Race is an artificial construct based on superficial characteristics and intended solely to divide people and elevate one group at the expense of another. It would make as much sense to divide people by handedness or by those whose second toe is longer than their big toe. Blacks, by accepting this division, continue to secure their group position at the bottom of the pack because they continue to accept the misdiagnosis of their problem as being external to themselves. I got the sense that all four of the discussion participants understand this and accept it, at least in the abstract. Not being willing to give up the group security blanket can only prolong the agony of disfunction which has nothing to do with any external characteristic.
Until a black man can rise to his feet and declare “I am a man!” and demand that every other person accept that identity, he cannot achieve his potential as an individual human.
The alternative is to continue to accept the destructive idea that externals are fate.
I am very grateful for the forum Prof Loury and his colleagues have provided in which to press this discussion. Glenn is clear in his contention that his meaningful identity is in his culture, it defines him in how he thinks about himself and his place in the world; if I can cautiously put words in his mouth. It seems confusing then to state that Blackness remains an important part of his identity. He is transparent about his struggle with that and I commend him for his honesty on the matter. Until we recognize ourselves as individuals of the same kind, we seriously limit our ability to function, let alone thrive in this world. “As a man thinks, so is he.”
Race is an artificial construct based on superficial characteristics and intended solely to divide people and elevate one group at the expense of another. It would make as much sense to divide people by handedness or by those whose second toe is longer than their big toe. Blacks, by accepting this division, continue to secure their group position at the bottom of the pack because they continue to accept the misdiagnosis of their problem as being external to themselves. I got the sense that all four of the discussion participants understand this and accept it, at least in the abstract. Not being willing to give up the group security blanket can only prolong the agony of disfunction which has nothing to do with any external characteristic.
Until a black man can rise to his feet and declare “I am a man!” and demand that every other person accept that identity, he cannot achieve his potential as an individual human.
The alternative is to continue to accept the destructive idea that externals are fate.
I am very grateful for the forum Prof Loury and his colleagues have provided in which to press this discussion. Glenn is clear in his contention that his meaningful identity is in his culture, it defines him in how he thinks about himself and his place in the world; if I can cautiously put words in his mouth. It seems confusing then to state that Blackness remains an important part of his identity. He is transparent about his struggle with that and I commend him for his honesty on the matter. Until we recognize ourselves as individuals of the same kind, we seriously limit our ability to function, let alone thrive in this world. “As a man thinks, so is he.”
Blessings.