LOUIS ‘HOP’ KENDRICK
Too frequently, Blacks are guilty of believing the asinine remark that “other Blacks do not want to work and too many fail the drug tests.”
That kind of remark is a reminder of Willie Lynch’s How To Make A Slave.
In every race of people there are those who have atrocious work habits and fail drug tests, not just Black people. Of course too many Blacks have engaged in acts of violence, drug using and dealing and are filling up the penal institutions. However let us focus less on the end results and more intently on the causes, because I am a firm believer in prevention.
I want to provide you with a couple of contradictions that have permeated society for untold numbers of years. In the days of slavery when we were the property of another person, the slaves were compelled to labor often from dawn to dusk and were treated worst than the livestock. Slave masters would describe them as lazy. (Blacks not wanting to work?)
Another contradiction is how drugs became a part of Black culture. I will always remember a scene from The Untouchables where a underling said to the mob boss, “this dope is the equivalent of poison.” The boss responded by stating, “so what sell it to the monkeys (Blacks).” This calloused, insensitive and destructible attitude was identical to that of White politicians, gangsters and police across this nation.
I was born and raised on the Hill, and we witnessed how police shared in the drug profits and their attitude about drugs. Later on in 1966, I was a co-founder of the first Allegheny County Narcotics squad and saw first hand how little they cared about the negative effects drugs were having on the Black communities. Their lack of concern resulted in drugs reaching an epidemic proportion in Black neighborhoods. Those in the White communities who had limited concerns about what they perceived as a monkey problem ignored it too long, because in 2013 White youths are over dosing on drugs, such as heroin in record numbers.
Some of these corporations who stress drug testing (I agree) were built from illegal money including drugs. They amassed unbelievable amounts of tainted money, laundered it after destroying an unbelievable numbers of persons lives, and now they wear gloves, because they can never clean their hands. These persons now own banks, construction companies, steel mills, mercantile stores and all kind of franchises. This ill-gotten money has elected public officials at every level of government, committee persons, council members, mayors, judges, congresspersons, and U.S. Senators. These persons with unbelievable access to power have influence on laws that are written at every level, laws which suppress poor people of every race. To those of us, who have bought into so many untrue characterizations of other Blacks must take time and not make excuses for any of our shortcomings, but please do some research that will lead you into a better understanding.
Kingsley Association needs your financial help.
(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum Page.)
Your comments are welcome.
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Download our mobile app at https://www.appshopper.com/news/new-pittsburgh-courier