An Interesting Take on BLM

[kandrathe]

We don't offer gracious handouts. We provide the minimal amount of sustenance.

My girlfriend who grew up in El Salvador would scoff at your suggestions that Americans are given minimal support. She grew up in one of the most worn-torn parts of the country filled with embroiled gang members and no government assistance whatsoever. What aid did come in came from international organizations and even then, the people were lucky to receive anything at all after the government officials took their share. Don't kid yourself here, in America, we give a LOT to the poor... and what do they do with it?

My girlfriend chose to rise above the rest in her culture, and didn't get swept up in the cultural identity that has become MS-13. She and her family chose to become exiled and live a normal life here abroad. While her story is anecdotal, there is empirical data showing success in her country restoring order and morality to the citizens through programs such as SHARE, but why are programs like this successful? They're not offering the level of free handouts like we are here in America. They are instead coaxing young children to attend and finish school, especially young girls, and are stressing the importance of family and community. These programs are basically rewriting the cultural identity of the crime infested parts of El Salvador, steering them away from the victim mentality that they must join MS-13 to be tough and survive, and instead look towards a brighter future where they can becomes leaders in their community.

By observing other cultures that are currently succeeding in making a difference to their crime infested sub-cultures, I'll tell you it's NOT from giving more and more to a broad group based on their income level, because the truth is the more you give, the more reliant the poor become on your handouts! You do them far more harm and injustice this way! Instead you need to give them the tools they need to survive on their own without your help. Change the cultural identity of your specific target group to help them succeed.

Except... The kumbaya approach you advocate here is to place the blame for the plight of blacks on black culture, which denies the reality of the real history of repression and racism. Why not turn this around to kumbaya, hold majority culture accountable for changing?

Why shouldn't we enable and embrace minority aspirations to improve the opportunities for the disadvantaged, including holding the magnifying glass to areas of systemic racial disparity as evidenced by statistical fact?

Check out; Robin DiAngelo two essays titled “Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism" and "11 Ways White America Avoids Taking Responsibility for its Racism".

Here is another link, slightly differing in content from yours. The race discussion starts at about minute 8.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqJnzBHURvs

This is also very good, but it's about 1.5 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFqVNPwsLNo

I've seen them. I appreciate anyone who does the hard work to think through tough problems, and then be able to defend them. Larry Elder is a successful lawyer who found his way out of poverty on the toil of his father. To me, his approach toward BLM is as off putting as are his militant in your face opponents. Why does everyone have to go hyperbolic to get attention? We end up not having an agreement in the middle, but rather struggles in the extremes.



I like NDT's message better. We might be able to discuss black lives, when you understand the life of a black person. But, until then, he focuses on being a scientist. Not a black scientist. A scientist, and a good man.