Walter Williams
Walter Williams is an African American academic and writer. He mainly writes about education and politics and the problems that these can present to African Americans. Mr. Williams is a biased writer because the same issues he writes about, poor living conditions, crime, and poor education, are all things he experienced growing up, as he references his other works he wrote based on his life. In one particular article, he looks at whether politics are to blame for the struggles faced by African Americans in trouble areas such as Detroit and Birmingham. From poor education to poor living conditions to crime rates against and committed by African Americans, he brings up the point that fellow African American politicians are arguing and lobbying for things such as the Confederate flag and to dig up bodies of Confederate generals that are buried under public parks. Mr. Williams’ point is that these politicians, the people that should understand the views of the struggling African Americans today, should focus on the present instead of the past. In conclusion, however, Mr Williams says although politics could help, to make a change, you have to want that change to happen, and until then, nothing will come and no help will be given. So what do you think, how big of a roll does politics play for these struggles and do these politicians hold any responsibilities? Or do you agree in that help should come, if at all, after an effort is made to change, and if so, to what degree should politics/politicians help, should it be fundraising and donations or starting up the project themselves?
In my opinion I feel like politics play a particularly large roll in these struggles and I think politicians hold many responsibilities for them. One of the reasons is that many of the politicians see the struggles the African America’s are facing and yet they don’t seem to be doing anything to help them out. All they really do is talk about the problem and don’t put any actions in their words. For example it’s like when many people see a problem happening and they all think something should be done about it but they don’t feel as though their the ones that should do it. Anyway, politicians should at least put a effort in a project like this even throwing a few donations would be better help then nothing.
I agree with Williams on the fact that we should be focusing on today and our future rather than dwelling on the past. The civil war was a big part of history and rather than try to change this we should accept it and move on from here on out in order to not repeat past mistakes. Racism is a big issue today and I believe politicians should be putting their efforts into dealing with this rather than trying to change racial issues from the past. I personally believe it is a politicians job to help the people however they need it, so it is not up to the politicians to decide how much they should help. It is up to the people to request help however they see fit.
Walter Williams definitely gives me an interest in his columns. I think politics plays a big roll for these struggles, because they worry about the past more than the present, as stated. I think if an effort to change is put forward, politicians should help in a major degree.
I agree with Mr. Williams here, in that politics play a big part in these issues. I also think that they should be doing more to help out, they have the ability to do so but they simply aren’t. They are easily recognizing the problems yet they aren’t taking action towards solving the problems. If the politicians were to actually help out, they could definitely make some difference, but they aren’t the only ones who need to help in order to fix these problems.