Race continues to be a major issue in America whether people want to acknowledge it or not. People are so afraid of it, if not wanting to be politically correct about the the subject. The true harm and reality of race and race relations doesn’t come into the proper light. Race won’t be dealt with properly until people aren’t so afraid of talking about it and understanding it is still very prevalent. Until then the subject of race and race relations is openly talked about it won’t be understood and dealt with properly. And we as a nation will never understand how to correct this. There is such a sensitivity when you begin to talk about race and race relations by all parties involved, it’s hard to get to the core of the problem. You can’t have any discussion without first realizing the horrible atrocities minorities have suffered through in this country and the stigma that carries with it. Not saying that minorities haven’t made huge advancements financially and status wise in this country because they have. The problem is that minorities are still viewed as not equal in today’s society. You can take any walk of life and apply this theory, politics, workplace, sports, and intellectuals. You can pick up a newspaper in any metropolitan area and see this in action. Minorities are mostly shown in a negative light whether it be in the disproportionate amount of minorities in the correctional systems or how minorities are viewed and portrayed in the sports world. You can see clear evidence in the Barry Bonds situation and Bill Belichick situation both revealed in their respective sports and both have been accused of being cheats, yet Bonds faces constant criticism and many want his accomplishments marked with an asterik. Also this is seen in police brutality and misconduct involving minorities and the selective prosecution of minorities as opposed to whites. The police shootings in Cincinatti and New York, the Jena case in Louisiana. What is the motivating factor behind that. I feel a lot has to do with the media which is 95% white and caters to their audience, and perpetuates stereotypes. Not to say they are totally to blame, because they aren’t. People still can do their own research and don’t have to spoon fed information pushing a certain agenda or ideas.
The problem also exists in minority communities where minorities believe they don’t have an equal chance at the same type of lifestyle as whites. In minority communities accepting the status quo as they believe it to be is widely accepeted. In too many cases minorities are told they are equal but really should be told separate not equal creating the glass ceiling theory. You can see what America has to offer but you can’t get there. The same opportunities aren’t afforded to minorities, studies have been done on numerous occasions to validate this. The problem is that minorities haven’t been unchanging in their demands of equality which is a right of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I guess when you see repeated occurrences of not being seen on the same playing field as the powers that be takes a toll on one’s psyche. In no means am I excusing this, because you look around the world and you see so much civil unrest this is the reason why. People around the world will fight and do what they feel is necessary to gain equal status as those in power in their respective countires. What happened to all the civil rights activists disciples from the 1960s and 1970s? The problem is in minority communities they are judged unfairly and torn down sometimes it is justified in others cases it is not. Minorities need to realize that there will never be a perfect leader and spokesperson for them, but they can’t continually tear down those who try to step up and take on this daunting task of gaining equality for all.

Until all the issues with race and race relations are put on the table openly the situation will never get any better. The people who are in power are scared of losing power and this frightens them beyond belief, that is the main obstacle. So once again I utter the phrase seperate but not equal. So until minorities are resolute and demand change and equality it will move at a snails pace. Minorities need to not buy into theory that things can’t change and be more steadfast in their fight for equality. Also people need to understand power is never given it is taken, so if those in power don’t believe you are willing to go to the mat about being treated equally across the board, minorities won’t be taken seriously.