by Volecia Plafcan

Created on: November 17, 2009

What's wrong with Black America is the same thing that is wrong with the rest of America. Everybody seems to think they are not getting their share, there is depression, cruelty, hunger, homelessness, you name it, it's here. But, what everyone doesn't realize is that all of this can be turned around and a healthy attitude will emerge.

I am no psychiatrist but, really the blacks in America and every other country have used this ancestor slavery as a crutch long enough. The more it's talked about, the more 'poor little me' attitudes pop up when they never even knew what their slave ancestors endured. I know that was a terrible time for the black slaves but, you know what? These ancestors paved a way.

We were sent to live with my grandparents when my parents divorced. When we didn't have school, we worked in the fields, fed the pigs, chickens, washed and dried dishes and were kept busy all the time. My smallest sisters, at the ages of six and eight were sent to live with aunts and uncles. They cared for their babies, were at their beck and call, washed dishes, waxed and shined floors and went to school. One of them was told to "get up jackass' when a pair of the aunts and uncles were caught stealing from the school where they taught. They left in the middle of the night.

Some time ago, a sixteen year old Egyptian girl was found in this area, living in a gated area with an Egyptian couple who had smuggled her into this country when she was six. Her parents sent her with this couple because they owed money to them for medical bills. At the age of six? She stood on chairs to put dishes away, took care of the children and saw that they were ready for school in the mornings, lived in the garage with no A/C or heat and when the only light she had went out, they refused to replace. Of course, she did not go to school. She wasn't even allowed to use the utensils for her meals.

Black America has the same as everyone else. They just don't take advantage of it. People follow tradition i.e., if your parents attend college, they encourage you to. If not, they don't. If your parents draw welfare checks or another baby ensures you will get more money, because your are not married, then what's the problem? That is a way of life.

Then, there's another way and that is to get out and get some training or just get a job and people will be more willing to help you and you will feel better about yourself. No time to hang out on the streets, rapping and getting in trouble. Go to school.

You can't expect handouts all your life. Where would be the challenge? Learn.

If you are able to walk, then you are able to work.

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