Synopsis One
These things were not created in a vacuum. Culture is what parents teach to offspring concerning the knowledge and understanding they have learned, going through the various experiences in life. Largely what we learn about life initially comes from our parents. Amongst those things learned, is a sense of how to interact with others. It is a responsibility of our parents to who teach us how to speak, how to talk to people, and how to express our ideas. Culture is what a people say, make and do. Civilization is how a culture develops in knowledge and wisdom. Culture is also how a people take care of themselves. It is our parents, who should provide us with the foundation of those social skills necessary to interact with the larger group and grow as a people.
The question is, "Who are the larger group?"
As a child, the larger group is your extended family. They look like us. They have similar values, ties and bonds. There is love and ethnicity. They are the roots of our family tree. Ethnicity is the group of people you come from--the culture, language, and belief which binds you, as well as, the other traits which makes you think as one. As we get older, we seek out community, through our understanding of ethnicity (although there will be some who will try to escape being around those of the same ethnicity due to their lack of understanding). When we do, we find similarities in tradition, appearance, customs, awareness, beliefs, arts and entertainment, interests, which includes various ways of thinking--and things which have the tendency to make us feel comfortable and secure around one another.
But what about Nationalistic factors as a binding force?
1) If we identified ourselves as "African Americans" per'se, those Black people whose ancestors come from--let's say India--would not be able to identify with being a part of our people, let's say like other Blacks who live in America; because he or she is not from Africa or America: He or she has not lived under conditions which forge us into who we are, and he or she has not had the same types of experiences that forces him to consider those same things that we do.
2) The name (African-American) describes a people, who became identified as such, when the Blackman was abducted from Africa and brought over to America as property to serve the White man. The purpose was to work our people as slaves and provide free labor for his people, to establish a White colonial community within America.
2) The name (African-American) describes a people, who became identified as such, when the Blackman was abducted from Africa and brought over to America as property to serve the White man. The purpose was to work our people as slaves and provide free labor for his people, to establish a White colonial community within America.
Now it could be argued that Blacks and Whites (as different people) are still both human beings; both belonging to the human family; and therefore, capable of relating to one another--but differences in appearance, traits, customs, morals, and values culminated in the exploitation and ill-treatment of Black people, eventually turning them into slaves (from indentured servitude), at the hands of the people we now call Europeans, Westerners, or Whites. Obviously a sense or separatism exists here in America--that is, a case of us and them--which definitely interferes with the "new American's" proper sense of humanity. Therefore, I cannot give a good reason why we (as Blacks in America) would identify with the name "African American" either (like the Black from India), for that would imply that we do not have a problem with the "master/slave" relationship between the two peoples--or (as Darwin would say) that we accept this as natural selection, a.k.a. the natural order of things.
Also, if we identify ourselves with a particular part of the planet earth (let's say just Africa or America), then the Blacks who live at other locations--who are not from those parts of the globe, that do not share in that same legacy or cultural experience-- would not be able to identify with being part of our people (Black): nor would they be able to see a common foe or antagonist--neither would they relate to any of our conditions within the land where we are from or reside: 3) This being the case, the beginning history of Blacks in America, would start with the capturing of Black people on the Central Asian part of the globe and culminate into the chronicle of slavery in America--which we know is simply not the proper picture to depict us as a people.
Even the majority of Western historians will concur, the earliest finds of human existence have been found in the central part of Asia-- the so called "African continent," "Middle East," (or East Africa to be precise); which makes the Black family (and those who migrated from this area) the oldest human family known on this planet. We are the "parent" culture: meaning all culture and civilization derived from us. Therefore claiming ourselves to be "African American" (instead of Black or at least "Africans in America") would remove any psychological markers (not the genetic markers however) to indicate we were the first people. Understanding this about Black people, seems to imply that the subjugation of Blacks was more of a power thing than anything else--or a shift in the reigns of world dominance.
4) Whether in the Arabian Peninsula or the Himalayas, the Nile Delta, Australia or New Guinea, the Fertile Crescent or Mt. Kenya--in the Wilderness of North America or in the Indus Kush Valley in India--we are the same (Black) people (in different locale) with some differences in customs--but still the same people. Within the lands mentioned, there were impressive centers of cultural antiquity--which served as the foundation of some of the very same cultures that the Western world bragg about--like Greece and Rome for example. However, brothers and sisters, we must remember we are in 'his' home (land) and 'his' writings are not addressed to us, but his own people--aimed specifically to raise his own people and boost their egos. Those in doubt of these facts should read, "Stolen Legacy" by George C. James, "African Origin of Civilization" by Cheink Anta Diop, "The Journey of the Songhai People" by Robinson, Battle & Robinson and "From Superman to Man" by J.A. Rogers.
Keep in mind family, chronology or his-story often comes to us at the hands of the victors. Aggressors could care less about the psychological and physical toll inflicted upon the opposition. Europeans had (and has) no intention to openly acknowledge or illuminate the path of its cultural contributors (especially the dark ones), no more than Rome chose to tell us who the Etruscans were, or Rome's indebtedness to them culturally. None of them will tell you who the Sumerians were, or what color they were--they will only speak of Sumer/Akad and its cultural contribution as the "Cradle of Civilization," scholarly you must "fill in the blanks." Would it surprise you to know that the Etruscans sided with the ancient Carthagians, in the "Battle of Alalia," around 540 b.c.? Would it surprise you to know that the Carthagians were Black? Once again, what color were the Etruscans? What were their anthropological roots? Obviously, we and Europeans are on different pages, as far as civilization, humanity and other peoples are concerned.
5) But we Blacks have allowed geography, boundaries, religion, and tribalism--as well as other differences--divide and split our concern for one another; allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to conquering Western forces, on a "one-on-one," "tribe-by-tribe" basis. We have been our worst enemy.
It stands to reason, that if one group of Blacks from a different area could not relate to a series of events--in the same way as Blacks who are living in another area, going through those experiences mentioned, neither of these groups would see the overall picture being presented by providence. Their general unpreparedness for each of their social experiences, in all probability originates from their lack of receptivity and sensitivity for connectedness as a group, and a lack of understanding of ourselves as one people. This type of untogetherness can range anywhere, from a general ignorance, apathy, onwards into a full blown form of self-hatred of those traits and customs affiliated with us as people; expressing itself as a hatred of things Black.
Those of us suffering from low self-esteem might be caught-up into this way of self-hatred, thinking to ourselves, "I never liked that bunch any way--serves them right." Or our religiously ignorant folks might not help another Black person--claiming "bad things" might befall upon them for simply getting involved with another person's calamity--citing; "God mignt be punishing me for interferring with "His" works etc., etc." But as Malik El Hajj Shabazz so eloquently stated: "You can't hate the roots of a tree and not hate the tree itself; you give me a person who has a low opinion of black people and I will show you a person who does not love themselves."
Somehow, somewhere, there must have developed a certain "disconnect" in our compassion for one another that over-rides our sense of humanity for each other (probably due to a lack of psychic maturity); this same apathy in the past allowed outsiders to take advantage of us culturally, socially, and psychologically--without even a protest on our part!
I have personally watched a Muslim, who happens to be Black, not return a salute to me in his religious greeting or salutation, simply because he suspected I was not Muslim and then, immediately talk at length to some White man whom we both knew had been studying Arabic for non-religious reasons (of course, after exchanging greetings in the traditional Muslim way)... Is it that we don't want to seem ignorant to other people or nationalities, or is it that we can accept ourselves being that uncivilized to each other? Maybe that's just a reflection of our own self-hatred for ourselves as a people, originating from our enslavement experience... Who knows? God knows.
6) And finally, on the topic of being on different pages as far as humanity and civilization are concerned, the idea that one has to go to scholarly works like George C. James and others to obtain undisputed evidence which should already have been taught to us in American schools indicates: (A) That there is an objection (on the part of ruling class Whites), to let the whole of American society know that classical societies like Greece and Rome are extremely indebted to Khamit (so-called Egypt) for being the author and father of the degree of civilization the Western world claims to be theirs exclusively;(B) and that even though Whites are a much different people (whose arrogance cannot be avoided), our people are looking for these people that hold so much contempt against us (as a people), to tell us the truth openly. This is sheer madness on our part, because it exposes a very dark nature on the White man's part--seldom seen or recognized.
8) So in essence, what we have been talking about is love for all the human family, when we speak of humanity; which includes care and a belonging for all human beings. And yet we, who were taken from our homeland, and enslaved by the European slave holders, slave mongers, and peddlers of Black human flesh--sanctioned by the so-called American society--were treated in such a deplorable fashion, that one has to question these people's sense of such things. The European colonists who owned slaves, wanted to be placated so bad, they made Blacks appear sub-human in their books, depictions and minds. This way they could feel justified in the acts they perpetrated upon us: a practice that has continued even to this very same day...
9) But once we ourselves start to look at ourselves as one genus or group: "Black people," then we can get by our differences in religion, politics, culture or territory: Once we get by these depictions and markers; then we can start identifying with those people who have the same genetic markers and make-up as ourselves--regardless of our places on this "Third Stone from the Sun." Once we start to redefine ourselves by our own standards and dimensions, we will be on our way to create the type of unification that will help us rise above our complications of trying to negotiate with those who do not mean our people any good.
10) The White man's depictions of us, made us into something so uneducated and so hideous, that some people may think that Whites were doing us a favor by enslaving and re-educating us. And since we have not began to amass enough power to project ourselves onto the international set, the rest of world has not adequately heard our rebuttals--rebuttals, not so much in words, but in deeds. Anyone having doubts concerning the veracity of my statements, should research the genre called "Vintage Black Memorabilia," featuring creatures like "Little Black Sambo," or the outlawed "Black Lawn Jockeys"--which in their days were en vogue but are now considered in bad taste.
11) Everybody wants to feel loved and needed: by family, by partners, by your significant other or soulmate--even by people of different ethnic groups appreciate what you do. Blacks want to be appreciated for the embodiment of work we do, or at least--the job we perform. As you all know, having love, or having people around you who love you, can make you feel real good about yourself. Therefore you should be able to appreciate what I mean when I say, by Whites in America depicting Blacks within this country to appear lesser in the eyes of the known world of that time--these people of European descent could, in effect, inflict the most cruel, vicious, sub-human treatment on Black people, and there would be little uproar. After all, we were their property. The Black slave was theirs to do as they pleased. They had other Whites thinking, "These beings aren't really human anyway, were they?" [Where was this same thinking that animal rights activist use for those times]. Little by little we were recreated by their media. Yet, no one concerned themselves with how these deeds just about permanently damaged our psyches as a group of people--outside our own people who knew.
12) The dehumanizing of the Blackman during slavery was institutionalized into the American Fabric, like the stars and stripes of the America flag; ingraining it into the minds of the American people so solidly--that we all suffer from it--even to this day. Being a free man during the time of slavery (circa 1555-1863), wasn't that much better for Blacks, either. Slave laws were created and legislation was passed in the United States concerning what could and could not be done to slaves; what their net value was worth, for reasons of state representation in Congress; while indirectly setting the trend for how American citizens were to view all Blacks. There were laws made for free Black men, that did not apply to Whites at all--indicating that citizenship between Blacks and Whites was not equal. And like predators towards an otherwise defenseless victim, the poachers and parasites took full advantage of the opportunities these rules presented for corrupt Whites willing to get their hands dirty.
13) At the times of Frederick Douglass, many free Blacks were fighting to be recognised as dignified in the eyes of whites, thus they enlisted in the Civil War to achieve this end (which indicates they did not have it prior to). This began the process, that continues onwards even to this day--wherein Blacks perform and Whites criticize, evaluate, judge and scrutinize their performances. [Just look at the way the Black Quarterbacks in the National Football League are spoken about, and you will see the same thing being exercised today]. The "New Americans" had colonized America, successfully taken the land from the natives, and after using the slaves to tame the land for no cost; now had Blacks proving ourselves to them, for the position of civilized human beings within their newly acquired country (after being enlightened by Blacks in the past).
14) Blacks of that time, began to curse their condition within in America. Our treatment within this country was undoubtedly associated with the color of our skin. Obviously, our skin tone became affiliated with the hate and ill-treatment unleashed upon us as a people, by American society. We began to associate the treatment as something we were born into and accustomed to happening, because of the color of our skin: the two (Black skin and misery) being something which entitles us to receiving such impoverished conditions and inhumane treatment ("just because you're Black"). Over time, many of us accepted these things. Slavery provided slave owners with the means of making themselves rich from our labor, the Emancipation Proclaimation put an end to slavery and immediately put most of us in poverty with no land (because the government did not repatriate us)--often soliciting for employment from the same ones who enslaved or formerly owned us.
We began to hate our social and political position within American fabric, pleading to Whites to become part of their society--creating alternative characters and alter-egos for ourselves ("I'm not Black, I'm brown--from the Boogie Down" or "Coming from an intelligent Brown man")--in the attempt to be somebody else, and disassociate ourselves with such foul treatment. While living amongst Whites in America, being Black often means misery, pain, poverty and the feeling of inferiority.
15) Blacks began to hate what America provided for us and began inventing ways to escape the pain associated with being Black in America: We began to hate ourselves and those who look like us. Worst of all, because of the consistent ill-treatment by White America, we began to believe that maybe we were that being, which they labelled inferior--that being which they identify with the "N" word! In general, people become more efficient at living by the things they learn through experience, over time. They want to be able to navigate around the B.S. in life and live a peaceful existence. But when you have a condition where one people are living under another's confines, jurisdiction, authority, and control become major issues. There are two ways to look at adversity and opposition: proof that the Devil does exist in the flesh, or an opportunity for you to become more resourceful and clever. You have to become better in order to steer clear of the foolish and not get damaged... As Gil Scott Heron once said, "The world is just a simple circle, you got to keep on turning or down you fall." This statement implies the need for evolution and revolution: Evolution, in the sense of expanding your mind, and involving your persons in things--and people--which will change your perspective on higher learning--bringing in new ideas and perspectives from other places and spaces.
16) Then, because the Black man and woman thought he/she was nothing--anything which looked like him/her must be nothing as well (in his/her mind). And in thinking that, he/she began to lash out against his condition, by inflicting the greatest cruelty upon anything or anyone who reminded him of his horrible condition (including those of his kind); that is, going out of his way to discredit Blacks who thought highly of themselves; for if he thought he was not "Ok," then nor was anyone else who looked like him.
We began to hate our social and political position within American fabric, pleading to Whites to become part of their society--creating alternative characters and alter-egos for ourselves ("I'm not Black, I'm brown--from the Boogie Down" or "Coming from an intelligent Brown man")--in the attempt to be somebody else, and disassociate ourselves with such foul treatment. While living amongst Whites in America, being Black often means misery, pain, poverty and the feeling of inferiority.
15) Blacks began to hate what America provided for us and began inventing ways to escape the pain associated with being Black in America: We began to hate ourselves and those who look like us. Worst of all, because of the consistent ill-treatment by White America, we began to believe that maybe we were that being, which they labelled inferior--that being which they identify with the "N" word! In general, people become more efficient at living by the things they learn through experience, over time. They want to be able to navigate around the B.S. in life and live a peaceful existence. But when you have a condition where one people are living under another's confines, jurisdiction, authority, and control become major issues. There are two ways to look at adversity and opposition: proof that the Devil does exist in the flesh, or an opportunity for you to become more resourceful and clever. You have to become better in order to steer clear of the foolish and not get damaged... As Gil Scott Heron once said, "The world is just a simple circle, you got to keep on turning or down you fall." This statement implies the need for evolution and revolution: Evolution, in the sense of expanding your mind, and involving your persons in things--and people--which will change your perspective on higher learning--bringing in new ideas and perspectives from other places and spaces.
16) Then, because the Black man and woman thought he/she was nothing--anything which looked like him/her must be nothing as well (in his/her mind). And in thinking that, he/she began to lash out against his condition, by inflicting the greatest cruelty upon anything or anyone who reminded him of his horrible condition (including those of his kind); that is, going out of his way to discredit Blacks who thought highly of themselves; for if he thought he was not "Ok," then nor was anyone else who looked like him.
17) All over the world we as Blacks suffer from a common affliction, by a common group of people from a common part of the West Asia, the so-called "Eurasian" continent--a people who believe that all other people are stepping stones to their goals. These people's lifestyles becomes superimposed upon ours, and we became responsible for entertaining him and providing him a menial task force, while he left us feeling blue--with many of us jockeying for the position where we received crumbs from his table. Need I say, this has got to stop!
In America, there are very few Blacks running things--without a White person above him or her. But around the world, there are Blacks who run all aspects of their society, without any outside influence. Their approaches are very different: offering brand new perspectives on various social issues; allowing ones who are privy to it, to "think outside the box."
19) You should always take stock of what is happening around the world, but you should make your synopsis felt within the area you are in--the reasoning is to make something happen locally. 20) A lot of foreigners feel that a lot of Black people are sympathetic to their situation. They can tell if we know how they feel. They can sense our souls. When the souls are the same, then it is the same mental, verbal, as well as body "language." Black people are people who will make every effort to understand and/or remedy situations--and this one is no different.
The emphasis here is to secure a better life for ourselves, our family and progeny. And as expressed earlier, the sense of right and wrong oft-times vary with the beholder, despite the society: However, if your act, culminates with a mob of angry people chasing you and yours with a bunch of torches and firearms in their hands, it is probably not the right or appropriate thing to do. Nor will a boosted military save you, if the whole world is sudden against you because of your policies and behavioral patterns.
And as always, Peace and Blessings,
C. Be'erla Hai-roi Myers
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