Be responsible for your own life

Wayne Grose, Henderson

Monday, Aug. 5, 2013 | 2:02 a.m.

In response to the July 28 letter from Dave Newton, “Where is personal responsibility?”: The profile for a serial killer suggests a propensity for whites to be the perpetrator. The economic disaster resulting in home foreclosures, bank failures, property devaluation, etc., was caused primarily by white people.

However, I would not generalize by saying that whites should bear personal responsibility for these problems. Assumptions that all whites, all blacks or other racial groups are responsible for the ills of this country is racism.

Black leaders continue to speak up about issues within their community, whether in churches, community organizations or homes. President Barack Obama has spoken about these challenges, and he is the leader of the United States, not just black people.

Some people use racism as an excuse to drop out of school, shoot someone or blame others rather than take responsibility. Do just blacks do this? Not even most blacks.

We can enhance America’s effectiveness by pooling our skills and resources for the common good. “There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America. There’s the United States of America.”

Yes, Mr. Newton, “the only road to success is to take responsibility for your life and overcome the challenges you face along the way.” But sometimes it’s easier said than done, and that’s not just for black people.