I Hope Something To Think About (from Eric K. Grimes/Brother Shomari): “Everyone is crying out for peace…none is crying out for justice. But there should be no peace until Man gets equal rights and justice!” – Peter Tosh The Black male is perceived as a threat everywhere he is encountered, even when he bends over backwards to show that he is non-threatening. We get worked up and see the tragic results of this reality with police encounters because they have guns, power and a perceived legitimacy they can hide behind, so PHYSICAL DEATH results. But make no mistake about it, this ‘Black Male = FEAR/THREAT’ mindset equally pervades the teachers that teach us, the counselors that counsel us, the social workers/case managers that manage us, the store owners that exploit us, the employers that employ us, and so on. And to this end, MENTAL DEATH results. It also pervades among the Imams, Ministers, Bishops and ‘Leaders’ that placate us, falsify scriptural doctrine and teach us to be still, with SPIRITUAL DEATH resulting. Repression of emotions, especially true and authentic emotions, is unhealthy and can cause mental, emotional and physical disease. But, in the midst of authentic and righteous anger, we are being instructed and shamed by our “leaders” into repressing it. ‘Be calm’, ‘stay peaceful’, ‘pray for peace’ are common responses. This scolding shames an individual/group and causes a sense of rejection and inferiority. This requested masking, denial and repression leads to misdirected aggression and a host of behaviors that are turned in on ourselves and one another, since we come to believe that the true source of our oppression is beyond our ability to address and hold accountable. Beware of those calling for PEACE in the face of INJUSTICE… PEACE and INJUSTICE together ensure our continued OPPRESSION! In my presentation entitled Checkmate – Overcoming the Systemic and Systematic Destabilization of Black Manhood, I talk about the idea of Conceded Black Manhood! We are taught, and we teach ourselves and our boys, how to ‘stand down’ until it becomes our nature, often with dire consequences. In the face of circumstances that require a smart, coordinated, purposeful response that reflects Strategic Power and Strength, we are instead directed and counseled to “a silent submission to civic inferiority such as is bound to sap the manhood of any race in the long run.” (DuBois) As a brief example of what Conceded Black Manhood looks, feels and tastes like, listen to Marvin Sapp’s Gospel song, Teach My Hands to War (https://youtube/watch?v=JeRpK3ZLKaM). Notice how and for what purpose he decides to use his hands and how he frames the war. Now read the Bible verse that the song is adapted from, Psalms 18/Psalms 144 (https://biblegateway/passage/?search=Psalm%2018&version=CEV). Notice the difference? Are we not worthy? But equally and most perniciously, the ‘Black Male = FEAR/THREAT’ paradigm is beginning to invade and pervade the mindset of the Mothers that mother us, Fathers that father us, Sisters that sister us, Brothers that brother us, and Village that nurtures us. This is auto-oppression (Fanon, Wright, Wilson, etc.) and self-destruction and SOUL MURDER result. This is the urgent priority we must address if we are to claim our liberation! If you are a threat whether you bend, kneel or stand then Get Up, Stand Up! So if our faith, spiritual and other leaders stand before us and tell us to sing, dance and pray to the Lord for answers, make sure they are telling you to sing, dance and pray to the Lord, as David did – Lord, Teach My Hands To War. For knowing how to War and building Warriors is a key to our future PEACE as a people. A Luta Continua! So where do we go from here…? Thoughts appreciated
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 03:27:43 +0000
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