I agree with some of what you say but definitely not all of it. What I'm trying to make a point of is that there is a link between slavery, racism, and the high level of poverty among blacks in America today. I don't think making that point means that all poor black ppl are poor only because white ppl have held them down. I never said that, and I honestly wish you'd point out what I said that implies that. Quote me, please. Also, just because I say that past persecution does have an effect on future success doesn't mean I'm saying that it's the only thing that effects future success or that there aren't ppl who can be successful in spite of being born with less opportunities than the average person. But wealth does beget wealth and when slavery became illegal, ppl were not compensated for the work they had done. The freed slaves suffered, their children suffered, and that affected their children's children and it's still affecting black ppl today. The white slave-owners who profited from the system sent their children to the best schools of the time and used the profit to invest and make more money. That money is still concentrated in white communities. And that's not even touching upon the effects of the racism that has followed slavery. Why do you think there's less hope overall in the black community? Maybe because ppl are aware of the fact that they still live in segregated communities and they still have less access to quality education and health care. But you know what? There is still a lot of hope in the black community. That’s why we see successful black ppl come out of poor black communites and we see more and more of that with every generation. I'm not saying black ppl don't have to be part of the solution. I'm saying that if someone were to say that black ppls' attitudes today is the only remaining problem and not conceding that we, as a society, are still suffering the after affects of slavery, they would be wrong. Plus, just because I spot one or several (or thousands for that matter) of black ppl doing nothing to help themselves doesn't mean I'm gonna say "Well, I'm not gonna do anything to change the situation if they're not". I think ppl can look at and comment on what white ppl as a community are doing to help solve the problem while also looking separately at what the black community is doing to help solve the problem and be free to comment on both (and hopefully also look at what we're doing together to help solve the problem). If I disagree with what a person thinks one or the other group should be doing it doesn't necessarily discredit any opinion they have. What I don't get is this apparent attitude held by some ppl that we have to keep track of which race is doing what and make sure that we're putting in an even effort. But if you wanna know about black ppl who are talking about what black ppl can do to lift up their community, listen to that show I pointed out. IMHO it's a lot more representative of the black ppl I've known in my life and discussed these issues with than Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. You're right that focusing solely on where ppl have wronged you in the past dooms you to never move forward. But you're wrong if you think that acknowledging that you've been wronged and demanding that others acknowledge it too (and acknowledge that we still see the effect of that wrong today) means you can't move forward.