Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I cannot understand how a person like former President Jimmy Carter can keep saying that the criticism against President Barack Obama is based upon race and that America is racist. I also cannot believe there are people around Jimmy Carter who are saying racist words about the president. I am sure he knows it was white people who elected Obama.

Larry, you are not a mind reader, but I would like to know what you think is going on with Jimmy Carter. — P.C.

Dear P.C.: I agree with you that it is improbable there are people around the former president who are making racist statements. If this is true, then the racist thoughts are coming from his experience and thoughts.

Jimmy Carter grew up during a time when whites were overtly racist. The Ku Klux Klan ruled the South, and any politician needed its endorsement to get elected. Remember, Jimmy was elected in the South. I believe these thoughts are still within his psyche.

Therefore, it is my belief that former President Carter is fighting his own demons. He is seeing racism when it does not exist and/or projecting his own racist thoughts on others. He is getting old, and we may be witnessing ghosts from his past that he thought were buried rising from places in his mind.

Dear Larry: Recently I've seen something that puzzles me and hope you can help me to understand.

I am a member of a popular Internet dating site that tries to match its clients with people who would be compatible. I have received several matches with African-American gentlemen, which I think is fine. I've been around long enough to know there are things much more important than skin color that make for a good or bad relationship.

The thing I'm wondering about has to do with one of the questions clients answer as part of their profiles.

Their answers are displayed on their pages as part of their introductions.

The question is: "Other than your parents, who was the most influential person in your life?" For non-African-Americans, the most common responses include a favorite teacher, a sibling, a coach, an uncle or a special friend.

For African-Americans, almost without exception, they include John F. Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King or some other public figure whom I am pretty sure they never have met.

I never have seen anyone from any other ethnic group respond like that. I have thought and thought about why this might be but have come to no conclusion. Your thoughts are appreciated! — Ann

Dear Ann: I believe this phenomenon is steeped in African-Americans' history.

Blacks were brought to this country without their consent and enslaved by the ruling class of people. Blacks remained slaves until the government and guilt-ridden people decided to free the slaves via the Civil War.

In 1875, those rights were taken away, and Jim Crow laws were put in place by the government and others who were tired of hearing about the plight of the poor black man.

In the 1960s, the government, guilt-ridden people and angry minorities restored these rights.

If you will notice, African-Americans' enslavement, freedom, discrimination, equality and advancements seem to happen because of government, the guilt-ridden and angry people. In other words, black people's existence seems to be in the hands of government and other people outside of their families.

If people think they are not in control of their own destinies and there are no thoughts of "rugged individualism," they always will choose the people they think have power or control over their lives.

If their own fathers, uncles or siblings are made or seem powerless, they will be discounted and not chosen as the people who have had the most influence in their lives.

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 2009 CREATORS.COM