Rick Younger

I want to talk about a topic that has always been important to black people (That's right I didn't say African-American. I was born black; you can check my birth certificate, so that's what I'm going to be until I die). I'm sure to many it seems that this topic has been discussed, explored and analyzed to death. I want to talk about white folks. I'm not here to say bad things about white folks and I'm not here to point out the simple and the obvious like: white people walk one way and black people walk another way, white people talk like this and black people talk like that, white people got it good and black people got it bad, white people got jobs and black people got women with nice asses. I happen to think that's actually a fair trade-off. If you ask most black men if they want a job or a woman with a nice ass, they'll probably pick the nice ass. There's always ways to make money, but a nice ass is a gift from God, so cherish that my people. But I digress.

I actually stand before you today in defense of good white people. Notice I used the term "good white people." Understand that there are good white people and bad white people, just as there are good black people and bad black people. Believe me, there are black folks I don't want nothing to do with, who if I see them coming I'll turn in the opposite direction just as fast if not faster than if I had seen a white person I don't like. I can even cite examples of bad people from both sides. Adolf Hitler was a bad white person. He was so bad that people are constantly trying to find ways to disqualify him from whiteness. He's actually so bad that people try to disqualify him from being human. You always hear people label him as, "That Monster," but sorry he's white. The D.C. Sniper is a bad black person. Just like Hitler and white folks, black folks are trying to revoke his black card, or at least rack it up to conspiracy, "Nah bruh, that brother aint really do it, it's a conspiracy, and that young boy isn't his gay lover neither." Trent Lott has pretty much proven to be a bad white person. Right now white folks like him just about as much as they like O.J. There are also people from both sides who the jury is still out on. George W. Bush and Al Sharpton fall into that category. For every deed they do that seems to be a good representation of their respective race, there seems to be at least two arguable offenses against them. They are also joined by most Republicans, black or white (J.C. Watts, Big George Bush, insert the rest of the Republicans here). White women qualify as good white folks. We black men love you. We don't care what the sistas say!!!!!

I guess I'm saying all of this to say, that I don't blame "The Man" for my problems and also to let you know that most black folks with sense don't either. There are plenty of race problems in our country and in our society, but most of our problems between the races stem from lack of communication. I don't have all of the solutions but I just wanted white folks to know that we don't think you're all bad. I've found that when you've found a good white friend, you've truly found a good friend. White friends are there for you, no strings attached. Brothers are always looking for the hook-up. Every black person has some friends who are always looking for the hook-up. Sometimes we can't even remember how they came to be our friend. They've been around for years and you have to think of the last time they actually did something friendly. Every once in a while they'll do something that lets you know why they're your friend but whatever it is, it's never on the tip of your tongue when you ask yourself, "Why is he my friend?"

White folks on the other hand always pay their own way when you go out and if they are a little short on cash, they'll work out how they're going to pay you back before they even agree to go out with you. It's not like when you go somewhere with your black friend and he just stands beside you in the line looking stupid as you wait for him to take out his money to pay his own way into the club, movies, etc., and he doesn't look at you until after you pay. You wind up saying as you go in, "When were you going to tell me that I was treating?" He says, "Awww man, I thought when you asked me to hang out with you, it was implied that you were paying, because you asked me out, I was perfectly happy sitting at home." I know this conversation because I've been treated so many times before, but hey I'm trying to be a better friend these days.

When you're putting on a show or performing somewhere, your white friends pay full price for admission and do the two drink minimum and even bring extra people who you don't know who also pay full price. Black friends on the other hand want to know if you have free tickets and show up with extra people who you don't know who also want free tickets. And don't get me started on what happens if you go to a restaurant with a group of black people. When the check comes there is more itemizing than during tax season.

I guess I've come to the conclusion that a good friend comes in all colors. There are good white folks and good black folks and there are bad white folks and bad black folks. So when you decide to hate someone, get to know them first and then hate them, don't just hate them because of the color of their skin. Hey, some of my best friends are black.

You can visit Rick at www.rickyounger.com.