Man S Jewelry

Q: My question to you is, "Why all this talk about white mans world"? Man I'm sick of hearing that. Why does the "White man" always have to be blamed for any problems or issues that the black man or any other minorities out the world have to face? I mean come on now, the "White man" is to blame for everything that is messed up in this world? That line is tired already and really ignorant to say. The funny thing is college (Kent State) should be the one place that everybody should be coming to together, but it's just like the movie that Ice Cube did "Higher Learning". What a joke! If education is supposed to free the mind and knowledge is the key, why do so many people decide to distance themselves from the different groups on any campus?

A:I see what you are saying. I think that it is not productive to blame everything on the "white man" or the general institution of a european dominated world. BUT, I think that I can see the man's argument (despite disagreeing with what he has to say) in that there exists a mentality out there that stagnates the progress of the African American person. The black man is already fighting at a nearly insurmountable disadvantage and to create an image that is completely

materialistic and non-productive can do a great disservice to many people. They think that acquiring expensive jewelry or expensive champagne might help him or her grow as a person, but it doesn't. Someone speak a little closer to the people and a lot of people can truly relate to that and it not only helps by providing an emotional catharsis, it also may help them grow culturally and intellectually. So I think that a small part of the "slave mentality" is buying into the capitalistic paradigm, buying the white man's jewelry, buying the white man's cars, buying the white man's drugs, etc. instead of using your resources in a way that would better benefit you and yours.