The Unequal Opportunity Race

Michelle Alexander: Dec. 15, 2010 at BCCC

Inside the AC360 doll study

Introduction

If Dr. Martin Luther King could have lived to see the America in which Blacks live today, he would be mortified. This is not the future he dreamed of for his people 50 years ago. In a speech given by Willie Lynch in 1712, he accurately predicted that with the implementation of his plan blacks will be controlled for AT LEAST 300 years. The year 2013 makes 301. Lynch's plan called for slave owners and masters to use the differences between slaves to turn them against one another: "the slaves will remain perpetually distrustful." Whites systematically instilled a distrust of other slaves into African American ancestors. 301 years later, this intense distrust in our own people has survived and thrived. It is evident in the team light skin and team dark skin battles on social networks, the blatant disrespect elders receive from the youth, and the painstakingly high number of Blacks being gunned down by other Blacks. African Americans have inadvertently became their own oppressors. The so-called "differences" between Blacks have stretched far beyond color, age, and sex. This cup of differences, already filled by whites, has overflown and poured into distrust of Blacks from different neighborhoods. There are gun fights and bloodshed over streets and land Blacks do not own. There is a war being waged in these neighborhoods. Blacks have become their own worst enemy. For too long these issues have been swept under the rug: out of sight out of mind. But America can no longer ignore the undying truth that this pandemic of violence has gotten wildly out of hand. Something must be done. 50 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington to demand that action be taken against the injustices faced by African Americans of the time with hopes of creating a better tomorrow. He did not, however, anticipate that the African American people would be metaphorically slicing their own wrists and throats. What has been steeping for three centuries cannot be undone overnight. But it can be done. With the unity and dignity once valued by the ostentatious forefathers of Blacks, it can most certainly be done. With the election of  Barack Obama as President of The United States, there was a false sense that Dr. King Jr.'s dream had finally come true. On every social network there were collages of Dr. King Jr. and Obama. Although the electing of a man of African descent into the highest position of power in the U.S. is a giant step in a positive direction, there are still countless 

 obstacles that must be hurdled. 

Article Response

African American men are, unfortunately, products of their environments. Drugs and gun violence rampage the streets of Oakland leaving many of its African American youth engulfed in feelings of helplessness. These young boys are being raised by single mothers because their fathers are being consumed by street violence; this almost guarantees they will walk down a similar past. I believe much of this has to do with the lack of significant Black male role models. The men that these young boys idolize are usually who have done long stints in person, the drug dealer with the money, fancy clothes, and flashy cars. Programs and classes such as Manhood 101 and African American Male Achievement are long overdue. Being that I am the mother of two boys, seeing statistics at the alarming death rates of African American men is beyond frightening. It really is a hard pill to swallow. I was born and raised in Oakland, Ca. I attended its public schools and grew up with many boys who have fallen victim to its nasty ways. But being on the inside, I was not fully aware of the atrocious statics. When constantly being bombarded with the horrible news of ones death due to gun violence, although each death brings a new pain, there is a disconnect to reality that causes one to trudge on as if it is a normal part of life. The inhabitants of Oakland, and of many other neighborhoods that feel the wrath of violence, are desensitized to the entire situation. The wounds of one death are barely healed when another death comes along a picks the thin scab. This process of picking and almost healing repeats itself until the wound infects the body, mind, and heart with hatred. Hopefully implementing these programs will take Black male youth off of the dark and dismal path of despair and place them on a new, sunlit path. If there is hope for future Black boys, it is likely to come from The 100 Black Men of the Bay Area Community School. Providing these boys with roles models, ones who look like them, let these boys know that the impossible is possible. This charter school will be the helping hand that pulls these young men from being trapped in the revolving door of despair. It may take time, but it is not about how long it takes, all that matters is getting there.