4/4/97

The Conflicts of the Black Race:
Delayed Economic and Educational Progress

In the 1960's, blacks, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., fought for their civil rights and equal opportunities.  Although they had only been out of slavery for less than a century, they felt the time was way past due for them to receive the same treatment as other American citizens.  Our people struggled to receive decent education programs for their youth for the right to earn a decent living, and to receive respect from other racial groups.  Fortunately for our generation, their fight ended in victory.  However, 30 years later, despite the progress made then, our community does not seem to have kept up with our ancestor's rate of self-improvement.  Not only are blacks still disrespected by other races, problems also plague us such as poverty, drugs, and miseducation.  To make matters even worse, we also have a serious lack of unity.  Some of us feel as though it is not our responsibility to help other blacks when they are in need.  Another major problem is the existence of racism.  This negative attitude leads to many physical and psychological problems within the black community.  Therefore, lack of unity within the black community and the effects of racism are two major factors when contribute to the slow progress of black people.
Before the Civil Rights movement racism was so blatant that not knowing it existed would have been difficult.  Presently, it is so subtle that some argue we cannot blame racism for our problems.  Unfortunately, they are wrong.  The effects of racism can be seen in the segregation of our neighborhoods and in our high unemployment rates.  White people want to keep their contact with us to a minimum.  In 1991, USA Today reported that the 1990 census "concluded that 'the majority of the nation's 30 million black people are as segregated now as they were   . . . in the '60s' " (Smith 104).  This proves that although some blacks' incomes have increased, they do not always live in neighborhoods they can afford because the area is usually predominately white.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that anti-black discrimination was widespread in the housing industry in 1992 (Smith 105).  This practice can be found in the workplace.  Ed Smith, Ph.D. found that "blacks with college degrees had a 13 percent unemployment rate in 1987 compared to five percent for whites" (Smith 112).  Many studies exist that prove that college-educated blacks are not much better off than high-school graduates.  The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights admitted that "'lack of education is not the reason for high minority unemployment' " (Smith 112).  The only explanation which justifies these figures is racism.  As long as anti-black racism exists, blacks probably could not progress at the same rate as other minority groups.
It is a well-known fact that white people have more control than minorities in this country.  They have the power to deny blacks housing and unemployment.  Because of white people's prejudices, blacks have found it difficult to move up on the social and economic ladder.  Also, exposure to constant discrimination causes some people to believe that they are worthless and incapable of succeeding.  In order to overcome this obstacle, we have to take control of our own minds and lives.  Until we as a people become aware and begin to raise our self-esteem, we will continue to let racism be a plague to our race.
The slow progress of our race has led many blacks to become pessimistic.  They lose their self-respect because they believe that everything is against them.  Therefore they give up on trying to better themselves and on helping their fellow brothers and sisters.  These thoughts are picked up by youth who grow up believing that there is no way out of the ghetto.  When young black men are asked why they commit crimes and drop out of school, they place the blame on society.  Instead of disagreeing with them, more people need to try to understand why they are saying this.  A black inner city minister commented that "you can't be what you ain't seen" (Smith 101).  The only professionals that many inner-city youth meet are police officers, judges, and social workers.  Because these meetings are usually the result of a negative event, there is no incentive for the youth to better themselves.  Unless older blacks become better role models for our youth, the cycle of welfare and unemployment will continue.  Although every black person is not in this particular situation, the ones who are will hinder the progress of the whole race.
Racism has many negative effects on blacks.  The list goes on and on.  If we continue to fall victim to these effects, our progress will never be fully achieved.  We, as a people, must take action and start to help ourselves.  If that means pooling our money together and providing better schools and more jobs, then so be it.  In order to progress we must do whatever is necessary.  Our main dilemma is not that we are not aware of our problems.  It is our inability to deal with them.  Whenever we come up with solutions to the problem, we start complaining about how difficult it is, or how much money it is going to cost.  It is very sad when a person can spend $500 on an outfit, but cannot even contribute $100 to help further a child's education.  It is a pitiful sight when we settle for a job that we are overqualified for instead of getting together with our fellow brothers and sisters and starting our own business.
We need to stop saying that we  "can't" and start following Clark Atlanta University's motto "I'll find a way or make one."  An example is a program called "Friends Helping Friends" where people put their money together and give it to one person.  It works in the form of a pyramid.  There are eight people on the bottom, then four, then two, and then one on top.  The person on top gets the money from the eight people on the bottom.  That person then moves off the top and the pyramid splits into two and each start all over again by building up the bottom eight spots.  As long as people keep contributing everyone will receive eight times the amount that each individual puts in.  This is an excellent way to help others without having to put yourself in a risky situation.  If we could get all neighborhoods to participate in this program, we could easily build our own schools and businesses.
Just because our progress has declined in the past 30 years does not mean we have to sit back and wait to hit rock bottom.  To accomplish the task of taking control of ourselves, we have to work together as one.  If we continue trying to work alone, we will never reach our goals.  Yet if we work as a union, we can conquer our failures and continue to move upward and forward.  


 REFERENCES


Smith, Ed.  Not Yet Over the Hump.  Fairbank, Alaska: JAED, 1994.