(ThyBlackMan.com) It is important for black community to refrain from accepting the labels of others. When we accept negativity and false information it is very easy to turn on each other. It seems that some athletes and entertainers don’t seem to understand that black people are not an exception when it comes to poverty and violence. It is disheartening to hear athletes such as Dez Bryant take a perspective that might have applied to him if he couldn’t play football. He, and others, need to get a true understanding of the plight of Black America (via books).
This lack of understand not only dismisses systemic racism and disenfranchisement that makes the come up difficult for many, but it also paints blacks as an exception in areas by which they are not. Blacks are not an exception in the sense that unlike other groups of 
people violence is natural to them or that of criminal behavior. I don’t believe Dez Bryant, Charles Barkley, Lil Wayne or anyone that thinks like them mean to label black people as sinister by nature, but that’s indeed the image they are contributing to. Let’s look at a portion of what Dez Bryant had to say:
“I saw a person quote Charles Barkley when he said, “We as black people, we’re never going to be successful not because [of] you white people, but because of other black people.” I hate to admit it, but I understand that quote. I’ve been [racially] profiled on numerous occasions, but not once has it influenced an ill feeling inside me about anyone outside of that issue. REAL SLAVERY is different from what’s going on in our world now. We all (every ethnicity) have the opportunity to lead by EXAMPLE.”
As a Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant has had a few run ins with the police. One could argue he himself hasn’t been the best example, and I think we can all agree Charles Barkley isn’t the best source when it comes to the subject of black people. I applaud Dez for not harboring ill will to those that meant him harm, but he doesn’t truly understand opportunity from the standpoint of someone that can’t catch a football it seems. The state of black people has assistance from outside of black community…what does he suggest we do about that?
We’ve had Black Wall street whereby what he speaks of occurred…blacks picked themselves up only to have it burned down. Dez Bryant, and others, need to understand that every group of people must deal with the ills within their own community. This is the case for other ethnicities, and white people too. You are more than likely to he held back, attacked, and harmed by your own kind. Black people are not the exception. It can be taken that Dez doesn’t mean any harm…but if he couldn’t play ball could he guarantee he wouldn’t be a statistic? He should consider that, and seek to understand the history that has led us up to where we are now.
Black America isn’t asking for a hand out, they are asking for fair and equal opportunity as always…that opportunity Dez Bryant speaks of. They are asking not to be singled out as predators when white people kill, steal, and keep down their own too. Everyone is entitled to a voice I just wish we’d get more valid information before using said voice.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
May connect with this sister over at Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/christian.pierre.9809 and also Twitter; http://twitter.com/MrzZeta.