Stupid Black Men: How to Play the Race Card--and Lose | Larry Elder

Stupid Black Men: How to Play the Race Card--and Lose | Larry Elder | I couldn't have said it better

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Stupid Black Men: ...

	Stupid Black Men: How to Play the Race Card--and Lose Larry Elder St. Martin's Press, 2008 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 54 reviews view larger image
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Is life unfair for black Americans?

Is racial equality the answer to every question of public policy?

Are a huge group of citizens being kept down by ?the man??

Radio host and bestselling author Larry Elder has made a career out of being a thorn-in-the-side of the conventional wisdom crowd. He deflates the pompous and points out the completely logical truths hidden behind the nutty rhetoric and out-of-control pandering of many of the politicians and so-called leaders of a variety of special interest groups. In Stupid Black Men, he takes on the mind-set that always captures the most media attention?as well as masses of public money?in this country: those who rail against racism as the root of all problems, and who end up hurting precisely those they claim to be helping.

Whether they are demagogues like Al Sharpton, established politicians like Hillary Clinton, or entertainers like Danny Glover, no one escapes Elder?s cogent arguments and rapier wit. His sometimes hilarious and always infuriating examples of wrong-headedness skewer not just politicians for their smugness and hypocrisy, but also actors, educators, religious leaders and the ?mainscream media? for keeping the story in the headlines.

But Elder has a positive message, too: though they are fewer?and generally not as loud-mouthed?there are leaders and role models today who want to sweep away race-based whining and urge everyone in America, to share in the hard work, smart thinking and optimism that make this country great.

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Success Identity

Elder makes valid points about playing the race card as we are continuing to see in August of 2008. Blacks are accepted into college with lower SAT scores than other races. The end result is that high school students know they don't have to work as hard. When I was employed in the psychology departments of schools, I've seen this attitude among kids who could have done much better in school. Elder wisely points out that many policies which are supposed to help blacks only help those who benefit from keeping them dependant.

The victim mentality is also addressed in his book. Success identity vs failure identity is a basic component of Reality Therapy: A New Approach to Psychiatry (Colophon Books).

Bill Cosby and Juan Williams are other successful black men who point out many of the same concerns.
Come on, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors
Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America--and What We Can Do About It
These writers want blacks to identify with success instead of failure! I sort of wish Elder had picked a more tactful title, but it is easy to remember and descriptive.

It is sad to see the attacks on the message and messangers instead of using these statements to encourage and inspire.

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I couldn't have said it better

Larry Elder is a conservative black man, who, like Bill Cosby, is not afraid to criticize his own people and he does it with facts that will astonish the casual reader.
He is a "Great American!"

Interesting....

Just finished reading the book last night, ironically the same night that Barack Obama had been officially nominated by the Democrats and the night before his acceptance speech for the presidential race. All I have to say, is that I appreciate and respect Elder's viewpoint, and I agree with him on key concepts that AA need to accept personal responsibilty for their actions. It's well cited, and his points are clear and direct.

However, there are several points I'll never agree with him on of which is his attitude toward affirmative action. Although affirmative action is now politically incorrect, the author admitted he benefited from it. How typical now to feel as though it's not needed when he's gained a certain leg up- so to speak - for himself. I'm no advocate for affirmative action, but I think it's so hypocritical in Elder's situation. Also if blacks are so stupid to follow the Democratic party, I would love for Elder to explain why minorities in general avoid the Republicans too? Does he question why Hispanics, women and other ethnic minorities typically vote for the Democrats? I would venture to say, they see the GOP the same way AA do. EXCLUSIVE, WHITE and MALE.

Political shifts and attitudes change, SO WHAT if blacks followed the Republicans before the Civil Rights Act was signed. The Republicans abandoned us and we've since voted for the party that represents our interests! That's what any American citizen has an absolute right to do!

For the record, I don't vote straight down party lines, but I certainly understand why some have and still do. Although in the past, blatant discrimination still lives in the minds of those who witnessed it first hand. It's not fair to make us the villians, we fought the good fight and we were on the opposite end of the dogs, water hoses and police clubs. Just because we're never going to forget how we were treated doesn't mean AA are living in the past. Do you think the Jews will ever forget the Holocaust?

Despite what Elder may believe there are still issues concerning race in this country, but I agree with him that our society has changed and AA attitudes need to change if we're going to secure the best future for our children. But attitudes take TIME to change, and we should be given the respect and dignity that comes with healing from our experiences. I've known for quite some time that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are phony so I've made it my business to hit the clicker if they happen on the TV tube.

Anyway, I'm proud of Barack Obama and I'll be the proudest AMERICAN watching his speech tonight. Despite Elder's swipe at Obama in his book, it's obvious that the American people have a different viewpoint and can see through all the distractions that politics, the media, or even his book can cause. Elder is too far to the right for me personally, and this whole idea of being a Libertarian is just a political ruse to cover up his Republican support. It's a complete joke and he needs to own up to it.

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