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I've been witness to both black and white people's prejudices regarding the other. It would be silly to expect people to be free of prejudice, because they are...people; the best I know are flawed.and saddled with idiosyncratic beliefs and behaviors. But that's also what makes people interesting. The antidote to white supremacy isn't black supremacy, although I have to say I understand the impulse. Does an oppressed group of people want some payback? Hells yeah, right? But against whom? Domination holds some fantasy allure, but in reality requires constant conflict management, brutality, strategic behavior, and discipline within the dominant class. Who's up for that sort of soul-destroying stuff? It's unsustainable over the long haul. Race as an idea has to be undermined. I think a lot of what is called racial strife is really tribalism and power politics. Race makes a convenient way to practice tribalism and power politics because it's visible in addition to being (somewhat) cultural. It's not like wondering if someone is a Republican or Democrat, or Christian or atheist. It's right there in front of you on their skin! Their hair! They're not LIKE us! The focus must be on difference rather than the overwhelming sameness that we share. For instance, a lot of the Trump support base does not want to cede the power it has historically enjoyed to the "undeserving," who is everyone who doesn't look and believe like them. Whenever you can say "those people," you can begin to scapegoat people as a collective group. Nothing rallies people like a common enemy. Sharing racial power means giving up the advantages you have had, whether they are legitimate or not, and people everywhere hesitate to give up advantages. Who's to say whether the new people will appreciate you sharing with them? I don't like the way some of their belligerent leaders talk. No, no. Best not to start sharing, because then someone will come and take something from us.

Well, for centuries right up until the crack epidemic of the 80s Black people (in America atleast) actually DID see themselves as morally superior to Whites. While many Black Americans had historically seen Whites as smarter and wealthier, even better looking, they all held on to the belief that there were certain things "Black folks just didn't do". We thought mass killings, incest, and devil worship were all "White vices" that Black folks didn't engage in. I can still remember as a kid hearing about gruesome murders or acts of cannibalism on television and Black men at the barbershop shaking theirr heads at how depraved some of them "White folks". True Black Supremacy in the United States started with the Nation of Islam. I think a lot of people both White and Black were knocked back on their heals in shock when Malcolm came on the scene and publicly demeaned and condemned the White race as "devils" and declared them to be inferior to Black people. And they would often use history and genetic science to back up their claims.

Let me start by saying I am a white person. Most white racists are not on their guard around other white people, so they feel free to express their antipathy toward or disapproval of blacks in a very candid way. It's strange to me, but they frequently assume that other white people share their attitudes and mores, because after all, to them, white supremacy is self-evident. We're all in the club, right? To end white supremacy, people raised with the concept of white supremacy will have to reject it as immoral. So rejecting white supremacy requires people to reject the opinions and beliefs of their parents, their families, and their peers who hold racist beliefs. And it requires them to objectively judge all of the aforementioned people as having wrong and immoral beliefs. This is a tall order, because it goes against human nature. True objectivity is rare because familial bias and prejudice begin to affect us the day we are born. We are products of our moral environments. My wife has shown more moral courage than I have because she had to overcome her parents' attitudes. I was raised in a family who taught me that people of all races were equal, and that race was a social, not biological, construct - a false way to divide people. My wife was not raised that way. I don't think her parents ever told her "black people are inferior," but they always implied it, and I think, believed it. They steadfastly describe themselves as not racist, and in many ways they aren't. In social situations, they would never believe it is appropriate to treat black people differently from whites. They believe in equal rights under the law. They believe slavery is an evil institution, but they would always say things like, "times were different then." And they say, "blacks now have advantages that white people don't have," and, "we bend over backwards for them." Their beliefs are supported by their politics, their peers and their choices in popular culture and news media, which provide them all the confirmation bias they need. So when you grow up hearing this sort of thing, the bias becomes ingrained, and it feels like truth, like all the other things we ever heard from our parents. The problem for white supremacists is, the moral instruction they give naturally conflicts with their racist views and behaviors. My wife accepted the moral instruction her parents gave her with regard to justice, fairness, and love and because of that teaching, rejected their racial views, which were inconsistent with all their other stated values. This causes her moral unease toward her parents, whom she loves deeply, but sees as morally deficient. It's not a good feeling to have. People try to avoid having such feelings toward their loved ones and friends. But this is what will be required of all people in order to eliminate white supremacy. So it's not just a matter of doing the right thing. One must also judge loved ones as wrong, and that demands more effort than being the right way.

In case anyone cares, EMPIRE is back and the season opener aired last Wednesday. As the resident pop culture vulture, I would be remiss if I didn't provide a re-cap for anyone who missed the return of this hip hop soap opera. Watching the first installment, I could understand how, like the Roman Empire, this show is in danger of toppling. Rating are on a downward slide and one reason for this could be the plot redundancy so apparent in the premier episode. Rumor has it that fewer celebrities will be making cameo appearances, a decision I question because familiar show biz faces popping up were what kept things entertaining. Apparently Naomi Campbell didn't get the memo because she is back. Having made good on her promise to mount a hostile take-over and seize the reins of Empire from Lucious Lyon who banished her for making out with Hakeem, his youngest son, she reunites with Hakeem and invites him to share her power by declaring himself to be the company's new leader. As expected the chic, ubiquitous Cookie continues to walk the runway, hoping to find a recipe that will enable her to create her version of the Lyon legacy. and put a stop to its medley of musical CEOs, wherein every time the music stops, a new leader seizes the throne Preferring to work solo, her sometimes loving husband, Lucious Lyon, still on the radar of the Feds, attempts to mow down all the troublesome wildebeest grazing on his turf, interfering with his plan to reclaim his high-jacked dynasty. The fact that his album is competing with his middle son, Jamal, for an award show trophy does not seem to command his interest. Between all of this intrigue, is the updating of the cliff hanger from the final episode of last season. Instead of dying from a fall down the stairs, the pregnant wife of Andre, the oldest son, survives the tumble but loses her bundle as mystery surrounds who did the dirty deed that ended her motherhood. Could it, as the plot hints, have been Lucious' ex-girlfriend who is now the third leg of the triangle comprised of Hakeem and Naomi Campbell. Coming together to mourn this loss, Cookie and her crumbs decide to once again stop feuding and find a way to recapture their legacy. Somewhere between all of this drama, Cookie is given a crash course in the fluidity of love as seen through the eyes of the gay middle son, Jamal, an interval which, of course, calls for a forgettable rendition of a song he has written about the subject. Anyway, this is kinda how it all went down and you get the idea,- or maybe you don't. The second installment will air on Wednesday, promising more of the same. Unfortunately. Elsewhere, the final episode of the OJ murder case runs tonight, and we get to find out whether or not Simpson is found guilty and if Marsha Clark and Chris Darden drown their sorrows in bed together. It's been a thrilling(?) 10-week excursion into the past, providing the TV audience with a suspenseful recounting of this sensational crime that Americans can't enough of. Spoiler Alert: OJ beat the rap and nothing came of the Clark/Darden hook-up.

Could you exert your influence and see that Hillary wins the New York Primaries. I'm sick of the Bernie fans yapping about his "momentum" ...hhmmmm. Well, let me make a few phone calls to some other powerful Black men who will get in touch with some even MORE powerful Black women, who know less powerful White women....who have Oprah on speed dial. Because Oprah was the one who got Obama in office! And ain't it funny how we haven't heard shit about it since he's been elected. I've seen the HNIC mentality on several occasions....... One of the things I've noticed about a lot of Black men (and a lot of Black women too) who get into a position of authority is that often times they tend to abuse it unknowingly. They become paranoid that others are envious of their positions. Or they feel that White people are watching over them to see if they're being too "easy" on Black employees. So out of paranoia, or to prove a point to White management they become very harsh in their treatment of subordinates and any questioning of them seem to be a challenge to their authority. Or they figure that you're treating them in a way you wouldn't have treated a White person in that same position. One of the characteristics of a good leader is one who not only knows how to give orders and flex their powers, but also do it in ways that make his/her subordinates ENJOY submitting to their authority and produces harmony in the organization.

A lot of time, what is overlooked is whether or not Blacks feel superior to Whites. They are not above ridiculing them, ignoring their standards, attributing very bad things to them or just plain dismissing them as "crazy white people". Implicit in this behavior is a feeling, if not of superiority, of at least rejection. I'm sure this dates back centuries, when it began occurring to the slaves that Massa was kinda stupid and Miss Ann was an airhead. This, in a small way, was empowering. Human beings are flawed. We should stop expecting them to be paragons of virtue. When individuals deal with each other daily on a one-on-one basis, race very often fades, I worked on job with a white female co-worker who hated another white worker, and would get mad with me if I was friendly toward the woman she hated. I'm sure a lot of people have had similar experiences.

Troy This kid unloaded this was 36 years ago and I never forgot it. Damn. Lol, you went to college at 4? I go to the nearest major university from time to time and interview Black students just to get a pulse on what's going on in their heads. One of the biggest complaints a lot of Black students tell me is that White students will openly tell them that they don't "belong" there. That the only reason they are there is because of affirmative action or quotas or some "program" that got them in a spot or slot they weren't really qualified for. They tell them this to their face! It's alright for White women to benefit off of affirmative action and quotas whether in education or at the workplace, but when other groups who have been victims of historical discrimination do it....all of a sudden the scales of justice has been booby-trapped. I feel like telling those kids GOOD. If you're not going to be a doctor or scientist you should keep your ass out of college anyway, it's a SCAM. Charging you an arm and a leg and getting you into perpetual debt without so much as even guranteeing you a job paying enough to support a family once you finally do get a degree. I'm hearing now some schools even hold the degree you've earned until a portion of the debt is paid! I see young white people begging for money every single day You know what I see? Most of the people on the street begging those who pass by are Black and to some extent Latino. While most of the people standing near the traffic coming off freeways and intersections holding signs and begging are White.

"blacks now have advantages that white people don't have," I've heard this so many times it's ridiculous. The sentiment is ridiculous as well, but I understand why people feel this way. The first time was heard this was in college; I was in a program to help underprivileged kids the inner city become acclimated to college life. It was summer program which allowed us to earn 6 college credits and we did not have to pay a cent. "Free" room and board and well as tuition. I think we may have even received a small stipend. Our RA was a white upper classman. Whenever ever the subject of cost of anything came up we had the habit of saying "Pay?...Pay? We don't pay for anything!" Once I was saying this in unison with one of my buddies, who was also on a free ride. and our RA lost it! He started yelling about how hard he had to work and how his parents did not have any money and we were getting everything for free and one.... This kid unloaded this was 36 years ago and I never forgot it. One, the kid was so angry; and two, I just assumed all white people had money. Understand I grew up in racially segregated New York City. Of course as I got older I learned that there were plenty of poor white, uneducated white people. Today I'm I'm probably older than my RA's father was and I'm saddled with a ton of student debt, putting my own kid through the very same school. So I feel his pain. But coming from that position I would never want to be trade growing up in the environment I did for a scholarship to college. I'm sure the RA made out find in life, despite having to work through college. I suspect however he still believe Black folks have much better than white folks.... and is probably a Donald Trump supporter. Pioneer, I know things are bad now Because I see more and more people are begging for money in NYC and here is the kicker--most of them are white! I see young white people begging for money every single day. This is very unusual.

Thank you for taking time to offer that detailed perspective. I like honesty and always encourage it because it's the only way we're going to solve problems. I'll be honest...... I don't think you can "teach" away White supremacy or try to educate people against racism. Nor do I think you can convince most people that everyone is equal AS LONG AS we're in a society where so many Black and Brown people still occupy the majority of those on the bottom rungs of the social and economic ladder. Even the most liberal open minded White person will find it hard to view all races as equal when all he sees on his way to work downtown are rows and rows of Black men rocking back and forth talking to themselves and begging for money. It's hard for the most open minded White woman to constantly see Black men being portrayed as criminals, rapists, and sexual deviants on the daily and nightly news and NOT feel a little uncomfortable setting inside an elevator alone with a strong looking Black man. This society seems to perpetuate racism and White supremacy in it's very structure. The only solution is for people...generation after generation....to actually SEE Black and Brown people produce as much for themselves as Whites have been able to on an economic and social levle. Only this will erase all doubts of equality from the minds of most Whites. They have to actually SEE Black and Brown people independent, successful in medicine, arts, economics, and other endeavors as actual PROOF that we're equal. Unless they see that, no amount of "shaming" them on their racist beliefs will work. And let us not forget..... White supremacy isn't a problem only Whites must deal with, ALL races have been indoctrinated with White Supremacy today and in most nations and societies on this Earth you'll find the lighest skinned people on top and the darkest on the bottom as evidence of this.

Bernie Sanders says some good things but too many of his supporters are pushing Socialism...or what many of his supports call "Democratic Socialism"....which will not work for Black America because too much socialism will make our people lazy. I've seen too many talented Black men and women who grew up thinking they could "slick" their way through life by hustling and pimping the system until they could somehow get a social security or disablity check for a few hundred dolllars....then they're satisified. But in a properly managed economy, if they were pushed to use just HALF of the good sense God gave them many of them would be millionaires by now. On the other hand we don't need unbridled Capitalism either because it will lead to the type of exploitation and despotism you see brewing in the United State today that locks so many poor AfroAmericans out of the economy and creates a "permanent underclass". SOME things that people depend on for their very livelihood like healthcare and education should be socialized. Other things should not. I'm not hating on Bernie. I think he'd probably be a better President from a domestic policy point of view than Hillary and I KNOW he'd be better than Trump. But we have to learn that what works for OTHERS will not necessarily work for us. What we need as AfroAmericans is a system uniquely designed BY us...FOR us; and if not implimented by a Black politician in an executive position such as President or Governor....atleast whoever does get in office while respect our agenda and integrate it into his/her Administration.

Thanks for sharing. I have to explain the differences to my clients all the time. Keep sharing knowledge.

I'm not voting for ANY of those currently running because none of them are saying what i want to hear as far as universal healthcare, good paying blue-collar jobs millions of unemployed men and women, and totally rebuilding America's infrastructure. None of them have an actual VISION for building a new America. They just want to patch up the same old shit and keep it running. Besides, who really thinks electing a President will really change things in today's political climate anyway? Obama is a Black Democrat and America's foreign and domestic policies are pretty much the same as they were when a White Republican was in office. Chicago is Obama's hometown, Michelle is from the South Side....what what is he doing about the violence and poverty? Hell, atleast Republicans kind of halfway look out for and toss a few dimes to it's constituents. Democrats just completely FORGOT about the poor and Black issues and are now focusing on the "middle class" and Latino and women voters. No matter who gets in office, it appears that the agenda stays the same. Bust up the unions, destroy decent blue collar jobs, raise the price of healthcare and tuition, and figure out ways to reduce Black economic and political power while keeping the inner cities of America chaos. Until we get another president with the balls to implement REAL change....like Franklin Roosevelt......if change does comes, it will have to start at the LOCAL level. Sincere Democrats and Republicans in the cities of America should take off their political labels and sit down to a table and talk about how to improve things locally because Washington ain't caring.

Yes, thanks to the Republicans, lies are the new truth. It's a very simple formula that works because people believe whatever keeps them in their comfort zone.