Guilt is a great impediment to any resolution of racial issues. It is used by Whites and Blacks alike to avoid dealing with the reality of the widening racial divide in this country. Whites use guilt primarily for political purposes by offering absolution through welfare programs and by condemning anyone who disagrees as racists. Blacks use guilt as tool to gain preferential treatment ("affirmative action") and as an excuse for the dysfunctional nature of the Black subculture. Getting people off heroin is easier than getting people to set aside guilt and view this problem objectively.