Jeremiah Wright and the audacity of Hope (read: Fake Indignation - reprint from Linkages / 2008)

The mainstream news media in the US has lost its mind, and Black America just surpassed them in craziness. Jeremiah Wright has expressed nothing different than what has been expressed by countless Blacks since we have arrived here. Jeremiah Wright is clumsy with a powerful message. He is clumsy in the tradition that he doesn’t coalesce to the socio-political whims of White America. Obama IS a politician whether you want to hear it or not. The fact that he would disown Wright without at least acknowledging some of his truths, while simultaneously giving credence to the life of Dr. MLK, should speak volumes to the state of race relations in America in 2008. Correction, the fact that i dont hold that shit against Obama speaks volumes to the state of race relations in America in 2008.

It has been expressed from the plantation to the pulpit. It is a cry that has been heard from the poor to the economically powerful. And anyone who would suggest that America has arrived at a place where we need no longer question its integrity with regard to race relations on an international scale needs their head examined. The dramatization of indignation by some is both disingenuous and sickening. Again, we see the reality of Black American politics as expressed by Dr. MLK in his letter from Birmingham Jail. i feel the need to speak on the self-evident reality surrounding the current mainstream media coverage and the volume it speaks with regard to race relations in the US as experienced by white America in light of the recent events surrounding Barak Obama’s campaign, and his so called spiritual advisor, Dr. Jeremiah Wright.

What did Wright say that was so wrong? Okay, Pope quotes somebody calling the religion of Islam, a religion spread with Terrorism (more specifically, by the sword). It’s the Pope, so i guess he’s incapable of offending (who cares about the offended Muslims, Wright?) Rev. Wright quotes an author re the origin of Aids, he points to the PM of Iraq who said America’s Chickens have come home to roost. I saw a Black kid say the same shit tonight on PBS! THE SAME SHIT. Guess where he was when he said it. A Black church service on board a US Navy ship.

I hate to burst the bubble of White America, but a lot of those Black folks who joined you in calling for Wright to apologize, were just saying and / or hearing the same message in their own churches. Some things never change. Some in Black America continue to say one thing in front of whites and something different in their own circles. To summarize, this young man made a point that is often articulated within the walls of the Black church. He articulated that his service in the war was disturbing his moral makeup. He said we were no different in our numbers of mass murders, hate crimes, and overall conflict. So, what gave us the right to decide that we could do what they could not? From the mouth of military babes...

Who are we kidding? Is the west really the keepers of the earth? By what authority does the west parade itself as the global police? OH...weapons. Until we surpass our current evolution, beyond Neanderthals with suites, i believe we’ll be trapped in a cycle of war and violence both at home and abroad.

Delma Jackson III

Black as Hell: Self Identity within the African American Community (reprint-Uncommon Sense / 2005)

I was teaching a class in African-American studies recently when one of my students made a comment referring to another young lady that he found attractive. He said, “I have never been that attracted to a girl that black. I mean, she is black as hell, but she looks good!” I could only look at him with disappointment as my other students went on to remind him of a few lessons from day one of my class. I had already told them that one of the first elements of physical slavery, was mental slavery. How do you enslave someone mentally? You attack everything that composes their identity.

When the first Europeans arrived on the shores of northern and western Africa, a few of them documented the inherent beauty of these African people. A Greek by the name Herodotus spoke highly of the build and complexion of these people “bronzed” people he encountered. At the same time, the people of northwest Africa were busy trying to feed Herodotus because they mistakenly took his pale complexion as a sign of sickness. Needless to say, these were a proud people of Africa who had no qualms about their dark skin or their fullness of features.

A lot has changed since then.

At the inception of slavery, Europeans convinced themselves that Africans were perfect for slavery based on a few fundamental ideas. First, the Africans looked nothing like the European. From the tightly coiled hair, to the dark complexion, to the shapeliness of the men and woman (Herodotus), there were so many distinguishable differences that it was impossible not to register. And human nature has a tendency to fear what it interpreters as different. Secondly, many regions of Africa were not Christian (although Ethiopian Christianity is older than Catholicism-and one of the oldest sects of Christianity in the world). This allowed the European to convince himself that he was doing the African a favor by “Christianizing” us for the sake of our salvation in the after life. It has been written in many slave narratives that before the Europeans with the guns showed up, it was the Europeans with the Bibles who came first.

Thirdly, according to many European “intellectuals” of the time, African civilization had magically withered from a cornerstone of civilization in the days of Herodotus to a land without history, culture, or custom by the time slavery was instituted. Therefore, slavery would also allow Africans to be exposed to the ‘higher’ culture of western society. The process of Europeans convincing themselves of our inferiority was necessary for their own psychological success during our enslavement. Without being convinced that we were sub-human, it would be next to impossible to inflict the brutality that was needed to ensure the success of slavery as a financial institution. But whites convincing themselves would not be enough. If slavery was to enjoy longevity and wealth, Blacks especially had to be convinced of our own wretchedness as well.

One of the first elements of the enslavement process for Blacks was the stripping away of their name, language, religion, family ties, and cultural priorities. Anything that would connect the Africans to their homeland had to be stripped away. As long as the would-be slave was cognizant of the fact that America was not home, he/she would always strive to return there. This includes your own relatives especially, because in the face of your child, you can see the face of your spouse, mother, father, and all the generations before them. As long as the slave had something to fight for, they would not work to the best of their potential.

Your name is what verbally connects you to something larger than yourself. A family name is so important because it is your membership to a larger body of people with a particular set of customs, values, and heritage. A name ties the past to the present while promising a future. The name must be stripped away from the African in order render the African mentally incapable of connecting to anyone. A person becomes much weaker when they feel as though they are by themselves. The elders of the first generation of slaves may have remembered and knew better. But that generation was also the hardest to break. Once the first generation of Africans in America was born, it got a whole lot easier. Master had a plantation, a gun, and the law. Mother just had stories about a place her children would never see-if she still had her children.

Linguists agree that language speaks heavily to the priorities of a people. Every culture has words and phrases that exist only in that culture. For instance, because snow is such an important element in the life of an Eskimo, they have 7 different words to describe different types of snow. Africans all over the world are big on call and response as an element of the verbal historical discourse. Within this cultural aspect, you simply want to know that you are being understood and agreed with. As a result, ministers today often ask, “Can I get an Amen?” Likewise, the younger generation of Blacks asks if, “You feel me?” The wording of a people speaks to their aspirations as well as their fears. Stripping away the language of Africans in America worked to re prioritize their cultural goals and aspirations to match those of whites.

Finally, our spiritual priorities were attacked viciously. A god of war does not do well for the enslavement of people. Therefor, the worship of any deity that would encourage resistance must be discouraged. However, an interpretation of Christ that preaches, “Love thine Enemies”, and, “slaves should serve their masters”, as well as don’t be violent now, just wait for your reward in heaven, is perfect for the slaves to accept. Likewise, Jesus had to be made white in the mind of the African because especially in our prayer life, we were to look to a white man for our guidance and salvation. Good, pure, and wholesome, became synonymous with white-now and forever more-Amen.

People have often told me that we can only look at the Black community for its flaws. You can’t keep blaming our condition on history. That’s funny. I thought this country’s laws and customs were heavily steeped on the past.
Are we not encouraged to acknowledge the American “patriots” who killed people for land they did not own? Are we not encouraged to support Israel based on what God told a group of people 1000’s of years ago? Does the US not continue to pay reparations to Japan for Americas use of the atomic bombs? Are we not told to never forget the events of September 11, 2001 because that would dishonor those who died? Does the Jewish community not rightfully continue to propagate their demise during the holocaust?

How can we expect the Black community to ever completely heal from the horrors of slavery and institutional racism, when we as a people never want to acknowledge it? Every element that comprises a human being was stripped from us during-and long after slavery. As Martin Luther King pointed out, racism has been allowed to remain a festering boil on the consciousness of the American culture. As long as young Black children continue to refer to each other as “...black as hell, but looking good...”, we will continue to see the results of self-hatred manifest themselves in various forms. And until this country is willing to take a long and arduous look its own failures in the quest for democracy, we as a nation will continue to bear the burden of those whom we have made to feel like outcasts-now and forever more-Amen.

Delma Jackson III

Personal Responsibility vs. Institutional Racism (reprint from Flint Journal Article-2003)

I was recently engaged in a conversation concerning race and racism with a white male. The debate highlighted personal responsibility for the Black community vs. laying blame on slavery and the “system”. This debate amongst the Black community dates back to the reconstruction era and the writings of David Walker (David Walker’s Appeal) vs. Booker T. Washington, right through to Bill Cosby (The Pound Cake speech), vs. Judge Bruce Wright (Black Robes, White Justice). Does it all come down to a historical and contemporary imperative, or are Blacks simply using the “White Man” as a crutch to avoid personal responsibility for their failures and shortcomings? Does one argument garner more social acceptance?

It is this writers opinion that the media has a tendency to oversimplify complex issues for the sake of directing an agenda while providing easier digestion on the part of the public. Having said that, i do not believe that the debate about personal responsibility vs. perpetual racism is as cut and dry as many would have us to believe. I strongly advocate that both issues should be addressed simultaneously.

Black America has fallen into a trap. Many of us accept the most brutal of life’s circumstances without any desire for growth and development. As hip-hop artists Talib Kwali and Mos Def point out, “ [Blacks are] Not strong, only aggressive. Not free, we’re only licensed. Not compassionate, only polite. Now who’s the nicest? Not good, but well behaved. Chasin’ after death so we can call ourselves brave. Still livin’ like mental slaves...” (Black Star, Thieves in the Night. 2001). We have fallen in love with our own ignorance. We have fallen out of love with ourselves. We often perpetuate our own circumstances by refusing to take charge of our own lives. Instead, we continue to blame White America for our collective fate. If we were that collective in our overall mentality, we would not endure the genocide that we have been reaping upon ourselves for the better half of thirty years now.

But let’s be fair. Black America did not reach this point all by themselves. Before Europeans trampled Africa for her people and natural resources, there was no such thing as Black America. Whites took the African to America for so long, now we’re just African-Americans. The personal responsibility argument, by itself, negates the historical circumstances that underline Black America’s current state of emergency.

The reason people (Black and White) have been historically quick to say, “think beyond slavery”, is that very few people have studied the brutality and totality of the institution of slavery. Very few people appreciate the implications behind 400 years of forced servitude (+ 65 years of legalized racism and segregation). Whites have always favored the personal responsibility argument within the Black community, because it absolves them from any personal responsibility. Therefor, the argument to put our slavery behind us is something we have always been encouraged to do. White America should not be so quick to say, “That was not me” without first learning the real horrors of slavery and the long lasting effects it has had on the moral fiber of the US.

I have seen what a class in African-American Studies can do to a white person. I have seen their sensitivity burst into hateful outbursts toward the instructor just before storming out, never to be seen again. Whether those students should have felt responsible or not, many of them did (based on later conversations). If Black America should be forced to deal with our own shortcomings, White America should have to face their own dark history with a brutal honesty that PBS, the History Channel, and the public schools have yet to deliver. We both have work to do, and the work starts with an education regarding the implications of slavery-for everyone.

Delma Jackson III

Embrace the difficult, therein lies the growth...

Joyce and Delma,

Thank you for creating this space. The work that you do is so vital and I commend you both for being individuals who are willing to go where it is uncomfortable, difficult, and painful yet necessary to go.

As this blog grows, I hope that it will be able to broaden our individual and collective perspectives. In my opinion, that's what separates dialogue from debate. Dialogue is not attended to gain consensus. It is not intended to attack or to "win". Nor it is intended to persuade or dissuade. Dialogue is intended to cultivate understanding. A dialogue where people have learned a little bit more about the "other" AND have had to truly analyze their own perspectives and motivations is a succesful dialogue, in my opinion.

I would challenge everyone who enters this space to be willing to examine how privilege makes entering and exiting certain places, conversations, and situations very easy for some and virtually impossible for others. For some folks, choosing to read or not read this blog is dependent on how much they feel like dealing with racism today. For others, the "discomfort" of this blog is nothing compared to the many subtle AND blatant injustices they have to face on a daily basis.

Please be willing to hear and see as we move forward.

Thank you all for choosing to engage.

Natasha

Oh, Im sorry...Did I offend you?

It has come to my attention that there are people who have read my initial entry, and have expressed issues with it:

"I do not agree with some of the positions expressed (and I don't like the tone I perceive in Delma's writing, nor her assertions of opinion as fact if this is actually supposed to be a constructive dialogue) but in the spirit of keeping the discussion going, I will be reading".

One of the first things that i always notice whenever i do this work, is how quickly people get offended by assertions that i make. What I also notice, is that people who are quick to be offended are the last ones to say anything to me about MY assertions. Oh sure, they will tell everyone under the sun-except me. Why is that? Joyce and I have had several conversations about some of the subtle differences b/w races and classes. One thing we've noticed, is how different cultures determine what is rude and confrontational vs what is polite and accommodating.

If my words appear harsh to some, believe me when I say they come from a pure place. However, you will have to forgive me if my 30 years in Black skin have left me a little too "confrontational" for your personal tastes. I dont attack people. I attack ideas. If anyone wants to debate the merits of what I say, please come prepared. I dont write anything that i cannot back up. At the same time, do not confuse everyone having a good time and feeling good, with a good dialogue. Racism is a tough issue. There are going to be things said in the space of this blog, that some people might find offensive. That's okay. We are not here to be politically correct. We are here to discuss real issues.

Sometimes the discussion will be pleasant. Sometimes, it will not. Dont get so uncomfortable that you stop participating. That is a luxury around racism that people of color dont have. I cant just decide that Im tired of being subjected to American racism and decide that I will go back to...

Exactly. There is no where to go for people of color in this country. There is no where that I can take my 21 month-old daughter to protect and isolate her from American racism. Please remember that the next time you want to go screaming about how something I said offended you. At least many of you have the option of logging off, and going back to life as you know it- free of racialized terrorism toward you and your family members that look like you.

Peace,

Delma Jackson III

co-founder, Sankofa Project

Daring Yourself to Begin

As a white woman who first became interested in racial justice mostly out of personal needs (my son is bi-racial), I really had no idea where the "journey" of engaging in a dialogue about race and racism would take me. I became slightly more interested the more work i did in social justice and walking with the poor and oppressed. For if one studies social justice, often the most poor and vulnerable and oppressed are people of color. It's funny how we (white social justice activisits) sort of "know" this but don't often enough discuss why this is.
And what a journey it would be! As a white person reading my partner's (Delma Jackson) entry, you might begin to feel defensive, angry, guilty, and/or hopeless. That's ok. I did too--but only in the beginning of my studies and conversations. In fact, the more knowledge I gained about why and how structures of power were constructed and decisions were made, the more empowered I became. We made racism. And we can unmake racism.
There is (and will continue to be) a wealth of information at this site. Dare yourself to check it out. Respond. Ask Questions. Challenge. And most importantly, Believe. Dare yourself to Believe there is another way. Believe that the realities of racism that we see today and the effects we feel do NOT have to be our destiny. For we are destined for nothing but the result of our own choices. We hope to see you on the journey. Peace.
Joyce McCauley-Benner
Co-founder The Sankofa Project

The Sankofa Project: A Long Overdue Conversation About Race

Of all the isms in American society, racism is by far the most ignored, misunderstood, and misused. Accusations of racism seem to fly across the landscape of global mass media with little regard for the original meaning of the word. For example, cries of, "reverse racism", are abound in the contemporary conversation. Let me be quite clear about one thing: there is no such thing as reverse racism. What the word implies is that, typically it is the white power structure that doles out racism in the world. Whenever calls of racism went out into the public psyche, it was assumed that the usual suspects were hard at work, reinforcing the racial hierarchy that has been in place in the US since its inception.

The idea that this racism could be turned around, and used against whites, by people of color is absolutely absurd. Why? Because people of color hold no positions of institutional power. When did Native Americans hold the majority of seats in US public office? Never. When did Africans in America lead the direction of the US military? Never. When have Latinos controlled the outlets that comprise what we deem as, "mass media"? Never.

The conversation around race has changed drastically since the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements of the 1960's and '70's. Prior to the 1980's, no one in their right mind would have even suggested that white's could fall prey to racism. It was well established that white America was the offender, and that people of color, were the victims. What changed? Black America's perception of itself after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 changed drastically for many people of color. Suddenly, many people of color became convinced that their days of racial discrimination and terrorism at the hands of their fellow "citizens" was behind them (ask James Byrd among others). So many people of color across America wanted nothing more than to live with, and go to school with, and work with, white people.

By the 1980's, "integration" (read assimilation), was well on its way to becoming a reality for many Americans. The days of racial discrimination were "behind us". Once POC bought into this idea, it was only a matter of time before guilt ridden, white Americans would jump on the band wagon and claim that racism was a thing of the past. And now that we were all on equal footing with each other after just two decades (vs. 400 hundred years of chattel slavery, land theft, and genocide) of legislation, it was time for us all to move forward as a nation and put racism behind us. White America was all too happy to tout any POC they could find who would attest to the benevolent nature of, "the new white man".

So...fast forward to today, and we see the legacy of a co-opted message. We see the power of a increasingly conglomerated media empire who thrives on shaping the messages of the day to fit their own agenda. America has yet to have a serious conversation about race and racism because the people who control the media, find it in their best interest NOT to have that conversation. The Sankofa project is dedicated to reversing the trend of silence. We are not asking you to agree with us. We are asking you to engage with us. We dont pretend to know the outcome of a national dialogue. Luckily for us, we are more concerned with the journey, than we are about the destination.

God bless,

Delma Jackson III
co-founder, The Sankofa Project