The American Black population is largely perceived as being a bunch of innate losers who refuse to help themselves while surrounded by opportunity and plenty.
The extent to which that prevailing perception is accurate is debatable, despite statistics that confirm a collective Black failure of the Black population in income generation and the source of increase, which is job skills. Evidence confirms that when Blacks spend their money, 98% of what they spend is spent with people who avoid Blacks socially and spend 80% of their own ethnic group income with one another.
Taken together, all of this means that, legally and by choice, Blacks voluntarily live on only 2% of their enormous income, which is equal to the 11th largest nation in the world. The math is irrefutable. In light of those facts, it is evident that the lack of grit, not White racism, plays the central role in Black economic and educational failure in America.
Therefore, in this context, grit and Alice Marie Johnson, the great-grandmother who had been in jail for more than 20 years, serving a life sentence for non-violent drug charges are the cure for what ails Black America. Grit.
So, what is “grit”? Grit is a character trait, and your character is your destiny, specifically those character traits of your personality that are known as self-discipline, determination and resilience, as grit is loosely defined. IQ always helps you move the ball down the field and money works up to a point, but grit is the gift that keeps on giving. That’s why it’s what counts when it comes to making money and having a high IQ.
Therefore, ultimately, what Blacks do to help themselves is far more important than the attitude of Whites towards Blacks.
Alice Marie Johnson admitted that she did something wrong – “I made a bad choice that cost me my life. I am ready to re-enter society – I will not waste a second chance at life.”
That’s why we all need the character traits of objective reasoning, self-discipline, determination and resilience and a focus on making good choices: grit. That will enable us to develop self-respect and pride. Money and success inevitably follow grit.
It is my opinion, as a university dean emeritus, that by subscribing to TonyBrownsJournal.com, and viewing the nearly 1,000 historic video titles, you can gain the potential equivalent knowledge-fund of a university Ph. D. degree in Black Affairs and a relevant history. Then you can help Black people help themselves. And in reality-based circles, everyone knows that if Blacks are to achieve socio-economic equality, Blacks are going to have to take the leadership role in their own survival/empowerment.
Visit www.TonyBrownsJournal.com and download the FREE Tony Brown’s Journal Video & Film Catalog that has show descriptions of the nearly 1,000 programs produced during the 40-year history of the award-winning Tony Brown’s Journal television series. On the TonyBrownsJournal.com site there are also video clips of rare and iconic programs from the Tony Brown’s Journal Video and Film collection that are available FREE with just the click of a mouse (www.tonybrownsjournal.com/video-clips) -- any time, any place – and as long as you want. These clips showcase many pivotal, yet often-overlooked experiences of African-American life.
