaves no room for common sense.

Few have the insight or maybe care; we all don't have to have credentials or wealth to be viable contributors to the race. What's really unfortunate, is many seem to try and minimize the damage they do as they squirm their way back, followed by claims of racism, when they're faced with circumstances that blacks have dealt with most of their lives.

© August 2006 By Afromerica
T. Duffy Afro staff writer.

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