[SomeRandomGuy]

I have been considering this post for quite some time, and finally have decided that it was time to post it. There are a couple of things I would like to say regarding the post, before I get to the real topic. First, I very often see posts like this where someone will state that they are not racist, while saying things that sound very racist. I sometimes have a hard time taking those posts seriously, as I feel that the poster is not being honest with himself/herself, so is probably also not being honest with the rest of us. I hope that with this post I do not come across that way, although I realize that it is a very real possibility. Also, I would like to say that I am not posting this merely as a way to start controversy. I do expect this to be a controversial post, but generating controversy or offending others is not the intention.

I have three primary purposes for making this post. Firstly, I believe this is a topic worthy of discussion, so I hope this post will generate some constructive discussion on the topic. Secondly, my views on the subject are normally not very popular views, and I would like to see if there are others who do share my views, or if I am mostly alone in my beliefs. Lastly, I would like to hear others views on the topic.

I believe that racism in the US, and I am sure the rest of the world, is a very real and horrible thing. I have been around a great deal of racism, and have seen how ingrained it is in some people. Not only do I not condone racism, I find it disgusting. I believe that racism is based primarily on fear and ignorance, and serves no useful purpose in our society.

My strong views on racism have caused me to take notice of interactions within our society that relate to racism. One thing that has surprised me, is that it appears to me that oftentimes, the very victims of racism play a role in the generation of that racism.

There are many groups facing racism in the US, I will use one as an example. I do not, however, think that this discussion need to be limited to any specific group.

There is no doubting the fact that the black community faces a great deal of racism. This racism has existed since well before this country was founded. I am not suggesting that the black community started the racism. What I do suggest, however, is that they have a part to play in the racism that currently exists in the US.

Anyone familiar with the equal rights movement in the US is familiar with the racial segregation that existed for years in this country. While for many years the idea of "Separate but Equal" was accepted, it is now condemned as being another form of inequality. I feel, however, that we see something similar in black communities of the present. I believe that many within the black community have chosen to adopt an approach of "different but equal". I don't feel that "different but equal" is any better than "separate but equal", and has no place in our society.

Some may argue that the black community has its own culture to maintain, and should not be forced to conform to the culture of "White-America". I very much support preserving ones cultural identity, but I don't feel that this is applicable in this situation. If we were talking about a group of people from a specific country or region, then I would understand their desire to maintain their cultural identity. My experience, however, is that the only thing common among most members of the black community is the color of their skin. How can someone whose ancestry traces to Kenya share a common culture with someone who traces their ancestry to Barbados? I do not think that sharing a physical attribute has any relation to sharing a culture. That would be like me saying that I needed to get all other blue-eyed people in this country to help me preserve our blue-eyed heritage.

I also feel that the black community is not trying to preserve their culture, as much as they have tried to create a new culture. While it is common for people from other countries to bring aspects of that culture with them, I can't think of any other group in our country that has gone so far to create their own culture. What other groups have developed such a specific style of dress, created their own way of speaking, developed their own styles of music or made up their own names? While these things have made their way into mainstream society, they originated within and are closely associated with the black community. It is these things that make be believe that there is an attempt being made to create separate culture. I see little evidence that this is being done for any reason other than simply to be different.

It would be ignorant to suggest that this applies to everyone in the black community. I do not believe that is the case at all. I also do not suggest that most members of the community are making a conscious choice at being different. It seems that the black community has developed in such a way as to encourage members to follow along, or risk being considered sell-outs or traitors.

There have been many successful members of the black community who have made significant impacts to our society. The most obvious example being Barack Obama. It seems, however, that it takes much more effort for a young black man or woman to be successful than if they were another race. I do not think this is because they are less capable, or have less options available to them. I believe it is primarily because the community encourages them to avoid such ventures. It seems that in the black community of today the only way to be successful and respected is to become a rapper or athlete. It seems that those who achieve success in other areas; accountants, managers, etc. are often viewed as being sell-outs. Barack Obama has even been accused of not being "black enough", which suggests that the community expects a certain way of acting to be considered "black".

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are two figures who come to mind who seem to be considered "black enough" to represent the community. The difference I see there is that they seem to concern themselves primarily with issues that are race-specific. While Barack Obama seems to be concerned with bettering the nation, those two seemed more concerned with bettering the black community. I believe that public figures such as Jackson and Sharpton add to the racism problems, as they are focus so much on the black community as a separate and different group within our nation.

I believe that to have true racial equality in this nation we must first work to make skin color as irrelevant as hair or eye color. As long as we talk about the black community as though it is something different, then I do not feel that racial equality will exist. Some may argue that I am suggesting that black people be forced to abandon their culture, and accept the culture of White-America. I believe, however, that my suggestion is simply to stop trying to create a separate culture, stop trying to be different and become an American. I don't think that requires the black community to give up their music, way of dressing, etc as those things have already made their way into mainstream American society. What I do think is required, however, is for people (on both sides) to stop thinking in terms of black or white, because that too easily turns into us vs them.