For the three Kossacks out there who aren't sick to death of the race debate, I have a question for you...
It's a sincere question, not an accusation. I hope you'll give it a sincere response.
It seems like much of the debate on race revolves around this question: Certain racial groups, like African Americans and Latinos, are disadvantaged. To what extent is this the result of racism from the majority group (Whites), and to what extent is it due to actions and attitudes within the disadvantaged communities themselves?
The point of asking this question isn't to determine where to assess blame. It's to figure out the best way to get these groups out of their current disadvantaged state.
But before you answer the question, take a look at another oppressed group: the Jews.
The Jews have been hated for thousands of years. They've been excluded and expelled and nearly exterminated. Yet they thrive, and have done so for centuries, no matter where they live, and no matter what the majority community throws at them. What's their secret?
I think it's pretty clear: they succeed because of the attitudes they cultivate WITHIN their group. They place a high value on education, hence their children grow up with the advantages education brings. They also place a high value on supporting others within their group. In short, they stick up for other Jews. They patronize Jewish businesses, they offer aid to struggling Jewish communities - they have a strong focus on creating a healthy Jewish community throughout the world. Sometimes they may take this to a fault (cough - Palestine - cough). But the results are impossible to deny. The Jewish community is doing great, in spite of the haters.
So my question is - what if Blacks, Latinos, and other disadvantaged communities followed the Jews' example? What if African American youth, rather than criticizing successful Black students for "acting White," lauded academic success, honoring and emulating those students who achieve it? What if Latino immigrants, rather than looking askance at those who try to learn English to raise themselves up, felt inspired by them? What if disadvantaged racial groups viewed each other's efforts to succeed as the highest expression of racial pride, rather than as some sort of betrayal of their group?
I guess I should ask Black and Latino Kossacks - do you see this counterproductive dynamic happening in your communities? If so, what's the best way to change it? Or does the inevitable brick wall of White racism make any internal efforts to change pointless? What do you think?