White People Think One Black Person's Success Proves Racism Is Over

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182. Racism has held many black people from success ...

not all, but many. Don Thompson's success doesn't change what happens to that many.

Racism created the segregated poor neighborhoods with inadequate schools that prevents many black kids from getting the necessary education and skills to be successful. This racism was official US policy until the late '60s. We are living with the historical legacy of that, as poverty tends to repeat itself, and those poor inner city neighborhoods are still segregated.

Don Thompson's grandmother got him out of that poor Chicago neighborhood and moved him to Indianapolis. From his bio it is suggested she was a powerful positive influence in his life, but the details of how she did it are not there. She guided his life all the way through Purdue and a special engineeriing program for minorities. Not all people have role models like this, particularly among stressed families in poor circumstances.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-23/site/ct-biz-0323-harris-confidential-20120323_1_cabrini-green-olivet-community-center-don-thompson