** Visit AAM's new website! http://www.africanassociation.org **
I would agree with [log in to unmask] that drugs and alcoholism is a very
serious symptom afflicting Black Americans, both native born and immigrant.
It is important however, to determine the root causes of theses symptoms in
order to discover effective strategies for societal cures. Another serious
symptom afflicting Black American is engaging in self destructive, self
hating stereotyping, which ultimately feeds into the racial genocide
(racism) of our culture.
We as black people must find positive avenues of self awareness,
encouragement and ultimate unity, rather than resorting to unproductive
negative criticism and condemnation for our brothers and sisters who are
under the bondage of poverty, ignorance or spiritual death.
Positive forums to understand our problems, come up with solutions and
acting in a loving and sympatric manner is the start towards the cure!
Let's talk....
Isadore.
-----Original Message-----
From: Hedi Rudd [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 4:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Great Opportunity!
** Visit AAM's new website! http://www.africanassociation.org **
I'll try not to argue that point! I do however, like the idea of the
dialogue occuring and for there to be a place for points such as yours
to be brought out, put on the table and acted upon. I agree that the
issue of drug abuse and alcoholism is central to the dialogue, but is
the usage the true problem or simply an outcome of all the other
unaddressed problems? Are people turning to drugs because, for example,
they are not finding satisfying relationships and have no clue how to
begin to develop them - which could then be turned around and one could
ask if people are not finding satisfying relationships because of drug
and alcohol usage. I have a hard time answering that question, because
my life experiences tell me that it could go both ways. My main focus is
trying to find a way to inspire our community to begin the process of
uncovering those questions and answers in a productive way. The issue of
drug and alcohol abuse also has many layers such as access to treatment
and ways to pay for the treatment and identifying those who have the
problem, which is difficult when so many stigmas are attached to it -
which means people are not going to jump to identify themselves as
having an AODA problem.
I'm glad however, that you responded with the directness that you did,
because it is an important issue that needs to be addressed.
Thanks,
Hedi
>>> [log in to unmask] 11/10/03 3:47:39 PM >>>
On the surface, this looks like a very good move in the right
direction. Come to look at it closely, it is simply another grand
showcasing of black Americans and the problems that beset their
communities. I am not sure anythying new will come out of the shadows
that we already did not know.
To me the problems of black Americans can be summarized in two simple
words; Drugs and Alcoholism. Everything else to me flows out of the
context of alcohol and drug usage. This is the area where every black
American particularly the so-called leaders of our communities should be
addressing.
Drug and alcohol use offer short-term gratification which eventually
kills the spirit of motivation, vision and ambition and turns the abuser
into a living moral, spiritual and physical human skeleton.
Just look around our communities at all the addicts who only show their
faces when it is beginning to get dark because their faces and bodies
are so abused and disfigured that many now look like those Egytian
mommies.Just look at Withney Houston and Bobby Brown, young and
talented, NOW totally wasted and will die young unless they get help
now.
This has got to stop. There is no excuse for every black American kid
to not complete high school and go on to college. This is their
country.
Talk about racism, yes their is racism but there is as much black
racism as their is white racism. The only difference is that they are in
the majority. If blacks were in the majority, there will be racism
against the whites.But this is besides the point.
Every blackman in America who has a decent education or a career they
pursue, is guaranteed a decent job in America.
WE SHOULD BE FIGURING OUT HOW TO PERMAMENTLY ELIMINATE ALCOHOL AND DRUG
USE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. ONCE THIS IS DONE, THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY
AND ALL THE OTHER THING THAT ARE HOLDING DOWN BLACK AMERICANS WILL SOLVE
THEMSELVES.
SHOULD BLACK AMERICAN WANTS SOMETHING TO MOTIVATE THEM, THEY ONLY HAVE
TO LOOK AT THE MAJORITY OF AFRICANS IN AMERICA.. IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THE
ALCOHOL AND DRUG ISSUE, FORGET IT, SOME OF OUR PEOPLE ARE DOOMED TO DIE
AS FAILURES TO THEIR PEOPLE AND TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
---------------------------------
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