Monday, March 16, 2009

Working Twice As Hard? Ya'll Ought to Stop Lying

One of the last callers on the Sean Hannity radio show this evening was a black man who made the comment (which I have heard hundreds of times from my well-intentioned familiars) that "as a black person, you have to be twice as good and work twice as hard as your white colleagues in order to advance in our society". Personally, I don't believe this is true. You don't have to work twice as hard or be twice as good to get ahead in this world. Look at Barack Obama! As Mini-me said to my husband when he admonished her to study twice as hard as her classmates... Why would you have to study twice as hard to maintain good grades unless you are twice as dumb? She has a point. I am in no way suggesting that racism does not exist, but the idea of working twice as hard has just become a well-worn tired cliche that folks have grown accustomed to reciting. What's funny is these same people will quickly say "What God has for me is for me". Is God Sovereign or do you have to work "twice" as hard? (I hear DJBA now saying "CBW, that's a false dichotomy")

Shelby Steele wrote and Op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today entitled Why the GOP Can't Win Minorities he writes:
"American minorities of color -- especially blacks -- are often born into grievance-focused identities. The idea of grievance will seem to define them in some eternal way, and it will link them atavistically to a community of loved ones. To separate from grievance -- to say simply that one is no longer racially aggrieved -- will surely feel like an act of betrayal that threatens to cut one off from community, family and history. So, paradoxically, a certain chauvinism develops around one's sense of grievance. Today the feeling of being aggrieved by American bigotry is far more a matter of identity than of actual aggrievement"

Identity is key here. As a black person one is considered a race traitor if they are not yoked with this racial grievance. I don't want my daughter to carry unnecessary burdens. I expect her to work hard because she has a strong work ethic--not out of fear of not being rewarded for a job well done. One can not quantify being twice as good (unless you are an athlete and that's God given ability) and if you are twice as good as another then chances are no else thinks so. Truth be told no one is working twice as hard to get ahead and if you are then it's because you are twice as incapable. Ya'll (meaning people who recite this foolishness) ought to stop lying.

16 comments:

Constructive Feedback said...

CBW:

Shelby Steele is right that Blacks have a grievance based political orientation. This is shared with unions and feminists.

This construct breaks down when all of the above get a favorable political machine in office locally and thus this machine must actually DELIVER for them and their interests.

Instead they are better suited for 'the chase'. Thus instead of working within the boundaries of their political district they peer outside and look at how good the others have it. The gap between they and them is yet another point of unfairness in society.

What they miss is that in their revolutionary spirit they fail to make note of the need for them to actually FIELD A WORKABLE SYSTEM and then to become CONSERVATORS in maintaining this system, insuring that no thugs come along and destroy what they have built up.

Thus Mr. Steele's commentary stems from the fact that Blacks don't take ultimate OWNERSHIP for the community where they live and work to control all of the variables. Even if it means pushing out those who continue to erode what they have built up.

It is far easier to attack conservatives for doing this than it is for them to bring themselves around to come off of their abstract high horse and actually MANAGE their own affairs where they live.

DJ Black Adam said...

@CBW:

You wrote: “Working Twice As Hard? Ya'll Ought to Stop Lying”

Verily, I’d say it may be a misnomer or an overstatement to believe we as African Americans have to work “Twice as hard”…

It really all depends on the circumstances and situation, I do believe that there are sociological realities with being in any socio economic ethnic or even religious group, some things can be viewed agitating or mitigating depending on the individual and what sociological group(s) they belong to. Sometimes it is a disadvantage to be black, or a woman, or white or a man, depends on the situation, that is just an actuality live in.

Speaking as an African American male, do I have to work "twice as hard"? I not sure if that phrase quantifies the actuality accurately, I guess Chris Rock said it best: "When you're Black you can't "beat" a White person, you HAVE to KNOC THEM OUT, the fight can't go to the judges", I believe that his colorful euphemism is accurate.

As for this: “Why the GOP Can't Win Minorities he writes:
"American minorities of color -- especially blacks -- are often born into grievance-focused identities. The idea of grievance will seem to define them in some eternal way, and it will link them atavistically to a community of loved ones. To separate from grievance -- to say simply that one is no longer racially aggrieved -- will surely feel like an act of betrayal that threatens to cut one off from community, family and history. So, paradoxically, a certain chauvinism develops around one's sense of grievance. Today the feeling of being aggrieved by American bigotry is far more a matter of identity than of actual aggrievement"

Fascinating. I’d say that this tidbit has some merit, but misses the bigger picture. Because of the Dixiecrats, and their legacy within a large portion of the base that the Republican party caters to, the GOP is tied to a recent past of opposing civil rights legislation and support of states rights which was code for: “Don’t let them coloreds vote”.

I think the GOP has to better package their message for African Americans if they truly desire their votes, and pick better messengers.

Jus saying…

DJ Black Adam said...

BTW CBW, did you miss this part of the article?

"“So here stands contemporary American conservatism amidst its cultural liabilities and, now, its electoral failures -- with no mechanism to redeem America of its shames, atavistically resisted by minorities, and vulnerable to stigmatization as a bigoted and imperialistic political orientation. Today's liberalism may stand on decades of failed ideas, but it is failure in the name of American redemption. It remains competitive with -- even ascendant over -- conservatism because it addresses America's moral accountability to its past with moral activism. This is the left's great power, and a good part of the reason Barack Obama is now the president of the United States. No matter his failures -- or the fruitlessness of his extravagant and scatter-gun governmental activism -- he redeems America of an ugly past. How does conservatism compete with this?”

I think the writers earlier statement in context with the later makes much more sense and I am more able to agree with the writers sentiment overall.

You seem to acknowledge the former but ignored the later, which goes to the point of one of the reasons I am not a Conservative or a Liberal, each side frames their arguments by ignoring anything to the contrary to their arguments, as opposed to reasoning out the issues by taking into account data that might NOT fit their dogma.

Jus saying…

known2b said...

CBW said "I don't want my daughter to carry unnecessary burdens. I expect her to work hard because she has a strong work ethic--not out of fear of not being rewarded for a job well done."

I agree with you 100%, I feel that regardless of a persons race if they have a strong work ethic they will go far. From what I have read on your blogs you are a strong person both spiritually and all other ways. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

"Shelby Steele is right that Blacks have a grievance based political orientation. This is shared with unions and feminists."

And how did "grievance based politics" manifest itself in electoral politics over the last, say ten years?

I BET YOU DON'T ANSWER.

You righties just rant the same empty rhetoric and lies over and over.

Conservative Black Woman said...

UTS~You reject the paragraph below entirely?

"American minorities of color -- especially blacks -- are often born into grievance-focused identities. The idea of grievance will seem to define them in some eternal way, and it will link them atavistically to a community of loved ones. To separate from grievance -- to say simply that one is no longer racially aggrieved -- will surely feel like an act of betrayal that threatens to cut one off from community, family and history. So, paradoxically, a certain chauvinism develops around one's sense of grievance. Today the feeling of being aggrieved by American bigotry is far more a matter of identity than of actual aggrievement"

You have no grievance with America?

Anonymous said...

BTW CBW, I notice you didn't answer my question.

How has "grievance politics" manifested itself in the new millenium?

Are the NRA, Christian Coalition or the Americans for Tax Reform "grievance groups"????

If not, why not?

Conservative Black Woman said...

Oh Gawd!!!! Et tu DJBA? I don't think righties blame minorities for the recession or the housing crisis at least I don't. They blame Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and to some extend George Bush although he gets brownie points because he and John McCain tried to institute regulations but were labeled racist for doing so. Crime? Well, the statistics tell the story righties don't have to say a thing. High Insurance costs? Well, that's a new one but you would have to take that up with Geico, Allstate, etc. I can tell you that when I lived in SE DC my car insurance was twice as much as I pay in Fairfax county... jus sayin'

UTS~So then you are answering affirmatively to the question of whether or not you have grievances. No, you aren't expected to shut up or Kowtow that's utterly ridiculous....But how about just being proud of your achievements and blessing in your life that you have because your ancestors already paid the price. How about relieving yourself of that yoke because people died so that you can be who you are today and live the life you live today.

DJ Black Adam said...

@CBW:

“Et tu DJBA?”

Steve has made quite a few valid points here I have seen, just as you have, I just don’t accept the right 1000 no reject the left 100.

You wrote: “I don't think righties blame minorities for the recession or the housing crisis at least I don't.”

You don’t, I’ll take your word for. However, I have heard my share of very White conservative blame loans to Blacks, Low income people and Latinos for this Crisis.

“Crime? Well, the statistics tell the story righties don't have to say a thing.”

What story is that? pray thee tell….

Conservative Black Woman said...

DJBA~Pray tell thee? Are you kidding me. Is crime not an issue in the black community? Is it not true that our youth are dying in the streets? Oh, I get it.... It's a conspiracy....all the black men incarcerated are there because some racist white cop unjustly arrested them...

DJ Black Adam said...

@CBW:

"DJBA~Pray tell thee? Are you kidding me. Is crime not an issue in the black community? Is it not true that our youth are dying in the streets? Oh, I get it.... It's a conspiracy....all the black men incarcerated are there because some racist white cop unjustly arrested them..."

You like putting words into my mouth it seems, you should know me well enough by now to know that I am not nor would not deny the actualities of what is happening in many black urban and rural neighboorhoods and cities across America.

MY question to you, is are YOU saying that the science fiction that people call RACE IS somehow the REASON for these issues?

Is RACE the reason why crime is so high in the Black Community?

Just asking...

Conservative Black Woman said...

DJBA~Absolutely not! No we are not savages compelled to wreak havoc on our community. But....if we are aggrieved (is that a word?) filled with grivances and we pass those along to our children then when will it end?

DJ Black Adam said...

@CBW:

“DJBA~Absolutely not! No we are not savages compelled to wreak havoc on our community.”

Well CBW, there are many people in your party (as well as some in the other party) who feel that we are, and in your party, often those voices who feel that way try to manipulate their base with such misinformation.

“But....if we are aggrieved (is that a word?) filled with grivances and we pass those along to our children then when will it end?”

That is a different issue, is that pathology present in some African Americans? Surely, but the pathology of white privilege and more directly Black inferiority is present in as many if not more Whites and unfortunately in many blacks.

Conservative Black Woman said...

Sorry UTS in the flurry of posts that transpired this afternoon I missed this

"How has grievance politics manifested itself in the new millenium?"

Most if not all politician (including republican ones) defer to grievance politics when speaking to any minority group. It is the minorities that fall for the okey-doke.

Are the NRA, Christian Coalition or the Americans for Tax Reform "grievance groups"????

If not, why not?" No they are not. They are concerned about their particular issues but they don't carry around their grievances like a cross.

Anonymous said...

"Most if not all politician (including republican ones) defer to grievance politics when speaking to any minority group."

IN WHAT WAY???

Be specific.

Hell, most of the GOP POTUS candidates didn't even talk to black folks during the last campaign.

"No they are not. They are concerned about their particular issues but they don't carry around their grievances like a cross."


This is just plain sad.

"Massa's grievances are good grievances."

Pathetic.

JMK said...

"Most if not all politician (including republican ones) defer to grievance politics when speaking to any minority group." (CBW)


Undeniably true, whether the issue is welfare rights, immigrant rights, race/gender-based preferences, or language issues, every appeal to minority groups is rooted in perceived ethnic grievances...and both Parties do it and that exacerbates the already malignant cancer that is "victimology."

Too many whites treat blacks like they're company come for a visit and not citizen partners that have as much responsibility for the fate of America as any other group.

Sadly, too many blacks seem to perceive some benefit in "the spoils of victimology," without seeing the terrible cost in dependancy and presumed incompetence.

Not only shouldn't it be that way, but it needn't be that way.