Race was unknown to me up until high school. When I realized the importance and heavy discussions on race, I was too comfortable in myself to care. "Reparations for slavery" prefaced most arguments, and though it would be nice, I don't need them. In this day and age education is readily available. In present times, it is illegal to ban someone from a restaurant based on the color of their skin. Though certain individual sentiments will be deep-seated forever, racism is not even legal. For these three reasons race does not add complexity to the self system: racism is illegal, widespread education, and personal accounts.
The illegality of racism is half the reason race is not a significant contributor to the self-system. America has not only apologized for slavery, but it has instituted laws stating the equality of all men. Certainly there were days of old, i.e. Malcolm X's time period, where race complexity was an issue because Whites called Blacks "niggers" freely. When Malcolm X was affected it was due to a blatant attack on his goals in life, during a time that it was much harder to succeed. His teacher called him a nigger and he believed he was one. (Exhibit 9) Wasn't that the most offensive word? In 2003, the "n" word is now so comfortable that Blacks use it to describe themselves. These African-Americans caught up on racism are degrading themselves by accepting a term previously used to demean them. Another reason Blacks shouldn't allow race to complicate the self is due to the availability of education.
Education is out there for all those who want it. I've been in areas where the crime rate is high, literacy levels are low, and children-with-children are frequent. All of them have the opportunity to attend a school to better themselves, because many do and end up dropping out. Focus is what Blacks need and not another excuse about why they are not where they should be.
