creators home
creators.com lifestyle web

Recently

Farewell Dear Larry: You are the sanest man in America! I look forward to your columns because I ALWAYS agree with your answers. Great work! Thanks for speaking the simple truth about all issues — racial, political, parental, common sense, etc. I often …Read more. Hate Groups Dear Larry: I want to forget for a moment that it is their constitutional right, because I detest the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and all other groups that preach hate. A long time ago, they came into cities across America without any protest. Now …Read more. Troubles With Raising Teenage Son Dear Larry: I am African-American and a single mother with three children, ages 15, 10 and 8. All of them are boys. I am having a lot of problems with them, especially the eldest. He argues with me about almost everything. He thinks he is the man/…Read more. How To Get Race Relations Back on Track Dear Larry: So many of my friends are upset with the way things are going, especially race relations. They are not saying anything openly, but among themselves there is constant complaining and fear. There is something simmering and brewing that …Read more.
more articles

Ethnically Speaking, May 17

Share Comment

Dear Larry: I know you get lots of mail about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but I just feel compelled to ask you a question that has stayed on my mind for a long time.

I understand that the Rev. Wright and his following believe they are suppressed by white people, white government and anything that is white-related.

What I don't understand is instead of complaining about what is wrong, why don't blacks tell us exactly what it is they want? What are their ultimate goals, and in what kind of society do they wish to live? Do they want a society with opportunity for education? Do they want the freedom to walk around and not worry about soldiers with machine guns on every corner? Do they want to have a family and live comfortably without living from paycheck to paycheck or worse? Do they want to have plenty of food available? Do they want to have the right to say things about their government without being jailed or hanged for it?

If that is what they want, then they need to open their eyes and notice that all of those things are available to them. If they want all of the above, all they have to do is take advantage of the bountiful possibilities. It doesn't make sense to reject the possibilities simply because they are provided by the "white people."

I think instead of whining about not being treated the way they want, they should try to offer some suggestions in a constructive manner.

It worked for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.

We have come a long way, and yes, perhaps some things still need to be fine-tuned. The Rev. Wright is not being constructive. He is just making the situation worse. He never will get rid of the "whites," so he should work with the situation. He should make some lemonade for once. — Julie

Dear Julie: Your letter and questions are powerful. Regarding the Rev. Wright, I am convinced people like him are caught up in the process of complaining. If you made them king and gave them the authority to set things right, I would be deathly afraid of what the result would be.

The answer to your questions is black people want everything you mentioned. The solution to solving the problem is much more difficult. The primary problem with blacks is the breakdown of the black family, the lack of education, the lack of jobs, and the belief the door to opportunity is closed.

People must speak out and say this is the problem and be prepared to suffer the wrath of the so-called black leaders and the whites who look at blacks as if blacks are misguided children.

The Rev. Wright causes a lot of harm because of his fiery rhetoric, but it pales in comparison to the whites who allow blacks to get away with thinking their problem can be fixed only when whites think and act differently. Blacks have the major responsibility to fix their problem. It is time to say it and stop the blame game.

To find out more about Larry G. Meeks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.


Comments

1 Comments | Post Comment
Mr. Meeks, please "qualify" your statements regarding blacks and help your audience to do the same. Try using "some blacks" instead of blacks. All blacks are not alike just like people of other "races" (some scientists do not believe in races) are not alike. I think it would help also if more people knew that the "Civil Rights Movement" did not start with Dr. King and it has not ended. The Movement tends to "ebb/flow." Too many people do not realize that white women, in general, have benefitted more from the Civil Rights Movement (circa the 1960s) than any other group. I live in an area of 200,000 people. It is estimated that 40% of the population is Hispanic, those identified as black (excluding the African immigrants) number 1,500 and the rest are white, Asian, Native American, and members of various immigrant groups. Ironically, the staff in my Black Hispanic grandchildren's schools are composed of white, female, teachers mostly with Spainish surnames, Hispanic female teacher assistants, and white female principals. Some of your white readers may benefit from an understanding of "white privilege." I just discoverd this website today so I could be repeating some things already discussed.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Zona Gale
Wed Jun 4, 2008 2:19 PM
Already have an account? Log in.
New Account  
Your Name:
Your E-mail:
Your Password:
Confirm Your Password:

Please allow a few minutes for your comment to be posted.

Enter the numbers to the right:  
Creators.com comments policy
More
Larry Meeks
Mar. `11
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
27 28 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
About the author About the author
Write the author Write the author
Printer friendly format Printer friendly format
Email to friend Email to friend
View by Month