Louve00
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Joined: 2/1/2009
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quote:
ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk
I am not going to get into this debate here. I stated my opinions on it way back on the first page. But Bull's post about earning things and what all people can do brought up a point that reminded me of something.
Years ago I was working in a hospital as a respiratory therapist. There was a Chinese man (a respiratory therapist also) who worked in my department on the night shift. This guy worked nights in respiratory at the hospital, and by day he owned his own business in real estate. I asked him once what gave him the desire to have a successful job at night (which paid pretty damn good and even better with the night differential pay) and also dedicate himself to his own real estate business.
His response was when he was living over in China, the people of China had limited information about their gov't and aside from that did not always have the right to work in any field they wanted to. He said when he came to America, found out as much about the gov't as he did and that the sky was the limit on what he could do, he wondered why all Americans didn't seize that opportunity.
Cute story. But know what? When Mr. Chinese Man walks into his local bank for that loan alongside of me who do you think will get the loan? Him.
When Mr. Chinese Man goes to show a home in a gated community will he have to show ID and watch for the local Police to come round to ask him what he is doing there? No, I would.
So please save me from the "Gotta take yourself from your bootstraps" song and dance.
His wonder was a good one. His race didn't stop him for success, despite the fact that english was not his first language and he was not always easy to understand and didn't always understand American wit and sarcasm (I laughed my ass off when he told me he tried to put an oxygen mask on a drunk man and the man refused and his response to that was laughter and he added..."he must be a bare head" (he meant skin head! lol)
But it rang home obviously to me that opportunity is there for the grabbing. Do you want to grab it, or do you want to blame someone for you not grabbing it. Its a choice we all are entitled to make. Looking at the number of black politicians, along with the number of sucessful black, jewish, chinese and whatever else race I look at, the sky is limitless for all of us if we want to take the time to make it ours. Of course, you could very well face prejudice, if you aren't lilly white and a part of the American 'norm'. But its your personal reaction to that prejudice that will keep you down or not.
My husband is black. I detest racial prejudice...or any prejudice. But sometimes we shirk accountability in the name of prejudice. 
If you're walking into the bank with Mr Chinese man, I suggest you have a suit (with a tie) on. A reason you want the loan, and credentials, references, or a good plan of action to pay it back, because thats what it takes to get a loan. Not just wanting one, but making yourself credible. Alongside with making yourself responsible. So don't walk into the bank expecting anything, if you haven't done anything but say you want something. As long as you live, no matter where it is, you'll have to find out, or hopefully learn eventually, that for most people (even white people) life won't be handed to you on a silver spoon, so get off your ass and show someone you want to work for yourself, if you want them to loan their money to you! Thats not a bootstrap song...thats just a fact.
Oh, and for what its worth, my black sister in law lives in a gated community. I can't get into it without her permission. So, what were you saying about showing ID in a gated community? I have met my share of successful black people and I've also met my share of black people who have a chip on their shoulder and think the world owes them something. It's all in the attitude.
Don't get me wrong DYB, I'm not saying there is no prejudice out there. I have felt the distastefulness of prejudice, just by standing next to my husband as a couple, with our daughter at our side. But those people can only stop me or my husband if we let them (and at times that can be a headgame, but it is what it is).
Before my husband got sick, he was a landscaper. He had his own business. (imagine that, a black man...who got loans for heavy duty equipment, was bonded, licensed and insured, and no one stopped him from achieving that!) I can give you more examples, but those examples aren't nice examples, and would just speak for the young black men in one community. So I'll stop there.
But your sarcasm isn't going to win me over. Tell me what you do, what you want to do, how you plan on doing it, and who's stopping you from getting there, and then I may even tell you how to get around them! (providing you take the chip off your shoulder and listen!)
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For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are. - Niccolo Machiavelli
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RE: African complicity in the slave trade.... - 
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I was trying to emphasize the existence of societal forces, because the genetic explanation is repugnant and false. 
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