Guilty of Being Black

IF A CRFACKAH IS HANGIN' in dah hood wiff his homies, cracker cop cruises by, without so much as honking. In the event that several young African-american gentlemen congregate for casual street corner conversation, the cop stops, demanding an explanation, suspicious of their intent, dispersing said citizens on suspicion of being darkly pigmented. the's the facts, jack. President Obama has talked about being followed by employees and security guards in brick and mortar retail stores, and he aint makin' it up. Every black friend I have, including the doctors, lawyers, and teachers, has told me of similar experiences. Being black in America is, and always has been, a crime. Whitie gets a warning, and perhaps a brief lecture, brothah gets a ticket. White man gets probation, black man does time.In the law enforcement and legal system the systemic racism is well documented, by every sociology department in America, and by the stats themselves. Conservatives deny all this, of course, just like many of them deny man made climate change, evolution, and the benefits of financial assistance to the poor. Whatever works, whatever is true, count on America's right wingers to discount it. We the American people remain what we have always been: the most racist society in human history. When i was in graduate school I lived i an apartment complex next door to a young, impressive African-american lady. We were good neighbors, but not good friends, which to work well for neighbors in America. One day I was desperate for a postage stamp, was willing to pay, and was unwilling to go anywhere to get one. So, I knocked on Vanessa's door. she answered, and behind her quite a party was in progress, without a white face. She summarily dismissed me, assuring me that a postage stamp was the least of her possessions. I thanked her, and left. Not long thereafter the party broke up, she knocked on my door, handed me a stamp, and refused payment. Apparently I had been forgiven for being white. I had been victimized not by racism, but by the residual effects of the manner in which Europeans have always, and still do treat Africans in America. Racism is a one way street, paved in white. The African-American community is resentful about their treatment, not about skin color. Being systemically mistreated for centuries is a much more serious matter than sharing a country with people with light skin pigmentation.