It's about attitude, not race

by Bart Hall

One of the funniest things in the world, according to the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Orombi, "is to see the expression on the faces of so-called African-Americans when they finally figure out that we consider them to be White."

Mr. Orombi and I have been friends for nearly a decade, at one point bouncing across bad gravel roads here in rural Kansas (in our white 1984 Toyota) so he could see American bison. He felt totally at home. He called me an "African with white skin."

The dirty secret of American racial politics is that Commonwealth blacks, and most of them really are BLACK, intensely dislike African-Americans. It was the same in Canada for all the years I lived there. It doesn't matter if it's Grace, the Trinidadian nurse; John, my Igbo (Nigerian) classmate in geology; "Auntie" the Jamaican coffee grower; or Henry, the Ugandan Archbishop.

Commonwealth blacks, here and in their own countries, see America as a land of unbelievable opportunity. "Racism" is not a factor. They're much blacker, and if "black" were the problem, they'd not praise the incredible opportunities available here, to all.

Let's be blunt. The problem is Black Trash, not dark skin. Think: White Trash with a somewhat darker skin and generally living in urban areas rather than mostly rural ones. Unwilling to delay gratification. Blaming others for their problems. Ascribing their failures to some sort of conspiracy. Bombastic attacks on others unlike themselves. Sticking "to their own" because others are hostile. Seeking short-term pleasure to the detriment of longer-term success. Taking ridiculous risks for pleasure.

That is the "Trash" frame of mind, and skin color doesn't matter. Bill Clinton has been described by some as "America's first black President" simply because Black Trash observed White Trash and found a kindred spirit.

There are attitudes of success and attitudes of victimization. When young African-Americans are called "Oreos" for working hard in school or Condi Rice is dismissed as "George Bush's house nigger" the majority of African-Americans are rejecting the very attitudes and approach to life that could change their situation. Until they stop, we'll get nowhere on the "race" issue, because it isn't really about race. There are attitudes of success and attitudes of failure.

Like the White Trash in the hills of Arkansas, where I lived for five years, they find it easier to blame someone else. There are plenty of whites I'd never hire. The only way to "transcend race" in America is to address the question of attitude. I won't hire the average African-American, not because his skin is barely darker than my wife's, but because his attitude sucks.

In fact, I'd hire a jet-black Nigerian, or Ugandan long before I'd ever hire an "African-American," and until our folks from the 'hood figure that out, American politics will remain distorted and dysfunctional.

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