The "New" 21st Civil Rights Century and Amy Wax's 4-Step Prosperity Plan for Poor Blacks
I must confess, I found C-Spans airing of the U.S. Civil Rights forum: 21st Century, interesting. It was so interesting that I feel a need to comment on some of the views aspired by, mostly, scholars, community leaders, progressive-minded thinkers and not-so-progressive thinkers. Taking place on September 14 at the National Press Club in D.C., the forum was entitled: "New Civil Rights Era or was it "Civil Rights in the 21st Century".
Of course the underlying theme was finding ways to empower the ever chained black people. How can blacks, as a whole, finally experience progress and success in a white man's world. It is a Amy Wax, a law school professor at the the University of Pennsylvania, who came forward and proclaimed that nothing more can be done for blacks, they must do it for themselves. She stated that "Past Oppression can not be use as an excuse for bad behavior". He elaborates on this opinion in here reason book: Race, Wrongs and Remedies where she purports a rationale that blacks (have a) unique power to to undo the harm of historical and present racism.
She went on to give a simple and patent formula for being able to prosper in today's world. She listed 4 core values that should help black people do the trick:
1. Get a Diploma.
(A person with a HS diploma and a degree working at a McDonald's or Burger King at minimum wages justifies this reasoning).
2. Get married.
(Are we talking same-sex?--Or, long-term partner--Or, poor black marries well-to-do white?)
3. Perform well.
(Even when you have a racist boss or a slave driver black supervisor).
4. Don't break the law.
(Like stilling land from Indians, or killing innocent civilians worldwide, etc).
It sounds simple, and an epiphany of liberating revelation. After centuries of oppression, all you have to to black people is follow Ms. Wax's guideposts to prosperity. Or, should be call it A Dummy Guide to Prosperity for Black People?
Notwithstanding the centuries of damage that a racist society has wroth on the spiritual, physical and psychical being of black Americans, I find it astonishing that this can be classified as progressive thought. To me it appears an age-old adage of White superiority suggesting snake oil remedies to those who are being oppressed. It's a hypocritical viewpoint coming from those (white racists) who not only have developed values for the righteousness for breaking laws but have equated beating the rap as a moralistic value in the capitalistic society.
Personally, I have followed scripts espoused by Wax and her like to the script. To say the least, I have yet to personally experience the success of such a simple formula that wreaks of condescending insult.
On "bad behavior", it is the white man values that people try to emulate the most. If he/she has become successful and/or prosperous in utilizing bad behavior to become successful, then why tell those who are poor and shackled to follow 4 basic steps that are antithetical to this reality? Blacks like Oprah Winfrey (Australia taxpayers will pay the tab), Sharpton, yes, and even Obama know that this 4-step lie is fool's gold. Wisely, all mentioned have opted for some of the master's bad behavior , and, mind you, have become wildly prosperous--go figure. If avarice, greed, idolatry, lying, etc. can be classified as bad behavior in a nation ever preoccupied with judeo-christian values, then most Americans are guilty of bad behavior, not just poor and disenfranchised people. Then the real question becomes how do those who are prosperous utilize bad behavior as a vehicle? Or, is it OK to condone one bad behavior and admonish another? Or, what is the source of (all) bad behavior?
We would just have to see the new frontiers where this 21st Civil Rights forum are seeking to reveal. But if progressive thinkers like Amy Wax have their way we should just shut up and play by the rules. Forget about any extenuating situations that may conflict with this way of thinking, but just try the century-plus old master's guide to liberation and prosperity--follow our 4-step plan and shut-up.
Of course the underlying theme was finding ways to empower the ever chained black people. How can blacks, as a whole, finally experience progress and success in a white man's world. It is a Amy Wax, a law school professor at the the University of Pennsylvania, who came forward and proclaimed that nothing more can be done for blacks, they must do it for themselves. She stated that "Past Oppression can not be use as an excuse for bad behavior". He elaborates on this opinion in here reason book: Race, Wrongs and Remedies where she purports a rationale that blacks (have a) unique power to to undo the harm of historical and present racism.
She went on to give a simple and patent formula for being able to prosper in today's world. She listed 4 core values that should help black people do the trick:
1. Get a Diploma.
(A person with a HS diploma and a degree working at a McDonald's or Burger King at minimum wages justifies this reasoning).
2. Get married.
(Are we talking same-sex?--Or, long-term partner--Or, poor black marries well-to-do white?)
3. Perform well.
(Even when you have a racist boss or a slave driver black supervisor).
4. Don't break the law.
(Like stilling land from Indians, or killing innocent civilians worldwide, etc).
It sounds simple, and an epiphany of liberating revelation. After centuries of oppression, all you have to to black people is follow Ms. Wax's guideposts to prosperity. Or, should be call it A Dummy Guide to Prosperity for Black People?
Notwithstanding the centuries of damage that a racist society has wroth on the spiritual, physical and psychical being of black Americans, I find it astonishing that this can be classified as progressive thought. To me it appears an age-old adage of White superiority suggesting snake oil remedies to those who are being oppressed. It's a hypocritical viewpoint coming from those (white racists) who not only have developed values for the righteousness for breaking laws but have equated beating the rap as a moralistic value in the capitalistic society.
Personally, I have followed scripts espoused by Wax and her like to the script. To say the least, I have yet to personally experience the success of such a simple formula that wreaks of condescending insult.
On "bad behavior", it is the white man values that people try to emulate the most. If he/she has become successful and/or prosperous in utilizing bad behavior to become successful, then why tell those who are poor and shackled to follow 4 basic steps that are antithetical to this reality? Blacks like Oprah Winfrey (Australia taxpayers will pay the tab), Sharpton, yes, and even Obama know that this 4-step lie is fool's gold. Wisely, all mentioned have opted for some of the master's bad behavior , and, mind you, have become wildly prosperous--go figure. If avarice, greed, idolatry, lying, etc. can be classified as bad behavior in a nation ever preoccupied with judeo-christian values, then most Americans are guilty of bad behavior, not just poor and disenfranchised people. Then the real question becomes how do those who are prosperous utilize bad behavior as a vehicle? Or, is it OK to condone one bad behavior and admonish another? Or, what is the source of (all) bad behavior?
We would just have to see the new frontiers where this 21st Civil Rights forum are seeking to reveal. But if progressive thinkers like Amy Wax have their way we should just shut up and play by the rules. Forget about any extenuating situations that may conflict with this way of thinking, but just try the century-plus old master's guide to liberation and prosperity--follow our 4-step plan and shut-up.
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Thank you for opting to join the dialogue on important issues. Be respectable - and watch your language.