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Linda S Fox's avatar

That marriage part was also the salvation of the Poor White. My dad, relatively uneducated and from WV, married my mother and raised 4 kids - 3 of us went to college and supported ourselves (my sister and I with help from our husbands). A key part is that, although my Dad in his youth did fool around with racier women, he specifically looked for what used to be called a "nice girl" for a wife.

She was a good wife and mother, Bless her soul.

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Aaron Jones's avatar

Your last paragraph IS the solution to almost any shortcoming in any society.

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Jim in Alaska's avatar

We grow up tribal. Early on it's my dad can beat your dad, or my mommy cooks better than your momma. Going on to my cousin can, my uncle is, my neighborhood can, etc. It's protection when you're young, relatively weak and growing up.

Though we get there held up on the shoulders of those that went before and those around and closest to us, some, not all, not necessarily many in this day and age, end up standing on their own two feet.

Character not color. The individuals, not the tribe. That made our Republic and hopefully there's still enough of that around to restore our Nation and I don't think I'm exaggerating saying this; save civilization.

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Stephen Skubinna's avatar

Never occurred to me that you are an anchor baby.

Because, of course, you aren't. Given that your mother was a US citizen that label doesn't fit. And anyway, having been born in the US you got the same start every other natural born citizen did (disregarding measures of wealth and social standing... but if we put you on the same scale as the Kennedys and the Romneys, you and I would be very close together).

I never even considered what "differences" there might be among Black Americans born in the US and those recently immigrated. That is, until Barack Obama arrived on the scene and some (looking at you "Reverend" Jackson) questioned Obama's authenticity. Of course, once he became the nominee he was as authentic as Spike Lee and All Sharpton combined.

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Ruth  H's avatar

This is great, I'm going to link it in my blog. Oh, my heart, when I think of all he children without fathers, and the evil men do who have many children by different women. This is not just a black problem, it has become a very common thing among whites. I don't know the statistics of Asians and unwed mothers.

The divisions are so deep now, I am not surprised there is tribalism is getting worse among blacks. I see it when I do Mexican genealogy. So many are very proud of their degree of Native American and think they can go back to an individual tribe. With some it is true, they can. With most, they cannot. Tribal warfare and slavery happened in Mexico maybe even more so than in the United States.

The truth is we try to overcome the divisions, and we did have a good run for doing so, but evil will always try to ruin good and has seemed to be doing a very good job of it in the past 15 years. The rifts are wide and the canyons between them become deeper every day.

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Vita Beata's avatar

Interesting topic, fresh information I didn't know prior .. thank you Juliette.

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Joann Pappas's avatar

Juliette, soooo brilliant!

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Juliette Ochieng's avatar

Thank you, Joann! Did a little further editing.

As I recall, Patrick read the core post a while back.

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