(ThyBlackMan.com) This is the fourth of a six part series whereas the purpose and intent is hopefully, to initiate the process of undoing or reversing ideas and concepts—relative to the use of the n-word (n**ger/n**ga)—that have been programmed into the minds of our people which has caused them to adopt a belief system that has resulted in their loss of contact with what is real, factual, historical and spiritual.
There is an 18th century mentality associated with use of the n-word: An old woman, an escape slave, in a conversation with a missionary was quoted as saying: “We are n**gers. We always was n**gers and we always shall be. We’ve got no souls. We’s animals. We’s black and so is the Evil One.”
The Bible doesn’t say the devil is black, protested the missionary. “Well,” the 
old woman said, “white folks say so and we’s bound to believe them, cause we’s nothing but animals and n**gers. Yes, we’s n**gers! n**gers! n**gers!”
This 18th century slave mentality is STILL alive and well consuming the hearts and minds of many 21st century Black African Americans. Unfortunately, the n-word is a [surviving] remnant of a psychological warfare which was conducted to create dependency, emotions, attitudes and/or behavior to support achievement of a national objective—mental enslavement of a race of people.
Almost every system of slavery and oppression has at its heart the denial of a subject people’s humanity. How much easier it is on the conscience to pocket the profits from your slave plantation, or justifying the terrorization, butchering and slaughtering of a group of people, if you are able to console yourself with the notion that these people are not equal to and human like you.
And while many African Americans have successfully navigated through this psychologically mortifying mine field and have gone on to lead successful, productive lives, for far too many; this immense devaluation can seem inescapable. And tragically, over time, many begin to accept subconsciously and painfully the negative portrayals of themselves.
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Through such veiled actions as minstrel shows, vaudeville acts, and the Amos & Andy radio show Black African Americans have been detached from their sense of power and reality; facilitating a national setting that is insensitive to their plight and that fosters a consensual national setting of where in which they are more easily mistreated, exploited and ultimately suppressed.
It helped to produce the likes of a Stepin Fetchit, who perhaps became the first black actor millionaire, skinin and grinin his way into the hearts, minds and souls of theAmericapublic. In this modern day era we have rappers akin to a Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and black comedians like Chris Rock—laughing all the way to the bank— carrying the baton of eternalizing negative images of the black race.
In all fairness, one aspect of the rappers’ image may not be that of a jiving, skinin and grinin, Stepin Fetchit—though the same can’t be said for Chris Rock. Nonetheless, in many other ways, the crude and outlandish images and behavior that typifies Stepin Fetchit and the minstrel shows are very much evident in both hip-hop along with black comedy; the saggin pants, buffoonery antics, and the self-demeaning messages emulating from rap music.
Rappers’ promotion and marketing of the n-word in context with drugs, crime, violence, denigration of women, solidifies acceptance perpetuating the racist attitudes that has ran rampant for almost four centuries. Such unrelenting daily assault on the Black psyche is designed to adversely manipulate and shape the minds and collective consciousness ofAmerica’s Black population. When we support rappers and entertainers that humiliate and degrade the Black race, we are participating in cultural genocide. We are contributing to the emotional, psychological, spiritual, and cultural extermination of the Black African American.
The hierarchy was undergirded by an ideology which justified the use of deceit, manipulation, and coercion to keep blacks “in their place” which is that of being a n**ger/n**ga. Every major societal institution has offered legitimacy to the racial hierarchy. Ministers preached that God had condemned blacks to be servants. Scientists measured black heads, brains, faces, and genitalia, seeking to prove that whites were genetically superior to blacks. Hence publication of the book The Bell Curve in 1994.
White teachers—teaching only white students—taught that blacks were less evolved cognitively, psychologically, and socially. The entertainment media, from vaudeville to television, portrayed blacks as docile servants, happy-go-lucky idiots, and dangerous thugs.
These images have haunted us for a very, very long time—unless we exorcise the demons that these images have conjured up, we’ll never really be free as a group. Until we can be respected as a group, we as individuals can be susceptible to discriminatory acts at any given time; Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Oakland,California’s Oscar Grant serves as a prime example of this reality. We, collectively as a group, hold the key in the palm of our hands to turn things around; if only we would. It will be discussed further in the final chapter, part six as to how this can be accomplished.
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
