I'm not black. Lets get that out of the way quickly. I have been coming to this iReport site and read many reports from other posters. Some have been interesting and enlightening while others had me hanging my head. I felt it was time for me to contribute.

There have been many reports on here written about the unfairness of the judicial system, slavery, reparations, police, etc. What I find to be disturbing about all of this is that these things are catch phrases in the black community that instinctually breed hatred. Additionally they lead to black people being portrayed as people who want handouts; perpetual victims of society. Black people should not want that and I don't want that. It's time for a change in THINKING!

The first step, I believe, is for black people to stop playing the role of the victim, of persecuted or of the second-class. I am not saying that there are not those who still do not care for black people or that racism does not exist, but that is not the main point of this piece anyhow.

Long before this nation was even a nation, black people played an immense part. Without the labor of black slaves this country would not have become the powerhouse it is today. Obviously slavory was an unfortunate mistake. One that can not be changed. What frustrates me is how black people in general choose to percieve this. Instead of focusing on the achievements of black people in America and educating the youth in those areas, there tends to be a focus on recieving reparations from the government.

Look around you and realize that YOU are responsible for a great deal of what makes the United States the greatest country on earth! From the work put into the infrastructure of this nation, to the inventors, to the leaders, to the reformers.

Sadly, there are far too many people who focus on nothing other than what they can get for free, or what they feel is "owed" to them. This is a terrible perception of reality, for not only does this fortify the perception of black people as panderers and victims, but it also demonstrates a COMPLETE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE in the area of reparatations as well!

All black people feel they are entitled to "40 acres and a mule". Even the most basic research would enlighten thousands as to the origination of this term. For those who don't know: After the Civil War, General Sherman had with him approximately 18,000 "freedmen". These were former black slaves who travelled with Sherman's troops for food and protection during the war. After the war, he created "special field order 15" providing ONLY THOSE 18,000 freedmen land in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Unfortunately, those orders were revoked after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The point being, not ALL black people are entitled to reparations in the first place, and the law was revoked soon after it was implemented. Besides, should everyone society that has ever been wronged get "reparations"? Do the Jews get reparations from the Germans after WWII, or from the Ancient Egyptians for 400 years of slavery? Do the Native Americans get reparations? Do the people of Australia get reparations for being kicked out of the British Empire and forced to live on a "prison island" at the end of the world?? Of course not. People must be STRONG! Survive the bad times, make yourself stronger and move on, while seeing to it that these attrocities never happen again. Begging is not the way. Doing it for yourself is more rewarding and far more respectable because no one can claim it was given to you.

On a side note, I find the education of black people, especially black youth, on the topics of Black History to be horrific and embarassing. That is the biggest part of the problem. A lack of knowledge in what Black people mean to this nation and what they have done for this nation.

They have no concept of what Black scientists did for America. Or what happened during the various political movements, desegregation, infrastructure, design, etc. The average black youth knows NOTHING beyond Martin Luther King Jr. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ask them to recite a line from his famous speech OTHER THAN "I have a dream" and they can't even do it! It's disgraceful.

There must be pride, there must be education, there must be reform, there must be understanding. However, note that when I say "pride" I do not refer to it in the "Black Panther" segregationist viewpoint. Those people were misguided. Americans are one people with an interlaced and deep history. That should be applauded, not something that will tear us apart. But it starts with you. You must take yourselves seriously and earn respect and power. And WHEN that power comes to you, be respectful of it and appreciative of it. Do not lower yourselves asking for handouts.