I doubt that you will get many responses. People want to be post-racial. When Ralph Bunche became Ambassador to the UN, it was a post-racial event. Thurgood Marshall's appointment to the Supreme Court was post-racial. Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice were post-racial Secretaries of State. Obviously, we are truly post-racial with the election of Barack Obama.

If you are expecting MSM to carry a message that there is more work to be done in racial issues, forget it. Remember how quickly the National discussion on race went away after Obama's speech in Philadelphia?

Look at the news anchors in prime time. See any dark-hued anchors on broadcast or cable? Think you will get a discussion that is led by a person with your viewpoint? It will not happen.

On the bright side, there are enough websites out there where you can get a discussion going to address issues close to your heart. There are books that give data supporting your view of where the issue of race rests in contemporary America. There is even science fiction like "Blonde Roots" that switches the role of the races in the slavery issue.

The mind stretching on issues of race will occur on the internet, not in MSM. Most people will be on the sidelines just like they were when firehoses and German Shepherds were used against Black children.

Excellent post

Good post as always Viper. Well thought out and felt out so to speak. Great quote from Ali.

I do like to point out that there are serious discussions of race. I like to add caste and class to that discussion. But we must look for them.

PBS and the History Channels as well as CSPAN present fine documentaries and discussions. And I always advertise MSNBC on the weekends when they mostly give up on news. These prison docs they do are much more impressive than anybody seems to report.

Why are we holding over two million people in prison and why are half of these prisoners African Americans?

Why do I never hear a call to release a quarter of the prisoners as soon as possible. I do it all the time but have few readers, obviously.

So many different issues facing us today must include a discussion of race.

Thank you for a fine,and well put together piece.

Excellent post although, I've never felt being Black was a burden. I tend to see it, when I actually think of it, as a badge of honor. Yet, with that said, I can't help but realize there are various reasons I've always been comfortable in my own skin.

Similar to the situation of Viper, my parents played a major role in how I see my self. Also, I'm brown skin, I've never experienced what it's like to be of darker hue. Would I still have been as comfortable? I'd like to think so but I can't say for sure. Then there is the fact I'm female, which brings on it's own set of challenges but I think it's generally tougher to be a Black man in this country, than a Black woman.

Have I experienced racism, yep. Growing up during the 50's in the South it was difficult to escape. Interestingly enough, it was racism in other parts of the country that would catch me off balance. Growing up, I was pretty clear who hated me and why. Not so much outside of the South.

Either way, I wouldn't want to be anyone other than who I am. Is it really fair to ask or expect anyone else to change?

Way back when Mizz Oprah first went 'national" she did a show about racism with a woman (sorry, but it has been so long my recollection of certain details -- like the woman's name -- have faded), anyway... with a woman who conducted a seminar on a racism. For Oprah, she did it on her show over two or so episodes. And in one part of it, everyone in the course was supposed to write down their answer to the question, "If you could be any race, what race would you be?" Not a single white person participating in the seminar -- even making their preference known by anonymous, secret ballot -- NO ONE chose to be black.

Burdensome? To be perfectly honest, at times, yes... It is difficult to go through life being able to clap on the right beat, to dance and look cool doing it even when I'm faking it, to demonstrate some modest competency at just about any sport I tried, to be the proud possessor of a nice round booty before J. Lo made round booties cool with y'all, to speak both "white" and "black", to have people -- black and white -- curious as to where my "people" are from, to have a full head of hair with a mind of its own, straight one day, curly another, and downright kinky on the third, to suppress this desire to put a little "soul" into the National Anthem every time I sing it, to miss out on buying tanning lotion or going to the tanning salon because I'm already a rich golden brown to begin with (in fact I buy the highest level SPF sunblock I can get my hands on, and damn it, it still doesn't work!), to drive while black and sometimes shop while black even though my money is just as green as yours and I use my turn signals every time I change lanes and rarely stray above the speed limit.

My life might have been a bit easier, but it certain would be lacking in the rich variety of experience I enjoy every day because of this "Fine Brown Skin"*.

Good post!!!

(*jazz afficionados may recognize the song title.)

Thankfully, it doesn't have to be like this. People are making sure of that daily in their personal lives.

Inexorable changes have already made the black burden you describe a phenomenon that is reaching it's end. It's been a long road and we have miles to go, but we are on our way--together--and the end is coming.

I didn't know whether or not I should comment. I am of mixed ancestry, but black isn't in the mix. Are black or white the only choices? Because I would pick Native American without hesitation. But, black OR white? Hmmm. You know, I think I'd pick black....for the richness.