Racism Vs Culture

First of all, it has been awhile since my last blog post. I apologize. I've been busy doing stuff. So again, sorry.

Before I start this post, I would like to issue a fair warning: I'm gonna step on some toes and probably offend some people, but keep in mind that everything I am about to say can and will be backed up statistically and logically. Say what you want but you cannot argue with logic, no matter how hard you try to push with emotional revolt. Statistics over rules emotions. Feel free to look up any of the provided facts. 

So here goes nothing.

Over the past 5 years, America has struggled with a race problem. Or has it? I am here to tell you that regardless of what the media will tell you, America's racism issue is non existent.

One of the biggest "issues" that America has had over the past couple years, is police shootings. Shootings that have been blown out of proportion by a biased media, and racist groups like Black Lives Matter. I literally had someone tell me that the police in America kill African Americans just for being black. This is just not so. Statistically, cops kill nearly twice as many whites than blacks. In 2015 alone, 50% of all victims of police shootings were in fact white. Versus a contrasting number of black victims being about 26%. 

Not to mention that a very high majority of all those victims were criminals. Not innocent bystanders selling CDs, or peaceful thugs throwing their hands up. These are criminals. Regardless of popular belief amongst the uneducated, POLICE DO NOT SHOOT BASED ON COLOR! Well at least not 99% of the time. There have been cases where a white police officer has shot an innocent black man and vice versa, but it is not normal. It is rare. Many of these so called innocent victims are not the saints they are portrayed as. Often a time they carry illegal guns, drugs, and other contraband that create a dangerous atmosphere to the police and the community. They partake in criminal activities that degenerates their own image and threatens the communities they live in.  A perfect example of a criminal turned saint is Michael Brown, I mean the guy robbed a store the same day he charged a police officer and got shot. But the media will flash pictures of his high school graduation and say he was on his way to pursuing his dreams. I am not questioning his potential to be successful, but what I do question is his actions to better the chances of that success. I can tell you now, success doesn't come around by thugging around on the streets. This type of behavior boils down to culture. 

People like, Black Lives Matter, will tell you that society is set up for them to fail, or that there is a bias towards whites in the American culture. Once again, another myth. This is just an excuse. An excuse to cover up the reality. A sad reality of that has been created through culture, not race. It all starts from a home mentality. Ben Shapiro said it best when he said, "It turns out there is actual privledge in the American society. That priveldege is not tied to color, it is tied to making good decisions."

When you have a child who raised without a father, a mother who dropped out of high school, and income provided by welfare, you are going to raise a generation that has a lack of responsibility and a lack of respect. These attributions are then passed down to the next generation, and the cycle continues. There are many people from different racial backgrounds that have this mentality. This mentality is like a disease, and unfortunately this disease has stricken the minds of many African American citizens.

This is why more than 72% of all African American births are out of wedlock.

This is why 13% of the whole American black community is responsible for 50% of all US crimes.

This is why African American students are at the bottom when it comes to graduation rates compared to every other race. This mentality that dates back decades, continues to plague the communities that call America home.

Yet the media will tell us that the government and laws are set up to degrade black citizens. The same government that has appointed a black President, a black Attorney General, and many more black officials. The difference between the street thugs and these officials is their mentalities. As much as I despise Barrack Obama, I will give him the credit he deserves for getting to where he is at. He didn't drop out of high school, he didn't disrespect the police force (as he is now). He went to college and made a name for himself. Success and failure are not tied to a skin color, but rather a culture. 

The good news is that culture can change. In fact, it can change easily. All it takes is for one person to change their mindset. That mindset will be passed down to the next generation and so on. I have seen it personally. One of my best friends back at home, who I call my brother, is perfect example of changed mindset. Raised in a split household, he decided to go against the created stereotype. I am proud to say that he will be successful. He is currently studying law so he can be the change. If all Americans had this type of mentality, the statistics mentioned above would be drastically lower. 

I have been in South Africa for over two months now. I have seen racism. The American people have it good. America is the best country to live in when it comes to racial equality. Being here is like stepping back 90 years in America when it comes to inequalities and privileges. 

And finally, to my South African readers: learn from America's mistakes. Don't let the past affect your future. Your success is defined by the mentality you take on. You create the culture that you want to see. Be the change rather than complain. 

As always, stay blessed.

- Hoa Nguyen