I n d i G o| b L u
WordPress.comArchive for June, 2008
Survival|of Africa
I was not born anywhere on the continent of Africa, I am only of African decent, as is everyone, although I am most noticeable in appearance. I also can not claim to know all about life’s struggles and troubles in the many countries the continent embodies; I 
don’t think anyone can truly attest to this but the dead and suffering. I am merely a descendent of African Diaspora. What do I know? I could not possibly offer any denouement, even with careful exegesis. Besides, I am insouciant, you know….living in America born and raised here—in the land of seemingly endless opportunity. EVERYONE has tried to solve the problems of Africa, yet no one has the answer(s). The government is corrupt, they say, and it’s people are sycophant, so there is really nothing….anyone can do to alter any of this. Perhaps, some say, Africa is an anathema. In fact, very few are sanguine about the future of Africa as it stands presently, which saps overall hope and successfully flags others. I have heard many Africans say that Americans are so blind about the world and what happens in it, not realizing that everything that goes on in the world effects them too, either directly or indirectly. I concur; it is true; there is a lot of that going on. I would, like to add another group to the list as well—able Africans themselves.
The are many Africans who love their countries, in culture and in their people, but a lot of that love is obviously conditional. Then some are appalled by the fact that their “Americanized” offspring do not know their mother tongue in a voluble manner. There should be an exact that everyone going abroad to study must contribute to their country in some way for a certain amount of time after attaining degrees and table those not willing to comply. What cause do I have to say all of this? Some will come to America and go throughout Europe to attain different degrees and avarice, which hardly goes to the advancement of their own land—mostly it goes to the advancement of America and countries of Europe. This is especially saddening for Africa. I understand there is a process to this whole thing; I am talking about people with PhDs—the highest attainable degree—- still here or somewhere else other than home, who are not at least essaying something for the betterment of Africa. There are people who are not as able as people with PhDs doing more—this is a cardinal wrong.
Then when all hell breaks loose in their countries, as it often does, they complain and grumble but do nothing to alleviate the situation. Just as someone rails about the American government, under which I live, and all the fallacies by which it is enriched, but never attempts to make a difference in whatever they are grousing about…they really are not justified to complain; the same can be said here.
Certainly, most will send money “back home” to loved ones to help sustain their families, however, how many actually go back and home and try to DO something about their beloved country’s situations? In these cases, I am not so sure that it is love for one’s country so much as it is an attempt to seem consequential. I can hear the seething of someone’s teeth as I am typing these words; the truth hurts sometimes, but only it will set you free—not excuses because honestly, there really is no excuse. What do I mean?
Think about it for a minute. Just like me, you are in the safety of carefree America or Europe, land of the free, home of the brave; both of which are basically viewed as an apotheosis. Unlike you or I however, there are many people on that vast continent of Africa that actually LIVE there, not who were just born there and are now looking out from the safe haven of the US recalling some distant memory called “home” or merely going for a little visit—a lot of these people are struggling to survive each minute of their lives from common colds and other common disease that are easily treatable, hunger, thrist, AIDS while we, yes able Africans included, are enjoying the luxury of AC and internet; this is suppose to be your allegiance.
What can one do? Anything is better than nothing in dire situations such as these. I am not, in any way suggesting these things are an easy task, hardly anything in life comes easy, but to at least attempting to make a difference, is much better than doing nothing at all; to do nothing is simply pusillanimous. Small things amount to bigger things if done by a lot of people and consistantly. Those who are chauvinist for the good cause, people who remonstrate and get jailed, those who participate in the dirge of fallen heroes who fight for the struggle are better than those who sit silently and do nothing. Someone writing a book, starting an organization, participating in ANY way is better than someone doing nothing. Funny enough, those living in carefree America are at a better position to do this than those people back in Africa because they are putting themselves constantly in harms way and risk loosing everything even when they had little to begin with—but they don’t quail and they actually do it. There are people from other countries outside of Africa doing more for Africa than some people who are more able or equally able who are African and this is Africa’s fight more so than it is anyone else’s. It’s called sacrifice and it’s called love, and real love is unconditional. Some have tried to do zero and claim nothing can be done; this is a sign of hopelessness at its worse. Keep waiting on the world; you’ll be there for a while. To all the people who do contribute other than sending bundles of money home every now and then for family, I truly admire you. It is only logically meet, that the only people who are truly going to save Africa is Africans, not the world.
More|Than|Skin|Deep
“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it“
Proverbs 8:11
People of African decent and European decent are more closely related, genetically, than any other people are to Africans. One has to wonder, why or how? I mean, we seem to be each other’s total opposite physically. As black people, or people of color, many blacks and the rest of the world have been systemically led to believe that black is somehow inferior to white. Many believe that the curse of Ham, mentioned in the Bible, is the dark skin of black people. Due to scientific evidence, however, this is far from the truth. We have just recently started hearing that Africa is the cradle of mankind, but have we understood the underlying implications of this? I would recommend anyone read “The Chemical Key to Black Greatness” by American Biochemist, Carol Barnes. The truth is, Caucasians are basically mutations of blacks. It has been scientifically proven, but quite obviously and purposely left out of science books in schools or merely passed off as evolutionary processes. We all know what it means to be albino; keep this in mind while you are reading the rest of this blog.
Here are some facts (check them, if you are having a hard time believing any of this, and even if you do believe it, check it anyway):
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Melanin is a brownish black pigment (coloring) naturally found in the skin of people of color to produce Vitamin D by means of sunlight and it is needed to help sustain life (I’ll get to this later). Vitamin D is essential for promoting calcium absorption in the gut and maintaining adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and prevent hypocalcemic tetany. The word melanin is from a Greek word “melas”=black.
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The skin is supposed to convert sunlight to Vitamin D because of 7-Dehydrocholesterol and it serves as protection by nature against harmful UV sunlight by converting sunlight to vitamin D; black people have this ability because of the melanin naturally found in their skin. I say supposed to because there are very few foods that vitamin D is naturally found in, and this is a strong indication that melanin is suppose to be present in the skin for adequate vitamin D in all humans.
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White people lack sufficient amounts of melanin, and this is the reason they have white skin in the first place (like albino people lack pigmentation). Why is melanin not naturally found in white people’s skin ?
Answer: Whites have a higher concentration of enzyme inhibitors(blockers) that suppress melanin production. In addition, white people have a much higher occurance of calcified (harden) pineal glands. Why does this matter? The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which activates the pituitary to release M.S.H. Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone; since the pineal glands are calcified, normal amounts of melanin is not produced or secreted. In genetics, this is called a mutation and mutations are abnormal (like albinism)
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If melanin is needed to convert sunlight into vitamin D and white people do not possess this melanin component, at least not in sufficient amounts, how do white people get essential vitamin D?
Answer: They get it mostly from their bones, fish, or dietary supplements. In fact, white people have the lowest bone density of all people in the world. Since the skin is supposed to convert sunlight to Vitamin D because of 7-Dehydrocholesterol by means of melanin, and white people lack this component, the body compensates by depleting calcium from their bones; depletion of bone mass is responsible for their low bone density. Since this is not true of black people, black people typically have the strongest bones.
Why does all this matter?
Black skin is normal, not only is it normal, but it is the template for all other people. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes but white skin is a mutation from black skin. The lighter the skin, the less melanin present; the darker the skin, the more melanin present. Mutation is defined as: a change of the DNA sequence within a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a trait not found in the parental (orginal) type or lack of trait in mutant that is found in the parental (orginal) type. Melatonin is directly related to fertility—dark complexion around the nipples and genital area of all people, especially blacks is common. Melanin is present at the inception of life— a melanin sheath covers any sperm and any egg. During pregnancy, the nipples, face, and abdominal wall become darkened. These areas of increased pigmentation during pregnancy are due to the increase in the production of estrogens.
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This could be a contributing factor as to why white people have the lowest birthrates of all people; their melanin deficiency is why their reproduction systems does not work as efficiently as others.
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Blue eyes, also, are simply eyes that lack melanin. Blue eyes are more sensitive to sunlight and do not process light or produce sight as efficiently as brown eyes.
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White gene DNA cannot be traced back as far as their genetic parents, black Africans, because they (whites) are mutations of the parental black African.
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-All phenotypes (physical appearances) exist within the black family. Asian people are only the semi-recessive descendants of their ancestors who were a black African tribe with slanted eyes.
This is in no way an impression upon anyone’s intelligence as James Waton “proclaimed“. We all have the same chemical and physical make-up of brains, so unless someone, on an indivdual level, is just mentally challenged, we all possess the same mental capabilities. The question remains, though, in a “white is right” world, why are blacks and the rest of the world striving to be more mutant physically?… Skin bleching, blue contacts, etc. See (Unspoken “Rules”|Color Complex and Mental|Black|Bondage)
FreedomTime.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” Hosea 4:6
Research it.
Unspoken “Rules”|Color Complex
In general, there is this idea that some black people have…….. that there is actually something wrong/negative with having dark skin (see Mental|Black|Bondage), which is all together unintelligent considering that dark skin is the ultimate “blackness”; it is the foundation, root, and therefore life source of all the different array of colors seen in the black tree (race) . See (Skin Deep|REALLY Deep)
Common Ideas:
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Light skin is more attractive than dark skin
The key word here is skin, determining someone’s beauty solely based on the color of their skin ….obviously, there’s a little more than just “preference” at play.
- Many blacks resort to skin bleaching for lighter skin
-I have personally heard and know of blacks who have children by white, mixed, or very light skin guys/women to increase the probability of having a light skinned baby .
-I have personally heard and know of blacks who would not have a child with a dark skin man/woman for fear of having a dark skin baby
Comments often directed to attractive dark skin black people:
“She/he is pretty/attractive to be dark skin”| “She/he is pretty/attractive to be a black girl/guy”
Comments often directed to attractive/unattractive light skin black people:
In America “Red-Bone” is a name given to light skin blacks– like something different from being black all together. In Jamaica they are called ”Brownin” .
Dark skin slurs:
“Blackie”|“Tar baby”|”Tar”|“African” |”Skillet“|” Shadow” (All referring to dark skin tone)
“African” is used in complete ignorance with the mindset that all Africans have very dark skin.
Light skin slurs:
“High yellow”|“House nigger”|“Conceited” (All referring to light skin tone)
”House nigger” is in a historical context when the lighter skinned black slaves were allowed to work in the house with the white slave owners, while darker skin slaves were forced to work outside in fields.
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Dark skin people should not wear bright colors like (cloths, makeup, etc): Yellow, orange, red, lime green etc.
(O
luchi)
In truth, however, when darker skin people wear brighter colors, it makes their skin tones more appealing, as it brings out and complements their skin tone. Try colors like turquoise, peach, soft yellows, bright yellows. It’s really a plus for anyone to wear color, but a double plus for people of darker hue because it makes your skin more noticeable.
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Speak “properly” around whites /Speak “ebonics/street” around other blacks
This is a classic, some people have their “white cent” and their “black cent” and they use them when around either white or black people respectively. Just stirve to be a better you everyday and be yourself around everyone!
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Many blacks are considered “stuck up”| “Sell outs” etc. and such if they go against things…much like the ones I’ve already stated. You’re not black or you’re stuck up if you….
-Don’t go “clubbin”
-Don’t speak “hood”
-Don’t support some of these ridiculous, almost blackface… black “parody” movies
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Bad hair
Bad hair is seen as basically the natural state of mostly every black person’s hair–small, tight curls; it is often called “nappy” or “kinky”
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Natural hair/dreads is seen as being “Afrocentic”
So I suppose relaxed/chemically altered hair is “Eurocentric”
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Relaxed/chemically altered hair
-Chemically alters hair, straightens hair, even burns scalp/hair
- Female children usually start getting their hair relaxed at age 5& up
Check out India.Arie’s “I am not my hair”
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Good hair
-Good hair is seen as soft, loose curls, straight with the texture is more stringy and Caucasian-like
- I know of people that have children with someone of another race or the same race who supposedly has “good hair” so that the child will have a higher probability of having supposedly “good hair”
The next step is dealing with the problem by loving who you are, directly and indirectly, inside and out. There are beautiful black people, dark and light. There are beautiful black people all over the world who are not light skin and are as dark chocolate as wet sand lit only by moonlight (another post).
Top: (Josephine Rukia) Bottom: (Kaone)
Skin color —some black people argue— is preference, but is it really? Then I ask….preference for what? For maintaing a white is right attitude?…because…if someone is attractive, they are attracitve with or without having light or dark skin. Free yourself from slave-like mentality lest you press your children and future generations with the same burden many of us already have. Embrace your blackness by loving yourself.
Taking Care|of Self|Loving Self|Free Yourself
Take care of yourself and actually indulge in taking care of yourself whenever you get an opportunity. Instead of taking a 15 min shower, take a 30 min luxurious bubble bath with music, candles, beads and all your favorite things. Instead of grabbing just anything to eat before heading to work, stash some of your favorite treats, drinks, foods in the refrigerator to grab that are actually enjoyable and nutritious on your way to work. Instead of jumping out of bed and rushing to work everyday, get out of bed stretch and take the world in by taking a walk outside, enjoying the morning and fresh air, listening to the birds, relaxing for a few minutes, then get ready for work while listening to the radio. On your lunch break, instead of gulping down fast-food, eat some fruit, something that is salubrious, yet something that you actually enjoy. Instead of watching TV when you get home or getting on the internet, take a nap, do something fun and exciting with friends or family, or try something new to you.
Although work, family, friends, school, etc are all things that need attention, it is important to remember that YOU NEED ATTENTION as well. Make the time! I think it is especially sagacious for everyone to make room in their lives for themselves. This is especially essential for women. Often times we find little time for ourselves because we are always taking care of someone else or something else. With school, work, friends, and family, it can be hard finding time for self. Women new and old to motherhood suffer mostly from this. More than this, when they do take out time for themselves, some even feel guilty for having done it. There is no need for guilt, you as a mother and as a woman….but more importantly as a human being need to take time for yourself…breath…look around you…rest….and appreciate the beautiful things in life, the things that make life truly worth wild and the beautiful things within yourself that doesn’t involve anyone else but you. This should be done often, if not everyday, not just on Mother’s day! Plan and make time for yourself and during this time… it’s all about you and what you want to do. Don’t neglect yourself!
Mothers that typically take care of home, children, husband, and seemingly everything else and everyone else while working all at the same time often find it a daunting task to find time for themselves because at the end of the day, she is simply drained—often forgetting and neglecting her mind and body’s daily needs and attention. Her hair is often not kept, pajamas and “around the house” cloths began to be normally worn outside of the house, and all together fatigue is set in her face and around her eyes. It’s the same old sad song— the husband complains that she is not as “attractive” as she was before. Uh, Hello! Perhaps she’s overwhelmed with things you (as a husband) barely think or act to give a helping hand in. Is a marriage not supposed to be a partnership where you help each other? Now a days, it seems so alloy.
Simple guide that anyone can follow (Just do it!):
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Give yourself time and space just to think
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Make it a habit to get up early in the morning before anyone else, before starting your day, allowing time for yourself-also do this in the evening or before going to sleep. During this time, it is important to be away from all disturbances—so that means be alone. (30-60 mins).
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Take walks
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Do relaxing exercises (Mediation/Yoga)
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Read some pages of your favorite book
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Write down positive thoughts while in open, clear, clean space.
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Write poetry
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Take long, luxurious baths/showers
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Enjoy the sun rise/set, fresh air, gaze at a stand (group of trees) and the rest of nature
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Get and maintain a garden (flowers, fruit, other food, etc)
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Sometimes, even though you can get a few things done, it can be fatigable even irritating trying to relax while having to watch kids, so sometimes leave them with their father, grandmother, or babysitter for a while and bring them back a treat.
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Drive to or lock yourself in a quiet space and get some things accomplished
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Go to the spa
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Go shopping…
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Go to the hair/nail shop…
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Go out with friends every now and then to relax
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Go to social events/take up a hobby (swimming, salsa dancing, instruments, belly dancing, etc) that you commit to once or twice a week
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Eschew overwhelming yourself, if you need help doing something or a break, tell someone!
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Having to cook, clean, and take care of kids everyday after pulling a 8-5 job can be tough try sometimes…
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Letting your children and husband do the cooking (breakfast, dinner, or lunch)
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While you are cooking, let your husband wash the dishes or vice versa
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Cooking with your husband/boyfriend (breakfast, dinner, or lunch)
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Letting your husband/boyfriend cook for you (breakfast, dinner, or lunch)
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Letting your husband get the kids ready for school
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Letting your husband go out with/spend time with the kids
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Take real vacations and travel, not vacations where you will be at home having to deal with cooking, cleaning, etc. Get away for a while either by yourself, with your husband/boyfriend, or with the whole family.
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(Personal favorite) Watch/walk into/listen to the rain as it falls to earth
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Sometimes just enjoy doing nothing…take reverence in just being alive.
Images of|Blackness
OK, so we’ve all heard that America’s first black president is Bill Clinton. When I first heard this, I was clueless to the logic behind it. Nothing about this man is “black“.
How was Bill Clintion the first black president?
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Bill Clinton cheated on his wife
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Bill Clinton lied.
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Bill Clinton liked to “get head” (Oral Sex).
Obviously, it is immoral and therefore defiantly negative to cheat on a spouse, and not every black man cheats on his wife but are those that do cheat considered more “black” than those who do not? Lying is not a positive thing either; are there no honest black folks?—If I don’t lie to cover my tracks, am I not “black”? Oral sex is not necessarily negative, but does it make one black to enjoy oral sex? Many people all over the world (black, white, Asian, Latino, other) engage in oral sex, cheat on their wives, and lie in an attempt to get out of trouble. Another side of this is that some people (black, white, Asian, Latino, other) are more…”square”, so to speak, and do not engage in that type of sexual activity. It’s not a “black” thing and should not be embraced as a “black” thing. Here’s that parody I was talking about in the Cyclic|BET post but there is some seriousness to it as well; a lot of these things actually promote negative stereotypes unfortunately making them a reality for some.. The big question here is why is everything virulent and negative embraced as “black” and embraced as black by other black people? With all the negative stereotypes (another post) already out there, particularly about black Americans..why add on to the list? Another thing looked at as being “black” by other blacks is being late for everything as if it a “cultural” aspect of blackness. Let’s get real. Of course, no one of any race will always be on time for everything, but if you are late for everything you are invited to, hosting, or are required to attend, that is a personal problem that as an individual one needs to address and improve upon being that it is wasting other people’s time and shows a serious lack of effort/concern of other people’s time and effort in respect that. It is a very normal thing for me to show up on time and sometimes earlier, am I not “black”? Assuming, accepting, and embracing this merely because someone is black is simply wrong. These things make great impressions on black children and how they view themselves and their fellow black men, women, and peers. Furthermore, it makes great impressions on how we, as a people view ourselves.
Tyra Banks|Black Women|State of|the Union
There is an increasing number of educated and/or independent, black women…we’ll call them “EIBW”and a decreasing amount of these women who are actually getting married. Why is this? I have perused this situation.
These newly breed EIBW typically recant the same, old “gender roles” their parents probably assumed. The normal “duties” such as: cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children for a woman are becoming more uniform being that both parties are leading very busy and ambitious lives. There really aren’t too many professions that a man is in that you won’t at least see one woman.
Black males from broken homes as well as homes where their fathers were present, typically saw their mothers and grandmothers assume the role of caretaker, provider, cleaning, and cooking while their fathers either not around at all, doing his own thing, or those who were around just as providers, and fixing things around the house for the most part. Sometimes male egos are objected to the idea of actually having to take care of a child, let alone provide for the child financially, because often it is seen as something “feminine” to rock a child to sleep, give a child a bottle, bath, or change a diaper. At most, they would play with the child when it’s happy or take the child to daycare but no real caretaker position is usually assumed. You may hear things like “it’s a woman’s job” or “I don’t know how to do this or that”. It’s called learning, lest one forgets no female is born knowing how do take care of a child in any way; she had to learn too. Therefore, it’s safe to say that these statements are merely excuses for not wanting to take part in these responsibilities. Further proof of this is in the increasing number of black males who are fathering children but not married to the woman/women who mother their children who throw their child(ren) off on their (the male’s) mothers and grandmothers to take care of the child when it’s their (the male’s) “ turn” to take care of and spend time with their (the male’s) child(ren).
Of course, none of this applies to everyone meeting this demography, but a lot of it has to do with their (black males and females) upbringing and the “roles” that their mothers, grandmothers, and fathers played or didn’t play. For some black females, there is resentment, so to speak, from being inured—in the fact that their mothers and grandmothers were seemingly overwhelmed by daily housework, children, cooking, and cleaning— almost single handedly—and all the while working (as someone’s employee) just as hard and pulling just as many hours as their father. It typically wasn’t so much, for the woman of that time, ambition as it was trying to make “ends meet”. Some of these females even had to assume responsibility at a very early age to help their mother with these things and to raise younger siblings.
There is hardly the “stay at home” mom mentality, especially with EIBW. A lot of black men are intimated by EIBW and their mentality. Maybe this kind of black male’s need to control and call all the shots in an evolving society were women are just as ambitious and hard working as men causes conflict. Perhaps they (the males) are confused of their role as the “male” in such cases. Sometimes egos are bruised at the idea of a woman making more money than a man and many of these EIBW are making close to, if not right at six figures. As Tyra mentioned, 73% of interracial marriages involve black men. One audience member, on Tyra’s show, made the statement that if things keep going they way they are, black women (In America) will be extinct. A black man’s “trophy wife” (marrying a woman based on looks or ethnicity alone) doesn’t have to be white, although typically whites are the ultimate prize, being erudite usually doesn’t matter. They could be mixed (black and other), Latino, Brazilian, Pilipino, etc. Trophy wives for black males are any other than that of black or the closest from black.
It is rare that you find an EIBM (man) with an EIBW; there seems to be a conflict of interest. You may hear things like: “Black women have attitudes and are irascible” “A good black woman is hard to find”. This is an indication that the black male finds “others” easier to “manage”; it indicates that they (others) don’t speak their minds as much and are more submissive and reticent (typically these are gold-diggers or those who depend on a man for their very livelihood). I don’t believe speaking your mind and being honest with yourself and those around you makes one intransigent. The words “good woman” is subject to ones own interpretation. Of course, none of this applies to everyone meeting this demography but this is the current trend.
Black|Mental|Bondage
“ I am here to help you solve some of your problems with slaves. Your invitation reached me on my modest plantation in the West Indies, where I have experimented with some of the newest and still the oldest methods for control of slaves.” “ While Rome used cords of wood as crosses for standing human bodies along its highways in great numbers, you are here using the tree and the rope on occasions. I caught the whiff of a dead slave hanging from a tree, a couple miles back. You are not only losing valuable stock by hangings, you are having uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the fields too long for maximum profit, You suffer occasional fires, your animals are killed. ”
“ My method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it. I HAVE OUTLINED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES AMONG THE SLAVES; AND I TAKE THESE DIFFERENCES AND MAKE THEM BIGGER. I USE FEAR, DISTRUST AND ENVY FOR CONTROL PURPOSES.”
”On top of my list is “AGE” but it’s there only because it starts with an “A.” The second is “COLOR” or shade, there is INTELLIGENCE, SIZE, SEX, SIZES OF PLANTATIONS, STATUS on plantations, ATTITUDE of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair, course hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you a outline of action, but before that, I shall assure you that DISTRUST IS STRONGER THAN TRUST AND ENVY STRONGER THAN ADULATION, RESPECT OR ADMIRATION. The Black slaves after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self refueling and self generating for HUNDREDS of years, maybe THOUSANDS.”
“You must use the DARK skin slaves vs. the LIGHT skin slaves, and the LIGHT skin slaves vs. the DARK skin slaves. “
“But it is NECESSARY THAT YOUR SLAVES TRUST AND DEPEND ON US. THEY MUST LOVE, RESPECT AND TRUST ONLY US. Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control. Use them. Have your wives and children use them, never miss an opportunity. IF USED INTENSELY FOR ONE YEAR, THE SLAVES THEMSELVES WILL REMAIN PERPETUALLY DISTRUSTFUL. Thank you gentlemen”.
White|Power
So here’s a theory about White supremacy and racism:
It’s all about power, it’s all about control, it’s all about self-importance, so they each play their particular roles. Think of it as a mirror. As a black person or nonwhite person, you look into this mirror and see racism for what it is.
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Lower class whites vocalize blunt, racial slurs and negative stereotypes; these things are looking back at you as you look into the mirror.
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Middle class whites are there to justify this racism by saying and acting as if it doesn’t exist and it’s in your mind; the mirror is merely broken or flawed. You can not depend on a mirror to give you an accurate reflection.
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Finally, you have the white upper class, running everything. They are the ones in most of the high positions, employing the working class blacks and others. More than this, they are the ones who created and sustain the mirror.
It’s important not to get the roles confused because you will offend the classes.
Cyclic|BET
If you ask me, and even if you don’t I’m still going to say it because it simply needs saying, BET should simply get no airtime (along with many other shows, but this tops the cake for me because it’s my people, and I love all people, but black people—I am you). BET Jazz is fairly decent, but BET is horrible. Before you get truculent and start throwing bricks, stones, and pellets…
I’m not a “sell out”, I’m not trying to “act white”, I’m not “stuck up” and I do not think that I am “better” than anyone. Anyone who thinks BET is innocuous is either prevaricating or in self-denial. If the only thing that can entertain black people (hence the name Black Entertainment Television) are a bunch of half naked women, spinning rims, heavy chains, oversized jeans and t-shirts, the excessive use of “bitch” and “whore”, and a life of drugs and crime—particularly in the majority of the rap videos—- then as a people… that is literally morose because we are not thinking progressively for ourselves, but more importantly for our children. Children need plenty more than what some hip-hop fantasy emblazed in a video can offer their minds. Why can’t Black Entertainment Television be something educational, enriching, and inspiring? Let’s keep in mind that the owner of BET is a white guy, who is happily enjoying the many contributing minds and bodies of those engaged piously in something not worth the time or effort of watching but what does he care? Why should any of these rappers and artist care? It keeps their wallet full and avarice satisfied.
Why wouldn’t you care and remain static? When I was younger, I use to come home from school and watch BET videos for hours. For me, it wasn’t so much from ennui as it was merely addicting. This took time away from more important things like studying, spending time with family, and exploring new things. What I saw on the videos, were of no use to me in the real world—-so I thought. When I truly opened my eyes, I realized that in real life, these people were COPYING what they saw on these videos—literally: seeing little boys with over sized pants and shirts, heavy, long chains around their necks, and earrings in their ears trying to “holla” at little girls who were now convinced the best way to get some attention and “love ”was with a short skirt, increased cleavage, and responding positively to the words, “bitch” and “whore”.
People try to justify this by saying “Sex sells”. Well, of course it does, so why not just set up a porno site, magazine, or channel? I mean, face it, a lot of these videos are borderline porn. Why call it Black Entertainment Television? An even better question: Why is everything virulent and negative embraced as “black”? (Another blog entry). The same thing can be said for a lot of black movies that are suppose to be parody; there are but a handful of black movies I’d actually pay to watch—because most only successfully further stereotypes and actually turn stereotypes into truths for many. Before you know it, you have “babies making babies”—nowadays parents and grandparents raising grandchildren and great grandchildren, high STD rates, a ridiculous amount of blacks in the prison system (drugs, violence, theft, rape among other things). Of course not all blacks in the prison system belong there but what about the many that do?
Others say “Women are exploiting themselves”. HERE—I agree. No one makes these video vixens get on live television and exploit themselves by being half naked, obscene, and respond to obscene names. Inside or outside of these videos, if women would not respond to derogatory terms like “bitch” and “whore”, treated themselves with some self respect in their mannerism and dress, then they’d get respect. These guys would have no choice but to address her correctly or he wouldn’t stand a chance. The women who have self respect would sometimes be labeled as “stuck up“ among other things because of a bruised ego. I say your (the male) ego should be built on something more respectable. Those who don’t have self respect…..I would simply tell you to raise your standards, but if you loved yourself, that would be automatic.
Now I am not placing the blame of these societal things on BET but I won’t exculpate it either. Of course, it starts in the home first and then comes personal responsibility and community, but I think BET plays a vital role in promoting these things instead of helping to eradicate or at least ameliorate them. What am I doing about it? I have for 8 years and counting stopped watching BET, and will not allow any future children, in my care, to watch it either. To me, it’s didactic, mental bondage-in the very literal sense.
Envious|Nature|of Women
I realize this title may seem to some like a sweeping generalization or even a hyperbole. However, from my own empirical experiences, I’d beg to differ. To some, it may even seem like a good thing to have people envious of you (Usher Raymond’s “Pop Your Collar”), but in truth envy and jealousy is never a good thing for the person who is envious or the person who is being envied; it can easily turn into fuel for hate (envy-er) and vain self-importance (envy-ee). I’d like to point out a few things about this envious nature in case you are confused. Let me note, age does matter, typically younger women, or women who still consider themselves to be young mostly fall into this category and it isn’t everybody but it’s a lot of bodies in my experience—it doesn’t matter state or city.
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TypeA who is gregarious and loves attention sees typeB who’s not into the “spotlight” mentality getting…with little to no effort…the same attention if not more attention than typeA— typeA now feels relegated and is now upset with typeB; it doesn’t matter if they know each other or not.
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You’re out (mall, movies, grocery store, etc) …you don’t have to be dressed up over the top or anything..you have an extemporaneous look, maybe even dressed down… just handling your business and you pass a female stranger (white) and she looks at you with annoyed intimidation mildly glazed in her eyes…starting from your face…then down the rest of your body and then stares into your face again. The look says, “Just who do YOU think you are?”
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For another woman (black American)…the motion is the same, maybe just staring into your face or looking up and down your body, but the look is different. This look says “You ain’t ALL that”.
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From another woman (Asian, Latina, African, other) the look is stupefied disbelief, like “Impossible….”
It’s the expression on their faces that tell all and I don’t even think they are even aware of their expression, but obviously me looking back into their faces, I can plainly see it for what it is.
Of course, I’ve had more positive experiences with this as well (white, black, other) they would look, and nothing is wrong with that but, guess what? They don’t have that look of annoyed intimidation of their faces and they speak or smile (an authentic smile). It’s a look of admiration, if nothing more. Some will say they appreciate your outfit or your beauty; some will simply say hello. I mean seriously, it is rude, to look and stare and have an ugly expression on your face all at once and not even say “Hi” or have some better acknowledgement.
- Just to throw another out there because there are many, you have females of any and every race and background that are with their boyfriends/husbands, and as you pass, she all of a sudden, holds him close or literally moves his face to another direction, some even dare him to look your way and again gives you the “look” (laughs). It’s really sad and onerous. It’s mostly insecurity about self. Get beyond that by loving yourself, first.
Some women don’t have a lot of female friends, some not any because of this envious nature and I can relate. Also as a result, most of them have more male friends than female. Yes, just friends not friends with benefits. They may say things like,” They are jealous of me” or “They start too much drama”. Now maybe some of you, who were fortunate enough to find true sisterhood (love, unity, and honesty), may think something is wrong with the person who says any of those things. Maybe it is them and not the other woman they accuse. Well, maybe you are right, but can that be true in every situation? It’s highly unlikely. I have many personal experiences with people I actually knew and was close to, but that will have to wait another day in another blog entry .On a higher note though, I’ve always believed that having a few good friends, male and/or female, is much better than having 15 lousy “friends”.
indigoblu
