Monday, February 03, 2014
What happened to a class of people?
'Back when we were Negroes'
By Charles E. Richardson
in the Macon Telegraph, Macon, GA.
There was a time until the early 1960s when the terms to describe those of
African decent, like myself -- African-American or Black or Afro-American --
were almost unheard of.
I remember a distinct conversation with a friend
discussing descriptive terms for ourselves in 1963 or '64. The term "black"
was just coming into vogue and he didn't like it one bit. "Call me a
Negro," he said, "but don't call me black." Now, the word "Negro"
discussing descriptive terms for ourselves in 1963 or '64. The term "black"
was just coming into vogue and he didn't like it one bit. "Call me a
Negro," he said, "but don't call me black." Now, the word "Negro"
** Ne•gro1 (ˈni groʊ)
n., pl. -groes,
adj. Older Use: Sometimes Offensive. n.
was a little surprised when my pastor, the Rev. Willie Reid, used it during
Thursday's revival. "Back when we were Negroes," he said, and listed
several things that were different about black life in America back then.
That got me to thinking.
n., pl. -groes,
adj. Older Use: Sometimes Offensive. n.
1. a member of any of the indigenous peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, or one of their descendants.
adj.
2. of or designating Negroes.
[1545–55; < Sp and Portuguese negro black < Latin nigrum, masculine acc. of niger black]
===============================================================
(publications used a lower case "n") has almost become a pejorative, so Iwas a little surprised when my pastor, the Rev. Willie Reid, used it during
Thursday's revival. "Back when we were Negroes," he said, and listed
several things that were different about black life in America back then.
That got me to thinking.
** Here are the facts as what has transpired in the past 50 years or so...
Back when we were Negroes in the 1950s, "only 9 percent of black families
with children were headed by a single parent," according to "The Black
Family: 40 Years of Lies" by Kay Hymowitz. "Black children had a 52 percent
chance of living with both their biological parents until age 17. In 1959,
"only 2 percent of black children were reared in households in which the
mother never married." But now that we're African-Americans, according to
Hymowitz, those odds of living with both parents had "dwindled to a mere 6
percent" by the mid-1980s. * And check this, in Macon - Bibb County, more than 70
percent of the births in the African-American community are to single
mothers.
Back when we were Negroes and still fighting in many parts of the country
for the right to vote, we couldn't wait for the polls to open. We knew our
friends, family and acquaintances had died getting us the ballot. Dogs and
fire hoses were used to keep us away and still we came. But now that we're
African-Americans, in a city of 47,000 registered -- predominately black
voters -- more than 30,000 didn't show up at the polls July 19.
Back when we were Negroes, we had names like Joshua, Aaron, Paul, Esther,
Melba, Cynthia and Ida. Now that we are African Americans, our names are
bastardized versions of alcohol from Chivas to Tequila to C(S)hardonney.
And chances the names have an unusual spelling.
Back when we were Negroes in the 1950s, "only 9 percent of black families
with children were headed by a single parent," according to "The Black
Family: 40 Years of Lies" by Kay Hymowitz. "Black children had a 52 percent
chance of living with both their biological parents until age 17. In 1959,
"only 2 percent of black children were reared in households in which the
mother never married." But now that we're African-Americans, according to
Hymowitz, those odds of living with both parents had "dwindled to a mere 6
percent" by the mid-1980s. * And check this, in Macon - Bibb County, more than 70
percent of the births in the African-American community are to single
mothers.
Back when we were Negroes and still fighting in many parts of the country
for the right to vote, we couldn't wait for the polls to open. We knew our
friends, family and acquaintances had died getting us the ballot. Dogs and
fire hoses were used to keep us away and still we came. But now that we're
African-Americans, in a city of 47,000 registered -- predominately black
voters -- more than 30,000 didn't show up at the polls July 19.
Back when we were Negroes, we had names like Joshua, Aaron, Paul, Esther,
Melba, Cynthia and Ida. Now that we are African Americans, our names are
bastardized versions of alcohol from Chivas to Tequila to C(S)hardonney.
And chances the names have an unusual spelling.
** health facts...
Back when we were Negroes, according to the Trust For America's Health's "F
as in Fat," report, "only four states had diabetes rates above 6 percent.
... The hypertension rates in 37 states about 20 years ago were more than
20 percent." Now that we're African-Americans, that report shows, "every
state has a hypertension rate of more than 20 percent, with nine more than
30 percent. Forty-three states have diabetes rates of more than 7 percent,
and 32 have rates above 8 percent. Adult obesity rates for blacks topped 40
percent in 15 states, 35 percent in 35 states and 30 percent in 42 states
and Washington, D. C.
Back when we were Negroes, the one-room church was the community center
that everyone used. Now that we're African-Americans, our churches have
lavish -- compared to back-in-the-day churches -- community centers that
usually sit empty because the last thing the new church wants to do is
invite the community in.
Back when we were Negroes, we didn't have to be convinced that education
was the key that opened the lock of success, but now that we're
African-Americans, more than 50 percent of our children fail to graduate
high school. In Bibb County last year, the system had a dropout rate of
53.4 percent. Back when we were Negroes, the last thing a young woman
wanted to look like was a harlot and a young man a thug, but now that we're
African-Americans, many of our young girls dress like hootchie mamas and
our young boys imitate penitentiary custom and wear their pants below the
butt line.
Back when we were Negroes, according to the Trust For America's Health's "F
as in Fat," report, "only four states had diabetes rates above 6 percent.
... The hypertension rates in 37 states about 20 years ago were more than
20 percent." Now that we're African-Americans, that report shows, "every
state has a hypertension rate of more than 20 percent, with nine more than
30 percent. Forty-three states have diabetes rates of more than 7 percent,
and 32 have rates above 8 percent. Adult obesity rates for blacks topped 40
percent in 15 states, 35 percent in 35 states and 30 percent in 42 states
and Washington, D. C.
Back when we were Negroes, the one-room church was the community center
that everyone used. Now that we're African-Americans, our churches have
lavish -- compared to back-in-the-day churches -- community centers that
usually sit empty because the last thing the new church wants to do is
invite the community in.
Back when we were Negroes, we didn't have to be convinced that education
was the key that opened the lock of success, but now that we're
African-Americans, more than 50 percent of our children fail to graduate
high school. In Bibb County last year, the system had a dropout rate of
53.4 percent. Back when we were Negroes, the last thing a young woman
wanted to look like was a harlot and a young man a thug, but now that we're
African-Americans, many of our young girls dress like hootchie mamas and
our young boys imitate penitentiary custom and wear their pants below the
butt line.
If I could reverse all of the above by trading the term
"African-American" for "Negro," what do you think I'd do?
Charles E. Richardson is The Telegraph's editorial page editor
"African-American" for "Negro," what do you think I'd do?
Charles E. Richardson is The Telegraph's editorial page editor
================================================================
Then another view of the US race problem:
****
What is this race stuff? Part 1
*** Once we come to realize that the so called " Race Card " has been misused and caused many problems in the country and the world! Sad that people do not learn to seek and accept the truth! ***
Date: 11/17/2013 13:52:59 GMT
Date: 11/17/2013 13:52:59 GMT
Here is a good view on the Race word in the US today!
===============================================
From a Blog by Barb Stotler
I HAD to share Jim Pinto's comment from my post regarding Oprah's racism....Excellent...Thanks, Jim!!
===============================================
From a Blog by Barb Stotler
I HAD to share Jim Pinto's comment from my post regarding Oprah's racism....Excellent...Thanks, Jim!!
******
"I always must challenge ppl to go to an actual Websters Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary - one not published too, too recently and know the basic definition of racism.
The # ONE definition of racism
"belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that determine their respective cultures; usually involving the idea that ones own race is superior and has the right to rule others."
Some versions put a period after the first part even. It's loaded, but this classic definition is no where NEAR the constant misuse of the word today. By that definition:
I find then that many blacks have taken upon themselves that they have distinctive characteristics - and that all blacks must BE like they are - or they're not accepted.
I find that the frequent 'accusatory' use of the word by blacks OR by whites towards whites who oppose the President, serves to divert attention to the important reasons those people oppose him. I find that people like Oprah here, like Sharpton and others love to use the word to create the impression in the minds of everyone, and especially blacks - that Hate for blacks drives the Opposers of Obama.
I find those who listen and agree are willfully choosing to be ignorant of the fact that there are many conservative blacks who are just as or even more vehemently outspoken with their opposition to Obama.
"I always must challenge ppl to go to an actual Websters Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary - one not published too, too recently and know the basic definition of racism.
The # ONE definition of racism
"belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that determine their respective cultures; usually involving the idea that ones own race is superior and has the right to rule others."
Some versions put a period after the first part even. It's loaded, but this classic definition is no where NEAR the constant misuse of the word today. By that definition:
I find then that many blacks have taken upon themselves that they have distinctive characteristics - and that all blacks must BE like they are - or they're not accepted.
I find that the frequent 'accusatory' use of the word by blacks OR by whites towards whites who oppose the President, serves to divert attention to the important reasons those people oppose him. I find that people like Oprah here, like Sharpton and others love to use the word to create the impression in the minds of everyone, and especially blacks - that Hate for blacks drives the Opposers of Obama.
I find those who listen and agree are willfully choosing to be ignorant of the fact that there are many conservative blacks who are just as or even more vehemently outspoken with their opposition to Obama.
So Oprah - shut the hell up and get a life. OH I forgot - you have a life, a life bigger and richer and with more power and more wealth and more things and more connections and more privilege and more prestige, etc etc etc, than the vast majority of whites and almost 100% of blacks."
*** What do you think has happened?
