Thank you. That's the best, most thoughtful, most honest, and most accurate description of the problem ever written.
My mom grew up in the Hartford Projects in the mid- to late-1950s. It was low-income housing and included many single-mothers (like my grandmother). Most of those folks were either young widows (of WW2) with kids, or what I'll call "vagaries of life" victims... decent people without the adequate family and community backup/support that used to be common (and is essential to help the young turn into functional, self-sustaining adults). Then came forced integration in the 60s...
After my parents' divorce in the late-70s, we wound up right back in that same neighborhood, attending the same schools, right down the street from the Projects. You won't be surprised to learn that things had (ahem) *gone downhill* significantly.
But the people I always felt worst for were the good black kids. Chappelle's joke about his own station growing up, that the difference between poor white people and poor black people is that whites don't think it's supposed to be happening to them! is trenchant on a lot of levels. I *knew* that I would not stay there, and that I would kill or die trying to get out. A combo of the military and education was enough.
I'll add this: a good number of "dark green" Marines I served with were acutely aware of what you've written here and were zealous persecutors of other black Marines who tried to bring that sh*t into the Unit. I always thought it was an interesting litmus test to see which officers (white or black) didn't understand the difference you've so well articulated. (And now I need to go read more Sowell - of all of his great writings, I've not yet read that one, though I'm aware of it).
I appreciate the kind words and the insight. I wish others could understand this issue more. My friend, the guy from the Bronx, used to get pretty irate about these guys who would act all hood and ghetto. He'd tell me, "These MFers don't know shit about the projects or the hood."
“Basic Economics” is a good starting place. I have it in book form and also from Audible. Solid work.
What is so sad is that so many blacks idolize complete bafoons. Here we have Thomas Sowell, quite possibly the most intelligent living man on the planet, but because he's not down with the victim mindset, he's ignored.
Your words exactly mirror my experience, both in the civilian world and the Marine Corps. One of my wake-up calls was a fellow NCO (black) who was called “my brother” by a POS Private (also black). His reply was enlightening. “I ain’t your damn brother, I know who my daddy was”.
Black flight from the cities is as common as white flight, and is based on both money and culture, just like with white folks. I spent 25 years moving household goods, which put me in houses and apartments, rich and poor, in every State. Every race, creed, and sexual orientation was a client. In the wiki list of 300 American cities by population I went down to number 272 before I found one I where haven’t been.
I have also been a firearms instructor for 23 years, and the concerns about personal and family safety are also exactly the same for those responsible black citizens as for those of any other ethnicity. Being a responsible adult, wanting a better life, and safe place to live were the common denominators. Before his fall from grace, Bill Cosby was a huge proponent of exactly what you describe. His personal failings make it no less true. There is also as noted, the voluminous work of Thomas Sowell and his colleague Walter Williams. For me Sowell’s most important and foundational work is “Basic Economics” and it is always the first book I recommend.
Thanks! When I was in the service, I'm not sure I completely "got it". It took some time. I remember a couple of weird things happening after I was out that made me think.
The first one was that I heard Whoopi Goldberg on her sitcom say something about "We wouldn't have Civil Rights if it weren't for the Democrats." It made me think about it and I looked it up because I was really a big reader. You know how it gets on CQ, better have a book. LOL
Lo and behold, the complete opposite was true, which struck me as odd. That coincided with a book I was reading titled Up From Slavery by Booker T Washington.
I remember thinking Whoopi said that crap, and it was false. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all the preceding Civil Rights legislation. I'm reading this book about the son of a slave who has a better attitude and outlook than many of the black people I know.
I reread the piece, and I believe in almost every case where you say”ghetto culture” you could instead insert “third world culture”. The percentages of those who embrace it, cover for it, or reject it might change, but I believe the principles remain the same.
Often, but not always, this is Muslim culture (another thing you can’t say), but it could be any tribal culture, from Africa to South America to the’Stans. This “deculturalization” is based on a rejection of what we call civilization, in spite of the accomplishments of it. Our personal liberty, standard of living, scientific accomplishments, legal system, and codes of conduct are codependent. Like the Jenga tower or the house of cards only so much can be removed before collapse.
I find it difficult to be optimistic for the nation as a whole when we’ve already seen the virtual collapse of one major city after another. The maker and taker dichotomy still exists, but too many of the former now only make excuses.
Yep, and maybe even "Low IQ". I don't mean necessarily in the "intelligence" way as much as I do in the more "missing what's really going on" kind of way.
To be a functional well mannered citizen an 140 IQ isn’t necessary, but a willingness to do so and an understanding of why it’s needed is. I’ve known PhDs who were brilliant in their field, but obnoxious. And for at least one, a box from IKEA might as well be labeled “here there be dragons”.
Thank you. That's the best, most thoughtful, most honest, and most accurate description of the problem ever written.
My mom grew up in the Hartford Projects in the mid- to late-1950s. It was low-income housing and included many single-mothers (like my grandmother). Most of those folks were either young widows (of WW2) with kids, or what I'll call "vagaries of life" victims... decent people without the adequate family and community backup/support that used to be common (and is essential to help the young turn into functional, self-sustaining adults). Then came forced integration in the 60s...
After my parents' divorce in the late-70s, we wound up right back in that same neighborhood, attending the same schools, right down the street from the Projects. You won't be surprised to learn that things had (ahem) *gone downhill* significantly.
But the people I always felt worst for were the good black kids. Chappelle's joke about his own station growing up, that the difference between poor white people and poor black people is that whites don't think it's supposed to be happening to them! is trenchant on a lot of levels. I *knew* that I would not stay there, and that I would kill or die trying to get out. A combo of the military and education was enough.
I'll add this: a good number of "dark green" Marines I served with were acutely aware of what you've written here and were zealous persecutors of other black Marines who tried to bring that sh*t into the Unit. I always thought it was an interesting litmus test to see which officers (white or black) didn't understand the difference you've so well articulated. (And now I need to go read more Sowell - of all of his great writings, I've not yet read that one, though I'm aware of it).
I appreciate the kind words and the insight. I wish others could understand this issue more. My friend, the guy from the Bronx, used to get pretty irate about these guys who would act all hood and ghetto. He'd tell me, "These MFers don't know shit about the projects or the hood."
https://theabjectlesson.substack.com/p/systemic-racism
For me Sowell’s most important and foundational work is “Basic Economics” and it is always the first book I recommend.
“Basic Economics” is a good starting place. I have it in book form and also from Audible. Solid work.
What is so sad is that so many blacks idolize complete bafoons. Here we have Thomas Sowell, quite possibly the most intelligent living man on the planet, but because he's not down with the victim mindset, he's ignored.
Concur. That was my introduction as well, IIRC.
Excellent work!
Your words exactly mirror my experience, both in the civilian world and the Marine Corps. One of my wake-up calls was a fellow NCO (black) who was called “my brother” by a POS Private (also black). His reply was enlightening. “I ain’t your damn brother, I know who my daddy was”.
Black flight from the cities is as common as white flight, and is based on both money and culture, just like with white folks. I spent 25 years moving household goods, which put me in houses and apartments, rich and poor, in every State. Every race, creed, and sexual orientation was a client. In the wiki list of 300 American cities by population I went down to number 272 before I found one I where haven’t been.
I have also been a firearms instructor for 23 years, and the concerns about personal and family safety are also exactly the same for those responsible black citizens as for those of any other ethnicity. Being a responsible adult, wanting a better life, and safe place to live were the common denominators. Before his fall from grace, Bill Cosby was a huge proponent of exactly what you describe. His personal failings make it no less true. There is also as noted, the voluminous work of Thomas Sowell and his colleague Walter Williams. For me Sowell’s most important and foundational work is “Basic Economics” and it is always the first book I recommend.
Thanks! When I was in the service, I'm not sure I completely "got it". It took some time. I remember a couple of weird things happening after I was out that made me think.
The first one was that I heard Whoopi Goldberg on her sitcom say something about "We wouldn't have Civil Rights if it weren't for the Democrats." It made me think about it and I looked it up because I was really a big reader. You know how it gets on CQ, better have a book. LOL
Lo and behold, the complete opposite was true, which struck me as odd. That coincided with a book I was reading titled Up From Slavery by Booker T Washington.
I remember thinking Whoopi said that crap, and it was false. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all the preceding Civil Rights legislation. I'm reading this book about the son of a slave who has a better attitude and outlook than many of the black people I know.
Stuff wasn't adding up.
I reread the piece, and I believe in almost every case where you say”ghetto culture” you could instead insert “third world culture”. The percentages of those who embrace it, cover for it, or reject it might change, but I believe the principles remain the same.
Often, but not always, this is Muslim culture (another thing you can’t say), but it could be any tribal culture, from Africa to South America to the’Stans. This “deculturalization” is based on a rejection of what we call civilization, in spite of the accomplishments of it. Our personal liberty, standard of living, scientific accomplishments, legal system, and codes of conduct are codependent. Like the Jenga tower or the house of cards only so much can be removed before collapse.
I find it difficult to be optimistic for the nation as a whole when we’ve already seen the virtual collapse of one major city after another. The maker and taker dichotomy still exists, but too many of the former now only make excuses.
Yep, and maybe even "Low IQ". I don't mean necessarily in the "intelligence" way as much as I do in the more "missing what's really going on" kind of way.
I know all kinds of dumb smart people. LOL
Indeed.
To be a functional well mannered citizen an 140 IQ isn’t necessary, but a willingness to do so and an understanding of why it’s needed is. I’ve known PhDs who were brilliant in their field, but obnoxious. And for at least one, a box from IKEA might as well be labeled “here there be dragons”.