(ThyBlackMan.com) Accepting use, remaining indifferent to its use, or using the n-word is the same as sanctioning all that transpired against the black ancestry. Some may believe that the word and its focus is less tailored or relevant to today’s Black African Americans. They believe, instead, that its relevance is no longer substantial and only encompasses Black African Americans’ ascendants and all the hell they caught as a result of being categorized as such. However, if the term was only some historical remnant and has no roots reaching into current times and, thus, no affect on the black community, [why] do so many blacks still carry inferior mentalities and a grotesque self-hate or failed self-awareness—which were all elements that comprised a n**ger?
How have so many Black people become self-hating, living contradictions of their former proud selves? Some Black people are insulted if you refer to them
as black. Many are in denial about their ancestral linkage to their Motherland—Africa, defending their stance with some ready-made pseudo-intellectual reasoning in efforts to legitimize their rationale.
Black African Americans have a glorious history in which to identify and relate. The oppressors realized this factor and the innate greatness that lives within blacks’ blood long ago. Yet, due to their fear and artificial, indignantly-gained superior standing, they would rather blacks continue to believe that slavery and a wild, uncivilized jungle life is their ONLY history. Of course, that’s an unmitigated LIE. However, this long-standing lie is exactly what whites planned and banked on. White America would rather blacks focus on the negative period of black history to remain jaded and unaware of the many thousands of years of greatness, unity, African love and innovation that once thrived within the culture and race of people.
Since the Diasporas, Black African Americans have been coming closer to re-discovering the types of successes their race of people were. During the early 1920’s, blacks developed their own sovereign community—independent of whites—and often referred to as “Little Africa” or “Black Wall Street” inTulsa,Oklahoma. Black Wall Street was a thriving community with beautiful colonial housing, schools and a bank and hospital, and home to many black businessmen who were multimillionaires. In fact, blacks were living a much better life than the surrounding communities that resided within that city. Of course, whites despised the blacks’ success and were threatened by it. Blacks were too independent as far as whites were concerned. As such, the white community decided to take matters into their own hands. The racist devised a plan to destroy the thriving community. After years of growth, the 35-block community was set afire and burned down to the ground onJune 1, 1921.
Blacks do have the aptitude and ability to succeed. Blacks must think of themselves in a [positive] view to achieve all things good, such as another Black Wall Street. The societal issues that exist in America today [cannot] be solved by the type of thinking that created them. Therefore, it is incumbent upon African Americans to FREE their own minds to resolve certain issues and view the world from a different stance to truly experience their greatest potential.
Use and tolerance of the n-word is NOT indicative of a FREE mind nor the desire or effort to achieve greatness. Rather, embracing the n-word is reflective of a bonded mind or mental illness. However, this sickness is one that can be cured. The cure is found in the acquisition of knowledge that refutes any efforts to cast people of African descent in a negative light. It starts with the realization that the city school systems, colleges, universities and the media are not going to provide the kind of information that will help build the self-esteem of a black student. No traditional system inAmerica is going to allow free-flow of an information stream that will free and release one’s mind from American-European intellectual dominance.
The notion that African Americans cannot succeed must be rejected by parents and students. Blacks must start their own education revolution at home. If blacks fail to take the time and effort to challenge the public school systemic in presenting a truer picture of black heritage, future generations of self-confident, self-aware black leaders will be deficient or defunct. Blacks must use every resource to their advantage to spread the truth—use Day Care Centers, ChildDevelopmentCenters, SundaySchools, and non-profit groups, organizations, or programs. Blacks have the cerebral fortitude to make it all happen; the community just must believe it and move into action.
Of all the groups inAmericafighting for equality, Black African Americans are the ones bringing up the rear. Black African Americans are the only people who think in terms of individual success and give no credence to group success. Since the days of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., Black America has been devoid of significant leadership. During the 1960s, African Americans as a group had a sense of pride, dignity and self-respect, but that has since eroded away from the collective community.
Even the Gay-Lesbian community is making greater strides than the Black community because—they have chosen to unite—convey a consistent message and voice, and remain convicted and committed to their ideals. Proof of their success: Consider how homosexuality is successfully being imposed onto the American public, and how it is being introduced into the public schools systemic—giving the plight greater legitimacy and support. It is incredible what the Gay-Lesbian Community—as a group—is accomplishing contrary to the lackadaisical attitude of the Black African American community.
Everyone has a responsibility to act on behalf of their community’s plight if they desire to experience change and true societal progression as each and every person is interconnected in some way.
Given the historical record of negative black imagery and the current nebulous climate ofHollywood, any Black person with any form power should be very selective in ideas they support AND materials they produce. Too many black youth are already being bombarded with negative images, so it’s imperative for the black community to start taking control of the group’s own fate and destiny.
The n-word is dishonorable. It severs and mis-identifies who blacks were—and are—according to God-given lineages. Blacks must TAKE back what was taken from them—cultural pride, dignity, and true self-awareness, and happily RETURN what was given them—the n-word (nigger/nigga) and a veiled or false, destructive perspective of life.
Black African Americans must stop being bamboozled and hoodwinked into believing that black heritage is limited to spears, bones in the nose, face paint and mud huts, etc. Blacks must study places like Olmec, which was the first major Pre-Columbian civilization inMexico; ancientMali; and the Songhai Empires of West Africa. Blacks must take a closer examination of Egypt and the cover-up of the Black race‘s contribution to mankind.
All of these achievements were stolen from the black man’s fortress of knowledge. It’s incumbent on BLACKS to re-claim their rightful place or remain irrelevant in the pages of ancient history. Blacks must take a look in the mirror and say: “Let it begin with me!”
Once Black African Americans realize the game that has been played on them and [ACCEPT] that the n-word (nigger/nigga) is the lifeline that feeds the on-going systemic destruction, they will realize the importance of change, that change begins within them and they will move from ignorance and apathy—to action.
Staff Writer; H. Lewis Smith
This talented brother is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. ( http://www.theunitedvoices.com ); and author of “Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word“.
Also follow Mr. Smith on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thescoop1