Ta-Nehisi Coates was on DC radio today on The Journey w/ President Wayne Frederick Show

[#1 pick]

THE JOURNEY: “Between the World and Ta-Nehisi Coates”

He brought up some great points but here is one that I want to talk about. Coates mentions about the New Black Conundrum (As I refer to it). It is, if you come an above average situation, an above average education, have above average skills and you have above average luck, you have a decent chance to make a much better life out of yourself, not just as a Black person but as a person in general on an individual level.

But if you are an average person with average skills with average luck which is what many people of all races have a majority of, you have a much smaller chance of living an average life as a Black person. Your life will be very shytty, (my words) compared to comparable whites. He also mentioned policy is created not for the exceptional but for the ordinary citizens of this land.

My question to you is this. How do you feel you are effect by what I call the New Black Conundrum where if you are exceptional and very good compared to those who are in your craft, do you feel like you are affected or were effected in the past by it? If you are not seen as those two, do you feel it has vastly limited you compared to those in your field with similar talents or was given a opportunity that was not presented to you?

I really want to know. I want to call in an array of quality posters:

@Elle Driver
@#SOG_soldier
@1984
@Theraflu
@dede79
@dediamonddoll
@BedRoomI'z
@Spotlessmind
@Rawtid
@Art Barr
@Malta
@Poitier
@Hiphoplives4eva
@Poitier
@malcolmxxx_45
@BLAZO da GAWD
@mastermind
@PewPew
@Ms. Elaine
@NaijaProdigy Redux
@Audemar
@timothy_strickland
@Walt
@Gil Scott-Heroin
@The Nigerian
@BrothaZay
@Golden
@GoldCoastSaint
@GoldenGlove
@AXVL
@FreshFromATL
@2Quik4UHoes
@ThreeLetterAgency

 

[The Nigerian]

 

[#1 pick]

We can agree on this notion but it doesn't explain the New Black Conundrum issues Coates mentioned?

 

[The Nigerian]

We can agree on this notion but it doesn't explain the New Black Conundrum issues Coates mentioned?

I don't know, bro.

 

[#1 pick]

I don't know, bro.

Have you listened to the audio yet breh? It's good.

 

[TNOT]

THE JOURNEY: “Between the World and Ta-Nehisi Coates”

He brought up some great points but here is one that I want to talk about. Coates mentions about the New Black Conundrum (As I refer to it). It is, if you come an above average situation, an above average education, have above average skills and you have above average luck, you have a decent chance to make a much better life out of yourself, not just as a Black person but as a person in general on an individual level.

But if you are an average person with average skills with average luck which is what many people of all races have a majority of, you have a much smaller chance of living an average life as a Black person. Your life will be very shytty, (my words) compared to comparable whites. He also mentioned policy is created not for the exceptional but for the ordinary citizens of this land.

My question to you is this. How do you feel you are effect by what I call the New Black Conundrum where if you are exceptional and very good compared to those who are in your craft, do you feel like you are affected or were effected in the past by it? If you are not seen as those two, do you feel it has vastly limited you compared to those in your field with similar talents or was given a opportunity that was not presented to you?

I really want to know. I want to call in an array of quality posters:

@Elle Driver
@#SOG_soldier
@1984
@Theraflu
@dede79
@dediamonddoll
@BedRoomI'z
@Spotlessmind
@Rawtid
@Art Barr
@Malta
@Poitier
@Hiphoplives4eva
@Poitier
@malcolmxxx_45
@BLAZO da GAWD
@mastermind
@PewPew
@Ms. Elaine
@NaijaProdigy Redux
@Audemar
@timothy_strickland
@Walt
@Gil Scott-Heroin
@The Nigerian
@BrothaZay
@Golden
@GoldCoastSaint
@GoldenGlove
@AXVL
@FreshFromATL
@2Quik4UHoes
@ThreeLetterAgency

I would rather be overpaid than overrated.

If you're above average there's is nothing you can do about it.

I throw intelligence out of the window in this discussion because really really smart people are the exception.

If you are above average it most likely that you put in more time,or got the right mentoring early on your life.

Or maybe you're average in your field compared to your peers, because you picked the wrong career path.

I'll use my sister as a example, she's a doctor by trade, but it's not in her heart. Her job does not fit her skill set. She's a leader and teacher who just so happens to be smart enough to make it through med school.

 

[Elle Driver]

This is painted very black and white and I think the issue is there's a lot of greys which usually isn't acknowledged. A lot more greys than just black and white if that makes sense. There are people who are doing piss poor cause they came from either an above avg situation or a piss poor situation so idk.

 

[Unknown Poster]

THE JOURNEY: “Between the World and Ta-Nehisi Coates”

He brought up some great points but here is one that I want to talk about. Coates mentions about the New Black Conundrum (As I refer to it). It is, if you come an above average situation, an above average education, have above average skills and you have above average luck, you have a decent chance to make a much better life out of yourself, not just as a Black person but as a person in general on an individual level.

But if you are an average person with average skills with average luck which is what many people of all races have a majority of, you have a much smaller chance of living an average life as a Black person. Your life will be very shytty, (my words) compared to comparable whites. He also mentioned policy is created not for the exceptional but for the ordinary citizens of this land.

My question to you is this. How do you feel you are effect by what I call the New Black Conundrum where if you are exceptional and very good compared to those who are in your craft, do you feel like you are affected or were effected in the past by it? If you are not seen as those two, do you feel it has vastly limited you compared to those in your field with similar talents or was given a opportunity that was not presented to you?

I really want to know. I want to call in an array of quality posters:

@Elle Driver
@#SOG_soldier
@1984
@Theraflu
@dede79
@dediamonddoll
@BedRoomI'z
@Spotlessmind
@Rawtid
@Art Barr
@Malta
@Poitier
@Hiphoplives4eva
@Poitier
@malcolmxxx_45
@BLAZO da GAWD
@mastermind
@PewPew
@Ms. Elaine
@NaijaProdigy Redux
@Audemar
@timothy_strickland
@Walt
@Gil Scott-Heroin
@The Nigerian
@BrothaZay
@Golden
@GoldCoastSaint
@GoldenGlove
@AXVL
@FreshFromATL
@2Quik4UHoes
@ThreeLetterAgency

I'll make sure to come back to this thread to type out a thoughtful response, I'm busy at the moment, but this is really something I think about all the time.

 

[Audemar]

It is, if you come an above average situation, an above average education, have above average skills and you have above average luck, you have a decent chance to make a much better life out of yourself, not just as a Black person but as a person in general on an individual level.

I agree with this, but it still is very complicated, especially when you factor in race. For example, an above-average Black person will fair better than an average or below-average Black person; there is no disputing that. However, it is very much the case that above-average Black people still do not fair as well as average (even below-average to be real) White people because of reasons.

But if you are an average person with average skills with average luck which is what many people of all races have a majority of, you have a much smaller chance of living an average life as a Black person. Your life will be very shytty, (my words) compared to comparable whites. He also mentioned policy is created not for the exceptional but for the ordinary citizens of this land.

Once again, I agree with this, the first part at least. I'm of the opinion that policy is created for (and by) the wealthy elites, hence why they try to influence political actions with their money through lobbying efforts, campaign donations, etc. Do some policies work against Black folks? Absolutely and that is by design, which is something I think some folk don't want to believe. Still, most people, regardless of any policy, will be just plain average and that is ultimately a benefit for society in my view. Note, that average varies based on racial group.

My question to you is this. How do you feel you are effect by what I call the New Black Conundrum where if you are exceptional and very good compared to those who are in your craft, do you feel like you are affected or were effected in the past by it?

This is too difficult of a question to answer. It's too much of an estimation.

 

[Raava]

I can't listen until later. Just going off the OP I think it would depend on your field/ what you are trying to do. I also believe these days it has less to do with talent vs. connections and how much you are willing to hustle. Plenty of average people who are where they are because of connection. Race is a factor, but depending on what you are trying to do it's not always the case. Economic status is also a factor but it could be a number of things.

There are plenty of people who are smart and talented that never succeed. That could be because they aren't putting in the work they could be. I listened to this podcast the other day, The Beautiful Struggle #6. It made me realize what I already knew. I wasn't truly doing everything I could to get where I want.

A lot of the time that is the issue you either aren't really doing eveything or you just aren't trying/interested in using you natural gifts. You can have above average ability in one area and never pursue it for various reasons.

 

[Rawtid]

If I'm understanding correctly, you're saying that, as a black person,you have to be "extraordinary" in order to be successful? If so, then I have to disagree.

 

[Unknown Poster]

I feel as a black man living in NYC, yes...you do have to be exceptional to make a living here.

I came up in the above average situation for any black person in America. Parents were African and West Indian Immigrants. We lived in one of the richest neighborhoods in all of Western PA. I attended the best private schools in the area. Graduated with a 3.9 GPA from Pitt in 2012. Hosted 3 radio shows on 3 different radio stations. Worked as the assistant director of the Pittsburgh MLK community mural program in 2008-2009.

The problem? Living in Pittsburgh, PA, which is EXTREMELY racist. I didn't even realize how racist it was until I moved from there to New York.

I was shocked to see black people in corporate positions. That owned businesses that were thriving. That had all different types of roles. It was a culture shock because black people in Pittsburgh are absolutely doing terrible and most of that if not all of that is due to white racism.

I remember attending college in Ohio and coming back to Pittsburgh in 2004. I tried to find work to make some dough during that summer. The only place that would hire me was McDonald's.

The worst jobs I've had were the ones that actually paid (fast food) the best ones? (radio, working for Pitts CGS, etc) didn't pay at all.

I felt like I was constantly being sold short simply because I was black. And male. Not only that, but because I was African and people assumed I was a F.O.B. they thought they could short change me and not pay me.



But now...I've worked all sorts of jobs living in NYC. I've had all sorts of opportunities that put me ahead of 95% of the black population of America. I've managed to run a pop-up boutique for my clothing line. I worked and still am a registered insurance broker by the state of New York and was working for Aflac on 14 Wall Street. I worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center. I've worked at Yoga Studios. I've worked Security in Times Square. I've worked as a business to business salesman. But I've been amazed at all of the opportunities I could find for myself here in New York. I've made more progress here than I have in 26 years of living in Pittsburgh cause it was THAT racist.

Like you don't even know how much these motherfukkers wanna hold the door so you don't get in cause they are beyond intimidated by a strong, confident, intelligent, knowledgeable and just exceptional black person like myself. That's why I just end up hating this country and all of it's bullshyt cause I remember how many talented, creative, and intelligent black people I met that were unemployed for months...even years. Cause no one wanted to hire them. Most are living at home even with degrees trying to figure out how much money they need to get together to leave. IT's sad. Meanwhile white people who are average an below average are thriving simply due to privilege and connections.

 

[Unknown Poster]

double

 

[Unknown Poster]

triple

 

[The Nigerian]

Have you listened to the audio yet breh? It's good.

Listened to the audio. Didn't really find much value.

Hell, I don't even understand the topic of conversation.

#WhiteSupremacyIsTheEnemy. That's all.