It'd be different if it was still the 1960's, doing that today is just stupid

by Anonymous 13 years ago

you do realize it's only been about 50 yrs since the civil rights movement ended, right?. That's only one person's lifetime. not even. Black people (in general) are still trying to play catch up. Try growing up disadvantaged from the day u were born, with parents who were worse off than you are and then with a LOT of hard work, and luck, becoming successful. You'd be proud about it too. People always make speeches about how they over came adversity, not just blacks. I guess Lance Armstrong isn't supposed to talk about his battle with testicular cancer anymore. "You had cancer. We get it".

by Anonymous 13 years ago

while there is that lance armstrong had testicular cancer but not a lot of people actually know somebody with testicular cancer while it is easy to find someone who lived in a bad neighborhood or belonged to a group in which something bad happened in the 1900's

by Anonymous 13 years ago

If it's so easy to find, then it must be a relate-able topic, and therefore should be easy to listen to instead of "annoying."

by Anonymous 13 years ago

If it's that easy to find, then it's even more annoying because not everyone like that brags about their great accomplishment.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

People *always* make speeches (regardless of race) about overcoming circumstances. We *always* hear stories like this. Is everyone who talks about it 'bragging about their accomplishment' or showing pride in their work and trying to inspire others?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I agree with you.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It is easy to find someone like that and it's not that hard to rise up above those circumstances. Everyone has a fair chance with the schools we have today. I would know.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

No. Not really. And *I* would know. There's a huge difference economically, educationally and opportunity wise for kids living in predominately black neighborhoods and kids living in white ones. It *is* a challenge, and when blacks manage overcome those challenges and open doors for others it's alright to celebrate that. Why keep quiet about it? I know some people are 'tired of hearing about it' but there are many black kids today who haven't heard it enough.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I apologize, I was just speaking from my point of view. I didn't grow up in a predominantly black neighborhood, but I did grow up in a predominantly Hispanic lower class neighborhood. It was no challenge for me to "rise" out of it while many others didn't take advantage of the opportunities given to them. I guess i'm just spiteful. But sure, if it inspires kids then why not?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You don't need to apologize. You see, I went to predominately black schools and predominately white schools and the differences between them are astounding. The lunches, the curriculum, what's expected of you, the teachers, the environment. What hit was that it was the same type of kids in each school. Ones that really tried and ones didn't try enough - the only difference was the atmosphere. I feel like the "white" schools I went to made a huge difference for me because i was given more opportunities, materials and when it comes down to it, financial backing to succeed. I can't say the school system is fair and balanced when I had to ride a bus for an hour and half to and from school from ages 6-12 just so I could have the same education as white children my age. I'm not trying to complain or anything, but I know how hard my parents and I had to work so I could have an education. I didn't mean to take it out on you or anything

by Anonymous 13 years ago

No worries. You weren't exceedingly violent in your original response. Actually, I have been in a similar situation. I went to predominantly hispanic schools until high school, where i joined a magnet program. The difference in education is astounding, but so is the diversity in the program. That's why i don't like emphasizing race. I don't think that a specific ethnicity should get more encouragement than another. A naive perspective, I know.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It's all different perspectives and experiences, I guess. There wasn't much diversity at all in the "white" schools I went to (for lack of a better word). I was one of maybe 20 black kids there. That's not a lot considering the size of the school. And the waiting list we were on with hundreds of other black children just to get into the 'busing' program in elementary schools shows me that people do want and try to get their children a better education but for the economically disadvantaged (as many minorities are) the resources aren't always there.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I just feel like those things should be available in ALL schools. And that there shouldn't be such a difference btwn schools that are predominately black, Hispanic etc and those that are predominately white. Back to the original discussion, I feel like it's okay to celebrate when one does something well. I don't think it's easy to start out with nothing and make something or even to start out with something little and make it big. As I've said earlier, blacks are still playing catch up after 300+ years of discrimination. Fortunately the black middle class and black businesses are growing, but it's like starting a race 300 yards behind everyone else and not having the proper training, equipment etc to begin with. Imagine if someone was able to beat the odds and win the race, or even come in second or third. Ofc people would be celebrating. It only makes sense that they would talk about the challenges so other people running can be encouraged.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

What's an example of such a speech?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

"Those black people that emphasize that they are black are annoying." Can I not have pride in my race? If you're going to point out certain aspects of activities that some people of my race commit, then why can't I speak on past adversity or my neighborhood? Other races can be proud of rising out of their bad neighborhoods and even bad things that happened to their race in the past (like the Jews); does that make them annoying to? That said, I've never heard one of these speeches recently.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Pride is one thing, bringing race into EVERYTHING is another. Such as... "No, I don't want to hang out with you today." "IT'S BECAUSE I'M BLACK, ISN'T IT?!"

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Can you honestly say you've had the above conversation with someone because if they think you can't hang out with them that day because they're black, it's not because of race but possibly a mental health issue. Stop exaggerating and overgeneralizing.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

A speech about your accomplishment *is* the appropriate time to talk about overcoming adversity. I don't get how this is any more annoying than a vet talking bout their experiences or soemthing like that.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Exactly.

by Anonymous 13 years ago