Recently on “No Talking Points,” Don Lemon decided he would give his certified, tried and true opinions on what Black people could do to end racism. In response to FOX News’ biggest bigot, Bill O’Reilly‘s statement, claiming, “The reason there is so much violence and chaos in the black precincts is the disintegration of the African- American family. Raised without much structure, young black men often reject education and gravitate towards the street culture, drugs, hustling, gangs. Nobody forces them to do that, again, it is a personal decision.”
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Don shocked me in not only agreeing with O’Reilly’s limited view, he took it step further and gave Black folks five strong opinions on the things we can do to combat racism. These tips come at such an interesting time in our community as we’re mourning the deaths of all the Trayvon Martins of the world who don’t get justice because their killers won’t be convicted. Had Trayvon proved that he’s not a stereotype, would he still be alive?
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Clutch Magazine hit the nail right on the head, saying, “Changing our style of dress and speech won’t help the real-life issues black people face like voter suppression and racial profiling. And why do black people have to be perfect in order to be treated fairly?”
Check Out Don’s 5 Tips:
Here’s number five. Pull up your pants.
“If you’re sagging, I mean — I think it’s your self-esteem that is sagging and who you are as a person it’s sagging. Young people need to be taught respect and there are rules.”
Number four now is the n-word.
“I understand poetic license, but consider this: I hosted a special on the n-word, suggesting that black people stop using it and that entertainers stop deluding yourselves or themselves and others that you’re somehow taking the word back.”
Now number three. Respect where you live.
“Start small by not dropping trash, littering in your own communities. I’ve lived in several predominantly white neighborhoods in my life, I rarely, if ever, witnessed people littering. I live in Harlem now, it’s an historically black neighborhood, every single day I see adults and children dropping their trash on the ground when a garbage can is just feet away. Just being honest here.”
Number two, finish school.
“You want to break the cycle of poverty? Stop telling kids they’re acting white because they go to school or they speak proper English.”
And number one, and probably the most important, just because you can have a baby, it doesn’t mean you should.
“Especially without planning for one or getting married first. More than 72 percent of children in the African-American community are born out of wedlock. That means absent fathers. And the studies show that lack of a male role model is an express train right to prison and the cycle continues. So, please, black folks, as I said if this doesn’t apply to you, I’m not talking to you. Pay attention to and think about what has been presented in recent history as acceptable behavior. Pay close attention to the hip-hop and rap culture that many of you embrace. A culture that glorifies everything I just mentioned, thug and reprehensible behavior, a culture that is making a lot of people rich, just not you. And it’s not going to.”
Don keeps saying, “a lot of African Americans took offense to that too,” as if he’s not one of us. I remember when Lemon took offense to comedian, Jonah Hill treating him like “the help” last year when he ran into him. If Don would have made sure that he was wielding his diploma, speaking properly while he pants were pulled up to the proper height, then Jonah would have treated him with more respect.
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