Years after the civil war, the emancipation proclamation, countless civil rights marches, civil rights movements, protest and legislation, the monstrously insidious head racism is still very much a daily part of American life, and is deeply woven into the fabric of this country.

From the ghettos of America, the halls of academia, to political policy making on Capital Hill, it is unavoidable that not enough is being done to destroy the cancerous mind-set that is so preeminent in this country.

Some of the first signs of racism manifest itself during Thomas Jefferson's Notes on Virginia. In his Notes on Virginia, Thomas Jefferson repeatedly made comparisons between Blacks and Whites putting whites in the obvious place of superiority.

An excerpt from Jefferson's Notes on Virginia 1781:

"To our reproach it must be said, that though for a century and a half we have had under our eyes the races of black and of red men, they have never yet been viewed by us as subjects of natural history. I must advance therefore as a suspicion, that Blacks whether originally a distinct race, or made distinct by time and circumstance are inferior to white in the endowments both of body and mind.

The improvement of blacks in body and mind, has been observed by everyone, and proves that their inferiority is not merely the effect of their condition (as slaves in America)."

Paraphrase...

This quote is merely one of many of the racially charged statements made by one of the founding fathers of America. It can also be said, that this mindset invoked into academic and religious doctrine has poisoned the minds of millions of Americans from white, black, brown, yellow and everything in between.

If Colonial racism wasn't enough, now we have cultural bigotry between people of color, where minorities hate each other merely based on their ethic background. It is imperative that we as a people, nation, and a world community, understand that the first rule of keeping someone in their place is divide and conquer. It is complete and utter folly for people of color to participate, and indulge in a game that was ultimately designed to keep them in their respective place…But, I digress.

The real question is this; why haven't the progenitors of this cancerous mind-set made more in depth attempts to eradicate this monster called racism.

Many American Presidents went through the motions during their tenure, however, did very little to actually reconcile the race problem in America, because racism is still very much alive in the 21st Century.

Let's look at the facts; On Jan. 1, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves free residing in the territory of rebellion against the federal government. However, the Emancipation Proclamation actually freed few people. It did not apply to slaves in Border States fighting on the Union side; nor did it affect slaves in southern areas already under Union control. In Las Vegas this is called slight of hand.

In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected and became the 35th President of the United States. During his presidential campaign he made countless promises to Blacks and people of color regarding the reconciliation of the racial tension in this country. In 1961 President Kennedy executed an executive order creating preferences in federal contracts to blacks. Gestures such as these were abundant during the civil rights era, but no lasting legislation came out of his tenure as President. It was not until 1967 during the Administration of Lyndon B. Johnson that the Affirmative Action Law was put into place.

Let's understand that Affirmative Actions and special government contracts for people of color merely addressed the symptoms (the effects of racism) not the problem (cause of racism) itself. Many professionals in the study of the human psyche have conceded, that to truly address and reconcile any psychological dilemma it must be dealt with at its source (origins), not merely the fallout (the effects). It is essential, that we as a nation take an unwavering look at some of the vehicles in which people become indoctrinated and poisoned into a racist mind set through religious and academic doctrine.

In 1993, William Jefferson Clinton was elected as the 42nd President of the United States. During his second tenure as president he pledged several things, one of which was his Initiative on Race, and the creation of one America.

In a speech given on July 14, 1997, at the University of California, San Diego, President Clinton announced his Initiative on Race and the creation of "One America in the 21st Century."

The Initiative on Race was to be a newly created Advisory Board, whom would have the responsibility of conducting an unprecedented conversation about race. This committee was also charged with preparing a final report on their findings and making recommendations in the effort of reconciling the issue of racism in America. The final report made broad sweeping statements such as, "that America should strongly consider taking forceful steps to reconcile its immoral past."

Needless to say, this has not been done, since Congressman John Conyers Jr. Bill HR 40 has been rejected by Congress every year since 1989.

In January 2001, George W. Bush became the 43rd President of the United States and has done absolutely nothing to reconcile the racial quandary in America. In fact, during the "World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance" from August - September of '2001, President Bush flat out refused to send a top cabinet member of his administration such as Colin Powell to this historic event.

He did however, send a very low ranking member of his administration with firm instructions, that the United States would not address the Palestinian - Israeli tension nor would his administration address race relations in America at this time. He further stated, that the mention of these two events would result in an immediate withdrawal from the conference by the Unites States.

Mr. President, if not now, when? In fact, President Bush has done more to stifle racial harmony, and exasperate racial tension in America with his 21st century version of racial profiling Middle Eastern men. Of course, to counteract the negative ramifications of these actions, he has made several extremely hollow statements against racial profiling.

America's complete focus regarding the war on terrorism has been focused on the Middle Eastern culture, more specifically Muslim men. Are we to believe that only people from this part of the world have the propensity to exact terror? Have we all forgotten about Timothy McVeigh? We most certainly don't see the faces of Caucasian men plastered all over our TV's during the nightly news.

And what about the countless Caucasian militia factions throughout America? Are we to believe that all so-called terrorists only adhere to a strict diet of Islam?

Even though many people are despondent about the invasion of Iraq, the President continues to forge forward full steam ahead. Whatever happened to a nation for the people by the people? When the civil servants that we elect into office stop listening to the people that put them there, we should immediately sound the trumpet of injustice. Our failure to do so, has allowed the ills of racism to run-a-muck.

Too many American citizens have become hoodwinked and bamboozled by the very people they have elected into office. This unchecked abuse of power has allowed racism to become so embedded in the minds of many in America, and so deeply ingrained in their psyche that many people are unaware that this disease permeates their minds in a stealth like manner.

On August 20 2004, the television show 20/20 conducted an experiment to determine the level racism for blacks in America who were merely attempting to obtain a simple job interview.

The program selected about a half dozen participants both male and female. The results of the experiment completely shock those who participated, and even some of the 20/20 staff members. However, it did not surprise me in the least, because the rule of thumb in America continues to be one of aristocracy, white privilege, and subjective racism.

The participants were three (3) African American females, and three (3) African American males with distinct (black) sounding names such as; Teniqua, Sheniqua, Ebony, Malik, DeShaun, etc… 20/20 had these individuals submit their resumes to major recruiting firms in the US. The only caveat was that they must submit two sets of resumes. One with their African American sounding names, and the other with a more common American sounding name such as; Becky, Jennifer, Robert, William, and so forth. The purpose was to see if the resumes with the more American sounding names would receive more callbacks than the resumes with the Black sounding names.

The program likewise had these same individuals post their resume onto major resume databases, and the results once again astounded the participants. More than 98% of the return calls for job offers, and interviews were for the resumes that had the more American sounding names. A mere 2% of all return calls were for the resumes with African American (sounding) names.

According to recent polls, the major problems that people see facing America in the 21st Century is racism and prejudice more than anything else.

Many people thought living together in harmony will be extremely difficult because of racism and prejudice, and others said that it was because of people's need to learn to get along with each other. Racism and prejudice were chosen most often by whites as well as by blacks.

Words like democracy merely represent feel good rhetoric. For if we truly lived in democracy, a black or woman president would not be seen as an aberration. America must rise above racial aristocracy to truly create a democracy.
- M. Quinn, Author '2001

It is my belief that racial (cultural) relationships can only be improved by people of all cultures coming together to discuss race relations in America with open and honest candor. Then and only then, can we move forward in harmony as a united people. And then, and only then will the word "UNITED" in "United States" have true meaning.

Too many Americans have adhered to the status quo, rather than become critical thinkers for effective, positive and social change. What I am describing, is a nation that has lost its ability to utilize discernment "critical thinking", and common sense in their everyday lives. In fact, the phrase "common sense, is uncommon" has become the theme song of the American populous.

We must understand that this great land we call "America" was founded by critical thinkers. If it were not for the separation of some European Brit's to declare their independence, and seek a better way of life, this nation would have never come into fruition.

An excerpt of the Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies of the United States of America, July 4, 1776 is a follows:

"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

I submit to you were the founding fathers true to the words of articulation written in 1776, and has racism truly gotten better in America or simply more covert in its approach?

The first method to cure cancer is diagnosis. That is a complete identification of the problem. Many people of color already believe that we are long past the identification stage. However, this stage can never be complete (past), unless the true origins (culprits) of this thing we "Race & Racism" openly admit, and give complete disclosure for their part, and make redress.

Further diagnosis, discourse and reformation are needed on a national and international level regarding this thing called racism. Where all parties, the accusers, and the accused can sit down with an open and honest dialog toward a remedy for this cancerous mind set.

So, I put forth this question; does the same establishment responsible for the creation, and perpetuation of a racist system owe Americans some sort of corrective solution. I say, absolutely yes!

In this day of social unrest, and moral impropriety it is imperative for America to adhere to the moral standard that she so vehemently hold the rest of the world too.

Further more, it is time that the stewards responsible for running this great nation, the congressmen, senators and more importantly the President, become as interested in the racial peace of our country as they are about the peace in Iraq, the Gaza strip, and the rest of the world.

As one of the most liberated nations on the earth we need to demand that the leaders of America do more to reconcile the racial dilemma in this country. More so, we as citizens of this great nation need to plant the seed of racial equality and harmony from black, white, red, brown and yellow people and let it grow one to another, community to community, state to state, and nation to nation.

In the wise words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends".

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