Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America

African-Americans suffer degraded lives of horrible poverty, the victims of relentless white discrimination, right? Wrong, says John McWhorter, Ph.D., associate professor of linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley.

McWhorter--who is black--argues that blacks lag not so much as a result of white prejudice, but because of their own counterproductive beliefs. For instance, many blacks view studying as "acting white," then claim prejudice prevents them from becoming doctors, lawyers, accountants and CEOs. Though he may infuriate many, McWhorter makes a strong case for Pogo's famous observation: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."