mixedmedia

My assertion is that there are nearly intractable cultural, political and socio-economic forces acting on black Americans, in particular those living in inner cities but, also in rural communities with depressed economies, that make something as virtuous and uncomplicated as personal responsibility an exceedingly obscure and circuitous route that a small percentage of the lucky and exceedingly determined can navigate. I assert that we (America) have ignored this situation and it has become a cultural phenomena that is mired generations and generations deep into a culture of abjection and dispiritedness. But still, these millions should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps? Where are they going to go? I know that immigrants come here and do this, I know, I know. But that is different in that they are coming here and starting fresh. They are getting away from their bad situations. Not trying to make it in spite of them.

I just think there is way too little understanding on this issue.

And as for rap music...think of it this way. Rap music is an artistic expression. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant. A lot of people didn't like "piss Jesus" either, but people like us will fall over ourselves to defend an artist's right to express themselves however they choose. But as far as rap music goes, you want to chip away and censor the one lucrative and recognized form of expression that they have right now. Rap music has brought a lot of young men and women out of the ghettos.

I just think people need to think more deeply on this issue and realize that a lot of what is being said on threads like this legitimizes the concepts that drove the anti-desegration movement. Sorry if you don't like it and don't want to own that, I wouldn't want to either, but it's the truth.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce