(ThyBlackMan.com) “Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and this was an immutable law.”–James Baldwin
Perhaps one of the most devastating and least talked about problems in the black community is the issue of forgiveness. Many in the black community harbor hatred and an unforgiving attitude toward white Americans and America for its racist history. This unforgiving attitude produces bitterness and resentment which manifests itself in how black people view themselves, their family relationships and others in the society.
One of the residual effects of the America’s racial history is an unwritten system of race-based attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes that have shaped the way people view one another. Via the mainstream media, everyone in our society is bombarded 24 hours a day with images that promote a visual construct of American life in which characterizations of beauty, power, villains, heroes, leadership and intelligence are defined in social hierarchy based on color. It is not like the overt, direct racism of the past which blacks faced daily with impunity. Most blacks have this in mind when they use the term “subtle” racism or “institutional” racism.
For example, it is “normal” in our society to assume that a white person is “in charge” without question in regard to their ability or qualification to lead; whereas a person of color in the same position would face a higher level of scrutiny or justification. Many black people have collaborated in this system by “discriminating” against other blacks based on the same racial stereotypes and assumptions under a variety of circumstances.
While the Civil Rights movement helped to remove many of the legal barriers to opportunity and access for people of color in America, there are no legal remedies to deal with the unrelenting negative stereotypes, attitudes and characterizations which serve as additional “hurdles” in the daily pressures of life for all of us in the black community. For example, Affirmative Action policies may help you get the job but there is no law that can make anyone in the workplace “respect” you. The perception of unearned reward has been the basis of resentment toward blacks in the workplace. In spite of these obstacles, many in the black community are succeeding and doors of opportunity are being opened. However, still many in the black community have given up on their dreams and ambitions and yielded to the siren call of so-called black leaders and others to be “justifiably” angry and resentful.
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”– Nelson Mandela
When we are in a state of resentment, we keep ourselves in a constant state of victimhood. We punish no one but ourselves. This condition will eventually manifest itself in our physical condition; it creates stressful relationships with family, causes us to make irrational choices, stymies our ability to build positive relationships with others and robs us of our joy.
So what is the answer?
We must be liberated by the power of forgiveness. We must never forget that everyone in our society is a potential collaborator and victim in a system that promotes these racial attitudes, stereotypes and biases. Therefore we must forgive others that have wronged us and we must also forgive ourselves for racial attitudes we have expressed toward others, black and white.
Ultimately, we must undergo spiritual transformation as individuals in order to forgive as this cannot be accomplished solely by human effort. Only by spiritual transformation and renewal, we are able to tap into the power that is within us to pursue our dreams and cleanse our hearts of bitterness.
We can no longer afford to past on the bitterness of unforgiveness to the next generation!
Staff Writer; C. DeJuan Smith
One may also purchase/download this talented brother book which is self entitled; Being Black and Conservative.
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