I’ve heard the message before, but this is a new angle:

Sharpton: ‘Gangsterism’ Harming Blacks
Rev. Al Sharpton Says Potential Black Leaders Falling Under ‘Gangster Mentality’

By CLIFF BRUNT

INDIANAPOLIS Aug 18, 2006 (AP)— Many black youths fall under a spell of “gangster mentality,” preventing them from becoming leaders and making a positive impact in politics, the Rev. Al Sharpton said.

The civil rights activist faulted Hollywood and the record industry for making “gangsterism” seem cool and acceptable.

“We have got to get out of this gangster mentality, acting as if gangsterism and blackness are synonymous,” Sharpton said Thursday at the annual conference of the National Association of Black Journalists.

I seem to remember that “Reverend” Sharpton was one of the black “leaders” who jumped down Bill Cosby’s throat for making similar remarks some time ago.

For some years I’ve noticed the big disconnect between the real black community’s image and the image portrayed by popular black culture. In the area where I live and work, it is impossible to find a job where one does not meet a racially mixed workforce. I find myself working with black as well as white engineers and electricians and operators, and there’s no noticeable difference in competence that can be correlated to skin pigmentation. We share the same goals: healthy families, job satisfaction, personal successes.

However, these sorts of black people are hardly the ones that get the media exposure. We get to see plenty of rap stars and hedonistic millionaire athletes instead.

“I think we’ve allowed a whole generation of young people to feel that if they’re focused, they’re not black enough. If they speak well and act well, they’re acting white, and there’s nothing more racist than that.”

The key to leadership is taking the initiative to change things, said Sharpton. He said his National Action Network is just one group willing to help young black leaders get into politics.

And then there’s Rev’rund Sharpton who has made a successful living putting the capital “R” in “Race”. From the Tawana Brawley debacle to a presidential bid, he’s managed to keep his on version of a negative racial stereotype going. I’ll bet you a nickle agains a donut that “his National Action Network” is financed by government grants and dollars coerced from businesses he’s threatened with negative attacks based on some trumped up racial event. Sharpton simply took another negative racial stereotype to a very successful (for him) level. Sharpton isn’t the same as that engineer I work with.

There are a lot of young black men who aspire to greatness, but there’s not a lot of room for many Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons. Nor are there that many slots in the NFL and NBA. I cannot enumerate the room for “successful” rap stars, and the job requirements for dealers in undocumented pharmaceuticals are low, but the competition is a killer. That pretty well takes care of the stereotypes.

Where there is a big number of slots is among the middle class. All it takes is a bit of education and a bit of proper attitude, and there’s nothing to hold a young black man or woman back. Not in today’s America. Come on! I’ll see you on the job!