Hello everyone,
An old friend of mine used to tell me, “Don’t be a statistic.” She was referring to the uncomfortable statistics surrounding black success and failures.
To her, a “statistic” was a black person who did all the self-destructive actions black people engage in, such as single motherhood, gang violence, poor health, drug addiction, and so on. She advised me not to follow that path and be another nameless victim represented on a government spreadsheet.
Some terrifying realities she advised me to avoid include:
Fatherless in the black community
Studies and reports have examined the issue of fatherless rates in the black community, revealing significant trends and impacts. The Moynihan Report in 1965 first brought attention to this issue, noting that about 30% of black children were raised in single-parent households, a number that has increased over the years. By 2018, statistics indicated that approximately 65% of black children were being raised in single-parent homes, compared to about 25% of white children. [resource link]
I was born into a culture of fatherlessness. Most of my friends did not have two parents in the house, and many others did not know their father. Many of the young women would become pregnant by high school. Many of the young men would go on to abandon their own children, continuing the cycle.
Additionally, I was never coached about what made a good father or why fathers were important. My culture accepted fatherlessness as a reality instead of discovering meaningful ways to pursue something different and better. They accepted their statistical reality.
Crime in the black community
In 2024, crime rates in black communities have been a significant concern. African Americans accounted for a high percentage of violent crimes reported despite making up a smaller proportion of the overall population. The homicide rate among African Americans was notably higher than the national average. Moreover, African American juveniles represented a disproportionate percentage of juvenile arrests, indicating a significant presence in the criminal justice system.
Although criminality is complex, the depressingly statistical reality of black crime is undeniable. [resource link] [resource link] [resource link]
When I was younger, I avoided gangs and crime. However, I was often mocked and bullied for not adopting a tougher persona. Intelligence was not rewarded, and my community was determined to undermine my intellectual abilities and interests.
They wanted to punish me for not meeting the statistical averages surrounding poor, black educational performance.
Out-of-wedlock births in the black community
As of 2015, the rate of out-of-wedlock births among the African American community was notably high. Approximately 77.3% of non-immigrant black births were to unmarried women, which is almost double the national non-immigrant average of 42%. This rate contrasts sharply with other racial groups, such as whites, where the rate was 30%.
In 2008, it was reported that 72% of Black babies were born to unwed mothers. This rate was significantly higher compared to other racial groups in the same year, such as 17% for Asians, 29% for Whites, and 52% for Hispanics.
Further analysis revealed that about 70% of black children and more than half of Hispanic children are born out of wedlock in recent times. These figures are much higher than those from decades ago and also significantly higher than the rates for whites and other races.
In comparison, the percentage of out-of-wedlock births for non-Hispanic whites is 21.9%, while for Hispanics, it’s 41.6%, and for American Indians 59.3%. For Asians and Pacific Islanders, the overall number is 15.6%, with some variation among different Asian subgroups. [resource link] [resource link] [resource link] [resource link]
My culture was highly sexualized, and I was presented with many opportunities to indulge. I could have easily fallen into a trap if I hadn’t resisted the temptation. My culture wanted me to go down a specific path, as no adult in my life was advising me to control my urges and be responsible. I had to learn this lesson on my own.
Conclusion
We are “supposed” to follow specific paths because we are statistically destined to. Everything within my community pushed me toward dysfunction. When I rejected that dysfunction, I was called an Uncle Tom, house nigger, and Oreo.
But that is the cost of becoming an individual. To be free of vice and comfort is to free yourself of the worst paths others have laid out. I did not want to be a slave to circumstance.
I urge you to think critically about your own life. Where does the world desperately want you to go? What statistical reality do they need you to fulfill? Does the world want you to grow in weight while you refuse to take care of your body? Does the world want you to become addicted to everything from porn to drugs? Does the world want you to shovel your children into underperforming public schools?
Weak individuals do not fight against the hells of their modern world. So, don’t be a statistic. Rebel, embrace virtue, and overcome the addictions you’ve been “destined” to embrace.
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Here is the old flashcard system.
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