1. Cosigning and Caping Other Causes Than Our Own
Black Americans are quick to throw a cape on and come to the defense of causes outside of the Black community. From gay rights and feminism to ice bucket challenges, it seems Black America would rather distract ourselves from our own issues to support other groups that dont want or dont need our help.
When we co-sign other movements, we take our resources away from our own priorities. Before helping others, we should help ourselves.
2. Playing American Politics
“We play politics just to play. Others play for the benefits of winning or being in the winner’s circle…We should stay out of any political game that promises that we will get nothing even when our candidate wins.”Powernomics by Dr. Claude Anderson
Who is better for Black Americans – Democrats or Republicans?
Neither. Democrats have taken the Black vote for granted for decades, and the Republican party has been the party of old white men for just as long. Both parties are owned and operated by the same major corporations. This is evident in the fact that politicians of both sides may talk about taking opposing positions, but the legislation they support and pass is the exact same regardless of political orientation.
The only political orientation that makes sense for Blacks in America and everywhere else is Pan-Africanism: a belief in the laws and representation that benefit Africans in the Diaspora.
Until we focus on defining, setting, and achieving our own collective political agenda, we will continue to be puppeted by other political parties without getting anything in return.
3. Blaming Ourselves
Have you ever heard someone say “Every person who has done me wrong has looked like me?” In order to truly understand a problem, you must understand its source. We blame ourselves for Black on Black crime. We blame ourselves for our mental condition. We blame ourselves for our own poverty.
But blame is the mother of guilt and comes from holding ourselves collectively responsible for events that are not under our control. If we are not in control of our circumstances, then what is to blame?
White Supremacy.
White supremacy has miseducated us, thus creating a distorted identity. White supremacy has murdered us, making us afraid of fighting back. White supremacy has infected and intoxicated us, taking us out of our right minds and destroying our health. White supremacy has defrauded us, eroding our wealth from slavery in the past to sky high interest rates in the present.
Putting blame where it belongs is not dodging personal responsibility. It is holding all parties accountable for their behavior.
4. Putting Religion over Spirituality and Morality
Religion is the way you worship. Spirituality is the way you live with yourself. Morality is the way you live with others. – Asad Malik
Religion is not spirituality. Religion is not a substitute for morality. Religions do not hold diverse societies together. Morality does. Morality is a set of principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong behavior. Religion, on the other hand, is a system of worship.
It may be right in the context of religion for Christian minister Creflo Dollar to take money from impoverished congregations to buy a jet. It may be permissible for according to the Koran for Muslims in Boko Haram to kill non-believers and take child brides. But is it moral?
The Black community could use a little less religion and a little more morality.
5. Black on White Relationships
Black men and women are attracted to other races because of their own internalized racism.
We have literally been taught by society to hate ourselves – and with good reason: the Black family is the first measure of Black unity. A unified Black society threatens the supremacy of white society.
We cannot wonder why there is disunity in the Black community when we turn our backs on each other in favor of white partners.
6. Turning the Other Cheek
Passivity breeds exploitation. The more we offer up our behinds to be murdered and exploited, the more those behaviors will continue.
The courts certainly dont forgive criminal behavior. The United States and any other self respecting nation doesn’t forgive criminal behavior. Why do we?
What will the future look like for our children if we continue “settling” with police brutality, forgiving white supremacist mass murders, and trying to appease those who wish to destroy us?
7. Believing White People Will Change
There is a large percentage of our people that still hold on to this belief that 2015 is different than 1615, and if anyone needs to explain to anyone why its not, then we already lost.......
1. I don't think we have to choose between one or the other causes. Though I will say Black women need to get away from the modern form of feminism. I'm all for women's equal rights, but not at the castigation of Black men and this goes for LBGT rights as well.
2. I think we need to be more politically aware. We do not have the political clout nor do we really have the time to start a third party on our own, maybe we can make a shift towards the Green Party, I do agree Dems and Repubs largely drink from the same pool save a few exceptions. I think the larger issue is how deep the corporations and special interest groups are in the pockets of both parties. Also Pan-Africanism is great but let's be honest we're not leaving here to build in Africa. I'm all for us coming up with and following with an agenda, though.
3. Whether or not we blame ourselves for the condition we are in we only have ourselves to get us out. Holding White Supremacy accountable is great, but it's not going to change with the times, it's a constant. We on the other hand can change and work through this mess to better ourselves.
4. Agreed. 100%. I think Black women especially lose touch with this idea. I think they believe if a man is 'God-Fearing and goes to Church to pray to White Jesus' automatically makes him a good man, it doesn't. Just because a man doesn't believe in God doesn't mean that he doesn't believe in good.
5.Agreed. I am against broadcasting the idea of dating out the way Black women have been doing as of late. This is an especially dangerous view to have when we (Black men and women) are being subjugated by Whites worse than ever. It speaks to type of Stockholm Syndrome. We need to stop dating and marrying out and try to find love with each other.
6. Agree,.
7. Agree.
