Since Dr. MLK Day is tomorrow, I wanted to get an idea of where we all stood as far as race relations go. I personally believe that guys like Al Sharpton and Don Imus are hurting each side of the argument. How far do you think we have come / have left to go since Dr. King preached his message to America from D.C.?

In his "I have a dream" speech, which is possibly one of the most uplifting messages, full of hope, that I've ever heard, King knew that though progress toward racial equality had been made, blacks were still crippled by hatred and discrimination in American society. And because he feared that constant oppression would bring about revolt his messages always insisted that only peaceful demonstration was the answer. How can you not admire a man who never wavered in that belief, even as he saw that what happened to his people before was STILL happening in his lifetime.

Regarding how far have we come, I think some people have come a very long way. But unfortunately I also think that some people not only haven't moved forward but never will. It's the same mindset that keeps children born in ghettos in the ghetto as adults, beliefs that our parents had and their parents before them and no matter how wrong those beliefs are, nobody steps outside and looks at things differently. It's a cycle of ignorance and no one is able or even wants to change their perceptions.

Just as some people are so proud of their confederate history, others are proud of their ethnic or racial stock...but why should we be? It's not like we had anything to do with who our forebearers were. But pride itself isn't what's bad...it's when someone holds the belief that their ethnic or racial stock is somehow superior to anyone else's. And that's called racism.

Martin Luther King's message was good because it was his desire to make blacks recognize their own worth and to stand up for their rights as Americans. Then after he died, others like Jesse Jackson came along and his message was different. He took a more negative approach, always looking backward at how their race had been persecuted in the past and somehow believing that other groups now "owed them" for their suffering. People who are always looking backwards NEVER make any real, productive changes for the better.

But I digress. As much as people preach peace and togetherness and tolerance and harmony, we still perpetuate the opposite of all those things in so many ways. Every racist joke someone tells is an attempt to demean or exert power over another group and consciously or unconsciously promotes racism in that tiny way.

Remember that it was only a few years ago that Alabama voted down the ban on interracial marriage. And certainly that's a good thing. But the bad thing was, the vote barely passed. There were almost as many people who thought it should still be illegal - in 2000! - as those who believe that all men and women are created equal.

So how far have we really come? Not far enough, that's for sure.

"You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one"

-John Lennon

yes it is achievable. but blacks need to stop blaming whites for thier problems. blacks have more opportunity than the average white. y'all can go to just about any major college for free. you are almost guaranteed a job. so stop yer whining. oh, and by the way, I'm not racist, just tired of the whining.

ulsterscot - 22 January 2008 07:40 PM

yes it is achievable. but blacks need to stop blaming whites for thier problems. blacks have more opportunity than the average white. y'all can go to just about any major college for free. you are almost guaranteed a job. so stop yer whining. oh, and by the way, I'm not racist, just tired of the whining.

Not every black person is whining. Not all blacks are blaming whites for their problems. Its true, because of their minority status that they have more opportunities in life but it doesnt mean they have it any easier.

and the "Oh, and by the way, Im not racist" remark makes me really question you.

Oh, and by the way, Im not racist...... I just play one on TV.

"I'm not homophobic...I just hate gays."

"I'm not sexist...women just need to shut up and stay in the kitchen where they belong."

"I'm not racist...it's just that all blacks are whiners."

People aren't defined by labels but rather by the things they say, the way they act, and what they believe.

-nab