In the 1980's we danced to the beat of the Gap Band's song, but today we are dancing to the constant rhythm of a "beat-down" and taking the apologetic "Oops" part seriously.

I also shared with him my belief that our people really believe we can change the hearts of those white folks who continue to mistreat us. Not only do we believe we can change them, in some cases we really don't believe they are serious when it comes to keeping us down and even eliminating us' altogether. It's just another "Oops" moment.

I contend that we haven't been slapped hard enough to wake us up - or to knock us completely out. It's just been enough to keep us ducking and dodging, bobbing and weaving, trying to stay out of harm's way, all the while rationalizing and mitigating the behavior of the perpetrators. "Oh, he really didn't mean to do that to us; let's just hang in there, and things will change soon." Or, we will explain it away with other silly, Rodney King-type comments like, "Yes, I got hit, but it really wasn't that hard."

Social conditions & trends -- United States--US