[A. Adams]

First, I am sorry you experienced such vileness. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life in this country to varying degrees. I believe the United States has not come to peace with it's 'isms' (racism, sexism) or prejudices (homophobia, xenophobia). We just haven't been as blatant and open with them as, say, back in the Civil Rights era. They are still here, riding on the edge of the subconscious, and in light of the terrorist attacks, these subconscious ideas/thoughts/feelings are returning to the spotlight. Still, not all Americans are racist, but by the actions of a few we could certainly be described as 'ignorant' - as could many others in the world, regardless of country of origin.

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

The pervasive assumption that terrorists are all from the Mideast and/or are Muslim is a fallacy. Terrorism exists everywhere in the world, but as Americans we have been mostly blissfully ignorant of its direct ramifications until it happened on our own soil. Because the radical (but organized) group that attacked on Sept. 11 was comprised of people from the Mid- and Near-East, that is the face of terrorism in our myopic experience. Start looking at your definiton of terrorism and you'll see it's not limited to one group of easily definable people. It's a twisted ideology shared by radicals. Remember the the Khmer Rouge? The slaughter in Bosnia? The Congo? What about the white supremacists in Jasper, Texas? The podiatrist in Florida with his explosives and maps to mosques? When you lump everyone into the same category as being terrorists, you take the chance of not recognizing the real threat when it comes. Remember Timothy McVeigh?

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

In reading the original post, I think it reflects a basic problem in our present culture. That of not understanding at a fundamental level about the need for equality to be universally applied to all human beings. I'm a little non-plussed by the attitude that one person's success must be balanced out by the failure of another. We all benefit from a stable, secure, creative, and well-educated society. If anything, we should champion the addition of different ways of thought, culture, speaking, etc. A society that doesn't change, stagnates and usually dies off or is replaced by one that does change. I noticed that the author took pains to single out one racial group. Are you bothered by the variety (there are numerous tv stations, community centers, schools, organizations, etc. that cater to many different cultures, not just black)? You've described yourself as an avid reader. Have you stopped to contemplate your present world without the influence of the many people of non-Western European extraction that is woven into the framework of our society? Who exactly is to say what is enough and what is 'too much'? Considering your age, let me just point out a simple fact about slavery/civil rights that you may have forgotten. The civil rights era began a scant 30+ years ago. Previous to that there was over 400 years of the systemized and legalized attempt at dehumanization of black Americans. Some people like to say 'get over it.' Well, we all are more likely to get past this when we start viewing each other as fellow human beings- not competitors for some ephemeral 'American Dream', not as 'exotics' or 'aliens' or 'Other'. There is no such thing as the 'right' to enjoy a privileged status in a society which is based on the inequitable distribution of opportunity, wealth, access, information, resources, etc. due to accident of birth. A famous man once said, where there is injustice for some, there cannot be justice for all.

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

I thought I had heard them all, but Yellow Woman's Complex is a new one to me. I have to say that growing up, I never thought of myself as 'high yella.' Everybody in my family runs the gamut. I figured everybody who had hair like mine was the same. But that being said, I probably would pass the 'paper bag' test, as they say. I've felt this resentment that you're describing, but didn't realize the source until much later in life. My family certainly was not of the means to 'get over' on anyone or anything, especially considering we were usually the only black kids wherever we moved. As far as privileges are concerned, looking back, we probably weren't considered as 'threatening' to non-blacks, as some of us are perceived. As for the black community, we were mostly dissed for not living on the 'black' side of town or for being too religious, rather than having so-called 'lighter' skin. I believe Africans come in all shades on the Continent, but their differences stem from cultural/tribal/familial distinctions. Unfortunately, the light vs. dark 'problem' seems to be a direct result of slavery in the Americas.

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

Where did you get the idea that it is a norm within 'black culture' *not* to enter into marriage? And that 'whites... have a more conservative view of family'? Marriage and familial contracts/relationships are something that all human 'cultures' have in common. What would make you think blacks -American blacks, I presume you're referring to(?)- are different in that respect? I could assume from your statement that you grew up/have spent a good deal of time in an urban area (NY city) and are using your experience there to found your generalization, but I would rather give you a chance to explain your line of thinking...

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

Unfortunately, some Christians in their need to spread their 'gospel' are more than a little over-zealous in protecting 'non-believers' (and their kids) from themselves. Some believe it is their duty to turn others from their erring ways and that a bombastic approach is better than having friends, neighbor and loved ones go to hell. If this sounds a little offbeat and Puritanical, keep in mind that they believe they are doing others some good.

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

That's a very interesting observation that causes me to ask: Have you not ever smelled an offensive odor when around other whites, Asians, Indians, Native Americans, etc.? Everyone sweats, and sometimes we just don't smell clean or fresh (lack of deodorant, hormonal imbalances, uncleanliness, etc.) Are you sure it's the "odor" that offends you and not just being in proximity to a black person?

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

I can't speak for all Black people just myself. First Nations/American Indian/Native American/Metis peoples' struggles parallel the Black peoples history in America in a lot of ways. The difference to me is that Native people's struggles are considered *history* while Black people's are 'on-going'. It's kind of a divide and conquer thing, so the average person is not taught anything about Native (or Latino) peoples in the present. In regards to Sovereignty and reparations, that's a tricky question. I'm sure that there are many people within the Native communities that are split on that issue (just as the Black communities are). Unfortunately, neither group is at a point economically or politically where they can effectively do without some outside support. (And I don't think the 'outside support' is willing to concede that minorities are capable of 'running the show' themselves.)

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

I find it interesting that you've only mentioned the homeless as perpetrators of the crime of 'stealing' shopping carts. What about the elderly with poor eyesight that are still mobile and semi-independent. I frequently see them 'stealing' carts from the local store so that they don't have to negotiate 15lbs of groceries and a cane for 3 blocks. And what about the mother with the infant that can't afford or doesn't have access to a car? Your argument seems to be rather discriminatory. I seem to remember something about 'walking a mile in others shoes'. I'm sure your hard-working Mom mentioned that to you at some point. In addition, I'm afraid you've over-inflated the cost of the shopping carts. It's closer to $200...

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[A. Adams]

As I recall growing up the Trinity was explained as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. What that basically means is God (the Father) is the God they spoke of in the Old Testament (i.e. the flood, burning bush, Jericho, etc.); God (the Son) refers to Jesus or the 'New Testament' God (although it gets a little confusing when he starts praying/talking to 'the Father'); and God the Holy Spirit (or Ghost) is your conscience and/or soul depending on what you believe. I'm not a theologian, but it is an interesting concept for a 'research project'. Check your local library.

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Name : A. Adams, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

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