Sallow, the question has been asked: Is there racism in the United States? And the answer to that question unfortunately, is yes. A follow up question would be: Is there still institutional racism? And once again, the unfortunate answer is yes.
Here's some points that I honestly believe is true and want addressed as well. Whites, Asians or Hispanics have nothing to do with the fact that 73% of African-American babies are born out of wedlock. One fact and one fact alone will almost guarantee that someone is born into poverty and its out-of-wedlock births. The arguement is then made that we have to 'help' these children rise from poverty. Since 1890 Native Americans have been the victims of this type of 'help.' Only those who have walked away from this government oppression have succeeded. Want proof, ask the Cherokees. More and more they tell the Bureau of Indian Affairs to 'stick it' where the sun don't shine. They turn down the addiction of government welfare and strike out on their own. Instead of being told how they can spend the money they make (because it is profit from BoIA funds) they now can invest it as they please and their wealth is exploding. African-Americans must understand that the hand-outs they seek are only putting them into the same predicament that the Native Americans have already experienced. The American experience promises equality of opportunity, NOT equality of outcome. If you give someone something, someone else first has to earn it. I'm not in the business of earning for other people so they don't have to work.
I AM NOT responsible for slavery. I never owned slaves, I never supported the institution and I never supported those who were involved in the trade. Further, I don't believe that at this time, any individuals who were slaves, are currently alive (Sometimes I wish they were so we COULD make amends). To continually bring up this issue is the business of victimization and race-baiting and is the perview of those like Sharpton and Jackson. Don't point your boney finger and me and shriek SLAVERY because I will just turn you off. There isn't an African-American alive today that was a slave to an American plantation owner.
Black-on-black crime is a problem that the black community must address. Here in Tulsa, we have murders that ten or fifteen people witness. When the cops show up, nothing. No one saw anything. That's all well and good but all that does is serve to isolate the black community even more. North Tulsa doesn't even have a grocery store. Why? It gets robbed and the employees are attacked and become victims themselves. Drugs enslave people and the dealers perpetrate violence to protect their 'turf.' The government pumping millions of dollars into the community does absolutely NOTHING if no one will live there because they don't feel safe.
Finally, I would tell you that as a retired cop I have personally witnessed a half-dozen incidents where someone broke into a home, trespassed, or attacked someone with the intent of committing a crime, and caused the victim massive issues (legal as well as civil) because they defended themselves. This is wrong and due to a bunch of sleazy, slimy lawyers (their natural state) a perversion of the justice system. Stand Your Ground Laws correct this miscarriage of justice and I support them as well as the 2nd Amendment.
I agree that there is racism. If a homeless man asks me for money to get him some food and I see him buy a pint of Vodka, am I going to give him another ten dollars? The African-American community MUST begin to fix their own problems. When they do they will show their sincerity and will get more help than they could ever handle... Stop the victimization train that the likes of Sharpton and Jackson want to be the engineers of...