IMAGINE THAT TOO! 

Most of what we have become, comes as a response to the environment that we come from, and what that society's interests are.  And for Black people living in America, it is more precarious and vicarious—than it is, "By the people, for the people"—because we captured and submerged into this way of life; by force. 

During this process, most of our cultural ways were totally obliterated, so what Blacks in America know about culture—is more by blind imitation of White culture from colonial times till today.  And the pseudo culture Blacks have, is more of a reaction to Whites; than anything that has to do with our rich cultural heritage from our indigenous motherlands.  So, as a group of people, if we are to upgrade our operating system of conduct, it would start here. 

In my last article, we spoke about the parts of our lives that is guided by others: family life, society interaction, our people's position with this country and the government and how it has an impact on how we see ourselves.  We also spoke about media and how it distorts what we see, fitting an agenda that matches mainstream opinions; political agendas, and in someways suppression, which creates a lower opinion of ourselves; due to mainstream cultural projections and status quo maintenance to the American lifestyle.

Upbringing, ways of society, false television commercials, false prophets and false people may say things that if not psycho-analyzed will creeps past your scrutiny (or your "H" stage of the Tetragrammation) and that mistake is critical.  It is critical because due consideration and critical analysis is your only line of defense from life manipulation and the corruption of your operating system.  Once that dart gets past the "H" stage of your conscious realm or sphere of awareness—it gains access to your "Holy City". . .  It enters you Holy of Holies. . .  That is, it is interwoven into your means of production as a counter-productive element in your own character.  As it was said, "The only thing that can make a "dream deferred," is a previously opposing thought considered by the same person." As a conscious Black person on his way to self improvement, our goal is self-policing of our ego and removing such viruses BEFORE upgrading the operating system.

One of the most nefarious aspects of American society which impedes Black people's progress in America, is believing in Western ignorance.  You say, "What aspect of Western teaching are you talking about?"  Generally speaking, most of us are under the same hoodwink as those who strive for a piece of the American Pie—the dream created by the  people that enslaved your people, members the Scottish and York Rite Masons that are founded in England, itself. . .The word they used as though it was Light and Truth was Integration: True Integration is where I be me and you be you, and we reconcile our points of view: What we have in America is, "One people's point of view, rules and regulations and Black folks following those rules as criteria for association."  That is not Light; that is still in the dark!  The term slipped by us in the "H" stage and we were "taken in" Trick-knowledge (deceived and swindled). 

But more specifically,  we are addressing the false teachings, That You and your personality or character is synonymous.  Is it not conceivable, If all was created by One, that all is  One?  And if this creator made man in his own image and likeness; and God's image is not graven—how could the image of the protégé be?  Remember that paragraph, in my previous post on the Actor, wherein I said, 'An actor has a repertoire of characters and personalities?'  If actors are in human form (as you are), then what does this say about you, who have been made in God's image?  The actor shows extreme flexibility when handling characters and Self identity.  I take that you can see now, from this example, that surely you are not any of these forms: Human, Ego, Person or Character.  But previously  you considered the above thought a potential reality or act, so now you have conflict in your conscious realm until you reconcile it. . .

 Actors create characters and we do too.  A persona is constructed by you, to be an automatic response complex, made to respond swiftly to stimuli from the environment in your everyday encounters.  The word Persona comes from the Latin, which means, a sounding through; aka the thing through which you express yourself.  A personality is a "make-it-up-as-we-go-along" phenomena. Your adult character may be similar to your childhood character; only a little more sophisticated. 

Most of your personality was created in your younger years to situations that occurred when you were growing up—factual proof of this is, when psychologist, psychiatrists, snd analysts begin to access for prognosis and diagnostic treatment; they always examine your childhood because that's where it starts. . .The issue with the early formulation of your persona during childhood is, you were less capable your critical, analytical and reasoning skills than you needed to be.  In a more mature society, your parents and the society would have challenged those skills to further your education—and taught you how to take constructive criticism concerning character flaws; But unless you come from a more culturally disciplined society, you won't get it out of the typical American upbringing. . .

  

As time goes on, the persona becomes the conglomerate that we know as your character, which is known as your persona's good qualities, containing such things as moral and ethical reactions, etc—but as I said earlier, many times your character is only a collection of your values through earlier evaluations...  What happens, if you made a wrong evaluation in the past?

You could have two young brothers, who came from the same family and same environment, go through the same encounters and wound up approaching it differently, because each may make different choices.  The possibilities may be infinite, because it could be assess in any number of ways by either one of them.  Either way, we choose; and the collection of those choices make up our character.  So if you made a error due to a miscalculation or inexperience, you must be willing to change.  You're not starting over and you wont lose yourself, because your character is like a kata, it was never meant to be your identity.  That's just a Western misconception. . .  

As you see in the paragraph Actor, the True Self and the Character are separate realities, because an actor has several characters they perform; depending on the movie.  He or she is indebted to stay in character only for the length of the movie, after which he or she moves onto the next role—and if he plays the same character regardless in a different type of movie, he is considered a one-dimensional actor; and if the industry uses him for the same role too often (like Bruce Willis in the Die-Hard series) there is a danger that the actor will become labeled as "type-casted"—proving Character is chosen; not who you are.

  

The point is, a person can change character, if the situation requires it.  This point is pivotal,  because Westerners often refuse to change, even when all indicators suggest that they should. . .  This shows a stubbornness to face facts, despite the awareness of the knowledge which govern events! This is due to a false belief—an indoctrination—that changing your personality or character is letting a situation (or person) change you.  

And because of this, many Americans will resist changing on the count of it.  Their belief and philosophy is people don't change, so they are not expecting Denkyem, adaptability or adaptation.  Any one who subscribes to jungle warfare knows you must adapt to your environment: You don't need nature working against you too!  

Since all things came from one, the Supreme being is the sum total of all things, therefore your decision must consider all things, BEFORE you decide what you are going to about it.  If your ego is driving person against all odds; that's a high risk proposition, due to the many things you are ignoring.  In football, which is a land acquisition game, you find the weakness and take what the defense will give up until you get established. . .  Knowledge is the foundation to all things in existence.  We behave as the swift and changeable current. . .

Lastly, etymologically speaking, a persona or personae is characters in a play, novel, etc.  C.G. Jung says, It is the mask or façade presented to satisfy the demands of the situation or the environment. 

The character is like your game-face; that expression (and its' accessories), should upgrade any time wisdom prescribes that this move is the most prudent, or the best course of action.  After all, if knowledge, awareness, truth and harmony is what you seek, then what is appropriate; is always in harmony with that.  The True You never has to get upgraded, because it is omniscient (meaning all knowing and always aware); The True Self has infinite potential and unlimited means of making things manifest, for the overall good.  We are just "getting to know" this aspect of Self: Most of us have only learned ego-centered, stubborn, dog-eat-dog tactics from the Westerners. . .  We haven't learned the magnitude or magnificence, of magnanimity; yet. 

   

We are communicating, and these are words I am using displays concepts necessary to strive to give you a clear mental picture which could lead to understanding, but as I am using them and you consider them as a potential act—and you scrutinize all that you know and your imagination kicks in—ideas begin to accumulate in your sphere of awareness and then; the picture becomes quite clear to your person. . . All you have to do is be like Nike and do it, because you are now enthused; like a good planner should be!  That is the power of the Tetragrammation!
But in both cases as with The Picture and Words, one has to visualize the corresponding image within ones conscious realm, in order to investigate the possibilities presented in which that image signifies; as it takes your imagination to create within your sphere of awareness: You must picture your person in proper character within your so-called mind or sphere of awareness, before you can properly achieve the order visualized.

  

In the journey for Self Awareness, words are the way we enter the realm; its' concepts--our point of reference; Our development is our reasoning skills; Confirmation—life is an endless unfoldment: Realization is our willing to become or carry out what is required.

And although many of you believe that there’s a possible way of being in a Colonial and Capitalists World called America. . .but not of it; The delusions, necrosis and risks may be a little more common and pervasive than you may want to believe. . .  But I know you see all those zombies among that opulence. . .  We have to write our own narrative. . .

After all, it has been one hundred and fifty-six years since the Emancipation Proclamation, and what technological and psychological advancements has Black people achieved collectively under this promise of integration?  We are still depending on other people to govern and determine the future for Black people in America. . .that is not freedom.  Just imagine what freedom for our people would look like for us.  Use your imagination:

"Magic mirror come and search my heart; Can you tell me what you see?  

There's a thousand voices whispering__Songs and you're the melody 

So I imagine my heart with you; See what imagination can do...

It's not hard to conceive, Love ecstasy, imaging you with me

Many, many days our shadows passed; See visions of a new bright horizon

Set the morning light__And that morning light is you

So I imagine my heart with you; See what imagination can do...

It's not hard to conceive, Love ecstasy, imaging you, imaging me"

                                                          —"Imagination" Earth, Wind & Fire

Freedom is a word; a concept. . .

"That's the second time you've warned me about words."

"My son, the danger of words is that rapidly they become indispensable.  They don't always correspond to something.  Words are useful only when they refer to things that really exist--otherwise they're just traps for the spirit.

"I'll give you an example.  I often receive visits from people who have psychological problems they cannot resolve alone.  They're usually educated people like you.  They describe their personal problems and tell me about their anguish.  Then I understand that they are locked in prisons of words which they can't escape from.  That is, they believe in values that aren't real.  I didn't say they don't exist:  I'm talking about values which exist only in their minds and not in reality."

  

                                                    —"Macumba: The Teachings of Maria-José" Serge Bramly

Another misconception is that Freedom means to do what the hell you want. . .Not true, that's lawlessness and irreverence. . .  True Freedom should be provided within the culture that you live in and if you are still fighting for civil rights. . .That is not Freedom!  

Words are the seed, and planted firmly in the mind; the thoughts will germinate into an ideal flower: And if the idea is determined, the only thing that will stand in the way, is an opposing idea--also entertained by you!  The Western ideology provides plenty of opposing and contradictory ideas to the Black psyche; it has keep confused for over 400 years!

And I'm sharing these perspectives on words to indicate to you that your own vocabulary can sabotage your plans, if your belief in such things is misguided.  You need to apply the dictionary to your diction to see how many unreal and contradictory imposters have crept in. . . 

This thought is about freedom: It's concerning you and your people who have been bought to the wilderness of North America against your will, kidnapped and strategically isolated from your fellow tribesman by the same people who came to America to colonize this land.  When Christopher Columbus came here, he founded the Native Americans here who were said to have been exiled 16,000 years ago from India for worshipping false idols.

Columbus came to the Americas in search for a new spice trade route to India.  Once the New World was located, the Europeans schemed on ways to manipulate the political system of the Native American cultures in the north and south, in order to relinquish the natives of their natural resources.  
The concept was called colonization; which was part of a bigger plan called Expansionism.  To colonize by definition means to settle in, and take control of, land outside your own borders. Usually, a large, powerful country colonizes a territory or area that's much less powerful.  There are many examples throughout history of powerful countries that colonized various regions of the world in order to gain natural resources or to obtain more land for their citizens to live in; but could you imagine what this does to indigenous people's self-esteem?  I'm sure the colonizer doesn't concern himself. . .   

When colonization happens, it's rarely good news for the people who lived there already. Colonize and colony come from the Latin colonus, "tenant farmer" or "settler in new land," from the root colere, "to cultivate, till, or inhabit."  The Colonizers sent ships here, like the Mayflower, to occupy territory in the new land for their various "companies" who came her from England.  
These settlers were called Pilgrims.  A pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.  Many religious zealots were imprisoned by the English government for years.  Many pilgrims came to North America, to escape religious persecution from England, through an offer made by the government.  
They might of thought it was advantageous for them to leave England to populate America, but I think England used their religious dissidents, as a ways and means to remedy their religious situation in Europe while securing a colony at the time:  I think England used its' religious dissidents to further confuse the Natives with their religious ideologies, while the english aristocracy politically manipulated them.
If the colonists were successful, the pilgrims would help them transport the riches; if the natives became angry and hostile at the colonizers ;the pilgrims would probably bear most of the brunt. . .  See, English C, is all about counter measures to keep us tricked and undecided, conquered and united. . . These are the thoughts they bring to our sphere of awareness: For example, when they advocated Segregation, that brought Black Folks together; when they promised Integration that tore us and our institutions apart. . .

   The situation that sparked Expansionism was the European homeland was weak and their people were poor.  They had used up most of their natural resources and the Europeans were searching for other places to steal such things from.  So expeditions were created.  That's why you have Pirates in the Caribbean. . .

Civilized...uncivilized...savage; righteous, unrighteous...satisfied... These are terms with definitions; concepts with realities behind them.  The point is, they are classifications and elaborations in a system called nomenclature.  These are political terms, in the sense, that these things show how these people conduct themselves.  It shows how their behavior is structured; and in some cases what principles their behavior is structured around.
We talk all day, and the words indicate our politics or power plays.  When these thoughts come into our sphere of awareness (I,J or Y phase) and we consider them (H-1 phase), each conversation has the ability to suggest or "make" us feel a certain way—indicative of political manipulation (sometimes skillful) on the part of others (V, W phase), nudging us to act in a certain way.
People say, "I am not into politics". . .when the truth is, all day long you are being manipulated by other people's agenda and interests (and/or interest groups).  I say that it is high time (about time) that you do get into the ulterior motives behind why people say things to you—that is; unless you don't take issue with being politically manipulated, or used as a tool and a slave.  

"Mind your wants, because there's somebody who wants your mind." 

                                                                          —George Clinton Parliament/Funkadelic

As I said earlier, "Actors infuse dialogue and get up for roles, switching characters, tweaking personas and impersonating public figures."  Which suggest that a personality is not consciousness; but something one configures (usually during the uncritical thinking years of our youth) as a conditioned reflex to a situation, as a believed appropriate response to that situation. . .  And yet, the actor demonstrates that the persona is something you can put on and take off, as simply as one would a jacket or a coat; because the True Self is the life which peers through the many faces but is not beholden to any one expression. . . 

But, in American culture, people get highly offended when one questions whether how one behaves is not in keeping with what the situation demands, or is inappropriate—almost as though you are attacking THEM ENTIRELY: Clearly indicating that Americans have been taught to falsely identify their true Self with their personality or character.  This also indicates that the above information definitely came from non-Western sources, since nothing in Western behavior illustrates that Western people behave in accordance to such knowledge. . .  

Yet, as you can see from this scenario, none of these things suggested are fixed; they are merely points of reference: Situations change: People are not always hyped, happy or sad...that is not a fixed part of your character or personality.  
Different circumstances require different responses, and any and everyone is quite capable of producing the appropriate responses. . .that is; unless you are fixed or hell-bent on doing things in a particular way—regardless of what the situation requires. . . 

Now when an actor does this type of acting regardless to whatever movie he or she is in, this actor is considered type-casted and one dimensional: An actor's bread and butter is his versatility for roles that he can play; like Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, Regina King, or Cicely Tyson. . . And ultimately, the Lord of Hosts, who is the maker and owner of all roles; has No Graven (or fixed) Image. So if the original man is made in the image of the Creator, does he have a graven image?  And if not, then we should be able to become whatever the situation requires that we become, right? Then why aren't Black people (or anyone for that matter) taught these things at birth?

That answer is simple. . .because it is not a prerequisite of this society of culture, based upon the objectives and interests of its people; therefore it is not a part of American culture or Western philosophy.  America is not a Self-development society, therefore many of its' teachings do not reach the American public; but its' population does end up on analyst couches who vainly try to infuse its' population with Eastern antidotes.  Yet, somehow many of them miss the message, because of the xenophobic undertones running as a subroutine in the American operating system.  One has to start somewhere though. . .

"But if I had neglected the study of Greek and Latin, I had applied myself to the study of such works of those of Euclid, and of Locke on the Understanding, the tendency of which is to form the mind to a habit of investigation and close reasoning and thinking, and in a peculiar manner to fit it for such inquiries as mine: I had also applied myself to what was of infinitely more consequence than all the former branches of study, and in difficulty almost equal to them altogether, namely, to the unlearning of the nonsense taught me in youth."                                                   

                                                                                       —"Anacalypsis" by Godfrey Higgins Esq

Culture is what a people do.   It is their customs, social institutions and achievements as a natural outcome of their thought processes and considerations.  It is designed according to their outlooks.  The Western world is responsible for happen here in the Americas; both North and South.  The cultures in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are the direct result of European influence. The Scandinavians (Vikings), Germans, French, Irish, Italians, etc.  The English are our entry into this saga, as Black people living in North America. 

Culture too, maybe debated like knowledge--but many times its' convictions will not be based on rationale and sound reasoning or concrete evidence. . .  Sometimes, it may be based on purely upon stubbornness and conditioning: "It's the way we always did this" or "It's my belief."  See, you can't chase the story down and find out what the truth is, but when it comes down to belief; it's just a matter of opinion...

I liken Black people's situation in America like a dysfunctional house where the parents talk down to their children and call them names like "numskull" or stupid.  Should it come as any surprise—should the children look up to their parents—that the children have self-esteem issues?  
Entirely not.  However, the people in charge are not our people (granted a few exceptions here and there), so we can't look at them as our parents; it's more like step-parents and we're being treated like a step-child. . . 
We live in a world that is not constructed by our forefathers—and the sooner you recognize this; the more you'll realize that everything you take in, must be critically scrutinized by you: Regardless of the circumstances, you and you alone, are the author of your own destiny; your decisions should be based upon your vision.  The future of your people begins with you.  Life consists of what you allow and what you don't do; so you must make wise choices—based on all you survey. . .  When the thought comes into you sphere of awareness (the I,J,Y stage of the Tetragrammation), You must use all your scrutinization—critical, analytical and reasoning skills before allowing all matter to be entertained as a possibility in your life (the V,W stage); even when you are watching movies.  I never watch for Entertainment—but for inner-attainment; since all art is social, political and economical.  I constantly analyze and criticize movies—you should too.  And if you are not the sharpest tool in the shed, maybe you can take the FreeMason, Godfrey Higgins advice and study works of Euclid and Locke on the Understanding; or any analogous Black writer like James Baldwin, Malik El Hajj Shabazz, Amiri Baraka or Haki R. Madhubuti, to hone your skills (I could use a little work on my acumen and repartee myself, smile). But it is paramount: You have to guard and protect your air space—especially in your sphere of awareness!

He's one of the fortune cookie readings which came to me, I think it applies to you as well:

"Sever the ignorant doubt in your heart, with the sword of self knowledge."

"Begin. . .the rest is easy." 

Peace

C. Be'er la Hai-roi Myers