Dr. Carol Swain argues that some affluent Black youth use systemic racism as an excuse for underachievement and lack of effort, even with access to elite education and resources. She contrasts relatives who embrace personal responsibility with those who blame societal forces for their circumstances.
What I Can Teach You About Racism. It's the story of her life. Carol Swain. So I was leaving you with a question, and I know you know what I think, but I want you to answer what— only what you think.
And that is, well, I have actually seen the impact on young Black youth in my own family, and what it creates is anger towards towards white people, but also it provides young people with an excuse for not working hard, because if the world is stacked against you because of systemic racism, it doesn't matter what you do, you're at a disadvantage. And so I think for some people, they use that as a convenient excuse not to apply themselves when they actually do have the abilities. And the young people that I'm referring to come from affluent Black families. They're not poor. But they still are not achieving the way they should be.
Within the, let's say, the, uh, just the blood-wise, or, or anyway you would put it, because some are in-laws, some are adopted, but within your, the 10 closest, I don't mean emotionally, uh, relatives, how many agree with you?
Some of the ones that had the most disadvantages I see in my nieces and nephews a few that are achieving, and they came from difficult circumstances like mine. Not as bad because they've had me, you know, helping them. But I see them applying the principles of those who are not. They're not angry. They treat me in a very respectful manner. They may not agree with me politically, but I find more of them moving more towards conservatism. So it's a mixed bag, but I can tell you that the ones that I've had the most pushback from, and one is a very close relative, it has to— it's a person that has had every advantage. That's right.
And like the black writers at the New York Times.
Well, I mean, he's gone to the best schools and still He still has not lived up to his young potential because he thinks that systemic racism— there's nothing wrong with him. He says there's nothing wrong with him. He has realized that it's the other people, it's the society that has caused him to be, you know, in the situation that he's in. And the situation that he's in is he doesn't want to work.
All right, we have a few seconds, Carol.
What—
how does one— how does one hear your podcast?
Well, uh, Dennis, I've launched a show that's almost like a TV show because it's filmed in a studio called Conversations with Dr. Carol Swain. And if you go to my website, bethepeoplenews.com, you can see the Be the People podcast.
God bless you. That's all I could say. I wish we had more time.
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