Can we ever obtain true equality in America (550 hits)

We have our first black family in the white house, we've had the civil rights legislation and it is "illegal" to be an open discriminator. With all of this do we have true equality?

I just read a blog concerning women of color not being in their field of study not because there is a lack of jobs but possibly because of their skin color. There was a call to open up our own businesses and support them. I can't tell you how many times my pastor has said that we shouldn't look for our paycheck to support us.

With all the jobs and wealth out there can we truly expect equality? I know many white people and very few black people who have never experienced a layoff even with all the layoffs going on now. I know, in fact I've worked with, white people who have gotten more than me though they were no where near qualified and of course I was. I have had employers scrutinize my work for the smallest simplest infractions while allowing my white counterparts to get away with murder.

Have we overcome our past? Who is holding on more? Can we overcome inequality by just pushing the issue to the side? I've heard people say that people of color should get over it but can we when we face it all the time? Is it my fault that this nation has institutionalized hatred and difference based on my skin color? Is it my problem to solve or forget it in hopes that others will too?

As a professional should I expect to study one thing but accept the fact that I will have to practice something else? I have been blessed, so far, to stay in the field that I love though I have had to fight tooth and nail. But is that how I should feel? Why can't I feel complacent like this is what I chose so what's the big deal that I'm doing it (it is how the white people I work with feel)? Why can't my job be my sole provider for rent, bills, clothes, investments etc as it is for my white counterparts?

I think I have lost my mind for even thinking that I should be free to do as I please and go where I want without having to explain or answer for it. It's almost as if we are back in the days when we had to prove our freedom by producing our papers and even then it was up to someone else to determine whether we were truly free or worthy enough for them to steal us and accept a blood bounty for our forced inservitude. Posted By: crystal smith
Thursday, March 26th 2009 at 7:16PM
You can also click here to view all posts by this author...