@snood,
snood wrote:
Elder is one of those negroes who discovered years ago how lucrative it was to be one in a small stall of go-to negroes who will reliably cough up ameliorating words for his right wing bosses. He long ago traded any personal dignity or integrity he might have had for a place at the table. In any issue or conflict involving race, he can be counted in to jump in for whatever argument conservative white men are saying, and against whatever stance is being taken by women, LGBTQ or persons of color. You can set your watch by this very reliable negro.
I don't know enough about Mr. Elder to comment on your rather unforgiving assessment. However your certainty that his motives are completely cynical and self-serving doesn't ring true to me. Do you believe that Al Sharpton is a selfless and totally dedicated proponent of the individuality, freedom and self-improvement of ambitious Black people. To what degree do you believe he might have made a very rewarding career out of assuring American Blacks that the challenges and trials they face are entirely the work of White people, and that they are indeed victims deserving of government subsidies and guaranteed access to universities, Jobs and other such things?
I have spent some rewarding time with Jason Reilly, an author, fellow of the Manhattan institute and editorial writer for the WSJ. In his book "Please Stop Helping Us" he outlined how the various liberal welfare, affirmative action and related social programs have contributed to the destruction of the family structure and culture among Black Americans, offering rather convincing data and strong statistical correlations involving two parent families, crime and economic achievement and related factors to support it. One of his central theses is the idea that these programs have indeed supported the idea of victimhood among young Black Americans, something that has materially worked to their disadvantage in meeting both the challenges life offers us all, and the unique obstacles that still face them as they seek a better life.
I've observed many times, in leading large organizations of various types, just how destructive are the various excuses that people of all categories often use to rationalize failure, often before it occurs. Indeed I have concluded that if one wishes to destroy an individual or a group, to sap their focus, energy and will to achieve, it is usually sufficient just to give them a lasting excuse for failure.
Life is unfair and it presents people with unequal challenges. I have learned that a too easy and well paved path forward usually eviscerates the will and achievement of one "lucky" enough to have it. The same goes for those reassured in their upbringing that they are victims, unable to rule their lives, improve their economic status, or raise their children to do so themselves. Achievement is usually accompanied by sustained struggle and persistence. A culture or subculture that doesn't value and encourage these things, and instead focuses on excuses and resentment, usually does its members a great disservice. I believe this is indeed a significant factor in the unfortunate condition of many American Blacks today. I also believe there is abundant statistical evidence in our social, criminal and economic data to support it.
The good news here is that increasing numbers of Black Americans are escaping the chains imposed on them by these destructive ideas. Some may appear to have sold out their integrity in doing so ,but it is a mistake to assume that all have done this. Indeed this common mistake is itself a part of the destructive culture of victimhood.
An eminent economist, writer and senior fellow at the Hoover institute, Thomas Sowell, who also happens to be Black, and born in poverty in Harlem, and a High School dropout, has made this argument far more convincingly than I have here. A quick google search will yield writings and videos of interviews with him on these topics.
