For your next post, consider the Dalton and Hamblin articles. Which one do you agree more with? Explain your choice and support your opinion.
Length: 1-2 well-developed paragraphs.
Due: Before our next class.
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After reading the two articles from Dalton and Hamblin, I agree with the article Hamblin wrote about how African Americans today blame their poor lifestyle and poor education on what the white men of America did to them. I agree that in the beginning when African Americans started out, most of them had a poor lifestyle with little or no education. However, many years have past since then and now they should be able to make something of themselves. Not so as Hamblin points out, most of them still dwell on these disadvantages that they started with and this sort of thinking is limiting them. So when opportunities arises, they do not see it or they do not want to go after it. The quality of education does play a part in the sort of lifestyle one has, but it is mainly the person’s personal character that determines his future. If one has a drive to be better like W.E.B. Dubois, then he will not live a poor life or whatever. There is only so much we as a society can say we’re sorry for action we had no part in.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Grayson what Hamblin wrote about the African Americans, that they blame their currently lifestyle and lack of education due to events of the past. Obviously in the past African Americans were not in well educated classrooms as were the white American kids. But many decades have past and everyone is equal in the world we live in today. African Americans have the same rights as all other people in American and in the world do. Hamblin points out, when will the black community realize that we are able to compete with all Americans. Education is offered to all people no matter what race, ethnicity or color you are, their isn’t much excuse for not being as successful as a “white” American. Everyone has a equal chance here in America now, but it takes hard work and believing in your self to achieve the American dream.
ReplyDeleteBetween the Dalton and Hamblin articles, I would have to agree more with the Hamblin article which states "..the truth is that being poor and black does not give you an excuse to gang-bang, to ruin a city, to make parks unsafe, to terrorize senior citizens, and to denounce the American Dream." Hamblin touches on his opinion that it's ridiculous that African Americans believe the reasoning behind their lack of education or healthy lifestyle that they can not succeed in life. I agree that although they have had a rough past there is no reason to use that as an excuse for not trying to live out the American Dream. Times have definately changed and there are many opportunities out there that can easily be grabbed if one just has the right mentality. "Guilt almost certainly inspires pity for the injured party..I contend that we can never stand tall as a people and expect to be treated as equals so long as we allow ourselves to be patronized in this fashion." I think it is unfair that white people today still feel guilty for the harsh history of segregation and racism.
ReplyDeleteAfter considering both articles, I agree more with Hamblin's, than I do Dalton's. While Dalton makes some good points, I think that the tone of his article is one of defeat. in his conclusion he says "We need to make a series of hard choices, followed by yet more hard choices regarding how to live with the promise of less.", this sounds to me like he encourages those of African decent to give up, and try to make the best of what they have instead of working for more.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, Hamblin encourages his people to look forward, instead of backward. To cease seeking for good fortune in the suffering of their ancestors, and focus on making more of their future. He says, When will black people recognize that we are able and willing to stand on our own? When will we acknowledge that we are willing and able to stand side by side with other Americans to compete fir jobs and our piece of the American Dream? When will we get over that ugly and unjust period in our American history and evolve into healthy citizens of this great country?". I agree. Times were very tough for African Americans. While today times can still be tough, they are not as tough as they were. Looking back to agonize over the past is no way to move on into the future.
After going over Dalton and Hamblin articles, I would agree with Hamblin's article more. The reason being, is that he tells it like it is. It's true that most blacks blame their future of the American Dream on their past. Yea they did have a rough time back in the days with racism, but the society of today has changed dramastically. There are many opportunities out there to choose from, which makes anything possible these days. They just can't let anything hold them back from pursuing it. It's really about who wants it more. If they are not going to try and keep blaming the past for where they stand now, they will never succeed or achieve the American Dream. There will always be racism out there no matter what color skin you are, we just have to find a way around that obstacle and keep going at what we want in life.
ReplyDeleteI to agree with hamblin. Using the excuse that your peoples past is affecting your out come can only go so far, especially since we have changed so much in the direction of supporting all races in an equal way.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me insted of planing and working your way up the chain some African Americans would prefer to complain about it, even if you look around there and plenty of other races in the same position else where just without the excuse of racism to back up there lazyness.
After reading over Daltons and Hamblins articles i would have to agree more with Hamblins article. He writes about how African americans still blame there poor life style and poor education based on what white people did to them years and years ago. While it is true that they were not treated good or equally many years have passed since those days. Now every individual has an equal chance to be succesfull so they shouldnt blame what happened in the pass for there lack of effort now. President Obama is a great example of how hard work and determination can give you the results you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteWhile both Hamblin and Dalton make valid arguements, I have to agree more with Hamblin. Black's should not be handicapping themselves by claiming that they are crippled by historical events. To live in an equal nation, people must think they are equal. We must stop wedging race into everything. Also, Hamblin makes a very good point about White people and their guilt. He says that white's should no longer feel guilty for simply being the same skin color as those who enslaved African Americans. This is especially true because most family tree's cannot connect one back to ties in slavery, most do not go back that far. African American's need to stop using this guilt trip to ease themselves into positions which they could easily earn on their own.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the two articles, i have to agree with Hamblin's article more. it is true and always have been true that black people's life and education were affected by the treatment from the white people. However, it is still a past. Today world is not anything like the old world. All people regardless of race and background have equal chance to become successful. Therefore, people who still have any dislike about the past should move on and work for what they want instead of complaining of the past.
ReplyDeleteHaving read both should stop to use the past as an excuse. The past is the past. Every minority was discriminated at some point. Minorities still at this time are discriminated but we have rights.There are so many advatages now in order to pursue an american dream.Race shouldn't matter. It should not be an excuse to their failure in it should be a motivationto succeed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hamblin's article. He writes the truth when he says that black use their history as an excuse. I think that maybe years ago that African-Americans could have used the reasoning that they had a rough past but not now. The nation has changed so much and there are plenty of successful blacks to counter that opinion. I think that if they stopped wasting time complaining that they would realize that they can do anything.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading both the Hamblin and Dalton articles, I would have to say that i agree more with the article written by Dalton. Although I strongly agree with Hamblin with his views on not playing the victim, and not expecting society to make adjustments to fit your needs because you believe you need and deserve them over more privileged people. I found the Dalton's article was more practical.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a lot of people (black and white) are not able to reach their full potential due to circumstances beyond their control. Even though there are the select few that are able to break out of the social class they were born into, the out come is unlikely. I once heard a very successful man say that he would rather be lucky than smart and I absolutely agree with him. Even if you are smart and work hard it doesn't guarantee you a seat in the high life. On the other hand, if you are lucky enough to be born into the high life, you are most likely guaranteed that seat no matter how stupid you may be.
I actually agree with both of them, but I'd have to say that I agree with Hamblin more. I think the major reason that African Americans are at such a disadvantage is because they believe that they are. They're so absorbed by what happened in the past that they can't possibly move on to the good things that are going to happen in the future. I mean, we have a black president now. That sure as hell is NOT a 'crippled' black person. All it takes is a little faith and a little forgiveness.
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