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Editorial
See other Editorial Articles

Title: Race vs culture
Source: [None]
URL Source: http://rpbarr.typepad.com/rpbarr/2008/03/race-vs-culture.html
Published: Jan 18, 2009
Author: R.P. Barr
Post Date: 2009-01-18 19:24:33 by christine
Keywords: None
Views: 315
Comments: 14

Dating back to colonial times, there has been an American character that was different from the national characters of European countries. A mainstream model emerged for appearance and behavior. This model evolved with the times and with the contributions of immigrants from more places. But, the closer that the newcomer could get to the core model, the more likely he or she was to have material success. While we like to think of ourselves as rebels and mold-breakers, there was always a cultural center. A person does not have to conform in every way, but the more ways in which one does, the higher one is likely to go.

I thought of this yesterday when a radio show discussed that many blacks feel that they've lost ground in the quest for equality. What was not discussed is that the pursuit of black pride may have gone awry. In every society, culture has been determined by the wealthy and emulated by those lower on the economic scale. In the last few decades, however, the development of black culture has gone from emulating the mainstream to adopting African traditions to celebrating distinctions unique to poverty and exclusion. Rejecting those who reject you is understandable, but often not very rewarding.

As a person who often marches to the toot of a different kazoo, I choose less traveled roads and pay the tolls for doing so. But, for people who complain of being excluded, emulating models different from the mainstream is self-defeating. Education is part of the model. Kids who reject education as being imposed on them by the establishment, are dooming themselves to poverty--black or white. Language is another part of the model. People who use conventional vocabulary, even if they speak with accents, are going to succeed more often than those who employ neighborhood specific jargon. Job applicants with baggy hats who wear their pants backwards (did I get that right? it's hard to keep up) are less likely to be hired than someone who dresses like the people who already work in the place they want to be.

As evidence of my thesis, I offer Oprah Winfrey, whose childhood was as traumatizing as any and worse than most, but she had a couple good life guides and was intelligent enough to embrace the American model. That she did so without turning her back on her own is not only a testament to her character, but proof that a person does not have to sacrifice his or her heritage to achieve mainstream success.

I remember being in the breakroom with my yogurt and a book while a group of female black colleagues sat a short distance away. These were women with good civil service jobs and when one of them mentioned that her mother never let her hang out on street corners, the others chimed in regarding their own strict parents or grandparents who kept them away from the kids on the corner. They all had that in common.

Racism exists, but it is not as great a barrier as culture. Studying is a choice, so are drugs. Showing up for work every day is a choice, so is committing a crime. In the worst of times and in the best of times, people with intelligence, and/or skills, and/or good character will achieve more than those without.

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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 12.

#2. To: christine (#0)

Although America was developed by mostly European stock, this country and its people did evolve its own...culture...

The minorities of this country would prefer to lower the culture of this country to their standards, rather than raise theirs. In this process they cry racism and use it as a weapon to intimidate the majority.

Spanish, ebonics and wearing you pants at ones knees is NOT the standard of American culture.

Cynicom  posted on  2009-01-18   19:34:30 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: Cynicom (#2)

The minorities of this country would prefer to lower the culture of this country to their standards, rather than raise theirs. In this process they cry racism and use it as a weapon to intimidate the majority.

Many younger, ill informed whites, celebrate this debasement of our culture under the guise of multiculturalism, as if it is a good concept.

Yellow Cake  posted on  2009-01-19   4:51:48 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: Yellow Cake (#5)

One has only to look at Mexico. What have they accomplished since our last war with them as a people???

There are more of them, that is all, they remain an indolent culture that reproducing is their only claim.

Cynicom  posted on  2009-01-19   5:01:43 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: Cynicom (#6)

Everyone should aspire to raise themselves to the level of Turtle.

Turtle  posted on  2009-01-19   8:09:06 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: Turtle, christine (#11)

I have seen immigrant individual Mexicans do very well by themselves, because they adopted the American culture, not our RACE, they work, they prosper, they become Americans by culture.

On the other hand we have millions of ...AFRO-Americans, that prefer to live and die in a culture that still holds them slaves, by their own desire.

Cynicom  posted on  2009-01-19   8:14:38 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


Replies to Comment # 12.

#13. To: Cynicom, All (#12)

On the other hand we have millions of ...AFRO-Americans, that prefer to live and die in a culture that still holds them slaves, by their own desire.

Just watch the average (c)rap video. You can turn down the sound since it will really irritate you, probably. Concentrate only on the visual.

They all have a common theme. You have the "musician" surrounded by women, usually in a hot tub or pool, inside a mansion. There is plenty of gaudy jewelry everywhere you look, and lots of liquor.

A poor young black kid sees that and wants it. He wants the IMAGE it represents, he has no idea about the reality. But how to get all that money? The only easy way is to sell drugs. They are the only people the kid knows that have that kind of money.

It is, IMO, just another psyop. The people that put these videos together, the ones that finance them, probably dont give a damn about (c)rap. They are the ones that have a vested interest in keeping them enslaved.

.

PSUSA  posted on  2009-01-19 09:05:37 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


End Trace Mode for Comment # 12.

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