A Sense of Belonging
Well, to say the least, ego-centered, opportunistic behavior is not the best ingredient for creating a harmonious society; but it is the best for a parasitical one. I suppose its fine, when you're the one who's taking; but how about when you're being taken advantage of, or inconvenienced? No one wants to get beat or used; it creates discord and unwillingness.
But let's not forget that we live in a society which had a large number of Black folks in chains, from 1555 up until 1863; entitling the owners to the fortunes made from Black labor; without paying anything for such services. Then, on January 1, 1863, we were suddenly released without provisions (food, clothing, shelter), and those considered free with only what the ruling class would allow [after all America was established under colonial imperialism]. In America, Blacks were only as prosperous as they allowed us to be, at the time [1863-1963]. . . Separate but equal? Ok, so then, let's trade places. . . Oh, so it doesn't sound so good now, does it? Nonetheless, It's hard to smile or grin and bear it, when you've gotten all the taste knocked out of your mouth; isn't it? They've taken away all the flavor from the gum. But, that's the way of the world in which we live in.
And we who know the truth about this place have to be a 'sport about it'—when we compete in the workplace amongst "free" men and colonists. You can't show up at an interview and give the interviewer the impression that you are bitter about what has been done to you and your people over the years; regardless to who's interviewing you—Black or White—because there are so many different opinions about what has happened; and everybody's not conscious of the victim's point of view (not even all the victims). Your livelihood ultimately depends on how well you comply to the way things are here in America. Many Blacks are petrified to speak out about things or speak up for what is right, because America still functions like a colony [wrestled away from the natives]. Most of our folks believe that do so will cost them their jobs—so they keep these concepts and ideas to themselves: As a matter fact, if you are about speaking out for what is right, many of your own folks will distance themselves away from you. Some of them might even go to "the man" or authorities and tell him how you think, behind your back—like it's their duty! In other words, others may do so—only because they feel obligated to the White person they are working for; and to them, they are demonstrating their loyalty by denouncing or telling on you.
This type of divisiveness amongst the Black community (despite the inconvenience to our cultural development), has the tendency to make the White establishment feel firmly in control. By not providing jobs for ourselves (as most other nations would do), we have left our income (or our means of survival or livelihood) in the hands of others. As I said previously, "When you work for others, you give the other ethnic group the ability to call the shots; aka, to tell you what to do and how to do." In bartering, there's a sense of something for something; a somewhat equal standing. When working for others, if you need the job, you have to keep most of your politics to yourself. You don't associate with those who were outspoken towards the company; for acts like that may jeopardize your ability to maintain a living; and this schizophrenic state of affairs is the mindset that Blacks living in America today find themselves in. We are subjected in society to a common pressure, oppression, stereotypical view of us, and it is somewhat antagonistic and demeaning.
Most of us who are Black and live in America, have had to live through the same chronicle— experiencing a similar position within colonial American society; but many of us would like to alienate ourselves from it (and would go through great lengths to do so)—in the attempt to "loose" ourselves from racism's grip. Some of us may think because we have amassed a substantial amount of income we have become something other than Black; but whenever the ruling class in American society thinks that these influential Blacks are getting too big (like Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey), America's elite turns on our Black elite by using the press to scandalize their name. The problem is, we may have their back, but the Black elite don't have ours. There isn't a whole lot of things which unites Western powers, but race and the threat of changing European or caucasian dominance around the world are amongst the chief catalysts. And while I will not condone many of the things that could be negatively said about American society, but I will stand up for revealing the truth, exposing unfair policy and of course, righteousness.
Bickering, disassociation and inner-battles between each other makes us easy prey to any group who has a united approach at exploiting these weaknesses. For example, we all realize that our woman straightening their hair is a form of disassociation with its original appearance. We have all heard the reasoning and rationale of convenience and manageability; but is it a self esteem issue of "good and bad hair." And yet Black women have become very sophisticated with this issue; creating an evolution and plethora of solutions to their "so-called hair" dilemma: Wigs and their attachments have evolved; buying human hair from straight haired people has grown to be a multi-million dollar en vogue thing. But my father in law (a professional barber) has revealed: A Blackman and Blackwoman will never gain control over selling hair to their people for these various processes, because Koreans have a "complete lock on the market." My question to you is: "Are we that obvious, that a foreign people can come over here to America and strike it rich off of us? If our own people found a way to obtain means of distribution, would we be patriotic enough to "buy Black," regardless to the price difference? Is our dislike for what we are or what we have become—as well as, our dislike for each other—become so strong that we allow ourselves to be at everyone else's disposal and convenience but our own?"
I have pointed out on several occasions, a people (such as our own) within a multi-cultural society, need to be able to depend on each other for our own survival. A people who rely on another group of people to provide their livelihood is very precarious; indeed! I know a brother who is a plumber, who once said to me; I have worked in several parts of Philadelphia doing plumbing, but South Philly isn't one of the places I find much work: Italians will never hire anything but an Italian plumber, and Blacks in South Philadelphia don't give much outside support. If all else fails, a person like this, should be able to rely on his people to solicit business or employment; but so very often we let our differences wedge themselves between us. This anathema, or should I say self-hatred between us, can be so deep sometimes—that it can have many of our own people going to those who are the same people who enslaved us to seek employment; rather than work for our own people [never looking at the act as modern day slavery]! This anathema is so deep, that a Blackwoman can blame the chauvinistic ways of American society on Black men, yet indirectly realizing that Black men have never been consulted on anything that has to do with American cultural decisions. In other words, if woman view America as chauvinistic, it is that way because its ruling class of people believe in chauvinism; not because its' subjugated people made it that way. . . Subjugated people never make the rules in a multi-cultural society, the majority rules! But our women would rather take their frustrations out on our men, rather than addressing the inequities from the source.
And for talking like this, some might label me a racist or unpatriotic, because I recognize racism exists in America and that I don't have all the rights that other Americans do, or that speak about it: A Blackman living in America may occasionally benefit from an avenue American chauvinism affords him, but he is never the source of why that chauvinism is embedded within American culture. It is embedded within American culture because its' ruling class decided to do so, and it is engrained within the cultural fabric because its' people 'feel that way.' What we fail to realize is our self-hatred is inevitably linked to America's distaste for us as a people. Racism certainly is the core, but not the main root—the main root is like the person who gets mad at you because you caught him in a lie—or the person who gets angry at you because they were caught cheating and now they have to compensate you. The root is no different from that. America justified the enslavement of Blacks, like it was due to our supposed inferiority; often quoting Biblical passages, as if the Bible was written for the European or any other gentile. You can no more blame the Blackman for racism as you can curse the Blackman for poverty: In both cases America and its' institution of slavery is at the very root: and it's perpetrators criminal! Our ancestors toiled without pay and that made America rich—our ancestors had no fortune to pass down to us—except more years of servitude; while being disrespected or talked down to.
Our salvation does not rely in starting another Civil Rights Movement to achieve the human and civil rights not achieved in the first two movements—and our salvation does not rely on us frantically and naively screaming that we "don't see color"—our salvation relies in the belief and the love in ourselves. What I've seen in the past is a lot of doubt about what we could do; that's why I told you about Black Wall Street and the Negro Leagues [see my previous articles: Concept of We (4/30/14), Fox and Geese (4/14/13), Previous Aftermath (8/31/14), Getting Our Minds Right (4/2/14)]: I figured if I let you know what was achieved before, we could achieve it again. . . Part of the process is to know the possibilities. Why wait for others to teach you of our legacy? In the past, most didn't think that a Blackman could do anything; and the reason why that was so, was because of the constant barrage of negative stereotypes circulating in mainstream America—in stereo; as they continued to debase and perpetuate negativity. Jealousy is deep; isn't it?
Kujichagulia means: "To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves, instead of being defined by others." And that was what the Black Renaissance was all about; breaking away from the Nigger stereotypes of the 1950s and prior. We still have a lot of work to do because it was not only engrained into Whites but Blacks as well. As I said earlier, What we fail to realize is our self-hatred is inevitably linked to America's distaste for us as a people. We have our experience in America as our constant unification factor. We are constantly reminded how the majority feels about us; and for those who claim they don't see color—if you are Black—economically, socially, and politically, you are not in a position where your views will impact upon the factions which greatly affect your survival in this country. In other words, its more important that mainstream corporate America not see color, than it is for you not to see color. The things that are happening to Bill Cosby and in Ferguson, originate from the same root: bigotry and racism. Ignorance and hatred don't discriminate against affluent and poor Blacks; it behaves like a rage which burns through America like a bushfire; taking all in its path—regardless to what you might think about your own being or that of your kindred brothers and sisters.
In America, today—as well as in the sixties—African immigrants and Jamaican immigrants sent money to their relatives who lived in their home countries. They did so out of an obligation to their families and their people overseas. We must also work hard at developing that same sense of diaspora for our family and kin who came to America as slaves. We know the condition and desperation far too well, but we cannot wait for others who come from another people to do something about it. We must develop a sense of handling matters on our own. So, when we get that big multi-million dollar contract, we will invest in businesses that support our needs; we will create jobs for our people, and support education which allow us to learn to not only fend for ourselves, but create opportunities for others of our kind. That is the sense of belonging I'm talking about. It starts with loving yourself as a people, While helping each other to heal.
Thank you for your consideration,
C. Be'er la Hai-roi Myers
Peace.
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