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....,so forgive me if you find this offensive. I just feel that blacks still harbour far too much hatred of whites for anything productive to be done about any inequalities. By the way I read the first link, and every single comment that was left (there were a lot) and still felt that the entire premise was missing something crucial. just my view.

...of the problem. All I can see is that the problem doesn't seem to be going away with the current use of the definition of racism. Logically it seems to be a hinderance to progress because it differentiates between blacks and whites right there in the definition of racism=prejudice + power. Instead of arguing over a definition, I think you need to strive for a goal. And that goal should be equality of opportunity for all (not equality of outcome) and this includes poor black people and poor white people. White people will get on board when they see that what black people want is equality for blacks and whites, not positive discrimination. Also, whites don't want to be constantly reminded of slavery and how much guilt they should feel about it. They also don't want to be told that they are still benefitting from it today. Forget about slavery and move on. This is just my view, and it comes from someone with a university degree, but very little knowledge about racial issues..

....just isn't the same "institutional" racism that apparently exists in America, and we certainly don't have the same relationship with slavery that americans do. There could be a myriad of reasons for black/white racism, but I can't help but feel that saying whites are all racist because of the racist macro-culture is just not helping anyone. If I was being constantly reminded that I am a white racist and there is nothing I can do to change that fact, maybe I would eventually just give up trying my best to appear non-racist, and that wouldn't help black people in the long run. I don't see racism every day, which maybe makes it less of an issue in my mind. The last time I even met a black person in real life was 4 years ago. If I lived in America I'm sure my view might change if I witnessed black discrimination on a daily basis, but I don't live in America, and it is easy for me to point out what you seem to be doing wrong over there because I am so far removed from the realities

.....pre-occupation with race, and usually exists very strongly only in those who believe they are being oppressed (in this case it was black people). This belief that you are being held back by an invisible hand is a pernicious cancer of the mind. In the UK, the definition of racism is the actual definition you can find in the dictionary i.e. prejudice against someone based on their race (especially skin colour), although the american sociological definition is starting to creep in sadly (racism is prejudice plus power). I say "sadly", because up to this point race really hasn't been a big issue for us here. Black people can, if they wish and try hard, reach the highest echelons of society and the best jobs, while living in the nicest suburbs. However many are choosing to stay in a self-imposed "ghetto" in places such as London and Birmingham. Hatred for whites festers in these places, just like it festers when blacks segregate themselves (debateable) in America. Maybe there..

I don't live in America dude. I live in the UK. Race is not a very common issue here, but I guess it still exists for some. Growing up I only ever met 2 black people (brothers) and became friends with them. They never talked about race, until one day after we had gone off to university the topic came up with one of them; but it was not what I expected. They said the only time they had experienced major racism, it had come from other black people ( although also some other minor racism from other non-white people such as shop-keepers). They had been accused of being "too white" because they had good grades. So the only racism they had ever encountered had come from people of their own race (or other non-whites as I said) and it was compelling them to be less successful otherwise they were a traitor to their race. As I said, I had very little idea about race issues since I had never encountered it, but that conversation made me realise that a lot of the issue is a........

Are you fucking kidding me? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? Racism is not about "power", it is simply about differentiating between people based on their race (skin colour usually). So when a black person says they hate white people, that is racism too. It is not only white people that can be racist. If you think that, your mind has already been corrupted by the very poisonous propaganda aimed at white people. I would even venture to posit that black americans have become more racist than white americans (more black americans are racist against whites than whites are against blacks). How can anyone expect white people to fully accept black people when they continue to hate them based on them being white? How could anyone accept that kind of behaviour? It is a two-way street; if blacks treat white people with respect, whites will treat blacks with respect.