"Perception" 11-12-12

I know that I am not perfect, nor do I think that I am better than anyone. But because of my perception on different things some people think that I am better than them. For example, yesterday, I was involved in a conversation about getting out, starting a business and black ex-convicts. The two individuals both felt like it was a good idea to put their business near their projects, which is in a drug related area. My thoughts on their idea was that they wouldn't succeed like they thought they would.
I explained that if they would like to have a better chance to become wealthy, they should open a business downtown or in a commercial district. Then I told them that if an ex-convict wanted a job that he/she needed at least a GED and some other certificate that was received during their incarceration. They would have to take random drug tests and they all would be in uniforms. Then I told them I wouldn't hire all blacks.
I tried to explain to them that if a person can't utilize their time while incarcerated to better themselves, why should they get some opportunity when they get the same opportunity when they get out as a person who actually tried to better his/her self? And besides that, who would want to go to a known drug area to conduct professional or any type of legal business.
Of course they told me that I was stupid and that I think that I am better than them. They tried to convince me that because I am black I need to support the blacks; our communities, and forget about the whites, because they are the reason why we are in prison and why so many black communities are the way they are now. That is their perception though. My perception is, I messed up while I was in society, but society is still out there and that I get the same opportunities as any person out. I don't care what their race is. I got one thing in my favor and that's free education. I am always going to support my race but we aren't the only ones who need support. Every race needs support. Really, every race needs respect. It;s crazy that people still have so much hate and racism in them, especially with us, the younger generation, because we are more equal than we have ever been.
It's just sad how people think that one group of people are better than the next. And it hurts me that some of my people think that I'm a sell-out to my race because I perceive things differently from them.