How to Make Black America Better

I got a little ahead of myself, in posting "Stuff that Black People Like," but now I am ready to get down to business and do an introduction to The State of Black America.

This blog will be about the things and people that touch the Black community, and how we are affected by it's imprint.

But most importantly this blog will follow the book "How to Make Black America Better," by Tavis Smiley. So many times we as African Americans know what we need to do as a group to help ourselves. But we tend not to do it because it seems to large of a project to work on individually. But it is only through individual efforts that we will begin to see change collectively.

So this blog serves as a reminder as to how we as African Americans can work to strengthen our communities, our children, and in turn ourselves.

Stuff That Black People Like

Okay, so I read the list "Stuff That White People Like," it comes from a book, but is also on the internet and it is funny and oh so true. There is also a list called Stuff That Asian People Like, it too is funny and insightful. I found the list for Stuff That Black People Like to be lacking, so I decided to do one myself. However, this blog will be about The State of Black America, and this will be a simple ongoing post. Enjoy!

STUFF THAT BLACK PEOPLE LIKE

1. Reparations:

Yes, as in for slavery. It isn't necessarily the money black people are after. It would be nice, who doesn't like money? But it is more the principle of the matter. Black people like other people, are human, and when someone makes a promise then breaks it, then refuses to talk about it, it is enough to piss someone off.

Think of it like this; A stranger comes into town, you are nice enough to let him into your home, he "borrows" your grandmother's antique car, sells it, using the money to help buy a house next door. You are upset that someone took advantage of your kindness, but he promises to buy you a new car to make up for the old one. The cost of the new car could never replace the value of the old one, but you accept his kind gesture. However, he never follows through, then refuses to talk about the subject.

Many years pass and you occasionally bring the subject up, but still receive nothing. One day he sees you, by this time the value of the property has shot up quite a bit and he has been able to buy other properties using the left-over money from the increased value of his present home. He is now a very wealthy man. You bring up the subject once more, he looks at you as if you are crazy, becomes offended, and tells you to 'Get over it. It was a long time ago, it was a very old car, and he is tired of you bringing up old things.' Of course you are stunned. If it wasn't for that car he wouldn't have that house and all of the property that the increase in value has brung.

Slavery is quite different but similar in the fact that this Country would not have it's value without the blood, sweat, and tears of slaves. No, it is not the money black people are after, but the acknowledgement that they were wronged, and that a promise that was made to them so long ago, would be kept. We are sorry, is a great start, but not enough. Something needs to be restored that was taken long ago. Don't forget that millions of people worked for absolutely free in this country for about 300 hundred years. This experience left millions of people scarred and these people passed their scars from one generation to the next. This experience also left many people with nothing and is part of the reason why the Black community lacks so much today. If the slaves were properly compensated, I am quite sure the number of Blacks living below the poverty line would not be so much higher than other ethnicities the way it is now.

So yes, Black people like the idea and especially the follow through of reparations. Don't roll your eyes, this isn't going to change.