How African-Americans killed the Stereotypical Myth Put Upon them for Centuries
THE YEAR 2016 will mark the death of a myth, which had existed in the minds of too many White Americans, throughout this land. It is the unfounded belief that African Americans have constantly yearned to be given something for nothing. Of course, it was always a ridiculous unproven meme, but one which has stubbornly survived decades after decades. A purposeful cruel and erroneous stereotype, portraying an entire race of people as unambitious, while steeped in assumed laziness, and suspected criminality. A notion that encouraged the untrue fable, that African-Americans have always been willing to get whatever they could, and do so whenever it was offered.
There are many reasons for this long persisting ugly myth, dating back to its use as a rationale for Slavery by the institutions' supporters. Additionally, it was termed as justification to the systematic wholesale denial of equal opportunities for Blacks, in the 20th century. As was the paternalism of White liberal Guilt in the 60s, which prompted the idea that giving back a meager hand would somehow solve America's racial "problem". In fact, this myth has been used to ferment plain old straightforward hate called racism, dating back forever.
I had written an article not long ago, and in it, I stated that the 1960s "War on Poverty":
It is a myth that was placed upon the Black community as a whole, while simultaneously giving it the job to disprove it. The original mission assigned by White folks was to have Blacks prove how much better they were, than what was expected. Instead what became the acceptable norm was to give Black folks the burden of having to excel far beyond at whatever it was. Even then, those who were seen as the best, were termed the exception, and deemed not like the others.
And so, here we are today in an election year which has perplexed quite a few! A large number of White progressives have been unpleasantly confounded as to why Black Voters are not voting for Bernie Sanders en masse. They inquire, cajole, demand, and ask to know why this is. Why are Black folks not lining up behind their once in-a-lifetime candidate in overwhelming majorities? Don't you want the Free College and Free Healthcare he promises, if elected, they ask? Don't you understand that this may be your last chance for higher wages, and income equality?
For the life of these White Progressives, they simply do not get it, and Black people are informed that their election decision just doesn't make sense, in an endless number of ways.
What those White folks simply fail to grasp is that Black folks aren’t having it, because we don’t have it like that! African-Americans don't just want Free Stuff, and never really have. Instead African-Americans simply want what the White majority has enjoyed for so very long; the access to the exact opportunities that citizens of this nation were to be born with as a given. They no longer feel compelled to have to continue to prove what should already be their right.
African-Americans just want what anyone should want; to be given enough respect to exercise their options as they best believe will serve them; and doing so without being constantly questioned and judged. Equal opportunity means not having to explain, as it is totally unwarranted and super unnecessary. Instead, let us simply acknowledge that the old persistent myth was never true, so please let it die, because it deserves it!
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that these where Black issues, even if they shouldn't have been....
It is one of the reason that Sanders went into SC reminding Black folks
about the 20 year old welfare bill! Like that is the only thing Black folks should have
cared about.....cause Welfare is a Black thing! 
that you and I cannot agree more on the nature and extent of racism, yet we disagree on "Bernie supporters?"
There is an easy explanation for the former . . . because what we are saying about racism is simple and indisputable truth. It may be something that would cause certain people to run screaming through the streets, but it is as certain as the sunrise.
The latter, I fear, involves far less than certainty and far more politics. Senator Sanders is not "offering handouts." He is not putting us all in the Reagan-esque "welfare queen" boat. He is reaching out to about the only slice of the only segment not already occupied by his opponent.
Sanders and Clinton hold the same position regarding mainstream issues like environmental racism, educational discrimination, etc. Unfortunately for Sanders, he has not talked about those issues for decades (while Hillary has been vocal about them) and "I'm with Hillary" is probably not a great campaign slogan for the Sanders camp. Hillary has one shortcoming and one only and that is that she has been willing to ignore/criticize those who have been utterly destroyed by racism (yes, the "stereotypes"
.
Now I admit going after that shortcoming was a mistake. Going there effectively requires crossing the line across which no candidate with any hope of being elected may cross (what I call the "don't offend the white folks" line). The simple fact is that (looking, for example at racism at the criminal justice system) talking about how the Parchman (MS) practice mirrors our current system will guarantee that you will not win any general election. On the other hand, stopping at the crack/powder sentencing disparity, or even capital punishment, sounds a lot like pandering. That, however, does not make Sanders or his supporters racist.
