Family Secrets

Airing the "family's" dirty laundry in public can qualify one for less-than-flattering descriptions. That's particularly applicable to a black person, and even more so when he questions the civil rights gospel that the problems black people encounter are rooted in racial discrimination and a legacy of slavery.

To argue that most of the problems black people confront today have little or nothing to do with racial discrimination risks being labeled everything but a child of God, not to mention accusations of having "sold out" and "letting white people off the hook." One need not deny the existence of racial discrimination to ask the policy-relevant question: How much of what we see can be explained by discrimination?

The black illegitimacy rate is close to 70 percent. Less than 40 percent of black children live in two- parent families. This produces devastating socioeconomic consequences, but is it caused by racial discrimination? Or, might it be a legacy of slavery? In the early 1900s, black illegitimacy was a tiny fraction of today's rate. Roughly 75 percent, and in New York City 85 percent, of black children lived in two-parent households. The fact of lower illegitimacy and more intact families, at a time when blacks were much closer to slavery and faced greater discrimination, suggests that today's unprecedented illegitimacy and weak family structure has nothing to do with discrimination and slavery. It's explained better by promiscuity and irresponsibility, and as such it's not a civil rights problem.

To point out that black people are the primary victims of violent crimes is OK. Some of the statistics are staggering. FBI reports on arrest data show that blacks committed half of all homicides, nearly half of rapes, 59 percent of robberies and 38 percent of aggravated assaults. Suggestions about causes and solutions can get you into to trouble.

It's clear sailing if you argue that the high crime rate is caused by poverty and discrimination, and the way to get rid of crime is to eliminate these root causes. But there's a problem with that theory. It doesn't explain why black communities were far safer in earlier times, such as in the '20s, '30s and '40s, at a time of far greater poverty and discrimination, and fewer opportunities. Crime imposes devastating economic and personal costs on many black neighborhoods, but it's not a civil rights problem. The high crime rate represents political choices made by black politicians, civil rights organizations and many black citizens to tolerate criminals.

Another family secret is that black academic achievement is a national disgrace. Many youngsters who manage to complete high school do so not being able to perform at the eighth- and ninth-grade levels. Standards that others have to meet for employment or college admittance which many blacks cannot meet are labeled racist. Demands are made to lower standards using face-saving euphemisms such as affirmative action, diversity and multiculturalism.

The standard civil rights vision of the solution to these problems for blacks is to vote more Democrats into federal, state and local offices, and to elect more blacks to city mayorships and city councils. That theory suggests that cities run by Democrats and black politicians must be the very cities where illegitimacy and violent crimes are the lowest and black academic achievement is the highest -- cities such as Washington, D.C., Detroit, Philadelphia, Newark and East St. Louis. In these cities, blacks hold mayorships and have representation on city councils. That's a nice theory, but the result is the exact opposite.

In medicine, misdiagnosis leading to mistreatment and further injury can lead to malpractice suits. Unfortunately, in politics, misdiagnosis, mistreatment and further injury lead to re-election.

Thank you Walter Williams for saying what we dare not say. I get so frustrated sometimes when I see blacks so sure that any republican is out to destroy their lives,when actually we want them to be happy,productive,and realize there is a choice for them politically.

I believe a black conservative is one of the most hated minorities you can find in America. They must be shredded mercilessly by left leaning politicians,reporters,opinion makers,and left wing groups. My wake up call was Clarence Thomas. I voted then,but did not keep up with politics as closely as I should have,so I did not know much about him when the Anita Hill allegations first surfaced. I knew CNN was biased,but I can remember my first reaction after news reports from all the usual suspects was "what on earth was President Bush thinking when he nominated that pervert?" You have to remember,no internet or Fox news.

I was a republican and believed a sex fiend had been nominated. As the hearings began because of the leaked allegations at the last minute of Ms.Hill's (from the democratic side of the senate because rules are only for republicans),I would get frustrated that CNN and the other networks would talk over republican questions or better yet go to a lengthy commercial break,so I discovered C-span. I would watch all of the proceedings and then see the evening news completely distorting what had actually happened.

The same women in the House and Senate who marched with the "NOW" gang and appeared on every newscast were horrified this man said a bad word! (you know,those same women who thought Clinton was just a wascally wabbit and voted right so don't bother them with rape or gropping charges) Their motto should have been "We are strong as men and want men's jobs,but too delicate to hear a dirty word! They chose to ignore all the women (besides Ms.Hill and a fired worker )that testified wholeheartedly for this man. It was a liberal,in your face,don't you dare take up a minority seat on the Supreme Court and not be a liberal. You cannot be really "black" and be consevative.

One of these days I pray there are black voters that see that only one party gains by them staying impoverished and broken as a family unit. It is not my party.

At least give this president credit for surrounding himself with a black Sec.of State,National Security Advisor,and Sec.of Education that should make you proud. Even if you don't agree with them politically,they are honorable and decent and worked hard to get where they are. These are not positions you give to someone to have a token "minority" appointment as some tried to portray these positions. At least look at where voting straight democrat has gotten you and admit that maybe,just maybe,there is a place for some of you with fresh and different ideas on how to make things better. It might not be a perfect fit,but it might be a whole lot better than what you've gotten from the democrats.

The first thing Bush did is try to make sure that all children get a good education. He knows without that you will never get to where you can attain your goals. Vouchers were a way out for inner city parents with no good choices in public schools. The democrats used every trick in the book to quell that idea. It would mean schools had to improve or loose students. Republicans wanted to give you the power to make them work to keep "your business". Ask your democratic representative why they wouldn't allow that to happen.

Mr.Williams also pointed out you have to stop blaming all your failures on something else. Liberal leaders don't say that to you. Well here's another secret you may not know,we all have something to choose to overcome or let it overcome us and it doesn't matter what color your skin is. I believe it is those stumbling blocks set before each of us and how we deal with them that gives us character.

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