After the recent spate of violence to plague McDonald’s restaurants, I have noticed this question continuing to pop up in discussion forums, and in my head, as well. The answers tossed around are usually either racist/ignorant, PC-silly, or some combination. I thought I would try my hand at something more enlightened. Before I start, the reasons that Blacks are violent are both similar and different than for Whites (who I will cover another time). Here goes.Reason Part 1. Modern-era ethnic Africans, with ancestral influence dating back at least 5,000 years, and including Africa-Americans, have significantly less relative exposure to the rule-of-law (ROL) and, therefore, less cultural acceptance and manifestation of same. ROL provides a process and procedure for guiding and controlling behavior, and specifically managing conflict.
Reason Part 2. Black Americans, from slavery to recent years, have lived under a compromised (i.e. exploitative) version of this country’s Euro-based rule-of-law, as embodied in the US Constitution. This bastardized ROL singled-out the group for abuse under color of authority, thereby making eventual trust and acceptance in the law nearly impossible, if not always more difficult than with other citizens (especially recent immigrants).
Reason Part 3. The poor and uneducated, in general, have less adherence to the rule-of-law (and protection, as well) even when all additional factors are counted. African-Americans are disproportionately represented in the poor and uneducated demographics.
These reasons are simply explanatory. They are not excuses, nor are they allowances. Regardless of group experiences, Blacks are individuals with full responsibility for their specific actions. Historical experience must never override adherence to laws, even in the case where parts or the whole of the law is errantly applied. To do so invites the greater risk of social collapse, the companion of anarchy.
I'm no authority, just a blogger asking why. Thoughtful alternatives? Come one, come all.
James C. Collier
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Technorati Tags: #16 Why Are Blacks So Violent?, Rule-of-Law, Beat Down, Racism, Acting Black, Acting White
Mr. Collier,your analysis is spot on! I totally agree.
ReplyDeleteAs far as solutions, well, we know that solutions that would address the situation are expensive. I think the government would much rather pay a couple more cops salaries and build a couple more jails as that would be much cheaper.
We have the same problems here in Puerto Rico. Just last week an afluent young man from the elite white ruling class, was stabbed to death as he was being robbed of his IPhone. The perp? a 14 year old boy from the projects. Fourteen! and he already had previous misdemeanors!
I would be so interested in your expounding further on this subject. Here in Puerto Rico the Blacks are on the economic bottom rung and have been for decades!
Mr. Collier, I would like to know if I may have your permission to post a link to this post when I comment on any other blog. I don't have much knowledge of these things, and I certainly don't want to infringe on a copyright or such. Thank you very much sir.
ReplyDeleteDesert flower, be my guest, and thanks for asking.
ReplyDeletePeople learn to be civil at home, and American slavery was a concentrated, hundred-year-long assault on the home, the effects of which have certainly echoed down through the generations.
ReplyDeleteWhen familial continuity was subjected to the business concerns and sexual whims of the powerful, very little of the sort of socialization that peaceful society rests upon was even possible.
Zero caring or compassion for others.
ReplyDeleteThe inability to think, "How would I like it if someone did to me what I do to others."
Thinking that want they want is above all concerns.
Utter contempt for the rights of others.
No morals or ethics. Right and wrong are foreign term.
Utter hypocrisy. I have heard church going black women talk about how to defraud the system to get disability benefits.
Apparently "Thou shalt not bear false witness" was doesn't not apply to them?
How do people get like that?
Always thinking they are a victim and deserving of whatever spoils they can acquire by whatever means.
And the venerable NAACP discusses none of these actions and behaviors that I know of, only issues that can be turned into racial ones.
That's some kind of fine "advancement" you got going on there NAACP......
Any more and all the people that have those ideals will just advance themselves into jail or death, or just advance this country more into the pitiful state it is now in.
And the two most violent wars in human history (Word War 1 and 2) were caused and mostly fought by whom??
ReplyDeleteDas
I do not believe slavery should be brought into the discussion. Being Irish my immediate relatives were starved out of Ireland, and it is documented, but came here and succeeded. There is not one soul alive now that has any responsibility for slavery or keeping black people "down".
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it is an individual choice for a person's life decisions . There is no excuse for a violent life, or criminal life, unless you CHOOSE to go that path. For every example you give me about some poor child born in the projects ending up bad, I can give you an example of a poor child going on the right path.
Personal responsibility is the only thing at play here.
@das, the most powerful countries in the world. people of multiple ethnicities (european, asian, slavic, etc.) If there was a country of majorily african ethnicity that was powerful, they would surely have been involved.
ReplyDeleteAs it is, they are currently (and probably were then) embroiled in civil war, genocide, etc.
What's your point?
I would say also, the immense importance that blacks place on personal honor and reputation to be a major factor. No matter how good you are at whatever you do, no matter how much bank you make, if people can't see it and don't know about it, it doesn't matter. That's why rap and basketball stars surround themselves with posses, and why a guy that refuses to brush his teeth will press his jeans and t-shirt every day.
ReplyDeleteYour rep is your life. So, that means two things: first, when you want to get somebody to do something for you, the best way to do that is to attack his reputation, honor, or social standing, since he'll have to respond to that in some way--either by giving in, or escalating, either of which is better than being ignored (you can make the argument that black people fear being ignored for historical reasons). Second, it means when somebody does go after your rep, you put everything on the line to get it back. Yes, that includes not only your well-being, money, family, friends, and freedom on the line, but even your life. Better to go to jail for assault or worse than be thought of as a bitch.
Most people of other races will fight to defend their property or their family, because these are things they value and put a lot of energy and wealth into. They won't normally fight over being called names or rude gestures (road rage is an exception of sorts) because they don't care: as long as they have their home and car and family, what people they don't really know think of them is meaningless.
Blacks will also sometimes fight for property, family, or friends, but in listening to what these people have to say after the fact it seems their motivations are more along the lines of fulfilling social expectations and doing what they're supposed to.
http://alfin2100.blogspot.ca/2012/04/why-do-blacks-commit-so-much-violence.html
ReplyDeleteWould you please share the inventions and contributions to modern culture and technology?
ReplyDeletehttps://dailyhive.com/seattle/inventions-by-black-people
ReplyDelete