[M. Early]

What is interesting to me is that whites are oblivious to the true impact of slavery and racism in America. True, the Holocaust was more recent in American history than the slave trade, but you ignore the contemporary ramifications. In fact, even more recent than the Holocaust was Jim Crow and segregation. The legacy of slavery and racism in this country has left most African Americans in positions of feeling helpless and devalued as human beings. We still live in the shadow of slavery.

How many African-American doctors, lawyers, politicians, etc. would we presently have in this country if all descendents of slaves had been afforded the same educational opportunities as whites? How many African-American-owned businesses exist today if the property of our ancestors had not been stripped from them at the whim of ignorant, racist whites? How many brilliant scholars, scientists, writers, teachers, etc. has the world lost due to lynchings, hatred and bigotry? How many individuals living today are unable to succeed due to the pychological damage of being raised in a country that was built with the blood of their ancestors, but still must struggle in the violent grip of racism?

I guess it is just as well that most whites choose not to acknowledge the legacy of slavery and the way it has damaged the African-American pysche and family beyond repair. Because if they did, and I was forced to think about it any more than I currently do, then I might truly become that “angry, violent nigger” that they already stereotype me as being.

User Detail :  

Name : M. Early, Gender : M, Race : Black/African American, Age : 28, City : Durham, State : NC, Country : United States, Occupation : Director of IT, 

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