[Durham INC] A perfect storm, Carl Kenney

[Christine Chamberlain]

(To JoyMickleWalker and Ellen Whitaker,  There is a long string of messages in the archives, I think you may have missed the first part of a conversation with Carl regarding racism.  I recommend reading them so you can put these messages in the right context.)

Carl said, "I've tried to share my own struggles with living in Durham.  My point is this folks, if a black man with all I have to bring to the table can't make it in Durham, what does that say about others with less education and experience?  Is my own struggle due to race.  More than likely it's deeper than that, but, nonetheless, I'm part of that community.  What can be said about that?  Nothing other than a educatedblack man with a social agenda can't make it in Durham."  

(emphasis is mine)

You nailed it, Carl.  You have a social agenda.  It's the elephant on your back that takes over the room when you're applying for the job. (The following is said with love, like a sister hollering at her brother)  You choose to wear your hair in dredlocks, "daring" white folks to accept the way you look.  You fly in the face of logic and common sense, and then use the "racism" defense for why you can't get a job.  You're a mess Carl, and I'd like nothing better than to give you a hair cut, a swift kick in the butt, and say "quit whining!"  I've met too many successful black men in my lifetime to buy what you're sellin'.  


I waited a whole week before pressing you for an answer to the question I asked "how many white people not crossing the street will it take?"   I waited so I could ask 3 friends of mine, all black males (a doctor at Duke, an accountant and an electrical engineer) to give feedback on your emails over the last couple weeks.  Each one said, and I'm paraphrasing, "He's spinning his wheels, that's all he'd doing.  He's stuck like a broken record."  The doctor at Duke said it the best when he told me Condaleeza Rice's quote....

“If you are taught bitterness and anger, then you will believe you are a victim." ~ Condaleeza Rice

Carl, I hope you'll get all you dreamed and more, as you move to a new location.  I really hope you'll find the success you long for.  


Christine Chamberlain
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