This is weird because in the 50's, people were writing the same thing about the French Canadians, using the same arguments... The the English elite was "crushing the French" that they were over represented in poverty, in crime and in prisons...

Back in the 1950's, French Quebecers were 92% of the population of Quebec but they only controlled about 7% of its economy... Somehow, maybe because they took it upon themselves to make drastic changes, they managed to dig themselves out of their hole and today they control just about the entire province.

Many in the past (in the 50's) were blaming the "English Elite" for all of the ills of the Quebec population... Except that it really was the fault of the Quebecers themselves.

They followed the rule of the Catholic Church who, above everything, did not want a learned, intellectual flock, but instead preached the sanctity of remaining poor and obedient. "Blessed be the poor for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs..." the Priest would say every Sunday...

But in the 60's, Quebec took the Catholic Church out of the government, they quit attending mass and, instead, built themselves over 24 universities and 64 CEGEP, trade schools and research centers, all of those they financed themselves.

Quebec traded Church for colleges and universities, they put their trust in learning instead of waiting for a miracle that wouldn't come.

And from the 70's on, Quebecers have come from labourers to become bank executives, financial market experts, engineers, doctors, scientists, skilled workers and so on...

The problems of the black community, they exist of course, also exist in some white communities

Poverty, drug trade, despair and violence also afflicts some white, aboriginal and immigrant Canadians, they are not unique to the black community.

But the root cause of these ills is always found in a lack of education which leads to a lack of opportunities.

The result of this is poverty, violence and criminality.

I don't want to throw stones at black people, but the fact and the matter is and remains that REAL change starts with a change in mentality and a desire to unite and do good for your people.

There is no lack of skilled, smart and educated black Canadians, According to Stats Can, Blacks and mixed blacks in Canada account for almost 14% of the total population... If we account for French Canadians being roughly 20% of the population, I am sure that 14% of the population being black is a high enough number to create tools that will provoke change.

But change needs a change of mentality, it requires leaders who are not afraid to "tell it like it is" and to inspire people.

What keeps people in poverty? A lack of education, a lack of skills, a lack of belief in themselves and a lack of leadership.

I am confident that black Canadians can achieve everything anyone else is capable of... My personal hero, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, the world famous astrophysicist is proof that being black is not an impediment to success...

If the defeated French Canadians have managed to survive assimilation, if they have managed to educate themselves and break the chains of poverty, there is no reason why black Canadians cannot do the same.