Black Man Issues EPIC Rant to 'My Black People' - Stop Blaming Racism, Take Responsibility

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Here's what I can't understand:

There are hundred, if not thousands, of educated and intelligent black men and women who have written and talked about the institutionalized racism that exists within society today. These are doctors, lawyers, and business folks who have experienced what people here say doesn't exist on a sometimes daily level. The mantra of it's all on black people seems to be the only thing that anyone wants to have a conversation about.

So, if 75% of black people feel like the system is broken, that there are inconsistencies that need to be dealt, they're blaming racism and it can't be true. One black person comes out and says it's on you black people, this renders all those other experiences moot? Is this the new common core? One person's experience's negates the majority?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Here's what I can't understand:

There are hundred, if not thousands, of educated and intelligent black men and women who have written and talked about the institutionalized racism that exists within society today. These are doctors, lawyers, and business folks who have experienced what people here say doesn't exist on a sometimes daily level. The mantra of it's all on black people seems to be the only thing that anyone wants to have a conversation about.

So, if 75% of black people feel like the system is broken, that there are inconsistencies that need to be dealt, they're blaming racism and it can't be true. One black person comes out and says it's on you black people, this renders all those other experiences moot? Is this the new common core? One person's experience's negates the majority?

He agreed that racism still exists and that it has to be dealt with, but he went on to say that as a people and more precisely on an individual level, we have to to do better and stop blaming these issues.

Pretty much things I have heard you say yourself.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

well, because anyone can post anything to youtube. and he might be dead on point, for the black people he considers his own but..'stop blaming racism, take responsibility' is way too simplistic a vantage for my taste.

Well the guy in the video is quite literally being used as a poster boy, isn't he. And the video itself doesn't say anything factual per-se, it's all this guys opinion - and as far as that goes it's not particularly useful in providing an informed view of race politics in the USA - it's just confirming what people want to believe.

Is he wrong in what he is saying - well there are certainly elements of truth to it, but as you say - extremely simplistic.

Here's what I can't understand:

There are hundred, if not thousands, of educated and intelligent black men and women who have written and talked about the institutionalized racism that exists within society today. These are doctors, lawyers, and business folks who have experienced what people here say doesn't exist on a sometimes daily level. The mantra of it's all on black people seems to be the only thing that anyone wants to have a conversation about.

So, if 75% of black people feel like the system is broken, that there are inconsistencies that need to be dealt, they're blaming racism and it can't be true. One black person comes out and says it's on you black people, this renders all those other experiences moot? Is this the new common core? One person's experience's negates the majority?

YouTube is easy. Reading is hard and takes both time and interest.

What we're seeing here is a case of people seeing what they want to believe and having no interest in the issue outside of their narrow frame of reference.

It's cool for you and him to have that opinion. I still think it's dickish to post vids of black people telling black people what's wrong with they're culture if you're not black. Doesn't change what he's saying, just makes you a bit dickish.

I wonder how many old white dudes passed judgement on this guy the moment they saw what he was wearing, then had a change of heart once they listened to what he was saying. Ya know?

I wondered about that.

Edited September 2, 2014 by Hail Ming!

[Karee 4,191]

Here's what I can't understand:

There are hundred, if not thousands, of educated and intelligent black men and women who have written and talked about the institutionalized racism that exists within society today. These are doctors, lawyers, and business folks who have experienced what people here say doesn't exist on a sometimes daily level. The mantra of it's all on black people seems to be the only thing that anyone wants to have a conversation about.

So, if 75% of black people feel like the system is broken, that there are inconsistencies that need to be dealt, they're blaming racism and it can't be true. One black person comes out and says it's on you black people, this renders all those other experiences moot? Is this the new common core? One person's experience's negates the majority?

I don't think anyone is saying "one guy posted a video on youtube, everything is resolved. conversation over" It's one guy's viewpoint. Some happen to agree with his viewpoint, including myself. Apparently other folks don't.

Seems anything that presents a message of personal responsibility is discarded, while messages that blame racism for all the ills are held in high regard.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't think anyone is saying "one guy posted a video on youtube, everything is resolved. conversation over" It's one guy's viewpoint. Some happen to agree with his viewpoint, including myself. Apparently other folks don't.

Seems anything that presents a message of personal responsibility is discarded, while messages that blame racism for all the ills are held in high regard.

Given how much race is discussed on here - I suppose I wonder why this video is so important to some people here. As Marvin says - there is a wealth of material out there about racism, racial inequality and social problems affecting minority communities. Why is this video more relevant than those - just because its more accessible and you can turn it up in a quick keyword search?

Are you and NB genuinely interested in this issue, or is your interest in it simply a passing one for the purpose of having a dig at black posters and your ideological opponents?

[decocker 7,198]

why is PERSONAL responsibility is brought up in conversations regarding racism (something one can't control, except for in their own attitudes about race) and the ENTIRE black community.

i don't keep company with a single person that doesn't wholeheartedly believe that personal responsibility is the key to success and happiness.

Who's pretending he speaks for all blacks?

TOP RIGHT NEWS.

[Karee 4,191]

Given how much race is discussed on here - I suppose I wonder why this video is so important to some people here. As Marvin says - there is a wealth of material out there about racism, racial inequality and social problems affecting minority communities. Why is this video more relevant than those - just because its more accessible and you can turn it up in a quick keyword search?

Are you and NB genuinely interested in this issue, or is your interest in it simply a passing one for the purpose of having a dig at black posters and your ideological opponents?

So if I have a positive opinion of the video, that's somehow taking a dig at black posters? My god.

I think what the guy says in the video is spot on and I agree with it 100%. Personal responsibility is the key to success moving forward IMO. Blaming something that happened decades even 100s of years ago is not. I think I've been pretty consistent here with that viewpoint.

In reality, if many in the black community are happy blaming their issues on racism, or class or whatever, there's not a whole lot I can do about that. And truthfully it doesn't affect me one way or the other. If folks are happy just getting by on govt. hand outs (black and white) while blaming others for their lot in life, more power to them. They're only hurting themselves and I have zero sympathy for them.

[decocker 7,198]

In reality, if many in the black community are happy blaming their issues on racism, or class or whatever, there's not a whole lot I can do about that. And truthfully it doesn't affect me one way or the other. If folks are happy just getting by on govt. hand outs (black and white) while blaming others for their lot in life, more power to them. They're only hurting themselves and I have zero sympathy for them.

see, in this paragraph - you start talking about the 'black community' then shift to your attention to people who live in poverty. you really don't care to have any actual understanding or knowledge on race relationship and class in this country, none of it affects you, you have zero sympathy.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

He agreed that racism still exists and that it has to be dealt with, but he went on to say that as a people and more precisely on an individual level, we have to to do better and stop blaming these issues.

Pretty much things I have heard you say yourself.

I don't think anyone is saying "one guy posted a video on youtube, everything is resolved. conversation over" It's one guy's viewpoint. Some happen to agree with his viewpoint, including myself. Apparently other folks don't.

Seems anything that presents a message of personal responsibility is discarded, while messages that blame racism for all the ills are held in high regard.

The reason I say this is because I've seen this mind frame here often. The case of TM was a perfect example. 95% of black people felt like justice wasn't served. Charles Barkley, Larry Elder, and to a certain extent Kobe Bryant didn't agree, their opinions negated everyone else.

The problem with racism in 2014 is, if it doesn't affect 100% of the minorities here, it's not racism. If a black person makes it, we're in a post-racial society. Which simply isn't true. Black people have unique obstacles we have to overcome that aren't in the lives of other immigrants. Some of it is on us, granted. And in that regards, there are things that can be done from the home front that will help with that. But what's on society, is leveling the playing field.

Chris Rock said it best. True equality is being able to get in the door with the same amount of effort as a white person. If I have to work twice as hard to get in front of a person who doesn't match my work ethic, something is wrong.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So if I have a positive opinion of the video, that's somehow taking a dig at black posters? My god.

I think what the guy says in the video is spot on and I agree with it 100%. Personal responsibility is the key to success moving forward IMO. Blaming something that happened decades even 100s of years ago is not. I think I've been pretty consistent here with that viewpoint.

In reality, if many in the black community are happy blaming their issues on racism, or class or whatever, there's not a whole lot I can do about that. And truthfully it doesn't affect me one way or the other. If folks are happy just getting by on govt. hand outs (black and white) while blaming others for their lot in life, more power to them. They're only hurting themselves and I have zero sympathy for them.

Well the assumption that you are making is that a large number of blacks in the USA (perhaps even a majority) lack personal responsibility and invoke racism simply to enable criminal or irresponsible behaviour. Again, there is some truth to that perspective but why is this the only perspective that is deemed important to talk about ad infinitum?

No, having a positive opinion of the video isn't having a dig at black posters - but I would suggest to you that the constant fixation on a very narrow aspect of a very broad, complex debate is absolutely about having a dig at black posters.

IMHO people who are genuinely interested in the issue of race politics - would be casting their net wide to read and consume as many sources and arguments as possible, not just repeating the same one over and over in different forms. As Marvin said - why does this video have more weight than say something written by a black academic (incidentally here's a piece by Walter Mosley, for example).

Why is this video so important? Because it confirms your world view?

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

And where or when, at which point in your opinion should the rest of society get involved? How much should we stand by and wait for blacks to help themselves before they earn the required credibility for society as whole to take action? At which point should we start acting as one nation, indivisible, with justice and liberty for all, regardless of color of skin?

I don't think blacks are committing crimes because of slavery. I believe blacks are committing crimes as a result of their circumstance during the 100 years that followed the end of slavery.

I think it is anytime you see or are aware of an injustice committed against a person because of their skin color. Never perpetrate said unfair treatment, that is a good start, but if you see it happening, stand up for what is right and let the perpetrator know you noticed, and that it is unacceptable.

[JohnR! 5,495]

+100!

I think it is anytime you see or are aware of an injustice committed against a person because of their skin color. Never perpetrate said unfair treatment, that is a good start, but if you see it happening, stand up for what is right and let the perpetrator know you noticed, and that it is unacceptable.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

why is PERSONAL responsibility is brought up in conversations regarding racism (something one can't control, except for in their own attitudes about race) and the ENTIRE black community.

i don't keep company with a single person that doesn't wholeheartedly believe that personal responsibility is the key to success and happiness.

TOP RIGHT NEWS.

Because it's the bootstrap theory 2.0. By saying it's all on you, it stops folks from looking at all the other issues. All you have to do is be better than everyone else.

Spooks and I talked about this recently. It's sad that we have to adopt a philosophy of being the best there is in order to get a foot in the door.

[Karee 4,191]

see, in this paragraph - you start talking about the 'black community' then shift to your attention to people who live in poverty. you really don't care to have any actual understanding or knowledge on race relationship and class in this country, none of it affects you, you have zero sympathy.

You're right, I don't. Doesn't affect me at all, so I don't care.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You're right, I don't. Doesn't affect me at all, so I don't care.

So... then you're posting about it because you want to have a dig at black posters perhaps?