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Black unemployment: Highest in 27 years

I've got to ask this question again. What precisely are these skills that black folks lack that other people have? And why do blacks not have them while other people do? Are blacks simply lazier than everyone else and refuse to get such training? Examples, anyone?

The way to to become more competitive (EVERYONE) is to un**** the education system....and American culture in general.

MY dad always points this out to me ...

30 years ago popular kids ****ed with kids in school who had marginal personality types. Today that sort of bullying isn't allowed, and even the hint of such a thing is cause for suspension (or worse) of the person perceived to be the aggressor. In fact the marginal personality types have been mainstreamed by the system. High performance in the classroom or in the athletic arena isn't respected or reinforced. On the other hand, mediocrity is honored above all else. This is where the American public school system is today, and where American society is heading
 
It's because the black community has been indoctrinated by the Left, that they 1) can't succeed without someone's help, because of the unsurmountable racism and 2) they should just sit back and let the do-gooders do things for them.

I have skills that allow me to make a living and you can damn well believe, no one gave anything to me.

Well no, you're white, you're expected to work for everything you have and then keep your mouth shut when the gov't wants to take half of it and give it to those who choose not to work.
 
Look into the issue of structural/systematic/institutionalized racism. Racism can still exist without people being racists. It's got historical and social implications.

Sure it can and it's up to the individual to move ahead, despite that racism.
 
Well no, you're white, you're expected to work for everything you have and then keep your mouth shut when the gov't wants to take half of it and give it to those who choose not to work.

I'm black; but, I'm still expected to keep my mouth shut. :rofl
 
Sure it can and it's up to the individual to move ahead, despite that racism.

I completely agree, it's the individual's responsibility to do whatever he or she can despite the barriers that may exist. However, the fact that those barriers continue to exist is still a problem that merits pointing out.
 
I've got to ask this question again. What precisely are these skills that black folks lack that other people have? And why do blacks not have them while other people do? Are blacks simply lazier than everyone else and refuse to get such training? Examples, anyone?

Obviously, blacks--in general--lack quite a few skills, since the unemployment rate is nearly twice the national average. Pride and ambition being the two things the black community lacks the most.

There's a huge problem, when black folks will stand in freezing weather, lined up for blocks, based on the mere rumor of a government handout, but you won't get nearly as many to do the same thing for a job. it comes from the do-gooder plantation system that has been instituted in this country.
 
More blacks drop out of school than whites. The problems starts at the bottom, with education. It's very simple to see if you take off your blinders. Lack of education/skills is directly related to unemployment. If more blacks drop out than whites, then naturally more blacks will be unemployed. It's really quite simple. So it's not because of their race, it's because by far their race drops out of school more than whites. Blaming it on skin color is like blaming Ford when you drain the oil from your truck and then burn up the engine driving it down the road.

More than twice as many blacks drop out of high school than whites. 81% of white high school students receive their high school diplomas within 4 years, with only 61% of blacks receiving theirs. And you really blame race as to why they can't find a job?

Report: More Blacks Than Whites Dropping out of High School

This is a problem, but even when controlling for educational differences and qualifications, there still exists a discrepancy. It's right there in the OP, if you had read carefully. Racism may or may not explain that difference, but clearly everything you've laid out about education here has already been accounted for.
 
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And, who are we to believe that created the structural/systematic problem? Whitey, right?

I would say history, in which "whitey" played a major part. However there's a distinction between that and saying today's white people are responsible, because I don't believe that they are.
 
And, who are we to believe that created the structural/systematic problem? Whitey, right?

Its the stereotypes built into our everyday lives. Don't act like you have never heard them before. Mexican people are illegal immigrants, belong to gangs, steal stuff, and are poor, black people are lazy, have "welfare queen" moms, eat fried chicken and watermelon, white people can't jump, blondes are dumb, etc... the list goes on. They aren't true most the time, but because of the stereotypes built up in American society over the years people more quickly jump to these conclusions.
 
I completely agree, it's the individual's responsibility to do whatever he or she can despite the barriers that may exist. However, the fact that those barriers continue to exist is still a problem that merits pointing out.

The problem is, however, it's not just being, "pointed out". It's being used as an excuse for failure and for government intervention in the private sector.
 
Its the stereotypes built into our everyday lives. Don't act like you have never heard them before. Mexican people are illegal immigrants, belong to gangs, steal stuff, and are poor, black people are lazy, have "welfare queen" moms, eat fried chicken and watermelon, white people can't jump, blondes are dumb, etc... the list goes on. They aren't true most the time, but because of the stereotypes built up in American society over the years people more quickly jump to these conclusions.

A good point. My whole point is that racism is less subtle and "in-your-face" than it was a generation or two ago. Rarely these days does racism manifests itself in the form of someone calling you "nigger" or "chink" or "honkie/cracker". But it is subtle, and still just as pervasive. If the average black man portrayed in the media is a "bonafide thug," and one is bombarded with these media messages on a daily basis, you might just fail to hire a black guy because those TV messages are operating in the back of your mind on a subconscious level, and I wouldn't even blame you!

Racism is a force that operates less on the individual level, and more on the societal/social level days, as well as the human subconscious.
 
Its the stereotypes built into our everyday lives. Don't act like you have never heard them before. Mexican people are illegal immigrants, belong to gangs, steal stuff, and are poor, black people are lazy, have "welfare queen" moms, eat fried chicken and watermelon, white people can't jump, blondes are dumb, etc... the list goes on. They aren't true most the time, but because of the stereotypes built up in American society over the years people more quickly jump to these conclusions.

One of the biggest problems that the black community has, is that there are far too many blacks that work their asses off, everyday, to prove those stereotypes correct. Don't believe it? Take a look at the so-called leaders of the black community.
 
The problem is, however, it's not just being, "pointed out". It's being used as an excuse for failure and for government intervention in the private sector.

By some, certainly. I point it out more as a potential explanation than an excuse, and I'm entirely aware that the government isn't capable of getting rid of racism.

And I totally agree that no matter what, it's up to the individual to have ambition and make the best out of his or her situation.
 
One of the biggest problems that the black community has, is that there are far too many blacks that work their asses off, everyday, to prove those stereotypes correct. Don't believe it? Take a look at the so-called leaders of the black community.

There's also many more who try to prove them wrong, but because they don't fit the stereotype that already exists, their achievements aren't in the public eye as much. Our 24-hour newstainment machine benefits much more from covering those that fit the stereotype than those that don't, IMHO.
 
For those Blacks un-employed ... It's their own faults for not having jobs.
It amazes me when ever I see Land Scappers (Lawn Keepers)... I see only Mexicans or Guatamalans doing the work.
When ever I see brick layers, ditch diggers, or laborers, all I see are Mexicans or Guatamalans doing the work.
When ever I go into a McDonalds, Burger Kings, or any fast food restaurant, I see only Mexicans behind the counters doing the work.

The reason blacks don't want those jobs...they don't want to work for starting minimum wages. They think their worth more.
Or their just too lazy, and prefer sponging off Welfare, Food Stamps and rapeing Social Security Disability with phoney cases.

And there are the White Trash that do the same thing.

Thats is the bottom line.
 
There's also many more who try to prove them wrong, but because they don't fit the stereotype that already exists, their achievements aren't in the public eye as much. Our 24-hour newstainment machine benefits much more from covering those that fit the stereotype than those that don't, IMHO.

Those of us that try to prove the stereotypes wrong are a small minority, within the black community. For our trouble, we're called racists, race traitors, Uncle Toms, etc.

An atmoshere has been created in the black community, where success is looked down upon. We can thank idiots like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson for that.
 
For those Blacks un-employed ... It's their own faults for not having jobs.
It amazes me when ever I see Land Scappers (Lawn Keepers)... I see only Mexicans or Guatamalans doing the work.
When ever I see brick layers, ditch diggers, or laborers, all I see are Mexicans or Guatamalans doing the work.
When ever I go into a McDonalds, Burger Kings, or any fast food restaurant, I see only Mexicans behind the counters doing the work.

The reason blacks don't want those jobs...they don't want to work for starting minimum wages. They think their worth more.
Or their just too lazy, and prefer sponging off Welfare, Food Stamps and rapeing Social Security Disability with phoney cases.

And there are the White Trash that do the same thing.

Thats is the bottom line.


The root problem is education and I think it should be privatized. Public education in America needs a hard reset. ...And a future without the Department of Education or the teachers union.

The whole system needs to be torn down and replaced a system that rewards high performance rather than simply union membership
 
One of the biggest problems that the black community has, is that there are far too many blacks that work their asses off, everyday, to prove those stereotypes correct. Don't believe it? Take a look at the so-called leaders of the black community.

True, and even more to a degree in popular culture. Look on MTV with the rap videos, in your everyday comedy movies when they crack a joke about black people, ... Also,you just have these things ingrained into our culture. Where I live there are a lot of Mexican/Hispanic people, particularly in Greeley. There are so many negative stereotypes flowing out of that area, and they are probably only true less than 5% of the time. If a **** load of stuff gets stolen from a construction site around here the first thing out of someones mouth is "It was probably a Mexican." Right or wrong these things will negatively effect other minorities ability to get a job.
 
Those of us that try to prove the stereotypes wrong are a small minority, within the black community. For our trouble, we're called racists, race traitors, Uncle Toms, etc.

An atmoshere has been created in the black community, where success is looked down upon. We can thank idiots like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson for that.

I don't believe that. There's more blacks in college than in jail.
 
My take on the issue is that it's neither Obama's or the black communities fault. The sad reality is that many African Americans work lower income jobs. due to the recession these jobs have been cut and many have lost their source of income. It's not "Obama hurting the black community" or "blacks are lazy and won't work." (which is an incredibly racist opinion).
 
The root problem is education and I think it should be privatized. Public education in America needs a hard reset. ...And a future without the Department of Education or the teachers union.

The whole system needs to be torn down and replaced a system that rewards high performance rather than simply union membership

Parents need the hard reset. The only change needed in schools is adding a required course at the start of high school to teach about jobs and the required training to get them. One of my ex-girlfriends taught elementary school math in an area where all her students were black. She'd go around the room and ask the kids what they wanted to be. She said all the boys would choose either rapper or athlete. Start teaching kids about how some jobs require luck, and thus you need to have a fallback plan for a good job which requires little or no luck. Those boys can pursue their rapper or athlete goals while getting an education. The parents and school need to beat the value of education into them to the point that they can't blame anyone else if they don't listen.
 
Parents need the hard reset. The only change needed in schools is adding a required course at the start of high school to teach about jobs and the required training to get them. One of my ex-girlfriends taught elementary school math in an area where all her students were black. She'd go around the room and ask the kids what they wanted to be. She said all the boys would choose either rapper or athlete. Start teaching kids about how some jobs require luck, and thus you need to have a fallback plan for a good job which requires little or no luck. Those boys can pursue their rapper or athlete goals while getting an education. The parents and school need to beat the value of education into them to the point that they can't blame anyone else if they don't listen.

I'll do this short and sweet.....Be it white, black, brown or yellow

Public education is a nanny state institution. You can't **** around that. Prisons are another nanny state institution where we shouldn't be tolerating any bull****, but that's whole other discussion.

Schools are where kids spend 40+ hours a week. Unfortunately in many cases they have a more influential role in child development and socialization than the family does. I think allowing a culture of ignorance to exist and become pervasive in our school system borders on criminal malfeasance on the part of our society. Ignoring kids when they **** up is how we got into this mess in the first place. They are free to pursue happiness when they graduate, get a job and start paying taxes. But while they're on a full ride scholarship to the public school system I want to see kids doing good things that will benefit them, not to mention our society as they transition into adulthood.

I'd like see kids graduate from high school knowing how to read and write at the college level, speak multiple languages in addition to English, understand math up through algebra, and be able to manage their own personal finances. I'd like them to understand civics and history to the point where they become critical thinking, active members of our political system. I'd like them to be able to successfully participate in some sort of extra curricular activity that enriches their childhood experience and teaches them character and maturity. In short, I'd be really happy if an American kid could graduate high school and be prepared to either continue on to college or successfully enter the job market. And I'd like to see a culture within the school system that promotes these behaviors and outcomes. Conversely, I'd also like that culture to be intolerant of behaviors that are detrimental to these goals. A culture were it doesn't seem like a reasonable choice to act like a thug, get your girlfriend pregnant, etc, etc...
 
I think that this is a problem not just for the black community but for poor people of all colors. If we would actually invest in these kids and allow them to get a good education and be able to get into college, then I think that America would be much better off because we'd have more innovation and creativity, thus making us more competitive. While I agree that there are some things within urban culture that need to be suited out, I think that we would see a serious turn around if the government invested in these communities instead of abandoning them.

EDIT: Also when one looks at education, we must look at the a phenomenon which has been called "The Dumbing Down of America" (http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/04/107949/commentary-the-dumbing-down-of.html) (http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=44337) (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/02/05-5) which efffects all people as it leaves kids memorizing facts and regurgitating them on paper and the kids then think that they are smart. The game has been changed from one of actual knowledge to one of memorization. If you can memorize the most information and regurgitate it the correct way, then you are considered "smart." However, many of these kids that can do that cannot think independently or critically.
 
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Just as an example....

Back in the day pregnancy was about the worst nightmare that could happen to a high school girl. They had to quit school, maybe even move away. It was a big deal. Now high schools have day care for students with kids. No ****ing ****. There is no social stigma around teen pregnancy anymore and guess what .....everyone's getting knocked up. Amazing. But to the moral relativists running public education, ruining one teenage girl's life is much worse than enabling a behavior that will ruin thousands of teenage girl's lives. And I think that's ****ed up.
 
The root problem is education and I think it should be privatized. Public education in America needs a hard reset. ...And a future without the Department of Education or the teachers union.

The whole system needs to be torn down and replaced a system that rewards high performance rather than simply union membership

I greatly disagree with you because of privatizing education, one actual limits the amount of people who can get a quality education. That is why you see in Europe and other places (and even in the US 100 years ago) that college is either low-cost or free and people get a quality education. That is because (at least back in the day) the Europeans and the Americans understood that in order to have a good government that wouldn't overstep its boundaries, that would do what the people wanted it to, you needed an educated, politically active populous.

Right now the quality of one's education depends on money, when it should be based on merit instead. Personally, I'd like to see us adopt a system that is something akin to the one in Turkey where kid's get into school based solely on their grades.
 
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