I tell myself nobody is responsible for the bad actors who shame themselves and by extension shame their entire race. I know in my rational and logical mind there is no reason to think this way. No one, no matter how noble or evil or foolish represents or reflects on every other member of a racial or ethnic group.
The journalist Carl T. Rowan sagely observed, A minority group has "arrived" only when it has the right to produce some fools and scoundrels without the entire group paying for it.
Logically, sure, I know this to be true, but the failures of Black people are so often shoved under my nose, I find myself actively craving and seeking the success stories just to remind myself we're ALL not thugs, criminals, psychos and human garbage.
The Black race has produced philosophers, healers, entertainers, scientists, politicians, athletes and other men and women of distinction that have made the world a better place.
It needs more like Celina Hollis and a lot less like Rollen Oliver.
I shouldn't feel embarrassed for every Black person, but when I know how this kind of tragedy will be seen (and spun) as Blacks killing, Blacks being violent, Blacks doing stupid shit, Blacks proving every horrible stereotype about us is true, I do feel embarrassed for every Black person who doesn't kill, who isn't violent, who do smart stuff and prove every horrible stereotype about us is false.