It seems that we have the same arguments over and over, here at Destee.Com and some other websites. We all know the problems we face; whether they are of our own making, or problems that have been created for us. I think that the majority understand the problems at hand; but in our ceaseless espousing of them- we seem to not have one idea of how to overcome them. I don't know what it will take for us to overcome as a Black American people. There are many wiser than I can ever comprehend who are having a problem in reaching us-- for whatever reason. It is crystal clear that we are not an illiterate people; and that we can and do express ourselves quite well-- so what is the problem? Many of us when "pushed" say that we have no agenda; or that we don't come together; or that we don't love (and I have probably said each and all of them at one time or another); and they all boil down to the same thing.... so, let us begin here... What is it that we want? What is it that we need? Why have you concluded this (just the facts please)? And What/ How do you propose we solve the problem(s) for us to get what we want/need?
Happy69's Black American Agenda
1. We have to assess exactly who we are as Black Americans.
This because I don't think that most of us understand exactly who we are. I have no problem with being seen as Black first-- in fact I love it. To be Black is to me to be strong, creative, loving and empathetic. To be Black to me is to have to be lied about/on because I have overcome all the walls that have been placed in my path--- and to lie about me/ on me--- is the only effective tool you have... and that in and of itself is a weakness tool, and let's me know just how pathetic you truly are... to have to say this mantra day in and day out to yourself... to try and feel whole.
2. We have to know our history.
We cannot sit and wait for the schools to teach it; or think that by teaching it, it will foster understanding... love? Just like Hate---Love and Understanding are matters of the heart. These things cannot be taught... there has to be something inside of each and everyone of us to accept what is given it.
3. We cannot become our Enemies.
We have to face it. As much as things have changed in our own birth country.... some things have not. I think that most of us recognize the blatant and even subtle racisms that we face each and everyday. I think that most of us know and understand the hypocrisy of our country towards us. But, we cannot become like them--- I think that the one thing that kept God, keeping us so long is that we were not like our enemies; we did not let ourselves and our humanity become like that of the snake....
Have we become them? Yes and No.
a. in observing the much touted/ and 6hr. coverage of the "Reparations Rally" (for example); The KKK are more laughable to me than scary; and I have no qualms understanding that these illiterate, alienated, persons who have been given every opportunity in life, based solely on pigmentation and capacity to carry around baseless/stupid hatreds are funded by people who we see each and everyday, people that we probably work for; people who some of us may even be sleeping with, etc...
and probably people who are not just White and Americans...
AND THE "RR" REMINDED ME OF THEM-- AND I LEFT AWAY FROM SIX HOURS OF C-SPAN FEELING EMPTY AND EVEN MORE OBJECTIONABLE TO THE IDEA--- not because it is not founded on righteousness and reality, but because they made it about hating, and therefore to me, made it seem stupid...
b. having serial killers amongst us is not a good thing (yeah, we can argue and say that they have probably already been there, yes, and we didn't here about them because White's actually thought that there were even some crimes that we were too dumb to commit-- and still do)
c. to blame Whites for everything bad that happens to us is as stupid as them blaming us for everything bad that happens to them--- and we do and they do...
there are some of us who blame Whites because other groups search out their love by hating us... how can you think that? why isn't the hatreds of others towards us because they are hateful and evil? I have a Haitian friend who I am very close with, and once we were arguing, I was telling her that I didn't expect her to either understand or empathize with my plight as a Black American; and we went back/forth and then she said to me that she remembered how when she was young, and the whites in the military stationed there had told them that Black Americans had tails, were lazy and all on welfare... and she couldn't understand why that didn't make me angry, but in fact made me laugh; and how I said, "You Haitians must be the dumbest, most gullible, ignorant and racist people on God's great earth!"
After we fought for months over that one; because it is really love I have for her and her whole family- they are good people- even though if her father a very well educated man... ended his days scrubbing floors in the USA-- because if he ever had stepped foot in Haiti he would've been killed... It is not the fault of Whites that they believed such.... why blame them?
4. Our inability (in general) to acquiesence-- is counted on, but should be focused just on us.
There is no group here that do not willingly bow down to Whites in this country. For some it is a survival technique and just a facade that they do not feel ashamed of putting on display; and then only in darkness are they strong/ virile people (thought I was going to say men, huh, nope women included here)-- before and after they kill themselves-- with drink or stress and kill their families in their wake--- you know what I am saying here... and yes, there are Blacks who fit into this catagory too. But in general, you will not find the whole community abide by this kind of thing--- the main reason we are villified and envied...
a. if not so then why when anyone wants something in this country they turn to us?
White Women--- "Women's movement/ equal rights"
Religious Right (KKK)--- in the late 80's and the 90's they actively recruited black men--- mainly to be the mouthpiece to demonize themselves
And Minority Groups--- when they are getting it in the butt and not minority groups too...
(example: Arabs in America; yeah, them, the ones who partitioned to become White in America--- (something my N.African Arab friend laughs at); the same Arabs who set up shop in our communities, and have no problem with killing us, hating us, and perpetuating stereotypes that degrade us (cabs)... yet, the Black Panthers had the gall to march with them... get on stage and villify America with them???) You tell me what that is about?
5. Educational Equality
nothing is wrong with charter schools; we have enough teachers who do want to teach our kids; parent's have to be responsible too.... and this is not just Blacks
6. Save our Educational Institutions--- We are 34 million strong-- yet we can kill ourselves buying bad foods or cigarettes, even drugs in Achmed's or Chong's store--- but we cannot take a dollar and send it into a general fund so that these institutions thrive? If we all sent in $1/month for a year--- (and Parent's cover the buck for their children) that is $ 34,000,000 a month... divided by need, each month to our institutions... or better yet, take a percentage of each month's loot--- say 50% and put it in an educational fund for our kids to help in the reparing of neighborhood schools... or buiding schools, and that way we can begin having real input in who gets hired/fired and who we intrust our kids to...
7. Recognize the monetary opportunities in the Black community-everybody else does.... provide good, valuable services and we will buy-- we always do... Again, this can be obtained easily too, if we decide to follow a plan like in 6
(okay, this is the start of my list--- your turn, we talk about having an agenda-- we have to start somewhere.... what are your ideas?)
Happy69's Black American Agenda
1. We have to assess exactly who we are as Black Americans.
This because I don't think that most of us understand exactly who we are. I have no problem with being seen as Black first-- in fact I love it. To be Black is to me to be strong, creative, loving and empathetic. To be Black to me is to have to be lied about/on because I have overcome all the walls that have been placed in my path--- and to lie about me/ on me--- is the only effective tool you have... and that in and of itself is a weakness tool, and let's me know just how pathetic you truly are... to have to say this mantra day in and day out to yourself... to try and feel whole.
2. We have to know our history.
We cannot sit and wait for the schools to teach it; or think that by teaching it, it will foster understanding... love? Just like Hate---Love and Understanding are matters of the heart. These things cannot be taught... there has to be something inside of each and everyone of us to accept what is given it.
3. We cannot become our Enemies.
We have to face it. As much as things have changed in our own birth country.... some things have not. I think that most of us recognize the blatant and even subtle racisms that we face each and everyday. I think that most of us know and understand the hypocrisy of our country towards us. But, we cannot become like them--- I think that the one thing that kept God, keeping us so long is that we were not like our enemies; we did not let ourselves and our humanity become like that of the snake....
Have we become them? Yes and No.
a. in observing the much touted/ and 6hr. coverage of the "Reparations Rally" (for example); The KKK are more laughable to me than scary; and I have no qualms understanding that these illiterate, alienated, persons who have been given every opportunity in life, based solely on pigmentation and capacity to carry around baseless/stupid hatreds are funded by people who we see each and everyday, people that we probably work for; people who some of us may even be sleeping with, etc...
and probably people who are not just White and Americans...
AND THE "RR" REMINDED ME OF THEM-- AND I LEFT AWAY FROM SIX HOURS OF C-SPAN FEELING EMPTY AND EVEN MORE OBJECTIONABLE TO THE IDEA--- not because it is not founded on righteousness and reality, but because they made it about hating, and therefore to me, made it seem stupid...
b. having serial killers amongst us is not a good thing (yeah, we can argue and say that they have probably already been there, yes, and we didn't here about them because White's actually thought that there were even some crimes that we were too dumb to commit-- and still do)
c. to blame Whites for everything bad that happens to us is as stupid as them blaming us for everything bad that happens to them--- and we do and they do...
there are some of us who blame Whites because other groups search out their love by hating us... how can you think that? why isn't the hatreds of others towards us because they are hateful and evil? I have a Haitian friend who I am very close with, and once we were arguing, I was telling her that I didn't expect her to either understand or empathize with my plight as a Black American; and we went back/forth and then she said to me that she remembered how when she was young, and the whites in the military stationed there had told them that Black Americans had tails, were lazy and all on welfare... and she couldn't understand why that didn't make me angry, but in fact made me laugh; and how I said, "You Haitians must be the dumbest, most gullible, ignorant and racist people on God's great earth!"
After we fought for months over that one; because it is really love I have for her and her whole family- they are good people- even though if her father a very well educated man... ended his days scrubbing floors in the USA-- because if he ever had stepped foot in Haiti he would've been killed... It is not the fault of Whites that they believed such.... why blame them?
4. Our inability (in general) to acquiesence-- is counted on, but should be focused just on us.
There is no group here that do not willingly bow down to Whites in this country. For some it is a survival technique and just a facade that they do not feel ashamed of putting on display; and then only in darkness are they strong/ virile people (thought I was going to say men, huh, nope women included here)-- before and after they kill themselves-- with drink or stress and kill their families in their wake--- you know what I am saying here... and yes, there are Blacks who fit into this catagory too. But in general, you will not find the whole community abide by this kind of thing--- the main reason we are villified and envied...
a. if not so then why when anyone wants something in this country they turn to us?
White Women--- "Women's movement/ equal rights"
Religious Right (KKK)--- in the late 80's and the 90's they actively recruited black men--- mainly to be the mouthpiece to demonize themselves
And Minority Groups--- when they are getting it in the butt and not minority groups too...
(example: Arabs in America; yeah, them, the ones who partitioned to become White in America--- (something my N.African Arab friend laughs at); the same Arabs who set up shop in our communities, and have no problem with killing us, hating us, and perpetuating stereotypes that degrade us (cabs)... yet, the Black Panthers had the gall to march with them... get on stage and villify America with them???) You tell me what that is about?
5. Educational Equality
nothing is wrong with charter schools; we have enough teachers who do want to teach our kids; parent's have to be responsible too.... and this is not just Blacks
6. Save our Educational Institutions--- We are 34 million strong-- yet we can kill ourselves buying bad foods or cigarettes, even drugs in Achmed's or Chong's store--- but we cannot take a dollar and send it into a general fund so that these institutions thrive? If we all sent in $1/month for a year--- (and Parent's cover the buck for their children) that is $ 34,000,000 a month... divided by need, each month to our institutions... or better yet, take a percentage of each month's loot--- say 50% and put it in an educational fund for our kids to help in the reparing of neighborhood schools... or buiding schools, and that way we can begin having real input in who gets hired/fired and who we intrust our kids to...
7. Recognize the monetary opportunities in the Black community-everybody else does.... provide good, valuable services and we will buy-- we always do... Again, this can be obtained easily too, if we decide to follow a plan like in 6
(okay, this is the start of my list--- your turn, we talk about having an agenda-- we have to start somewhere.... what are your ideas?)
... please make yourself at home ... 