Monday, March 24, 2008
working from within?
will someone please help me understand all the black folks that want to "work from within" all communities, organizations and parties... that are NOT BLACK?
i am not trying to be funny!!!
black folks want to work within everything BUT the black community...
might it be a lack of...
SELF LOVE~SELF ACCEPTANCE~SELF RESPECT?
i say...yes...yes...yes!...wake up...yes!... stop it already!!!
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15 comments:
FocusedPurpose:
I see that you're on an insightful roll again! *Smile* The answer to your question is very simple---it's perceived as much easier to find a spot within somebody else's already-finished thing than to build your own. The path of least resistance [and also least work].
It's almost comical how we collectively make the same choices at each juncture. We choose King over Elijah Muhammad. DuBois over Garvey. Frederick Douglass over Martin Delaney. It's a cycle & pattern, as you've noted. It's also quite stale.
However, I think our concept of self-determination is also stale & obsolete. The "Good Ship Black Community" is sinking for real this time. It's time for those who want to survive to abandon ship & paddle away as fast as we can.
To change metaphors, we need a 3rd choice beyond either becoming a refugee in White folks' gleaming city on the hill [total assimilation] or wandering the extremely dangerous ruins of the Black community [our current concepts of commmunity organizing]. I often think of Citoya Greenwood's experience that demonstrates how it has become life-threatening to try to rehab ruined places such as Dunbar Village.
We need to flee the ruins to start a new camp elsewhere. Close enough to the gleaming city to access some of its resources, but far enough away from the ruins to not get caught up in the violence & death within the ruins.
I don't claim to have any answers, but I do know that we need some fresh thinking about all of this.
Peace, sis.
hi Khadija-
i think we would do well to think for ourselves and act in our best interest at all times. it is not illegal just yet:-)
"Good Ship Black Community"... that cracked me up! when i am done laughing i feel like crying. in many ways i feel at times as if we (black folks) epitomize the stereotypes in all the wrong ways. in frustration sometimes i want to pack it in. then my faith urges me to believe that black men and women will get it together.
i think it has been a really long time since black folks have considered being self determined. we seem not to like ourselves very much. and we seem to enjoy being white folks' children. of course, no one wants to admit this---the behavior tells the whole story though.
when i think of black communities i don't think of housing projects. the conditions in housing projects resemble crowded rat syndrome and it is hard to truly get an understanding of how people would be under different circumstances. it is hard for me to really judge those that are directly impacted so severely by economic oppression.
let me say it this way, i cannot just accept that destruction is the end result for the black community. i feel like there is something that could be done. we are the most educated of all the generations. how do we allow this to happen? i know full well that much of the destruction is self inflicted at this point. without a doubt a lot of the destruction has been externally caused. it seems impossible that we are descendants of those that survived the middle passage so that we can succumb to this?
i think i just got a headache:-( i don't think black folks are beyond hope---just yet.
blessings,
focusedpurpose
"i think i just got a headache:-( i don't think black folks are beyond hope---just yet."
Focusedpurpose, I thinke we are on the ledge of being beyond hope, as a collective that is. I think we have allowed ourselves to become truly "children of production" as George Clinton sang some 30 Years ago. Too much television, too much want of "things", too much want. I say this because I even see right here on the blogsphere how many people talk "revolutionary", not being the "regular" consumer of "things" but when Christmas time rolls around they openly put on their blogs how they went Christmas shopping! I say this to point out that people don't live true change but a mouthing of the words. This seems to me why Obama is such a big winner, he represents that exact packaging that has taken him to such a penacle, the love of packaging. The ability to no longer question things and people deeply. No more deep thought. Like you said, to quote another George Clinton song says "think it ain't illegal yet!"
Oh BTW, check a book titled People Shapers it talks about during elections how the minds of the population are "shaped" into a way of thinking by marketing experts.
Focusedpurpose,
I love ur blog. I know I've said that already but I'll say it again. Do u think it is a hopeless situation? I think there is hope for us, but we are going to have to change our way of thinking and dealing with one another. We're gonna have to change the way we relate to white people. We're gonna have to stop acting the way that white supemacy dictates that we act. When I talk about these issues with other unenlightened brothers and sisters, I usually get silence or some retarded answer. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm wasting my time. A lot of people say that those of us who have it together just will have to leave those who don't have it together behind. But where will tha leave us as a people?
It all about money, and black orgs tend not to have as much. These so called activist want to get paid and live the high life just like lawyers and bankers do but don't want to have to come to work early in the morning.
Some of it came from the culture of civil rights when everything became about being the first black to enter white institutions
@Ensayn1:
Thanks for the book citation. Another title added to my list of books to read!
Peace.
Ensayn1, Tasha and Anonymous-
thanks to you all for stopping in.
i must say that i can't disagree with anything that any of you have said.
the only thing that resonates differently for me is allowing myself an option to give up, or to not have hope or faith that we can turn this around. our enemy is no more equipped than we are. we just refuse to use our tools. heck, in most instances people will be shocked to even know much less admit that they have an enemy!
at no time am i saying that this will be a cake walk. i don't believe such to be the case. what worthwhile thing in life is? however, looking at the past and history it seems we continue to treat our liberation like a sprint when it would be wiser to approach it as a marathon.
when i get really frustrated with the refusal of those that have sustained major head injuries and seem insistent on taking a nap:-( i simply walk away. maintaining my God given duty to self define is crucial. my love of black automatically translates for white and some black folks as "hatred". i can't afford to spend too much time worried about that...
talking to my king who i respect tremendously rejuvenates and empowers me to come back to my assignment. i know he has my back. i want all sisters to know that blessing.
Ensayn- i am so clear that we are operating under mind control. not only in the arena of politics. in pretty much every aspect of our lives. i did a piece on that called we don't need mind control. the pink floyd video demonstrates exactly what all people are encountering. black folks on a different level than others. check it out when you get a chance.
our minds have been programmed on powerlessness, hating black, disliking black, not trusting black, and making excuses for black sitting on the bottom. most of us affirm these lies daily in subtle and not so subtle ways/choices. at this point without even really thinking about it. we are on auto self hatred pilot.
Anonymous- to your point; the direction of the "civil rights" movement was not determined by black folks. those that pay the cost are the boss. integration was set forth as the agenda/direction and as usual black folks went right along. to this day, we seem incapable of dismissing white folks when they show up, posing as friends, and set about running things. most of us feel they are entitled to "run" things. it never occurs to the controlled mind to reject this unnatural, detrimental, state of affairs. despite hundreds of years worth of reasons to viscerally reject this nonsense in no uncertain terms. some of us are more concerned with not offending others than being free. truly those that don't know their history will repeat it. black folks in america should be working double time to not repeat our american history. instead, we devote every waking moment to trying to be more appealing, acceptable, and loved by white folks.
Ensayn- i think personally that Christmas is one of the many tools that help to enslave black folks- mentally, religiously, economically, etc.
i am truly thankful that i did not grow up in a house where i was taught that God was white. my parents never lied to me and taught me that white folks would show up in the middle of the night bearing gifts. i was taught to expect trouble and if they came in i could shoot to kill. there is much to be said for teaching the truth starting early...the truth wouldn't be so hard to swallow if all those lies weren't taking up so much room:-) the easter baskets this weekend really plucked my nerve as well. so does it not matter that bunnies don't lay eggs??? we practice not using good sense. i really don't get it.
Tasha- i don't believe that we should abandon black folks. i believe we are enlightened for a reason. we have greater responsibility as a result of these blessings.
i am certain that my ancestors felt like giving up dealing with far less comforts than i work diligently daily to not take for granted. i don't see giving up on black folks as an option that i can exercise and still claim self respect, love, and appreciation of my ancestors...i will keep moving forward and urge others to do the same.
i look to history as my guide. so if i have to pack heat to get us to freedom feel free to call me harriet!:-)
all jokes aside, i can not give up on black folks. we are being de-populated externally and internally---in my view there really are only two positions to play:
1. part of solution
2. part of the problem
where we are, collectively, is not in agreement with divine order. faith without works is dead. we just need to get consistently busy and hold ourselves accountable to learn our history as well as learn from our history. it has been to our consistent detriment to refuse to do these self respecting things...
thanks to you all for an interesting, enlightening exchange. i look forward to your next visit.
blessings in abundance,
focusedpurpose
"when i get really frustrated with the refusal of those that have sustained major head injuries and seem insistent on taking a nap:-("
i am trying to say--- those with head injuries that should wake up and stay awake, refuse and seem adamant on taking a nap---we know this is not what they need. in fact, it could very well mean their death....it is frustrating.
blessings,
focusedpurpose
Ensayn1-
btw- i have a running lists of books. i will definitely check it out!!! thanks:-) i love smart people. they make me smarter...
blessings,
focusedpurpose
I think the issue runs into a number of different areas that African Americans have to determine for themselves. Issues such as the following.
1) What exactly, on a cultural, religious, and national does it mean to be black?
2) What characteristics make up a black community?
3) What are the rules, or what is the rule book of blackness?
Because so many people define black in different ways, and it can easily become a different social and moral construct I think this is where so the difficulty of black unity rests. If at some point enough agree on these kind of terms, or create a culture around them that might be the start of turning things around.
ehav said:
I think the issue runs into a number of different areas that African Americans have to determine for themselves. Issues such as the following.
1) What exactly, on a cultural, religious, and national does it mean to be black?
2) What characteristics make up a black community?
3) What are the rules, or what is the rule book of blackness?
Because so many people define black in different ways, and it can easily become a different social and moral construct I think this is where so the difficulty of black unity rests. If at some point enough agree on these kind of terms, or create a culture around them that might be the start of turning things around.
___________________________________
You have got to be kidding. More Jedi mind tricks.
@Anonymous:
Although I would agree that raising the question "What is Blackness?" is usually a Jedi mind trick, that might not be the intent behind Ehav's statement. I don't know him, so I'll assume good faith on his part.
Similar to the way that Shecodes on the Black Women Vote blog has managed to create a positive spin for asserting that Black women "aren't monolithic."
I know that I usually hear this "we're not monolithic" phrase in the context of one Black person deciding to hurt the rest of us.
For example, I've heard Ward Connerly assert that it was just fine & dandy for him to help destroy affirmative action in California's college system because Black folks "aren't monolithic." And so on, with Clarence Thomas & other collaborators assuring us that their anti-Black activities are okay because we "aren't monolithic."
________________________________
Be that as it may, I think we've come to a point where some of our people's previously commonly understood assumptions about "Blackness" are disintegrating.
The first problem is that historically, our ideas about Blackness were mostly shaped by exclusion. We were shaped by our common experience of being excluded from any other definition. And we didn't have to power to self-define.
Collectively, many of us didn't choose an identity of "Blackness." It was thrust upon us by Whites. The proof of this is by the numbers of previously-considered "Black" folks who opt out of the "Black" category once given that choice. Similar to our people's mass abandonment of Black-owned businesses once we were freer to shop with anybody but our own people.
It seems to me that many of us are "Black" only under duress, and if given another plausible identity to choose, many would identify as something else.
We currently have a sub-population of "Blacks" who are only Black when there is something material to be gained such as affirmative action slots or set-aside programs. When there is no material benefit to being "Black" these people are quick to tell the rest of us that they are "biracial," "multi-ethnic" etc.
At the end of the day, I accept as "Black" any self-defined Black person who is working in support of our commonly-understood collective interests. That is my main criterion now.
This means that, as far as I'm concerned, colored folks who support anti-Black agendas [Ward Connerly, Clarence Thomas, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, etc.] are not Black in any meaningful way. Skin tone alone is no longer sufficient for entry into my circle of Black fellowship & solidarity.
*Sorry for any multiple posts*
Peace.
Hello Anon,
Not kidding at all, and I don't know the ways of the force. I find that different people define being black in different ways. So maybe one of the issues facing "black" unity is a common group of goals, understandings, and destiny. Without that some people can define things one way and others can define it another. It is like trying to get the African American Muslims, Christians, Hebrew Israelites, etc. all together at the same table. At some point they all have to firmly believe in some of the same goals in order to try to work together towards a common destiny.
hi all-
Ehav, sorry it took so long to respond to you. today has been a "full plate" day:-)
Anonymous, i tend to agree with Khadija on giving Ehav the benefit of the doubt:-)
Khadija, you crack me up. i agree for the most part. we tend to split off on some issues, though. and that is the beauty of humanity. i have said it before and will say it again. if we were all saying the same thing, quite a few of us would be irrelevant:-)
i am going to keep this really simple.
those of us walking around in black skin are black people. period.
to Khadija's point---there are those in black skin that behave most disloyally and wickedly. always have been and always will be. however, i cannot say they are not black. they are black traitors. in fact, if they were not black they would not be as effective quite frankly. white folks need black folks-always have and always will- to help them meet their objectives as it relates to black folks all over the world. since it is such a well paying gig with so many perks, i notice with alarm people vying and competing for the gig. this will only change when black folks make these people so uncomfortable that they feel scared. right now, we tend to treat them like royalty.
the truth is simple. all the other stuff gets complex.
Khadija touched on really good points. most black folks that are racially ambiguous---they usually field the "what are you?" question pick and choose when to identify with blackness. i am not trying to be calloused. i am trying to be clear. i am not concerned with them. i don't feel like i have time to be. i have studied their history and know not just to throw my arms open and accept them without close scrutiny. because of the black race traitors that i just mentioned---i don't just throw my arms open and accept anyone at this point. i look at consistent behavior. when traitor behavior stands front and center, i reserve the right to call it. God knows that will make you unpopular! i don't care...
for the record, let me say this---most black people feel because they have been taught from infancy that black is synonymous with "ugly", "inferior", "poor",
"slave" and a host of other negative thoughts and emotions.
i am not one of those people. praise God! i have learned and practice flipping the information fed to me by my enemies. why would they teach me the truth of who i am? think about it.
as such, i believe black is beautiful, powerful, dominant, rich, potent and from which all other colors are derived. i know that when we (black folks) stop the non-sense the world will look like professional sports. we will with ease dominate. once we conquer with a clear head/right thinking the financial and political arena---i and the world ruling white folks know that it will be a done deal. we will not only dominate the teams we will own them as well.
there is no one religion, cultural, characteristic, or rule to blackness. we have been so tampered with for centuries. we have been scattered all over the world. literally. from armenia to peru to england to colombia. we are all black people nonetheless.
one thing despite all the differences we embody that we all have in common is persecution because of our genetically dominant melanin rich status (blackness world wide.
we should focus on our commonalities.
our enemies are adept at highlighting our differences and mandating that we focus on them. while we foolishly do that, they isolate our little groups and enslave all that will allow themselves to be enslaved. those that refuse are mercilessly murdered. century after century. we should reject whatever our enemy feeds us. at this point it defies good sense not to just out of hand reject it all. we don't need anything that they have to offer. none of it has ever been good for us. i would venture to say that it never will be good for us. centuries later, yes, just reject it out of hand. we are more than capable of getting what we need for ourselves.
no other group of people are alike and agree on all things. black folks are no different. what other groups are able to do is set aside their differences to focus on their common interest. survival and progress. it is this that black folks have consistently neglected to do. we refuse to look at our world history and learn from it. for whatever the reason, white folks don't like us and lose no sleep over murdering us. period. not just in america but all over the world.
as sick as it is black folks love white folks. love love love love love love love and trust---more than words can convey. despite centuries worth of reasons to not to. it is frightful quite frankly.
we must take that love/trust and turn it on ourselves. we have so much patience, kindness, generosity, understanding, compassion, excuses and time for whites and all other people. we have little to none of these qualities for each other. the same black folks that will blast another black person for stepping on their shoes would never raise his/her gun to fight for freedom from oppression.
i just did a post on know your enemy. it was interesting that everyone focused on knowing their enemy. the other important piece of victory is to know, love, accept and respect...yourself. all things begin with self. each of us has within us the power of God. blacks collectively demonstrate they don't know/believe this.
your enemy won't teach you the truth of who you are. why would they? when black folks in america and around the world get hip to this...the whole game will change. immediately.
take a moment and check out what Malcolm X said about it in 1964. if we focused on doing what was in the best interest of black and set aside differences (as other nations of people do) we will be able to get down to real busines...finally...seriously...consistently...
i went on a bit of a rant. i am emotionally attached to the subject. i believe we are so much smarter than we behave.
i feel another post coming on...
thanks for engaging me:-)
blessings to you all,
focusedpurpose
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