Black == Lazy
Now, before the world comes to a screeching halt, let me explain the title. This expression is not a declarative statement. It is a question. Anyone who’s taken any level of computer programming can tell you that this expression can return one of two values, true or false. Having said that, the question reads “does black equal lazy?” The train of thought that led me to this question began one night at Wal-mart. I was there on a late-night ice cream run and on my way out of the door when I saw three young African American ladies walking into the store. The first young lady was wearing a white t-shirt and black pants. The second young lady had on a tank-top and shorts. It was the third young lady’s outfit that really surprised and outraged me. She had on what looked like a night gown with fuzzy slippers. Now what really outraged me about this was the fact that she wasn’t an any notable rush. There seemed to be no emergency or sense of urgency about her. “Why then”, I asked myself “does she look like she just rolled out of bed?” The only answer I could think of to justify her appearance would be the fact that she didn’t deem it necessary to change out of house clothes into something more suitable. Whatever she was after, if it didn’t warrant a change in clothes, did it really warrant the drive, the time spent lookinig for it, and the money to purchase it? If it’s not worth two minutes to change clothes, then I would suggest that it really wasn’t needed right then and their.
After thinking about this on my way home, I began to think about other African-Americans of my generation. Having attended a HBCU (Historically Black College/University) myself, I know many of the arguments/mindsets/belief systems held by many black people my age. Countelss are the times I’ve heard “the white man” blamed for all that ails black people. Yes, the system is unfair, unbalanced, and essentially broken, but it’s not broken beyond repair; neither is it impossible to excell and succeed under the current system. To do so just takes work.
I must admit, I’ve been working on this post for some few weeks now, trying to find exactly what I want to say about the subject, only to find there is so much to say. No, I don’t hate my own race, but I do hate that so many in my race choose to use their status as a minority as a crutch. Where’s the honor in that? So it’s harder to be black than it is to be white…so what. Numerous blacks have bucked the system to become prominent, wealthy, and respected in both the African American community and the majority white community. Most of them have been labeled as “sell-outs” or “tokens”. I was once called such things, and I still here them from certain people from time to time. If being scholastically successful, financially secure, well-read, and well-spoken makes me a “token” or “sell-out”, then I would submit someone who is “truly black” or whatever the opposite of a token or sell-out is would be the opposite of successful, financially secure, well-read, and well-spoken. Yes, I’m no thug, hoodie, OG, or any of that, but I am secure in my blackness; but I digress…
…Too many times have I witnessed young blacks blame others for their problems. If there’s one thing I will take from all the lessions of my mother, it is this: If you don’t like your situation, change what you’re doing and change it. Complaining about it, and blaming others certainly won’t change one’s station in life. Likewise, complaing about the fact that whites have it easier in this country than any other group won’t change the system and it certainly won’t help your cause of “getting out of the hood”. Trust me on this. I was born in the “hood” as it were, and only after 11 years of my (then single) mom working two and three jobs at a time did we finally start to “move on up in the world”. It’s after living through this that the sight of that young woman in that Walmart that night really infuriated me. We, as a race, have worked too hard to be miss represented by the lazy among us, and make no mistake about it; all many white people need is that one example for them to say “well, that’s just black people for you. Too lazy to put on decient clothes“. My mom, who is the most profound person I know, said in her customarily profound way “If you don’t like being shot at, why give the enemy amunition?“
Now before I loose what few white readers I have left at this point, let me assure you that neither my mother nor I view all whites as enemys of the black race, but her point is a valid one: Why give the system the means to discriminate against you? The answer to that is simple: How can you stop something that is viewed as being “true to yourself and your race?” Sounds confusing, I know, but that’s the whole point. Our self-image as a race has to change. Yes, our ancesters were victims of a great injustice, but as long as we view ourselves, in this day and age, as victims, we will never be equal.
So back to the original question: Black==Lazy. In retrospect, I think the question may be too broad to answer. In one sense, the answer is no, Black != Lazy (read black does not equal lazy…more computer stuff). I do know of many African-Americans who work hard to achieve what they have, and are working harder to achieve more. On the other hand, there are those who choose to do nothing and blame the white world for their problems. These are the onse you see habitually relying on welfare to feed themselves and their children. These are the ones you see uneducated, unemployed, and unmotivated to change; In this case, the answer is a resounding yes. But there is hope. Like MTV says The Know is Spreading.
I’m really confused about this whole issue. I really want to believe it’s just a cultural thing, but it laziness seems to be a characteristic of every black country and culture on Earth, regardless of where you find a given black population.
Though I’m fully aware it’s dangerous to label all black people as lazy, here in London I just keep meeting black person after black person who lives up to the stereotype. When they do show up for work they’re lazy and demotivated. I meet the very odd, rare exception but they’re few and far between.
The only thing you can count on them for is to whine about the work they’re doing and skive off work. I really don’t want to hold these views and genuinely hope I will meet black people who will change them one day.
My experience has been similar to the guy who works in construction but I work in an office. The black workers call in sick a lot, spend more time on the internet and the phone making personal calls and than the white workers. I know this because I work in IT and have to monitor both for the company. What happens is nothing. Blacks seem to know that they get to keep their jobs even if they screw off a lot. It is common knowledge that getting rid of a black worker is more difficult because they cry racism. I am being objective. I am white and have several black friends who work just as hard as me. But there is definitely a difference in attitude among a lot of black clerical workers. Their skills are not as good and they are pretty lazy a lot of the time. I am only reporting what I observe day in and day out. If I could, I’d fire most of them and not risk hiring another black worker. Lazy blacks make it hard on those who are not. They screw their own race. Asians on the other hand are hard working and never miss work. If you had a company, who would you hire????
I can tell you the same story while I am neither white nor black, most of the black coworkers that I worked with are lazy and unmotivated, they blame others for whatever situations that they are in, and always use the racist card whenever they are criticized for their behaviors. America is the most forgiving place in the world as long as blacks are concerned, they would be fired long time ago if they work in the country where I came from.
I am white. I grew up in Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world. I have a ton of friends from all different parts of world, and I absolutely love things like indian food, drum circles, etc. I’ve dated multiculturally and I have never considered myself racist.
Here’s the exception? I’ve been doing construction work the past 3 years. I’ve worked alongside with like 40 different general labourers. Half of them were white, the other half about 50/50 hispanic/latino and black. From my direct personal experience… every black labourer I’ve encountered has been 50% less efficient and productive than everyone else. There was one exception to the group, one black dude who was a nice guy, he worked hard and knew when to stop yakking like any worker. Culturally he was different than the other black guys… he was into rock music, was more a skater type guy. So this leads me to my safe guess is that it’s a cultural thing, maybe connected to hip hop? I don’t know what to say. The Hispanics were work machines right up there with everyone else, and they were much more family/immigration oriented. Every white guy, including me, is very enterprising and hard working, wanting to get somewhere. Unless he’s into hip hop and he’s just looking for the fastest way to get his new car and gold chains.
black people are racist, lazy and ignorant pigs.
I am a manager for a large company. I’ve had to fire many people; about 80% have been white and 20% have been black. 100% of the black people cried racism, even though most of the people that i hire are black. it seems every time you try to correct the work behavior of a black person, you’re just being “racist”. god forbid you have to fire a black, because the first card they pull out of their ass is the “he just fired me cuz I’m racist” card. it’s total bullshit and a pure cop out
yes black people are lazy. Look at the standard of living in africa vs europe. In america blacks live in the ghettos and the majority of whites,but not all, get off their asses and do something for themselves rather than waiting for other people to give to them everything. They act as if whites owe them something. Im saying this for the majority, there are exceptions for everything. Same story in south Africa, Brazil and most everywhere else blacks live side by side with other races. the black culture in america is all about hoes, bling and 20s on their cars. They act like animals. If any girl walks bye its lemme get that ass girl. all they care about is sex, they cant ever respect a woman and are incapable of love. Every child grows up without a father. Either he’s in jail or going around fucking hoes. They have to keep their blackness or they would be selling out to the man. Every other race of immigrants come to this country for opportunity, almost comforting to the American culture. Blacks want to be totally different. They even speak their own language. You can always tell if their black just by talking on the phone. you gots to keep your blackness!