KENNETH

On 8/1/2024 at 7:53 PM, Troy said:

I’m not giving up @KENNETH I’m just saying legislation isas out best solution, that was what the civil rights movement was about. 
 

i often cite the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a prime example of identifying a goal and getting everyone organized to achieve that goal. That was a local effort that resulted in national legislation that impacted far more people.

 

 

Troy I agree with you that protest and advocacy should lead to concrete change especially law and public policies. Please don't misunderstand my point. But things are different now with technology and people being less attached to community.

5 hours ago, Troy said:

A Black agenda has been created before.

 

You just can’t get enough Black people to support it. In my years of life individuals always hurt our ability to organize as they eventually or their own self interest ahead of the group. 

 

 

I understand what you mean. But we can't give up. It takes persistent effort and adjusting to a new time and different kind of Black community that's not like the one that produced the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

2 minutes ago, ProfD said:

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/31/donald-trump-nabj-interview-00172104

 

Former POTUS Orange Julius had a meeting with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). 

 

Instead of making any case for what he plans to do for Black folks, former POTUS OJ was combative, insulted his hosts and doubled down on his ignorant rhetoric. 

 

Not that we should have expected anything different but former POTUS OJ clearly did not use the opportunity to ingratiate himself with Black folks.

 

Former POTUS OJ is consistent in letting Black folks know he's doesn't and never will give a d8mn about then.

 

Surely, that interview wont stop Tim Scott, Candace Owens and Larry Elder and others from supporting the Orange Jackazz.

You got that right ! 

Back in 2020 I wasn't for Kamala Harris as Biden's VP. I felt at the time there were more Progressive Black women in Congress who were better suited like Barbara Lee also from California. But then again I was also for Bernie Sanders until Biden got the nomination. 

At times she has struggled as Vice President but she's persistent and willing to take the fight to Republicans. Now she's likely to be the Democratic nominee, and if she wins President. What will that mean for Black people? We would benefit from certain policies in a Harris administration just like that of Biden. But it's not likely that Harris will do anything significant that's  race specific like Reparations or even the George Floyd Police Reform Act which has stalled in Congress.

While some of this can be blamed on systemic racism in the political process and Rightwing Republican obstruction. It's also important to recognize that Kamala Harris like Barack Obama is the kind of Black Politician who came up through the White community not Black Interest group politics. These kinds of Black politicians aren't focused on politics or policy solutions targeted to Blacks like others who come  from the Black community.

Furthermore the Democratic Party hasn't passed any major policy initiative targeted at Black people since the 1960s. Too often the party is focused on getting and keeping white working class men or white suburban moderates. While we gain some benefits they are never adequate in relation to our support for Democrats or the particular problems we face.

Ultimately Black people must be better organized and more willing to hold Harris if she's President and Democrats accountable for not doing certain things. But then Black people at every level need to develop and push for an agenda with specific policies. 

When it comes to politics you can blame Kamala Harris and Democrats for not doing enough. However we have to take some responsibility ourselves. 

Thanks aka for responding to my post. Standing and fighting as a united front win or lose works for the Republican Right every time. Even when they lose a Presidential race they come together to obstruct the Democrat. They just might win again with a lying convicted fellow whose willing to flirt with authoritarianism. 

Too often Democrats are reactive and defensive due to media narratives, polling, and opposition from the Republican Right. They come off as weak and Standing for nothing while also being too divided. 

Biden was a fighter who did a lot of good for the country despite being old and slow all along. He was a likable and known quantity which may be especially important with independent swing voters needed to win the election.  Kicking him out and going with Harris or anyone else poses a big risk. 

But I will vote for her.

3 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

Thanks, Joe. I know I been bad mouthing you, but you've redeemed yourself and have come through in the clutch. You've saved your legacy, and Ametica owes you its gratitude for all you've done to make it a better place.

Kamala, you may have to make a sacrifice too, girlfriend.  Are the undecided swing voters ready for a black woman president? This country is about to be tested. If preserving democracy is the goal, you may have a shot.

But desperate times call for desperate decisions, and - testosterone is better fuel for aggression than estrogen is. 

 

Humph. Listen to me, talkin like I give a damn about rescuing America from what Donald Trump represents.

 

...I got grandkids, y'all.

 

I hate to see the President forced out because people are driven by the media, polls, and Rightwing Psychological manipulation rather than conviction and a willingness to fight no matter what. But Kamala Harris maybe the nominee unless others come forward at the convention. I hope she won't face opposition. 

If Biden steps down that's fine. But I don't believe in pressuring him because he's come this far and hasn't ruined the country.  Last Thursday night was nothing new. Yes it was really bad. Biden is mentally and physically slow yet he hasn't hurt the country thus far. Meanwhile nobody is saying Donald Trump the convicted felon, Liar, unhinged, reckless, wannabe, dictator should leave the race. Even worse millions of Americans are ready to choose Trump over Biden. 

On 6/28/2024 at 8:07 AM, ProfD said:

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/27/aipac-jamaal-bowman-cori-bush-00165174

 

Coming against Israel does not bode well for American politicians. 

 

AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) put up the money to insure Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY) lost in the primary election. 

 

The next chip to fall could be Rep. Cori Bush (Mo). She's in a close primary race too.

 

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) takes money from non-Black special interest groups. As a result, they have marching orders that have little or nothing to do with helping their Black constituents.

 

Politics is a dirty business. Black politicians aren't remotely interested in playing the game to the advantage of lifting up Black people. They seem to be selling out solely to enrich themselves.

 

I don't feel badly for Black politicians losing their seats especially when they don't deserve to be in the chair.

Unlike in the 1970s a lot of CBC members represent majority white districts so they aren't rooted in or mainly focused on the black community or issues that effect us. 

The problem with AIPAC is that it's a big money special interest group that will go after any Democrat who doesn't uncritically support US policy on Israel. 

On 5/19/2024 at 6:33 PM, Stefan said:

Lord knows just how incredibly short-sighted many Black folk can be.

It seems some of you want to argue, insult other Black people and ignore the signs that Trump will win in November. (I sure hope it’s not because so many of you probably WANT Trump to win).

Here is what you’re missing:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott just pardoned a White man convicted of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in the summer of 2020. Daniel Perry WAS serving a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of the protester, Garrett Foster, who was attending a racial justice protest with his Black fiancee.

But Perry, an armed White man, didn’t fancy that one bit. Abbott had faced pressure to issue the pardon from conservative media figures, or so he said.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-led-texas-governor-to-pardoning-man-convicted-of-killing-black-lives-matter-protester

Then, there’s the honorary Ku Klux Klansman in the Show Me State where a judge decided this man’s opinions and beliefs on race and other matters does not mean he should be shunned.

Nope.

This dude can remain on the GOP ballot for Governor, the judge determined.
 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/missouri-judge-allows-former-honorary-member-kkk-remain-states-gop-pri-rcna152933

Ah, but I would not worry about this. Sean Diddy Combs can chase ‘em down, throw ‘em down, then proceed to beat ‘em down. They don’t even have to be near Century City or Combs’ hotel room.

And this time, we get to cheer.
 

 

 

 

 

Our future is what we will fight and work hard to make it. Things in the past like Slavery and Jim Crow Segregation were far worse than what any of us under age seventy can possibly imagine. Things aren't as good as they could or should be. But our situation is far better than it was.

It's up to us. Systemic Racism, this prevailing brand of predator Capitalism, and the Trumpist threat to freedom and democracy are challenges that can be met and overcome if we stand strong and get involved.

We can restore black marriage, reclaim our neighborhoods from violent crime, and build bigger more lucrative businesses. But this requires us to be better individuals. It means practices real love that corrects, rebukes, encourages, and supports each other as family members and friends.

Nothing good is guaranteed. Nothing bad is inevitable.

On 1/19/2024 at 4:39 PM, Pioneer1 said:

What most AfroAmericans want today is SEPARATION....not Segregation.
There's a difference...........

50 or 60 years ago most AfroAmericans didn't want Separations.
Some did...a minority...but most wanted full integration into White society because they felt it would make us better off collectively.
Now 50 and 60 years later, we realize that it did not.
While SOME Black folks benefited....MOST of our people are worse off today than most of their grand parents were back during the Jim Crow era.

Personally.....I want BOTH:

SEPARATION with the option to INTEGRATE as needed or desired, lol.

Black people want freedom and to benefit from living in this society. They don't want to be deprived of rights, opportunity, or material well-being. Whether these things come from living in Black neighborhoods and having black businesses; it can also be found in the White mainstream. That includes elite universities or professional jobs in Corporate America. Black people often feel like we're losing something we need or want. 

On 1/19/2024 at 10:53 AM, Jeromex said:

Do Blacks want to be segregated from whites? It seems as if they do. Many black communities are complaining about white people moving in. Blacks are claiming “ they dont look like us”. They are also saying it about asian people as well and claim blacks need their own communities. Seems a bit ironic to me as well as hypocritical. Blacks are the first to claim discrimination even when most often its their imagination.

You will find countless examples of this on you tube and black radio shows.

If this was the other way around, blacks would be protesting and rioting. You cannot have it both ways. Our black community needs to be much more rational  and realistic.
Please opine.

It's not about segregation or assimilation. It's about pluralism and agency. All Black neighborhoods with thriving businesses should be possible along with opportunities in the White mainstream whether it's a job or going to an amusement park like Disney World.

It's important to realize that during the era of Jim Crow segregation whites did business in black communities and rented property to blacks. None of this is about optics. It's about power and control with all its benefits. That's what most Blacks want. 

We don't value or pay workers like maids, janitors, home health, childcare workers, cashiers, or fast food employees.

We wrongly disdain politicians and hate taxes while complaining about how messed up society is because government doesn't take care of people at home over foreigners and immigrants. 

We idolalize rich people and wealth while never questioning certain negative things it takes to get rich and stay that way.

All of this cuts across racial lines and is true of ordinary working people who are the key to changing things. The problem is with all of us to some extent.

Thanks Troy for posting this and making the point. Whites are poor because of exploitation and lack of economic opportunity especially in the suburbs and rural areas. Meanwhile Black people are poor because of systemic racism and economic injustice. We bear the added burden of race. If poor and working class whites could get past racism, anti statism, and a kind of radical individualism there might be a chance to change America for the better.

Ultimately Capitalism unless it is reformed in big ways will generate lots of poverty. It has to be free enough generate growth yet restrained to an extent that it's fair and beneficial for everyone not just the rich owners of capital. The problem with Americans,  unlike people in Western Europe who wisely embraced Social Democracy, is that we don't like or want that kind of government action to tame Capitalism or spread its benefits. Add racism and its systemic component to this mix and its not hard to see why poverty is such a huge problem in America.

Her sexual orientation has nothing to do with her ability and it's not pulling black people down in any way. LGBTQ people are just as much part of the black community as anybody. We've got to move beyond the idea that authentic blackness whatever that may be is only straight male cisgendered and patriarchal. 

My only concern is that Barabara Lee whose been in the House for several years and lives in California wasn't chosen. But this woman has a strong background in labor and community organizing in addition to abortion rights. Give her a chance. She might surprise us in a good way.

On 8/20/2023 at 5:42 PM, Jeromex said:

Black people do NOT need reparations ! Our community needs more fathers, more family structure, and more trade schools. Far too many blacks are sitting around and waiting for that big reparations pay day rather than trying to lift themselves up. Playing the victim is easy but how about our community teaching our youth that they arent victims? Thats a much better and more constructive idea. 
Slavery happened 160 years ago, how would they even determine who gets reparations? So many blacks have white or hispanic blood anyway. Should the families of White Union soldiers who died freeing slaves also get reparations?

Should black Africans that sold their own people to slave traders have to pay reparations? Should muslims pay reparations to enslaved Christians during the reign of the Ottoman empire ? Where does it end ! 
Our black conmunity needs to wake up and start realizing the democratic party is using us and constantly dangling carrots to our community in the form of reparations, more welfare, and more victimhood excuses. Every other Brown ethnic group managed to lift themselves up except our black community.

Its time we start making responsible decisions and stop the blame game. We are better than that!!!

 

We don't need no reparations
We don't need no thought control 
No dark sarcasm in the media
Liberals, leave us blacks alone 
Hey! Liberals, leave us blacks alone 
All in all it's just another brick in the wall 
All in all you're just another brick in the wall 

 

I disagree with the standard rightwing characterization of black people as dysfunctional, whining, malcontents, who just want to blame whites and society for all our problems. And it's utter nonsense to suggest we need to emulate other ethnic groups in order to make it. Our experience of injustice and deprivation is unique. Yet we have made progress since the 1960s. But racism and an unjust economy that harms all working people still pose a challenge. When it comes to reparations it's not a question of merit, We should have got forty acres and mule along with money after Slavery. We didn't. The problem with reparations now is threefold : 

1. They will not change the way the system works to deprive us rights, opportunities, or material wellbeing. The economy, criminal justice system, schools, community development practices, and mass media have to be reformed otherwise we will continue to lag behind and suffer the consequences of inequality such as lower life expectancy, poor health outcomes, higher levels of poverty, unemployment, financial instability, and unsafe communities. 

2. Reparations if paid will let whites and the system off the hook. Congress and Corporate America will declare the race problem solved. It will be nearly impossible to raise concerns about other problems and get action taken because they will wrongly claim " they paid " so there's no reason to consider any further claims. 

3. Reparations will be the biggest stimulus package for White dominated Corporate America in history. 

We don't need reparations. We need more and better. 

Over time I became more disillusioned with President Obama. He did some things that benefitted all Americans to some degree. But there were things he didn't try to do especially for black people. I'm over him the same way as Bill Clinton who really rubbed me the wrong way more often than not. 

What black people did on that boat dock was long overdue. White people need to be put on notice that racist violence especially mob action will not be tolerated. Black people are willing and able to meet such action by whites with force. LIFT EVERY CHAIR AND SWING TILL EARTH AND HEAVEN RING !

Pioneer1 makes a very important point about the lack of sympathy black people have for each other. To the extent blacks will write off white racist violence against other blacks they believe misbehave in public or make " the black people look bad." All of us no matter our race or class don't like to be bothered or inconvenienced by homeless people who are often mentally ill or addicted to drugs and alcohol. We disdain them. If they are perceived as disruptive or a threat force or violence is welcomed.

Let me be honest and confessional for a moment. I have a certain contempt for people standing around begging for money. Whether they have signs or hang out around businesses. I try not to give them money if possible although I do sometimes. I used to be more willing to. But to the extent I have always worked and had two or three jobs in some cases. Healthy able-bodied men panhandling make me really mad. I realize many of them might actually be addicts or mentally sick, but that's not everybody, however. It's not always easy to discern, and i'm sorry to say I don't try in many cases.

Our political leaders have got to be held accountable. At the same time however, maybe I just need to be more compassionate too. But, make no mistake what happened to Jordan Neely was wrong to say the least. I hope Daniel Peters goes to jail for a long time.

No I don't live in NYC that's true. But if no more immigrants or refugees came after tomorrow for let's say a decade. Blacks in that city and urban areas across the country would be struggling with discrimination, lack of public investment, and poverty. Immigrants don't necessarily make it any worse. In fact they tend to work and later start businesses.

Black people wrongly believe in representation and passivity in dealing with Democrats politically. Imagine if we would take to the streets around economic and social conditions the same way we approach police violence things would have to change. If we would put in place truly Liberal and Progressive Left politicians not Moderate Center Right Democrats like Eric Addams or others things would change. Instead when they can't fix problems it's easy to scapegoat immigrants and refugees.

On 5/9/2023 at 7:34 AM, Stefan said:

 

 

As thousands of migrants prepare to storm the country's southern border, they will definitely vie for scarce housing, medical and educational resources with Black Americans. To believe otherwise is foolish.

Shelters, even emergency ones, are already jam packed, New York City and Chicago's Mayors said. So, millions will be spent housing migrants in hotels. In New York, city workers are being asked to work overtime and special pay has been earmarked for those who speak Spanish.

Despite contending with two recent horrible mass shootings, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott just cannot stop attacking Latino migrants. Neither can Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

“The cartels are working in collaboration with President [Joe] Biden and the federal government to facilitate that illegal cross-border,” Abbott said. “We are being overrun by our own federal government. Texas is being undermined by our own federal government in our efforts to secure our border.”  ( https://newrepublic.com/post/172543/greg-abbott-demonizes-migrants-first-address-since-tragedies-texas )

Nice. He attacks the sitting U.S. President. I guess he wants the migrants machine gunned.
 

But DeSantis won't let Abbott steal all the anti-migrant spotlight, which brought a sharp rebuke from Mexico's leader.

“Why does [DeSantis] have to take advantage of people’s pain, of migrants’ pain, of people’s need for political gain,” Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador asked at a Monday press conference. “This is immoral. This is politicking.”

The measure will guarantee $12 million to fly migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, according to Politico.

 

“Now I found out that the Florida governor — imagine, Florida, which is full of migrants — is taking repressive, inhumane measures against migrants in Florida because he wants to be a candidate,” López Obrador said. “Can’t he not make another proposal to convince people?”

( https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/08/mexican-president-lopez-obrador-florida-immigration-00095828 )

Caught in the middle are Black Americans - with no choice but to accept cuts to municipal budgets for local mental illness, law enforcement, medical and education programs as funding is switched to help migrants.

It's why Jordan Neely, the Black homeless and emotionally troubled NYC subway Michael Jackson imitator and performer, was choked to death by a White former Marine. Neely was clearly in need of mental help - but never got it. 

 

 

I don't think migrants will hurt black people if the situation can be better controlled.  But the Republican Right has no incentive to govern and work with the President to do that. They thrive politically on portraying them the enemy the same way they do us.

Ultimately if we're going to control immigration and solve the border crisis America  needs to focus more attention on Latin America than the Pacific or the Middle East. By working with Latin American governments to make those countries more liveable and prosperous not everyone will be compelled to immigrate here.

American elites are hell bent on keeping all working people down at home and maintaining White Supremecy. Abroad they are determined stop China from rising and meddle in the Islamic world. Meanwhile things are falling apart in Latin America and the humanitarian crisis is spilling over our border.

4 hours ago, ProfD said:

By design.  Poverty, drug abuse and crime help to sustain the American economy.

Things are bad to say the least. However this society is fixable if we're willing to get involved. But if America is beyond reform then we're all in serious trouble because nobody is interested in a Socialist revolution or a Black Nationalist Sepratist struggle to form an independent Black state in North America. I say all this because accommodation and adaptation are not good options either. 

Thanks ProfD...

It is possible to reduce crime and treat drug addiction in the black inner city. We know in the 1990s violent crime rates went down. Drugs are a tougher problem. Moreover things will never be ideal so we need to focus on constant improvement instead.

One thing that will help is putting more people to work in living wage jobs. More importantly Brandon Johnson is making the well-being of poor and working class people a political priority. That's not something a lot of big city Democratic Mayors white or black have been doing.

5 hours ago, richardmurray said:

@KENNETH 

your first question is provocative, for the work. why? Your first question does three things. These three things are merely displayed for multilog, not to make a relevant point. 

1) it separates the word race or class in terms of their definition. when I use race or class I use them interchangeably. Race in the usa, for most people is phenotypical race. but religious race/gender race/financial race/age race also exist. Race is an unbounded word for me. So when I use the word race I am not suggesting it refers to the phenotypical only. In parallel, Class in the usa , for most people is financial class. But religious class/gender class/phenotypical class/age class also exist. Class is an unbounded word for me. When I use class or race, I see them equal in value to the words rank , order, classification, status, culture, heritage which all have the same root definition, at least to me; Arrangements based on a value. Yes heritage is what you carry, the value is your forebears way of life. Culture is what you grow, the value is your choice of way of life. Status is a label, the value is how others mark you. But all of said words are arrangements based on a value. 

2) you dont' mention it explicitly, but you place phenotypical race/class under or less than financial class/race. Personally, I think the emphasis or potency of orders/ranks/races/classes between themselves is based on a given populace to mull over. In the USA many people are fiscal capitalist, not all, but many. But the problem is many people in the USA are socialist, and socialism at its core is a system of one financial race. The worker. The problem with socialism is, the landless vagrant when they have a house may want more. And socialism doesn't have a financial upward mobility. It doesn't have downward, but it doesn't have upward. financial risk+reward is absent. Thus why most in humanity speak in socialist terms, the 1% in every country in humanity is majority fiscal capitalist. So, it financial orders greater than phenotypical orders. In my historical view, no. But, it all depends on the time and place. In the USA many, across class/racial lines want to create a consensus of finance>phenotype. but why?

3) why does a multiclassist or multiracial community  in the USA accept the concept of financial arrangements being superior to non financial arrangements? They feel it is the solution to peace. The USA is too multicultural in religion, phenotpye, language, gender, age, to use one of those factors for the majority. BUt, many in the USA feel that the commonly called middle class, is a financial race a majority can be a part of in the usa. Sequentially, financial race is superior to phenotypical class for said folk. Now, I argue, the USA has never had a majority above poor and below rich. The majority in the usa have always been poor. Before the war between the states that is unquestionable. After is where statistical assessment comes into play. The USA has been in the business of using statistical assessment, which is arithmetically proven can be used to attest to anything, to suggest a middle financial class has existed and needs to be reclaimed.

 

What is the relevant point? None of what I said before. I did say the prior wasn't relevant, just for multilog.  The relevant point is aracial. 

It is not going beyond race into class. As you alluded to, race/class go hand in hand. But, systems of classification always go hand in hand in any government in humanities history. The reality is, governments are themselves a class or race. Which undercuts why those who try to get away from races or classes ala aracial/aclassist usually fail. To restate, the usa is a fiscal capitalistic country, which demands poeple in it exists in races/clases/orders based on the trading of goods. Those with the most as you said ...

...which I concur to, in the modern usa , maintain the system of inequality, though I add it is also those that do not have who want to be in the advantaged inequal position as well.  But the question I posed to cynique is , maybe the flaw isn't that the have's abuse the have not, but the legal system in the usa, suggests that the have's shouldn't. I think the problem in the USA is the legal system is aracial or aclassist or at its core absent an arrangement. I daresay the usa legal structure allows for global citizenry. But the functional problem is the populace in the usa or the larger humanity is using a system of intermingled races/classes to align itself. which doesn't fit the legal system of the usa, and thus the constant clashes. The legal system is the problem. Most in the USA don't desire it but live under it, don't live by it, but live under it. and that creates problems when it comes to how privilege is approached. 

I use the terms race and class separately. 

1. Race is a social construct not a fact of nature. It is often used to define those different from us as subhuman and lacking dignity. It is used to treat others unjustly. This is especially the case in Western Civilization and specifically the US. 

2.  In a social sense class refers to differences in status, prestige, and privilege. Of course, all this is backed by wealth and income. So of course it's economic. Often times when I write or think about class it is in the Socialist framework - there are the wealthy owners of capital and workers which is everyone else. 

Thanks Richard Murray.

4 hours ago, richardmurray said:

@Cynique  when i look at the history of the USA. The community of people in the USA who publicly+functionally act aracial + equal in treating every other human being has grown since the time of the thirteen colonies. the problem is, not all blacks , not all whites, not all native americans, not all men, not all women, not all christians, not all muslims, not all anglos, not all latinos, not all elders, not all children,  have embraced the idea of equality for all races. And the reason is simple. the people who have financially profited in the usa the most , always take advantage of others. always.  Now anyone can argue, that happens in human history , anywhere. but the problem is what you allide to in your last sentence in your prose Cynique. You talk of rights. that is the USA problem. The USA is like all other governments in human history , based on one group taking advantage of others, whether internally or externally or both. but, the USA has the oldest legal code among current governments in humanity where equality is inferred as a universal right. So if you look at historical fact aside the usa legal projection, the solution is to end the idea that equality should be a right. The preamble of the consitution of the USA written by white slaveowners  is the problem. the community of people in the usa who adhere by it, while larger than ever before, are not necessarily the majority populace in the usa. 

Ultimately does this go beyond race and extend to class? After all powerful monied whites including the Founding Fathers were rich and waged a war of national liberation against British rule because they hated taxes and government control. Black enslavement and the genocide of Indigenous people were certainly racist, but also class driven economics. The least well off landless and small farmers after the Revolution needed land political leaders opened the West to expansion killing off even more indigenous people than in were exterminated in the original thirteen colonies.

Jump forward today and if you notice the assault on welfare programs including Social Security and Medicare and union busting in the name of individualism, self reliance, economic growth, and fiscal control are done by those critical even hostile to political reforms that advance freedom and racial equality. 

Even wealthy and middle class blacks who get over are often opposed to critiques and class based actions challenging Corporate Capitalism because these blacks benefit more from legal and social equality with whites yet poor and working class blacks need material economic equality. 

When we talk about race and privilege class cannot be denied. It's not just systemic white racism. Uncontrolled Corporate Capitalism and those with money exploiting poor and working people is the other side. The latter can come in blackface just as readily as white.

This is as bad as the show Sister Wives about the white breakaway Mormon fundamentalist man with four wives and multiple children. Not going to bother watching this nonsense. All these shows  glorify pettiness and dysfunction as fun and endearing which is wrong. We would all be better off not taking in this stuff.

ln this regard black people are no different from whites. The kind of elitism that comes from being college educated hinders our relationships with each other and the struggle for Black Freedom. A lot of well off educated blacks only want the benefits of the system rather than changing the system so that black people benefit collectively.

There are plenty of intelligent, hard working, and effective people doing all kinds of things for themselves and other black people. These people have never been to college. We need them and their contributions as much as anybody with a degree. While we have always had these divisions as black people, it's important to be aware and strive to bridge the gap.