Readers: Significant Progress on Racial Equality
The poll last week was the duplicate of an AP poll and the results were about the same:
Q:Â “Do you think there has been significant progress toward Martin Luther King’s dream of racial equality, or don’t you think so?”
- Has been significant progress 65 [71.43%]
- Don’t think so 20 [21.98%]
- Unsure 6 [6.59%]
But nearly 22% of those who voted don’t think there has been significant progress toward King’s dream. That’s significant.
Black unemployment surged to 16.7% in August, its highest level since 1984, while the unemployment rate for whites fell slightly to 8%, the Labor Department reported.
“This month’s numbers continue to bear out that longstanding pattern that minorities have a much more challenging time getting jobs,” said Bill Rodgers, chief economist with the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.
Black unemployment has been roughly double that of whites since the government started tracking the figures in 1972. (CNN)
The reasons may be numerous but it’s clear much work remains.
– Steve Patterson
It’d be interesting if the results could be broken down by age – I’d guess that older readers would say that there’s been more progress since we can remember the days of blatant discrimination and outright racists.
It’d be interesting if the results could be broken down by age – I’d guess that older readers would say that there’s been more progress since we can remember the days of blatant discrimination and outright racists.
Conversely though, I might bet the generations born in the last 30 to 40 years, having lived only in a post-Jim Crow America, can better see that success and acceptance isn’t solely based on your race. Sure, there are social stereotypes that still pervade the topic of race — primarily existing opinions and era-specific ideas passed down from parents and grandparents — but, on the whole, being a black man or woman isn’t the social hurdle it once was. Again, this relates mostly to those whom (regardless of race) have the interest and initiative in business and in life.
In politics, in entertainment, in business, etc., millions of black men and women are regarded as savvy, smart and important members of the community. Socially, interracial couples and families are becoming more and more prevalent and accepted. Given just one more generation, a child likely will think nothing of it, assuming the trend of passing down base assumptions and past prejudices is on its way out.
Conversely though, I might bet the generations born in the last 30 to 40 years, having lived only in a post-Jim Crow America, can better see that success and acceptance isn’t solely based on your race. Sure, there are social stereotypes that still pervade the topic of race — primarily existing opinions and era-specific ideas passed down from parents and grandparents — but, on the whole, being a black man or woman isn’t the social hurdle it once was. Again, this relates mostly to those whom (regardless of race) have the interest and initiative in business and in life.
In politics, in entertainment, in business, etc., millions of black men and women are regarded as savvy, smart and important members of the community. Socially, interracial couples and families are becoming more and more prevalent and accepted. Given just one more generation, a child likely will think nothing of it, assuming the trend of passing down base assumptions and past prejudices is on its way out.
As a white 30 something I’m already in the group that regards blacks (or any other race of people different from my own) as “savvy, smart and important members of the community.” If you were born in the last 30 years or so you would have to go out of your way and make a conscious effort to feel anything different. Sure I grew up in rural western Canada, but it was/is the most homogeneous environment I can imagine, yet somehow I didn’t come preloaded with hate for those different then myself. American’s tend to regard themselves as superior to most other nations and there should be ahead of the curve I’m on. Mirroring the views of your parents or a previous generation is a crutch the haters use to justify their low levels of intelligence. People are smart enough to tell right from wrong, don’t except anything different, leave no option for hate to be part of the equation.
The days of anyone caring what these simpleminded idiots think are done anyway. Don’t give them the pleasure of even looking at them or given them a voice at the table. That also goes for their similar ilk who wish to deny same sex couples equal rights and/or similar issues. The rest of the civilized world has woken up, changed for the better and moved on, time for America to do the same.
I think one of the biggest hindrances to significant progress has been that that same data above on black unemployment can be interpreted in opposite ways by people holding opposing views. Sadly, I’ve seen racist propoganda using these numbers as “proof” that black people are lazy or aren’t trying to get work. These barriers of ignorance still need to be broken down.
I think one of the biggest hindrances to significant progress has been that that same data above on black unemployment can be interpreted in opposite ways by people holding opposing views. Sadly, I’ve seen racist propoganda using these numbers as “proof” that black people are lazy or aren’t trying to get work. These barriers of ignorance still need to be broken down.