Something has been bothering me lately. It seems that everything that was given to black people to help strengthen the black community has been taken away. Anything that has been traditionally for black people only, now has opened its doors to everyone else in the minority category. Black people have moved into a segment of life, that if we don’t rise up and see the truth, we are going to be pushed aside and the permanent underclass that America has been creating for years will be a fact.
I came across this law passed in the United States in 1705 called the Diversity Act. Because of the fact that at the time the largest groups of peoples coming into the country were black (6 out of every 7), the government passed this diversity act. They were afraid of power in numbers, and thought that the blacks would come together and overthrow their oppressors. This law said that in every group of five blacks there must be one white.
Now God knows I love all the wonderful opportunities housed within all segments of my University. And the staff that works in these departments is the best! But, why does the institution steer away from having things just for one group. Why can’t there be a program dedicated just to black students. Why must EVERYTHING be title as “diversity” and “multi-cultural”.
And this is why, though internally I support immigrant rights, you will never see me marching up and down the street fighting together. I don’t want to be lumped up with any other minority and I don’t want there needs to be confused with mine. We have different histories and different current problems. I’ll support you, we can talk about it every once and a while, but let’s not get it confused and try to mesh issues together!
This should go for all minorities though, because different minorities need different things. Why should we all have to sit in the same things and act like all of our needs are same? And this would be assuming also, that (I can only speak for what I am) the black race has transcended to a point where we do not need focalized attention to make up for past injustices. I’m just saying… I’m tired of sitting in circles and singing Kumbaya. There is nothing wrong with having a UNIVERSITY SPONSORED (not student organization) service that says ‘Blacks Only’ or ‘Women Only’ or whatever your minor form may be.
So please stop lumping us all together like we are all the same!!!!
3 comments:
"I’ll support you, we can talk about it every once and a while, but let’s not get it confused and try to mesh issues together!"
If we can not care to demand the rights of others, then how can we expect equality for all? Wasn't the civil rights movement a movement for ALL. I'm sure you know the history of the movements of Martin Luther King Jr. and Betty Friedan crossed in the 1960's because both African-Americans and women were not allowed to seek higher aspirations then those determined by the majority.
You must also recognize the importance of "we". Senator Obama has said that "we" must work together to meet the needs of all Americans. "We" is not African-Americans or Whites or Latinos--it is everyone. If you want equality, if you want a celebration of your culture, maybe you should respect and recognize other culture--maybe you should recognize that there is a lot of work to be done to meet all the needs of multiple groups. Or maybe you really don't care about the rights of others, maybe you just say you do...so you don't appear to be selfish. I say that, because if you really were concerned with the rights of others, if you weren't self serving, then you would do more than "just talk about it every once in a while". Like the white students who rode to Birmingham and faced the KKK, you'd care that others (who may or may not look like you) were not treated with justice.
This election year is exciting because there is an opportunity for history to be made...there is a chance for an black man to be president, a chance for millions to know that they too can achieve what seems impossible. But that doesn't happen with selfishness, it happens when we all start to care about others. The phrase is not "Yes, I can" it is "Yes, WE can"....which, ironically comes from the phrase of the immigrants you sometimes may or may not care about.
I agree with you also, I do think that there is a time and place where we can all (not matter who you are) come and fight, talk, whatever the purpose of this maybe. But I'm not talking about an organization. What I'm talking about goes beyond that. Let's just say that in 1970 at the beginning of integration a college started a department called.... The African American Adjustment Office. (not a real place). And lets just say that this department was created to help only black people and they had things like scholarships, tutoring, jobs, stipends, etc. Would it right for the University to change that program and open it up to all students? Of course they would have to retailer the whole program to make sure that it is more accepting, and it would probably just become another 'regular' office on campus not specifically meeting the needs of African American students.
For example, every year a certain college has a multi-cultural leadership conference... Many students don't know that this conference was actually started by the BSU (Black Student Union) and was called the Black Leadership Conference. But somewhere along the line the University took over and decided not to 'discriminate' and make it multi-cultural and not talk about only black issue but cover all cultures. Which is fine I feel like that is good. But on the other hand what happened to the Black Leadership Conference... for black leaders to come together and discuss ONLY Black issues and strengthen the BLACK community? I hope that your weren't confused by my post... I don't think that there is anything wrong with Multi-Culturalism and diversity... I just think that there is a need for more in addition too.
My biggest fear is that all underprivileged groups are put together and not given the space they need to focus on themselves. I kind of see it like me as a man trying to go in the women's bathroom.....
That would be wrong of me on so many levels! First of all I have my own bathroom clearly marked MEN. Also, there is plenty of time, out side of the few minutes in the bathroom, for me to socialize with women. I don't have to go in their restroom and invade that private place that was created just for women.
This isn't just for Black people... all underrepresented groups should feel the same way... Women, other religions, people that identify as LBGT... We should allow society to ALWAYS lump us on one group. Personally I think they do it as another way to ignore are wants needs and request!!!
Hey, I agree with you, but at school aren't women a majority?
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