Things We Can Help, Things We Can't.

Hey, Jingo,

How many White folks do you know who are racist towards Black Americans? To the best of my knowledge, I know ZERO. Yet, they read and hear the Rev Wrights and SHarptons and Rangels and Jacksons of the world and GET to feeling a little uncomfortable. Can we blame them?

You've got great thoughts here; So much of the problem is SO perpetuated BY the very 'leaders' SOME Blacks admire and then they gripe that "White People are racist!"? Who wouldn't be after being called racist or being told we're paying reparations when not one person alive today HAD A SLAVE! Even BILL COSBY, who came out with some terrific advice for 'his community' blames the problems ON THE WHITE MAN. I was SO disappointed when I'd been so thrilled to hear his comments and then saw him on Larry King playing the blame game again.

Funny, the Conservative Black friends I know (and I wish I knew more Blacks, I have to admit I don't know many, but the Black ladies at my huge Bible study, at which there are quite a few, are STELLAR, beautiful, kind, honorable women) are mostly Conservative; and never talk about WHite racism, or anybody owing them a THING, and TRUST ME, they're doing JUST FINE, THANK YOU, very much!!

I blogrolled you, Morgan...it's an honor. And I apologize for the delay. An HONOR. Please let me know when you have articles like this as I'd like to get more people reading your terrific stuff and, though I don't have many readers (yet!), if even 10 more read your pieces, America's a better place! xxx Z

Generally speaking Z, we run in different circles. :-) I've worked with people that "HATED NI--ERS!" I even had one or two working for me. As a matter of fact my ex-wife and I were good friends with a skinny little redneck lesbian (Libby) who was SO much fun to party with but she had a BURNING hatred for blacks!

All of that said, I've probably run into more blacks who hated whites than the other way around. Here in the South blacks and whites have a FAR more "familiar" relationship. We actually get along better en masse than they do in other parts of the country. My brother and cousins who come to visit from up north always mention how "friendly" blacks are here in Jacksonville in comparison to NYC, New Jersey, or Chicago. I think the reason is that southerners generally dealt more honestly and openly-nooses and all- about racial issues immediately than liberal northerners did right off the bat. It wasn't always good, but it WAS up front and out in the open. I've had black friends growing up who's mom or dad wouldn't even SPEAK to me, but would always give me a ride home from football practice if my parents were working. This has lead to a certain genteel approach to race relations, not a phony hyper-friendliness that seems prevalent in other locals.

It's far harder to explain it in a forum like this than to just tell you about what I've seen growing up in the deep south. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Thanks for all the kind words, you do wonders for my ego! LOL! Keep up the good work with your Bible study, that's the most important thing you can do to improve our world. Tikkun Olam.

Morgan