The lowering of standards? or is it Racism? What Do You Think?

I received this next article as an email from a colleague at work earlier today. We had a slight difference of opinion as to the writer's intent. My friend/colleague was under the impression that the writer (Mike Adams of Townhall.com) was using coded Fox News-speak as an excuse for racism. I just did not get that inference-if anything, Adams was making an anti-racist supposition. Suffice it to say, the article appears to denote certain Whites' refusal to question the low expectations of certain Blacks for fear of being labeled a racist. Check out an excerpt of the Adams' piece in question, courtesy of Townhall.com:

The other day, a guy at work was telling me about another university employee who has been siphoning gas from one of the university vehicles. It’s understandable that he’d want to steal gas. In the wake of this Republican “war for oil” gas prices have never been higher.

But the funny thing is that the university appears unwilling to do anything about what seems to be an obvious case of larceny. And, oh yes, I forgot to mention that the employee just happens to be a black male. It’s understandable that people would want to avoid a rush to judgment against a black male because it could be misinterpreted as racism. But isn’t holding black males to a lower standard of behavior itself an example of racism?

The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks in this April 20, 2007 file photo in New York. Bernard McGuirk, Don Imus' former producer on Friday called Sharpton a "race-baiter" who was looking for attention when he led a campaign to fire the radio host. Sharpton said Imus and his producer got what they deserved for making a racist, sexist remark on the air.

A teacher once told me about a student who walks around campus with a comb in his afro, a jam box on his shoulder, and a pair of jeans falling off his butt leaving six inches of his boxers exposed to the public. Unsurprisingly, the teacher thinks his appearance is working to his detriment. No one would hire someone unless his position in the boxers versus briefs controversy was a well-kept secret throughout the entire interview process.

But the teacher never said anything to the young man. And, yes, the jam box-toting fellow is a young black male and the teacher is white. It’s understandable that the teacher fears being labeled a racist the second he says something to the youngster. But, by holding his tongue, isn’t he holding the student to a lower standard of behavior and, hence, contributing to racism? Not to mention the fact that he’s allowing a young black male to exacerbate harmful stereotypes of other young black males.

For the Adams' article in its entirety, click on the link below:

Homie-phobia

I'm curious to hear our readers' take on this.....am I delusional? Or perhaps, the writer has a point-lift every voice and shout an opinion.