I've made no apologies about my fascination with the dynamics of race in American society. It is a curiosity that has been with me even in my earliest memories. It just so happens that I chose most hot button, controversial, ambiguous, frustrating and sometimes awkward topic to develop a passion for (which I believe speaks to the massive influence race has on anything and everything American).
Up to now I've spent most of my energy examining our history, policies, tendencies, statistics, and underlying themes. Cutting through bias and bullshit has made this task arduous. Nevertheless I came to the conclusion that racism - along with colonialism and economic exploitation - is a founding and guiding principle in not only American society, but all societies which consider themselves "western". From the smallest most interpersonal interaction to national elections to the highest offices nothing can ever happen independent of race (and subsequently racism), colonialism, and capitalistic greed (in addition to patriarchy, which has an entrenchment far deeper and wider than the relatively short and recent history and reach of what we call "the west"). I seek no validation for my findings. I am no longer constantly searching for ways in which to prove myself not insane. The evidence is overwhelming - after sloshing through shallow cover-ups and willful ignorance - and I am confident in my ability to deduce myth from reality, contrary to what this society would prefer. I can not rest. Which is why I began my journey for answers to the question; "How do you dismantle racism in society". I found theories, the diversity of which is a testament to our humanity. I ran across the idea of the talented tenth. The idea that by having 10% of our most talented men and women we might be able to infiltrate positions of power and prominence and bring equality and equity to our communities. However, after the inception of the idea W.E.B. DuBois himself doubted whether the older, more affluent Black Bourgeoisie was interested in uplifting the masses as much as they were consumed with their own personal advancement. This concern was voiced in an address at the 1948 national conference for Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Which, contrary to popular belief, is the first Black Greek-Lettered Organization). There were those such as Garvey, who advised all Africans and people of African descent to unify spiritually, politically, and physically as one nation. He worked in America on his plan to ultimately, move Black people back home. Some questioned whether this was realistically feasible. Others asked if the Black man in America anything left in Africa; so much of his identity is today entrenched, for better or worse, in the states. Then there was Malcolm, who was Black Power before "Black Power." Who preached a reinvestment in Black Pride, and a new investment in controlling the economies and politics of our communities, and most infamously self-defense "by all means necessary." Critics asked if Black People could truly consolidate power without first bringing justice to the crimes of our past. Which is where we find Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He demanded justice, leading courageous (or "delirious" as Malcolm said it) by leading black men in women in civil non-violent disobedience. Skeptics, including Mr. X, asked why Black people should submit their beautiful Black lives over to those who we already knew had complete contempt for Blackness. Furthermore, why should we be the ones to have to prove our moral fortitude to a nation that has committed so many evils on our backs? Should the burden of exhibiting morality, peace, and civility be put on the nation that had up to that point proven incapable of doing such? So what conclusion did I come to? There is no "answer." There is only struggle. And struggle is beautiful. Because when it comes down to it struggle is burns the caricature drawn for us, it dismantles the box we were supposed to be confined to, it rejects the inhumanity designated for us. Their auction blocks made us black. Their "whites only" signs made us black. Their red lines and drug laws made us black. Our struggle makes us human. It actually only hit me last night, at a party of all places. I found myself drowning in shades of black, brown, red, and low yellows of our Latino cousins. I saw Black beauty. I saw King Kuntas touting there chains with a regal swagger. I saw Cleopatras who commanded the attention of emperors. We laughed. We danced. We spoke in what would seemingly be a foreign language to the other side of America. Blunts were rotated, flirty passes were made, and even when the music went out and as with tradition we improvised and held a freestyle rap cipher. And then of course, the cops shut us down. It occurred to me as we walked in the street, some among us half-jokingly holding their hands in the air, that all of this was struggle. Our music, our language, our dances, our culture, our embrace of life is all struggle against what they have tried to take from us the moment we stepped foot here. Black Humanity is struggle. We must know this, and keep it close. We must always know this. -515
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October 2018
Matt BruceViva DSM!! |