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The Ferguson Problem: An African American Struggle.

August 19, 2015 by  
Filed under News, Opinion, Politics, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) The Ferguson problem represents the African American struggle. But violence by tearing up our own neighborhoods is accomplishing nothing and there are many legal and lawful options to bring about the change and accountability we need to see from our governments and police departments. That being said, there are serious problems in Ferguson that help light the fuse on the powder keg. So before anybody of any color judges the behavior of black Americans in Ferguson, let’s all take a look at the factors that fuel the fire – factors that go far beyond issues with the policies. Factors that increase disparity, tension and even hopelessness.

“Black unemployment rates in Ferguson are 3 times that of white unemployment. Black men between the ages of 16 and 24 have almost a 50% unemployment rate verses 16% for white men. In the United States a black child is almost 4 times as likely to live in a poor neighborhood as a white child. Almost 52% of black children are in single parent homes whereas only 20% of white homes are single parent households. The incarceration rate is 6 times higher for blacks than it is for whites. There is segregated housing in Ferguson. There are under performing schools in Ferguson. And in 2008, the Bureau of Justice Statistics released stats showed that blacks are almost 3 times as likely to be subjected to force or threatened with it by police”. Source: Megan Kelly on the Bill O’Reilly Show.

Ferguson is a reflection of several cities, both small and large, all Police-Shooting-Misso-2015over this country. The institutional racism, the poverty, the crime, the disparity and the mistreatment of the citizens are all factors that make for a volatile community. We can take a look at Ferguson one year later, but while we are at it, let’s take a look at all who are to blame for these problems.

Racism, racial profiling and unemployment is likely the fault of the city government, the local police department and the policies both have in place and they should be held legally accountable. Accountability for incarceration is a two edged sword. One side of the sword is the police officers who target black people and the judges, politicians and district attorneys who allow this to happen. The other side of the sword is the fault of those black people who commit the crimes. They must accept personal responsibility for their actions and not walk in a “devil made me do it” path of denial and scapegoating.

As for broken, single parent homes, this seems to be an epidemic in the black community. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we know part of the problem has been embedded into the black community as far back as the North Atlantic Slave Trade. That has been a reason for a long time, but in 2015, that should not be an excuse. I do not accept that as a reason now because just decades ago many of our parents and grandparents stayed married for 40 or 50 years. My parents were married 54 years and my wife’s parents were married for 46. But in the last 20 to 30 years, something happened, people begin thinking more about themselves than their partners and marriages became disposable. People wanted their companions but felt they did not need them – and wants began to change like underwear.

No government, institution, government or police department in this country makes a black couple break up. Today this is an issue of personal responsibility in the black community and the need for problem and conflict resolution in our community is more urgent than ever before. We have to honor our commitments, resolve our problems and stop making excuses for giving up, breaking vows or walking away. So if you won’t keep a commitment, don’t make a commitment.

Our women need to respect our men and learn to control their mouths. Our men need to lead by example and treat our women with the respect they deserve. Ladies that means you have to deserve that respect by the way you carry yourself. As for single women, a great many of you need to learn to keep your legs closed. As for single men, you need to be a man, not a dog chasing that chases every woman you can find.

As for economic conditions, they were not likely created by the citizens of Ferguson, but rather businesses and local government. Lack of options, lack of good schools and lack of jobs can keep people on edge or push them over it. Even so, it’s up to each of us to leave, regroup, rebuild, team up and make things happen. I say this as an African American man who started a business with $100 and no savings account, no insurance settlement, no lottery ticket, no loans and bad credit. Yet I created a 6 figure income. Time out for excuses Ferguson residents because you make it happen and nobody can hold you down unless you let them.

Share this article with your friends of every ethnicity. Let them know there is nothing like being an African American in this country. No other ethnic group has been systematically targeted, enslaved, oppressed, profiled, brainwashed and exterminated to any level near what our people have encountered. Therefore no other ethnic group or sexual preference group can ever be compared to our struggle in this country. But we can rise up if we drop the excuses and the denial that keeps us in chains. So stop blaming and start rising. A book, a computer, an education or a class can provide the knowledge and access you need to open doors. You make it happen. When you say and show that your life is priceless, others will realize that it is.

Staff Writer; Marque-Anthony


Comments

7 Responses to “The Ferguson Problem: An African American Struggle.”
  1. CD Smith says:

    One thing missing in this article is the call to the black community to repent and turn “back” to the Lord. The Word Of God must be the basis for any revival/renewal in any community.

    Once again, the majority of the article, as most articles on this site, is pointing fingers at the police, white people and slavery. Blah, Blah, Blah. I read the book and saw the movie.

    We have to get off that broken record and take ownership of what we can change around us. In fairness, personal responsibility was mentioned in passing. We need more specifics next time.

    I grew up in a time in the late 60’s when there was a culture in the black community where we actually looked out for one another after all was said and done and I was told that just as smart and strong as any white person and God was on my side. Maybe those days will come back…

  2. Marque Anthony says:

    I will always advocate that we stand up for our rights and that we never bow down. But I also advocate wisdom which says sometimes there is a better time, a better place and a better way to get results.

  3. Marque Anthony says:

    Thanks Phil.
    Now email me and see how we are making a real difference – unlike Black Lives Matter. My approach is to first tell the truth about the problem, then offer real solutions that are safe, legal, lawful and balanced.

  4. Marque Anthony says:

    To jDean Again,

    Medicine that works comes in all different form – shots that hurt, pills, drops,IVs, operations etc. Thus if you had read the dozens of article I have written on this site instead of thinking you know me based on a few points, you would have seen the big picture. You would know that I call things as they are, whether they are unpopular or not. You assumed I was brainwashed and yet again you were wrong.

    You, on the other hand, want to go off the deep end when you think I am lost or when you don’t agree with me. Likewise there are people acting just like you have but doing so on this article. I have a responsibility to be accurate and effective, not popular. AND I AM VERY EFFECTIVE.

  5. Marque Anthony says:

    To jDean,
    You are wrong yet again. I am not changing anything. I am honestly viewing and reflecting ALL SIDES with accuracy. Facts are facts, even when you agree and even when you don’t. I do not write based on agreement. I write based on verifiable facts, evidence and the law.

  6. phil says:

    I have read many regards towards Blacks, whether it is history, Economics, Politics, IQ/Achievement and criticsms that range from legit to inexcusably racist.

    I don’t want Nobel Prizes in Science, an elaborate space station, or perfect scores on various fields of Academia because that is not what critics “really” want or what we really need. What we need as Black people in the US as well as Africa is to step up, take responsibility for our actions and LEARN From them to progress and show our talents without fear of Criminality/poverty/achievement to make such talents recoil.

    The thing about black statistics is as bad as they can be they do not go for the 100% and I tend to consider myself in the “exception” portion but I’m tired. I’m Tired of mothers crying seeing their boy dead, a brother getting shot when everything could go fine if they don’t resist, and always seeing “Chicago” brought up. If we as a race in this country want to progress we need to act like as it was 100%

    When you read this I don’t hate other blacks, rich or poor, square or have a record, I don’t hate even the most victim card-wielding communities, but the reason why I’m so anxious is because persisting in denial will only SUPPLY racists with material to through. If you want to piss off racists or make them stop, make this difference and it will.

    Many are doing it, but what the numbers will show, there can’t be enough.

  7. jdean says:

    Great article. Changing your tone, finally. See, I influenced you to be great not good.

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