Mary Ellen Pleasant and William Henry Ellis. What do these two have in common? They were both former slaves who became millionaires. Back then, Black entrepreneurs had to worry about slave catchers and lynch mobs. Today, “microaggressions” are enough to discourage young Blacks...according to liberals.
Jeremiah G. Hamilton, another Black millionaire of the 19th century, was almost lynched in front of his wife and daughter when angry rioters appeared at his doorstep. While living in New York, Hamilton was making millions of dollars as a broker, doing business with White people, while married to a White woman, DURING the Civil War. If there was ever a time where “systematic racism” was a thing, it certainly would’ve been directed toward this man. Yet, in 1875, he became the richest Black man in America with a fortune of over $250 million.
One often wonders what these great heroes would think of the current state of liberal media. Young Black students are taught to find emotional support from White “allies” while simultaneously demonizing their “whiteness.” They’re told to seek help for any “racial trauma” they may be feeling from enduring the lasting effects of “institutional racism.” They’re told that, no matter how successful they become, the cards are always stacked against them because of their skin-color. They’re segregated into “safe-spaces” to cry on each other’s shoulders. All while we are living as the richest group of Blacks who have ever lived on this planet.
Our ancestors would be ashamed of us. They would expect more of us. To say our current struggles rival theirs is ridiculous. Yet there were still many Blacks throughout history who managed to become successful in the teeth of Slavery and Jim Crow. What excuses could we possibly have today?
Black Snowflakes provides a brand-new perspective for those Americans who still believe it is impossible for Blacks to be successful unless they get (to quote Colin Kaepernick) that “White man’s stamp of approval.”I begin with a counterargument to “the racism of low-expectations” or the way liberals have painted Blacks as helpless children who must be coddled through life.Then, I offer a peak into the heroic lives of the greatest Black entrepreneurs in American history who all lived during the height of Slavery and Jim Crow.Next, I explore the currently dismal state of the Black community (Father Absence, Financial Illiteracy, and Educational Underachievement) and how Black males can lead the charge in reflecting the values of our historical Black heroes.In the Chapter entitled The Pursuit of Freedom, I offer basic financial knowledge to help young people to reach their goals in life.I present my argument for why underachievement is not only undesirable, but it is actually immoral.Lastly, I provide a biblical argument for individualism and the rejection of liberal groupthink and tribalism. It is my hope that this book serves to inspire Young Black males to change their hearts and minds to espouse the values that have made this nation the greatest in the world. I hope you enjoy Black How the Liberal Victimhood Narrative Ruins Black Males.
About the Author
S.S. Page is a youth advocate dedicated to helping at-risk communities primarily in the fields of drug addiction and homelessness. While working in the field, he has learned about the many issues that are affecting at-risk communities.
WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THE PROBLEMS OF MANY YOUNG BLACK MEN?
First of all, what does author Spencer Shaw Page mean in this 2021 book by ‘Black Snowflakes’? He states (eventually) in the Introduction, “Snowflakes melt under pressure. Snowflakes bend over and cower away from the vicissitudes of life. They whine and complain about the nature of the world in which they live. They blame ‘whiteness’ … and ‘institutional racism’ for their personal failures and transgressions. Snowflakes have an external locus of control, meaning that no matter how hard they try, there will always be insurmountable roadblocks keeping them from achieving their dreams. A successful life is not something that is given to us. Life is a game that is either won or lost. Hard work is not optional… Snowflakes are losers. Snowflakes refuse to put in the necessary hours of hard work and personal development in order to become successful. Then, when they inevitably fail, they turn to the rest of society to find a scapegoat. No one else is responsible for your life. It’s time to man up and become the person that your ancestors fought for you to become.” (Pg. xvii-xviii)
He asserts, “Black snowflakes focus almost exclusively on white racism as the reason for their failures in life. As a young Black male, your only focus should be financial independence, financial literacy, social stability, and hierarchical competitiveness. Only after you’re achieved these things should your focus waver into other areas.” (Pg. ix)
He clarifies, “This book won’t serve as a disputation of the ugly side of American history or the lasting effects that racism may have caused for millions of Blacks in the United States. Rather this book does offer a different perspective on both Black historical figures and our young Black Kings.” (Pg. 7)
He states, “the reason that our Black young males are becoming failures is not because of the legacy of slavery, it is because of the dismantlement of the Black family. The destruction of the Black family was not due to slavery, it was due to cultural failures and liberal governmental incentives designed to remove fathers from Black households.” (Pg. 15)
He observes, “One of the phenomena that safe spaces are supposed to protect Blacks from is microaggression… In actuality, microaggressions are a deliberate attempt to exasperate and exaggerate situations that have no meaning whatsoever outside the weak minds of those who experience them.” (Pg. 23)
He argues, “Low expectations and self-imposed inferiority come directly from subtle thinking errors that characterize the ideologues on the far left: Vicarious Sufferance and Vicarious Guilt. White liberals experience … Vicarious Guilt which … cause[s] them to feel responsible for atrocities that they’ve never committed… Vicarious Sufferance… is a creation of Black liberal extremism… There is far greater immorality in adopting the suffering of your ancestors than claiming the crimes of your ancestors.” (Pg. 25)
He says, “Our heroes were unapologetically individualistic. They were able to look pas the bleak nature of the Civil War era and the true systematic racism that existed back them. They saw their obstacles and were able to overcome them… They took their blows and kept on moving forward… Yes, Blacks were slaves. Yes, Blacks were persecuted. However, Blacks were also inventors, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, bankers, doctors, lawyers, and businessmen. We must think about the messages that are sent to Black youths.” (Pg.. 52)
He states, “many young Black males have been bamboozled into thinking that somehow society is supposed into thinking that somehow society is supposed to be fair for everyone across the board… The idea of complete fairness in a society comprised of human beings is impossible. People will always show favoritism, biases, and unjust behavior that will leave many in disadvantaged positions. There’s no sense in whining over it. It’s just human nature. It ill never change.” (Pg. 60-61)
Turning to Black athletes, he notes, “The sad reality is that in any field of competition, there’s the top 1% of individuals who get the lion’s share of money and benefits, and then there’s the hyenas that pick up the scraps… Often college athletes graduate with worthless degrees in order to focus on sports… they’re released into the wilderness with nothing but knee problems and a worthless degree in Communications… If you are a college athlete who is not in the top 1%, you’d better be increasing your competence and competitiveness in other monetizable areas. Otherwise, you will be left with a busted-up body, a pointless plaque, and a dead-end career path with no upward mobility. Broke, busted, and disgusted.” (Pg. 62-63)
He contends, “The primary reason why young Black males begin the race so far behind the starting line is that their parents have failed them. This failure cannot be excused as a result of historical racism … Rather, many Black parents have failed to teach their children valuable lessons that will increase their competitiveness and competence within a capitalistic society. Sadly, it seems the reason why so many of us fail is that many of our parents were not prepared to BE parents.” (Pg. 65-66)
He observes, “Many of the most gifted young Blacks are lost due to pointless violence amongst themselves and the consequences of ideological victimhood. Both have led to a waste of precious lives… One of the essential cures to this vicious cycle of laziness, underachievement, victimhood, and eventual resentment, is a clear understanding of healthy relationships.” (Pg. 107)
He suggests, “We can acknowledge the evils of this world (discrimination, oppression, racism, etc.) without adopting a rebellious spirit born out of an overly self-righteous disposition. Snowflakes oversimplify the problems of the Black community by asserting that all these issues are the result of White scapegoats.” (Pg. 127)
He concludes, “People will always be prejudiced toward each other. Tribalism is in our DNA. There is no sense in worrying about the thoughts and feelings of other people. The only thing that you should be worried about is your health, your wealth, and your family. Anything outside of those three things is superfluous. Complaining about other people will get you nowhere.” (Pg. 131)
He adds in the Afterword, “There needs to be a monumental change to the narrative we as a community choose to tell our children. We need to change our historical narrative from one of hopeless suffering to one of triumph. One need not look any further than the astronomical disparities in intended births, cohabiting parenthood, and father absence between the races to know that our community has experienced a dearth in male role models. Moreover, the male role models that do appear in mainstream media encourage young Black males to adopt a mindset of complacency, hopelessness, hedonism, separatism, and emotional weakness. Given the fact that most Black males are growing up in homes with parent who initially didn’t expect to have them, it’s no wonder that many of them turn out to be losers and underachievers… Hopefully this book strikes a nerve in both young Blacks and Black parents across this great nation… I look forward to a day where Black Snowflakes no longer exist.” (Pg. 138-139)
The author repeats his basic points quite a bit; still, this is an interesting perspective on contemporary society.
Though I am not the target audience for this book, I wanted to try and understand the author's perspective. He makes many excellent points. Though, as a Christian I cringed at his dismissal of Christianity; and, as a woman who has loved and been married to the same man for almost 45 years now, I found his dismissal of love a bit harsh. I could feel his frustration, however, in the language he chose to use in several places and think this is an important book and I am glad I read it.
The author writes about current movements to eliminate or ameliorate racism, chiefly with respect to the strategies promoted by initiatives like BLM, Critical Theory, and similar allied strategies and movements, which he characterizes as cynical, wrong headed and, unltimately, hostile to real progress by encouraging a debilitating philosophy of black victimhood (the Black Snowflakes, too delicate to stand up for their interests) among blacks that can only be remedied by reforming the white race. He then advocates instead that they take control of and responsibilities for their situation.
Altogether an interesting, rare and well informed point of view of an important situation.