Ray Charles Music

If African-Americans were still as ambitious as they were during the civil rights era, they would be...?

...the superior race on this planet. Think back, when African-Americans fought for the privilege to go to college. When they fought for an education. When they fought for the first rows of the bus. When they fought for the right to vote. When they fought for professional jobs. When music was not overpaid. When sweet black soul music could be heard in every black household. When an African-American was more ambitious to learn than any other race. What happened to these days? Have African Americans reached a peak of their culture and their ambitions during the civil rights movement and are now slowly going backwards again? What happened to those proud African Americans? Why is it now all about sitting in the back, smoking weed, buying rims, carrying a gun? I mean that is really generalized, but let's be real - what happened to the freedom that their ancestors fought for. The freedom which their ancestors died for? I am not caucasian

Public Comments

1. How can you say something is generalized, and then say let's be real??????? I don't really need to go in depth with you, because you posted a bunch of non-sense. You obviously do not know many African-Americans whether you ARE Black or not. And if you ask me, most African Americans in the culture and groups section seem to be just as articulate as anyone else on this site.
2. Society, what is deemed important ,and what actually motivates the individual.That is the only difference.
3. im black, and i dont smoke weed nor do i think about buying rims, i know what you mean but i think you should stop with the steryotyping. Their is actually only a small minority of black people who act like hoodlems
4. If they had followed Booker T. Washington they would have far surpassed where they are now. The man had the formula for advancing against a dominant culture...but the season has passed.
5. Individuals, petal. Individuals. Stop the mass thinking. Each person has to do their part for the whole "race" to get ahead. It is not "all about" smoking weed etc. Many many people of many many backgrounds are simply what is known as "the working poor"--living paycheck to paycheck and trying desperately to keep their heads above water, let alone getting ahead. If you actually have a job, you know how tough they are to get in today's economy.
6. I think the answer to your question is in the word freedom. Everyone is free to chose their own lifestyle, everyone-not just blacks.
7. i too would like for blacks to do more to improve themselves, but the fact is that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. there are numerous blacks in college, owning businesses and houses that are NOT in jail. we work hard for what we have. and despite flaws we continue to love our brothers and sisters. and it really sucks that when things get bad, the strongest among us have to work so hard to protect the weakest among us. how often to athletes and doctors and lawyers that worked hard to get what they have, have to come to the rescue of friends and family that have gotten into trouble? not all of us only care about rims and looking good. however, some of us do still feel a responsibility to help the weaker (and by weaker i mean many that choose not to do for themselves) and that can mess us up.
8. Low-caliber black people do NOT represent the entire black race. For your information, some of us are educated and financially secure. Perhaps if you find something more constructive to do with your time, instead of spending the majority of it in the company of felons and drug abusers, you will develop a more realistic perception of black people.
9. They HAVE those freedoms now so why fight for them..again. They can vote, they can sit anywhere they want n the bus, they can go to any school they please. If they want something bad enough, they won't let anything stand in their way. Those are the ones who seize the opportunity. Not everyone wants guns, rims and weed. Stop watching those videos on BET.
10. WoW, courageous question. I am Caucasian and I see your point. I'll be checking in for the answers and I hope everyone doesn't demonize you for asking it.