The issue of directing blame

By Yueming Wang

Dear Editor:
Andre Louis’ “The Persistence of Slavery” was the best article in the Titan Template. Louis writes about a controversial topic in high school, with so many fellow students affected by the story. He deserves special commendation for his audacity to write the article.

Louis believes that there is still some damage left from the times when blacks and whites were segregated. He conveys that slavery is still a significant factor in the manner people act. However, in today’s society, there are many successful African Americans. Just look at Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Michael Jordan, and Barack Obama. People treat them with great respect because they’ve earned it. If the effects of slavery have not subsided, how did they manage to achieve such success?
As textbooks note, Americans also persecuted European and Asian immigrants. For instance, when the Chinese arrived at San Francisco, the locals looked down on them with hostility. The Chinese were also judged by their race but they were able to stay educated and hold decent jobs.

Louis blames American society for the acts of African people. Truthfully, the blame should be weighed on the people themselves, as harsh as it may sound. Other societies stayed strong and fought hostility by banding together. They were able to hold on and thrive until society eventually accepted them.

Why do some African Americans go around calling each other the N-word? Why is the average GPA of African American students at Hercules a mere 1.9? Is slavery of the past really to blame?
Although the level of persecution for African Americans and Chinese Americans differed, most concepts still applied to both. Education is a key ingredient in every culture. The way children are brought up have significant effects on present and future generations. While many cherish education, some African Americans find other interests like music and sports to be more appealing. If every family emphasized the importance of learning to their kids, the African American society will inevitably become more enlightened as a group.

People need to realize that blaming others for what has happened will not alter the result. If everyone started focusing more on a positive perspective like “what I can do to make myself better,” then the world will change for the better.