Black History Everyday

Okay, let’s have a truthful discussion about Black Responsibility and Racism now that the superficiality of Black History Month has worn off, even though you may not have noticed it anyway.

Recently, White UC San Diego Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity students hosted a party named the “Compton Cookout,” mocking Black History Month (once Carter G. Woodson’s Black History Week), sending out invitations discussing gold-toothed Black girls, watermelon, nappy hair, and malt liquor.

I mean — really!  Come on . . . enough said.

But is blatant racism the Black community’s biggest problem, or is it the Black community, itself?  Racism may be at the root of the Black community’s problems, but the Black community is going to have to be responsible for replanting the seeds from which its future success will grow.

Let’s face it, our country has failed miserably when it comes to dealing with Race or Racism.  In fact, we can barely talk about it beyond superficial things like Black History Month or the fact that Barack Obama is Black.  And double-digit Black unemployment, incarceration, and murder rates are lonely trees falling in a far-off forest, unheard.  The truth really has always been that Black America has to change its own destiny and realize that Mainstream America is not ever going to save them, even though they pay taxes.  Why should they if we aren’t willing to save ourselves?

“He is the light at the end of the tunnel we’ve all been looking for,” cooed the 60-something African American grandmother into the camera, The Dream of Martin shining through Barack’s TV reflection in her eyes after it was announced that he would be our next president.

But I say stop dreaming and start living the dream.  You can look to Barack, but it’s more important to “see” your brother and sister and extend a hand.

African Americans, a trillion dollar community, have been running cities and school boards for years, and are some of the wealthiest people on the planet, but not a day goes by when we’re not arguing at community and council meetings, behaving in a jealous manner, being materialistic, or carrying out an “I got mine, you get yours” mentality.  Other communities cannot compete.  African Americans have even redefined a word that epitomizes our materialistic attitude: BLING!  (But White executives only want to green-light stereotypical material.) The bottom line is, whether it’s soul music or over-accessorizing, Black people always take drama to the next level – good or bad.  It’s a reaction to excessive stress or pressure from overt slavery yesterday and covert discrimination today.

One way to inspire Black America and gain more respect from White America is for Black history, as well as the history of all minorities, to be taught in grade school.  And knowing one’s history isn’t just about inspiring poor minorities.  Even suburban Black students test lower than White students academically because they’re uninspired by what’s taught by people who don’t look like them.  Role models who look like them inspire students.  As things are now, minority parents simply must teach their children their history.

The Black community is uninspired and failing to make significant changes because the Civil Rights Movement, an inspirational, constructive period, is too far gone in the minds of younger Blacks who could energize Black progress.   These teens and 20-somethings, as well as those in their early 30s, are mentally and emotionally detached, unable to relate to any sort of Black Struggle unless they’re reciting the words of a rapper making a creative “social justice pit stop” on the radio.

In regards to the parents of these younger Blacks, they are fearful about rocking any boats, peering out the windows of their comfort zones on the sidelines of life, many hiding behind their jobs, home doors, and their pastors, suspicious and judging anyone not sitting in their church on Sundays.

Shame on us!

Just because Racism has become more covert (employment discrimination, sentencing disparities, etc.) and less overt (Black people beaten in the streets) does not excuse our inaction.  And because the Mainstream Media has vilified and made caricatures out of the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, we, Black people, are now going to have to be “the leaders we are looking for.”

In terms of looking at all of America, our Elitism problem is our country’s next biggest issue after Race; however, Mainstream America’s own Civil Rights Movement against Wall Street’s greed – with the reluctant help of our politicians – has finally gotten underway to deal with this issue, somewhat.  But I digress.

Courage is about acting in spite of fear, not in the absence of fear. Who among us is really courageous when it comes to dealing with Race, especially the difficulty of the Black-White paradigm, the front lines of our war with Race?  Although Arizona is now legally justifying racially profiling Hispanics.

The media’s references to Barack Obama being president, Oprah’s wealth, and the posterizing of millionaire Black athletes and entertainer’s bad behavior will never be a true reflection of everyday African American life.   Race, particularly as it relates to the Black Condition, is still such a dirty word that the Mainstream’s evolution has become a revolution and the accusation against Blacks of “You’re playing the Race Card” (really the accuser’s Racism Denial Card) is even used to kill any sincere dialogue about race when it’s brought up.

And when it comes to perpetuating stereotypes, the Black networks are some of the worst offenders.  For example, we’re early into a new century, so why do I have to turn to a Black network, TV One, and witness JJ yelling DYNOMITE! On “Goodtimes,” or George Jefferson, of “The Jeffersons,” shuckin’ and jivin’ – yellin’, “Weezay!”  Come on, Black people!!!

What’s wrong with the world is that we cannot be truthful.  When Real Truth is told, it “fills the belly” with justice for all – and “doing the right thing” becomes easy in all situations.

Real Truth, according to my Black Cookout Census – or conversations with friends and family from around the country – reveals that we’re all dealing with the same ol’ issues with Race, particularly in the workplace, where we’re still the last hired and first fired.  Not to mention that most Black people are scared to speak up when discriminated against, or stick together when there’s a culture of discrimination.  But worst of all is that far too many of us are being Role Models of Fear for our children, teaching them to also be afraid to stand up and speak out about injustice.

America is not the same America as it was 40 years ago or 400 years ago; and it’s not changing –  it has changed.  It’s not about being number one, or that minorities will likely be a majority by the middle of the century – or that by 2020, most high school students entering college will be minorities – what’s most important is that WE get beyond acting on our Juvenile fears about Race.

Let’s all consider the fact that life is long enough for us to do a great deal of good, but too short to be miserable and treat others unfairly.  You cannot take anything with you when you die so stop being afraid of people who don’t look like, think, or behave like you.