IntelligentNoir said:Im not sure why you think that only sucessful brothers and sisters are considered sell outs. Heck, I have seen blacks who are everyday people being accusedof such for merely expressing a difference of opinion from the group (points to self) But that is a matter for another day. I think people do not undertsand truly what a sell out is and there in lies the problem. For me a sellout has nothing to do with how much one achieves in thie world, whether they speak Kings english or is the most articulate mutha cruncher this side of the mississippi, and it most certainly shouldn't be tied to people who choose to break from the group to form free thinking opinion. The key word is"free thinking".
Now for me, my understanding and what has always been a sellout for me, are peope who attain wealth, but instead of taking that knowledge they've gained and teach their brothers a few things on how to rise, they sit on television shows with whites smiling and cheesing and talking down to them. My idea of a sellout are people who are in a position to do great things but spend all their time catering to whites (oprah). My ideal of a sell out are black who speak like whites. No not be articulate, because whites do not have a monopoly on speaking articulately. What I mean is that the things that flow out of their mouths is something you'd expect hearing from a Bill O'Reily and Rush Limbaum. For me this is what a sell out is. It's not about sucess, but what they do with that success.
Thank You, your response was 'pulse quickening', I would agree with all that you have said, but, If the person is not Oprahesque,If they are just a run of the mill brother or sister without her record of acheivement would we even know that they have 'sold out'? Jessie Lee Peterson for instance Sean Hannitiy's pet dog, he isn't a sellout, he is a never was, his self hatred is useful to sean' in sannity because he assists them in furthering their racist agenda. Sell out too me means that one has fled the struggle to create justice. Now you can do that and commit to not create harm against other blacks, and I am understanding of that type of world weariness. But, that black man or woman who sidles up to the racist to be used by them against the legitimate aspirations of the black masses that person fits my sense of "sellout". Even if under VGQ they can choose to do so. Once again I appreciate your response. thank you!