LIVING WITH WHITE RULE

I wonder if white folk ever considered the mixed signals they send to blacks? They probably don’t, after all they are white, but never mind, I’m going to look at it anyway.

First, we have the overt white racist who insists that black folks are only needed in a limited way, if at all, in America. They let it be known that “this is a white man's country” and blacks are a burden who collect welfare or other social services. Black’s can’t be patriots within the scope of their idea of patriotism, like they say, “This is a white man’s country.”

Then we have the conservative white whose values have some hollowed meaning dating back to the days of the covered wagon. They preach that blacks should pick themselves up by their bootstraps and to do anything less is unacceptable, lazy, and un-American. They never seriously address historical and contemporary reasons why blacks in general are in such poor social-economic shape. They are quick to point out how their ancestors came from “humble” beginnings, as if the system of white supremacy never existed. They truly believe that affirmative action for whites was, and is not, a reality.

Next, we have the liberal white. They and the next group are the most hypocritical. They subscribe to ideals such as multiculturalism and diversity, but do nothing to challenge the fundamental ideas of white supremacy. For example, they write commentary about the ills and inequality of the society, but don’t allow voice to non whites who seek fundamental changes in the way America does business. If an Afrocentric attempts to introduce ideas of Egypt being an African civilization in the public schools, the liberals will encourage the conservatives and racist to attack him as un-American or racist. However, they will openly admit whites committed genocide against the Native Americans, because it changes nothing.

The progressive white is the most interesting. They are the true intelligentsia of the white establishment. They seek change, but only from one group of whites to the next, them. They want “integration,” but on their terms. They will support black issues as long as it doesn’t conflict with their policy. One of their greatest weapons is to ignore challenge, but appear to settle issues “diplomatically and intellectually.” They, in most instances, set the agenda for the liberals.

The last group I’d call Americans, who happen to be white. They comprise about one-half of 0.01% of 240,000,000 whites. These people fight their own indoctrination into white supremacy. They speak with verve and honesty against racism and discrimination. They are dedicated to true equality and have no objections to incorporating meaningful dialogue from anyone who can make this country a better place. They are not “color blind,” nor hypocritical. They will address the systematic evils of white supremacy, and if possible, change it.

This is the mine field blacks must wade through living with white rule in America. Can you imagine dealing with the whimsical mix and match of white attitudes? With all these various signals, is there any wonder why blacks can’t, “get it together?”

YES, I DID IT!

Something has been troubling me all these years. I’ve been walking around as a felon, but I don’t feel like a felon. By that I mean I don’t want to break any laws or hurt anyone, in fact, before I achieved my felon status, I didn’t feel that way either. What I felt was anger, disrespect, frustration and that hasn’t really changed. In retrospect, I've had the opportunity to evaluate my life using the experience and knowledge of my years to come to some conclusions , see, hindsight is 20/20.

This investigation is not to make excuses. I broke the law more than once, but concomitantly, is that all there is to being a felon, breaking the law and getting caught? Does that make you a bad person for the rest of your life?

As with most things in America, the criminal justice system is racist. When I was a young black man, this didn’t resonate with me because usually youth are not deep thinkers. I couldn’t deconstruct what the essence of this system was intended to do to blacks, nor did I have anyone to do it for me. It was hidden. However today, it’s clear. (For this essay, I will use young black men as my example, but to different degrees this system affects all non whites and is limiting in economic ways, to poor whites.)

Young black men, because of historical reasons, are usually born poor in America. As in any former colonial system where the descendants of the colonial masters are still in power, the descendants of the colonized are relegated to a systematic “minority” status. There are several means to maintain this status, with the criminal justice system being a primary mechanism. It’s role must be functional, but also concealed as much as possible.

How does it work? Space does not allow for finite details, but I will try to present an overview. Young men across the board are aggressive and desire power. In a material society, this aggression and need for power is translated into possessions. If you are poor, acquisition and power are difficult, if you are black, even more so. This difficulty which translates into nihilism is disseminated through historical and contemporary cultural symbols, such as family environment, media, and formal education. Without a historical and economic support structure to guide and include young blacks, anger, disrespect and frustration becomes the motivating factor for behavior. Prudent decision making is stifled.

As a consequence, young black men try to take the road they conclude is of least resistance, for instance, they may pursue sports or the hip hop culture. If not successful, (or in some cases if they are successful), they often become dispirited with their social/economic status and having no historical cultural foundation of their own, strike out at the “majority culture” by breaking their laws.

When they are caught, if the first offence is not serious or seen as potentially harmful to the “larger public,” the young black man is shown “leniency.” Those who run this system understand that the social conditions of young black men, as described above, will more than likely return them to the system.

Showing “leniency” in this manner, hides the real intent of the system. It makes others think the system is fair and just, when it is not. For example, when in the system, the disparity in sentencing for blacks, the guidelines for offenses committed by racial groups, and the availability of personal contacts and money, all put young blacks at a disadvantage. Even the public perception of who is a criminal works against blacks.

The American system in general is constructed to limit black competition for jobs and resources. However, the prison industrial complex has been found to increase jobs and resources for whites through prison industries and related services. The increased prison population translates into revenue for poor white communities, making black bodies again profitable, similar to enslavement. (social commentary).

As with my case, carrying the label of “felon” for life also decreases the opportunity to compete. The stigma alone gives people who wish to maintain the system of white supremacy and covert/overt racism, the opportunity to dismiss and discriminate against you without conscious. The system therefore remains safe from blacks (or other "minorities") making any meaningful impact on or altering its inner workings. Young black men continue to be angry, disrespected, and frustrated while still being incarcerated in large numbers. When released they continue to carry the stigma of felon and the criminal justice system continues to be encouraging. The system allows people, both black and white, to say without conviction, it works.

I wrote this with the hope that some young black person will read it and realize how their life is being "set up" for failure, if they are not aware and careful. Although people say, "You have a choice to not break the law," and they are 100% correct, but they should also understand; what you don't know, really don't know, can hurt you. "Set ups" are meant to blindside the unsuspecting.

"Fla. Teen Gets 30 Years for Gun Possession"

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Lionel Tate was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison for violating probation, the latest legal twist for the teenager convicted of murdering a 6-year-old girl in what his attorneys initially claimed was a pro wrestling move.

In the latest case, Tate had faced 10 to 30 years in prison on charges of violating his probation by having a gun and robbing a pizza delivery man last year.

The judge on Thursday let him withdraw his guilty plea in the May 2005 robbery but still sentenced him on the gun charge. The robbery trial is set for Sept. 18.

Even defense attorney H. Dohn Williams didn't understand why Tate would want to go to trial on the robbery charge, given that a conviction could bring a life sentence in addition to the 30 years for the probation violation.

Tate could have simply received 30 years total for both charges under the deal.

"He continues to get bad advice from meddling third parties," Williams said outside court.

Williams said Tate's mother, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Kathleen Grossett-Tate, has told him he could win an appeal on the probation violation conviction, win his robbery case and leave jail in a year. She left court without commenting.

Brave New World...Maybe?

Has anyone ever considered that we are maybe the third civilization to inhabit this planet? Just like people believe in reincarnation of the individual soul, perhaps there’s some reincarnation of a “civilization's” soul. This reincarnation of civilizations demands that it keeps coming back until we get it right. But the catch with many of us is, we are too stupid to ever get it right. Each time we build a civilization, we really don’t evolve ourselves.

If we look at the bible as basically a flawed history book, we don’t know if or when the first world was destroyed (maybe by earthquake or wind), but we do know the next world was done in by water. Now, if we are living in the third civilization, then it’s predicted to be done in by fire. Remember, we knew this long ago before we invented the nuclear bomb.

But what do we stupid humans do? We continue to build more deadly weapons while most unfailingly continue to embrace our primitive animal instincts of xenophobia, greed, and power for control. We also continue to be at odds with Nature and insist that we are not animals, while remaining fixed on the evolutionary scale. Point and case, many doubt evolutionary phenomenon.

Now we face the prospect of an escalated war with our abundant "fiery" nuclear weapons and none of the major players involved are really thinking about the past civilizations outcomes. But even more frightening for us humans is, perhaps the power of the Universe’s reincarnation machine is tired of our stupidity. This time when we do our destruction act, there will probably be no reincarnation. Maybe we’ll scorch the planet so badly that we’ll destroy the human DNA print to the point of no return. Consequently, this will be Nature’s way of trying another organism to take our place.

Something to think about, huh? Hell, I stay up at night concerned about stuff like this. But for the real players in this game, I think they'd better consider some of this stuff very seriously.

THESE EYES

I can say without a doubt one knows when they are growing old. During my time from youngster to young man, I watch the ending of the careers of Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson. I watch Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali and Bill Russell come and go; I watched the black athelete rein supreme, proud in his physical prowess, warrior’s icons to our young.

I could also imagine how demoralizing and frightening this must have been for our white brethren being in the presence of such physical domination. It would seem so because each year, with each white sport commentator, there was always a white hope. Max Schmeling, Jake Lamotta, Frank Gifford, Jerry Quarry, John Havlicek, all good, but not quite up to the task, no matter the hype.

But now, when I look through these eyes that had witnessed such splendid African American male potency, they reveal a different tale. Age and living not only took its toll on me, but in a large degree the pride of black manhood. I no longer see the images of those magnificent athletes. What I see is black self-degradation and a systematic removal of American blacks from athletics. This is all happening in conjunction with the feminizing of Black males in the media and general public. Our warriors have gone because their images have gone.

Concomitantly, our young men have become scavengers. They prey on the weak of their own community while the new ideal of manhood is the blond blue eyed “buffed” soldier, “Sir, Yes sir.” Since it appears black men have succumb to the pressures of white supremacy and racism, is it just a matter of time before their complete transition to oblivion? Will the names of Joe Louis, Sugar Ray, Jim Brown and the others repose in African American museums like the testimonials to Sitting Bull, Geronimo, and Crazy Horse?

With rare exception, when I watch young black men in action, never mind the venue, these eyes see them junking their souls for glitter. Yo dawg, it’ hard out here for a pimp when he tryin to get this money for da rent “you ain’t knowin”…

TMB (TEXT ME BACK)

WTF is this world coming too? I have been writing about how European culture has influenced the way we think and shape our world. How its incessant march to sterility and artificialness is being accepted as universal and welcomed behavior. Yes, we are touching each other less and less. I mean not only physically, but intellectually too. For instance, not too long ago there was a time when we actually took the time to spell out what we wanted to say. However today, we can have complete conversations with a bunch of letters whose meaning you can find on some obscure online “Webopedia.”

So what? Why is that even important to mention? I’ll tell you why. A while back a friend of mine told me that I should use my full name instead of the universally accepted “nickname.” They said it allows other people to recognize you, your human being-ness, instead of just being a quick thought. One would write hello William, instead of hi Bill. Those extra syllables takes time to spell out. It allows for recognition of my being, it makes me more of a person instead of coming from some cookie-cutter quick fix mold.

Today, we can have an entire conversation on a 2X2 inch screen. We can really show how much we care and have the time for those we profess to care about and love. HI. HRU? WRUD? AYEC GBTM WAN2TLK F2F AEAP B4N G2R ILU. Yeah, that makes one feel real important and loved. But over time, like everything else in this insipid rushed culture, we become desensitized and it just goes into the cool, hip, “normal” bin.

Now this may seem trivial to most, but it’s just another sign of where we are going. In twenty years don’t look back and blame some “big brother” or anyone else but ourselves for the world we inherit, if we inherit one at all. When we wake up in a rushed, no touching, cold, sterile, prozac world, just look back on today. Remember that we could have made the choice to take the time to write. We could’ve taken the time to recognize and touch one another with words and deeds; to recognized our human-ness. But hey TMWFI TNSTAAFL :-<>