Trying very hard not to sound like a bloody racist

I'm not a racist - I'm not.

The famous last words of a racist right?

Disclaimer: I will not address the problems with all races today. I will not "balance" my arguement for I am not making one, just stating some thoughts of mine and some observations. Should one want to debate on issues confronting another race besides the one discussed here I shall be much obliged and am well-versed. Have a problem with my "ganging up" on the following race: kiss off.

As I sat in the front lobby of work today, an African-American woman drove into the room on a Rascal. An actual Rascal - not one of those cheep knock-offs. She is overweight - I'm not being a weightist either - she is. She rolled in, said hello, I said hello in return and she parked in the corner - It seemed she was waiting for the bus and wanted to wait in the air conditioning - hey, I'd do the same. Here is what appals me: she parked, then got up... let me repeat that... she parked, then GOT UP and walked around to the back of her Rascal and fetched a bottle of water. She stood there plain as day and drank her water, then shuffled around in her bag a little, then walked around the lobby looking at the literature. She sat in one of the LOBBY chairs for a while. Then she checked her watch, and realizing the bus was to arrive soon, hopped back on her Rascal - said goodbye and rolled on her bloody way.

Alright - I am not proposing that we attempt to regulate who does and who does not use a Rascal, that would be a ridiculous waste of energy. What I am proposing is that we recognize the REAL problems we face in America. A vague statement, I'm sure.

What, in this case, is a REAL American problem is a trend of laziness I've seen in the African-American community - especially in California. This is not a problem for Caucasians, Asians, Europeans, or anyone else to deal with - it is for the African-American community - and the African-American community alone - to deal with.

I call it laziness - yes laziness - I've heard it called many other things: restitution, pay-back, "workin' the system." I call it shear and utter laziness. I'm not sure what I owe the African-American community myself - but I'm sure there's something.

I am not going to say that only black folks "work the system." EVERY race in this country has fuckin' moochers. However, being that the African-American community is such a vital part of who we are as a country and our ability to operate, it is of utmost importance that African-Americans as a whole begin to evolve again.

What do I mean?

When native Africans were brought to the States to serve as slaves their growth was stopped and most of their culture perverted and twisted into what their white masters wanted and prefered. This was the beginning of the African-American culture as it stands today - and completely evident.

The African-American community needs to recognize that their culture began out of a very terrible place, and that is a very hard thing to build on. Still today, they are struggling with their history. It seems to me that the growth in the African-American community has been stunted by a myriad of variables. Technology and availability of social programs among them. I have the feeling that a great deal of African-Americans feel as though they are "owed" something and that they have the right to a little more for a little less.

I'm sorry folks: this is not the case. We all need to do our part, work for our dollars, and pull our weight. In my opinion the problems of the African-American communtiy are many, including single motherhood and multi-father families, significantly falling education rates and college-going students, crime and poverty (which are inextricably linked), and health issues. The next generation MUST make a change in their ways of doing things and most definatly in the ways they interact with their society. If they fail to do this: to encourage their children and fellow tribesmen to procure education (right now, it's more impressive to have graduated from prision rather than from high school), to live their lives in peace and in harmony with the world around them and to take care of their families and their health as much as possible... the downward spiral I currently observe their community in will worsen to a degree I cannot fathom. This is, of course, good advice for anyone of any color, but today I speak of the African-Americans. A culture that has tight ties to our early history (as well as being partly responsible for ensuring our continuing survival as a Union) and which is a beautiful sub-culture in our nation.

I plead with the future parents and scholars of the African-American community: please focus on yourselves and the improvement of your state in life, if you don't, I fear you will all find yourselves in a dire state of affairs that will ultimate lead to the self-destruction of your beautiful society that offers and provides us with so much - yet gives itself so little in return.

Dancing my dance.
Zitaos