Lazy Thinking: Equity = Welfare

I'm sure structural and institutionalized racism has nothing to do with health disparities, and other issues of equity in our society (note sarcastic tone).

Some misinformed folk equate equity with a welfare state. I call this lazy thinking. The same folk would say that once we (black folk) were emancipated, no white folk tried to cheat us out of our land, wealth and/or businesses. Also, no one tried to block us from voting either... right!!!

If you let me out of a cage (slavery), without any tools or skills to succeed, into a society where oppressive systems have already been put in place for women and poor whites, what makes anyone think the rules are any easier for black folk in America.

Even the President of the United States has to lead by different rules as a black man. Tea parties, succession talk, unwillingness for bipartisanship, the rise in militia groups.

I understand most white folk in this country are relatives of immigrants (Irish, Polish, Italian, Dutch, etc.), but ignorance of American History is not bliss. While these immigrant populations brought skills and motherland culture to the states, black Americans never had these luxuries.

America is our spiritual and ancestral home on many levels given our circumstances. While this isn't an excuse, the rules do keep changing to maintain the status quo, hence disparities cannot be ignored. Even if you don't think it's your responsibility.

All white folk benefit from the historical, structural, unequal systems established by white paternal masters of the past. It's much more complicated than one merely "pulling them self up by the boot straps" or the pointless ranting of "how about personal responsibility?".

Let's take this conversation to a high level. Kalamazoo, Michigan and our country will be much better - minus the lazy thinking.