I�ve often heard it said, "The best defense is a good offense." One of the major problems with Black Americans is, they�re so preoccupied with being on the defensive that they have little time and energy left to take an offensive stance to work on truly advancing their cause.

Herrnstein and Murray in The Bell Curve (1994), suggest that Blacks are less intelligent than other groups. Jensen also suggested this idea in the Harvard Educational Review (1969). From the beginning of this country we�ve had many among the masses and also so-called major scientists from the scientific community to claim that Blacks were inherently inferior.

We�re told we don�t have the intellectual ability to matriculate en masse at better universities and professional schools, so higher education is a waste of time. They tell us we don�t know how to take care of our communities, and thus don�t deserve better and improved living situations. We�re told of our inferiority and inability to compete in mainstream society.

Every indication is given to us that we�re unable to be effective managers and executives, and that�s the reason for the glass ceiling so commonly found in many organizations. Some suggest we are lazy, shiftless and inclined toward criminal activity. As Arnold Toynbee, a prominent middle 20th century sociologist said, "The Black race has not helped to create any civilization." Toynbee was not alone in his beliefs.

Sometimes members of the dominant society will call Blacks derogatory names to put them on the defensive. At times they�ll treat them with disrespect to put them on the defensive. If Blacks persist they�ll sometimes threaten them with bodily harm, all to keep them on the defensive. Being on the defensive can siphon one�s energy, as well as keep one confused over the facts and issues.

We then get defensive and spend too much time debating and arguing about such issues, while � we should be instead creating, building, developing, and getting on with our lives and the business of our communities. I remember in my college years (1965-70), it was one year after a long-hot summer of social unrest and protest during the Civil Rights Movement. It was at a southern university. I was walking across campus with one of my professors. We began to talk about the civil unrest in places across the country. His blunt question caught me by surprise, "What else do Blacks want?" I was so focused on my studies that I was slightly out of touch, and didn�t realize at the time that it was a frequently asked question.

The suddenness of his question caused me to doubt for a minute if Blacks had a legitimate grievance, since I was not well grounded at the time. Knowing in the back of my mind the serious discrimination and prejudice Blacks have suffered over the years, and was still an ever-present factor in the lives of most Blacks, I was baffled by his question. He implied the dominant members of society had already made enough concessions, had made tremendous changes, and Blacks should be satisfied.

By asking this question he was attempting to unconsciously put me in a state of defensiveness. He knew that by putting me on the defensive it could have the potential effect of making me feel guilty for all the people who were protesting and rioting in the streets trying to bring about change. If he could put me on the defensive, it might neutralize my ability and motivation to be an effective participant in such movements. Therefore, I might be more accepting of my status rather than being dissatisfied.

Naturally, in 1965-70 at many southern universities there were a lot of things that needed to be changed with respect to Blacks, and there are still many things that need to be changed, both in northern and southern universities. If the dominant society can challenge and question our efforts to change society, and make us feel guilty for wanting equality, we�ll be effectively neutralized.

Many ploys have been used as defensive smoke screens to prevent and detain us from achieving at higher levels or accomplishing our objectives. We get so caught up in just trying to overcome the negative labels indicating we�re deficient that we have little energy left for the advancement of our cause, and moving on to more advanced issues.

It�s time that we get beyond the defensive, and move to being offensive. We can�t let ourselves be ruled by mundane and irrelevant issues. We must also get beyond the opaqueness of false labels and ideologies, so that we can understand our objectives more clearly.

By getting beyond the defensive issues and becoming offensive we can move toward truly improving our position, and having the energy and fortitude to make the necessary changes in society.

(Mr. Willis is the author of nine books, fifteen professional journal articles, a number of magazine articles, and over 200 newspaper articles. His book "Freeing the African-American�s Mind" can be reviewed along with his other books via internet at www.geocities.com/willisjt. He may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]).