Sam da man asked: Chris Rock although a great comedian often in the slapstick sense is often overlooked as a great social commentator. Perhaps it’s true what he says. There are two types of black people: black people and n**gers.
Now what tends to get reported in the media more often than not is the latter of the two people. However, with the US presidential election as evidence, perhaps that tide is slowly turning. However, there are still obstacles to the advancement of black people WORLDWIDE because of some prevalent attitudes within the community.
Now I only discuss and ask the following question because I feel like a victim of the issue we are about to debate:
Why does myself wanting to be successful and living a good life have to be viewed as ‘treachery’ and ’selling out’ against my own race?
I am not a black nationalist and I would describe myself as fairly politically liberal. But I raise this question because I am often viewed by people I grew up with as a ‘coconut’. Possible reasons vary from:
(1) I think there is more to music than just listening to one type of genre (R’n'b Hip Hop is not the only music out there people!)
(2) I don’t speak nor really feel comfortable speaking ebonics. While I live in England, I will speak ENGLISH. While I live in Kenya, I will speak swahili. Get my drift?
(3) I do not consider getting an a high level of education or learning a trade as ‘corny’ or ‘acting white’. Last time I checked, this ‘corny’ education often led to people acquiring a substantial amount of sterling or dollars upon a few years after completion.
(4) No, I do not want to have 4 children before I am 25 from 4 different mothers. I like sex, but it doesn’t mean I have to pay for it by not using appropiate protection and getting a nice little STD.
(5) Yes, I may have been poor while studying for my degree and you may have been earning untold amounts of ‘quick money’ while I was struggling, but I’ll take that over a criminal record and always having to watch my back.
A lot of stereotypes, I know, but you know what they say, stereotypes often come from a lot of truth…
So is there really a civil war going on in the black community? Or am I just ranting and generalising? Because last time I checked, people were more interested in 50 cents new album than Barack Obama’s views on the education system…
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