A Black Statistic

Posted by SprintingParadox on March 25, 2014 in Editorials |30 Comments

Black people make up about 30 percent of the United States’ population–
but they account for 60 percent of those imprisoned.
1 in 3 black men can expect to go to prison in their lifetime.
Statistics.
That’s how we’re looked at.
As numbers.
Not people, individuals, human beings but numbers.
If you saw me walking around what would your first thought be?
Would you think of me investing in weed or investing in a business?
Would you think that I have no father figure and I’m an off the wall child or would you think I’m the definition of what being a father is?
Would you think that I like to smoke swishers, blunts, bowls, and black and milds?
Would you think that I dropped out of school and can only find a job at McDonald’s?
Stereotypes. A preconceived idea.
You know what that’s called…
Prejudice.
But wait,
I thought that’s what MLK was fighting for…
For individuals to be judged by their character.
Not race. Stereotypes. Statistics.
Was his dream only just a dream?
People tell me I can be so ghetto at times. That I can act so black.
Wait..what?
because my study habits aren’t the best?
Because I struggle more in school than you?
Because I have no motivation to take classes that don’t interest me?
You may be sitting there with a 4.0 GPA and honors student, on the deans list, perfect attendance and you think you’re better than me?
Okay well since you’re so smart you should already know this.
1.6 million African-Americans have an advanced degree
Yes, that includes Ph.D’s and master degrees
3.9 million are college students
80 percent have high school diplomas
19 percent have a bachelor’s degree
There’s your statistics for you.
You’re so close minded that you only believe what media portrays
We’re not all in gangs.
We don’t all do drugs.
We don’t all come from a broken home.
We aren’t as dumb as you make us out to be.
You don’t understand how hard it is to succeed when everyone looks at you and simply because of the color of your skin you’re associated as a failure.
You think we’re not as educated as you…
here’s a lesson you obviously haven’t been taught…
Before you judge someone, take a walk in their shoes.
You never know what someone has been through.
Don’t look at statistics, stereotypes or what other people tell you.
Take the chance to get to know the person. Relate to them.
You never know you might have a lot more in common than you think.
I don’t know about you but it’s time for change –
because I refuse to be another black statistic.

#MakeYourselfKnown