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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.
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Race Relations in the Age of Obama
Dear Larry: I am a 32-year-old white American man. I grew up in a very multicultural community and have discussed race relations all my life. When I was in school, the teachers taught us to be aware of how our actions would affect others, especially people in the minority groups.
Many of my friends are people of color, and my wife is Japanese. I also have two children, and obviously they are being raised to be respectful of others.
What is troubling to me is the number of times my children come home because they are harassed by minority children. My children are being bullied and called names, and they run home to keep from having their things stolen.
I have been to the school four times trying to deal with this issue. The people at the school seem to be unable to put a stop to the harassment. They know the children who are the bullies, but they are very reluctant to challenge the parents. I am on the verge of pulling my children out of public school and putting them into a private school.
It seems to me that race relations are getting worse instead of better. My parents were "flower children," and they kept telling me my generation would see the end of discrimination. I think they were wrong.
I would appreciate your thoughts. — Andrew
Dear Andrew: Approximately 18 months ago, I wrote a very optimistic column agreeing with your parents, saying we would see in the near future an end to negative race relations. I based this upon the election of the first African-American president of the United States. I stated that his election was living proof that color was no longer a barrier for achievement, and I said his election removed all excuses for failure.
Today I do not share that same optimism. I am very disappointed with President Obama's lack of being a uniter. I believe the president and his supporters have made race relations worse, not better.
The president had an opportunity to demonstrate the proper way to respond to issues of race relations. Instead, he chose to react by making his race the first consideration instead of considering other alternatives.
For example, when the black Harvard professor clearly had acted out of line with the police, the president sided with the professor without knowing any of the facts. The president allowed his negative stereotyping of the police to dictate his reaction.
Another example was his administration's failure to prosecute the New Black Panthers who intimidated voters at a polling place. This failure to act made race, not fairness, the issue.
The president's supporters use race whenever possible to silence any critics. This behavior keeps the country on a racial edge. Instead of bringing us together, they have half the country crying foul, saying the president is not being fair.
Unless the president changes his behavior, I believe race relations will continue to deteriorate.
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 2011 CREATORS.COM 
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Comments
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20 Comments | Post Comment
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Your darned right you should put your kids in a private school if the bullying gets worse. I can guarantee you, color has nothing to do with it. Perhaps the kids who bully yours are so spoiled at home that their own parents can't say no to them? Or maybe they're the children of drug addicts? Perhaps their father is a macho shithead who bullies his wife and the kids have to see it?
If you have to take the kdis out, do so, and take up the issue with the school board. The Principal may have gotten his/her job thanks to politics, and when that happens, I promise you, no good will come of any effort.
In the meantime, I suggest you get your kids karate lessons. They're a big help in boosting confidence. I bet the kids who bully yours could benefit from karate lessons too.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Roger
Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:39 PM
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Mr. Meeks, who so often is sensible and informative, is falling into one of the traps he often advises against. Namely, he's not insisting on individual responsibility. Bullying is not the fault of the president. It's the fault of parents who don't raise their kids to have empathy. It's the fault of schools that won't act to stop bullying. It's the fault of the kids who do it.
I don't care what race anybody is. I went to school in the bad old days of legal segregation. The bullies in my school were white and so were the victims. So were the teachers and administrators who let it happen. Race has nothing to do with it. Who's in the White House has nothing to do with it. Personal responsibility as parents, educators, and human beings is the issue. We all need to stop blaming everything we don't like on someone else.
Comment: #2
Posted by:
Sat Feb 26, 2011 5:26 AM
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Mr. Meeks, who so often is sensible and informative, is falling into one of the traps he often advises against. Namely, he's not insisting on individual responsibility. Bullying is not the fault of the president. It's the fault of parents who don't raise their kids to have empathy. It's the fault of schools that won't act to stop bullying. It's the fault of the kids who do it.
I don't care what race anybody is. I went to school in the bad old days of legal segregation. The bullies in my school were white and so were the victims. So were the teachers and administrators who let it happen. Race has nothing to do with it. Who's in the White House has nothing to do with it. Personal responsibility as parents, educators, and human beings is the issue. We all need to stop blaming everything we don't like on someone else.
Comment: #3
Posted by:
Sat Feb 26, 2011 5:26 AM
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Sorry about the double post--unintentional on my part.
Comment: #4
Posted by:
Sat Feb 26, 2011 5:27 AM
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What my generation ignored because they were either too optimistic or too stoned to see it is that people who have no intention of taking responsibility for their own actions WANT an excuse for failure. And they resent people who succeed, in whatever capacity, because it removes those excuses. It isn't just whites who are blamed for minority failure - it's other minorities who become successful - and they are all the ones most likely to be harrassed and bullied by the non-achievers. The bottom line is still individual responsibility.
Comment: #5
Posted by: Maggie Lawrence
Sat Feb 26, 2011 8:35 AM
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The LW has some valid points and unfortunately, he has to deal with it.
I see the problem as perhaps too simply: in my observation, minorities place almost no value, or that one of a limited role, in getting education. Mr Meeks commented recently on the unfortunate event of "acting white" wherein minority kids mock other minority kids who work hard at school. What have we come to wherein the ultimate insult in our society from one minority to another is that they emulate whites. Jeepers.
There are, to be sure, extenuating circumstances at that school where maybe 70% of the kids have only one parent at home and she is just trying to hold the family together. That is very, very hard, esp. when the young boy turns into his teens. He believes his buds more than he believes one parent.
Look at Asian children under the "Tiger Mom" concept and they are kicking eveyone's butt. All of us non-Asians can learn something from that.
Comment: #6
Posted by: Patrick Turner
Sat Feb 26, 2011 6:31 PM
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I am finding your column becoming more and more racist and bigoted. There is not alot to add, except that I feel you seem to have alot of hate in you and are always looking at the bad side of things.
Comment: #7
Posted by: Ann Powell
Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:41 AM
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Re: Ann Powell - why don't you actually read the column and think about what he said rather than jumping in with your pre-programmed "racist" and "too much hate" response? Too much hate for what? The fact is, people, black or white, who can't stand to take responsibility for themselves and have made a living out of being "victims" hate it when others succeed because it removes their excuses. And the tinpots who lead those people around by the noses also hate seeing their victimhood status diminished. And so the ranting and bullying begins.
Comment: #8
Posted by: Maggie Lawrence
Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:40 AM
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The phony non-story of the "New Black Panthers" is your supporting evidence?
Are you kidding me, Larry? You really need to stop watching Fox News and listening to Rush Limbaugh.
Here's just one of many reports debunking this "scandal." From Newsweek:
"In 2008, a lone white voter reported he had encountered two black men dressed all in black, one carrying a nightstick, at his Philadelphia polling place in a predominantly black neighborhood. The armed man was escorted away by police, and no one reported the incident to the local district attorney."
That's it. The whole, dull, non-story. That's how Obama failed? And the incident with Professor Lewis Gates? Well, Obama knew professor Gates personally....who, after reading the reports, in their right mind wouldn't defend a person they knew personally as a respected college professor? That you fault him for? Seriously? You wouldn't defend a personal friend in the same scenario? Yah. Right.
If anyone is biased, it's you, Larry Meeks. You're intensely biased against anyone who doesn't share your right wing ideology. How can you be so blind to that? It's shockingly obvious to the rest of the world.
Comment: #9
Posted by: Johanna
Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:25 AM
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Oops -- that professor's name is Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
My mistake.
Comment: #10
Posted by: Johanna
Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:27 AM
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@Anne W: "Bullying is not the fault of the president. It's the fault of parents who don't raise their kids to have empathy. It's the fault of schools that won't act to stop bullying. It's the fault of the kids who do it."
I don't see where Meeks has said anything different. He didn't blame the president for bullying. He mentioned that when a black president got elected, he was hopeful that American race relations were improving. He went on to say that that president and his supporters have made the problems in race relations worse, not better.
On second thought, maybe it really is the president's fault that the writer's kids are being bullied. Failing to prosecute an open-and-shut case of lawbreaking (i.e. the New Black Panther voter intimidation case) does nothing to promote the concept of a color-blind society and a neutral justice system. In fact, it does harm.
And I'm sure additional left-wingers will be along any minute now to throw mud at Meeks, and at me for defending him. We've already seen three on this thread so far.
Comment: #11
Posted by: Matt
Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:46 PM
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Matt, they did not prosecute the case for one reason: nobody filed a complaints! No voter was "intimidated" in the least. How, exactly, can they make a case against these two (fake) "Black Panthers" if NOBODY claimed to have been intimidated? It's all bull, the whole ridiculous story, and the only reason you or Meeks even knows about it is because the right wing echo chamber has been trying desperately to make it a story. It's not.
Again, from Newsweek:
"The problem is that although it may look like voter intimidation, there aren't actually any voters who filed an official complaint claiming to have been intimidated. As Adam Serwer writes, a polling station in a predominantly black neighborhood isn't the best place to go if you're trying to scare white voters off: "I imagine that the New Black Panthers thought they were protecting black voters from some phantom white-supremacist conspiracy (their public statements say as much)." And Weigel, who's followed the case, has suggested there's not much to it either—plus, "there's no evidence the NBPP's clownish Philadelphia stunt suppressed any votes, or that they'll try such a stunt again." "
Comment: #12
Posted by: Johanna
Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:16 PM
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This has to be the phoniest post I've ever seen. Bullied and having to run home to keep their belongings from being stolen. Why didn't you just say, Black kids are bullying your kids and trying to steal their belongings. It really makes me mad when racist White people try to play the victim.
Race relations are definitely worse since Obama became President, but it has nothing to do with Obama failing to bridge the gap. Everybody knows for a fact all you racists are angry because a Black man is President, and you just can't take it. Get over it, because you got six more years to spew your hate.
Comment: #13
Posted by: Jdrealtalk
Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:22 PM
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Egad. I just wrote a comment on the previous Meeks column (Matt -- I hope you get a chance to see it, as I was writing to you and Therren). Then I see some of the comments on this Meeks column, and I am back to despairing of there ever being enough people who are able to have a thoughtful, useful dialogue on the topic of race.
Comment: #14
Posted by: Lisa
Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:46 AM
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I'm writing you Sir , In response to your article " Stay in Therapy to address strong fear of blacks"
I'm a African American "Male", with concern to your response. I have a documented history of situations similar to the "50 yr old white woman's comments"But of course on the opposite side of the tracks, I've been profiled as a African American Male all my life, I've pursued a career in Lawenforcement and without the badge daily I'm reminded of racial profiling (by whites), Do I speak out "No" never ! That could possibly end your career! My son was recently pulled over and that was my last straw. I filed a report with the U.S. Justice Department, at some point you need to speak out about the injustices that still exist in this country, by the way my son is a honor student in high school with a 3.9 gpa, maybe a cardiologist, I'll let him make the decision in regards to his career selection.The reason I provide this information is obvious, young African American males are always highlitghted for negativety, you never hearaboutthe gifted student ahtlete's. My frustration with regard to your response "I hate to see this fear and do everthing possible to set them at ease", you also mentioned "When I enter an elevator I smile and nod my head and go to the far corner and not make I eye contact" This response is shameful, and clearly derails the thoughts and beliefs my for father's were slaves, that dreamed of the day their sons could work hard and be proud of who they are and what they strive to be , when a country and a goverment forsaked them for chattel slaves, only to free us after the out cry of the world and threats to their union. I'm sorry and feel for the 49 yr old white woman's loss and feel her pain. my uncle was shot and killed in the Korean War, my barber is a Korean , I mentioned the death of my Uncle while fighting for our country and he cried, I looked at him and told him this was not his fault, and he is my friend to this day, we all have issues and circumstances in our lives that impact us emotionally and could inhibit us in areas of our lives that affect others, Your fear of being perceived as a threat to others almost puts you in a position to derail the long hard work for us as men to stand proud of who we are and not enter the elevator as the operator.Mr. Meeks , Stand proud to who you are , because these young men that need guidance are on your" shoulders", God Bless You !!
Comment: #15
Posted by: Arthur
Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:56 AM
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Everyone seems to forget that President Obama is only half black. His mother was white. Furthermore, his mother and maternal grandparents were the ones who raised him in his formative years. Shouldn't that be all the more reason for him to be a racial uniter rather than a divider? But it doesn't seem to have turned out that way. A pity.
Comment: #16
Posted by: JMG
Tue Mar 1, 2011 8:41 AM
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Re: JMG
How, exactly, does Barack Obama have the ability to control the minds of racists? If you can convince me the president (or any president in history) has this power, then I'll accept the premise that Obama is a "racial divider."
Comment: #17
Posted by: Johanna
Tue Mar 1, 2011 10:01 AM
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Mr. Meeks' columns often interest me because I'm white, and have few black friends at this time. I live in an area that's not very diverse. Getting another point of view is enlightening and refreshing.
However, though I'm not politically extreme, I often think that his columns should be posted in the "Conservative Opinion" section rather than "Advice." I'm really more interested in his more personal writings than in his political slant.
It seems a real stretch to me to expect the President to have an effect on school bullying or on racist attitudes, or on possible misbehavior at local polling places. In fact, I wouldn't *want* the President to have nearly that much power. People need to work out their own problems with the laws at their disposal and the personalities they have to confront. If Mr. Meeks truly expected Barack Obama to mend centuries of racism in the United States in two years, he probably also expected him to do it while walking on water.
Expecting for someone else to take care of your problems isn't the line Mr. Meeks preaches. It's a shame to see him falling for it.
Comment: #18
Posted by:
Wed Mar 2, 2011 1:48 PM
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Response from Roger 100% spot on. Don't treat the bullying as a racial issue, but as a bullying issue. And yes- if it's that bad pull your kids the heck out of public school and make all the noise you can. To be taken seriously, including in the media, document the bullying incidents as clearly as possible - who, what, where, when, how - including names. Document your complaints too - when you made it, to whom, what you said, what was said back to you. And what, if anything, actually was done.
When I was bullied as a child, my mom would just go and talk to the parents directly. It more or less stopped, but in my case I wasn't being robbed or seriously injured. If these kids are such thugs, their parents might be as well. Also in my case, the kids never apologized to me in person, nor did their parents. So in a sense I never reached full closure. Oh well, water under the bridge now.
BTW - Obama has nothing to do with this. He can't magically fix everything just by existing.
Comment: #19
Posted by: Red Ree
Wed Mar 2, 2011 2:00 PM
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Mr. Meeks should give a careful read to the comments on this thread, most of which are thoughtful reactions to his column and a lot smarter than his thinking when he ventures into politics. I agree with commenters who say that blaming Obama for America's enduring racism and putting bullying exclusively on race is flawed logic. Indeed, when Meeks sticks to family values, taking personal reaponsibility, the role of African American men in families, the value of education and the toxicity of "acting white" and emulating sports and music figures, he's a strong voice. But when he ventures into politics, his column belongs on the conservative pundit page. But his opinions shouldn't be surprising -- Creaters Syndicate is overwhelmingly conservative.
Comment: #20
Posted by: Barbara E.
Thu Mar 3, 2011 6:45 AM
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