Harsh Truths and Displaced "Success"

Harsh truths beget harsh words which beget harsh actions which beget WARS. This is not to say that that email is cause for a declaration of war between the races. Not all people feel that way, and most posses enough class to be more subtle about it. Nevertheless, I'm sure all people can acknowledge the truth behind the words. That letter was designed to imply that blacks are the reason for social class distinction, and sadly, there is much evidence to support its theory. Not all blacks, but a good number can account for much on which the letter was written.

Far from Utopian, this society is defined by class distinction and social status. The intricacies of it are so much bigger than you and me, but for the sake of argument; let's just distinguish it at the upper, middle and lower class levels. The letter lumped most blacks into the lower class, with upper class tendencies. The writer gave kudos to a ridiculously small percentage (where did they get their statistics?) of blacks who have actually earned the upper class distinction, but then cut them down by essentially stating that they are still only a stone's throw away from poverty. According to this letter, there is no winning in this game for blacks. It was written with such hauteur that one can only assume that the writer was laughing at the fact that many blacks continue to inflict a modern-day slavery upon themselves through industry and consumption of goods. Supply for the demand.

However, that is not accurate. It does not stem from economy. This latter day slavery is a response to slavery in the former days; an attempt to show that they (the overextended blacks) are the ones in control. The only thing it shows is overcompensation for a lack of control. I will not say that I am proud of the actions of many blacks who go through economic constraints as an attempt to control their world, but I do agree with the writer that our people could stand to have some guidance in this before it goes spiraling completely out of control.

Why is it that many blacks remain in a constant state of oppression? For what: Self pity? Fear? All of the above? What do we have to pity!? We are being given the same opportunities as many races out there. Many people come to this country searching for a change. America: the land of opportunity. They have truly been oppressed, yet we who are born here and raised here do nothing to better our status. No wonder we pity ourselves. With a track record like that, there is no one else to do it for us. If that is wrong, then it must be fear. Do we fear the unknown? My personal mantra is: Do not let the fear of failure be the cause of failure...and vice versa. If it is fear, it must be recognized for what it is. We all know and understand the importance of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did for the black community. We truly appreciate the opportunities that he and others collaborated to create for their future generations...for us. Fearless were they. Knowing wrongs were being done, they took the time to take a stand for changes. Some died for those changes. Not martyrs, but people with passions about something and who were ambitious and brave enough to do something about those passions. What do we have to fear? That people will laugh at us? That people will kill us for attempting to do better for ourselves? It is dignified to want to do better for you. It is something good to want more for yourself and for your future generations. I'd like to think that racial oppression is no more, but I know what reality is, and it would mean that I was not living in it, if I thought that way. It is not up to other races to 'come around' to our way of thinking, but it is up to us as a race to show ourselves that we can be a great people. We must come to realize that their struggle was against slavery, now ours is to gain the respect due. We no longer have to inflict a struggle against slavery if we put our efforts toward creating a better existence for ourselves.

What will we leave for our future generations? What will we have done to ensure their prosperity? We say it all the time: The great Dr. and others like him paved the way for us.

Despite all the rather harsh words and simple minded theories in that email, I do not harbor anger toward that writer. The mere fact that he or she felt threatened enough to write in such a manner in response to a concern over the situation shows that there is a chance to make a difference in this world. Not in retaliation to that email, but because it needs to be done. This letter should be taken as a challenge, a motivator of sorts for ambition lacking. We have no reason to respond to the accusations in this email, but as a proud people, it is our duty to continue to build upon that which our ancestors fought to establish, and to provide a means of dignified survival for our present and future generations.