Well let me ask you how you see that playing out. I am close to the end of a professional career in New York which I've observed (among other things) a thankfully great growth in the number of African-American men and women working around me - and I have a nice well compensated job ... as they do. There is a large black middle class in this country.
I don't know exactly the size of this middle class as a percentage of the overall black community of roughly 45 million souls but for argument's sake lets say its 30%. So I would argue that there is opportunity for everyone regardless of race if you want to pursue those opportunities via education and hard work.
There are many black intellectuals who argue what I did above" Thomas Sowell, John McWhirter, Walter Williams and others that echo the late 19th century black scientist and advocate for African-Americans Booker T Washington.
But it seems a lot of black youth, particularly but not exclusively those with some college education, believe they need to hit the streets and progress can only come via demonstration or even riot. I think they are living in the past. There are open doors should they choose to walk thru them. I understand a little about the difficulties of embracing those opportunities. A black friend and colleague told me that he grew up in the projects in Brooklyn. Murder and mayhem was the norm. You and your buddies (or homies) were as tight as a platoon in a war situation, because you literally depended on each other for survival. Then he married an educated black woman who insisted he pursue college and move out of the projects he grew up in. The sense of betrayal among his friends was devastating and they never forgave him for (as they saw it) selling out. Interested in your opinion on this.
The Michael Brown case in Fergusson Missouri (just north of St Louis) which began BLM was the subject of a comprehensive study by the Obama Justice Department (the President (Obama) was black and the Attorney General was black (Eric Holder)). The study was to determine whether Michael Brown's civil rights had been violated by the police officer who shot him - Darren Wilson. Their 85 page report is available here (
http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/national/department-of-justice-report-on-the-michael-brown-shooting/1436/) if you'd care to read it. No case was brought against Wilson because he had acted professionally and reasonably - as the report clearly demonstrates. Michael Brown is dead and Darren Wislon's career as a police officer was ended (despite being exonerated). Demonstration and riot ensured this outcome - but it was not just.
So please - educate me. How does oppression of the American Black community operate? I'd really like to know.
It seemed like oppression to me when my boss in 1996 had the receptionist throw out every application for an entry level job submitted by non-white people.
It seemed like oppression because I knew he was the head of several professional boards in the area and a favorite of the local officials.
It seemed like oppression because I knew there were no repercussions for him- of course my resignation did not phase him. I was entry-level, too.
It seemed like oppression when I, 20 years later, see he has never had any issues with his hiring tactics and still has an all white work force.
That's pretty much how I see it operating.
Topic: Opinion: Black Lives Matter is a Terrorist Group