The Tim Scott Effect
By
Berry Michel
I was researching presidential candidate Senator Tim Scott the other day because I was curious about his story. He often talks about how he is a symbol of how America is not racist and the land of the free. Senator Scott believes in the American dream and that anyone can have that dream if they just embrace American values and work hard. His story is compelling. He grew up in a low-income working-class black neighborhood with a single mom. It appears that Senator Scott had his time as a troubled youth but turned it all around once he found the right mentorship and religion.
I can relate to Senator Scott’s story. I too come from a low-income black neighborhood. Although I had both parents, my father was probably not the best role model. I too also experimented with doing the wrong things and having to deal with the consequences. Like Senator Scott, I found a better way to reach my goals and lift myself out of poverty. I’m proud of black men like Senator Scott and myself for finding ways to be successful when the odds are stacked against you. Where Senator Scott and I diverge is that the odds are stacked against us in the first place.
Senator Scott would have us believe that racism does exist. However, it is a minor problem in America that can be simply overcome by hard work and doing the right thing. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that America is the greatest country in the world and the opportunity to succeed here is significant as compared to the rest of the world. What I don’t understand is why it is considered un-American to address the problems of racism in our country. We live in an era were the sheer mention of systematic racism toward people of color is a “bad word.” When did confronting truth become such a bad thing?
People like Senator Scott somehow think their success erases all the pass ills of American society. It’s like some successful black people think since I made it everything must be okay now. All the other black and brown people that are struggling can blame themselves. That’s a very narrow view in my opinion. I consider myself a successful African American male. However, my success not only depended on hard work and doing the right things, but it also depended on fortune. Yes, fortune. I am extremely fortunate that I joined the Army and met the right people to help guide me. I am extremely fortunate that I did not get a criminal record at a young age like a lot of my high school comrades that would have crippled my ability to succeed. I am extremely fortunate to have a college education with no student debt.
Unlike Senator Scott, I recognize that for young people of color, none of these things are guaranteed and often the reverse is true. The truth is that there are a lot of things beyond your control that can derail your chances of succeeding if you are young person of color. To say the system is all fair now is not an accurate assessment. Even as an older successful black American, I am still reminded at times of the inherent racism and bias that exist in our country. It happens when you least expect it. When someone assumes you shouldn’t be in a certain place or can’t afford certain things because of the color of your skin, can be downright annoying sometimes. Success and money don’t insulate you from attitudes.
As a casual observer, it appears to me that people of color are just continuing to shed light on some of the attitudes that are all too common and persistent in American culture when it comes to race. I think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all the civil rights activists of that generation that were demonized for pointing out injustice. The same behavior of demonizing anyone that points out inequality continues today. People like Senator Tim Scott wrap themselves in the American flag and say injustice does not exist. It’s the people pointing out the injustice that are the problem. They are un-American.
I have given 26 years of my life protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States as an active duty service member. As great as this country is, I don’t think acknowledging that we all don’t start life at the same starting line in America is going to cause our country to crumble. Far from it. Acknowledging the mistakes of the past and addressing them is how we grow. We should all want equal opportunities for all Americans no matter where they come from or the color of their skin. There is nothing more American than that. I pray for the day when we don’t have to talk about race, and we can walk through life like Senator Scott living the American dream. Unfortunately, that day hasn’t come yet.
The Reinvention of Cake 