MAR site

[Draptomania]

Has anyone ever heard of this site? I stumbled upon it and found this info...


Assessment for African-Americans in the United States of America


Risk Assessment
While many African Americans are disaffected with the current political system and their economic standing in American society, there is little risk of future rebellion. Opportunities for individual advancement and community improvement are sufficient to offset possible appeals for militant political action. The group also lacks most of the risk factors that lead to large-scale collective action such as overt government repression, support from kindred groups abroad, and significant political and cultural restrictions. However, due to their historical experience with civil rights protest, their large numbers, and their organization, including the recently revitalized NAACP, it is likely that some form of nonviolent protest will characterize relations between the group and the majority for the foreseeable future.

The status and political access of blacks in the US has taken a small turn for the worse beginning in the mid to late 1990s. A more conservative Supreme Court is limiting the scope of some affirmative action programs, and judicial challenges to legislative redistricting schemes are threatening to take away some of the political representation blacks have gained since the 1970s. At the same time the newfound political power of the Republican Party, culminating in the election of George W. Bush in November 2000, has resulted in growing legislative opposition to affirmative action both on the federal and state level. Education remains a contentious and multi-faceted topic: while blacks - especially black males - consistently have lower test scores and higher school drop-out rates than whites, there is no consensus within the group or in society at large about how to tackle the combination of social, economic, regional, and racial factors that underlie the problem.



Analytic Summary
The vast majority of African Americans currently residing in the United States are descendants of slaves from Africa or the Caribbean brought to the United States before the abolition of slavery in 1863 (TRADITN = 2). Questions concerning ethnicity in the census rely on self-identification, and the majority of those with mixed heritage choose to identify themselves as Black. While they are widely dispersed across the country (GROUPCON = 0), the majority of African Americans continue to live in the southern states and in large northern conurbations. While the group does have some cultural differences with the majority group (CUSTOM = 1), difference in physical appearance (RACE =2) – and the strong sense of group identity associated with it (COHESX9 = 4) - is clearly the trait that has contributed most to perpetuating differential and discriminatory treatment of African Americans by European Americans.

African Americans are now incorporated into the mainstream political parties (particularly the Democratic Party), and they are represented by a number of group-specific conventional organizations (i.e. NAACP, PUSH, Nation of Islam, Urban League). There is no evidence that past militant organizations such as the Black Panthers are still active in any meaningful way.

The African Americans of the United States face a certain level of demographic stress (DEMSTR00 = 4), particularly high birth rates and somewhat poorer health conditions compared to the majority group. This, combined with a history of economic and political discrimination (Legal barriers, widespread discrimination, and lynchings)(POLDIS00 and ECODIS00 = 1), have left the majority of African Americans in a disadvantaged position in American society. They currently do not encounter any cultural, or political restrictions. The issues most urgent to the group include more representation in government, a higher percentage of public funds, better economic opportunities, and protection from other groups (predominantly white racists, and periodically economic competitors such as Koreans).

Political protests by the group began in the 1950's (PROT50X = 3), escalated during the civil rights debates, and eventually lead to more militant activity during the late 1960's, early 1970's by groups such as the Black Panthers (REBEL 65X = 3). Today, African American protests tend to take the form of large protests or marches (PROT00 = 4). These protests usually concern issues such as opposition to racist acts, discriminatory policies in the public and private sectors, and support for affirmative action.

While there is a higher proportion of African Americans in the United States penal system than their numbers warrant, there has been no evidence since the early 1970s (police shootings of Black Panther activists) of politically-motivated acts of government repression against the group.

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Apparently there is a study going on at some university that studies different groups of 'minorites'. This is the link for the site
http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/mar/

I feel like a damned guinea pig

[Daisho]

It's as if they're cataloging every minute of decay...although I really shouldn't be shocked about being under the microscope. This requires further investigation.

[Draptomania]

Right...I wanna go through this whole site...see what I can see...

[AfroNinpo]

Yeah, it's the University of Maryland. At least this proves that our underground movements can continue to exist under their radar. This is very interesting. Good Post!