Prometheus 6

The thesis and marketing of Juan Williams' new book are textbook examples how controversy is manufactured and why the black pathology business is a good investment. The issues, concerns, problems and claims made in Williams' book are not new. In fact, they are well known to millions of black people.

What troubles me is that Williams takes the path of least resistence and tackles issues that have been covered ad nausem. Look, for example, at the books that have been written and published on public policy issues by non-black journalists over, say, the past three years. The subjects of these books have included globilization and its effects on the American economy and workers; global climate changes; the so-called war on terror and its effect on America's domestic and foreign policies, the effects of welfare reform; and, the growing lack of affordable housing in America.

Williams, for example, could have written a book about the growing AIDS problem in the black community and why so many segments of the black community have been so slow to respond to this problem. He might have looked at the levels of violence in our inner-cities and tried to speculate on its root causes or the persistence of health disparities among African Americans regardless of income or education.

In short, Williams could have addressed at book length any number of topics or issues that pose seriously urgent problems to the black community. What he elected to do, IMO, was engage in trivial pursuit not for the edification and enlightenment of blacks folks but for the titillation and amusement of white folks. As a result (B)lack leaders and black pontificating intellectuals of all political stripes will spend the next 5 minutes of their allotted 15 minutes of fame discussing the alleged pros and cons of Williams' book.

The entire purpose of books written in the vein that Williams is mining is to make money for their authors and publishers. Reading and discussing such trivia is simply a form of work avoidance. If Williams was serious he would have written a more serious book on a more serious topic.

I am so tired of hearing the backlash against those who do not tout the "Black" company line, which is: "It's somebody elses fault."  Juan Williams is talking about inherent self responsibility-without it, the future of our children is bleak.  Fostering a climate of relative deprivation creates an environment that tricks children into thinking that not having the "bling-bling," is poverty.  This is a bold face lie.  "Bling-bling" is about capitalistic materialism painted with a black/brown face.

I have three teenage nieces who come from a good home, have 2 college educated parents (both of who put themselves through school), and have bought into the sad "Black" culture that glorifies most things that my forefathers did not march, fight, or die trying to change.  My sister and brother-in-law were activists.  They hosted KWANZAA in their home and started a black-oriented shop.  My nieces were raised with a distinct level of black consciousness, but have been engulfed by this black sub-culture of negativity. 

 I fear for their future survival.  When I was coming-up, African-Americans were the largest minority group in the U.S.-but not anymore.  We were willing to do the worst jobs and work the longest hours to get ahead-but not any more.  We did not have to compete against foreigners who knew more about poverty than we did.  

Someone please give us a solution that works and stop beating up on those who expose the "Failed Model."  It is time that some tell the emperor that he is naked. 

Fostering a climate of relative deprivation creates an environment that tricks children into thinking that not having the "bling-bling," is poverty. This is a bold face lie. "Bling-bling" is about capitalistic materialism painted with a black/brown face.

So what is the problem...the capitalist materialism or the black/brown face?

Understand? I'm not talking blame, I'm saying he's addressing the wrong misconceives the problems. If you really fear for your nieces' survival you'll want to address real issues.

When I was coming-up, African-Americans were the largest minority group in the U.S.-but not anymore.

I don't think that's important.

We were willing to do the worst jobs and work the longest hours to get ahead-but not any more. We did not have to compete against foreigners who knew more about poverty than we did.

That's because we think we're Americans now. Why is that a problem?

Someone please give us a solution that works and stop beating up on those who expose the "Failed Model."

What would this solution you're looking for accomplish?

Promethesus, I liked your take on Williams' editorial so much I linked to it. You might be interested in my attempted evisceration of Juan at "Times/WaPo Watch."

 cheers,

David Bikman 

It is time that some tell the emperor that he is naked.

What emperor? There is not now nor has there ever been a black company line. There is no failed model either. There are millions of black people who take responsibility for their lives and the lives of others every single day. It has been this way since we landed at Portsmouth, Virginia. There is no organized group of black people, at least no group that has any credibility or standing with the folk, who blame other people for their problems.

A problem is that people don't know what responsibility looks like. They think responsibility comes with suit and tie, with never speaking ebonics, with a wedding liscence,etc. But the truth of the matter is that it doesn't have to look like that. You can wear a doo rag and own your own business. You can be a single mom, and take care of your kids and make sure they get a good education, you can speak ebonics with your friends, and still speak standard in the court room. Heck, I may blame racism for societal problems, but that's not stopping me from getting my master's degree. People underestimate the complexity of life.

Heck, I may blame racism for societal problems, but that's not stopping me from getting my master's degree. People underestimate the complexity of life.

And they particularly misunderstand and misinterpret the complexities of black folks' lives. This is as true of non-blacks as it is of black elites no matter where they shake out on the political spectrum. There is no either/or for Black folk in terms of how they live their lives in this country. We take what we can use from, for example, the Booker T. Accommodationist School of Theory and Practice and we leave the rest. We take what makes sense to us from DuBois School of Challenge and Confrontation and we discard the rest. 

One of the problems black folks are dealing with today is that we live in an intensely partisan political environment. Everybody and their brother wants black folk to choose sides; preferably their side. Most black voters have chosen at least for now to vote for Democrats. This decision is not regarded as a rational act by those who have some axes to grind. What is forgotten is that black folk, whatever our shortcomings and failures, are enormously pragmatic and rational. (How could we not be and have survived for more than 350 years in America?) Black voters support Democrats because they perceive it is in their best interest to do so. When their perception changes they will support candidates from other parties.

The arguments or back and forth between Cosby, Dyson, Williams, Sharpton, Steele, Connerly etc. are sideshow events. Perhaps the members of the National Association for the Advancement of Certain People need Bill Cosby to remind them that something has gone amiss but the great mass of black folk in this country don't need a weatherman. They are well aware of the direction the wind is blowing. 

PT, excellent explanation / analysis of the necessity of our folks to be politically expedient when it matters most, or exercise it the skill of a Neurosurgeon.