Here's a quote from Mr. Page's column:
"Culture matters. While he saw very poor fathers in Calcutta struggle and sacrifice so their daughters could get married, almost all of the Western countries with the strongest social safety nets have seen a decline in marriage rates across racial lines."This one bit jumped out at me. It's something I say quite often: culture matters. It's not about income or poverty or inequity or lack of government-provided food, shelter and health care. It's CULTURE.
At some point, so-called civil rights leaders, black religious leaders, teachers, hell I don't care who gets involved, someone, everyone is going to have to face up to the cultural mess facing black people in America. The situation has only gotten worse with the hip-hop generation. I dread seeing how the children raised by the current generation of savages will turn out. Yes, I used that word. Deal with it. This is frustration that far too many young people just seem to have lost all sense of decency and respect of others.
Somehow, today there is an acceptance of substandard behavior that would have shocked and shamed WEB Dubois, Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass (a brilliant man who came out slavery, taught himself to read and achieved greatness). Sadly, most young black people have no idea who these gentlemen are, and they don't really care. This is why they think being stupid is "acting black." Sadly, they aren't the only ones.
I get so tired of dealing with people who actually think that all black people behave like today's rappers, athletes and reality show deviants. Far too many white people, who still control most professional opportunities in our society, have no clue how to deal with black people who don't fit the current stereotypes. It's shameful when this prejudice is reinforced by black people.
Pardon me, but I never saw any video of Dr. King grabbing his crotch and speaking broken English. Don't dare expect such foolishness from me, not if you want to keep your head attached to your body. Okay, no violence, but hopefully you can sense the frustration felt my me and a lot of other black people who see the successes of the Civil Rights movement being flushed down the toilet.
In everyday life we have to stop making excuses for bad behavior. Children must be taught right from wrong. Standards must be set. Expectations must be raised. Enough is enough.
I had to get out that rant. I apologize for the language brought out by my passion. The sentiment remains.
