How do you explain the recent period of time when the strong, 2 parent Black family was the social norm within the Black community? (Prior to the 60’s) What happened?

Having both Black heritage and Indian heritage, I can easily compare the breakdown of the Black society, particularily in urban areas, to the breakdown of the Indian society living on reservations. The common denominator being government dependancy. In both cases, the government, the people, whomever, in history, have abused these 2 groups and now are “apologizing” in the form of handouts and freebies. Where/what are the incentives to change things? Before long, it becomes “the norm”. (Yes,an overly simplistic view and yes, more than just Blacks and Indians are affected.)

I realize the argument is extremely complex and could never be covered in a few posts to a blog forum and I appreciate the time you’ve taken to reply. However, back to the main point of the entire blog post: “We Need To Go From An Entitlement Society To An Empowerment Society” – Herman Cain

That being said, I can understand Mr. Cain wanting to be viewed as simply an American. It has broader political appeal and it’s less complicated. Personally, I’m more bothered by some of his other statements that suggest a level of intolerance that would be very dangerous for this country.

Also, I disagree with the following comment you made… “White Supremacy 101 tells us that we can be successful in spite of being black, rather than finding success because we are black.”
Now I’ve lived in South Carolina for the past seven years of my life, and I’ve come in contact with a few racist white people who would echo the first part of that statement (“You can be successful in spite of being black.”), and I’ve come in contact with a multitude of black people who would cling to the last part of that statement (“You can be successful because you’re black.”)

What Mr. Cain is trying to say is that neither of those viewpoints is correct. He’s saying, “You can be successful because you’re an American.”

Please Read
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/ensuringinequality.htm

Ensuring Inequality
The Structural Transformation of the African-American Family
By Donna L. Franklin

DuBois also noted that slavery had a crippling effect on the slave father, who lacked the authority to govern or protect his family. In DuBois’s view, “his wife could be made his master’s concubine, his daughter could be outraged, his son whipped, or he himself sold away without being able to protest or lift a preventing finger.” He asserted that the position of the mother was also undermined. Whether field hand or house servant, she could spend little or no time in her own home, so “her children had little care or attention.” According to DuBois, she was “often the concubine of the master or his sons,” and she could be separated from her family at any time by the “master’s command or by his death or debts.”

Remember that slavery lasted for over 200 years and affected many generations. The head of the family was made to feel less than, a man.

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I’m sorry but it is not any white persons fault that their ancestors enslaved us, for all we know their ancestors could have been abolitionists or simple migrants who had nothing to do with slavery. Even if their ancestors did own slaves, it’s not their fault just as it is not our fault that our ancestors were sold into slavery.

I don’t agree with Mr. Cain on any issues, I am a die hard democrat living in Jessie Juniors district but making bigoted comments about white people only hurts our own cause for continued freedom and equality.

Your post describes EXACTLY what Herman Cain refuses to do/be. He refuses to be a victim. He refuses to let what others did to his ancestors define who is today.

On another note, I would love if you took a moment to explain exactly how slavery has broken down the American Black family. There was a time in not so distant American history that the Black family was envied for it’s strength and resolve. I think it would serve you well to be objective and look at the liberal governmental policies that catered to the “victim” mentality that is the TRUE cause of the Black family breakdown.

P.S. “Uncle Tom” was a martyr – not a sell out. By using this analogy, you are playing exactly into the hands of the racist Whites who mocked the character of Uncle Tom.

Just as there were black slave owners, today there are still those who do not mind the “Uncle Tom” behaviour. America has not made up for the generations of kidnapping and toture inflicted on my ancestors. The worst thing I have felt over slavery is the fact that I don’t know where I came from. Completing a family tree is nearly impossible. The current state of Black Youth is not a separate issue. It is because of the breakdown of the Black Family.