Misconceptions

All these men seem to have a profound effect on blacks both in life and death. Let me say all of them aren't dead yet. So let's start with the live one first. The controversial leader of the NOI is alive though he is very sick. Louis Farrakahn has toned his message down somewhat. But he hasn't recanted any of his positions or statements.According to him the downfall of the black man in America is the white man's fault. He has a way of igniting unrest among radical blacks. Mainly due to those he targets are rebellious anyway. American prisons and projects is their main areas for recruitment. A hard head and unconformity is the quickest way to get to either one. An example of how he has mislead blacks. The last I heard he blamed the government for hurricane Katrina. Standing on the corners selling "Final Calls" and fruit won't cut the mustard amymore. The revolt has lost it's luster without being able to attract mainstream dollars.

Martin Luther King Jr. made a nation recognize the worth of his people. He didn't sink to the level of those who thought less of him. From a more practical point of view. He had sense enough to know he didn't have the numbers to win anyway. To bad some blacks have forgot their worth themselves. I don't care what blacks are doing they want to recall his dream. No matter whether they do good or bad. They want to invoke his name. I can't help but believe if he were still alive he would be critical of what has become of blacks today. He didn't march and face the water hoses and police dogs for blacks to behave the way they are now. I wonder how willing blacks would be to claim his greatness if they knew he was a Republican. Would he be viewed like Clarence Thomas? I think that's why his political affiliation is kept such a secret. It would reveal that his legacy has been distorted. This entitlement mentality that runs rampant these days is not what he taught at all.

Lincoln Perry (Step-N-Fetchit)was one of the first black movie stars ever. He also was at one time a multi-millionaire. It's a shame he doesn't get the praise and accolades like his contemporaries of that time Joe E. Brown and Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy for instance. They played slow dimwitted characters also, but they weren't held responsible for the intelligence of their entire race. Whites didn't hold the "Three Stooges" responsible for all shiftless,submissive, unemployed white people who lived in their lifetime. They were simply funny comedians. Who got rich in the process of playing those roles. Black people are quick to call other blacks Step-N-Fetchit in an attempt to be insulting. Obviously they don't know anything about him. He would have died a wealthy man. Had he not got involved with a group of militants who convinced him of the unworthiness of his accomplishments.

This is what lead me to write this story. Nathan Bedford Forrest is buried underneath a statue in a park named in his honor. Nathan Bedford Forrest was one of the original members of the KKK, but he got out of the organization when they became violent. I hope blacks aren't using Barack Obama's election as a reason to get cocky. Without the help of people of other races it wouldn't have been possible. Blacks seem to forget that at some point, where ever they were successful. Whites had to help them out. That might not seem like much. But every little bit helps.