African-Americans Are Tired of Being Treated Like Second-Class Citizens
Posted: Sunday, February 18, 2007
by Zarian Phipps
http://africanamericanpoliticalspot.blogspot.com/
For centuries, the United States has treated African-Americans as second-class citizens. Actually for a good portion of it's history, the United States didn't consider Black people citizens at all. To go along with this total dehumanization, a system of laws and practices were set up in order to continue the total disenfranchisement of African-Americans for years even after slavery was begrudingly abolished. A system of programs in the 1960's and 1970's such as Affirmative Action were put in place to make society feel as if it had addressed it's most painful chapter and made amends for it although not even an official apology for the mistreatment of African-Americans as a result of slavery and the after affects of racism was ever given.
The reason why African-Americans feel like second-class citizens is because we are. Black people in this country are more likely to live in poverty as their white counterparts by many times over. They are also less likely to receive a good education or medical treatment. Black people are more likely to go to prison and receive harsher sentences than White people in the United States. We even die sooner than White people in this country do. Simply put, not much has changed in the lives of the majority of African-American people in the United States, the comfort of the poverty level has simply increased. Not much has changed because the lasting affects that racism has on succeeding generations of African-Americans have never been addressed on any serious level.
Even after Hurricane Katrina made it impossible for any rational person to deny the racial discrepancies that still exist there is no serious debate going on to address the obvious problems.
Many people find it easier to simply think that African-Americans are not working hard enough to pull themselves out of the negative situation they are in. There is no validity in these opinions as it is ludicrous to think that the majority of Black people in the United States are making the conscious choice to stay in the rut that they are in. No group of people in the United States has worked harder than African-Americans so the notion that they are lazy is totally false.
African-Americans are demanding that we not be treated as second-class citizens anymore. We are demanding that the systematic issues that have held us back for centuries be rectified and changed. Black people deserve a chance in this society to reap the benefits of all of the hard work that we have done to make this a great country. We are not asking for a handout or charity, but only for what is due to us and that's a lot.
Visit the African-American Political Spot and read about the reality of the Black experience!
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More commentsBLack people should not get treated bad just because of our color they should get the equal amount of stuff that white people got traeted. But that's ok because we got each other and nobody can't take away from us. So I don't care if they don't like me because if they don't me I don't like them ethier.
I agree with all the people to because they are all good and can help me
I admired Sydney Smith on prejudice (1771 - 1845):"Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him, and cannot be reasoned out."I remember studying a particular Bible study that utilized a movie as an example of how man can pass on information that could destroy humanity and create a continued separation in the United States of America." It is backed by hatred. The movie was "South Pacific." Rogers and Hammerstein played this song in the movie called, "You've got to be "Carefully Taught." This is "Prejudice" at its best:"You've got to be taught to hate and fear,"You've got to be taught from year to year."It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear,"You've got to be carefully taught,"You've got to be carefully taught."You've got to be taught to be afraid,"Of people, whose eyes are oddly made?"And people whose skin is a different shade."You've got to be carefully taught."You've got to be taught before it's too late"Before you are six or seven or eight,"To hate all the people your relatives hate."You've got to be carefully taught,"You've got to be carefully taught.
This article have been very helpfull to me,since i have came from ethiopia 4 monthes ago.what i herd about african americans before i came here was that they are very stupid and rud.i found it to be true.they are a shame to all black people.I have seen big difference between hard working africans and lazy african americans.when i saw them i hate i am blackethopians dont even consider themselves black in general, they go by ethiopian. how can you tell the difference between and african and an african american if your in the usa?
First of all, as a mixed race citizen, I find that racism is overlooked because people want to pretend it's gone away. People want to pretend that they are not affected by it when this is not the case.You are not african american, by the way. African-American implies a dual citizenship and if you have no citizenship in Africa then you are not an African-American. You are an AMERICAN, regardless of color.Racism continues to exist because people keep labeling themselves and others. If you teach your kids that WHITE PEOPLE are racist and that they are working to "keep you opressed" then you are perpetuating racism yourself, just as much as the people who say BLACK PEOPLE are lazy. There is a large difference between the people who want this to change and the people who don't, but it sounds to me as if you don't because if you did want it to change, you would be working on it and not rambling about how horrible the racist whites are.
Zarian, if you have not looked at a map of Africa lately, please do. There are people on the continent in every hue of God's rainbow.
Slavery was a business after Christopher Columbus and his germ ridden crew got lost and found vibrant communities of First People/Native People. The term American Indian is an insult. America was named after an Italian. We are not Italian Indians. First People are of many hues of color.
In almost every culture there has been some kind of slavery. When the "Blacks" of old Africa found they could make money selling their own dark skinned people to the White sailors on the impressive ships, the slave trade began.
If we could sit and talk you'd have to rewrite your thesis on People of Color. You'd have to rewrite People of Color with different cultures. The different foods of our cultures and dietary concerns would explode your mind. You'd rewrite your thesis on People of Color and religion. If Adam and Eve could sit and view me and my situation, they'd be rolling on the floor laughing their....because they never saw me and my kinfolk coming.
Dude...I'm white, I have black friends, I don't know any AFRICAN americans, I am not a EUROPEAN american, I was born here, my father was, his father was, and his father was...I work for the government, my mortgage company is foreclosing on my home, the IRS taxes the $%&*@$%& outta me, I'm constantly on the edge of loosing my insurance and health benefits, I can't afford heating oil, my electric bill is outrageous even though I'm hardly ever home to use anything and I have NO RIGHTS at all as a U.S. born white male...it's the people like you and me who are always on the edge of loosing everything, yet we're the ones that PAY for EVERYTHING...as long as we are here and THIS government is running the show, EVERY working man is a second class citizen and will always be in a negative situation... home of the free my ass
i think black should of been treated the samer as white and yes i am white
It goes way beyond just eye discrimination, but it's a start. Join the club, African Americans are not the only people of color getting tired of being treated as second class citizens, just one of the minorities that are.
im an asian female...ive been discriminated against more than any black person ive witnessed...most black people discriminate against me...black people in my presence and what ive witnessed get treated very well and i get treated badly. I used to be a strong advocate against racism towards blacks, still am, and though maybe as a whole in a socioeconomic manner they might be discriminated against but really, they are just one of the few that are and many blcak people do their own discriminating. I wasn't promoted by a 'black boss' who promoted only african americans...as a result a jerk of a male got promoted over me and then proceeded to treat me badly then get me fired...and lie about me. many black people ive witnessed who receive positions of power tend to mistreat those beneath them or abuse them...white people do too but not as much as black people do. black people aer the best treated minority out there to be honest....there are lots of low income people out there---regardless of race or color...I also know of a black guy...he worked at a place, and prior to him being promoted---he was pretty humble, quiet nice...i always said he's really cool and seems like one of the few nice people i know period...then he got promoted to manager...and tried to brag to me about his job (im a customer there)...and tried to ask me if I had a job...and he's been rude several times and once even came and hit me on the back with his heavy clipboard...ridiculous...so from my experience....black males or many...discriminate against women, and if they are bosses of them will abuse their power and mistreat them...this probably goes for younger black males, and at another place i worked the black manager was an older male and notorious for being a total jerk and treated people like total sh*t...so why do many black people get positions of power and then abuse everyone around them...its messed upoh yeah another thing is that just about every black person i encounter, is rude or mean to me in some form- im an attractive woman and im not sure if it's jealousy--don't get me wrong many stupid white people are too or others...however with black people its m uch worse---they can't handle me at all and just treat me so badly to a point where i cant even interact with females at all, and males rarely....at one point i just started to hate black people b/c they were so rude to me and treated me like i was lower than them or just not very well....again this odesnt go for all black people and i can recall some who were ok to me but just one or two...or 'not abusive'...but the rest are such jerks that i realized...i had to stay away from black females...even on the internet they just start getting mad yelling at you and being negative--always...and black males not sure but mostly just really rude...and again its not just black people its lots of people but they are teh worst from what ive experienced....so to me its not a racism thing anymore....im against oppression and mistreatment of any kind and black people treat me realyl badly...and that sucks...i even went to a deli to get a sub and this obese black lady---everytime i used to go would fight me and just be so so mean...and argue with me and nto make my sub...this time i went and someone else took my order but she was there and was trying to start her crap with me...and another restaurant i went to--this one black female was a manager--she was the worst...obnoxious evil and crazy--she wouldnt let me even get food there...she'd begin harassing yelling at me--the first time she accused me of takling too 'softly' on purpose to 'mess with her' wtf...and refused to serve me b/c she claims i was 'messing with her"...she was one stupid b***...years later i went back there...hoping she was gone...i tried to order something and she lied and said they ran out....i just asked her politely...oh you dont have that item? and she began yelling and screaming and went off on me-- i told her not to yell and she didnt have to act that way and she went nuts....she was really sick....but it seems many black people in positions of power are abusive to others...and many in general esp the women are angry mean negative people...not all of course or even the majority but just a lot to notice to stay away from them
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