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The Content of Character

Feb. 25, 2013 10:12am

Rev. CL Bryant is a FreedomWorks fellow and creator of the documentary "Runaway Slave." He is a former NAACP Chapter president.

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Rev. CL Bryant (TheBlaze file)

Historian Carter G. Woodson, the father of black history month, hoped that eventually the need for this designated month would fade as black history became intertwined with American history. Indeed the once honorable intent of recognizing the many great achievements of black people throughout history has devolved into a tool used to patronize people who are falling further into the abyss of apathy and dependency.

It is horrific to think how backward African Americans would be at this point in American history were it not for the bravery of the men and women of the civil rights struggle of the late 50s and early 60s. America has come a long way since those days of oppression and hurt. Unfortunately, a time of the year that was meant to be a celebration of African Americans’ contributions to society is now too often a reflection on that dark time in American history before the civil rights movement, when African Americans had little opportunity, no vote and no equal access. Dwelling on these memories as we too often do can conjure up negative feelings, reopen old wounds, and reinforce the sense of entitlement that plagues the black community today. It is important to remember and honor our predecessors’ struggles, but we should use that history as inspiration to strive for more in the future, not to excuse meritocracy and dependency in the present.

Minorities of all races and religions are blessed to share in the American freedoms we have today, whether it’s running a company or becoming president of the United States. The overwhelming support for Barack Obama in 2008 shows how far America has come in believing in equality and putting race barriers to rest. Even so, the errant analysis on the lips of many black leaders today is that African Americans have not yet been set free.

Freedom, they believe, is government doing more to overcompensate for wrongdoings during the pre-civil rights era. Instead of touting the individual achievement, autonomy, and freedom from government that would lead to true equal opportunity, they demand that government give handouts, not a hand up. These handouts weaken us and, in Obama’s own words, encourage dependency and diminish motivation.

I have found that it takes little courage to complain about what you don’t have and demand that someone else provide it. It takes small determination to be a victim. But it takes character to turn a complaint into an effective action and a victim into a victor. The lesson we have lost from the civil rights era is that character is king. A person with character and conviction, no matter how oppressed they are, can find a way to overcome.

Instead, we black Americans have accepted the message spoon-fed by liberals who are focused solely on the color of skin: that the fight for social justice is about an entitlement to equal outcome. But, to fight for equal outcome, rather than equal opportunity, robs an individual of the character it takes to achieve. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his 1963 speech dreamed, “That one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Equal outcome focuses on the color of our skin, not character, and misses the genius of Dr. King’s magnificent dream.

Strong character will cause an individual to contribute to society, just as Dr. King did, in spite of minimal opportunity. Strong character will open doors, and keep them open, when they remain closed to others. Strong character wants government out of the way so individuals can achieve their individual dreams. Strong character drives runaway slaves to insurmountable heights where together, regardless of skin color, they are equal with all who seek freedom.

Rev. CL Bryant, is a former NAACP chapter president and creator of the Documentary Runaway Slave. He also serves as a FreedomWorks Fellow.

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Comments (16)

The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 4:24pm
I had to take a screen shot of this article, especially the top half, because of how well-put the author’s point was made. Nice one, Blaze

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Knot4u2no
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:27am
Rev. CL Bryant’s comments on character and black history month remind me of President Obama’s profile and its comparison to the profiles of civil rights activist Mary Ellen Pleasant, terrorist of Osama bin Laden, and spy Robert Philip Hanssen:

Barack Hussein Obama II: The Content of His BRACE Character Profile® (PDF file)
http://www.braceanalysis.com/downloads/2012_Barack_Hussein_Obama_BRACE_REPORT.pdf

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kadster01
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:19am
I have mixed feelings about MLK. On the one hand, he stood for racial equality and did some important work to further that goal. On the other, he had close ties with communists and cheated on his wife constantly.

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- kenboo1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:44am
  the first is obvious… WHere is your proof about Dr. Kings flings and association with communists… The communists wouldn’t surprise me, back then there were communist agents everywhere…
  
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- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 12:50pm
  He was a great man, in many ways.
  
  He did not have any communist ties, that was a lie to discredit him.
  
  I’ve heard it said he did cheat on his wife. I’m not sure if this is true. Regardless, the man wasn’t perfect and no one is.
  
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- kadster01
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 2:32pm
  I know it’s Wikipedia, but I think there are links to follow for sources.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
  
  I know no one is perfect, but just as people try to discredit the founders of this nation for owning slaves, in an attempt to render all their good deeds tainted and worthless, maybe it’s not such a bad idea to look at this man’s failings, too. If anything, it teaches (or re-teaches) us that all have sinned.
  
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- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:22pm
  I agree. I think it makes people understand that at the end of the day the only person (or thing/being) you can really put all your faith and trust in is Jesus and God. Everyone else, no matter how great they are/were will let you down one way or another.
  
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truthnstuff
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:43pm
There is no character anymore, just ghetto trash thugs.

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- kenboo1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:42am
  You seem to be a little short sighted… I would follow Allen West, Dr Ben Carson, CL Bryant, and there are many more… The black community needs help as shown in another story about mall violence, they have to stop listening to Van Jones, but you don’t change behavior through words.
  
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LakeHartwellSailor
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:11pm
I am sick of this Black History Month crap. I am tired of kow-towing to Blacks, African-American’s, or whatever they want to be freaking called. They call themselves n*****ers between themselves, both in affection, as well as in anger; and it is not called out. But if a “white man” calls them n****ers, even in affection, it causes a ruckus. Do I see “white people” calling each other “Honkeys”, either in affection or anger…NO, I do NOT, it is such a double standard.

This Administration in Washington, and Liberals in general are playing the race card even more so then the 60′s and 70′s. I’m done with it. Libs, you want to play the race card? Go for it, because all you are doing is stoking the flames and there WILL be a WAR.

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- LakeHartwellSailor
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:27pm
  It is unbelievable to me how the “victomizaton” of Black people is being propogated. I have a neighbor of mine, who is a white woman, who has been dating a black man for several years. They are on and off again….mostly because the black man hasn’t made up his mind on what the heck he wants. The white woman told me he is very bitter about how the “black man has been so downtrodden”. By the same token, I get the sense that he feels he needs to be catered too for his every need…because, he’s “black” and has no opportunities. That’s BS, he’s a bright man, and doesn’t need to be catered too.
  
  One incident stands out from my neighbors account. She told me she was watching “Gone With The Wind”, and he came over while she was watching the movie….apparently, he got really ticked off that she was watching such a Racist movie…and a fight ensued because of it. WTF?
  
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4thofjuly
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:56pm
When will the African American community stand up and demand help and answers for the way they are still treated? Th Republicans set the slaves free and the DEMS started the KKK yet they , with the help of the liberal media, call us the racists? They say we don’t want to help the African American community? Look at Chicago, Detroit, LA…all WAR ZONES. All the tax payer money the Dems spend in these cities does what? Young children in these communities don’t stand a chance with the violence. Why can’t we stop this? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again with the same results…..WHY DO THEY KEEP ELECTING DEMOCRATS!!!! I would like to see a group of Suburban people form a group to go into the inner cities and help them. Help them provide food, help them in the schools and set up safe zones for those who wish to enter. Just like we secured parts of Baghdad, set up green zones in our major cities if we have to and by doing this we will give REAL HELP to the families and children in Chicago, LA, Detroit and where ever else we are having these problems. For the cost of setting up a “green zone” we would save a thousand times that amount in the long run. Start helping these people and stop wasting tax payer money.

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- LakeHartwellSailor
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:16pm
  Blacks don’t need any more help….they have plenty. More than they deserve…more than anyone of any race deserves. They need to get off their “victomized” butts and stand for themselves.
  
  I’m sick of this crap. They need to Man Up, and get off the government programs. They need to refuse help and stand on their own two feet. They are HUMANS, they are MEN and WOMEN, they are Mothers, Fathers, Sisters and Brothers. They don’t need help, they just need to MAN UP and be honorable citizens.
  
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Bikkiboo
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:40pm
Character and values are what I’m afraid we’re losing in this country. I don’t see any way to get it back. The black community has a lot of problems due to the “victim” mentality promoted by so-called “black leaders”. Those who have the character and values must get together and convince the average black person to speak up against those who want them to be victims. They can only do this for themselves. Unfortunately, it is a really hard thing to go against many of your peers who think if you’re successful, you’re “acting white”. They want what successful people have, but they are afraid for peers to see them doing what successful people do to get it. How do they combat that without support and a lot of courage?

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MK2
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:27pm
This man is being demonized by the left as we speak.

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SSN637
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:58am
‘content of my character” sadly, has become a lefty myth. Where would the progressives be if they couldn’t shut down any discussion by playing the race card?
They want to keep dividing the country into smaller and smaller hyphenated groups.
African-American, Hispanic-American, gay American etc..Of course, the stress in never on the “American” but on the qualifier that preceeds it.

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