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I don't mean to say that changing a culture/mindset is at all easy. It's just that if the culture were to start changing, I think we would see significant progress in terms of elevating African-Americans to decent socioeconomic standing. The other day there was another HN thread about charter schools, where some people discussed what to do about chronic trouble kids (for lack of a better term). The fact that home life is a major factor in how kids develop means that bad households generally produce bad kids, but good households generally produce good kids.

If there was some magical way to change the culture of many African-American communities instantly, and if the government bolstered schools, healthcare, and whatnot, that would really be something. I don't think all that money will be very effective if the culture isn't changed, though. And affirmative action is too late, too little in the education journey.

I recognize this is like Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a hill right now, but that's the only feasible way out that I see.




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I haven't flagged a single one of your replies. I even vouched for this one to reply to it. I don't think I'll do it again. Anyways, when did I say "bad white families" don't need to change? You're putting words into my mouth. It's just that there seems to be a lot more of the whole poverty thing going on with black people. Personally I wouldn't care so much about race and focus on poverty instead, except apparently that's not how a lot of people see it, so I'm focusing on black people.

It doesn't affect my self-esteem or anything but it's a bit sad that you're making wild accusations about Internet strangers. Chill.




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