The Truth

Tags

adversity, America, black, history, internet, men, privilege, white, women

The following is based upon White Privilege Boot Camp Courtesy of the Black Israelites written by We Are Respectable Negroes author Chauncey DeVega.

Human beings lie. Some humans live lies. Some humans are comfortable living a lie. However, one moment of truth can crumble their world like a house collapsing into a raging river after the edge has collapsed.

I’m reminded of a recent Youtube video that taped an confrontation between a (supposedly drunk) young white woman and a group of black Israelites. The young woman asked the group point blank how much do they love their country. She never expected to hear that what came out of one of their mouths was gonna hit her ass like a ton of bricks.

After being asked what nationality she is, the young woman says that nationality and color doesn’t matter and she loves them while muttering how she defended her country. One of the brothas explained that Jews lived in Germany to which she immediately replied how she was German also. The brotha gave her a brief history lesson on how the Jews fought in World War I, how Adolf Hitler began exterminating them, and how they left Germany to search for a land of their own.

Then, he goes in for the kill. The brotha told the girl how blacks have served this “stinkin’ country”. He explains how black folks are patriotic despite dying in this nation’s wars, building this society, and raised the children of white people. However, black people have never reaped any benefits. That’s when, as he explained, blacks have realized that this was the land of their oppressors, not their homeland. Then, he dropped a bomb when he said, “You know what the problem with white people is? You don’t respect anybody’s humanity except for your own! You don’t respect anybody’s pain except for your own!”

*BOOM!*

The white girl’s mental and emotional stability started to break apart. It got even more fragile as he continued shouting to her that she has no idea why she (or whites in general) should be hated because (whites) are selfish, cruel, and merciless. “You hate to look at anybody else as a human being,” he says, “HOW DARE YOU ASK US DO WE LOVE AMERICA! WE HAVE LOVED YOU FOREVER, AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS HATED US!”

Well, you guessed it. This girl was crying while demanding to speak her piece. Yet, the Israelites wouldn’t give her a word in inch wise as they had a lot of latent anger and frustration that comes with being a black man in America. The more the brotha spoke, the louder he got. You can feel the raging pain within his voice. It is the pain that black people have kept hidden for centuries, and now, it has been fired upon this white girl. This pain revealed the truth that whites have ignored or forcibly suppressed and now this individual was feeling it. 

The brotha explained to her how she’s not such a nice and compassionate girl as she likely thought she was. He told her that she’s just another white girl standing on stolen ground benefiting from the crimes of her father and ancestors who got their power and privileges off the blood of Native Americans, blacks, Mexicans, and poor people. Did she learn anything? No. She called him ‘horrible’ numerous times while balling hysterically as she is escorted away by what looks like a black woman.

When I first saw this video I said to myself “Wow!” It wasn’t just the fact the dude was unloading inconvenient truths on this woman, but the fact that she was crying mostly because she felt insulted and hurt. Many, including myself, would define this moment as a case of “white woman tears”. According the video, someone thought she needed to be comforted because obviously the big, bad, black men were cutting her down (not literally). However, it was not as simple as it seemed. The brotha held back a flood of anger and pain due to historical, personal, and societal truths that we are often told are not “important” as we are just whining, being lazy, or making excuses. He practically told the cold hard truths about this nation and how whites are at the top. Again, that is not important to most whites because (insert excuse here).

This white girl has most likely been living a sheltered, privileged lifestyle prior to the infamous night. She has grown up to love America like so many whites across the country. She has assumed that she was basically a nice person also like so many whites across this country. However, that night which uncovered many truths about this nation also revealed something about herself. This girl was not upset because she felt and understood the anger and pain of being black in America. She didn’t believe any of what the brotha said. She was more upset that she was yelled at by him. That was more important to her than the truth! I think fellow blogger Abagond would qualify this as a case of white people’s moral blindness.

This privileged woman asked a question, but didn’t like the answer one bit. It didn’t matter that much of what the Black Israelite was true. It didn’t matter that what he said needed to be heard. And, it didn’t matter that she and other white women are most likely comforted during moments like that. Whites always urge the public to feel sorry for them while urging the public to hate and fear us for stupid reasons. And so, they try to bury the truth in order to live their lives free of accountability and responsibility. However, they can not busy the truth successfully. Why? Because we are living proof of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the damn truth! 

Conditioned

Tags

America, black, adversity, intraracism, stereotypes

The following is based upon Contemplating My Conditioning by Ankhesen Mié and my past entry entitled Colonized Mental Illness.

It is not easy to live in a world where you are judged consistently for the way you act, react, or behave. It’s pure hell when you know that you are likely judged through a dark lens. Being a black person within a white dominated society to be observed all the time. You are automatically a proxy for your people in the eyes of others including members of your own communities. You are seen as a black person first and a human being last, and you are usually watched closely to see if whatever you do will embarrass your people or confirm what white people think about your race. It’s like being a mouse in a maze experiment while scientists observe your movements recording everything you do defining what and who you are. 

However, there’s constant “surveillance” surrounding us coupled with the continuous machine of shitty propaganda projecting and encouraging certain images some black people are tired of. We are tired of having our lives treated worst than toys by others and by ourselves, but when some of us open our mouths, we are seen as angry, stuck-up, or bitchy. What’s even more screwed up is even if some of us better ourselves or stay out of trouble, we are seen as “acting white.” These are all symptoms of being conditioned. 

Fellow blogger Ankhesen Mié explains how being a black woman in this country comes with stigmas associated with your skin and gender, how most black women are trying to stay away from negative stereotypes about them, and how some of those stigmas are supported by other blacks, particularly black men:

“With the steady rise of the “loud, fat, ghetto Black woman” meme, I think, comes this new and often subconscious behavior of Black women. We start doing everything we can to not be seen as the dreaded Black Dragon. We don’t want plumes of fire to burst forth from our mouths and scorch everything in sight. With my Kerry Washington post, I talked about the increasingly counterproductive characterization of Black women in Hollywhite – the skinny, often light-skinned, straight-haired, housewife/girlfriend who cries, whines, and serves no real purpose (think “Chocolate Cookie Cutter Cutie“). She’s helpless, and she goes through desperate lengths to keep her man, whether it’s tolerating abuse or getting pregnant on purpose.”

I remember that I was seen as an outlier growing up in school. I tried to stay out of trouble and got good grades, but I was (and still am) lousy at playing and following sports. I wasn’t seen as a typical black male by my peers. I wasn’t popular with girls because I was a shy, quiet, nice, young, black male. I was mostly picked on and teased mostly by black girls. For a long time, I resented it. Looking back, I realized that they too were likely conditioned to see black men as athletic bad boys who’s good with the ladies. Since I was not such a person, I was seen as an alien.

I was picked on by brothas as well, especially during gym class. Being pathetic at sports, I was a joke in their eyes, but being quiet and socially awkward, I was a living parody of the “good darkie” image. Being young, I tried to fit in to avoid being seen a weak, but in the end it ended up being laughable. All in all, I didn’t like who I was or was trying to be. 

Black men have their own share of stigmas produced by society, history, and the media. However, many black men are trying not to fall into those traps. Images of black men produced one way or another by a racist society are mostly negative and help to reinforce stereotypes. Most of the time, you see brothas as athletes, criminals, athletes that have done criminal acts, rappers, rappers that have done criminal acts, comedians, and comedians that have said something they shouldn’t have. While you have brothas who are trying not to be any of those archetypes, you will have other brothas who take in those images believing that is how a black man is supposed to be. Society will pay special attention to the latter, and will mostly ignore the former. And, some blacks have jumped on the bandwagon.

Some black folks are attacked by some members of our community when we dare to speak out or not conform to harmful images. Some black folks are called out for “airing our their dirty laundry” by other blacks who are afraid of what others may think or do. Some brothas and sistas become jealous of other brothas and sistas who are succeeding and being positive. They end up being like crabs in a barrel. Black youth, who are seen as bad children, think that being bad is good and being good is being “white.” Damn! It’s gotten so fucked up that we fear an eminent fight will break out if many of us congregate together in one setting, and in some cases that was the case. We have been programmed to be circus animals for white amusement. 

These are a few reasons why some of us are angry. We want to speak out. We want to scream, and we want to be heard. But, the instant we do, we are lashed out and judged as being an “angry black person”. Some people will imply that you have no right to be angry about anything. Some will tell you straight out. At the same time some people will look down upon you if you are positive or speaking your mind. They will cast you out of their personal definition of blackness. To make matters worse, there are white folks lurking to pounce on anything negative that they can use against you to further destroy what little bit of humanity you have left. 

Whatever the case may be, society will let you know that you don’t have the right to be fully human, and some of us accepted it. In short you are damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. To bare this crap from whites is bad enough, but to bare it from blacks makes you want to holla!

Now Ashamed?

Tags

America, news, politics, racism

I still have a lot of thoughts concerning the recent unjustly execution of Troy Davis, a black man convicted of murdering police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989. I don’t want to go into details surrounding his case as I’ve already written about it in past entries, and you can obtain the information online in a matter of seconds. People are still grieving while others are cheering. However, some people showed they were still naive about how this is but another example of American injustice. 

Some of the blogs and websites who followed, reported, and responded (more eloquently than I ever could) to the Troy Davis case had comments that range from expressing sadness to outright anger. There haven’t been too many comments from usual lowlife trolls that will say anything to derail, deviate, devalue, and destroy the purpose of such articles and essays for a shitload of reasons as they’ve been known to do. However, I noticed certain comments that express shame towards this country. Some no longer have love or respect for this nation seemingly because of the execution of one man who could very well be innocent. Some apparently gave up on the injustice system that sent numbers of innocent people to their graves. 

I asked myself, “Now they’re ashamed? Now they no longer believe in this nation’s system?” Think about it for a minute.

Troy Davis’ murder was the grossest testament to the truth that racism is still in effect especially in a redneck state like Georgia. But, Troy Davis was one victim of that reality. There were many more like him who are victims of racial injustice that included everything from deportation to lynching. It’s been going on for years and years, and now, you’re ashamed of this country? 

Ask yourself, did you feel that way when this country was executing other prisoners, some who were possibly innocent? Did you feel that way when police officers were assaulting and killing black people left and right? Did you feel that way when Arizona took that aggressive stance against immigration? Did you feel way when the government bailed out banks even though their greed helped cause a gigantic fuck-up that Americans are still paying for? Did you feel that way when this government flooded drugs and guns into poor black communities in the 80′s and then, produced propaganda commercials to cover up their shit? I could go on and on, but by now, you should know where I’m going with this?

Saying how much you are ashamed of this country reveals that maybe, just maybe you still had love, pride, and faith for this country. One incident of blatant injustice like the Troy Davis execution was the moment that changed that. Your animosity towards this joke of a nation should’ve existed a long time ago. However, you were likely brainwashed to love the glamorous deceitful moments in history filled with stories of triumphs, accomplishments, and glory. You were programmed to believe lies about how great this country is. But, it was all shot to hell when one moment shattered that image. 

Now, you see that America isn’t so great after all. Now, you see that American justice is an oxymoron. Now you’ve gotten a taste of why black people live in fear and anger. Congratulations! Welcome to the real world. 

Untitled

Tags

adversity, America, black, crime, murder, news, police, politics, racism

I don’t know where to begin. My mind is riddled with so many emotions that I can not fully describe them. I sit here trying to make sense of what happened on the evening of September 21, 2011. The only thing I could come up with is that what happened on that night made absolutely no sense. The event that took place in Savannah, Georgia was heartbreaking, shocking, and disturbing to say the least.

What happened was a lynching initiated by the state despite a global outpouring of support for one man, Troy Davis. A man who was convicted and executed for a crime he didn’t commit. I personally believe he was 100% innocent. There were tons of reasons why he deserved to remain alive. He could’ve gotten a fair trial. Hell, he should’ve been set free. But, the state and federal government in all of their compassion felt that Davis was a significant threat, that he did commit a crime, and that he should be put to sleep. It didn’t matter if the evidence and testimony against the brotha was questionable or disclaimed. It didn’t matter that the possibility that someone else murdered Officer Mark MacPhail was strong enough to reconsider. It damn sure didn’t matter if the death penalty is racially bias to begin with. According to the corrupt government, Troy Davis had to die, innocent or not. 

Right now, I feel the pain that the Davis family is going through. They lost a great man to a ravenous, demonic system of oppression where its appetite for black and brown bodies only brings destruction to communities of color. Millions of supporters for Troy Davis around the world are grieving his death. Tears are flowing not only for him, but for other people who are victims–yes, victims of injustice systems lurking within the global infrastructure. Troy Davis’ murder by the state of Georgia sent a clear message worldwide about the true face of the American “justice” system when it comes to black (and brown) people. It is a message no one, and I mean no one can deny or ignore:  

“You think this system is fair and just? You think the police are your friends? You really believe in justice for you? Well, you’re wrong. Dead wrong! We don’t give a damn about you. You were born to be second-class citizens. You will eventually end up within our cells making us assloads of money. You will eventually die by our hands in the streets or in prison. Your lives are worthless. We only care about the lives of whites and the lives of rich whites. They truly matter in this world. You are just cannon fodder. You exist to make us richer and more powerful. Watch your back because you may be next one day, and we will not lose any sleep over you or your kind! We have the power to entrap, enslave, and even lynch your black and brown asses. So, you better watch out!”

The family of the slain police officer witnessed the execution. Reports say they smiled and hugged each other. They believed this was the only way they can get some solace, to have Davis’s family suffer the way they did. It is nothing more than a call for revenge. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But, this time there was something deeper and uglier. Troy Davis adamantly denied having anything to do with the shooting for over twenty years. During his time in jail, more and more evidence, or lack thereof, appeared from recanting testimony to absent DNA. However, like the courts, the family too wanted to see Davis die. But, I believe they just wanted to see a nigger die. Any nigger would do. 

Troy Davis was used as an example of everything wrong and cruel with this nation and it’s so-called justice system. The United States doesn’t have a justice system. It only has a system of control and suppression. It uses it’s power to destroy poor communities and communities of color all in the name of justice. It locks up black and brown men and women at an alarming rate mostly for nonviolent offenses in the name of justice. It sends blacks and browns to death row for crimes against whites in the name of justice. The word ‘justice’ no longer has meaning or weight in today’s society because it only benefits certain kinds of people. I’m not such a person. 

I fear one day I will be harassed by police just for “looking” suspicious. I fear one day that I will get my ass whooped by police for suspicion of carrying a gun when I was really unarmed. I fear one day I’ll end up in prison for a crime I didn’t commit, and I fear that one day I’ll end up dead in the name of the law like Troy Davis and so many before him and more after him. These are real fears. We know damn well that this country has always looked down upon us, and some of us fear that we will not grow up to see our 50th birthday. We know this country would sooner rather use us or throw us away like discarded toys.

Yet, people still think we live in a post-racial society. Color is no longer important. Troy Davis’s death clearly proved otherwise as well as the deaths of other men and women of color at the hands of this nation’s system of oppression. Anyone who’s still convinced of the post-racial folklore is either too blind or ignorant for any intellectual salvation. 

As I sit here, I ask myself, why? Why don’t certain people value my life or the lives of others who look like me? Why are our lives of little importance in this society? I will never get straight answers from either question from the people that should explain. The sad reality is that more lives will be taken by this murderous republic. A frightening thought is that I could be one of those lives. We must find a way to change or fight against the system formed against us. You see, you could be one of those lives. You see, Troy Davis is us, and we are Troy Davis. 

We ARE Troy Davis!

Troy Davis Executed

Tags

adversity, America, black, crime, murder, news, police, politics, R.I.P., racism

“I rededicate my life to God. They can take my body, but they can not take my spirit!”

-Troy Anthony Davis

A man was tried and convicted for a murder committed over two decades ago. Now, he is executed. He name was Troy Anthony Davis.

In August of 1989 in a Burger King parking lot in Savannah, Georgia, off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail was murdered protecting a homeless man who was being assaulted by another man. Troy Davis was suspected and arrested for the crime due to testimony by a man named Sylvester “Redd” Coles, and other witnesses. He was sentenced to death shortly after. However, since then, there have been no physical evidence including DNA evidence to link Davis to the murder. Furthermore, most of the witnesses recanted their stories, and some believed that Coles was the real killer. There has also been claims that the witnesses were forced by police to lie in court.

There has been a worldwide movement to protect Troy Davis from being executed. People from around the world signed petitions, performed marches, and made phone calls to Georgia asking the courts to spare his life and reconsider the case. Still, according to judges, Davis has not been able to prove his innocence. They are not willing to overturn jury verdicts. The Georgia Board of Parole and Pardons denied clemency, and the U.S. Supreme court refused to stop the execution. Troy Davis has been able to avoid death during his time in prison up until the evening of September 21, 2011 at 11:08 p.m.

I will write a response to this travesty soon as I get my thoughts together. For more coverage on the Troy Davis Executiion, please check out Democracynow.org for more details. In the meantime please share your thoughts and opinions on the matter.

Race To Death (Updated)

Tags

adversity, America, black, crime, murder, police, politics, racism

Capital punishment is a sentence often given to those accused with the crime of murder. In murder cases prosecutors try to push for the death penalty in cases in involving a murder they deem is horrible enough to demand the same fate to the accused. Some families of the victims want an “eye-for-an-eye” resolution. So, they support the decision of pursuing the death sentence. However, some families prefer not to as they believe that a murder carried out by the state will solve nothing, and will not make an example out of the convicted.

Some people across the country support capital punishment while there are others who are against it. The political and moral implications behind the idea is what makes this an intense and ongoing debate. But, in a nation such as the United States whether a person lives or dies has always been determined by race. Even in the year 2011, this is still especially true in the case of Troy Davis.

Troy Davis is a black man who’s life in on the line for the crime of shooting of shooting an off-duty police officer by the name of Mark MacPhail, a white male, in Savannah, Georgia on August 19, 1989. However, since his conviction seven out of nine nonpolice witnesses have recanted their testimony stating that they were coerced and intimidated by police. Plus, there was no physical evidence linking Davis to the crime. He is scheduled to be executed on September 21, 2011.

Amy Goodman, writer and host of Democracy Now, wrote an article about how the U.S. Supreme Court decided to have an evidentiary hearing where Davis tried to his innocence, but was unsuccessful:

“Last March, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Davis should receive an evidentiary hearing, to make his case for innocence. Several witnesses have identified one of the remaining witnesses who has not recanted, Sylvester “Redd” Coles, as the shooter. U.S. District Judge William T. Moore Jr. refused, on a technicality, to allow the testimony of witnesses who claimed that, after Davis had been convicted, Coles admitted to shooting MacPhail. In his August court order, Moore summarized, “Mr. Davis is not innocent.”

The case of Troy Davis is but one of many cases in which race plays a role in go deserves to live or die in the American “justice” system. In 1990 a report made by the nonpartisan U.S. General Accounting Office discovered a pattern of racial disparities concerning the charging, sentencing, and the imposition of capital punishment. They concluded that the defendant will more likely be sentenced to death if the victim was white and the defendant was black. They are treated more harshly as defendants and their lives are seen as less valuable as victims, and, all-white juries are still common in many locations throughout the country.

Amnesty International gave more reports that further prove the racial divide that exist within capital punishment:

“A report sponsored by the American Bar Association in 2007 concluded that one-third of African-American death row inmates in Philadelphia would have received sentences of life imprisonment if they had not been African-American.

A January 2003 study released by the University of Maryland concluded that race and geography are major factors in death penalty decisions. Specifically, prosecutors are more likely to seek a death sentence when the race of the victim is white and are less likely to seek a death sentence when the victim is African-American.

A 2007 study of death sentences in Connecticut conducted by Yale University School of Law revealed that African-American defendants receive the death penalty at three times the rate of white defendants in cases where the victims are white. In addition, killers of white victims are treated more severely than people who kill minorities, when it comes to deciding what charges to bring.”

These and other findings have proven that the lives of blacks in this nation are depreciated within the “justice” system whether they are accused, convicted, victims, or innocent. Troy Davis has asserted that he is innocent of the crime throughout his 20-plus years in prison. The case against him has been revealed to be faulty against him since day one thanks in large part to the iniquitous police department that not only wanted the case rapped up in a hurry, but to lynch a black man as soon as possible.

Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, U.S. Representative, and republican presidential candidate notorious for having over 230 people executed during his watch, had a lot of people applauding at the republican presidential debate recently when he said he hasn’t struggled losing sleep over his murders executions.  This man is proud of his record of blood on his hands.  Will Perry allow another man, innocent or otherwise, black or non-black, to receive the death penalty. One would have to assume a resounding yes. In a nation where the lives of black people are considered cannon fodder we will continue to see the modern form of lynching in the American “justice” system, and Troy Davis may be its next victim.

Here on some links on Troy Davis and how you can help:

Color of Change: Save Troy Davis’ Life

Troy Anthony Davis

NAACP: Help Save Troy Davis

What You Can Do To Save Troy Davis

Change: Stop Troy Davis Execution

BREAKING NEWS: The New York Times reports that the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles have rejected Clemency for Troy Davis, and he will die for the murder of (off-duty) police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989.

The Race Card

Tags

adversity, America, crime, history, men, privilege, racism, sexism, skin color, white, women

I’m sure you know about the race card. Supposedly, it’s a card where we people of color (POC) use whenever we accuse someone of saying or doing something that is racist or when we address a form of racism that occurred or is occurring. This is one of the usual arguments to avoid any form of racism on their part or society’s. It is a way of deflecting blame and guilt back to the person or group of people who brought up the subject. What is always missed on the part of whites in denial is that whites have used the race card so that they can win the game of life every time.

When the so-called race card is in their favor, it trumps virtually everything in regards to humanity especially when it comes to the lives of POC. It is both a direct and indirect cause of most of the conditions of POC in a white dominated society or a society that has been affected due to some kind of influence caused by, again, a white society. At the same time it can trap whites into a world where they can not and will not see how their histories, societies, and communities have shaped the world outside of their scope of perception. They become blinded by their own privileges. Their sense of morality can be drastically warped, and their sense of humanity can go off kilter.

When it comes to privileges, whites of this mentality are unaware that they have any. They will even confuse it with financial privilege. Most whites miss the point that white privilege is not about wealth, but about what the term suggests: white skin. A poor white person would still have advantages that certain POC of middle and upper classes don’t have.

White privilege can make whites fearful of losing the privileges most of them didn’t know they have. Plus, it makes them resentful when anyone outside of their ‘norm’ seems to be doing well, have earned something they didn’t, or living better than they are. However, some of those same white people will still claim how they are not racist or homophobic they are. Is it denial, extreme ignorance, or programming that make them behave this way? Perhaps it’s all three.

The sense of whiteness when it comes to morality has always been about the preservation of their people. The “justice” system is geared towards justice for whites. There have been stories from the past to the present that describe how a black person is tried for a severe crime (rape or murder) against a white person in front of a jury composed of mostly whites or all whites. There’s a great chance that the black person would receive the harshest sentence sought against him. However, if the victim or victims are of the same color, chances are that the sentence would be lighter by the same jury. But, if the victim is black and the accused is white, even in recent times, the white person would likely either be acquitted or given a very light sentence.  

What’s even more disturbing is that in some cases, the convicted are innocent of any crime. Nevertheless, the “justice” system will find ways to make sure  their brand of justice is carried about even if it means execution. It doesn’t matter if they were innocent. They will die regardless. To some within the system it doesn’t matter if those already executed were innocent. They’re lives are gone. So, let’s find another person to fry.  

The race card in favor of whites can get in the way of what is considered right and wrong. There are moments, some that I’ve witnessed personally, that if both white people and black people were to do the same act, white people would look at it differently. Let’s say, for example, there’s a group of white kids walking down the street together in a white neighborhood. The neighbors wouldn’t think that much about it. Some of them may even say “hello” to them. Now, replace that group with a group of black kids, and the white neighbors would be scared as hell. Some would stay in the house while some would call the cops. The cops would be there in full force with guns drawn. 

Lastly, the race card can change the definition of what humanity is especially in regards to race, class, and gender. Whites have been manipulated for centuries to believe that they are superior and everyone else is inferior and that the inferior races need whites to help them. That mindset continues today within white societies. Whites have been driven to obtain money and power at the costs of not only POC but their own people. Also, that same greed can cloud their moral judgment. So, those who have a lot of wealth and influence do not see anything wrong with what they’re doing or how they got at the top. White masculinity has created a world where those with penises are inherently better than those with vaginae. However, sense whiteness is practically equaled to gold, white femininity trumps any and all other kinds of femininity. This is why white women are more valued in just about every corner of society even if and when their morality is questionable. 

There are countless examples of how whiteness trumps progress. No amount of denial can silence that. None! As mentioned earlier if there is such a thing as a race card, it’s not because POC bring it up whenever racism against them is acknowledged or questioned. It is because of the fact that whites have used it since day one. However, that card traps most of them in a world everyone else understands except themselves. They may think there is nothing wrong with the way they live or think, but in reality, they are getting left behind because of their blindness and refusal to ask for help. Those whites are too addicted not to think critically, and it will cause them to miss out on much-needed knowledge, wisdom, and redemption.

Maury Po’ Bitch

Tags

adversity, America, black, entertainment, media, men, mothers, racism, stereotypes, white

The following is a response to The Grio’s article entitled “Why Maury Povich ‘is the father’ of black trash TV” written by Michael Arceneaux. Also, if you are a fan of Maury, Jerry, reality TV or any other forms of pointless entertainment and you take offense to my essay, you should leave now. 

I’ve written about Maury Povich’s show a while back in 2010. I still believe that his show is offensive in that it perpetuates negative stereotypes about black men and black women, and that it does so more often with black people than they do with non-blacks. I’ve stopped watching the show as soon as I realized what I was looking at was just another hour-long “What the hell is wrong with black people–according to White people” circus. The host Maury is white, and most of his guests concerning his popular paternity test episodes are black and apparently highly promiscuous and irresponsible. 

However, as Michael Arceneaux’s article pointed out, the blame is not entire on Maury. The issue is much bigger than him or America’s addiction with trash TV. 

First, it has all the earmarks of the typical, repetitive theme that whites are genuinely concerned for the welfare of people of color (POC) especially blacks. But, Maury’s show presents it in an energized fashion while stimulating the white racial mind that black people are sexually hyper and deviant by nature. On the “paternity test” episodes, most of the women who have had numerous partners that return after finding out that the latest man accused is not the father of her child are black. After discovering that the test is negative, she breaks down. The man accused cheers in a highly animated fashion, and the crowd goes wild over witnessing the drama. Not too many people are aware that this plays directly into age-old racist stereotypes. Then again, nowadays, it doesn’t seem to matter if it’s entertaining.

This brings two points in mind: One, the guests on Maury were never forced to appear on his show to seek his guidance, or so it seems. They came on their own free will when they were given the green light to appear on a particular episode. Though the question constantly asked when watching these kinds of shows has always been this, why appear on national TV to humiliate yourself in front of millions of people? One can only assume that they want to appear on TV and get their 15 minutes of fame even if it make themselves look ignorant as hell. However, if you’re a POC, humiliating yourself in front of a nationwide audience boosts the egos of white people while it entertains POC.

Two, the public loves to watch other people act like total fools. It is our guilty pleasure. This is why shows of this nature are popular and multiplying, human beings are attracted to drama and stupidity. That is why trash talk shows like Maury and Jerry are still on the air. That is why reality shows like the “Jersey Shore” is popular, and that is why people love comedy shows with no substance or commentary. The public can’t get enough of that stuff.

In a nation like the United States black folks acting wild and ridiculous is enjoyable to watch by not just whites but some blacks as well. Let’s be real, some blacks are attracted to watching other blacks act a fool because just like anyone else, blacks like to be entertained even at the expense of other blacks. Some of us don’t care that stereotypes are being resurfaced on the small screen by our own people. All that matters is whether it is enjoyable to watch or not. 

Is internalized racism or the colonized mindset the reason why some black people are fans of shows that depict blacks as clowns, sex fiends, and criminals, or is it because some blacks know that most of us are nothing like the images seen on TV and are simply entertained? To go even further, are we living in times were it’s more preferred or even “cool” to be entertained than enlightened or educated? 

Even if Maury gets cancelled, and I hope it will soon, negative black stereotypes will continue through the media airwaves. There will be blacks who will assume those roles willingly for either the right price or nothing at all, and there will be audiences that will include black people who will watch and be amazed. We all know that there are idiots in every group, but if society only cares about those idiots as being representatives of their whole group for the sake of being amused and entertained, that is when it’s no longer pleasing. At least it shouldn’t be.

9/11: Revised Edition

Tags

9/11, America, blaque ink archives, foreign, history, muslim, news, politics, racism, war

I wrote a post about September 11 in 2010 in my old Blaque Ink blog page. This year will mark the 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, I don’t have much to say about this day, or rather I don’t have anything new to say. All I could do is repost my essay with a few slight changes made. Enjoy.

September 11, 2001

I remember waking up that morning. I turned on the television to do some channel surfing, and that’s when I found out about the attack on the World Trade Center. It was a surreal day; it seemed like a bad dream at the time. All kinds of emotions ran through my soul as I watched coverage of the attack and its aftermath. It was truly a dismal time for most Americans for months to come.

Back then, I thought Americans and perhaps the world may change for the better. Yes, yes, I was naive as hell back then for thinking it, but I actually thought that times will change.

The news media went into a frenzy reporting what was perhaps the worst terrorist attack since the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 every hour on the hour. Thousands of lives were lost in the attack with thousands more injured. People across the country mourned the lost of the lives. Some were in complete shock as such an event is unimagined in the minds of most Americans. In their minds they were no longer safe in the world’s most powerful empire. Someone out there hates this country in the worst way.

Americans were saddened and scared. We comforted each other, and was there for one another. We were there to help each other for a brief altruistic moment. For a time, Americans became humane to one another for the most part.

Americans suddenly started becoming “patriotic” as every street in this nation was decorated with American flags as a sign of love for their nation. American flags popped up everywhere from lapels on politicians’ suits to bumper stickers to somehow show the world that Americans are strong and proud of this great nation. You would hear people sing the National Anthem, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and other “I love America” songs. Even if it was a false display of patriotism and nationalism, Americans found a sense of pride.

The media played and replayed the now-memorable footage of the planes slamming into the Twin Towers causing massive destruction upon impact. I remember seeing the explosions caused by the impact, and the people desperately trying to escape even if it means killing themselves. Last, but not least, we are reminded of the horrific collapsing of the towers one by one. An avalanche of smoke and ask travels through the streets of New York following frightened citizens as they flee for safety.

We are also reminded of another attack on the heart of the nation’s defense, the Pentagon, and a plane crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Thing have changed. For a moment, the Earth stood still. In my opinion we become more “humanistic” than ever. But, was September 11 a wake-up call for Americans to change their ways that are, in some way, shape and form, harming and destroying other cultures and nations under their imperialistic rule? No. What happened on that day made matters worse.

And of course you realized, this meant war.

Americans were not just saddened with grief and anguish but fueled with anger and wanted vengence. Someone was responsible for this, and someone had to pay. A few words came to mind as we try to find our suspects, Islamic, Middle-Eastern and Muslim. We suspect that the mastermind(s) had to be a part of some Islamic extremist group, and before long, Islam was once again associated as the “religion of evil” and those of Middle Eastern or Arabic descent were seen as “terrorists waiting to strike” in the news media, politicians, military personel, and average Americans. Soon, faces of the men responsible appeared everywhere, but one face in particular was America’s Public Enemy Number One. (Need I say his name?) All the while, few people considered that maybe, just maybe, this was an inside job with those in power waiting in the wings.

The rallying cry for war echoed nationwide with former President George W. Bush and his cohorts leading the charge. Americans stood behind him as they see him as the leader to destroy the terrorists whomever he says they are, and the majority of the United States supported this effort for a couple of years.

Afterwards, Americans become anxious whenever the terror alert is sounded (on average, almost once a month). After a couple of times, to me it became more and more redundant, but even so, America surely became a paranoid nation. The public became more and more terrified of the thought that Muslims and Middle-Easterners were taking over this nation.

Over the years, Muslims and Middle-Easterners were targets of angry Americans who personally punished them for who and what they are. Racial profiling was prominent, deportation was the order of the day, and personal violence against Muslims were not only rising, but encouraged. Policy makers, politicians, and religious leaders made it their mission to condemn, prevent, and destroy anyone or anything associated with Islam.

Through 9/11 and the War on Terror, Americans went from love to hate in almost an instant, and we have yet to learn anything since that fateful morning. Even more shameful is that we are still at war, Bin Laden is still free, more money is spent on the war effort than where it needs to go, and more lives are lost. Our suspicions and hatred of Muslims, Middle Easterners, Arabians, and all things Islam are high, and any objections against the war are still met with nothing short of insane, pseudo-patriotic pundits who live in their own world where they must be right all the time and where hatred and intolerance is…American.

I know I’m not alone when I ask, what’s wrong with that picture?

September 11, 2001 taught one thing about this nation other than the fact that it’s not invulnerable. It was a harsh reminder that this nation is not as innocent or compassionate as many seem to believe. It’s ludicrous to assume that those who attacked us were “jealous of our freedom”. If one were to study the real history of America in regards to foreign policies and relationships, one would discover that this great nation is not so great. This war is proof of that. If America is to survive it must change its ways in regards to racism, materialism, and militarism especially within its borders. That is what a true patriot of this nation would realize.

Will there be another devestating event like the ones that occured ten years ago? Of course. However, in the end just like that and other tragic days that happened in this country, America will be the cause of its own chaos.

The Deepest Pain

Tags

adversity, africa, black, crime, history, privilege, racism, rants, white

The following is based upon Raving Black Lunatic’s blog post entitled “Sometimes I“. 

Big Man, the brotha behind the popular blog Raving Black Lunatic, wrote an excellent piece about the thoughts and feelings about today’s world relating to how some people have been on top for so long mostly due to the destruction of other people virtually without any large-scale repercussions while those who still benefit from it avoid any responsibility to try and do the right thing. It also describes the need for vengeance as a way to ease the pain and sadness, and questioning why such destruction happened or was allowed to happen in the first place.

I think I know what he was getting at. For me, personally, they were thoughts that I constantly have every day and night, the thoughts about the history and reality of white supremacy. Despite the fact there are some whites who do accept responsibility and are working hard to change things, most whites are still so blinded by a world they’ve created they see nothing wrong with it. It is a reality that keeps me either angry or depressed. 

All POC, and some religious groups, have some deep wounds within their hearts and souls, but I don’t think anyone has more deeper wounds than people of African descent. Reason being is that (parts of) their homelands were colonized for a long time by European powers. Their people have been snatched away from the continent for the purpose of serving Europeans at the costs of their basic human rights, their cultures, their names, and even their souls. Eventually, slavery ended only to be replaced with more systems of discrimination and oppression. Any form of change was suppressed by the powers-that-be while the power structures of European descendants grew larger and more profitable here in the West and abroad creating a world where only whiteness is important. 

Even though we overcame perhaps the most powerful forms of oppression ever known to man thus far, we are still suffering inside. Sure, we joke around, party around, and smile every now and then, but it’s a mask to hide our true pain. It is buried deep within our souls until it somehow manages to surface in emotions so extreme it will scare anyone who witnesses them. It the kind of pain that stems from ancient trauma beaten into our ancestors mixed with the pain of living in a world where you are not considered “normal” because of your skin, and the denial and avoidance of society’s concerns for such matters. 

Instead of being understood, blacks are more feared than ever. Society’s members, particularly those of the white persuasion, fear blacks. They are indifferent when we try to explain why we are hurting, and are terrified when it explodes in full force. When it explodes, that is proof enough to sneer at the whole black race collectively. It is the perfect incentive to oppress with more creative ways. In a way it’s a form of psychological torture to keep blacks perpetually angry and(or) depressed. It is a form of control to keep as many blacks as possible subservient and subordinates to whites while presenting a facade of a post-racial society. Whites can argue against any and all accusations of racism making those who made those accusations look insane. Thus, blacks who were offended are told in one way or another that their hurt feelings don’t matter, and so, their pain continues unchecked.

Meanwhile, the world around you will try to make you feel ashamed of yourself even when you are innocent of any crime. It will tell you that you are less-than-human. It will lie to make you feel ashamed of being black. It will make you think there’s something wrong with being black. It will try and make you hate blackness and love whiteness with no remorse.

Perhaps what brings on the most misery (in my opinion) is the fact that those of European descent have yet to see any major or powerful form of punishment for their sins against humanity. For centuries, they’ve gain power, wealth, and privileges, and it’s hard to see any signs of the collapse of the white power and privilege structure. Even though nothing lasts forever, you see no end to white supremacy. You become frustrated, miserable, and you lose hope for any kind of change. 

You may ask yourself why this happened. You may ask what the ultimate purpose was to allow a race of people to commit so many atrocities against another race based on skin color. You may even ask why was I born with the most hated skin color in the white man’s world. 

Some who are more religious will question God. Why didn’t you do anything when this began centuries ago? Why aren’t you making them (white people) pay? Why did you allow this world to be created where we are valued less? What is the meaning behind this? When will things change? 

God, are you a white supremacist too?

The pain buried deep within black people around the world will never be fully understood. We, along with our fellow POC and non-Christians, are hurting. It is a pain we endure in our daily lives living in a world where whites “rule”. Most of us learn how to handle it in stride, but beneath our game faces we are secretly crying endless tears.