Happy more people are seeing the truth about the multimillion dollar Black Lives Matter organization— Jamil Jivani (@jamiljivani) July 2, 2020
BUT
Will those who see the truth go on to present an alternative vision for addressing the needs of black communities & achieving equality of opportunity?
That's what's needed
Sure, I'll bite. Here's my alternative vision:
As I noted in a previous post, what the black community needs, fundamentally, is dignity. That can't come from unending dependence on the government and/or the largess of white people. That can only come from ordered liberty and a solid record of tangible achievements. How do I know this? Because that's how other minority groups in the U.S. - including African immigrants - have risen from poverty to relative prosperity.
In the past, black Americans accomplished much despite the many obstacles that were placed in their path. So the first thing I propose? Teach that history. Talk about the black people who became doctors and lawyers and successful business owners despite open racism and legal segregation -- and frankly describe precisely how that happened. Said black folk didn't feel sorry for themselves. They didn't wait for someone else to pull them up. Instead, they studied hard. They worked hard. They confronted the unfairness of the world with their mettle and their skill.
Be honest about America's flawed history -- but whatever you do, don't tell black people that they will never succeed because the system is still stacked against them. All that does is engender feelings of resentment and helplessness. Plus, such an assertion is demonstrably false. Black Americans did and do succeed all the time regardless of their disadvantages.
Second, don't lower the bar. Raise it. Black students should be expected to meet the exact same standards other students are asked to meet. Keep standardized tests and minimum academic requirements. Get rid of quotas. And then ensure that every motivated, talented K-12 student in the black community has access to the same educational opportunities as everyone else. I believe this will involve a radical embrace of school choice, but I'm willing to discuss other serious proposals that don't involve simply throwing money at an institution - i.e., the public school system - with a documented record of failure.
Third, tear down all barriers to economic opportunity. Get rid of minimum wages for minors so teens can more easily gain work experience. (FYI: The minimum wage was originally established to protect white union members from competition from black workers. It was racist at its foundation.) Scrap out-of-control business regulations and licensing requirements so black women who want to make money braiding hair can do so without jumping through a zillion hoops.
Fourth, we must, must, must promote bourgeois values -- not just for black people, but for everyone! We should be absolutely clear that marriage is the best context in which to raise children according to every social science indicator. We must encourage saving and other financially responsible lifestyle choices. We should do whatever we can to restore social capital in our neighborhoods so that each person - white or black - will have a reliable community to lean on whenever he or she runs into trouble. And overall, we should value the ability to delay gratification and practice the traditional virtues.
Lastly, while we certainly do need to reform our urban police departments and our justice system, we also need to challenge the elements of the black subculture that encourage criminality, violence, and anti-intellectualism. My best friend in high school - who was black - was constantly accused of "acting white" because she took AP classes and edited the literary magazine. That crap is wrong. That crap must stop. The black community, internally, must ensure that their members can reach for the highest rungs without worrying that they'll be pulled back into the crab bucket by the disapproval of their fellows.
So there you have it. That's my program for black equality. Make of it what you will.
Bonus:
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