Preface: I am not "politically correct", I use terms like black and white. If this offends you, just click the little X at the top right corner of this tab. If you are someone who isn't pretending you are more politically correct than the rest of us, you may benefit from what I have to say.
When we speak of race relations, we have to acknowledge that we are speaking of black and white. We are not speaking about other races, but that does not mean these problems don't exist in all shades. Let me start by saying the very fact that we have to have whole news shows dedicated to pointing out to ourselves and the world just how far we've come in race relations, shows just how far we have to go.
There are children starving in the United States as you read this article, but chances are you are not going to hear about that on tonights news. What you will hear is how far we have come in race relations since the days of Dr. King. I have news for everyone, Dr. King may be happier with how things are now compared to then, but he would still be making speeches about how far we have to go. Dr. King would have thought affirmative action was a slap in the face. Dr. King believed in merit, not handouts. Dr. King only wanted his race to have equal access to the opportunities of this land, not a "gimme".
When you hear someone say "we have a black president" it proves that we have far to go. Why should the color of the president be relevant? Or gender for that matter? We say we have a black president because we acknowledge there is still prejudice in this country. We use the fact that we elected a black man to pat ourselves on the back and say look how far we've come. Reality is a bit different though.
The percentage of black vs white in prison populations is still at least 3 to 1. The percentage of blacks vs whites stopped by police is at least 2 to 1. More whites vs blacks serve in positions of power, at a ratio of at least 20 to 1, and that is being generous. Is it lack of qualified people in the black community? No. It is a combination of prejudice and acceptance. Whites are still prejudice and blacks have come to accept it and not stand against it like Dr. King would have done.
I live in an area where very seldom do I see people of color, there is a much higher ratio of white to black in West Virginia, nevermind my specific city. When I go to the city I tend to encounter some black people. I have several friends who are black, but when we are together none of us consider the others' skin color, we simply act as friends act. The simple fact that I had to distinguish them in this article from the other friends I have goes to show just how far we ALL have to go. When we all can take the adjective off the labels we designate, white friend, black friend, white man, black man, black woman, white woman, etc...when we all just become men and women in each others eyes, then, and only then, have we figured out race relations.
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