Where's the Racism?

I want to ask a question, that hopefully someone can answer to my satisfaction; where does racism still play out in America today? I’ve read a lot of hoopla lately about racism still being a problem in our country, and that it’s holding people back and preventing racial equality. But where is this happening, and in what form?

The last time I checked, everyone in America, everyone, had the freedom to vote, bear arms, speak freely (though that in itself will be another post at some future time), protest, walk around naked in their home, listen to crappy music, and get an education. So where, pray tell, is this racial injustice taking place?

One area where I’ve heard some say minorities are being held back is in education. It seems some people don’t have the same opportunities to graduate from college as others. I’m not sure which colleges these are, however, and last time I checked there were no exclusive non-minority schools in the country. What can be found are schools that are predominantly attended by certain minorities. Some of these schools even offer substantial financial assistance to minorities to go to school. Where, then, is the racism? Maybe, just maybe, it’s the reverse of what many people define as racism: white against black.

Have you heard Bill Cosby speak recently? He’s been on a mission, it seems, to educated black kids on their responsibility to themselves, and that they need to go to school. Not only that, but that they shouldn’t expect anyone to give them a handout or a free ride as well. What have minority leaders said about this? They hate him for it. You see, Mr. Cosby doesn’t believe in entitlements. He doesn’t believe that the government should pay everyone’s way in life, or should support people who decide not to get an education, thereby denying themselves a good job. What’s stopping any of these people from going to school? There certainly isn’t a lack of universities with which to attend. And there are so many financial aid programs out there that if you can’t afford to go to college, they’ll practically pay it for you. What you might find interesting is that far fewer people aren’t attending college because of money, but because of grades.

I ask again, where is the blatant racism? There were just as many black kids at my high school as there were white, and I live in the state that’s probably seen as the most racists of them all, Louisiana. Yet most of the top academic achievers at my school were black. They went on to college, and from our ten year reunion last year I found out that most of them have way better jobs than I do. Were they held back in any way? Not a chance. They weren’t held back because they actually put effort into learning and taking responsibility for themselves. Just like I never got a handout, they knew they wouldn’t either, and didn’t expect it.

I’m not going to apologize to the stupid people out there who find my statements offensive. If you do, you’re probably the same people who believe the government owes you something. You’re the same people who look at me and think that my life was handed to me and that I have more money than I can count. Rest assured, I worked my knuckles to the bone for what I have, never receiving anything for free. My parents are just as un-wealthy now as they were when they first married. But like all American parents should, they taught my brothers and me that we had to work for our livelihood. They taught us that no one was going to give us anything for free, and they were right.

To all my black and other minority friends, you know exactly where I come from, and you know not to be offended by this opus to stupid people. You worked just as hard as me to get where you are, and I commend you wholeheartedly for it. That goes for anyone else out there who’s burned your neck in the sun to get your kids through school, never expecting Uncle Sam to hand it to you or them. You know racism only exists in the minds of the stupid, who either use it as a crutch, or use it gain leverage over people they don’t like. To you, the real racists, I say “shut up, stupid!”