Sunday, July 28, 2013

--I've just written in the ruminations series an item (or, post) as my reaction to O'Reilly's critique on the status of  Black Culture in America on the FOX news network.  No doubt his series of commentaries on the topic was prompted in anticipation of the conference held by Black leadership on the topic last Thursday in Washington.  The point I wished to make in the item is that the facts he cites, e.g., youth unemployment and family disintegration, belie the most outstanding fact of all, viz., blacks living today have slavery as their heritage in America. Under slavery, the job a black was to have was not necessarily related to what he wanted to do. 

Now, someone may note that slavery has been outlawed and a civil war was fought over its continuance in the States over a century ago.  But to my mind, the effects continue: namely, blacks haven't been given the support from the American culture at large to develop in their culture--not the freedom to express their wants and desires--but the training to know what their personal wants and desires are and how to demand that these be met with the support of all Americans.  We whites have had such training, I contend.         

Specifically, with regard to black youth, education by those in charge of their upbringing must emphasize the importance of planning for their future as adults!  Their adult supervisors should ask the question of each black child, starting at the age of 3, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  And from that child's early age, there should be drawn up a plan by his mentors and in line with his expressed idea of what he wants to become, a path for him to follow.  Put generally, the black child should be respected such that his interests and wants are early asked for and subquently acted upon in a way which encourages him, so that once an adult, he will hold a job he wants to in a socially acceptable way and with the help of others who care about him!

I was honored to be on an evaluation team of Malcolm X College--I think the very first the college underwent.  I believe the reason why he was looking to Africa for guidance on how to handle the social and psychological problems blacks encounter as a result of their slavery experience is that he did not find the culture of New York City sufficiently understanding.

I argue in my item that the black culture needs to take a giant step into the black future through individual planning for the place each black wants to assume in the USA; and with society's assistance be able to take that position.  

--I'm still editing the Social-X series--up to the Social Change topic.  Going slowly, but such is life!