I strongly believe that lack of achievment by many blacks in the academic area has to do with the fact that many of them are told that there is no way they can make it in "a white mans world".
Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with several very talented black engineers. Since they are rare in the profession I have always wanted to know what they thought made them achieve so much.
Every single one of them told me that their parents had never told them they couldn't do something because they were black. In addition, their parents were involved in seeing that homework was done, and expectations met.
I for one do not believe that blacks are intellectully inferior. Nor do I believe that Asians are superior.
That having been said, there is a black culture in this country that seems to have lost hope, and the belief that they CAN achieve.
It is a cultural problem, not a racial problem.
And it is a tragedy.
Agreed.
Being from the south, I find that anytime slavery is mentioned that many people tend have a knee-jerk reaction to reject any fact that is brought foward... I'm not claiming this guy has facts, just the point that it's a sore spot to be prodding around in.
Did you know that the Scotch-Irish were one of the first races to be used as slaves? It was very easy for them to disguise themselves among other whites to not be recognized.
The fact that they were easily recognizable (compared to white men), along with hearty immune systems is what led blacks to be the primary race for slavery in the south.
Let me reiterate, I never agreed with it, but I find the topic very interesting.
I agree that it's a personal decision whether you succeed or not.. not a racial one. I'm glad that everyone has the same ability to achieve in the US.