I completely agree with you OP7!mu5. I'm not racist in any way, I am all for equality. Anybody who knows me knows I haven't a biggoted bone in my body. However...

(in my humble opinion)

Making up for a deficit in "opportunity" does not entail putting the downtrodden on a pedestal. There is nothing special about being black, white, red or tan. To continually focus on the problems does nothing to help.

Here's the conversation now.

US Media: Gee black people, you're really f*cked!
Black Culture: Yah, but we're working on progressing.
US Media: Gee black people, you've had it tough, you're really f*cked!
Black Culture: Yah, but we are trying to break the stereotypes of the past.
US Media: Gee black people, you're really f*cked. Here, have a month to yourself.
Black Culture: Thanks, we appreciate the publicity boost, but what is that really going to do? What we want is acceptance, not exposure.
US Media: Gee black people, you're still really f*cked. We feel bad, we're going to extend that month into January and give you a Postal Stamp.
Black Culture: Still . . . not helping.
US Media: Gee black people, you're really f*ucked. We wanna help, we're going to profile prominent black people and show how they were able to succeed by assimilating into white culture while remaining closet "black folk" on Sunday.
Black Culture: Great, we admire some of those folks too, but still...not helping.
US Media: Gee golly, black people, you're really f*cked. Why don't we study how f*cked you really are and make sure we tell everyone about it. We'll call awareness to how f*cked you are.
Black Culture: Uhhh...I don't think you're getting it.
US Media: Gee wizz, black people, you're really f*cked.

And we aren't getting it. We are trying to provide opportunity for those that have not worked for it or made the responsible decisions that open up opportunities for themselves. The most successful minority leaders were not given their success or respect, they earned it. In fact, distributing charitable advancement and opportunity only damages other groups. For instance, I'm a white lower middle class male, so in the eyes of the government and media - I'm set! I don't need any help with college, starting a small business, or even equal access to government contracts. I don't get a special on TV, because my accomplishments are expected.

The truest form of racism is continual media profiling. Not letting the conversation die only continues the development of the disease. Quit watering the weeds!

The facts are this: The world is not fair. We are equal but will not all lead equal lives.

I'm done.