As a young black man, I feel I am qualified to answer this question.

The race problem in America is this: A good number of black people find themselves in unfortunate situations, and thus believe it is due to the whites, given their history.

The reality is that they have brought this on themselves. I am told all the time that as a young black man I am disadvantaged. I would truly love to see what my life were like if I had the “advantage” of being white. At the age of 20, I live in a nice neighborhood, have a management position at my place of employment (where I am well respected by my older white subordinates), I own my dream car, and have a full-ride scholarship to a four-year university (not because of my skin, but due to my academic and musical prowess). Mind you, I do not come from a wealthy family, but one of average means. I’m not saying all of this to brag, but to show how ridiculous people are to say that I am disadvantaged because I’m black. By the way, I am not the only one I know who is doing well either.

One problem I notice is that they want to keep this culture that has its roots in racism and poverty. Now, you can do that, but people are going to look at you funny. I don’t care if you’re white, black, Mexican, or Asian, if you come at me with unkempt hair and are unshaven wearing a wife-beater and sagging pants with your shoes untied, I’m going to be uncomfortable. How these things first began to be associated with “thugs” I don’t know. Was there racism involved or was it simply that that was what thugs wore? Maybe it was both, I can’t say, but what I do know is that you can not wear that and come across as trustworthy and respectable. I keep my pants pressed and pulled up, I wear a belt, my hair is neat, my shoes are shined, etc. Some would call this “dressing” or “acting white”. It’s not white, it’s what’s considered appropriate in American culture. Your grandfathers wore suits and ties to fight against racial injustice, not just because that was the style of the time, but because they knew that was how a respectable and presentable man looked at the time. I know he didn’t do that so we could run around looking crazy and pointing fingers and accusing others of bigotry when called on it. He agrees with the “bigots”!

Another one is style of speech. I know how to speak ebonics. It’s fine when used in the appropriate place, but if you have the opportunity to learn proper English, then do so and actually use it. My mother always taught me to use appropriate speech in public so as to not seem uneducated. Once again, no matter your race, if you don’t speak properly, you will be viewed that way.

While on the topic of education, let’s look at the idea that black people don’t get a fair education. While it is true that a school that doesn’t get proper funding won’t have all of the resources a better school may have, those teachers still had to go through the same schooling as all the others to teach there. These students should still be learning the same thing, and last time I checked, my parents learned just fine on a blackboard without Macbooks. Do I think it’s unfortunate that schools may not be able to provide equitable resources? Of course! That should not mean a student should not receive a suitable education. A good teacher can do without (I say as an education major, who has seen such scenarios). The problem then lies with the student who needs to apply themselves. If one truly desires to see themselves in a better place they should be willing to put in the effort to get there. I did not get to where I am by sitting in the back corner, eating chips, playing on my phone, and mouthing off at the teacher. I was and still am very diligent and attentive in class. I have always believed no matter what scenario you find yourself in, you should always put forth your best effort. In class, working a minimum wage job, doing a favor for somebody. Do your best!

This brings us to my final point. It all comes down to home life. Parents should be actively involved in the lives of their children. The Pew Research Center states that single mothers are more than twice as likely to be black than cohabitating mothers and four times as likely as married mothers. Single-parent households have more problems than two-parent homes. It’s more stressful on the one parent. The fact that a lot of black people live in a state of poverty and a culture that has excessive drug use, alcoholism, and violence it is not impossible to imagine that there may be a single parent who is unattentive to the child dealing with substance abuse issues or is involved with gang issues. Casual sex obviously carries the risk of pregnancy no matter how careful you are. If the child is carried to term, it is your responsibility. My grandmother always told me when you have kids you lose some of your rights and it should be that way. If the child is an “inconvenience” you should get over yourself because the world isn’t all about you. No child is an inconvenience, no matter how they may seem at times and both parents bear this responsibility. If accountability is taught in the home; if there are consequences for actions, people will act on it. The parents should raise the child and be attentive, and the child should grow up with rules and a sense of accountability including being diligent in their studies.

At the end of all of this, we realize the core of these issues isn’t only applicable to black people, but people of all races face these problems alongside us. The plight of my people is brought about by their inability to recognize they have the ability to change things themselves and blame white people. The white men who owned slaves are dead and gone. I’ve not met one person who was rooting for my failure in life because I’m a black man. Nobody is holding them back but themselves. White people need not apologize and black people need not forgive, because there’s nothing there! The race issues in America will be resolved when all people learn responsibility and black people get over the notion that white people are out to get them and to assimilate into American culture is to become “white”.

I apologize for the long tangent; that bus went off into the cornfield! I don’t know if this answered the question, but it definitely answered something. I just believe this is important to grasp in the black community, and I want other people to know that there are black people who realize this; who know the answers and want the problem fixed.