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In reply to the discussion: Over all - was life better 50 years go today - or was it worse? [View all]JustAnotherGen
(33,833 posts)48. And my dad was born
In Alabama in 1941.
To college educated parents.
His mother a bi-racial woman born at the turn of the century in Mississippi - and her daddy was a black physician. And my grandfather - was the grandson of a man who BOUGHT his first ten acres from the people that used to own him and cut his toes off for running away (he eventually got away and came back smug but that's another post for another day).
My father is one of ten children. My oldest Aunt - Aunt Clara is 88. The youngest surving of the siblings is now 75.
I'm sorry - but you don't 'know' black people. You don't have the family narrative, the first hand experience, and the direct knowledge of women who loved you and guided you as a young black woman and point blank told you - you have it much better now. .
I know more than you. It's my family. It's my history. Not yours.
Your knowledge is limited to Bill Cosby, a murdered man's wife, and a Republican!
I'm assuming my father got farther ahead in this life than yours did - because he was at the same space and place (Wes Clarke is Uncle Wes to me and my mother could not stand Tiger Woods daddy) as Collin Powell in the 1960's. . . so I'm assuming he won the race because:
In spite of his country that wouldn't even let the Army Captain vote - he defied their limitations and won the race. He worked harder and longer and showed a mental acuity and strength that pushed him through.
It's not because America gave him something it didn't give the white guy. I'm sorry but it's not. And Colin Powell, Bill Cosby and Mrs. King - they didn't get something either because they were black.
They - including my daddy - didn't take ANYTHING from your father. You have to let go of that anger.
To college educated parents.
His mother a bi-racial woman born at the turn of the century in Mississippi - and her daddy was a black physician. And my grandfather - was the grandson of a man who BOUGHT his first ten acres from the people that used to own him and cut his toes off for running away (he eventually got away and came back smug but that's another post for another day).
My father is one of ten children. My oldest Aunt - Aunt Clara is 88. The youngest surving of the siblings is now 75.
I'm sorry - but you don't 'know' black people. You don't have the family narrative, the first hand experience, and the direct knowledge of women who loved you and guided you as a young black woman and point blank told you - you have it much better now. .
I know more than you. It's my family. It's my history. Not yours.
Your knowledge is limited to Bill Cosby, a murdered man's wife, and a Republican!
I'm assuming my father got farther ahead in this life than yours did - because he was at the same space and place (Wes Clarke is Uncle Wes to me and my mother could not stand Tiger Woods daddy) as Collin Powell in the 1960's. . . so I'm assuming he won the race because:
In spite of his country that wouldn't even let the Army Captain vote - he defied their limitations and won the race. He worked harder and longer and showed a mental acuity and strength that pushed him through.
It's not because America gave him something it didn't give the white guy. I'm sorry but it's not. And Colin Powell, Bill Cosby and Mrs. King - they didn't get something either because they were black.
They - including my daddy - didn't take ANYTHING from your father. You have to let go of that anger.
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Over all - was life better 50 years go today - or was it worse? [View all]
Douglas Carpenter
Nov 2013
OP
Correct! Everything is relative. Depends on who you are, where you were, what race, what gender et
kelliekat44
Nov 2013
#35
Definitely, many often now seem to have the attitude you can't fight the system. Also, for example,
RKP5637
Nov 2013
#27
I remember in about 65 my local small town newspaper carrying a headline news story that the local
Douglas Carpenter
Nov 2013
#11
frankly it does both. Working in the healthcare field - there is no doubt whatsoever that the
Douglas Carpenter
Nov 2013
#62
well I can't disagree with that. Even many of the social programs that lift people out of poverty
Douglas Carpenter
Nov 2013
#34
and you could order all kinds of exciting stuff from comic book ads -
Douglas Carpenter
Nov 2013
#20
As one of my friends was saying, it's easier for the crazies to get the microphone and
RKP5637
Nov 2013
#28
Definitely! I didn't think the world was that better then ... yep, it's not perfect now, but
RKP5637
Nov 2013
#30
Perfect post, JAG. And it ties in perfectly with what we've been discussing in the AA forum, huh?
Number23
Nov 2013
#63
No one has mentioned something that has greatly improved many people's lives since 1963...
raccoon
Nov 2013
#40
Both better and worse of course, but from a historical perspective the last half
Egalitarian Thug
Nov 2013
#47
Well, up to and including 11/21/63, it was good. Then it went all to Hell, and stayed.
WinkyDink
Nov 2013
#55