In the letter, "Whites in denial about prejudice", Apr 17, 2008, Gwendolyn M. Patton states, "Far too many white people cannot see that they are benefactors of institutional racism and white-skin privilege. They do not see the historical errors of the ways of this country, at home and abroad.
 
It’s pretty obvious that historically, white folks and black folks share responsibility for world-wide slavery and in the world. Over the ages, my ancestors have chosen at one time or another to place their fellow man, including black folks, into slavery.
 
Over the ages, Gwendolyn M. Patton’s ancestors have chosen at one time or another to place their fellow man, including white folks into slavery.
 
Fortunately over the centuries, man’s incivility to man, at least in this form, lessened. The reasons man progressed toward civility are probably a conglomeration. Some might credit a gradual and subtle religious awakening. Others may believe it a continuing positive mutation of our collective mentality. In any case, it was, and is, a continuing civilize-ation of our civilization.
 
And thanks to that civilize-ation, slavery was finally abolished globally in the past century except in parts of West Africa where chattel slavery is still practiced.
 
Apparently, unbeknownst to many, victimization as slaves was never confined only to blacks or black Americans. Blacks were only the most recent victims. And in sincere deference to their inhuman exploitation, ironically in an historical context, they were to become the most fortunate of all slaves. In contrast to the terrible fate of our white and black ancestor folk who became the first known slaves, history’s most recent slaves, black Americans, enjoyed the fate of participating in the last historical remnants of slavery, were freed as they witnessed its ultimate abolition and their ancestors, today, enjoy a freedom, a standard of living and a life expectancy of which their African kinfolk can only dream.
 
With the abolition of slavery should have come a sense of gratitude, rejoicing and the immediate governmental institution of a Marshall Plan-type program of economic mainstreaming of black Americans into the work force.
 
Sadly, that didn’t happen; freed slaves and their descendants, to this day, having become victims of a nation-wide political scam.
 
Instead of joining the work force, black Americans, slowly but surely, became major political pawns, catered to and maneuvered by politicians through vote-getting legislation of incentive-destroying “handout” monetary subsistence. Black politicians, in time,  joined the scam.
 
The multitude of firmly entrenched election-inspired welfare programs became a way of life never intended by the citizenry.
 
This way of life is represented, protected and continues to flourish today through the efforts of a most powerful, demanding and threatening PAC of clever opportunists, a la Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton, who evolved from the welfare chaos.
 
Finding it easier each day to demand and receive whatever of politicians at all levels and the kowtowing of the liberal media to their each and every whim has encouraged further demands.  And be assured that it won’t end here. The liberal politicians and their black constituent “leaders” are on a roll — while those “black folks” are happy at the pork trough.  They've got thier "Slavery Card".
 
These black and white folk “Slavery Card” holders have become the foundation of a successful socialist movement embedded throughout the nation that most politicians and liberal media still continue to laud publicly, but privately fear, having found themselves as the folks being scammed at tax time.
 
I’m convinced that the “slavery issue” itself is passé and black folks have somewhat allayed their decades-old vindictiveness over slavery. But then their “leaders” preach, “black folks just can’t afford to “fold” that fetching card.”
 
So, the lingering consequences of slavery, per se, is not the problem. It’s the resultant, learned “Slavery Card” scam dealt by black and white politicians and black folks being cleverly played against one another, both whose decks being stacked in favor of the "house" --- and "senate".
 
If I was a black folk, I’d fold my “Slavery” hand and I’d start playing “Reality.”
 
I’d deal Jackson and Sharpton out.
 
I’d deal in, for starters, Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Jesse Lee Paterson, Star Parker and Michelle Malkin.
 
With this deck, black folk can shed the slave mentality and demand a hand instead of a handout — and they'll get it!
 
 
Armond "Si" Simmons
Pell City, AL 35128
 
104 Wadsworth Lane
205 338 7378
205 863 0207