Coming to America
I was recently asked what it’s like to be me? The pat answer I give is awesome. However the person asking the question wanted more specifics, they wanted to know what it was like for me to hold the opinions I do and be black at the same time. To be honest, I really had to give that some thought, because the views I have I’ve pretty much had all my adult life.
Being an army brat and spending my informative years in Europe, I never had to deal with race as a major day-to-day issue until I returned to the United States. This wasn’t to say before then that I was color-blind, it was very obvious I was black, but when your neighbors are white, Asian, Latino, German, French, Dutch, etc. You’re just another part of the stew and you go on about your business.
It really wasn’t returning to America to finish college where I got my first real taste of an attitude that I personally found offensive and in my opinion was more detrimental than any racism white people could perpetuate.
I was attending Northern Illinois University to finish up my degree in broadcasting and journalism. I decided to join a social organization called B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. a group of young black men dedicated to working with other black college students who have trouble adjusting to college life. I thought to myself, “seems like a noble goal”. Also with a lot of NIU black students, they were the first ones in their family to attend college so there was a lot of pressure on them. So when I went to the orientation meeting and introduced myself, everyone was happy to hear there was an “Abdul” in the group. That didn’t last long though. The head B.R.O.T.H.E.R. began to speak and after welcoming everyone he said “you know they don’t want you here. They just want your money and then they will kick you out. The only way you can beat them is with us.”
It took me five seconds to figure out who they were, because this young man who was college educated sounded like my uncle who finds it easier to explore conspiracy theories that kept the black people down, than the classifieds. After the head B.R.O.T.H.E.R. gave his speech, I asked a simple question, “are you for real?” He said “yes”. I told him he was doing more harm than good. I told him these kids have enough pressure on them as it is and don’t need someone who looks like them making it worse. I then picked up my back pack and left. As I walked out the door, someone said that brother is lost.
I wasn’t lost, I just found my sanity. Over the course of the next 20 years I would run into a lot of people who remind me of that head B.R.O.T.H.E.R. I’ve run into them in both graduate school and law school. I’ve run into them as a reporter and commentator. I’ve run into them in politics. I’ve run into them as an educator. And I run into them at family events. At the end of the day, their only mission in life is to justify their own existence by scaring other people into thinking they are necessary.
My attitude has always been when people started “talking crazy”, someone had to call them out. As a grown up 20 years later, it’s a strategy that still works; although I’m not as brazen as I was at 25. There is too much at stake to just simply walk away. So, as long I have a forum, radio, television, print, internet, to express my opinions and call out the nonsense, I will. It’s the right thing to do, it provides a counterbalance to the crap being pushed on people, and to be honest, it’s actually a lot of fun.
July 25th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
You bring out some interesting points Abdul. People have choices in life and some seem to let everything that happens turn into the race issue. I can give you two examples that has happen to me as a white person.
One evening I decided to have dinner at a taco bell on the eastside of town. I walked in and stood at the counter with no other customers present. No one even took the time to speak to me as I waited for at least four minutes. Now, I notice that every employee there was of black race. I could have took this two ways. It could have been because I was white or I could have took it just bad customer service. (btw, after I complain, I got lunch for free the next time.)
Another example was at a Wal-Mart just a couple of weeks ago. I was interested in looking at some cell phones and cell phone service. There was two teenage black males there. They did not even bother to look up as I was standing there waiting for them to stop talking between the two of them and wait on this white customer. I finally said if you are not interested in waiting on me I will go someplace else and walk away. Again, I could have thought this was because I was white or just bad customer service.
If one wants to dwell on the race issue they are free to do so and they can make examples of it everyday of their lives. But if they would just face facts, life would be much simpler.
You bring out some interesting points Abdul. People have choices in life and some seem to let everything that happens turn into the race issue. I can give you two examples that has happen to me as a white person.
One evening I decided to have dinner at a taco bell on the eastside of town. I walked in and stood at the counter with no other customers present. No one even took the time to speak to me as I waited for at least four minutes. Now, I notice that every employee there was of black race. I could have took this two ways. It could have been because I was white or I could have took it just bad customer service. (btw, after I complain, I got lunch for free the next time.)
Another example was at a Wal-Mart just a couple of weeks ago. I was interested in looking at some cell phones and cell phone service. There was two teenage black males there. They did not even bother to look up as I was standing there waiting for them to stop talking between the two of them and wait on this white customer. I finally said if you are not interested in waiting on me I will go someplace else and walk away. Again, I could have thought this was because I was white or just bad customer service.
If one wants to dwell on the race issue they are free to do so and they can make examples of it everyday of their lives. But if they would just face facts, life would be much simpler.
I wonder Abdul have you ever fellt this way because of your race?
July 25th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Yes, Abdul has experience this. I saw a Fox TV interview between Bill O'Reilly and Abdul, on some divisive issue we were dealing with in Indiana, and Bill O'Reilly made a comment trying to put a racial spin to the issue which was completely off topic. Abdul handled it well, but Bill O'Reilly just looked like a complete jerk.
Abdul you are a asset to our community for your coverage of local issues and your willingness to take on some deep rooted foolishness.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
I've rhapsodized on your public affairs dedication enough to make most of us retch already. There's a lot that would stay under a rock and not be heard if you weren't around. You may not always give both sides an even shake, but I challenge anybody to name somebody that does better.
Thanks for being around.
.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I would be foolish to say I haven't had some negative experiences because of the color of my skin, but the true test of your character is how you deal with it.
When I was in grad school a friend of mine and I stopped at drug store to grab some snacks for a late night study session. The security guard kept tailing us as we were in the store. My friend was getting upset, I walked over to the guard and thanked her for being so concerned about our safety that she followed us the whole time we were in Walgreens.
That's how you deal with that crap.
July 25th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
It seems to me, Abdul, that the theme of this post is in diametric opposition to your support for our current president and his administration. How do you now feel about how matters of race are being handled by the Whitehouse and the Department of Justice?
July 25th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Like what? Give me a specific. I thought they mishandled the Sherrod story. Why anybody listens to Andrew Breibart is completely beyond me.
And as far as the Black Panthers go, show me some a victim. Show me someone who didn't vote because they were intimidated.
July 25th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
How about spending 20 years in a church with raving racist Jeremiah Wright? How about dropping the case against the Black Panthers? How about a policy of not prosecuting cases of voter fraud or intimidation if the alleged perpetrator is black( according to sworn testimony by former DOJ attorney Christian Adams)? How about calling us a 'nation of cowards' with regard to matters of race? How about saying the police 'acted stupidly' when arresting a black college professor? How about the presumption that Arizona police will racially profile illegal immigrants?
Civil Rights Activist Helene Latimer, who marched with MLK, witnessed the Black Panther thugs telling voters to go away if they weren't voting for Obama. Of course, she must be lying.
Do your homework. The NAACP had the entire video of Sherrod's speech. Yet, the administration fired her without viewing it. (By the way, if you believe the Ag Secretary did that without Obama's orders, you're more lost than even I had believed.) And Sherrod is a scam artist who bilked a few hundred thousand dollars from the federal government in a class action suit brought by black farmers. In her NAACP speech, she stated that she chose not to farm.
July 25th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
“News” with an agenda (fox) makes the public more stupid everyday.
July 25th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
If prosecution and conviction on voter “intimidation” means somebody has to be denied being able to vote- maybe that didn't happen. However, I would contend the video that I just watched a second time to be sure, IF it's outside of a polling place, showing a couple of black guys dressed in black from head-to-toe, displays what the average person would call intimidation. The smaller gentleman carrying a black club does not look remotely like anybody encouraging me to vote for someone in particular. In the conventional sense of “intimidating”, the guy with the club looks about as personable as a guy in a klansman sheet.
Let's be fair- whether it violates the letter of the law or not, a guy in a klansman sheet outside a polling place in Philadelphia in 2008 would NOT be lacking coverage in mainstream media. Per Real Clear Politics coverage, there's a reason at least one long time government bureaucrat is going to the mat on this one, as it continues to be investigated.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:35 am
The junk that races through your mind…wears most folks out, and has to be exhausting for you.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:37 am
What Taxpayer said, only double.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Abdul, you should know that you are not alone and your voice is being joined by many friends and foes because it is the truth.
IPS Leader Eugene White wrote an Indy Star editorial titled “Many Parents Fail To Teach Values”.
Keep up the good work and keep growing your message and supporters.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:29 am
And NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, have no agenda? I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, Nick, but I'm nearly certain you could not get any more stupid.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:30 am
No, TA, it only wears out the intellectually lazy.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Abdul -
If a man hits me in the face and gives me black eye, what good does it do to for me to tell everyone that I ran into a door??
Now I agree with you that the most important part is how we as black people deal with the issues that come our way I disagree about calling out issues how they really are.
July 26th, 2010 at 10:37 am
The Journolist scandal makes it clear there's news with an agenda, and in this instance it's not being coordinated by conservatives. Newsweek, Time, and The Economist are among specific examples.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Abdul,
I was listening to the last part of the show today and you said something that I somewhat agree with. You mentioned that at some point we might have to realize that some in our community can't be saved and we need to move on.
While I agree with the statement I believe for the most part this has happened in the black community.
I don't think white community recognizes this yet.
There are differences in the black community.
When the QUALIFIED black workers at Eli Lilly sue because of race discrimination. That has nothing to do with the percentage of out of wedlock children, or the percentage of high school drop out, or the percentage of people on welfare.
Another clear example is the Black Expo. How many thousands and thousands of kids were down there? How many kids were shooting? 1 kid out of thousands.
But to the posters on this board the entire group of kids were labeled as thugs and gangsters.
Have to give credit to the police though they were very specific in saying only a few people caused the trouble and did a very good job of not labeling all the kids down there.
So I said all that so that maybe you can help your white listeners recognize the fact that the lowest element in our community shouldn't be used to describe all of us.
All the bad elements that are found in the black community are found in all other communities the difference is our bad parts are used to describe our community as a whole.
That has to change.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Nice retort. But I'm not entirely sure how you'd know.
And your NAACP info, alas, is completely wrong. Even Fox didn't have the entire video–they're charlatans, but they aren't that stupid. So again you strike out. Don't you get tired of that?
Pity.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
The speech was given to the NAACP, TA. They have the entire speech. What about that confuses you?
What I'm 'striking out' against is your seemingly willful ignorance. I will continue to do so. So mote it be.
July 26th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
No, Rico–the NEWS reports didn't have all the tape. Starting with Fox. That's not a news flash or particularly interesting. Unless you thrive on partial news reports.
What about that confuses you?
I suppose if I put you in a round barn and told you to whiz in the corner, you'd run yourself ragged.
Your mind is amazing. Simply amazing.
July 26th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Remarkably cogent, Rmoney.
July 26th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
READ THIS!!!!! Are you really that stupid????? I didn't write that the news reports had it. DID I????????? I wrote that the NAACP did. SHE GAVE HER SPEECH TO THE EFFIN' NAACP!!! That is a fact! Your president fired Sherrod before she was even mentioned on FOX news, when he could have easily reviewed the entire video THAT THE NAACP HAD!
Please tell me, is ignorance really that blissful? You should be an expert on the topic.
July 26th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
No disagreement. I specifically complimented the recent thoughts of the young black lady that Abdul posted. She was fabulous and I still contend most of her ideas are applicable to ALL of us.
I've railed on parenting (again) of late. Are there a couple of recent examples in Brendon Johnson and the Expo incidents that can perceived as indicating we just have a black community problem? Yes, some people will perceive it that way. But, America's parenting issue is beyond race, economics, education, geography, etc. Unless the stats have changed the last few years, the majority of out-of-wedlock births are still white. Nor, is there a guarantee that an out-of-wedlock birth will lead to bad parenting. A statistical link to bad outcomes more than two-parent families- Yes. A guarantee of problems- No. Regardless or race, income, etc.
I didn't grow-up black. I obviously have no clue. It's obviously an emphatic influence to be of a different skin color, religion, sexual orientation, or being disabled compared to “everybody else”. For a man as rational as I believe Abdul to be, to acknowledge that rationality can only go so far in decision-making, such as choosing a President, tells me that being a minority of about any demographic is a profound influence.
However, I've been reading and writing on this blog for years. I respectfully disagree “to the posters on this board the entire group of kids were labeled as thugs and gangsters.”
July 26th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
And yet, Taxpayer, I call Abdul out for his support of our post-racial president who is anything but, and cite specific examples of this administrations approach to matters of race, and he chooses not to respond. Abdul speaks a good game about problems in the black community and even offers some ideas to improve things. Then he supports a race-baiting, inexperienced black man for president simply due to the color of his skin. If clearly intelligent, educated black Americans choose not to see beyond race, what hope is there that things will ever get better.
I submit that race relations have suffered under this president. Without the radically-leftist policies he supports, this once-great nation would have had a black president long before now. If that had happened, we would all better for it.
July 26th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Rico
Please site examples of Barrack race baiting during his time as president?
Do you really believe John McCain and Sarah Palin were a better option than Barrack?
What is your definition of experienced? What experience prepares you to run the riches most powerful nation on earth?
We've had rocket scientist to B movie actors all give it a shot. Not sure why Barrack's experience doesn't hold up to at least some of them.
July 26th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
I stand corrected Taxpayer – went and reread the post the day after the shooting. While alot of hollier than thou statements. Not alot of thug and gangster comments.
I did see it on the indystar board comment section though
July 26th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Read my examples above about this administration's approach to matters of race.
And yes, I believe McCain and Palin were a far better option. I was no fan of McCain. In fact, he would have been my last choice to run against Obama or Clinton. But, at the very least, I believe he loves his country and has worlds of experience in foreign and domestic affairs.
Barry stated that his experience running the huge organization surrounding his campaign qualified him to be president. That would be like you or I interviewing for a job and using our job search as work history on our resume. His lack of experience and incompetence is more obvious to some of us each day. Keep holding on to the dream, Rmoney. You're going to be sorely disappointed if you think this guy is the answer to anything.
July 26th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
It's been a few months, but last I saw of Indystar comments- rough sledding. A lot of meat eaters over there. There's all kinds here, but nobody gets too far out of the box without somebody bringing the hammer down. You get too far out a limb, you best be ready to quote sources, dates, etc. You become an amateur archivist before it's all over.