Is race REALLY the issue?

The “Race card” is played to often, by to many.   I think people scream “race” out of convenience,  I don’t believe “race” differences are as problematic as some would have us believe. I have a good many friends that are of other races, there is strength in diversity.  I think there is something deeper.  I believe it is an issue of character.

The question is begged: What is character?  Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.

In today’s instant news environment, more often than not there is no time given for events to be played out.  I think the rioting in Ferguson is a good example.  It was tragic that a young man lost his life and I have no problems with the peaceful protests.  I do however, have issues with the rioting.  People rioted, burned buildings and looted businesses – for what?  I don’t think it has anything to do with the actual case of Michael Brown.  It showed poor character, to say the least.  An article in the Economist examines the cause of the looting.  In addition the article tackles the police aspect, not unlike an earlier article I wrote about the militarization of our police forces.  Rioting solves nothing, and only hurts local business owners.

I live by the notion that 10% of {insert any demographic here} are assholes.  I’m proven right more often than not.  Ferguson was no exception.

There is an very interesting video on CBS that brings together a diverse group of people.  It is a very telling and eye opening discussion.  A former law enforcement officer stated: “You teach your children not to to assault the Police.  They have no business putting their hands on a cop.  If you do, you get what you get.”   Another woman stated that what needs to be taught is tolerance.  Tolerance of one another and to celebrate our differences.  The facilitator of the discussion wraps up the interview stating that it is very hard to have a conversation about race, but it can be done.  Our leaders are not trying to solve the problem.  The way the race conversation is currently happening is not productive, and is destructive to people’s understanding, of both the problems and for appreciating each other.

At the beginning of the discussion, the facilitator used the term “African-American.”  A woman took offense.  She stated, very firmly, that she is not from Africa, she prefers black (which another man took an offense to).  She is an American to be precise.   A couple of the gentlemen seemed uncomfortable with her statement, but I applaud it.  Our country is to hyphenated.  If you were born here; you are an American, period.  There is no need to put qualifiers on it.

I am not meaning to rehash the events that took place in Ferguson, MO (Timeline: what happened and the evidence is released / both by the NYT).  But it is a good case study in what is really ailing this country.  I do not think it is “race relations.”  I don’t think most people give a hoot about a persons race.  What they care about is a person’s character and their actions.  There is an interesting article in TIME magazine that discusses the two different conversations that are, or will be, taking place.  The public conversation with all of its ranting, oversimplification and placing of guilt on (fill in the blank).  A second conversation will be taking place privately; how to deal with the embarrassment and difficulties of kids like Michael Brown.

FC, my feline companion, took me to task the other day.  Its not about race – it’s about Character.  He pointed to an article by Mark Alexander.  While there is much in his article I do not necessarily agree with; he brings up a couple of valid points which seem to be common among kids like Michael Brown.  And his article is a good read; if just to get the conversation started.  So, how do we develop good character?  Let’s start with parents actually parenting, and accepting the responsibilities that go with it. The Niagara Falls City School District has a pretty cool “100 Ways to teach Character” which can be easily implemented by parents.

People like the Reverend Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan are part of the problem, not the solution. Booker T. Washington wrote of people like them: “There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.”  Kinda sounds like them, doesn’t it?  Read more at EDSITEment, a site dedicated to the humanities.

The late Dr. Martin Luther King concluded his “I have a Dream” speech by asserting the need to distinguish character over color.

“If America is to be a great nation, this must be true.”

-Dr. M.L.King

Did I stir your emotions?  Good, let’s chat about it.