Yes, Yes, Yes

Cornel West on CNN: Herman Cain Needs To ‘Get Off The Symbolic Crack Pipe’

"I don't believe racism in this country today holds anybody back in a big way. Is there some – are there some elements of racism? Yes. It gets back to, if we don't grow this economy, that is a ripple effect for every economic level. And because blacks are more disproportionately unemployed, they get hit the worst when economic policies don't work. That's where it starts."

"I have seen blacks in middle management move up to top management in some of the biggest corporations in America. They weren't held back because of racism. No. People sometimes hold themselves back because they want to use racism as an excuse for them not being able to achieve what they want to achieve."

--Herman Cain

There are a myriad of excuses people use excuse for them not being able to achieve, racism is only one that some people use. It's something no one wants to admit to themselves that they do but we all do it to one extent or another and you have to come to understand and overcome that part of yourself. The guy who doesn't know it can't be done is the guy who makes it happen. It's not easy to stop making excuses for yourself but nothing worthwhile is easy. Life is not supposed to be easy, if you don't have any challenges how are you going to grow? Just like you don't get stronger if you don't exercise your muscles - in fact, if you don't exercise you will get weaker. Same with your brain.

Cornel West can do what ever he wants to himself but he's out there teaching people to blame others for their own poor choices - in a sense, keeping them on the plantation. Yes he is.