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Politics and Activism

A Short List of My Hopes for Black Americans

Based on the Ten Point Plan which was first introduced by the Black Panthers in 1966.

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A Short List of My Hopes for Black Americans
Kenya Downs

1. I want to see the end of the mal-nourishing white culture of classrooms where black kids are unable to express themselves in creative ways without being labeled as a “distraction” or a “problem student”.

I believe that in order to improve America and advance ourselves as a country, we need to help and support all kids at a young age. There should not be a secret agenda or hidden rules for kids that are of another race that isn’t white. If we do not enrich children’s thoughts and their imaginations, there will be less and less innovation as well as a loss in culture. If we allow these kids to express themselves and grow into individuals, we will see a much larger leap in improvement in participation not only in class but in politics and a sense of equality that we have been striving for. In school, especially at the age of 3-7, we are hoping to be accepted and to have fun. The fact of the matter is that education is supposed to be for all, if you hinder the creativity of one group, then you are making them pay for nothing. This is why black and other colored students tend to do so poorly on standardized tests. They are being subjected to an environment from an early age that isn’t meant to help them but harm them. I believe that we need to build the self-esteem of young people, educate them and allow them to pursue any type of job, hobby etc, that they can think of.

2. I want to see restrictions put on the war on drugs which is causing 42% of the minority of blacks, which only inhabit 12% of the US, in jail. I want there to be an equitable system in which people aren’t only targeted because they are of a certain race and class.

I believe that the war on drugs is actually a war on black people in poorer communities. It gives the government, and people who still believe that blacks are second class citizens, a chance to exploit them and “get rid of them”. It allows for the political and economic rights of these people to be stripped away once again even though it was fought for not too long ago. This not only leads for people to be unmotivated to participate in voting in the black community but, they are concerned more and more about this community being eradicated or destroyed. We are already such a small population that the fact that our communities, which are poor not by choice but by continued racial discrimination and exploitation through businesses, almost ½ of the 12% is in jail is absurd. By showing EQUAL rights when conducting searches, the police, and other government officials or workers shouldn’t take bribes or pardon someone due to color or class. They should be giving the same fine and penalties to people who are of a fairer color rather than excuses such as “wrong place at the wrong time” etc. The fact that there are more people in jail of color than there were people in slavery in 1850 is a sick joke that needs to be changed immediately. If not, a revolution will happen and it won’t easily be stopped.

3. I want black people to be given the same chance for jobs that white people receive. I want them to be acknowledged for their skills and person rather than their skin color and “second class citizenship.”

I believe that all black people have ever been acknowledged for are their sports skills, singing skills and some films. No one ever hears about the amazingly smart black scientist or literature major who came out with a fascinating new book or even an engineer. They are stereotyped into the group that is good at sports, singing and have a few known actors/producers. Putting that aside, black people are also being turned away from jobs and higher positions due to the superiority complex that is bestowed upon white culture and their organizations. When they are given the chance to prove themselves or are given a higher position, they tend to never move up from there and still make X amount of money less than their white counterparts. In order to correct this and create a thriving community for the black people, we should be able to govern ourselves, keep the money in our economy, and be acknowledged as more than just the minority. There are no second class citizens, that is one of the biggest things that we as an American community need to realize.

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