From slaves, who learned to read by the light of the moon, after their masters went to sleep, to the most militant blacks entering the 20th century, the message for us was always freedom, equality, unity and education.

Although it may not have been in that order, the latter was always believed to be necessary to better our chances for the future. Nevertheless, a group unified is a social barometer that encourages it, and is able to dissect any and all crucial matters coming from the outside.

Moreover, just as important, it keeps an eye on the inner workings so important internal matters wouldn't be outsourced by dissidents. But looking back again at slavery, any reason they had to act as a unit would be primarily to escape the tyranny of slavery. So any other notion to condition themselves in the same manner would have to have come years later, after slavery allegedly ended.

And even if it was a choice and became a part of their social demeanor, it would still have little success because dissidents were isolated and often punished.

But today, with circumstances a little less trying, the harmony within the race should be as ordinary as drive-by shootings. Regardless what we've learned or remember about slaves wins or loses, what seems to have gone unnoticed is they were slaves, not one slave, so they fought for freedom together.

Minus those who tried to do it alone and are still trying to find their way out in the woods, in their ghostly remains.

If blacks feel they have more reasons today to believe there are fewer problems for the rest of us, then they must also believe equality and freedom is no longer an issue, so racism is something in the past.

But I don't want to get too far away from my concerns. Without technical skills, most people know it takes many parts to make an automobile work as it was intended. So with certain similarities, it takes the same basics to make our presentation as a group credible, unfortunately.

So because of certain weakness in this area, it encourages others to put us all together and suggest we're just a group with no real concern for anything that takes effort. In addition, that we have no potential to make any viable contribution to this country's needs, still using the circumstances of the socially deprived as an example.

The only time blacks in the middle get any publicity is when they're trying to get their share of financial breaks as other's. But now thinking, some may feel what I say here is just another black moaning and groaning again. I can assure them, the most impressive Political responsibilities they could conceive are limited to the choices of whites, and not because blacks rallied to put them there.

However, more to our blame, our shortcomings as a group is based on us, being easily influenced to believe things are okay. Especially when we allow ourselves to be stirred by the clanging social diversity bell. Yet it only perks their memory to the time they're willing to tolerant us, so they can add to their riches, or get lucky enough to corner our successes to be their own.

It may sound unfair, but I can assure you, it's not racists. It's an inherent trait, just as blacks are known to be inherently less cautious about their lives, when smiling faces says times are less demanding to be on guard.

But moving on, there are blacks who will continue to be unwilling to include themselves in anything the rest of us are concerned about or doing. So for them, here's something they often complain about.

Single parent homes often mean lives that are lacking what most people in complete families have. The guilty are people who are often selfish and shortsighted; they're just continuing the domino effect.

So the reason why it's difficult for some blacks to live better lives is that they fail to try to change anything that could possibly make a difference in their future.

So this adds to the speculation, because people who see and hear this are often confused, wondering what is it about us that keeps us from trying to repair the things that affect us. So it doesn't hurt to listen to responsible blacks who's been there and done that, aside from those whose well off.

It's easy for someone whose bank account is overflowing, to tell you how to make it. The persons grinding the stones everyday, going through difficult times who can tell you what it really takes to stay afloat.

Most affluent blacks didn't get their boost of encouragement only from blacks who were well off, if at all. If it wasn't their parents, it was teachers, other family members, or by observing people they chose not to become.

It's fragile to use whites as an example because we're missing the ingredient that keeps them moving ahead and it's called support. Our reluctance sometimes to help blacks here, or maybe reach out to those in other parts of the world, is because our passive, impulsive nature, keeps us unsettling.

We breezed through the 20th century without building a foundation, so there's no place to return to; to be recharged. Therefore, our state of affairs is still not as secure as it should be even with accomplishments.

Although we've never been afraid to voice our opinion, cautious blacks in key positions know it's better to keep their mouth shut, or be careful what they say, or their decline can be rapid and costly. Those who reached the pinnacle of their endeavors and could present that success to inspire other blacks may frequently develop conditions that are sometimes puzzling.

It often affects their ability to deal with opposing factions they feel are watching their every move. Unfortunately, paranoia, which comes next, causes many to give up and financially sell out to the highest bidder. Instead of listing them by name, I'll just add this.

The source of real power, which control and set the rules, choose to believe a black person's accomplishments have no basic influence on other black's ability to rise to corporate entrepreneurship. In addition, our successes are nothing more than short anecdotes that stirs our doubt factor and put egg on the faces of advocates who complain about less opportunity.

But it still doesn't explain why our advancements get less attention than our fall. What it may show is no black person, has ever obtained or sustained any successful political, private or celebrity position for any length of time without the approval or participation of whites.

Of course, some underground faction may not decide it secretly, but it seems to be essential for whoever they are. For whites, at any level of the society, to see the Forbes list of wealthy whites would just say to them everything is still okay.

When blacks see blacks on that list, animosity and discord sometimes surfaces, because some equate their success as a way of selling out. Unfortunately, it's blacks who feel they've been categorized by whites and forgotten by blacks.

But most blacks are intelligent enough to look at it as something they could accomplish and conservative enough to not be overwhelmed yet appreciative of the successes of other blacks. Unfortunately, there are still a few who have difficulty dealing with it, to make it unanimous.

But until we learn to perform as a group and contribute pertinent ideas that will make a difference just for our well being, we will always be at the mercy of those who can and often use us at will.

Sadly, most people are creatures of habit. So if we continue doing our own thing, especially if individually we feel we're better off than most, we will disregard the intent of those who have passed. Whose hard work was to provide a foundation for our future so these things would no longer be an issue.

© 2004 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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