Do you ever get the strange feeling that a large percentage of the AFRICAN AMERICAN population are over concerned with doing their own thing and unity is something of the past by dreaming to be free at last?

I'm sure WE can list all the "WE as BLACK people dont..." and "WE as black people need.." statements till WE all kill over.

Is unity played out?

No comments? Ah Well.

I am truly offended!! I am the current Generation. And i disagree. We groom from what we were raised on and integrate with what goes on in the world today. Much of which our past generations have set back and allowed to happen. Back when Kennedy was President our past generation was running around talking about Black Power and killing off everyone..destroying your own neighborhoods out of stupidity, smoking pot and whatever other drugs you were interested in, having sex and so forth. But then the next generation comes along and you want to blame it all on them. That's BS!!! I am sick and tired of our past generations expecting us to pick up where you guys dropped off...where they decided to screw up. Don't get me wrong...our generation has its issues but most people on crack in this world today aren't the current generation. Most kids in gangs didn't make up those gangs...they are followers of the past generations who started those gangs whom they look up to do the love and attention that their parents neglect to give them. We as people need unity but our unity was lost a long time ago. When we tried and end results still turned out as us hurting ourselves rather than helping each other. There is a big age gap but reality really needs to set in on a lot of adults out there. People say that we can't do this and we are not suppose to do that. I am a future leader of america....My background don't check out as peachy but I personally feel i got more sense that some of these adults running around out here. When our generation screw up the adults complain and the government make a new law. When the past generations screw up they call it an accident an mistake and tap them on hand..don't do that again. But they really shouldn't have done some of it the first place with all their "years of experience" and all. We follow in their examples... so what do they have to say for themselves?

The human condition is beseeched with iniquities, we seek the cure. The examples you qoute of the "present generation" do not spoil the whole. What you see as fault on the "present generation" I see as an ULTIMATE FAULT on the preceeding generation(60s-70s). The younger generation were once innocent children. Your children, left to fend for themselves with no rites of passage, no acknowledgement of substance other than DREAM speeches and JESUS.

Meanwhile other communities stake claim on natural resources and issue out measures of approval and standards which brings us no avail.

Regardless of the volly of opinion, I take ownership of my life and respect the next man. So far the consequences have been a good 30 years in the making.

The idea of black people gathering around a single ideal and promoting that idea as "unity" was/is fantasy at best. It couldn't never happen. the "played out" thang you feel is just reality setteling in.

we underestimate individualism as a bad thing among black people. we should respect our different interests and ideologies and perfrences and just committ to each other to give our support despite the differences.Instead, we want to say what "black" is and what "black" is not. Anybody who don't measure up is called a Uncle Tom, a sellout, oreos and others. That is stupid and anit-progressive. Is unity played out? About **** time. Now maybe we can start doing thngs for real. Do we relly need an agend? Isn't life , lberty and the pursuit of happiness agenda enough. To not discourage a fellow brother or sister, and to help all we can should be what we are about.

Balsina: I couldn't agree more with you. Unity is supporting another. Looking pass what you believe in and standing behind your fellow brother in support of what he or she believes in. Rather than knocking them down or blaming them for their won beliefs.

Nexis: Once again. I could not have said it better. You spoke nothing but the truth. Yet our past generations still see fault in us. Even though we merely try to survive off of what they left for us to live on.

Kemestry: You talk as a man of wisdom. Sense. So for you to say such things seems so beneath you. To think that our generation is at fault for your mistakes. It wasn't until recently that our blacks truly and really started voting. Do you expect 15-17 year old teenagers to votes. Sorry...that is illegal. But those who can, do...if they believe. But then again...this years election showed how valid our right, our action, afffected todays government. We still lost...and we tried...we **** sure did. I don't know hardly anyone who didn't vote this year. But by cheating...lying and the our political government do..we still lost. What does that tell you. You speak on this and you say that our past generation is always talking....what about doing. Because we look back on what you all have done and what succeeded and what didn't and try not to go back and do that...you blames us for its affects. Who do you think before i was born this world turned into the havoc that we live in today. We this generation...ages between 18 and 25 near 30. We were infants...never even existed when crack and marijuana came into this world. We predominantly didn't know of its existance until we became of age. 17-20. Now our children see it even its earlier stages. Those children...watching our current blacks go into back alleys just to go get a hit. We have children my age who were born as crack heads...addicts. Do to our past generations. This is a cause and and effect on the current generation.

We are not shocked at racism...we are just sick and tired of hearing everyone complain about it consistently. Why...what reason...it hasn't helped us in the past 30 years...complaining. Martin Luther Kind died for our freedom. yet we are still not free so everyone say. If i'm not mistaken we got more priviledges that he did back then. You should be grateful and still 7 out of ten blacks still sit in the back of the bus. If i'm not mistaken...we have the same equal rights as whites...the only difference is do to the fact the we still and do to your mentalities will always be minorities that we have to work harder to get what we want. But who cares...hard work will teach you a hell of a lot. Things don't come easy...some of us blacks are just like siblings. You have a sister and brother. The sister since she is a girl get any and everything she wants..but the boy has to work for it and earn it and he's jealous of his sister because she doesn't. That poor girl is not taught to survive in this world. She is taught to survive by a man taking care of her. We must understand that we are different...yet equal. It may be hard but we can do whatever we put our minds too and stop saying what our current generation is doing wrong...what our past generation has done...and what can we do for ourselves. We will never have unity if we continue to pin the blame of our mistakes on others. Did you know that a white was the first to bring drugs into the United states...our past generation was the ones who decided to submit to his needs. He was the one that put your brothers and sistas on crack...our parents and fathers. He is the one that cause neighborhoods to disintegrate...our people to turn against each other. I saw a documentary on a case in philadelphia where our past generation..."Black Power" But there group was called the move who basically because of their own beliefs killed off a group of kids..they put their own kids lives in danger. They destroyed a neighborhood. Trying to get someone to hear what they had to say. HELLO...say something with your education...with statistics..facts...stock..equity. But then our past was so busy trying to be equal in the wrong way they hurt the present generation more than help our generation. Now you make some who are strong and some who are weak..some who complain and some who hurt our community. It is not our fault this world is the way it is today. The pollution that is hear and killing our ozone layers...that started way before my time. I may promote some of it now but if I'm not mistake..that is the way i was taught..by my past generation. I hope you read balisina's and nexis reply..they spoke nothing but the truth. Your not seeing things for what they are. I know our past generation lives in denial for the mistakes that they have made..they raise their kids not to do the things they do but must understand that their blood runs through their genarations veins... They must show them a better way in order for them to make this world a better place. If you can't do that...then the past generation will still have no one else to blame. I mean come on...our past president committed adultry..more power to him...his wife is still their...so what does that say for our country...we sure as hell didn't do it. Shoot now adays as stats put it...the white race has a higher stat in married couples than black...so we nip that in bud pretty quickly. We don't hide our bad attributes and we this generation don't fault our mistakes on no one but ourselves. We simply ask that our past generations stop blaming us for everything and expecting us to fix everything that you guys have broken and let us live our lives. Be our own leaders. Because right now..i don't know not one Black leader that i can think of that i need to be looking up to other than myself. **** Jesse Jackson ain't even a roll model anymore. And what generation did he come from. Come on now...lets be true to ourselves. See things for what they really are.

balisina! "Never played in." Interesting observation.

This is something else I feel settling in. Although individualism may be deemed counterproductive to the idea of UNITY, I truly feel that our past history pushes us to that, individualistic freedom. No matter how astute or ill informed it may be.

Choices. I have recently claimed freedom of religion and have been ostracised to some degree.

yea... I noticed. But she did keep it neutral...sometimes its best to be that way. And nexis your statement holds true: "I truly feel that our past history pushes us to that, individualistic freedom."

It does. I was watching the black movie yesterday watching this old man get slapped down by a cop because he would tell him what he wanted them to know. Just them tired of the white folks getting away with everything..and they felt like they needed to stand their ground for once. It was interesting. Our individualism is derived from many cases. Our skin tone...our accent...our style. our thought process. We are taught to be an individual to do things on our own..and ask for help only if we need it. Your issue with religion...well its just that...religion. Our society is based off of religion our laws are ruled by a religion. The funny thing about that is...we are continuing to strive on a proprietized religion as we grow into so many different cultures so many different religions. Kind of make living in this Country questionable...whom shall I follow...individualized. And so we turn to ourselves..and follow I...for

I shall follow me...
through the thickening of the forest.
I shall guide me through those green pastures.
Let my mind run free...
For the only one to judge me is me...
Ridicule and expectations...
We live by the rules of the proclamation...
But who shall follow me but me...
As i stand proud letting my mind run free...

A coworker(white) had a class assignment to do a report on MLK. Personally I think he's smoking the writings of Dr. MLK. Dude was flipping out explaining one qoute to me. I have never seen someone so high off of MLK.

"...every mountain made flat..."

Equality. There will never be equality in a CAPITALISTIC CESSPOOL!

I've gotten to the point where I want to live equality and not wait and dream about it. This is my understanding. Shaking out the capitalistic factor, refusing to be discounted to zero.

I don't think we will ever be equal not until the past generations are wiped out or no longer have a say on what goes on in this country. We still have the president and our congress...all consisting in the past generation still running around trying to conform but thier own ways and needs. Many still live in the past. And until we can live for positive economical and social growth in this country rather on what they think we as people need..not considering all the main factors and what truly is really important to this country then. We will continue to have issues. Equality is just a word...and the funny this is..so many whites get so exstatic about black people...some more than our own race. They accomplished something...they feel...they have payed us back in learning a part of our history...LOL now that is some funny stuff.

have more to say but gotta step out...brb

Yes shaneak, hence a varied individualistic definition of freedom.(an un-apple pie, picket fence AMERICAN DREAM)

Liken to a MASTER P, COLIN POWELL free for all.

Originally posted by kemetstry
Nexis
Each generation is suppose to take up the banner and make the world a better place.

I agree but still, this generation has to reconfigure the ideals and values of the preceeding one. WHITE and BLACK.

I dont think capitalism is going to fold up shop anytime soon. Buying or selling ideas.

No. There is no need for a mass movement. What it takes is refusing to be discounted to zero on an individual basis.

This is the power, this is the freedom.

But still with us standing as an individual which is where Balisina holds true: We must support one another and stand behind each other...despite our beliefs. Simply be a friend..even to a stranger. That's where i our unity comes in. If we all could grasp that concept.

I don't think so, everyone is not worthy of support and it is neccessary to be discriminating.

It is a mentallity like yours that cause our young black children to do wrong. And we as black people to be divided. When people get old..because they are now no use to us...do just leave them their to rot. Why can't we pick them up and help them along the way. Be that shoulder for one another to lean on. Not someone who takes the clothes off our back...but just a shoulder to lean. on. That is support..

Primarily, you have no idea of my mentality, and you would do well to recognize that. Secondarily, everyone is not deserving of support in every endeavor they undertake and that has nothing to do with children going wrong, especially since your definition of support is rather loose.

anyone..just the way it was stated. It upsets me to see so many people fail...i say. Help until I can't help any more...help until they don't want the help. That's what i believe in. I'm not saying to go and support a someone who believes in the devil. To stand behind a man who just shot up a nursing a home. I'm talking about in general. Our generation children today have an affect on unity. But if our past generation does not raise and support them in a way that is needed. Then they too will make the same mistakes as their forefathers. I have seen too many young black men fail and fall in result to crime because they have no one to encourage them. The funny thing is not everyone can encourage them if they don't look up to you...you'r just talking. We don't motivate our black children enough...we don't believe in them. That is support. We look at our youth and refuse to hear their ideas. Refuse to listen to their opinions... And then they turn to those who will...the ones that you have already lost in the battle of right and now result to wrong.

So for you or anyone to neglect their responsibility as human-being and not support your fellow citizens...is wrong. Pure and simple. Like I said...you don't need to take the shirt off your back. But atleast act like you care. Sometimes that's all people need. If you don't have faith in them from the jump...then what. Where is the unity...where is the love?

[FONT=times new roman][COLOR=firebrick]Think about what you say, every effort is not worthy of support. if a man is bad at business, why should we support his business, perhaps in his failure he finds that his gift is for song or something. Failure is not the end of living. Sometimes helping or supporting people is a bad decision and so one does need to be discriminating.

We are looking at this through different stand points. And i'm not saying always keep the faith...but some times people don't even give people a chance. Adolescents in general. I'm not exactly sure from what stand point you are looking at this from but I'm talking about our nation as a whole. The issues that are brought up and the way things are handle. I'm talking about like someone stated earlier. Our generation my generation is corrupt and we are not helping the nation. What this generation does wrong... Maybe we should start...see if we can get on each others page. Because i think you're reading one book and I'm reading another...and if that is the case. We will never get a better understanding of one anothers views.

'splain yourself

You make me laugh. I like your personality...it somewhat reminds me of me. But I am not going to explain myself. I've been doing that through the whole post. Maybe you should go back and reread it and if you still don't understand. As far as what I am referring to and things of that nature then I'll explain myself. Because if you read the rest of the post...I am solely basing it on our current and past generation. How the current generation is being treated by our past generation and what our past generation think and expect of the current. Which is where it all balls down to. How can we work together by looking past our differences..anyways...just read it. If you don't catch on then...then I'll try to explain. Cool...

Who says its has to be a cross to bear? I'm sorry I'm not the spokesperson for the 18-30 group. What I will state is that from an individualistic point of view, FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE has BLACK FOLK heads fried. We have been swallowed up into the BORG of WHITE CULTURE. Assimilated in some ways but still discounted to ZERO in others.

We all know the statistics, facts, plagues and choices people make young and old. This is the coveted mountaintop and at times I'm disgusted with it. Colin Ferguson I feel your pain!

Where do these young graduates of the HBCU go?

Where are they at? Is a spaceship hauling them away to mine and inhabit planets in other galaxies? (AMERICAN DREAMS) Do I have to witness another rap entertainment protege do a constipated gangsta minstrel dance for an all to accepting audience?

When your generation came into adulthood what banner or cross did you pick up and carry?

As far as many of us is concerned...their was none. But we did not neglect the fact of who we are and what we as future black leaders should or shouldn't do. Now don't get me wrong. Their are many of us who deny the fact of who we are...Always pulling the crab back in the barrel or jealous to see another brotha or sista come up. Rather than supporting them. But that's every where you go. We can't seem to eliminate it regardless.

I must admit...you got me stuck on this one. But I have no intentions on picking up anything. We have learned my generation to fight with our brains rather than our hands. But I also see that so many don't see a way to do better. And those people aren't minors. They range from the ages of 18-21. Some a little older. They don't have support by our older generation to want to do better. Even our own people look down on our young black brothas and some sistas. They criticize the way they dress and the way they do things. We turn each other against ourselves. Since slavery we have always been outcast to each other from light to dark, from house slave to field slave.

How do i make a difference. I have my brother and my cousins....young men and women...and i'm only 21. I try my best to help them see a better way. Because many of them don't. I'm am the first in my family to even go to college and finish. I am predominantly so far the only one in my household to graduate from high school. I help by helping them...teaching them what they are willing to hear because after everyone turning their back on them for so long...after people turning their back on you for so long....you see it your way and that's it. I've seen it so many times. And not just within my own family. You see you can say what we my generation is doing wrong...but regardless it starts with our past one. We simply conform to what is given. I've learned that not everyone is strong as me...which i had to learn the hard way. And now i understand...which is why i stopped pinning the blame. I don't blame my past generation wholely for what goes on in this world today...but a lot of it I can't change either...I just try and make it better for me and the people around me. Many of us don't feel like whe should carry the burden of our past generation...to dwell on so many things that will never change. If we can..we simply try to change what is going on now. I agree with you somewhat on your statement...but help me see it through your eyes. What do you see going on this world today..what changes would you or have you made as a human being to make this world a better place for our race. To bring us together.

***you know many of the people in my generation don't see color. Yet anyway. They live as normal americans...only because it hasn't affected them yet. They haven't truly seen the issues and they will continue to live in denial until that change occurs. That is simply the way they were raised. What do you say about them?

I read your statements and many hold true. But being a prime example of this generation, I will continue to disagree. My points are made and your views will not change. Which i understand and welcome very much so. Its good to see and know what the older generation thinks of the current one. But mind you those like any other individual is either a leader or a follower. Many of us chose to be leaders rather than followers which is where our individualism comes in. If that criminates us...defies our purpose as the current generation. Then so be it. We all make mistakes to learn to from them.

I was on the train the other day and this old man maybe in his early to late 40's was talking to this lady about how they rebuilt the childrens playground in a black neighborhood. And then i thought...how could we do things like that. But we are so busy trying to make a better life for ourselves that we don't have time to do things like that. We know life wasn't easy for a black person back then...life isn't easy for a person today. Education rises every year. When tutition was totally covered by the government and they had less restrictions it wasn't that hard for someone to get an education. I wonder when i have child will i be able to afford to send them to college rather than them depending on the government and becoming in debt like so many us. Paying back student loans. Me and many of my friends worked hard to get where we are...and we work hard to maintain and succeed become accepted by our past generation. You tell us to get an education...that's what we did. Anyways... You are right...

No kemetstry I disagree,

Leaders come from somewhere. Leaders were individuals at some point before they where elected, hired, voted for, appointed or placed on a messianic pedestal.

You must work on you before you can work on others. I can't do something for someone I can't do for myself. For me to help someone...I need to help myself first. If it don't come easy you don't get it easy. My education...allows me to make more money...in return....to do bigger and better things. I teach those who want to know what i have learned. I help those that at that time...I can help. I have no intentions or no reason to turn my back on anyone...my conscious won't allow that. So please don't get the wrong perception of me.

And for you to say that we help only ourselves...i totally disagree with that. We help each other. Many of us to get where we are today. We don't think soley of ourselves but we also know not allow others to bring us down while helping them. No...I'm not going to miss a days pay to go and march for a cause I'm not sure i believe in. I need to keep a roof over my head. No I'm not going to join a civil rights movement or march in the million man or woman march. But in my time of availability away from my everyday needs and on my way from work seeing a homeless person sleeping on the street. I would be glad to slip him some money. To see a child hungry i would be glad to by him/her some food. And if someone wants to learn...I'll be happy to teach them. If someone need a some clothes to go to job interview...I will be glad to purchase them...if I can.

Just because my generation don't run around having riots and preaching about our black community don't mean we are not involved. Many of us live in them everyday. Our unity is done but never seen to your generation and probably never will be. We help where we're needed, we don't go where we're not wanted...

I applaud the dialogue between obviously two different generations. Shaneak, you make some very sensible arguments. However you made one comment that I find interesting and very sad. You basically said that no progress would be made until all past generations are all dead. This is a sentiment that only the arrogance of youth could make. We learn from those who are older than us. I won't necessarily say that we are more experienced or wiser. Our people have always avoided some of the pratfalls by listenting to the sages of the past. The gatekeepers of the family/community history. To say say you would be better off by not having this valuable resource is quite extraordinary to me. I hope at some point your children and grandchildren don't wish you dead because you are hindering their progress.

I didn't physically mean dead...just not in charge. :D I mean as far as I'm concerned no on in congress and the person who hold our throne (the president) aren't exactly young. But that's just what i see.

As far as anything goes...I've learned a lot from my great grandparents and my grandparents. Respect, Values, Integrity, Honor... and so much more. But they never talked about slavery actually when i asked my great grandmother she said she wasn't a slave. Nor was her mother or my great granddaddy's mother or father. Which makes them my great great grandparents...old enough to be living during those times. I just never really heard her dwelling on those things. Like so many of our older generation does now and our current generation. So as far as that is concerned...I was never taught to complain...but to adapt. But anyways a little off the subject. I'm not trying to say that our past generation were bad or did wrong...but a lot of things that are going on in our society today happened due to our past generation but everyone is still trying to blame us. I was looking at the stats in the safest location to buy a house. In a 5 year period I noticed that many areas crime rate has gone down a lot. And in some areas it has gone up a little. This my generation.

Kemetstry: I understand what you're saying about the money. And to tell you the truth you are right. Our generation feeds solely off of money. But if you're broke tell me exactly what is you can do other than your voluntary work that you can do with money.

Our society is based off of money. You won't make it in this world with out it. The question is what you do with your money once you have it. Don't ridicule our generation when we simply are mold in your words your right and wrong doings. All i ever heard them say was go to college and make that money. This is a white mans world. blah blah blah. But here you come one from our past generation and ridicule our love for what the white man have...ridicule our way of success because we think me and then you. Our generation isn't as bad as you think. Personally I think its new found land a new world with I pray a better thinking.

And this whole thing about unity. We get unity when our past generation and our current one can come to terms. Because in the years that have came and gone and the ones that move forward....We generations have never truly seen eye to eye. And with that we shall always find conflict. Mostly amongst ourselves....

kemetstry what you have stated about it being the "white man's world" and implying that it unified is such a self defeating mentality.

No it is NOT a "white mans" world.

Why should we pass this mental vice down to the next generation? The only unified thing about a white mans world is allowing proponents to divide and conquer OUR minds before ACTION.

Refuse to be discounted to zero.

I don't think it's played out just so many set sight on goals for themselves
unity is the common power we need to use on white society.