There is nothing like sharpening your intellectual sword with respect to topics on Black Issues. It's bittersweet because the risk of being called for treason against the Black Cause (or on the Coli a "c00n" or "Pseudo Militant") is real. But hopefully the rational (and maybe even the irrational brehs) well keep an open mind about my points.
Enjoy
It is always fascinating when we consider how long this debate has been going on.
If there was a strict algorithm that answered this question on color & race...we'd have stopped debating because it would have been answered already. The fact that this is still up for debate begs the idea that a serious consideration of societal perspective is important in determining a consensus on what or who is black.
"IS THE SKY BLUE"
Let keep this in mind throughout the debate... - When we answer that question...we really are answering the question in the sense that the color of the sky appears to have the same or similar visual to the human eye.
Exhibit A.
Pantone Color Matching System
What does it mean to be Black?
Now...I've decided to make this the heading of this section of my argument because...really...isn't this an important ingredient* in deciding who is Black? And if not, then wouldn't the question of "who is black?" take second fiddle to "Who has a claim on the Black Experience in the Modern World?" When we compare these two questions, think deeply & rationally about what they entail. The thought process that one must go through in analyzing these questions against each other & in tandem is some parts revolutionary & some parts simple.
In a way, the debate can really be looked at & divided in the same way that the Christian Bible is, sort of like the Old Testament & New Testament. In this topic, however, it's really divided into theOld World & the New World Hmm...I put a strike through in that classification because it sounds condescending. It's more like Precolonial Definition & Post-Colonial Definition.
PreColonial Definition of "Black"
In PreColonial times, yes, there was a definition for colors. Normal human interaction begets communication. However, the consideration of "Who is Black" for Pre-Colonial Africans may not have even existed because the concepts of Color hierarchy seems to have never existed before indoctrination by Europeans. Thus, you MUST concede that when you debate these concepts..in English...in Modern Society...using the definitions & words that were force taught(with a whip & bible) to ancestors of Pan-Africans in the Americas...We HAVE to consider the arena we are debating in to be in proper context.
In simple terms. what does this mean?
So in PreColonial Times, had we never even been unfortunately introduced to European Colonial Indoctrination... The attempt to classify what Color a person is, would probably be translated into our society as merely "what genetic makeup" & Sun exposure an individual has...without the extra ingredient that must be considered - in defining that same question -which is "What does the Black Experience mean."
See? The concept of "What is the Black Experience" literally would mean absolutely NOTHING to PreColonial Africans because it is completely a Modern World or Post Colonial World Concept, it's an Anglo-concept. As a result of the barbaric & oppressive nature of European Indoctrination, the physical & psychological impact that a person has as a result of that oppression would, I surmise, have to be considered in determining who or what it means to be Black today.
In current, Post Colonial times, an individual, with particular genetic makeup, may or may not, have what it means to be a Black experience in Modern Society.
I believe the consideration of this statement is what is needed in answering our questions today. Take this moment to compare 3 separate individuals.
Person A.
Genetics: 95 % African Ancestry
Physique: A strong physical structure of what is generally found among People in Africa.
Background: From a middle class family & neighborhood & who's parents have tried everything to keep individual away from hostile racism & has indoctrinated their child to assimilate completely into European dominated culture.
Notes: Has never been called a ******. Has never been perceived suspicious looks & paranoid behavior from others around him as a result of what he looks like.
Person B.
Genetics: 77% African Ancestry
Physique: A physical structure with mainly pronounced features of what is generally found among People in Africa.
Background: From an upper middle-class family & middle class background. Parents chose to live in a community where the family is at the top of the economic ladder, their neighbors are primarily white. As a result, the individual has been greeted with condescension with racial undertones as a result of being called "rich Blacks."
Notes: Throughout his life he's been teased as being the son of a "drug dealer because that's the only reason why your family has money" & has had the words "rich ******" graffiti-ed on his garage door.
Person C.
Genetics: 46% African Ancestry
Physique: Slightly thinner lips, less kinky hair more curly, lighter eyes & lighter complexion than would normally be found among People in Africa.
Background: Lower Middle Class family in the Inner-City. As a result of the early death of individual's grandfather before individual was born, his mother had to put a hiatus on college & support the family, thus a move to the inner-city was the result. Hard working family however jobs were sparse & a lack of finances translated into a lack of resources & private schooling. Failed by a public school system & harassed by well-documented Police hostility, the community has been ravaged as a result of a lack of commitment by the city & state government.
Notes: His cultural upbringing & physical appearance leaves no question in the minds of people in other economic & cultural classes to react to him based on society's accepted responses.
The question of "Who is Black" is insufficient in that "Who is Black" is not what we mean in today's society. Who is Black has to be answered with considering what it means to have the Black Experience in Modern Society.
Now...Is Rachel Dolezal Black in the equation that I have presented? No, because although with her figurative "Black Face" that she has created for herself, her rational perception would truly never allow her to process the correct Black perspective, regardless of what she's experienced because she duped people in Modern Society. Why?
Because when Rachel Dolezal is in her costume and someone calls her a ******, she thinks "Wow, I'm a white woman, with a self-perpetuated disguise of a Black exterior, being verbally abused by a racist in Modern Society."
She is not thinking, "Wow, I'm a Black woman being verbally abused by behavior that has become acceptable in Modern Society."
Thanks for reading. Please provide input!
Enjoy
It is always fascinating when we consider how long this debate has been going on.
If there was a strict algorithm that answered this question on color & race...we'd have stopped debating because it would have been answered already. The fact that this is still up for debate begs the idea that a serious consideration of societal perspective is important in determining a consensus on what or who is black.
"IS THE SKY BLUE"
Let keep this in mind throughout the debate... - When we answer that question...we really are answering the question in the sense that the color of the sky appears to have the same or similar visual to the human eye.
Exhibit A.
Pantone Color Matching System
What does it mean to be Black?
Now...I've decided to make this the heading of this section of my argument because...really...isn't this an important ingredient* in deciding who is Black? And if not, then wouldn't the question of "who is black?" take second fiddle to "Who has a claim on the Black Experience in the Modern World?" When we compare these two questions, think deeply & rationally about what they entail. The thought process that one must go through in analyzing these questions against each other & in tandem is some parts revolutionary & some parts simple.
In a way, the debate can really be looked at & divided in the same way that the Christian Bible is, sort of like the Old Testament & New Testament. In this topic, however, it's really divided into the
PreColonial Definition of "Black"
In PreColonial times, yes, there was a definition for colors. Normal human interaction begets communication. However, the consideration of "Who is Black" for Pre-Colonial Africans may not have even existed because the concepts of Color hierarchy seems to have never existed before indoctrination by Europeans. Thus, you MUST concede that when you debate these concepts..in English...in Modern Society...using the definitions & words that were force taught(with a whip & bible) to ancestors of Pan-Africans in the Americas...We HAVE to consider the arena we are debating in to be in proper context.
In simple terms. what does this mean?
So in PreColonial Times, had we never even been unfortunately introduced to European Colonial Indoctrination... The attempt to classify what Color a person is, would probably be translated into our society as merely "what genetic makeup" & Sun exposure an individual has...without the extra ingredient that must be considered - in defining that same question -which is "What does the Black Experience mean."
See? The concept of "What is the Black Experience" literally would mean absolutely NOTHING to PreColonial Africans because it is completely a Modern World or Post Colonial World Concept, it's an Anglo-concept. As a result of the barbaric & oppressive nature of European Indoctrination, the physical & psychological impact that a person has as a result of that oppression would, I surmise, have to be considered in determining who or what it means to be Black today.
In current, Post Colonial times, an individual, with particular genetic makeup, may or may not, have what it means to be a Black experience in Modern Society.
I believe the consideration of this statement is what is needed in answering our questions today. Take this moment to compare 3 separate individuals.
Person A.
Genetics: 95 % African Ancestry
Physique: A strong physical structure of what is generally found among People in Africa.
Background: From a middle class family & neighborhood & who's parents have tried everything to keep individual away from hostile racism & has indoctrinated their child to assimilate completely into European dominated culture.
Notes: Has never been called a ******. Has never been perceived suspicious looks & paranoid behavior from others around him as a result of what he looks like.
Person B.
Genetics: 77% African Ancestry
Physique: A physical structure with mainly pronounced features of what is generally found among People in Africa.
Background: From an upper middle-class family & middle class background. Parents chose to live in a community where the family is at the top of the economic ladder, their neighbors are primarily white. As a result, the individual has been greeted with condescension with racial undertones as a result of being called "rich Blacks."
Notes: Throughout his life he's been teased as being the son of a "drug dealer because that's the only reason why your family has money" & has had the words "rich ******" graffiti-ed on his garage door.
Person C.
Genetics: 46% African Ancestry
Physique: Slightly thinner lips, less kinky hair more curly, lighter eyes & lighter complexion than would normally be found among People in Africa.
Background: Lower Middle Class family in the Inner-City. As a result of the early death of individual's grandfather before individual was born, his mother had to put a hiatus on college & support the family, thus a move to the inner-city was the result. Hard working family however jobs were sparse & a lack of finances translated into a lack of resources & private schooling. Failed by a public school system & harassed by well-documented Police hostility, the community has been ravaged as a result of a lack of commitment by the city & state government.
Notes: His cultural upbringing & physical appearance leaves no question in the minds of people in other economic & cultural classes to react to him based on society's accepted responses.
The question of "Who is Black" is insufficient in that "Who is Black" is not what we mean in today's society. Who is Black has to be answered with considering what it means to have the Black Experience in Modern Society.
Now...Is Rachel Dolezal Black in the equation that I have presented? No, because although with her figurative "Black Face" that she has created for herself, her rational perception would truly never allow her to process the correct Black perspective, regardless of what she's experienced because she duped people in Modern Society. Why?
Because when Rachel Dolezal is in her costume and someone calls her a ******, she thinks "Wow, I'm a white woman, with a self-perpetuated disguise of a Black exterior, being verbally abused by a racist in Modern Society."
She is not thinking, "Wow, I'm a Black woman being verbally abused by behavior that has become acceptable in Modern Society."
Thanks for reading. Please provide input!
