I realize today's the "Big Game," but it won't be on all day! Carve out a little time to watch this very interesting 2005 documentary. The commercials are annoying but, in a weird way, they reinforce the story being told. Just click "No" on each one and keep it movin'! I think it'd be well worth it. Then, if you like -- let's talk:
13 comments:
I've seen that doc before and while it makes some interesting points, it really isn't saying anything new. That's the problem I have with most of the conversations about global apartheid and it's grip on the world--there is almost no talk about practical means thereby which we can extricate ourselves from it's tentacles. It is a system created by MEN(or close to it) and as such, MEN should be able to defeat it. BUt you wouldn't know that by listening/watching/hearing black peole who are supposed to be the best & the brightest. What gives?
Mau...My mind and life were in a kinda strange place in 2005 so I missed the doc. And while it's not saying anything new to you -- you'd be surprised the people I encounter who have absolutely no grasp of its "old news."
That said, I share your frustration "with most of the conversations about global apartheid and it's grip on the world--there is almost no talk about practical means thereby which we can extricate ourselves from it's tentacles." Particularly because that, "distance deliberately created" as Baldwin says -- was extremely effective!"
On my return from my trips to The Gambia, I cannot tell you how many Black folk wanted to know, "What did you go there for?"; "Weren't you scared of being there by yourself -- or of catching something?"; "What do THEY eat?" etc., etc, etc.
Yes, "It is a system created by MEN(or close to it) and as such, MEN should be able to defeat it. BUt you wouldn't know that by listening/watching/hearing black peole who are supposed to be the best & the brightest. What gives?"
What gives, I think, is that many in the DIaspora don't know, or even want to know, or be associated with the UNICEF images of Africa (as if that's all there is). Many have believed what Europeans have told them and not tried to find out what they've NOT told them. Complete assimilation is the watchword for us in the West, it seems. Either that, or some sanitized version of what Africa really is in our lives -- if anything. And I get that to some degree. Integration was not, nor never meant to be, what Black folk believed and still believe it to be. And I get that too -- now. But it took a very long time.
As much as I love the writings of W.E.B. DuBois, I ADAMANTLY disagree with his "Talented Tenth" philosophy (or as you describe them, "best & brightest) -- because, we ALL bring something of value to the table!! Therein lies, IMHO, the vestiges of slavery, colonialism and prejudice among us, that keeps us from coming together to throw off this yoke. Our best and brightest, it seems, are more invested in being accepted by the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy, than the survival and growth of Black folk all over the globe. And it is they, who are encouraged by them, because they're not threatening to their existence -- they will go along, to get along, which is all that's wanted of them (aside from their "Black face in a high place," willing to assist in bringing more of us along that path). {smdh}
You are right about what I call 'the gatekeepers'--it seems that their main purpose on this side of creation is being accepted by their oppressor. Stockholm Syndrome personified. I see myself more akin to Malcolm--tho I do have some formal post-secondary mis-education, most of the really important & valuable knowledge (what little I admit I do have) that was acquired was outside of traditional places of mis-learning. And I guess I could never be apart of the gatekeeper class anyway b/c to me unless WE ALL can be free, ain't none of us really free. And how hollow and empty 'freedom' would be without my folks anyhow. lol..Apparently, there are too many of us who don't feel that way.
Mau...I hear you on the "Stockholm Syndrome personified." Insidious stuff ain't it?
"I see myself more akin to Malcolm--tho I do have some formal post-secondary mis-education, most of the really important & valuable knowledge (what little I admit I do have) that was acquired was outside of traditional places of mis-learning."
Funny how life goes full circle. I started out like Malcolm, became like Martin, believing "integration was all we needed and now, I'm more like Malcolm than I ever was! :-D And like you, my formal post-secondary mis-education didn't teach me shit -- except for the fact that I couldn't depend on their book-learnin' to teach me a damned thing I should've been taught and of course, how deeply they could jam their open fists in my pocket!
"And I guess I could never be apart of the gatekeeper class anyway b/c to me unless WE ALL can be free, ain't none of us really free. And how hollow and empty 'freedom' would be without my folks anyhow."
Nah, me neither, though again, I did try. Turned out they were asking more than I was willing to give. Hah! Since you mentioned it, thought I'd share: http://youtu.be/87PJHQGAx38
Hollow and empty indeed! Peace...
Yeah well I didn't see this doc so I will vibe off your comments. I will watch it later. Which Malcolm are both are of you more like? More like Malcolm of 1963 or El Hajj of 1965?
I find that I am becoming more like the Huey P. Newton when formulating the Black Panther Party.
Amenta..."Which Malcolm are both are of you more like? More like Malcolm of 1963 or El Hajj of 1965?"
I think I'm a little like his entire journey -- starting in one place, going through the revelations, and ending up in another, more, decidedly enlightened place.
"I find that I am becoming more like the Huey P. Newton when formulating the Black Panther Party."
Huey, huh? Hmmm...http://youtu.be/gv7Bh-nTaGM
I'm definitely more the global pan-africanist Malcolm. The one who put the oppression of black people in a global context. When Malcolm started reaching out to foreign leaders & spoke about taking the US to the UN for crimes against humanity for it's treatment of blacks (which seems laughably naive now), I think was the beginning of the end for him, as was I believe Martin's. As long as we see ourselves isolated from a worldwide phenomenon of what is essentially global apartheid, then I don't believe we are seen to be as much a threat as when we rightly see our see our struggle as a global & shared one. So tho both were killed b/c of this venturing out of the proscribed 'box' of civil rights into the more expansive human rights struggle, I still see it as the best means to change. And as far as Huey & BP, my opinion is until we have a base of operation that is not in the belly of the beast, any effective armed struggle would be dead on arrival-both literally and figuratively. I will check out the vid to you provided a link to. Peace
Why hummm? That was the time. That was around 1970 or 1971 not at the formation of the Panther Party.
But, many points I agree with him. I think what was not a concern at that was food. And yet as he said its difficult to divide black people's problems from the total economic problems. I think this is where Dr. King was going at that time.
Like you I cannot be stuck there, mentally at that time. I recently heard an interview with Bobby Seale and he stated that the BPP won over 95% of their court cases. Interesting fact. Another thing Huey said was the intellectual population is a small few in black society as well as society in general (my interpretation of what he said.)
Peace Deb!
Mau..."...When Malcolm started reaching out to foreign leaders & spoke about taking the US to the UN for crimes against humanity for it's treatment of blacks (which seems laughably naive now), I think was the beginning of the end for him, as was I believe Martin's.
"Laughably naive" INDEED!! But I agree, that was the beginning of the end for both.
"As long as we see ourselves isolated from a worldwide phenomenon of what is essentially global apartheid, then I don't believe we are seen to be as much a threat as when we rightly see our see our struggle as a global & shared one. So tho both were killed b/c of this venturing out of the proscribed 'box' of civil rights into the more expansive human rights struggle, I still see it as the best means to change.
Again, I agree. And I'll be the first to say that, outside of divestment movement against S. Africa, it has only been SINCE I took my Black ass TO Africa ("the revelations") -- that I REALLY realized the extent of the global apartheid visited upon my people.
So, subsequently, I agree with you that, we are NOT "seen to be as much a threat as when we rightly see our struggle as a global & shared one." And therein lies our biggest problem. Black Americans, through that, "distance deliberately created," have effectively divorced our conscious selves from Africa, instead, buying into he imperialist notions of what is, and what is not. And, yet again, I agree, we need to "see it as the best means to change." In numbers, there is strength...
And as far as Huey & BP, my opinion is until we have a base of operation that is not in the belly of the beast, any effective armed struggle would be dead on arrival-both literally and figuratively. "
Living here, in the de facto "belly of the beast," you get no damned argument from me! It's insane, the fear it still instills in me -- to this day! Not for me, but for my "Boyz," who think this is their "home," because this where we've lived the longest in their lives. I fear the literal and figurative, "dead on arrival" for them so much, it has effectively silenced me over the past 3 years. I realize, sadly, in my constant striving to grow, I'm not as brave as Malcolm -- at all...
Amenta..."Why hummm?"
Just because Huey does not negate he reality of white supremacy at work in ours lives and you always seem to do the opposite by saying, or lack of a better analogy, "It's the economy, Stupid!" -- or, "I think what was not a concern at that was food. And yet as he said its difficult to divide black people's problems from the total economic problems."
Brother, I think I understand where you are, or at least I'm trying to. But there's just too much living and dying that's gone on as a result of white supremacy for me to agree with you. No, one thing the BPP did make sure of, is that, "food was not the concern for our community." And yes, "...its difficult to divide black people's problems from the total economic problems." -- but I'm not the one who needs to be convinced of that. It's the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy who's having the hard time with it (and the WSCP is NOT only "pinks!).
"I recently heard an interview with Bobby Seale and he stated that the BPP won over 95% of their court cases. Interesting fact. Another thing Huey said was the intellectual population is a small few in black society as well as society in general"
Bobby may well be right, I don't know. Personally, I won 2 of mine recently -- with no support or assistance from my Black, "overseer" lawyer (that story I told you I'll be telling soon). Huey's right, which is why, as much as I love the writings of DuBois, I adamantly oppose his "Talented Tenth" philosophy -- BeelzObama is proof of its fallacy!
"Living here, in the de facto "belly of the beast," you get no damned argument from me! It's insane, the fear it still instills in me -- to this day! Not for me, but for my "Boyz," who think this is their "home," because this where we've lived the longest in their lives. I fear the literal and figurative, "dead on arrival" for them so much, it has effectively silenced me over the past 3 years. I realize, sadly, in my constant striving to grow, I'm not as brave as Malcolm -- at all..."
I understand the fear, we are after all only human. But once I realized that the illusory powers-that-be are really more afraid of us than we could ever be of them & tho they try to project invincibility, they are only MEN, not God(s)..have you ever wondered why tho the FBI/CIA supposedly have the full weight & support of the govt, they still hide & lurk in the shadows? Why? If you are as invincible as you purport, why not just do your dirt in the open & let the chips fall where they may?; I think if history is any indicator, not only are they NOT God, they are in fact, the anti-thesis of HIM. I figure I am on the right side of truth & justice so I no longer fear physical death & plus I don't believe they have the power to extinguish our essence, only God can do that. Now,I'm not saying I have a death wish nor that I don't worry about my loved ones, but ultimately, we are born to die and what I've decided I will never do is give these sociopaths the luxury of me suffering in silence. I think what I have discovered about the system of global apartheid that most rankles & angers me is: they not only want the freedom to brutalize, exploit & murder us at will; they also sincerely expect us to take it and not utter a word or show any defiance or anger. Basically, they want us to die while on our knees with a compliant smile on our face. Sick & twisted and I'm not about THAT life or death either for that matter.
"I figure I am on the right side of truth & justice...Now,I'm not saying I have a death wish nor that I don't worry about my loved ones, but ultimately, we are born to die and what I've decided I will never do is give these sociopaths the luxury of me suffering in silence. I think what I have discovered about the system of global apartheid that most rankles & angers me is: they not only want the freedom to brutalize, exploit & murder us at will; they also sincerely expect us to take it and not utter a word or show any defiance or anger. Basically, they want us to die while on our knees with a compliant smile on our face. Sick & twisted and I'm not about THAT life or death either for that matter.
"
Thanx Mau, that's some powerfully truthful and encouraging shit...
Amenta..I was just looking at that 4:52 PM comment to you and realized that my "stroke hand" was in full effect in the first paragraph (even though I thought I proofed it!). Here's how it should read:
"Just because Huey does not negate the reality of white supremacy at work in our lives and you always seem to do the opposite by saying, for lack of a better analogy,"
Gotta work with me sometimes! :-D
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