In general, I think it hurts the overall movement towards equality to equate the demands of the poor with civil rights. A typical African-American working man or woman gains nothing from public housing. They absolutely can be hurt when their community is infused with criminals. Furthermore, when attention is on these troubled communities, it is not on issues that impact African-Americans who matter (those who are working and paying taxes, the majority!).

I think the current attention towards police discrimination is a perfect example of this problem. It is inexcusable that black professionals are often pulled over for no reason. It is wrong when college graduates are intentionally humiliated by police because of their race. Yet, so much attention is directed at worthless thugs who SHOULD be roughed up by the police. The problem is not that police are too aggressive in high-crime neighborhoods, but rather that too many cops cannot seem to distinguish between regular black folks and thugs. I want the police to hassle drug dealers and whomever else thinks standing on a corner all day is a good idea. Yet, I find it incomprehensible that so many police cannot distinguish between a thug and a black man in a polo and khakis on his way home from work.

Too much attention in general is focused on the supposed “rights” of those who chose to live a life of irresponsibility, instead of fighting actual discrimination and the limits placed on those of color who are doing the right thing (the majority). Discrimination in the workplace, police harassment of decent black folks, and the remaining limits on minority advancement are problems that must be fixed. Public housing and welfare dependency are problems of poverty, not racism. Mixing the two does nothing more than reinforce stereotypes that all minorities are poor, unemployed criminals. That benefits no one.