Guy Noir said:
tallman1 said:
You either didn't understand my comment and question to you or you chose not to acknowledge what I was saying or address what I was asking. Again, you don't have to be oppressed to speak up and stand up for those who are oppressed (again your choice of word, not mine). If those who have the prosperity, popularity, power, & platform don't do it, who will? The stance that "if you are successful & rich, then you have no right to speak out on the issues like systematic racism, discrimination, and being targeted" is a pretty weak & lazy argument in my opinion. You do know that a lot of these successful people that made it still have in some form experienced those things, have family members, friends, or just want to do something to better this world (it's their choice how they choose to contribute or not). The days of be quiet and dribble, be quiet and pass/catch/run are a thing of the past. Again, why is it a bad thing??
It is bad logic. To advocate that Blacks are oppressed while being a a Black that has not been oppressed is contrary logic.. Since the 1960's and the Equal Rights Amendment and EEOC Blacks have permeated our society into numerous successful positions. The oppressed story is getting old.to some of us who have encouraged EEOC for the last 50 years.
To act as though racism all of the sudden disappeared with the passage of a piece of legislation is naive, at best. At worst, it's something much more insidious.
And let's be clear, while the Equal Rights Amendment was a landmark act and long overdue, it didn't undo 350 years of systematic oppression. It simply made it illegal to continue that oppression. It didn't level the playing field and start everyone over at zero. The ruling race in this country still had the benefit of a 350-year head start, and that gap has only widened over the past 50 years.
Maybe the older generations feel as though they have taken equality as far as they are willing or able to take it. That's fine, but if that's the case, step aside and let the younger generations take up the mantle. Don't continue to impede racial progress and reconciliation because of a misguided sense of the work already being finished.