All For The Sake Of Love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  All For The Sake of Love

(a.k.a I Wanna Know What Love Is)

   I Wanna Know What Love Is.  Ever heard that song?  Ironic that it came out in the era that it did.  The exploration of the word happened so long ago in the sixties by the American youth.  Most participants in these movements during this time were young.  They were no older than their early twenties, having many members around eighteen years old.  There were the Flower Children, the Hippies, the Black Hippies, the Beatniks of the previous 50's, folk singers, the whole blues/rock connection, the revolutionaries, Civil Rights Movement, Human Rights Movement, Equal Rights Movement, Grass Roots Movement, Pan African Movement, Southern Christian Leadership Council's rise to prominence, followers of King, followers of Fard and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the rise of Malcolm X, the stir of Muhammad Ali, the National Black Panthers, George Jackson, Bobby Seals, Eldridge Cleaver, Angela Davis, etc. and the Zulu Nation (please forgive me if your group was not mentioned-- no disrespect intended).  A lot of this was done for the love of the people.  A lot of this was done to reach out to their brother man.  There was a humanistic explosion in America towards all of the world because those teenagers didn't like what they saw was being done.  They cared about the world in which they were living and wanted to do something about it.  These teenagers thought they could change the world, funny thing about (even if it wasn't exactly how they wanted it)-- they did.  And they did it out of a love for their people.

   You see, Love and Hate had a real mix up, during that time:  It was just like how Radio Raheem depicted it in the Spike Lee's movie, "Do The Right Thing."  President Obama recently awarded Bob Dylan for his humanitarian efforts in music and song, which were done primarily during the sixties.  The act of ordinary artists and ordinary people speaking up concerning the ills of their society is not only heroic, it is a socially responsible act to ask these things from the country in which you live (after all, the forefathers of this nation wrote this type of behavior into the constitution).  There was a lot of folk song writers during the sixties writing about Consciousness, Love and Social Injustice:  Among these;  Bob Dylan, The Mama's and the Papa's, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young,  Simon & Garfunkel, Hippie Groups like Iron Butterfly, Yes, The Yardbirds and their soon to be famous guitarists: Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck-- with the group later to become Led Zeppelin from the Yardbirds , The Grateful Dead, Big Brother & The Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin), The Moody Blues, The Beatles and The Stones.  Brazilian groups like the works of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brasil '66, Gilberto, Airto, Amur Deodato.  There was Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley,  Jimi Hendrix and James Brown.  Their effect brought on the Funkadelics, Sly & The Family Stone, Carlos Santana, Mandrill, Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night.  There was the Temptations,  The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone.  There was Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Donny Hathaway. They all wrote songs on love and humanity.  They wanted social change.  They all revolutionized music.  They did change the world.

   Though their were substantial numbers, all of society was not active in the protests.  With the rate of success achieve with minimum numbers, could you imagine what could have happened if all of our people would have been involved in our struggle for Freedom, Justice and Equality?  Saladin once said to me, "Civilized means to teach knowledge and wisdom of the human family of the planet Earth.  A lot of times in love, you must go through hell in order find out or achieve what is right."  I would have to agree.  Anyone one who's ever heard, "Where has All The Flowers Gone" by Earth, Wind & Fire as a remake of the Peter, Paul & Mary Tune know exactly what I'm talking about.  The world of the fifties were cruel to a lot of non-white people, with big business imposing their capitalist ideology on the rest of the world.  Civility in the form of humanity was in big demand.  The rest of the world could definitely use a sense of humanity being developed in the West.  The non-Western world was being manhandled.  Black people in urban communities were like an odd cog in a big capitalist machine, being grind'ed down in self-esteem.  Many took to recreational drugs as a sign of relief of being Black in America, while the White media "blames the victims," calling these Blacks "throw-away people."

   A lot of White children of many of America's CEO and corporate owners during the sixties, did not like what their parents were doing in so-called "Third-World" [actually the first world if you check your chronology properly] countries.  So they began to protest against the acts of their parents overseas.  This gave birth to the Flower Power and Hippie Movements (groups/ movements which came after the Beatniks in the 50's).  A lot of these bummy-looking kids you see in those old photos are the children of very rich parents.  And as with most of White parents however, they figured this rebellious behavior was a trend or passing phase on their children's part.  Some of these rich parents decided to disown and/or disinherit their children-- figuring this would bring them back around.  Some did turn back around (they represent the Yuppie class) but many stayed the Hippie course and fought for what they knew in their hearts and minds was right.  Meanwhile, Blacks in the inner cities and south had had enough from the vicious elements within American society, many times sanctioned by law.  The result was protest  on a major scale, against an unjust society; which we today have almost forgot exists.

   As you can see, these were artists and humanitarians fighting against society (not to be confused with the whole of society but significant enough numbers), concerning obvious injustice.  Many where jailed for what they believed.  Many of the protesters in these movements, did these things in hopes for a better world-- or just because it was only proper (right).  Many protesters took up the fight for other people:  Bob Dylan gathered artists and other celebrities, persons to rally and solicited for funds to help defend Hurricane Carter in the Hurricane Carter incident.  There was also the Medgar Evers Civil Rights incident.  And (of course) many of these groups, both Black and White, were jailed because of their protests.  Now don't forget, when you go to jail, you have to pay various legal fees and go to trial.  * Often when you fight for justice and society believes itself to be right, fair or just, you will often receive unjust treatment-- but in order to be successful, you have to be persistent.  You have to be the symbol of what you want to see in the world.  I bring all this up because it is a clear illustration of how the love for the people and humanity dominated the thinking of people during the sixties and early seventies:  Something which has slowly disintegrated in years which followed.

  People got involved, suffered losses for each other, yet still stood firm in the face of adversity-- taking these issues on time and time again.  If you haven't already listened to my selections from the various artists, click on them and listen carefully.  You can see that they were singing from the heart, not being concerned about how much money they would be making for the record, but concerning themselves with how many people they could reach.  In life, "you either stand for something, or you will fall for anything."  "You also have to mind your wants because someone wants your mind."

   Even the President, John F. Kennedy, initially tried to uphold what American society of the time mandates, but he was young himself and the spirit of the era or zeal took him over as well.  Folks like J. Edgar Hoover, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local authorities began to take very immediate counteractions-- in a gallant  attempt to quail this raging fire of youth passion in the sixties versus the injustices of the society.  The crowds also mounted their own type of protest heroics.  A president and an attorney general were lost during this time of social unrest, but we also saw very positive change as a result of it.  Now, were these teenagers and young adults naive or firmly committed to do what it takes to make this world a better place?  You make the call.  Many times, during various protests during the sixties, police officers let dogs loose into crowds of innocent protesters.  Firemen unleashed their powerful hoses on many non-violent crowds:  When Martin Luther King led his non-violent protests, many times they were met with billy clubs by the police and racist actions from other citizens.  Some even died for it, but the job eventually got done-- because the firmly believed what they were doing was right.

   In Saladin's equation of Love, Hell or Right, the key is how committed to your cause you are.  Recognize evil people can be committed also.  Their consistency had to be endured as well.  But within the above equation Saladin presents, the key word is RIGHT-- right being what is appropriate.  In the previous generations, especially in the sixties and seventies-- within Rhythm & Blues music-- there were a lot of songs written about love, appreciation, and reliability.  What people wouldn't normally do, they would do for-- and out of-- love.  By today's standards, these values seems so foolish (but equally to the old, today's generations values seems to be taking them to hell in a hand basket).  As a matter of fact, you seldom hear Love mentioned in current-day lyrics.  It seems as most people today think that such deeds are for suckers.  A whole generation brought about rights for the current generation out of Love and they think it's a set up...  They avoid it because they think you are going to get used.  But most youth rely on their parents to provide their needs nonetheless.  What are they going to do when their parents are no longer able to provide?  Is this what the children think of their parent's efforts: something to take advantage of, then sit back and complain about what didn't come in the package?  As though they themselves have no short comings?  What are these chronic complainers willing to do when they have children?  Certainly less than what their parents did I bet...

   No doubt, this world has gotten colder.  What you put into it, is what you get out of it. There is little trust these days and it seems like every one's a cynic or critic.  Others seem to have so much advice as to what everybody can do.  "How much are they doing?"  "What solutions have they fathered?"  I wonder.  Far less, than they are asking for others to do-- no doubt.  Many times, people will say negative things about others, to take the attention and pressure off of them.  The essence of these types of situations is, "If I am not right, nor is anybody else-- see, let me point out their flaws to you."  And if you are the kind who will "throw up plates of hope and possibilities," they will certainly shoot them all down to convince you that the world is hopeless.  This is also what they'll do when others talk positively about you!  So don't look behind you, because your ass is probably already bitten off, right along with the rest of your back!

  These types are not committed people--- but, rest assured, there's a lot of selfish, ego-centered people in that same lot-- right along with the people who refuse to roll-up their sleeves and give a hand to a righteous cause.  They are not the givers, they are takers, users, and abusers; the stealer' of light, time and glory.  A balanced society needs people who will roll up their sleeves and give a damn!  Because these people are users-- they find it hard to trust others.  No wonder-- they're worried:  They are afraid of being exposed.  They know that everyone reaps what they sow, so their fear is that their deeds shall return back to them one day.  So they remain wary and critical of everyone else-- less they feel that day of penance shall come soon.  How pitiful an existence.  Trust and Loyalty is a very important part of love; without them you have nothing to depend on.  These type of people can never be good for a society or nation because this type of thinking does little to encourage or uplift nor offer anything of steadfastness that one could build a foundation off of.  The Bible states, "They are like the Chaff which the wind driveth away" (a.k.a. flaky people).  Parents, teachers, instructors, religious figures in a righteous society all do their best to encourage and prepare the youth for the future.  That is because children are our promise for the future in any society (which depends on their values, worth, quality and moral fiber; which are all products of Love).  These other type of souls are so self centered, they would never make good parents, because they do not believe in sacrificing their being for the sake of their children or anything else: almost all of their investments are strictly aimed around themselves!  They are unable to provide what they covet the most: love and affection-- because they don't have it themselves.

  They have very little to give because they are trying to keep it all for themselves-- but this is not a love of themselves, this is greed and lust.  This allows people to hoard and take; trying to feed a hungry heart that can hold no love.  SOCIETIES ARE BUILT OFF OF COLLECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS.  LIBRARIES HOLD THE COLLECTIVE IDEAS OF ALL THE GREAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZED IN THE KNOWN WORLD.  BUT A  SOCIETY NEEDS FOR ITS MEMBERS TO BELONG TO FAMILIES AND HAVE CHILDREN TO ENSURE SOCIETY'S CONTINUANCE.  SOCIETIES NEED SOCIAL HARMONY BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS, TO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE--OTHER WISE IT WILL HAVE ITS HAND TIED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IMPRISONMENT AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES LIKE JAIL OR THERAPY.  Love should be reciprocal (you give and I give).  Who wants to engage in a situation where you do all the work and the other is unwilling to return the favor?  How fair is that?  LOVE IS ALL ABOUT SHARING.   As tight as you hold onto what you got, you cannot get much in a clenched fist now can you?

     The word for these type of ego-centric people is called Narcissistic.  This is the dysfunctional state of many Americans today.  These are the finest looking women who spend so much time on their outward appearance, making up their fake impressions using make-up in the mirror-- having little time for their children, family, or helping their friends.  These are the guys who will "run-up in" several females and impregnate them all (with a total disregard for them as a person), yet want someone around for them who cares for them only, when they get older-- saying, "i just don't want to get to be forty, be alone, and live a life "full of regrets,"   Yet never giving enough of themselves into the project at hand to establish meaningful relationships.   They can't give what they don't have.  They cannot be fathers because they have not educated themselves to be that responsible, or learn to love themselves: The result: more lost children, fiend-ing for love their parents haven't given-- like crack-babies.  These are the women who are with a guy,  but have their eyes on everything else but-- what his direction is.  The Narcissist wants your money, your time, your fame, or celebrity status and your connections-- but they don't love you.  They like the attention you bring.  You might say, "Why choose me when it is clear to see you don't trust what I propose?"  No the Narcissist doesn't:  They trust your commitment to a cause, your sincere heart-- but the Narcissist is gifted with the powers of observation and assessment--  to see where having you around as  a "stepping stone" can be useful for something else.  But they don't believe in Love (due to lack of empathy), because they don't really love themselves (due to a unconscious deficits in self-esteem) [a.k.a. everything must revolve around me].

   The Narcissist expects people to do for them and when they do, it is not appreciated.  You can never do enough.  It is not appreciated, because they were never taught to care for others.  They were neglected of the true love but given a substitute of indulgence, like "Sweet & Low-- so they crave the sweetness in life but can't return the favor.  They were given, but they never "got" on their own nor were they given what really counts.  The Narcissist never really struggled for things, for if they did-- they would appreciate what they were given.  Others saw the need and provided, but the Narcissist was too focused on what they didn't get to see what they have-- until they lose it all for their lack of concern.

   I think that The Lost of Love happened when we all started to buy into the concept of not greeting each other on the street.  Sure it started out innocently enough: "If you won't greet me then I won't reach out to you."  We passed that lack of concern along, beating each other to the punch and pretty soon-- you have people not reaching out for fear of rejection or being seen as weak.  Total populations of urban Americans not concerning themselves with how others are doing, but fearful of being taken (birth of mistrust).  Yet when it comes to our needs being fulfilled in relationships, we still expect a lot of that: Arrangements; a.k.a. "Let's make a deal" (a la carte)...  How could we believe one social element would not impact on the other?

   Did we really realize what we were losing in the process?

At least, we could assess where a person was coming from when they responded.  Now we walk by each other, not sure of where the other is coming from or what that means for us-- in a time where expectations are high and resources are few.  Do we really know where this lack of concern is going to take us?

  This type of indifferent behavior and custom, makes for an environment where it is easier to believe everyone is conspiring against you, since few are even extending themselves with a greeting.  It is easier to think people don't mean well for you under those conditions.  That song, Reach out and Touch by Diana Ross and the Supremes was a very popular tune, in its day.  Sounds sappy now doesn't it.  That's because we have sunk that far into cynicism, sarcasms and the power of the "dis" (disrespect/disregard): We have lost faith in the world to correct it's errors and put itself back on track-- but how much have you reached out and touched or gave encouragement to someone who's lost their way?

If you ever given any thought to your childhood, you'd realize without love you wouldn't be here.  As a baby, you are extremely vulnerable.  Any wild beast could devour you.  Just think of baby kittens around dogs, baby impalas around lions, or a serpent around bird eggs, and I think you'd get the picture.   You cannot protect yourself, you need the protection of your parents-- who sacrifice many things for the sake of their children.  A bird will lose it's life willingly to protect it's child.  Real mothers know these things.  As a baby you are extremely slow and uncoordinated.  You are weak.  You cannot provide food for yourself, you cannot even find the nipple that will feed you.  You need to be guided.  Nothing is more comforting than the warm breasts of your mother-- but besides that kind of nurturing you need to be guided in this realm or world.   You can't even learn to stop defecating (pooping) or urinating on your fleshy bottom without proper instruction. You can talk "smack" (foolish stuff) and forget who raised you up from all fours, but that's ego and cynicism talking.   Most of what you know (and don't know) comes from the guidance of your parents when you were young.  They taught you how to survive in this Western world of former Europeans.  If parents didn't care, all would be lost.  You  have needs and they cared, this is a most important aspect of love:  "If you can want, you can need; if you can need, you can care; if you can care you can love" (lyrics to Smokey William Robinson-- "If You Can Want).

   Many people lost their lives out of the love for our people.  They made sacrifices and inconvenienced themselves for what they thought would be right for us.  You may call them misguided or over-committed, but we still think about them to this day.  As Shabu used to say, "Make me not a martyr-- yet I still respect them all:  Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X (Malik Al Hajj Shabazz), George Jackson, even John Lennon gave up their lives to make this world a better place for us.  Genius or misguided-- you make the call.

   You had a whole generation of the cultural element [singers, artists, playwrights, poets etc.] writing about love.  One of the biggest groups in world history, The Beatles, predicated their whole existence on that word; Love.  Sure, people (in the position) still stuck it too you in those days (out of hate), but there was more chances a person would give a kind gesture, in the hopes of being remembered, blessed or forgiven.

   Today, it is looked at as a liability.  Many relationships are merely arrangements and settling for what you can get out of such associations, not true love.   We can get elaborate about Hate and being hated upon in detail today.  We can identify haters and jealousy, but all that stems from distrust [suspicion, mistrust, possessiveness, doubt, spite, resentment, wariness, ill-will, dubiety ].  Do we really doubt each other like these definitions and synonyms suggest?  That is a lost of faith in humanity, G.  No wonder the Western world is looking more uncivilized, there is a breakdown in humanity.  In a civilized world, the old, women and children are protected.  In such worlds, care is provided for those who cannot take care of themselves.  In my locale in America-- there has been a rise in the victimization of the elderly-- DHS [Department of Human Services] itself, has been cited for neglect and several infractions of the sort concerning the elderly and mentally ill.  This represents a society's breakdown in humanity,  on the way to being an inhumane society.

   The cohesiveness [to hold together] of a society starts to fall apart when these things occur.  Things fall apart when there is a lack of care about your fellow man.  Those who cannot provide for themselves are lost.  Care and Faith in each other are a very important part in Love, Humanity and Civilization.  Another important thing about love and bringing about positive change is allowing yourself to be enthusiastic about the work that's being done and the future that is to come from what you are currently doing.  

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS

   It is not good to love somebody, if somebody doesn't love you back.  There has been many transgressions and ills done to people in societies, at the hands of those who don't love themselves.  People with love in their hearts get no pleasure out of making other people suffer-- for example.  Love starts with care, so if you don't love yourself caring about others will be dysfunctional.  Trust, respect, reliability and responsibility are very necessary parts of love as well.  We have observed all of the synonyms which follows mistrust (19th paragraph), indicating the outlook of those who don't love themselves.  Simply put, these are things that will never change as long as they have not learned to love themselves.  If you can't love yourself, how can you love anyone else?  Most people think that the opposite of love is hatred.  This is not so.  Indifference is the opposite of love because indifference means you don't care.  When you don't care, you can do a lot of negative things to someone (3-1-14).  That means you have no sympathy or mercy.  And it is not caring for us, which allowed Whites to enslave Blacks: They dehumanized us.

   Though understanding is achieved through love, it is not totally what love is, but the result which love brings about: unity and understanding.  This comes about when you can see that we all come from one source and have a lot of the same needs.  When this is in the hearts of the people, that type of care and concern is the foundation of humanity and civilization (2-1-14).  Hatred is caused by what you don't understand, but you still care about them-- you just can't see why they won't change to see things your way-- but you still want them to do it.

   True Integration is when two dissimilar pieces are brought together with equal appreciation.  This is not what happens in America.  In America, we do what it takes in order to advance in a world constructed the way the dominant culture wants it.  Black, Brown, Red and Yellow people conform to the standards established by Whites-- the same as it is in Europe.  I am not condemning them for this, for it is their country, I am saying it is not integration-- it is people of higher pigmentation doing what it takes to survive in a White environment-- which is different to our native ways.

   It is amazing to me to see that among everything that was done in history, we still believe reasoning with the Western man to choose the right recourse to undertake concerning our equality within his society.  It should be painfully obvious that this society doesn't care about us.  The only reason the above people were able to institute as much social change as it did, is because all of the protest made the world take notice to what was happening in America, especially the non-violent acts orchestrated by Dr. Martin Luther King.  This made the country look shameful for trying to police the world, while exercising so much brutality right here in their own backyards.  This neutralized a lot of the methods exercised by the White Citizen's Council and the K.K.K. (but it didn't rid us of those sentiments).  Even today, we have legislation being pushed in Pennsylvania that voters are to now register at PENNDOT for voter ID, even though there's almost A ZERO PERCENT OF VOTER FRAUD demonstrated since the voter system has been instituted...  Could this be aimed towards the BLACK VOTE and PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RE-ELECTION?

   We obviously need to redirect our efforts towards fulfilling our own needs instead of reasoning with a society that produces these sort of reactions.  The only issue with this, is that we have to learn to love each other as a people more-- by desisting in the behavior-- like when we spend our money back in their communities, after we earned it in American society, while acting as though we are exercising an option.  There will be no economic help for our own businesses, unless we make it.  I have never seen Black Businesses flourish in White or mixed communities by the hands of other people other than black support (that is-- unless it is a shoe-shine business).  Recognise, there are no options.

  And as you carry out these acts, there must be joy.  You must enjoy the process of bringing about creating a better world.  There must be joy in helping your fellow man grow and participating in the community.  Ehthusiasm helps us to get up for adversity-- while giving us the ability to overcome it.  It is built within our soul: Learn to Love the Life you Live and Live the Life you Love.  You have to believe in what you doing and enjoy what you're doing.  That's what the Affection in Love is truly all about: smiles, confidence and encouragement that everything will be and turn out alright.  Not based on belief but on the knowledge that it was done before-- in the sixties.  Love consists of Care, Respect/Responsibility (sense of duty) Affection and Sensualism.  Affection means in this case to love the life you live and live the life you love. If you truly LOVE Yourself, you will not tolerate but so much HELL and wrong doing before you stand up in the name of what's RIGHT.

  Yes, as far as interrelations between your fellow man,  there is a difference between love, not so much in the Bed but, in how we are treated as a people.  This other part of Love is called Sensualism, a lower aspect of love.  Any of the other people of color will tell you that there is a difference between Black and White Love and Affection.  I have found with mixed couples, Whites often say that Blacks are more Affectionate.  And while that may be true, and Whites may enjoy that, the relationship itself seems to mean more than to the Black within those relationship than the relationship itself:  For the White, it might start off exotic and grow into deeper feelings, but for the Black it also represents a deceptive possibility to escape the hidden stigma and pain associated with being Black in a White dominated American Society.  To this end, many Blacks in these relationships, begin to conform more to White Society's ways, eventhough it usually isn't required by their White counterpart (and is usually subconsciously done by the Black) in hopes that all their dreams can come true:  Just like a lot of our conformity is subconsciously done at the workplace in order to survive...

   However, the act of Black males conforming to make the relationship work is certainly viewed differently than with Black females.  In those relationships the White female usually views the Black man's conformity as a sign of weakness and devalues him somewhat.*  Even though she might have even appreciated him more for not giving in...  The place where this is most evident is in how the children are raised: At best, the children of mixed couples are not taught to choose any one color but they will subconsciously choose White culture because there is less pain associated with it.  At worst they would also consider themselves White, something White society has never been accepting of and this most times causes dilemmas.  Black society has always accepted mulattoes more than White society.  But being accepted into White Society brings less pain-- so this creates other dilemmas.  But in almost all cases, the children's Black Cultural Heritage is abandoned.  However, the choice is theirs.

   Being Black in America is affiliated with too much pain.  We are the stone that the American builder refused.  We boost their economy and they barely give us recognition.  Whites called grown men boys back in the fifties and sixties.  This makes some of us, suck up to the society more, trying to convince those types of Whites-- while condemning those Blacks who weren't as naive or ignorant.  Some of these Blacks call themselves Brown to distinguish themselves from the body of Black people they come from-- but this is just indicative of so much self-hatred.  Many Whites hated the way Muhammad Ali spoke so confidently about himself and his ability.  His image and beginnings encouraged many Black boxers.  He is the single most reason that the pay purse went up in boxing.  Many Whites didn't like his "uppity attitude" and bet on others because of it.  Even some brainwashed Negroes wanted the same result, because they were raised that a Blackman should not be so "cocky" or confident.  Many wanted someone to whip Ali mercilessly (with so much hate directed at him this might be the single most cause of his affliction).  As in so many areas, we Blacks create monuments in the cultural arts. sports and entertainment and yet in American society it never gets the recognition it deserves.  That is because it is considered separately by American society.  There is Fine Arts and Black Fine Arts.  There is music and Black Music.  Only the Masons are free and accepted-- and even that is not equivalent to being White in America...

  This dilemma has driven many of us not to appreciate what is culturally ours and has psychologically damaged many of Black spirits along the way within American society.  I'm Black and I'm proud was the cry of the Black Power Movement:  Those Love warriors of the sixties.  Before that, our own people would fight you if you called them black!  Those of us who loved their own people had to work hard against the psychological damage America had indoctrinated us with-- the problem was most of us believed it.  Many of our people called themselves "colored."  Colored means something which is tainted; "as in adding color to."  What an ignorant term for us.  So much self-hatred!  No question, many of our people turn to drugs to relieve the pain of being Black in America-- but we must rise above it.

  And because of this, it is no wonder that Blacks who really believe that they are truly American citizens would have self-esteem issues.  Without a strong economic base, we are forced to seek economic provisions elsewhere.  We begin to cultivate our children to "aim to please." not only for economic survival, but almost as though we believe we are inferior to Whites!  What a brain washing!  If a Blackman opens up a business in a mixed community, will others patronize it?  Blacks who think like this certainly won't.  Many will be trying to get the store owner to give them stuff because they think he is better off than him.  This rejection has even got us blaming each other for the conditions of the Blackman in America.  The only blame we have is if we won't do things to change it. 

   The first thing on the list of learning to love ourselves is care.  If you don't care about yourself more, you will allow all kinds of things to happen.  You will let anyone do anything to you, because you don't think highly enough for yourself.  When you have a healthy self-esteem, you will not tolerate but so much ill treatment before you move on-- because you know you deserve better.  I have heard Blacks say many times. "They don't teach us enough of what Blacks have done in schools."  My response is, "That's because you don't own it."  If you did, then it would have in it the things which are important to you."  So why wait on them?  It starts out with your own self esteem, respect and manly [and womanly pride].  Our women have to learn to respect and support our leadership more when we are doing the right thing for our people.  Love his love for us as people because you are included in that.  If he stumbles, help him up for he is the promise of the future for our babies: Not this polarization which is cankerous-ly destroying our community.

   It is the Love of Self that will help us rise above the HELLISH conditions in America, simply because we know better.  By knowing better, I am saying you know what's RIGHT (appropriate).  And if you don't, then you NEED PROPER EDUCATION.  Go Back and Read The Truth plastered all over my previous articles!  If you had rough beginnings, the blessing will be that you will appreciate the good start you're making even more.  If you have family issues, it will force better research out of you-- that is, if you don't throw pity parties and wallow in the mud.

   Another reason why we have to learn to appreciate our culture more, is because it does us no good to cultivate cultural values in American society that does not accept us.  Take a look around you, most of the Chinese people in this country work for Chinese.  They know that it is harder to get the White Americans to accept them-- they were here during the cowboy days working on the railroad!   Most Indians work for companies they established, as do most Asians.  This is a capitalist society, the only thing they respect is economic power and that means a group of people who have established economic provisions to take care of themselves.  People who do not establish this are considered little more than beggars to Capitalists.

   Alright, party people, time to roll up your sleeves and achieve what you were meant to be.  Don't Hate-- Appreciate-- make proper assessments and realize you can do it too.  All of this starts with a new attitude.  You have to expect more from yourself.  One that processes what's been learned and incorporates these things into the future.  When you Love yourself, you can endure through this Hell until you make it Right.  Determination and commitment.  That's what our ancestors shown.  We would still be slaves if not for them and proper education from God.  Man and woman are the foundation of culture and civilization.  Sure, there's been bad childhoods.  Bad parents too.  Life doesn't come with instruction books for parent or child-- we either learn from others to correct the errors or make it up as we go along and learn through trial.  A change in attitude and commitment to proper ideas, is all we need to rise above all this.  It may be a little difficult at the beginning, but what are you going to do?  Be an old man/ woman  full of regrets-- hating on others who did what you should have done?  It's up to you.  Make your own help-- you're the one who needs it! 

   Sure, it take very little effort to speak on what's gone wrong, but it takes exceptional people to correct it.  This is your life, not a game that you play.  If you had a bad beginning, you have two options-- be miserable and full of regret or find out how to straighten it out-- it's up to you.  You should expect more out of life.  After all, its yours and the only one you'll get!  Start with finding a female with similar ideas surrounding life and gripping her up.  An individual is two which cannot be separated (indivisible-dual).  So, lock it down.  These opportunities are rare in life, no matter what those fools say.  Once you find her, never let her go, have babies and raise them on the things that you both know and agree with.  Love brings forth understanding and culture comes from applying that knowledge obtained through that clear mental picture.  That's how you begin to change things.  That's how you begin to make the world we want to live in.  The rest we can teach each other, if we respect one another...  It starts with a love of your self, love of your man or your woman and your people-- reaching out into humanity.


Love, Peace and Happiness,

C. Be'erla Hai-roi Myers

The People vs. It's Culture

     

The People vs. Its Culture 

   First of All, What is culture?

   William Durant, in "The History of Civilization" states, "Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation.  Four elements constitute it: economic provision, political organization, moral traditions, and the pursuit of knowledge and the arts.  It begins where chaos and insecurity end."
  
    But what does that mean?

   A social order means that you have a code that you go by.  The first code is your code of conduct; your morals; your values.  From these standards you evaluate everything else.  Including the people around you: Are they kin or they a foe?  This answer is very important to know-- for in the words of William Durant: "Civilization begins where chaos and insecurity end" -- and not being sure of who is around you can make a person feel insecure.  If not for any other reason, it is just a very good practice to watch the company you keep.  Not doing so  will only create chaos, if you don't assess  people who are next to you.  If they don't at least have similar values, similar rules or similar codes of conduct, that could spell disaster, if you bring them into your fold.  Best to remove their influence before the game gets old.  Kindred-ness can be  established off of the similarities of things you have in common, but civilized behavior is what is conducted when the social order is somewhat the same (they can relate to you and your way)-- otherwise your behavior may be interpreted as uncivilized by those with different values.  The Hebrew Kingdom of Israel was composed of twelve kindred tribes with strong bonds and therefore acted in behalf of one another-- for example.  Social order then, represents a society of people or group of people advocated for the same or similar interests (this may include sororities and/or fraternities).

  But if we are talking about cultural creation are we talking about one person or several?

   Probably not.  Culture is a group reality.  A person is like "free agency" is to a team:  A free agent is like a soldier who works for pay, not allegiance.  Families are what creates the culture and the bonds between man and woman must be tight in order to manifest the individual.

  Individual?  What does that mean?

  I take the word back to it's etymology or ancient roots which describes it as "an indivisible dual" or two which cannot be separated (which in terms of relationships is pretty hard to find these days).  Today, it seems, there are too many male and female "free agents."  The results: chaos; using people; uncivilized behavior; alternative lifestyles, fears and phobias.  Trust and reliance are the major factors here and without them proper relationships are not possible:  For in the words of Peter Gabriel, "Without it man-kind can't climb through the roof!"  A culture cannot work successfully without strong family units and strong family bonds or ties.

   So cultural social order is families and kindred-ness, who share similar codes, rules, and values coming together.  But for what?  Probably for protection against others.  In other words: Strength and security.  Or maybe it is done to gather huge quantities of food or economic provisions for the various tribes-- for example.  But maybe we are getting way too ahead of ourselves, in taking this route.  Maybe we need to keep things a little more basic or germane, before exploring more of these types of areas.

CULTURE UNDER A MICROSCOPE

   People and culture are a strange entity.  Culture influences people and people influence culture.  The People create the culture but the culture can out-live the individuals who created it.  The culture can evolve, live through the life of its people and (in that manner) take on a life of its own.  The effect a person has on a culture may be noticeable, if that person effects many other people's lives, but often the affect of culture may often go by unnoticed and effect much more.  An individual can have an effect on a culture as well; such as Marcus Garvey, Jomo Kenyatta, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Malik Al Hajj Shabazz (Malcolm X), Andrew Young and Julian Bond; while all the time, the culture will effect people.  As previously said, "Civilization is a social order promoting cultural creation."

   Something that was the "jaughn" or popular today within a cultural context, can be "pas'se" or relegated to a position of minor significance tomorrow-- within that same culture.  It can simply be, no longer current.  Within the course of the day, people do things within their sphere of influence, it catches on, becomes a trend, a dance, or whatever.  Later on (after a period of practice) it becomes a custom or thing to do.  If it lasts for a substantial period of time, it might even be considered traditional-- like lemon or lime with Tequila or gin.  Someone adds to it and it becomes a variation of it-- like Chubby Checker and his various "Twist Dances," the various "Hustles" during the 1970's,  the Hip Hop B-Boy "Breaking" and "Electric Boogaloo" development, or the evolution of Hip-Hop itself.  That is, something always comes along to replace the former, in time.  The reason for these changes is the affect of artists on the cultural element-- such as a new musical tune, dance, or work of art (sculpture, graffiti or period in art), some person of notoriety dying, a discovery or breakthrough of some sort,  some political event or something labeled as news or current events performed by a group of people.

     One of the most powerful ways the element we call culture can affect people subliminally by altering  your  world view or your point of view.  When I say world view, I literally mean, how you view the world.  For the most part, how you view the world is based upon what you see.  Essentially, a culture starts  as a tradition between a man and a woman and evolves their subsequent families grows.  Whatever ways and manners are common practice amongst the families becomes their customs.  Whatever sense of values are common amongst the families, comprises the moral standard between members.  Eventually, as the family expands and maintains their sense of family (see (extended family)  what is moral becomes mores and what is customary becomes traditional or standard procedure and each become the underlined reasoning behind the society's rules, regulations and laws.  As these clans and tribes form allegiances with similar tribes and clans, they form a nation or nations.
 
   Today, these types of societies are called traditional.  There are other sorts of nations which may vary in religion or stock of people but still come together because a common foe or similar ways.  However, in the current world, there are several multi-cultural nations in existence-- that are not bonded by families, religion, etc., but people who have common interests-- with a founding group which forges the others together under one allegiance.  Within these types of nations, largely what you see is based upon what country you are in, who the dominate culture within that nation are, and its sub-cultures-- or in the case of multi-cultural societies-- its immigrants, ethnic groups and their cultures.  These things (as well as the society's level of sophistication) represents that society's ability to have you reconsider your own position in relation to that society.

    Tradition represents a view of life that has been handed down throughout time.  Culture contain customs and traditions.  Some times what you see is affected by such things, but the effects may be very subtle.  So subtle, you may not know how those elements played a part.  Culture does represent how the majority of its people see things.  In a man versus society theme, the fact that something has been done for thousands of years, by the majority of people and has yield many favorable results, does bring a lot of social pressure on the single person to conform.  With such overwhelming evidence (represented by what is a tradition), what a single person believes may seem futile (hopeless).  You must not forget, Culture represents how its' people do things: It represents what you read, what you see, things you hear, etc.
And all these things are placed against what a person believes when man vs. culture.

    Peripherally, within America and most parts of the West, most (if not all) of what you read in the papers is controlled by organizational think tanks, such as the Associate Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI).  These two syndicates regulate and make available most of what the Western World reads in the papers and just about all of what the "known world" can funnel into its' Western World scope.  API and UPI are known as the news "gate-keepers."  The infamous Patty Hearst's grandfather was magnate William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper Tycoon; but even he himself has to govern himself according to AP and UPI.  Often, when you see most foreigners reading the newspapers of the West, many will also be reading newspapers from their own country:  It is not because they can't read in English, Spanish, French, etc. --it is because they rather have their own people's take on what just occurred.  If you want to get a more of an enlightened angle on this subject, view the film, "Three Days of the Condor."

    Now most of what Westerners hear on the radio in America is regulated by the FCC.  How these things get to come across the airwaves, is due to some big corporations or relatively large companies making it possible (although some independent labels are highly successful).  So you see, what these companies want (and do not object to), are the items that get played on the radio stations or produced by them for general consumption.  There are independent labels and independent radio companies to represent alternate points of view, but the common man does not have easy access to a lot of that.  Most of what the average person has access to is a product of what is allowed by the power structure of the culture that produced it.

    Often, when you watch shows on TV, you may see a disclaimer flashed up on the screen claiming that the author's or artist's view has nothing to do with how this station or sponsor views itself.  That is to say, just because you are viewing this on such and such station or because of MGM, HBO, Quincy Jones, etc., this does not represent the company's World view; it is strictly ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW to be viewed for your information or entertainment.  In other words, "It may be coming from us, but it is not what we are saying." This becomes necessary to state, because without these producers, host and channel owners, these broadcast would never reach you-- unless strictly through "word of mouth."  It is THEM who decide what will be available to you to draw from, but IT IS THEY who let you know, "just because they make these things available, these things they make available are not a representation of their world view."
But they are.

    Although they attempt to make the disclaimer statement perfectly clear, what is made available (by the ones who can afford to make these things available) DOES reflect their company's tastes and opinions of what is and isn't appropriate, according to the organization's  philosophy.  One show does not represent the company's total world view but the collection of what the organization or producer produces DOES reflect how that organization considers and thinks-- the bulk of which compromises their world view.

   When man or woman versus society, his or her sanity is always what hangs in the balance of questioning the authority of society.  Of course, you can't believe everything you see and hear, but how you address the issues makes all the difference in the world in how the society responds.  When you were young (long before you know what it is you are doing), you pledged allegiance to the country you are a citizen of.  This means you pledge to obey its rules and govern yourself according.  As one gets older, most of us begin to question why things have to be that way prescribed.  Now bargaining or negotiating for social change is not necessarily a bad thing-- man can be enlightened and society can update its sense of values-- given enough protest from its citizens.  But you have to go about these things delicately (in the manner prescribed by the society), otherwise you will be labeled a dissent element of that society and be handled as such (that is, unless your mental health comes into question).

    Examples of this is, when you break the laws they give you a fine.  The fine is said to be meant to curb your behavior.  If your behavior  persists, a judge is called into play and the punishment gets more severe.  If that doesn't work, they arrest you and put you in jail.  If incarceration or multiple sentencing doesn't seem to correct the error, then your mental and mantle comes into question, as the cause of your obstinacy (stubbornness).

     Now in traditional societies, it is the families which decide what becomes part of their culture, in multi-cultural societies today-- it is the major corporations represented in national government by lobby groups which influence senators and state representatives.  In traditional societies, it is the fellow tribesman and local chieftains who will confront a person's behavior-- in multi-cultural societies it will be local government, judges, and law enforcement groups.  In traditional societies a jury of your peers will be your family members or other tribe members who have gained your families trust-- in multi-cultural societies it may not be one person present of your skin tone and ethnic group!
 
    Briefly, on another slightly different topic, it is amazing to me that a Joe Q. Public can put something on Twitter or Facebook and it mysteriously appears on ESPN or the news.  It is equally amazing to me that someone can put something on Facebook or Twitter and think that it is only between who they allowed to be their "friends" on Facebook.  Not only can this information "leak" out because of one of their friends has an "open book policy," but it can also appear because the Internet is government accessible.  You should never allow yourself to think that what is transmitted "in the Matrix" can ever be a private transmission-- I don't.  What I say is a matter of sophistication, not anarchy.  I tell the truth.  It is ironic that the previous generation never allowed their parents to know what they were thinking, while just one generation after they could and would blab as much as they do on public mediums.
 
    Incredible.  Anyone can see it if they have the right tools-- as a few of you "Incarcerated Scarfaces" already know.  The World Wide Web design was something initially used by the military as far back as the mid-60's and in the early 70's became something made accessible to the public-- so don't believe you can get around their observation when you go on-line.

   Within American society, the arts (music, dance, art, entertainment) are produced by the artists and purchased by the rich and business (based upon their interests); the sale of which is regulated by government and made available (or not made available) to its citizenship (and other interested parties).  In France, the government pays its' artists to work instead of record companies, rich and business.  This difference is due to America being a capitalist society.  In a ten thousand year culture like the Yoruba of Nigeria or a four thousand year old culture like the Taoist of China (those who study the I Ching), the art is also a product of the people and its artists are supported by its' governing structure but the society is governed by its' religious values and beliefs.  In these sorts of societies, how much of the outside world can influence their society is based upon how much the scientific and secular society can run parallel with its' religious values and principles-- that is unless its people are seduced by pleasure and fun.

   Let's not forget that human beings are not robots.  As the man or woman inside the being matures to the level of adolescence or adulthood, they begin to evaluate and re-evaluate what has been taught by the culture as opposed to the way they see it.  And even though they may not be aware that they are doing this, they are factoring out the individual from the society which produced it through the arts, humanities, and governing structure.  Without individual efforts, society cannot grow and prosper.  Without individual challenges to rules and regulations, society cannot produce true circumspection to what it exalts as proper.

     In traditional Central Asian societies (especially those whom the Western World calls Middle East), whenever its' citizenship goes awry-- as in marriages, behavior, etc.-- the first thing the society examines is itself.  Then (and only then), will it bring its' individuals to task.  In other words, in this sort of society (traditional, indigenous, society which rises up from tribe and clan into a kingdom), the society takes major responsibility for producing the individual before it seeks to discipline the individual.  If the individual has ways which is too unalike the society that produced him or her, imprisonment, penal or corrective methods, expulsion, or death is sure to follow.

    As you can see, a healthy culture needs a little bit of individualism, but too much individualism is bad for a society.  No matter what allegiance one claims to be, if their behavior consists of talk which not only challenges the society values but reflect total disbelief in enough of that society's principles, indicates that man or woman is not part of that society-- especially if he or she is a single-minded person.   When I say single-minded person, I mean a person who has not produced his own family unit which can further the family line.  A person that approaches encounters with the opposite sex for what they can get out them with no further considerations towards a solid relationship.  A person who is a permanent "free-agent."   A person like that is an antagonist to the society, because he or she will not produce offspring or a relationship in behalf of that society.

   Despite many of our beliefs in sexual indulgence for recreational pursuits, the real purpose of sex is to produce offspring for the family continuance and the  continuance of the society to who those families belong.  From this statement, one can deduce that alternative lifestyles are more individually suited than society supportive.  An interesting play concerning these antagonist elements is called, "The Kiss of the Spider woman."

   Mental disorders may also play a part in dissident elements within society or nation.  Some mental disorders are highly functional-- which means that they are narrowly perceived as such by the person who is engaging the ill person.  In highly functional mental disorders such as malcontent, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder, depressive and manic depression, as well as paranoid schizophrenia-- one may show various moments of lucidness followed by delusions (like being able to solve everything by combat for example) that are subtle at first.  I just recently viewed an documentary on the artist, Donny Hathaway, part of the "Unsung" series.  Anyone who has heard Donny Hathaway or Nina Simone, will attest to their musical genius and high degree of spiritual development.  Very few of us would believe a mountain such as Donny Hathaway could suffer from paranoid schizophrenia-- but he did.  There is what society deems as reality (or proper) and then there is resistance, ulterior motive, and then there's mental disorder (fantasy vs. reality), which can follow constant persecution.

    Now on the other hand, a person who serves the group can lead to higher mental development.  Persons like Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Malik Al Hajj Shabazz (Malcolm X) were such people.  They forced the power structures of the nations in which they live to reconsider their methods towards a certain part of their society.  The problem in all three cases is that the power structure of the societies in which these men belong, were not treated as one who does belong.  There was bias, prejudice and bigotry overriding justice and fairness.  This is also the reason, that despite their international status, they are all viewed as ethnic heroes in the countries in which they belong.

   This is one of the fundamental difficulties that with being Black in a multi-cultural society like America:  The dominate cultural or ruling class continues to treat Blacks as someone they are responsible for, instead of one of their equals.   Despite the economic progress we made during the Segregation Era, we have not been able to produce enough economics to be self-sufficient; which in a capitalist society, means you do not have enough provisions to be recognized as a power broker.  I think its fair to say that we as a people do not care for being associated as a menial class, but if we find ourselves having to go to another ethnic group for a job-- that  means we do not have a proper representation in the business field to give our people the option.

   In closing,  I would like to address my reasoning for pointing out slavery and its impact on Blacks position within a multi-cultural society like America.  First of all I do so because the rest of world has a tendency to forget that we were emancipated from slavery in this country without ever being compensated for the many, many years our people served to build it.  Our ancestors started out without any money and no land.   We were never given 40 acres and a mule like White indentured slaves.  We are victims of institutionalized slavery by the American government and though we have sought resolution, we were never repatriated nor has America changed the mental image it has created towards Black people.  It is hard to seek equal rights when, in the back of their minds the rest of that same society does not see you as equal.  I am not going as far as to say that today I think Whites should be held responsible for what their Ancestors did, but the society on the whole does owe Blacks more than an apology for allowing such a travesty to go on for more than 300 years.  You can hardly hold an individual responsible for what his ancestors have done, no more than you can say people cannot change their ways-- unless they don't.

   But we as Blacks must understand the significance of slavery in our current lives an image within American society.  We must utilize our chronology within this country to allow us to plan our future.  We cannot wait on others to do things for us, we must do for ourselves.  We must create our own opportunities as well as be able to rely on our population to give our businesses proper support.  Our self esteem as a nation cannot be repaired by affirmative action, but it can be repaired by our own change in attitude towards each other.  If we don't support ourselves who will?

   Culture needs strong family units.  Without working on relationships between Black men and Black women, we are leaving our children to believe the current trends towards chaos is how things are supposed to be.   I personally know that for years, the future of Blacks in America was held in the hands of the Black woman.  When her man could not find employment, many of our woman shouldered the burden.  When the babies' fathers were no where to be found, many of our mothers did not forsake us-- and we as Black men should never forget this.  However, our attitudes towards one another need adjusting.  A strong woman is also a strong-willed woman.  When its good its called resolute, when its bad its called stubborn and maybe relentless.  I cannot speak for all Black men, but sometimes strong-willed women can drive good men away when they do not have a proper male role within her life or a proper male position within her household.  We have already heard about irresponsible Black men but I just want to put it out there that not all broken homes are the result  of men not being fair or responsible.  This is for sure a topic which needs a lot more attention, but I am here to tell you that it will only get more uncivilized until we take the steps necessary to end it ourselves.  But it first starts with the heart...  You have to really want it.


Next:  Further exploration into William Durant's statement.


Cultivation of a culture.  We can make it happen.

Peace and Blessings,

C. Be'erla Hai-roi Myers