How about stopping lumping people together in such generic groups as to create the ridiculous impression that they're "oppressing themselves". Until all Americans stop characterising individuals primarily on the basis of skin colour, I don't think you'll ever get anywhere with the range of social and criminal problems you're facing.
Good advice. That's how I was raised.
I don't agree with it, though - why? Because I'm white. I can't do anything about 'black crime,' 'black broken families,' and 'black community unrest' - etc - because I'm white. Being white, I'm seen by many blacks as the reason why their lives are crime-ridden, why their families are so broken, and their communities are amid such unrest. This is true - because it's what I hear all the time from people that the black community holds in high regard. I'm an outsider: I'm told i don't understand their life, their history, and thus I'm pushed away no matter what
I believe.
I don't believe race matters, but a lot of them DO think it does. What does that mean in the end? They have to help themselves. That's what they want. That's exactly what they've created. I, personally, had nothing to do with slavery and Jim-Crow but because maybe my great-great-great grandparents did, I'm negated. They will push away the law, claiming it's all racist. They will push away help and support if it comes from outside their community.
Do all of them do this? No. Of course not. But those that do, they're a vast majority.
They need to let go of racial angst and accept laws, accept reality, and accept HELP when it's given.
I do not believe the majority of US whites are racist - but a lot of blacks do think this. We're spited even when we've never held any of them in low regard.
What does this leave me feeling? Sorry that they won't let people through and won't listen to reason and try to let go of the past. Do I blame them? Not really.