Are you black and waiting for racism to end before conforming?

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I'm listening to this author on the radio discussing his book "Authentically Black" and he just made an interesting point about how the "By any means neccessary" movement in the 60s, after Civil Rights were established, created a non-conformist mentality among African-Americans that permeates to this day. In other words, there is a strong resistance to success in the black community because such success depends upon acceptance of an America that once embraced slavery, Jim Crow laws, etc. His point was that today's black men and women are hurting only themselves by waiting until racism ends completely before conforming to the society around them.

I can't tell if I agree with this or not.

 

[Uber Sparky]

Yezzz...

You found me out.

 

[Uber Sparky]

Now...

where's my watermelon?

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Sparky, you're waiting for genetic engineering to develop a "rectum-free" body before conforming. Not the same thing.

 

[huskie]

yep. I for one am holding out!

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Well, you're holding something.

 

[Guest]

Shameless plug.

 

[honeylick]

i'm a rebel.

 

[Uber Sparky]

Hey Dix?

How can any 'one' man - no matter how well versed - make such a statement of an entire race?

I mean, I realize - he can 'make any statement' he wants - but what 'real' credibility can he have?

 

[Uber Sparky]

Don't ya just maybe think...

he's found an angle to promote - sell and make money on?

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

From the author's web site:

"According to the author, nearly forty years after the Civil Rights Act, African-Americans in this country still remain "a race apart." He feels that modern black Americans have internalized a tacit message: "authentically black" people stress initiative in private but cloak the race in victimhood in public in order to protect black people from an ever-looming white backlash."

I do see a discord between people who feel they are more "authentically black" than others, basely primarily on their disassociation from all things white.

It must suck to be a black conservative in this country.

 

[Guest]

Best thing about the Prince of Bel'air is Carlton Banks.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Re: Hey Dix?

How can any 'one' man - no matter how well versed - make such a statement of an entire race?

I mean, I realize - he can 'make any statement' he wants - but what 'real' credibility can he have?

I don't think he's claiming to speak for an entire race. He's an essayist, and well credentialed writer and columnist. I'm pretty sure he's aware that these are only his reflections, and that he doesn't feel he's been asked to speak for the black race.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

He's not speaking for the race. He's an essayist. He's making an observation.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Monazwx]

I'll admit that I am a little confused.
I'm black but not American so I guess I have a different perspective on this thing.
I'll give this some thought and make up my mind in a while after class.

I'll be back later.

 

[Lancecastor]

Anyone who chooses not to make the best of themselves in a country with as much opportunity as the USA is a fool.

Stupidity is color blind.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Anyone who chooses not to make the best of themselves in a country with as much opportunity as the USA is a fool.

That's sort of his point. He went on to discuss how many immigrants (with dark skin) look at many American blacks like they're crazy for not more embracing the opportunities the country has to offer, all in the name of being "Authentically Black", and refusing to play the white man's game, etc. He made the point that blacks still influenced by the "by any means neccessary" mission of racism's end "right now" will be waiting a long, long, long time, and that this sense of "victimhood" has become their largest obstacle to success. I'm going to stop using "quote marks" right now because it's annoying me.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Interesting.

In 2000, Elijah Anderson put out the idea that there's this community person called a "race man". The race man or woman's job was to represent the race in their particular community. He's a leader in a segregated society that feels strongly responsible for his community, particularly in front of other segments of the society. He's intent on advancing the race, working as a role model, uplifts his community and tries to help society celebrate his community rather than view with suspicion.

Snice the 80s, though, the racial boundaries have been falling rapidly. It's perfectly natural to see black people in high power positions that just didn't happen forty years ago. They are integrating with white society and this causes problems for the race man.

His job, his identity is based on the continual segregation of society. He can't speak for his race, he can't be a leader against society if his people are leaving his "community". So he has to maintain his segregated community while fighting against the unjustness of it.

When the civil rights era was in its hey-dey, race men weren't necessarily for assimilation into the domininat culture, but they were for equal acceptance as a part of it. Now, race men demand that their people resist the dominant culture in favor of maintain segregated racial communities. Even if doing so is to forgo success.

Witness Christopher Darden, a black man and an assistant district attorney. He was the "token" black guy at the OJ trial because the DA knew he had to have a black face on his side to sway the jury. He was called a sell-out by his race because he chose to do his job and find justice against another black man.

I think, personally, that our society is in the grips of an identity crisis. Everything has changed. In the early twentieth century society looked like a perfect white, middle-class family: father who worked, mother who cleaned house, and 2.5 children playing in the yard with a dog. In 70s and 80s our society was vastly different. Mother worked too. Dad didn't live with the kids. Families mixed with other families. Colored faces showed up everywhere with their own ethnic identities.

The people who think that Pleasantville is how America should look haven't become a minority yet. The people who think that integration means passing into Pleasantville and losing ethnicity haven't become a minority yet either.

It takes at least four generations for a societal paradigm to turn a 180. If I'm not wrong on this, I'm in that second generation. My parents live in Pleasantvillie. My brother thinks integration means becoming Wally Cleaver. My son intermingles in two ethnic households without a single problem. One more generation, his children, won't even think about Pleasantville or integration.

I had a point here but damned if I can remember what it was.

 

[honeylick]

That's sort of his point. He went on to discuss how many immigrants (with dark skin) look at many American blacks like they're crazy for not more embracing the opportunities the country has to offer, all in the name of being "Authentically Black", and refusing to play the white man's game, etc. He made the point that blacks still influenced by the "by any means neccessary" mission of racism's end "right now" will be waiting a long, long, long time, and that this sense of "victimhood" has become their largest obstacle to success. I'm going to stop using "quote marks" right now because it's annoying me.

however, i do find you strangely attractive when you make those little bendy-bunny-ear movements in the air.

just one more, please?

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

If "race man" has outlived his usefullness (helping his race shed the bonds of mental slavery and recognize that they must uplift themselves) in the face of increased parity of the races in the workplace and the culture, then do we still need the NAACP, Jesse Jackson, the BET Network and Affirmative Action (recognizing that none of those things need neccessarily be thrown out with the bath water)?

 

[medjay]

That's sort of his point. He went on to discuss how many immigrants (with dark skin) look at many American blacks like they're crazy for not more embracing the opportunities the country has to offer, all in the name of being "Authentically Black", and refusing to play the white man's game, etc. He made the point that blacks still influenced by the "by any means neccessary" mission of racism's end "right now" will be waiting a long, long, long time, and that this sense of "victimhood" has become their largest obstacle to success. I'm going to stop using "quote marks" right now because it's annoying me.

It's true. There are plenty of black folks who are content to stand on the corner selling oils and bootleg t-shirts because they refuse to work for "The Man". It's silly.

My philosophy has always been: I want to make some money. You want to make some money. Hire me and we'll make some money together. Simple.

I don't think this makes me less black and I've never altered my personality or "conformed" to get a job. It's been my experience that white people don't give a shit what you look like or what your politics are as long as you come to work on time, do your job and help them to keep making their money. Everybody's happy.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

however, i do find you strangely attractive when you make those little bendy-bunny-ear movements in the air.just one more, please?

No.





Oh, "alright".