The way our ancestors perceived it, each one of us represent our people as a culture. Our parents created our housing—nursed us into full development—and acquainted us to the realities of this world. We were born into a family—and that family belongs to a particular tribe or clan; which is identifiable as the group of people from which we come. Each group is bonded together by their particular culture. Culture represents what people do, the things they think are significant—their values, their outlook on life and even their view of the world. Institutions like schools, libraries, colleges, etc—are indicative of the type of support the community gives to its society; these institutions are repositories for some of the greatest concepts this world has ever known. It is the gift that the society gives to the individuals within it. These institutions are formed so that each member of society can have access to the collective consciousness that is that society.
Each one of us belong to a group of people and that group belongs to us. Each people have their traditions, customs, mores and values; standards. Most of these concepts help us to identify to each other; most of these concepts help us to prioritize our lives according to our collective cultural world view. Man seeks woman and woman seeks man; because we instinctively know we can ensure future and various generations of life by having children. Man and woman are social creatures and are the foundation of culture. Culture represents what we do and have done as a people or collective community of several families; culture represents how we consider things as that group.
On a whole, man doesn't live a solitary life; so then we rely on each other to carry out things on behalf of the household, family, or society. Just look at the institutions created by society: Within the libraries alone, there are literally millions of books; written on every topic to share with others: These books are written by some of the greatest men and women this world has ever known; done for the expressed purpose of enlightening the people within that society. We depend on our people for security, and to protect our interests as a group, collectively. What I mean by this is, a well developed society puts time and effort into establishing what each family unit does and what the network of kinship or group consciousness represents.
Right now, you cannot go to Canada to live there, unless you have a vocation or skill set that is needed by Canada; for example. After all, all culture is established from things we think are important; and these type of things represent our values, morals and interests. Within those things mentioned, are issues we think are so important—issues that you would sacrifice your life for—just to protect and preserve those ideas! These things are more than just slogans! If you were threatened by another group, nation or society, it would be these people who you'd expect to come to your aid against these people—or enemies—on behalf of your society, its' interests, and goals. Yet a growing number of youth feel that despite the many ways they rely on cultural integrity, they do not owe their society allegiance. We know that there's always strength in numbers; but in order for those numbers to maintain a certain type cohesiveness—they must have a code in which they govern themselves by: Culture is that code of conduct; culture is that cohesiveness which bonds us together.
Culture also embodies the beliefs, customs, and other products of human endeavors, performed by a particular group of people. Each culture represents their people's outlook on life; as well as their world view and its people struggle to maintain their individual identities in the midst of other cultures. In the Americas, and in Europe—as well as the rest of the Western world—too much emphasis is placed upon the lives of single human beings within their Western societies, otherwise known as, the rights of their people as "individuals.” Western society embraces the so-called "solitary life"—when it is the collective society which makes the individuals within that society who they are and what they are. It is the people or “collective culture” which preserves and protect each person's rights within society, safeguards their freedom, and protects their interests. It is that culture which encompasses tradition, institutions, and the arts cultivates and refines the people: Without that culture, all we have is a bunch of individuals; each vying for their own way—with little regard for what the others within that society want. Each culture unifies its people into a single unit; and as such, culture represents a people's collective outlook.
Children maybe raised by their parents, but the way their parents raise their children is to conform to the social norms or the cultural matrix of the society that they are living in. Television shows do a lot, not only to mimic the current events and social values, but to acclimate its' viewers to the way The Powers That Be (aka Movers and Shakers) believe the society should go. In America, children are raised by their parents and their immediate family up to four years—after which, they attend school, visit libraries and various other cultural centers or institutions within that society like theaters, movies, arenas, gambling halls, etc: These things represent the various socialization processes we all go through—the difference being hinged upon how you are raised and he values you have. If your parents aren't cultured, then more than likely you won't be—unless you are exposed by somebody who is—and of course, your acceptance of the experience of that encounter. Some of us are taken to museums, participate in workshops; taken to movies, theatre, etc—while others get exposed to dens of iniquity: It depends upon where your interests are. In general, we become acquainted to the larger body of work that our people or society produces, and these contributions either enrich us or corrupt us; I.e., largely make us into who we are within that social structure.
We raise our children to fit within that cultural structure; because that social structure represents the greatness of our people in general; and we learn more about ourselves and how to survive through the various institutions society provides us. So culture or society is more important to the growth and development of people, then their singular wants, desires and beliefs. It would be ludicrous to think that your job would pay for your graduate studies, unless the company was sure you'd continue to work for their firm; and conversely, it is ludicrous for young people to look forward to the benefits of society, while they do nothing to support it.
Singular wants and beliefs represent the starting point of man. When man is in his infancy—his or her primary motivations are centered on personal needs—yet the child or young person relies on the assistance of others (such as the mother and father), to supply those needs. At first, the child may have some sense of belonging (aka affinities), but the sophistication to recognize the inner-workings of the system just isn't there for that child; meaning the child instinctively recognizes their mother and loosely relates to father; but that child is not aware of its social obligations to that unit, or even how these things work; both being points which are necessary in order to ensure social harmony. That process may come later on; as the child matures and becomes wiser to the ways of the world.
This relationship is symbiotic; meaning, a culture becomes extinct without people living by its' mores, values and customs—whereas people cannot operate socially or in near proximity, without some code of conduct or ground rules to rely on: That is, we cannot band together without some sort of commonality. That commonality, besides being from the same stock of people, is our culture. This cultural trait too, promotes a sense of belonging. Some times we may be bonded because of a particular time period or social trend, like the Hip-Hop era, or the Hippies or Peace and Free Love Movement. There are musical cultures, oral cultures, Japanese culture; culture in which the arts, beliefs and other products are considered with respect to a particular mode of expression. Culture can also represent the set of predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize a group or organization: A manager who changed the corporate culture. And it is here, where I should begin to talk about the Blackman and Blackwoman's relationship to American society.
First of all, America is a multi-cultural society, with a Western dominate theme. This creates a struggle between the other cultures of that society and the Western society which dominates America. Of all the other cultures which exist within America, it is the colonial powers of Europe which dominate the country; particularly White Anglo-Saxon Protestant or WASP for short. Most of America's inhabitants are bi-cultural. This means that all Americans have WASP values superimposed overtop their own individual cultures. The culture of the individual group of peoples are secondary in America, but in most cases, the second culture and its' traditional values are usually maintained by the individuals belonging to them. But of all of the bi-cultural inhabitants in America, it is the Native American and the Blacks who live within America, that have the worst position within America's hierarchy.
The colonists, up to this day, have always treated the Natives like refugees; moving them to the worst part of this country, while preserving the best part for themselves. After Custer's Last Stand in Little Bighorn, the Native Americans were bullied and mistreated—not to mentioned constantly lied to by the US Government—and yet America remains unapologetic [because that would indicate an acknowledgment that what the country did was wrong and cruel]. It is said, concerning this deed on the part of the American government—that of the ninety-seven treaties made between the US Government and the Native Americans; not one of these treaties were ever kept: This action—in and of itself—speaks volumes of the nature of White men (in general and Whites in America specifically), when it comes to the perspective and treatment of non-White people in relationship to the Europeans and their descendants who live upon the American soil. Of all the sob stories the rest of the world has to offer about White colonization [India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, Philippines, Indochina, etc], it is Native American and the Blacks who live in America who have the most horrendous story to tell; because it is these two who were treated the worst of them all, and it still goes on today.
As I said earlier, culture represents what a people do and the things they think are significant; their values, their outlook on life; their general view of the world: The music industry is that way—all the songs it puts out, generally reflect those values. The movie industry of America also does the same thing. Of course, granted, only if you are elite born or you have to have enough money to produce such things. . .
So what we can say is, what is currently out there in society, is largely the product or bidding of the wealthy or rich [15/1-40]; stereotypes and all. But then again, let's not loose track of the fact that a lot of things have been changed by sheer numbers; like the protest of millions of Hippies and Flower Children to the Vietnam war; for example. So, let's just say, if something continues to exist within the inner-weavings of the American fabric, it does so because of the general public sentiment—between both rich and poor—who aren’t strongly opposed to its existence.
Of all the people who came to America and made it their home, Blacks were not brought here by the same process: Most people in America migrated to America of their own free will; Blacks in America, by and large, were abducted and sold to Whites within America. Most Americans have dual heritages; while slavery obliterated most of the cultural heritage and traditions that most Blacks in America once had from their collective psyches. Over the years, the colonists replaced and destroyed the cultural heritage of Blacks in America; replacing it with a negative self image within American society. Up until the 1960s, these sort of images were generated and perpetuated across the American media by the Western European colonists who run the American landscape: Creating Coons like Step and Fetch It, Amos and Andy; JJ Walker, Jigga-boos like Bo Jangles and Scatman Crothers, mammies like Hattie McDaniels or bucks, and coons like Sherman Hemsley, best known for his coon roles in,”All in the Family,” and its spin off, “The Jeffersons”—not to mention generations of stereotypical derogatory images classified in American history as “Black Memorabilia.”
For those who don’t realize, it takes a lot of money to put on shows; and each show need a sponsor, while each series needs a network (or series of networks) and sponsors. The owners of such businesses, which sponsor such shows, decide what satisfy their needs and tastes—sealing the fate of who and what they portray within the American fabric; from the movies that are made that these rich people sponsor. They are stereotypes both plain and simple; they are designed to clown the people they portray: And it is elements within the rich American society, which largely control what the American public sees and hears. They are tycoons who control what gets published in the newspapers and what does not, largely controlling the impression one gets upon hearing the news; They are William Randolph Hearst, William Maxwell Aitken (Lord Beaverbrook), and Alfred CW Harmsworth (Lord Northcliffe). Things are portrayed that way, because it is promoted and endorsed by elements within the American rich elite: They finance it, they create it, they embrace it, they orchestrate it.
Marcus Garvey lived in Jamaica, an island within the Caribbean Islands, formerly under British rule and subsequently influenced by the British through a series of puppet leaders. As said numerous times, To colonize means to invade and settle among indigenous people, while establishing political control and dominance over the settlement area. While growing up, Garvey experienced the type of racism and oppression that Blacks in America experience under Western domination and White Superiority. This greatly disturbed Garvey. As Marcus Garvey grew older and became employed in a job that afforded him travel, Mr. Garvey began to see that the pattern of colonization, oppression, and inferior treatment of Blacks, never let up—regardless of the land or population. He also noticed that due to slavery and colonization, Whites had relocated Blacks to various parts of the world. The unfortunate part was because of the effect of colonization process, Blacks in the various relocated lands did not identify with each other; even though they came from the same indigenous motherland! Something had to be done to help our people see that we are one. And to this end, Marcus Garvey formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association or UNIA, to form a sense of belonging or diaspora and to smash the throngs of racism throughout the world, so that we could be free from oppression.
Our people have a hard time looking at ourselves the way that the Honorable Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad viewed us. They saw us as one mighty people who exist all around the world, yet when we travel around the world—we see different colonies, same oppression of Black at the hands of White people. It was Garvey's love for Black people which sparked him towards social change for Black people. Don't forget, the Honorable Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican incarnate; yet the United Negro Improvement Association or UNIA had its biggest following in the United States. It took a lot of strength, courage, love, wisdom and enthusiasm for a foreigner to mobilize masses who did not identify to him. Let’s not forget, Garvey is the father of Pan-Africanism. His leadership is known throughout the world! And none of us non-Muslims ever thought of Malcolm X just as a Muslim, we viewed him as a leader of Black people like we did the late great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King; not just in the United States—but around the world. Malcolm’s affectionate title has always been, Our Shining Black Prince. Malcolm was the founder of the Organization of African American Unity or OAAU; the complement to the OAU or Organization of African Unity overseas. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad was able to organize Black people in America, similar to the Honorable Marcus Garvey! All of the fore-mentioned men knew their origin in this world. All of the fore-mentioned men had a love for our people. All of the fore-mentioned men demonstrated they were proud of our heritage. All of the fore-mentioned men, believed in us as a people. These things are lacking in us, as a people; and it must exist within each and every person—if there is ever going to be more advancement. We cannot allow low-self esteem, religious differences, and the countries we live in, make us disbelieve in our ability to rise above our oppression and second class citizenship and take our rightful place in world society and politics.
Thank you for your consideration,
C. Be'er la Hai-roi Myers
Peace.
