Collective

Consciousness

    Vigilance brothers and sisters, vigilance.

   I just enjoyed a DVD production by Stephen Hawking called, "Into The Universe with Stephen Hawking"  He is a fascinating cosmologist and a brilliant theorist amongst other things--one of them being that he is a quadriplegic.  That's one of the amazing things about growth in a civilization--that is, its ability to provide for its physically disadvantaged citizens.  By being a cosmologist, I hardly believe that Mr. Hawking was financially disadvantaged, prior to his appointment, given his hardy acceptance and recognition amongst the prominent and wealthy -- despite his physical encumbrances, as well as, his appearance.
  
  Westerners are funny that way.  I recognize by his difficulties, that either he, or the family he comes from--maybe even both--must have had a lot of confidence in him; giving him full support and sparing no expense:  Jobs like his are usually designated for those well-off financially, and the type of respect he has in the field (as well as the money spent for that type of film production) will not come solely through the acknowledgement of his brilliance: That's like going to school for monument sculpture, in bronze and brass:  Who does that, without being intimately familiar with the types of people who can afford to purchase that sort of thing.   His wheel chair equipment was high-tech alright; equipped with a computerized voice reproduction system, to compensate for his speech impediments.

   He is quite an entertaining scientist, including real imaginative ideas to illustrate his theories, theorems, interpolations and extrapolations.  He kept me entertained like watching  a Gordon Parks Movie  (like the  original Shaft or the Learning Tree)!   Mr. Hawking  spoke about the future stages of our sun--from it's current state, becoming a red sun, and its eventual nova.  He elaborated on how the same planets our sun gave life within our solar system, will eventually be destroyed by the fantastic heat of the red sun, that our sun will inevitably become.  Mr. Hawking then interpolated, elaborating that the nearest habitable planet--given the fastest ship available--would take an access of about two hundred years to reach its' destination:  Estimating better technology would have to be pursued, how the trip would be financed, etc.

   I thought about Mr. Hawkins physical conditions a lot, as I watch his brilliant theories on the future of humanity and this planet.  Particularly, when he spoke about the planet being in danger of being destroyed, how he and his people hoped to have advanced technology to the point, where a spaceship could be built to fly to the nearest habitable planet--carrying HUMAN CARGO. 

My question is, "Who would be on this ship?"  As he spoke further, he extrapolated that most governments would probably not want to invest in such a project, since this ship would be leaving and never coming back.  Brilliant deduction!  Therefore he concluded, that the passengers would (in all likelihood) be the ones who could finance their own  trip to RECOLONIZE on another planet--whether or whether not there would be other inhabitants.  My third eye mind considered, "Oh, so only the extremely wealthy can afford to get away from a dying planet like planet Krypton (the comic book character Superman's home planet), so how many Blacks would be licensed to take such a trip or given such a special invite?  And how typical a White way of thinking, to intrude on other inhabitants--invited or not!

    I began to realize, how often when Whites are speaking about events and solutions for their own people--that we (as Black people) automatically begin to include ourselves in the equation--when (in reality), there is no real suggestion presented to support that theory.  Meaning, when they say "for the future of our people," we Blacks in the West automatically think they mean all the people.  Now what kind of fantasy are we living in:  the same one that naively doesn't want to believe that Europe committed three holocausts against the Jewish people?  The one that doesn't want to believe that there were more Black people lost at sea, as a result slavery in America--than all the Jews lost in the Holocaust?  Maybe the one that doesn't believe that South Africa once had 85% of the indigenous Black population living on 15% of the land, while Whites used the rest of that land for personal ownership and recreational areas--like huge golf courses (meanwhile projecting an image that so-called Africa is a mismanaged wasteland of uncontrolled vegetation)? 

   By the deeds Westerners display around the world, concerning other indigenous people, I don't think the leadership in Kenya will be thinking that this Western rocket ship would be making accommodation for wealthy Blacks in their areas--particularly if they are not the British authorities that Mr. Hawking works in behalf of.  Surely, the Black man in Central Asia could not have much confidence or faith, that he would be included on that ship constructed by the West: I don't believe, not even half as much, as this quadriplegic scientist obviously believed he would be included.  And although this is British government we are talking about, I can't imagine--given the chronicle of the Blackman in America--why any of us Blacks, in the wilderness of North America, should believe we'd be in that number--either.  Though, I'm very sure, there are quite a number of our own people who would believe that Blacks would be included.

   Sometimes, I perceive we--as Black people--are too willing to go by our own beliefs, rather than face cold, hard facts!  Nowhere, in the history of Whites, had Westerners done anything without their immediate benefit being considered and rewarded first!  Nowhere, in the history of Western colonization, has the original inhabitants of colonized areas, ever fared out well by the considerations of Whites in those occupied areas! 

   Every other type of etnicity around the world has a "sob" story to tell, concerning the White man taking land and natural resources from their country, while getting very little or nothing comparable in return.  This is in light of the fact--according to ethnogenesis--Whites are the last to appear in the chronology of man.  So why should we believe that the policy has changed, given the practice of their White ancestry?  And if we don't believe-- then why are we not sending our children to more engineering schools and taking advantage of the affirmative action programs, made to assist "minorities" in the fields of medicine and technology?  Why are we not collectively preparing ourselves overall, on the basis of this awareness: 
 

   St. Luke Chapter 12:47: "And that servant which knew his Lord's will and prepared

not himself, neither did according to His will shall be beaten with many stripes." 

   I am fully aware that it takes more effort to make things right--but while there is always difficulties associated with starting anything-- if there is no pain then there is no gain. . . 
I guess, it makes things easier to sit back and do nothing--in reference to events--and let the next generation inherit the job of saving our species.  Whites seem to worship, statistics, politics, theories, theorems-- while we Blacks seem to place too much on faith and the Creator making sure He "sees us through."  While I subscribe to providence, and manifest destiny for Black people, I am not so crazy about all this vicarious and precarious behavior demonstrated by current day Blacks within the West-- particularly relying on other's sense of humanity without any very viable options.
   Not that I'm so inclined to the excessive use of force, but of all the countries displaying nuclear capabilities and showcasing a space program--how many of these would you say are represented by people of substantial pigmentation?  Really?  Examine it for yourself...

   I'm just saying though...  When you don't have the ability to defend yourself, there's always bullies out there waiting to take advantage of your position.  Just study the Faulklands Crisis [two articles].  Implied--but not stated--that because these islands had names for water bodies, their must have been indigenous people before the English and Spain "discovered" the Fauklands...

   I am not saying that there has not been improvement in the West, concerning their sense of humanity (I suppose), but as another group of people with a separate destiny--why should we depend on anyone else to be fair--for us to get equal rights and privileges in the dual society in which we live?  It is as if the known world believes the world should be ruled by a Western hand.  Given our ethnogenesis--we should have better options than the ones presently presented.  Imagine your kid--all grown up as a behemoth, asking you to do something nicely, while toting a big club behind his back--just in case you don't )...  Looking like Teddy Roosevelt.  

  But I digress.   This is not even my overall topic or my perspective. It is not about might and such, but I just thought you should be aware of what is the obvious playing field (at least to my persons).  Now back to self development of the mental kind...

   It is quite difficult to understand why as a people, we continue this tenuous relationship with the West.  Some times when an animal is abused enough, the pain becomes ordinary and the animal gets accustomed to such behavior.  Hopefully this is not the case with us in America.  My heart does not want to believe that, but regardless--I will accept that if it is true.  Yet, I see efforts being made in small clusters.  I just consider that some of you were like me in my previous life-- I just was not aware of so much and therefore I didn't do much-- but once I found out...  And that is just it: If you sincerely seek, you will find/ if you knock the door will open-- but only if you mean it.  You show you mean it by your actions.  If you know better, then you show you mean it by doing better.  

Karma means your words, quest-ions, and your deeds, are like boomerangs.  If you are sincere in your efforts, you will find the answers.  The answers may require that you make adaptations.  If you make those adjustments, you will receive what a person who lives by those words receives (don't use the shotgun approach--because scattered ideas are unfocused efforts). 

   As expressed to you before, I am not a person who subscribes to organized religion.  Supreme consciousness needs no middle man.  In the way that I perceive it, it is not:

Creator + man (or woman) of divinity + divinity within = you and proper guidance: 

It is more of a direct line of communication: 

 Creator + divinity within = you. 

  This is not to disavow the wisdom books written by godly inspired men.  Quite the contrary, it only proves my point that God needs no middle man.  The Creator created all for a purpose only the Creator was aware of.  The things created serve that purpose.  All things created are but vessels of that purpose-- vehicles to express that purpose.  When one comes in contact with another form created by the Creator, they communicate.  The communique is done through the vehicles of the senses or through sound utterances through one's native tongue.  The Creator communicates through conscience with The One Who Creates; being the Supreme or Ultimate form of Awareness (or consciousness).  We grow in consciousness through the interaction of form (experience), or through what we understand of those experiences-- whether they be direct communication (speaking), empathy, sympathy, compassion (perceive or concur with the path of others), or frequency (vibes, vibration, feel, feelings). 

Our own vessel and the quest for awareness, is our direct access to that consciousness-- the right questions makes our vehicles to take that journey-- THERE IS NO NEED FOR INTERMEDIARIES like the preacher man.  Religion is as individual as fingerprints or grains of sand.  The paths are directly communicated based upon conscience.  Whatever premise or virtues you base your life upon, the compassion of The One who creates provides the journey, and the possibility of a total understanding-- based upon our individual purpose and goals; not through means of an expert in the field of divinity who does so for pay!

   Besides, when Blacks in America are practicing Christianity, our people are practicing what was given to us in slavery to quell resistance.  The form of Christianity is what the West did with the practice--which is different within the East and Greece--whose origin begins in what Jesus and the Essene practiced; an Aramaic Chaldaic form of Hebrew teachings.

   Our growth and development in life is the most magnanimous form of evolution, for we can become better than we were--as well as "dance our way out of our constrictions" (excerpt from the song "One Nation Under A Groove" by George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic).  We are responsible for our own journeys in life, a preacher can be no more responsible for your guidance, than a doctor can diagnose you without your assistance--through verbal and physical communication.  You can be guided by the truth only if you are looking for it, have the tendency to be receptive, and of good conscience and reason; the same tools that will guide you--if you took the journey unassisted.  So why pay for it while placing someone above you?  Just like you develop your physical muscles--you have to develop your "mental muscles" and expand your memory. 

   Granted there has been many highly elevated sentient beings incarnated on this plane.  Many of these beings walked a path which compulsorily motivates others to move towards more appropriate behavior-- maybe even forego a previous direction; to accompany a path which bears much similarities: Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Confucius, Moses [Mesh/ Musa], David and his son Solomon, Hiram Abiff, The cult-ure of Ausar- Auset (so called Osiris/Isis in Greek) [3 stories], Kahlil Gibran, Omar Khayyam, Mawlana Rumi, Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ibn Abd Allah Ibn Abn al-Muttalib, Malik Al Hajj Shabazz are some examples of such beings.  They were renown throughout the world.  They are known as  Enlightened Ones and are often quoted.  Some religions are erected on the basis of their paths-- but often this is done after their death by others. 

   In this is a sense that someone is telling you how someone lived after they are gone.  This often tends to create over exaggeration, leading to canonisations, folklore and legend.  My first point is: Name any religion and its devotees and I will show you that most miss the mark of the title -- meaning technically most cannot fulfill the total obligation the title suggests.  In one way or another they all will fall short.  Perfection is something to be continuously striving for -- but it itself is not obtainable...  Secondly, all of the Enlightened ones spoke concerning the wisdom and understanding that sprung from their beings as something to be reasoned with, not just followed.  To reason you must have a basic sense of right and wrong, accompanied by a good conscience.  And none of them advocated to be the leader of others.  They lead by truth and example.  And because of this all of them were in conflict with the government of their respective countries--because they advocate free thinking thought and that limits the power of the middle man.   They were just in communique with the highest and Most Ultimate form of Awareness, they considered with good conscience and reasoning, with the rest being for the Chronicles.  They had no middle men guiding them.  We may reason with each other in good conscience, but it is up to the individual to find the answers to their questions.

  Each journey is a unique and direct communique with the One who creates for the Creator's purpose; each a distinct ritual based upon the development of the person.  Religion is a personal journey laid out by the essence of the Creator within each vessel.  The key ingredient is the rituals which 'religion'-- or ties (ligion) you back (re) to The source where all come from.

Not that I am making ridicule of any one's religion, but logically if one created everything from something which is in one's own essence, it essentially stands to reason that the thing created and the one who created are still linked: like the almost infinite amount of cells that make up the body which you experience as one body!

   In the realm of people, we as Black people need to unlearn a lot of concepts learned when we took on this language I am speaking. This is not my original tongue, but it will do for now, however--when my Central Asian brothers and sisters use English, they do not use it in the same way I do.  They visualize and conceptualize in their native tongue and translate that into the English language.  This is a very fundamental difference.  Their ethnogenesis started with an ideology about the greatness of Black people and their culture.  Sacred figures that resemble them.  Concepts concerning them and a world with Black man, woman and child as the most important people.  The English culture, custom or ideology (nor American ideology) is not where the Central Asian is coming from when he/or she uses the English language-- unless he has been Western indoctrinated.  He is conceptualizing in his cultural parameters and translating into English.  

As for the Black in America, unless he is fighting for his/her own liberation--  he or she is more than likely conceptually coming from American indoctrination.  His concepts are derived from what he observes from another people.  The values derived from what others say they are, or his spin on what they say concerning.   The standards are set by another people and their way becomes the phenomena that Blacks extract from, to make sense of it in our own Black third eye mind.


NEXT: HOW TO FREE ONE'S MIND FROM WESTERN MISCONCEPTIONS


Peace and Blessings,

C. Be'erla Hai-roi Myers
   

  

Simon Says

My person has recently heard of a game, in which the player has intimacy with a person of the "complimentary" sex  (as opposed to calling women the opposite sex), while living as a CGI character on the screen.  After one experiences a couple of episodes upon the screen--a bond is established with between you and your computer generated partner.  Many fantasies are lived out (and learned about) on the computer--requiring your--uh epp, em, participation.  It comes with a "partially scripted" dialogue between you and your partner--displaying some scenses and qualities of "questionable nature".  After which you go through several levels of this game--performing intimate acts on screen--until in one scene, a villain appears with an aura of violation/ attempting vindication--forcing protect you and your partner from this sexual rage.

Scantily (to starkly dressed) you and the villain struggle--both trying to gain the upper hand and insert your will, After you subdue the villain, your partner tells you things (which were not previously known) like her (or his) knowledge of the ruffian and/or his possible ideas retaliation. Stating that the ruffian "will never relent"--and thus concluding that this villain must be done away with! 

You stand there, contemplating over all that she said. . .  The Next move is on you.  What are you going to do?

In this fantasy world, which is absent of law enforcement or laws as we know it, if you are like the vast majority of people--you'd eliminate the possibility of his retaliation. . .  But the elimination of one's enemies is not Justice.  The purpose of justice is bringing about balance in life, not destroying the possibilities.  The chief aspect of justice is to correct the wrong doer.  Many times I have gone by penitentiary systems within the West, viewing signs up top which read,  "Correctional Facility". . .  But how many times do these institutions actually correct the wrong doers?  

Seems like the West does a better job at making hardened criminals than correcting them.  I have to say that some of the responsibility of creating these tougher, lesser compassionate types lies on the society for creating the disparity amongst the societies, along with its' methods for correcting that disparity--and the bulk of the responsibility lies on the so-called criminals for their type of decision-making.  Life is full of choices but it is we, who should make the decisions.  Choices are based upon what you know (or believe), but in order to truly be educated, you must be educable.     

We are responsible for the decisions we make in life, but ultimately it's the way a person thinks--which forms and shapes one's reality.  And yet, some people become so intensely focused on doing things, they can barely see anything  else!  There are theories which suggest that the kind ideas which criminals hold, and the way they focus on those ideas, interferes with the perception of the other side of things.

 In order to entertain certain modes of consciousness, the other modes (aka complimentary forces) or considerations--will simply not be there (or at the very least they will be remote or repressed).  In other words, we become so obsessed with what we are doing, we become possessed by these thoughts--and cannot see beyond them!  As sentient, rational human beings, it is our responsibility to seek out proper solutions and/or break on through to the other side of our personalities.  This type of thinking or considering becomes more difficult when we are possessed by ill, dark or evil thoughts. . .


What most people do not realize in this example concerning this game, is that most of this activity and consideration is not real thinking--but manipulation.  This SIMS-like game seems so real--so real that you get maneuvered and manipulated into thinking patterns and a form of thought control: Right down to the thought of getting  rid of an adversary which is not exactly your idea  now is it?  The Adversary is more your "CGI woman's" enemy' than it is yours--right?  RECOGNISE, YOU JUST GOT TAKEN FOR THE RIDE, NOW DIDN'T YOU?  The problem is, you didn't see it coming. . .

In my life, I have seen so many guys trying to protect the honor of a woman (mother, sister, love one), wherein the motive was not even properly known or understood.  Heck, you could just be the "muscle" to carry out the will of this woman. . . You might not even be protecting her honor--you might just be a "buster," carrying out a dunce roll without advance notice.  But the most scary part is--in American society you are naturally predisposed to act in this manner.  The manner we are speaking about is called societal indoctrination and conditioning.

 There are many ancient theories concerning dark, obsure and evil thoughts: Depicting Evil as a "little bird" darting through trees.  This theory came to us from ancient Khamit (known to Western thinkers as so-called Egypt).  In this particular theory, Evil is viewed as a segregated force which floats on the ethers of the air we breathe, and  possesses the being who consider them--separating that being from other thoughts that doesn't coincide with that train of thought.  According to this theory, the reason why people perform evil is because once they breathe these thoughts in, they cannot see the other side or the whole picture.  The way our Khamau ancestors describe all emotions is living beings which are conscious forms of energy, but have no dense physical form.  In our world, emotions need a human vessels in order to carry out their will.  But the reason why some of this is going on in the first place, is because of the way that you think-- a.k.a. the way we have been oriented: In American life, there are the Western influences: that is, values within something you watched on TV; some song you heard; some movie you've seen, etc., etc, etc.

In America, The President of the United States is also called, "The Father of Our Country."  That is because the primary purpose of a government is to govern the populace of the country.  The government regulates all cultural aspects of American society: Federal Communication Commission or FCC is very powerful.  The regulation power of the FCC presides over the media we previously discussed.  As a matter of fact, we can say that "All that is bad or good about a society, can be traced back to the way that society is governed"--even down to the way people think.  If you traveled around the world before, you would know that you cannot expect the same responses to any given phenomena.   For instance, if you show a tear-jerker in different countries, I promise you, everybody will not even cry about the same parts in the movie.  That is because the culture is different and therefore the considerations will be  different.

In America, there is this regulatory commission called the FCC.  Lately the FCC has been de-regulated somewhat.  Some say the de-regulation of the FCC, is a conscious effort by certain factors of American society (with enough money and influence) to futher lower the standards of American society:  These people are those who have enough money and enterprise to lobby for their ideas and interests within the government, high on Capital hill.  FCC codes today are more relaxed than they were in the past: Things which are produced in this environment today, would have been banned in the past due to FCCregulation.

As expressed earlier, "If you are like the vast majority of people, you would eliminate the possibility."  That is, if you are doing what the vast majority does, then you are following the trends set by someone else/ You are doing What Simon Says: sort of like being the same as everyone else, keeping the status-quo, being a follower instead of a leader or being brainwashed and indoctrinated without ever even knowing it.

A game or video like the one mentioned above, only exists in mainstream society--because the FCC did not flag it as inappropriate.  And if it is not inappropriate within American society, that is because the FCC deemed it allowable or appropriate: according to the sub-themes and sub-routines of the commission--much of which is the subject of indoctrination of the American society--aka Simon says:  Therefore what exists within our society, exists because it is the government's idea of how a free society should be.  

When I was growing up, "cussing" or cursing on records was not allowed on the air, nor played at a party.  If you had a record with cursing on it, you would 'sneak around the corner' to play it; acting like there was something wrong--because by those day's standards--IT WAS WRONG.  Sure, the every generation always wants their parents generation to ease up and not try to control or regulate things so much--but once you've been snared by the evils in American society a few times, you begin to recognize that you see things that a youngster doesn't see.

As I said earlier, "All that is good and all that is bad within a society can be traced back to how that society is governed."  To indoctrinate means to imbue with a partisan or ideological point of view or to instruct in a body of doctrine or principles.   Americans have ideas that Europeans do not have.  Jamaicans have ways of looking at things, which conflict with how Americans see things.  Rastafari have views, that main stream Jamaicans don't agree with.  The most important thing I want you to see about this is that when I ask for your view, opinion, or observation on something--I want to know that it is your point of view based upon your own personal quest for what you consider is appropriate--and not just the view you have been manipulated into, or a thought held by the masses--or worst yet--something you do by blind imitation.

A lot of people do things, because it is just part of a tradition.   The majority of people do not even question whether or that tradition is appropriate or not.   And often, years later, we look back at those eras and realize we are no longer under that particular spell. . . Not only do most people not put much thought to it--they get offended if you suggest anything else is going on.  That is because in their minds, they are prejudice to believe that no other suggestion could be a better solution, or better point of view, than the one held by the majority of people in their country.  Unless they are like Blacks in America (without a country to truly call their own), they are bias to the nationalistic beliefs!  That's why I strive to prove my assertions.  Because I know for most Blacks, we are naturally predisposed to question this societies aims.  We may not always find the truth--but we do question.  That might be because we were not in on the plans during the inception of this country. . .  

 This is why I say to the youth of today: "You can no longer do things simply because everybody else is doing it--you have to take control and responsibility for your life by making decisions that YOU put a lot of thought into!"  

If you got your own ideas and you put your own ideas to the test, the results will teach you things about yourself, but you will never learn these things, until you own your own ideas by way of experience--and make sure that they are the best things for you and your own people!  

What we see in America people is blind imitation, MTV/ BET Fashion carbon copiers: We see video and Pop Star worshippers.  There is not a lot of free-thinking going on in America.  We have a lot of popular and public opinion masqueraded as an individual point of view.  We see a lot of fads and trend followers, who fall off of their beliefs, looks, and points of view--as soon as the next trend comes around.  And the sad thing about it is--most of the time they may not have put a lot of thought of what they are doing with their lives!

It would be more accurate to say "It would be a typically a Western way of thinking, to eliminate the possibility of retaliation--as demonstrated by the public opinion of a vast majority of people in this Western American society."  Many of us  like to say we are "African-American," but the truth is, we act more American than "African."  If what we were saying is true, then we would act more like Jamaicans, Haitians and Dominicans or Africans than Whites.  But we all know better, because too many of us have behaviors that resemble the same type of bias and partisanship that Whites show towards "First World People" in the diaspora.

DURING THE EARLY TIMES

When I was growing up, my father, mother, and my grandparents had ways that were very different from American Whites.  They did not trust Whites very much.  They were that way, because my father was born in 1922, and my mother was born in 1933.  Her father, or my grandfather, was born  circa 1902.  They were all from the South.  They had to deal with the extreme racism of that era.   Mom is from a major Klan state stronghold.  These were the times, when the entertainment in a club up North could be all Black, but the people that were allowed into those clubs would be all White!  Most of their parents and grandparents, had experienced a segregated society, which meant they had to "know their place" in the White man's society.  Often Whites would mistreat and openly take things from Blacks and nothing would be done about it--because the person they had to seek justice from would be bias.  This was probably  because he or she were White too (and probably from that clandestine hooded Southern society as well).   I think the History Channel link under my words "segregated society" is an adequate video--but it pales in comparison to my parents' eye  accounts  of the time period.  There were a lot of racially motivated hatred projected towards Blacks in those times--although the media in American society is either too timid or embarrassed to fully show events as the really were during those times.

  

Even though those acts of open racist aggression are not as much practiced today as they were during the times of my youth, my parents still find it hard to trust "these people"--and with good reason.  They stayed away from Whites often, speaking cordial and respectful to them when contact was necessary, while analyzing their every move;--attempting to figure out the White man's intentions to avoid unfortune incidents.  The reasoning behind this was and is, had been fooled into slavery by devils in human form and taken advantage of so often, that they had little trust in good things naturally happening and became more astute as a result of this knowledge.  Their encounters with Whites primilarly became limited to trading and services--and not much more.

They were viewed as people with strange ways, often giving into perversions and devices (bad habits).  And since it was their society, it was best not to engage them too long, for fear that no good might become of it.   It could be generally agreed upon that Whites had ways that were vastly different than Blacks--and many of them were not God fearing.  Even though Christianity was taught to Blacks during slavery (or White missionaries on the continent), the way they practiced it was far different from Whites.  As a matter of fact,  not too many Blacks relied on the Christ-like behavior of most Whites to prevail theough their everyday activities.  The soul and/or spiritually of both churches were quite different and present different reasons for congregating.  In those days, the White man's world was something to be leary of.

The Blacks of those times were afraid to go to the White doctors, for fear that--their ideas and opinions of us as a people, would somehow lead to ill-service, ill-treatment, and illegal experimentation on us as well.  And that fear was not unfounded.  Any one who knows about Tuskegee 626 (1), knows the the truth (2).  After all, these feelings were not based upon fantasy, they were based upon experiences that most people today (both Black and White) have no way of knowing, except through books, chronological and eye-witnessed accounts.  And just like American Jews will never let America and Europe forget about the Holocaust--we must never let Whites have us forget about slavery, mental death, and lack of power--along with the racist acts of the past.

It was the Black man's  protest and resistence against such acts that led to his self-reliant attitude during these times, and this awareness  gave us an impetus to make our own help.   There has been much activist activity throughout the chronology of Blacks in America--but the more successful Black enterprising periods were largely due to our "backs being against the wall" in a hostile environment.  We built monuments and accomplish so many great things during these times--so much so that poor the Whites in the South got jealous, formed citizen councils such as the KKK (Klu Klux Klan) to intimidate Blacks, and burn down their towns (under questionable circumstances) protected by their "clandestine cousins" in local law enforcement and local law-making authorities.

IN THESE DAYS AND TIMES

Through the past deeds and current postures of Whites, our people were made very aware that we were living in another man's society, and this seem to indicate that Blacks ought to take care of themselves the best we can, if we were going to survive.  However, current day Blacks have seemed to have lost that sense of cautiousness, awareness, urgency and attitude.  Many of today's youth seem quite unaware of why these attitudes that older Blacks developed were here, or whether this type of racism even really existed as they say.  Actually, our youth don't express much interest as to know why or what is causing all this to happen.  Because things have toned down  on the surface (as result of the Black power and Civil Rights Struggles)--today's Blacks are seemingly satisfied with the idea that it isn't happening the same way and therefore will not take the time to find out what exactly did happen (in an internet world where knowledge is right at your fingertips).  

Young Blacks today seem to want to just look the part: "the posture without the means," or "lifestyle without the loot"--often tossing caution to the wind--believing they will be treated in the same manner as Whites in American society.  Yet becoming dumfounded when it doesn't happen that way.  Our grandparents wanted to be known as "people of God," or "God's Children,"  while most of their grandchildren do not.  Their grandchildren are a lot like Cindy Lauper: "they just want to have fun."

And as a result, many of our youth today are just as reckless their White children are, yet their consequences are much different than those of  Whites: Often mimicking ways that make our elders believe that the subsequent generation of Blacks are Whiter than White folks--especially when it comes to sexual ambiguity and racial relations.  That sense of "Us and Them" is almost gone, except in the court rooms, force of habit, and the back of one's minds.  But even if it is not done deliberately, it is enough to have unfavorable results. . .  There's not enough scrutiny and respect for our ways as a people, demonstrated by Black youth today.  Today looks more like the inmates are running the asylum.  But this racial unconsciousness seems to be not only effecting Blacks,  many of the other nationalities in America are simply believing what they see and hear in the media.  It kind of reminds me of the celebrities war efforts of 1942, when all the Hollywood icons like Rita Haywood, Marilyn Monroe, and others visited the enlisted men on the navy ships to cheer them up--and forget that these things were happening; only instead of just Caucasian bombshells, you have Nikki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Lady Ga Ga as the role models, icons, etc.--to show we have just as much moxie and that there really is  equal opportunity in America.

Many of the youth of today, are so secure in the belief that The Powers That Be have their best interest at heart--that America will take care of all their constituency--that they don't involve themselves with politics or political figures of their current days in time. . .  But I say these youth only have to look at how the government gave casinos to the native Americans, in exchange for taking their country away from them--and that should demonstrate how it really is. . .   

By in large, Americans today do what they are told , watch television, and believe what they see.  There are no more protest and rallies like the 60's and early 70's.  If you stood on a soap box or milk crate today and spoke to the masses--the masses would view you as a fanatic and keep it moving.  They wouldn't listen to what you have to say.  The populace of today, are much more interested in materialism and securing their creature comforts--like intoxicants, sex, and having enough electricity flowing through their homes to keep their PlayStation, X-Box, and Madden games going--than anything that has to do with Black unity and "the strength of numbers."  Today's crowd is much more mixed up in the roads to individualism, partying and playing fantasy computer games, or becoming champions of lost causes--than concerning themselves with the future of our people.  

In other words, the current events of American culture is more important to today's youth than recapturing their own.  I refer these types of people as "Pop-toons" (named after the caricatures we call cartoons) or caricatures of pop-life instead of real life and socially concerned creatures.

There is a real disconnect in the social fabric of America today--and unlike our past, Blacks are not immune to it.  We used to realize that  we were under the scrutiny of White America.  When we went for jobs, we used to know we had to be twice as good to even be considered, as well as "watching what we say" (for its' political correctness)--whether it was labor, sports or office work.  We knew we had to be twice as tough as what the circumstance required, because we knew we were going to be judged (most times) by others, other than our own people.  Blacks in the past didn't look too much for sympathy from White America.  That was the reason why groups like the panthers were formed.  We were aware of racism and their social elements--like the mafia and the KKK moving in on our past-times and Black entertainment enterprise, without any protection from White local law enforcement.  We were aware of drugs being pumped into our communities while cops looked the other way.  We were aware of the various elements trying to exploit and intimidate our resourceful people into submission--yet we kept on pushing like Curtis Mayfield told us to.  We resisted "Simon" far more than you were taught in school, but because resistance and Black independence is not popular in White America, you will have to do your own research in order to learn more.  Just keep in mind that in a capitalistic society, some one must always be capitalized off of.  Therefore you should always mind your wants because someone wants your mind.  

That's why Black historical figures like King and Malcolm kept us informed and inspired during  their times.  People today are not motivated to do such things.  The youth of today are too caught up in their own thing, to be aware or care that others are suffering from exploitation and afflictions at the hands of other groups--make any attempts inform others if they know--or even to become aware that they too are being exploited.  Folks today, think they own so much, that they are free of the same things which plagued Blacks in the past.  They own their own "cup of sugar now" and have become cowards in the process of having--instead of realizing that without the strength in numbers and self reliance, all that can be lost just as easily as their attitudes towards such things.  Big business never wants to loose customers en mass--as Timberlane demonstrates and how Tommy Hilfiger regrets.

My overall view is, it was much better for us as a people, when we were leery of the influences of Whites.   It was much better when we knew, as a people, we are "built" differently than Whites.  That made us look at things for what they meant to us; not what we were told they were.  There was always a "Black-hand side" to things and we intuitively knew this.

The Harlem Renaissance came along later in the thirties , to define what it means to be Black, and give it proper artistic expression.  Knowing there is a difference between Blacks and Whites, forced us to think for ourselves, and believe in (as Jimi Hendrix said) The Power of Soul.   Back then we didn't object to being "taken under wing and being hip to what's going down by our "Old Heads."  It's alright for Whites to lead their own--just not us.  Whites have never took the time to know the souls of Black folks, we were always used as a means to something else--like a tool or a puppet on a string.  

We are much more ancient and sophisticated a people.  The oldest man is the Blackman.  The original man is a Blackman from Central Asia.  And we have real crisis trying to fit into their world.  Many of us treat Western culture (both good and bad parts) as if it was perfect or the standard to live by--but their culture has nothing to do with the Black soul who's striving to emulate it.  Following that process requires that you become something else in the process--which I am not with.  Sure you have to learn theirs in order to survive this environment--but any foreigner has to do this when he enters a foreign land.  Just give me the topic--or subject matter--and let me define it in my own cultural way.  I want my people to show me that you put your own mind to the subject, and that have your own thoughts about it.  Don't follow the crowd or be something else.  Think for yourself.  Show me what you got. 

Many young Blacks of today, do not look to those "Old heads" who have previously experienced the route that  they too--want to take, in order to be informed of what lies around the bend.  They are relying solely on their know-how and the work of their contemporaries, in order to survive.  They are taking those learning curves with the aid of their contemporaries (as opposed to seasoned instructors)--relying on each other's astuteness; instead of the slightly older folks with their wisdom and understanding.  I understand: the base has become a crack, and the gap has become a chasm.  So much for that.  Let's see where this one leads. . .   

Yet I am confident that what goes around comes back around again--and this time we will grab the brass ring.  There are enough efforts in film, music, and song to encourage us along--besides, we still have the older Brothers and Soul Sisters like Dick Gregory and Sonya Sanchez letting us know they're still around and got our backs. . .  "Think, Think, It Ain't Illegal yet" --George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic.

Peace and Blessings,

C. Be'erla Hai-roi Myers