Back in the day, Black people - like our grandmothers and fathers (sorry to say) - would request a white man or woman before they would a Black man or woman when deciding on a service. They believed that whites were better at their profession than Blacks were. Be it medicine or Law, for example.

Today, some Blacks still subconsciously hold this to be the case. They would choose a white lawyer or doctor over a Black lawyer or doctor (unless they can get Cochran). This choice not only goes for law and medicine, but spills over into areas like construction, accounting and tax prep, education (as far as teachers), auto repair, even web design, Internet service and the like.

The reason some Blacks feel this way is that they have no real confidence in the abilities of their Black counterparts. In fact, they have no real confidence in themselves. Whites do the same thing; however on a different level. They prefer their food preparation, childcare, and house cleaning to be done by Blacks. Just because someone base their preference on skin color does not make them bigots, in fact.

Some Blacks prefer Black service to white service. Reasons being, giving the Black person an opportunity for business, they trust more in their own than in the other, and they have confidence in their counterparts. Though these reasons could vary by individuals, they are the norm.

Another factor could be the extremities; for instance, how bad is the situation. There is a difference in going to court for a divorce and going to court for murder. Should that make a difference in the race of the professional? Some would agree and subconsciously choose based on this.

Like wise, there is a difference in going to the doctor for a health check-up and going in for major surgery. Who would you rather perform the surgery, a Black doctor or a white doctor? Cases vary and it really depends on the person in need.

We really should give ourselves a chance. If we don't, no one will.

© 2003 by Cartel Q