New Haven Independent

Posted by: dsf | October 31, 2007 3:48 PM

Jews only make up 1% of the US population.

Posted by: Common Sense | November 1, 2007 4:04 PM

I don't have any solutions or personal comments that would be exceptable to people attending the forum on "The Role of Personal Responsibility in the Black Community". I know what my role is in my personal responsibilities and I trust that I have lived up to them.

There are many sides to every story. I have been a reader of articles written by Walter E. Williams, a man of color, who happens to be my age. I am just passing on the contents of the article to see if it fits in anywhere with the Form Debate at Southern Connecticut State University. You be the judge! You can read many of Mr. Williams articles on the web.

The following is what he wrote on June 8, 2005. His article was title - Victimhood: Rhetoric or Reality.

"If you listened to the rhetoric of black politicians and civil rights leaders, dating back to the Reagan years, you would have been convinced that surely by now black Americans would be back on the plantation. According to them, President Reagan, and later Presidents Bush I and II, would turn back the clock on civil rights. They'd appoint "new racists" dressed in three-piece suits to act through the courts and administrative agencies to reverse black civil rights and economic gains. We can now recognize this rhetoric as the political equivalent of the "rope-a-dope."
As my colleague Tom Sowell pointed out in a recent column, "Liberals, Race and History," if the Democratic party's share of the black vote ever fell to even 70 percent, it's not likely that the Democrats would ever win the White House or Congress again. The strategy liberal Democrats have chosen, to prevent loss of the black vote, is to keep blacks paranoid and in a constant state of fear. But is it fear of racists, or being driven back to the plantation, that should be a top priority for blacks? Let's look at it.
Only 30 to 40 percent of black males graduate from high school. Many of those who do graduate emerge with reading and math skills of a white seventh- or eighth-grader. This is true in cities where a black is mayor, a black is superintendent of schools and the majority of principals and teachers are black. It's also true in cities where the per pupil education expenditures are among the highest in the nation.
Across the U.S., black males represent up to 70 percent of prison populations. Are they in prison for crimes against whites? To the contrary, their victims are primarily other blacks. Department of Justice statistics for 2001 show that in nearly 80 percent of violent crimes against blacks, both the victim and the perpetrator were the same race. In other words, it's not Reaganites, Bush supporters, right-wing ideologues or the Klan causing blacks to live in fear of their lives and property and making their neighborhoods economic wastelands.
What about the decline of the black family? In 1960, only 28 percent of black females between the ages of 15 and 44 were never married. Today, it's 56 percent. In 1940, the illegitimacy rate among blacks was 19 percent, in 1960, 22 percent, and today, it's 70 percent. Some argue that the state of the black family is the result of the legacy of slavery, discrimination and poverty. That has to be nonsense. A study of 1880 family structure in Philadelphia shows that three-quarters of black families were nuclear families, comprised of two parents and children. In New York City in 1925, 85 percent of kin-related black households had two parents.In fact, according to Herbert Gutman in "The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom: 1750-1925," "Five in six children under the age of 6 lived with both parents." Therefore, if one argues that what we see today is a result of a legacy of slavery, discrimination and poverty, what's the explanation for stronger black families at a time much closer to slavery -- a time of much greater discrimination and of much greater poverty? I think that a good part of the answer is there were no welfare and Great Society programs.
Since black politicians and the civil rights establishment preach victimhood to blacks, I'd prefer that they be more explicit when they appear in public fora. Were they to be so, saying racists are responsible for black illegitimacy, blacks preying on other blacks and black family breakdown, their victimhood message would be revealed as idiotic. But being so explicit is not as far-fetched as one might think. In a campaign speech before a predominantly black audience, in reference to so many blacks in prison, presidential candidate John Kerry said, "That's unacceptable, but it's not their fault."

Posted by: bjfair | November 1, 2007 10:23 PM

Common sense: The Black plight: Victimhood or Rhetoric?Guess what? Blacks ARE back on plantations. What do you think the massive number of prisons are around this country? (21 just in Connecticut) They are plantations/warehouses for those who provide cheap labor to this rich nation.Businesses set up shop within prisons. Prisoners have to pay to see a doctor, eat slop or buy their own food, pay exborbiant prices to call home to their families, and charged for the costs of their incarceration whenever possible even though they may not even have a bed to sleep in. Why are so many Black in prison:The biggest industry in America today is the prison industrial complex; a business that preys predominately Black males which is why the prison population is close to 70% people of color. The majority of Black men women and children are in prison as a result of NON VIOLENT drug offenses. Many lose the legal rights to their children sending many of them into foster care.This wasn't going on between 1800-1925.That's why families were intact.Mass incarceration began after Reagan initiated the war on drugs. Although it has been proven that the majority of drug offenders are white somehow the prisons are overcapacity with Black drug offenders. Institutionalized racism might be minimzed and defined as rethoric. Education: Because we have a Black superintendent in town does not mean children will receive all the tools that they need to succeed. Amistad takes some of those same children "from the hood" and provides them with the tools they need,teachers who believe in their abilty and has high expectations of them and those children are exceeding Greenwich students in academics; thus proving that they have the capability. It takes more than a Black superintendant and high per pupil expenditure for success especially when there are more administrators than there are teachers in the classroom. Civil Rights:As far as Bush turning back the hands of time on civil rights. Has he not succeeded in doing that during his term? Finally let's take a look at the white family. Is it true that the rate of illegimate births among white women/girls has also risen substantially in recent years since they decided to stop aborting their babies? White on White crime:The highest number of white victims of violent crimes were perpretrated by other whites. Who is most likely to shoot up a school full of children? Who is most likely to be a pedophile? Who is most likely to commit the most heinous crimes? Who is most likely to commit mass killings? Let's profile the white family at the same time that we dissect the Black family and then determine if the Black plight in America is victimhood, rhetoric or Fact?

Posted by: Common Sense | November 2, 2007 1:19 PM

BJFAir...As I stated I don't have any solutions or personal comments that would be exceptable to people attending the forum on "The Role of Personal Responsibility in the Black Community". All I did was pass on the comments made by Professor Walter E. Williams. Your response is to the article written by Mr. Williams. I have no expertise or experience on this subject but do read comments from all sides. Perhaps we need another forum. This one on the role of personal responsibility in the white community! I wonder who would be on this panel! I enjoyed your fiery response.

Posted by: Betty Hart | November 6, 2007 2:21 AM

I agree that the black family is "way past in trouble"; racism is instutionalized in every aspect of of our society and where ever Black people exist the same holds true. What ever we look at today it is a reality of truth. We are at the bottom of the totem pole. Racism has been cultivated and continues to be as it is an expected norm. I also know that at one time when Black people ruled the world we were a magnificient people as we still are today. The time will return when Black people will talk among each other and realize how they have have been exploited as an economic commodity, as slaves , prisoners, hip hop makers,jazz, gospel, blues musicians,medicine makers, medical guine pigs and the rest, you name it. I am a firm believer that over a certain length of time wrong will correct itself as cream rises to the top. It is very important that every Black person share in doing their own part to make this world a better place to live, because everyone can help no matter how small orlarge. Awareness, awareness. awareness is the fore-runner. If Black people fail to get along , they will be left alone. No other race of people will give 100% like we can give to ourselves. So lets get this party started Black people you have the key, at home, malls schools, work, play,everywhere you are at all time day and night.